Each month Heart & Soul organiser Helen Fields offers advice on having a healthy body, mind (and soul) living in Northern Cyprus. In addition to this Helen presents an ‘A to Z of alternative therapies and practices’,  explaining what they are and what they can help do for you.
A is for Acupuncture >
Scroll to the bottom to view Helen’s advice on avoiding inscect bites >

Summer is here and the temperature is rising!
Time to enjoy the lazy days of summer… but wait a minute, what about the heat and the humidity? At this time of year advice is given about exposure to the sun, but what about dehydration?
See how in summer nature supplies plentiful amounts of melon which is 99% water, just the ticket when the humidity rises along with the temperature.

Not only water, but electrolytes/salts are lost in sweat. There are plenty of local foods to help put back the salts, for example- Ayran, the slightly salty yoghurt drink, olives, white cheese or Helim.
Have you tried a twist of coarse sea salt on melon?

It really brings out the fruity flavour and adds to the minerals in the melon too. For particularly hot days or if you are working outside you could drink a small bottle of water with a sachet of Dioralyte dissolved in it. Look out for headaches and tiredness they can be a sign of dehydration.

———- Please note that if you have raised blood pressure check with your doctor regarding adding any salt. Note these ideas do not in any way replace or contradict doctors advice and is undertaken at your own risk.———–

A is for Acupuncture
Acupuncture, mode of traditional Chinese medicine, is one of the well-known and highly respectful complementary medical treatment modalities in the world. Modern biochemical research scientifically proved positive impact of acupuncture on human health.

The majority of people know that treatment effect of acupuncture occurs through painless insertion of specially designed tiny needles into specific locations on the skin, i.e. acupuncture points or acupoints. However, not all people know, that several sophisticated and amazingly inter-related theories stand behind this procedure. According to these theories physical and mental well-being of individuals depends on free flow of energy within specific channels, on which acupoints are located. Interrupted free flow of energy causes imbalance of energy and a person gets ill.

Acupuncture usually effective in treatment of such chronic medical problems like neck and back pain, headache, allergic conditions, joint problems. Besides that, acupuncture demostrated positive results in medical management of male and female problems, skin and gastrointestinal disorders as well as high blood pressure.
Dr Shahin Ahmedov is an excellent Acupuncture expert in North Cyprus.
Click here for his contact information

This months question:
Are there any natural supplements or herbs that help to keep insects off in the heat? Somebody told me Garlic works, but I am not sure if this is true.. can you help?

It seems that some things work for some people, but not everyone! Yes, garlic is reputed to work, but may keep friends at bay too! Lavender and citronella are recommended either to put on the skin or in a burner.
Most incense sticks when burnt will help. Locally, Avon Skin So Soft comes highly recommended too! Apparently, it was also used by the army in the Gulf war, but that may just be a legend. Mosquitoes do not like fans or wind so using fans can be helpful. It may sound a little odd, but attitude of mind may also affect how much you are bitten, so cultivate an attitude of tasting horrible to insects!”

To ask Helen a question regarding any aspect of health, natural remedies or homeopathic practices in North Cyprus please fill in the box below, alternatively visit the Heart and Soul website here