Low Blood Sugar and Chronic Fatigue

Hypoglycaemia or low blood sugar levels are another cause of chronic fatigue syndrome. There are many reasons why an individual can feel tired all the time.  This week I’ll look at hypoglycaemia and low energy levels.

     Normal levels of blood sugar are necessary to maintain the body’s energy levels. Hypoglycaemia occurs when blood sugar levels fall, causing irritability, anxiety and nervousness. The body will suddenly feel terribly fatigued. Cold sweats, shaking and palpitations are a reaction of the nervous system, and weakness, especially in the knees, is common. At night in bed, low sugar levels will prevent sleep. When hunger pangs accompany the other symptoms, the diagnosis is easier, but in times of stress, hunger is often not noticed.

     The body has a great capacity for fine-tuning blood sugar levels so that they remain stable. When blood sugar levels are too high, the hormone insulin is released. When they fall too low, hunger signals are given and stores of sugar and fat are released into the bloodstream. If this natural balancing system is sluggish, hypoglycaemia can develop. Some conditions can cause hypoglycaemia - diabetes, for example - but in most cases people experiencing symptoms of hypoglycaemia do not suffer from serious illness. Rather, these symptoms are signals of food sensitivities or poor eating habits or both, especially over-indulging in sweets and having a lack of fibre. Simple sugars can be found in the refined white flour of bread and pastries, in pasta and refined white rice and in foods stripped of their natural fibre. These sugars are too quickly absorbed by the body, causing blood sugar levels to rise sharply, putting the pancreas under great stress. To compensate for the sudden rise in blood sugar levels, large amounts of insulin are released, causing a sharp fall in blood sugar levels. If carbohydrates from a healthy meal containing natural fibre are eaten, blood sugar levels will rise and fall more slowly, and with better control.

     Missing breakfast, eating large, infrequent meals and using stimulant substances like coffee and tobacco create problems for people susceptible to hypoglycaemia. Alcohol is a problem because of its high sugar content and sedative effect.

     Hypoglycaemia is often the result of years of eating sweet-baked foods made with white flour. Eliminate white sugar from the diet. For the occasional sweet-tasting food, eat raw fruit, which provides valuable nutrients and fibre. Treatment requires a radical change in the diet to whole foods like soaked whole grains, raw fruits and vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds. A good breakfast is important to prevent the morning slump typically experienced by people suffering from hypoglycaemia. Eat several small meals in the course of the day, including a snack before bedtime, to maintain consistent blood sugar levels. Take a small, fibre-rich snack such as an apple with some cheese or rice cake with avocado half an hour before a larger meal to prevent a hypoglycaemic reaction. Foods like cheese, avocado, nuts and seeds which contain some fat make an excellent snack food for people suffering from hypoglycaemia, since they offer long-lasting energy and important vitamins and minerals.

     Take vitamin B complex 100mg with 200 mcg chromium to combat problems with blood sugar. Take spirulina between meals to help avoid extreme swings in blood sugar levels. Bee pollen in small quantities helps the body to deal with fatigue.

     Ginseng regulates blood sugar, helps to increase energy and increase stimulation of the pituitary gland.  

David Foley

MNIMH, MRCHM

Medical Herbalist

The Story Behind Echinacea

     In 1899, Dr John King of Cincinnati opened a letter containing an unusual request. A Dr Meyer from Kansas was offering to travel to Cincinnati and let himself be bitten by a rattlesnake in front of Dr King. He even offered to provide the snake. Meyer would then treat the bite with a herb called Echinacea snakeroot, whose use he had learned from Native Americans. He claimed to be confident of a safe and speedy recovery.

     King was a prominent member of the Eclectic Medical Profession, a group of MDs who, from 1840 until about 1930, used primarily herbal medicines in their practices.

     King decided to take Meyer seriously, though he didn’t take him up on the rattlesnake offer. Over the next twenty years, he and others in the Eclectic Profession began experimenting with Echinacea.

     Today it is the best-seller of all herbs sold in both Europe and the United States.

     The story of Echinacea begins with the Native American tribes throughout the Great Plains of the American Continent; we can conjecture that these people used it for tens of thousands of years. It was through these Plains Indians that Echinacea entered into American professional medicine and then into Europe in the 1930s.

