General health

An expected stage that arrives because a baby has developed, not because anything has gone wrong. What helps at the door, how settling in is meant to work, and when to ask for help.

Muscle testing, Vega and electrodermal testing, bioresonance, hair analysis and IgG food panels — how each produces its convincing answer, and what UK allergy specialists say about all of them. Then what actually finds a diagnosis, the coeliac testing trap that makes one impossible, and the real cross-reactivity the standard tests can miss.

In the UK, "counsellor" and "psychotherapist" are not protected titles — anyone may use them, with no training and no registration. Which titles are protected, which registers to search, who does what, what actually predicts a good outcome, and the warning signs worth knowing.

The first appointment is usually not therapy but an assessment, and knowing that removes much of the dread. What gets asked, including the question people most dread being asked, what confidentiality actually covers, what to ask in return, and how it tends to feel afterwards.

It is like a rite of passage for most girls. They get their ears pierced with beautiful diamond or gold studs as kids. But, because a needle is piercing your body, there is also the possibility of an infection from the procedure. Here are ways to avoid a nasty infection.

It can be very frustrating when your child comes home sick from school, but it is typical of school-age children. It is not possible to help your child avoid contact with the contagious diseases; however, you can teach them safety habits that will discourage the spread of further illness.

Nosebleeds are usually caused by a ruptured blood vessel in either the anterior or posterior portion of the nose. The medical term for the condition is epistaxis. Nosebleeds are generally not dangerous but medical attention may be needed if it persists.

Where ticks actually are in the UK, how to remove one properly and what makes it worse, and the spreading rash that is treated without a blood test because early tests are often negative. Including the bull's-eye pattern that frequently never appears, and an honest account of the contested territory around persistent symptoms.