I have been seeing a lot of people recently with horrendously itchy skin. They often arrive with a diagnosis of dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema, urticaria (hives), shingles and at this time of year I've even seen a few cases of orf - which is a virus you can catch from sheep - all different complaints but the same endless painful, maddening scratching, often until their skin bleeds.

Chronic pain, depression, insomnia and IBS often start as one thing and lead to the others.

Find out about how to look after chronic back pain using these gentle and effective remedies.