Healthy living with a difference

 When Gayelord Hauser in 1951 published his best selling self-help book, Look Younger, Live Longer, he rapidly became a millionaire and a legend in the world of food writing and healthy living.
My grandmother was a great fan of Hauser, and on his advice drank a spoon of cider vinegar daily, and sprinkled wheat germ on everything she ate. She lived on into her 90s, but whether this was thanks to her diet or simply to good genes, is unclear.
Alternative therapies such as reflexology, aromatherapy, acupuncture, tai chi and traditional Chinese medicine were not as well known or as widely practised in the Western world as they are today: Had granny been aware of these, it’s likely she would have experimented with many of them.
Should you decide to take responsibility for your health and to make lifestyle changes, don’t scan eBay or Amazon for out of print self-help books – simply visit The Centre for Healthy Living in Highlands, Harare, and consult specialists on a wide range of health and beauty treatments. Whether you’re in search of nutritional advice, permanent make-up, colonic hydrotherapy, botox treatments, body massage or herbal treatments, these and many other relaxing and rejuvenating procedures are available here.
Last week I decided to get into the zone, and booked myself into the centre for a reflexology and emotional health session with Ema dos Santos, who for several years has been helping patients to understand and cope with their health problems.
In Ema’s treatment room, golden morning sunlight filtered through venetian blinds. Reclining comfortably on the therapy couch, I caught glimpses of tree ferns and green lawns in the lush garden outside.
Applying reflexology or zone therapy for almost an hour, Ema applied pressure to specific parts of my feet, using fingers and thumbs. As these reflex points and areas corresponded to different body organs and systems, pressure on them would benefit the organs and enhance general health.
In reflexology, emotion is associated with the left side of the body, assertiveness with the right and Ema is able to assess both your health and your emotional state as treatment progresses. During my intense hands on treatment, I felt an endorphin rush, as pain and stress gave way to relaxation.
I needed to experience at least one other treatment for this review, and the following day made an appointment with medical herbalist, Alice Nugent, a graduate of the University of Westminster’s School of Integrated Health.
A back and neck massage, using lavender essential oil, gradually relaxed my tense and knotted muscles, and created a sense of euphoria. Lavender is a popular plant extract, helping to remove nervous tension and to relieve pain and respiratory problems.
Alice is passionate about herbal remedies and is planning a visit to Mutoko to study traditional medicine. While there, she hopes to introduce local herbalists to the medical properties of thyme, sage and garlic. Besides offering a wide range of treatments, Alice can currently recommend a variety of herbal tinctures, teas, creams and essential oils.
In time to come, I hope to describe more of the life enhancing treatments and activities to be found at The Centre for Healthy Living.