Don’t Blame It On Sunshine!

Holland & Barrett’s vast natural product range has the answers to those holiday health woes. Most of us are looking forward to Summer as it heralds longer days, a little sunshine and maybe a holiday abroad. But it is also the time of year when we may need a little help to ward off summer ailments such as hayfever and travel sickness and get our body ready for baring all!

Holland & Barrett suggest a few things to keep in your handbag this Summer!

Travelling Trauma - Travel sickness can spoil your fun before you’ve even got to your destination! Conventional remedies often cause drowsiness, but natural ginger has been historically used to treat stomach complaints. Recent clinical trials have revealed that the active constituents of the ginger root, gingerols and shogaols, have anti-nausea and anti-vomiting effects.

Sneezing Solutions - Hay fever is an allergic response triggered by sensitivity to pollens, dust and fungal spores. For those who are sensitive to tree pollens, the suffering can start as early as April and continue throughout the summer.

Common symptoms include itchy, red and watering eyes, runny nose, sneezing, catarrh and wheezing. Research carried out at Cornell University shows that quercetin, which belongs to a class of water-soluble plant pigments called flavonoids is extremely successful in reducing sneezing and cooling inflamed tissues . Vitamin C has been added because studies show that flavonoids and Vitamin C work together to protect capillaries .

Jumping Junipers! - Juniper Oil is extracted from the fresh berries and needles, which produce a pale yellow essence with a strong pine aroma. Many modern spas have discovered that it is an excellent treatment for promoting circulation, dissolving fat and decreasing cellulite . Simply add to a little carrier oil (such as sweet almond oil – also available at Holland & Barrett), and massage regularly into problem areas.

Feeling Hot Hot Hot - Prickly heat can be so uncomfortable when you are sitting on the beach or in a hot restaurant, but luckily, there is something that can cool you down. Two components of green tea, the polyphenols epigallocatechin (EGC) and epicatechin gallate (ECG) are reported to have an antihistamine effect which takes away the irritation.

But it also has another use - substituting green tea for sugary coffee not only saves calories, but it also contains enough caffeine to act as a mild appetite suppressant. A preliminary human study found that people taking a green tea extract for three months lost an average of 4.6% of their body weight without dieting. So you will have a great bikini body to go with your flawless skin.

All products are available from Holland & Barrett stores nationwide or can be ordered direct by visiting Hollandandbarrett.com.