     The man who bridged the gap between the native use of this plant and the medical profession was Dr Meyer who, it seems, came across the use of Echinacea by observing a Native American woman crushing Echinacea plants between two stones. On being asked what it was used for, she told him it was a poultice for wounds, that it helped them heal them more quickly than other remedies and that it was also good for rattlesnake bites.

     Over many years of using Echinacea root, Meyer found numerous other uses for this plant. Most striking among Meyer’s claims for it was the assertion that it cured 613 cases of rattlesnake bite in men and animals, all supposedly successfully treated with its remedying powers.

     The Eclectic practitioner, Ellingwood, relates an experiment that Meyer performed on himself:

     With the courage of his convictions upon him he injected the venom of a rattlesnake into the first finger of his left hand; the swelling was rapid and in 6 hours was up to the elbow. At this time he took a dose of the remedy, bathed the part thoroughly, and laid down to pleasant dreams. On awakening in 4 hours, the pain and swelling were gone (Ellingwood, 1919).

     King’s acceptance of Echinacea moved it into widespread use in America up to the 1930s, before the Eclectic Profession was swept from medical history because of the Regulars using political clout to deny accreditation to their schools and licensing to their practitioners.

     By the 1930s Echinacea Angustitolia was widely used in Europe and large quantities were imported each year from the United States. In 1937 the French bought the entire crop, creating a shortage for German firms. Dr G. Madaus decided to travel to the States and obtain seeds so that his company could grow its own supply. He bought what he thought were seeds of E. Angustitolia, but when planted turned out to be E. Purpurea. This historical accident had huge implications for the worldwide use of Echinacea. Upon experimentation, Madaus found that E. Purpurea had medicinal properties similar to those of E. Angustitolia. Also Madaus used the flowering tips instead of the roots and found them almost as effective as the roots.

David Foley

MNIMH, MRCHM

Medical Herbalist

Chest Infections

  This time of year brings along with it colds and ‘flus which sometimes develops into a chest infection. Most are viral and later may develop into bacterial infections. Antibiotics are useful only in bacterial infections, but today many of the commonly used antibiotics are of little or no use due to resistance of the bacterial involved in respiratory infections to antibiotics. Often it is necessary to take two or three courses of antibiotics to clear mild respiratory infections to antibiotics that in the past were easily taken care of by one course of antibiotics. Also the use of a number of courses of antibiotics. Also the use of a course of a number of antibiotics in treating an infection will lead to an imbalance in the area of our digestive system, causing the individual to become weakened and even more likely to suffer another infection.

   Today we will look at natural methods of treating chest infections using diet, supplements and herbal remedies, thus hopefully avoiding the necessity of using antibiotics at all. (Some also limit the side effects of antibiotics.)

   First, let’s look some causes of lung infections. Susceptibility to a chest infection is more likely after becoming chilled or fatigued. Irritating chemicals such as tobacco, ammonia (found in harsh cleaning substances) and environmental pollution also predispose the chest to infection. Repeated spells of chest infection are usually linked to a weakness in the respiratory tract, due to allergies, asthma and sinusitis.

   A diet with too much meat and processed foods and too little fibre has been linked to lung weakness.

   Onions, garlic and leeks are all good to eliminate mucus from the lungs. To boost immunity, eliminate the consumption of refined sugar. Avoid mucus-forming dairy foods, heavy starches and saturated fats from animal meats to reduce congestion. The Vitamin A that fruits and vegetables provide strengthens lung tissue; and the Vitamin C they contain promote healing and improves resistance to infections.

   Vitamin C, with bioflavonids up to 3 grams per day, is very helpful to speed the recovery from a lung infection. If stools become loose, reduce the dose; Zinc up to 60mg per day works along with Vitamin C in aiding the immune system.

   Herbs to help ease a chest infection: Plantain juice works like a herbal antibiotic in killing off the infection the infection and there is no build-up of resistance to it by bacteria. It also acts as an expectorant on the lungs, thus aiding the removal of mucus from the lungs and in the process easing a cough.

   Garlic, of course, is a wonderful remedy to prevent lung infections, as are onions. A useful cough syrup is made by putting 6 chopped white onions in a double boiler and add half a cup of honey and strain. Take at regular intervals, preferably warm. Another syrup can be made by adding cloves of crushed garlic to honey and leaving overnight. All the goodness of the garlic is extracted by the honey, which in itself is good at easing a cough or sore throat.

   Echinacea root tinctures are also useful in treating chest infections, especially if combined with plantain juice or elderberry juice or both.

   A very old and effective way of stimulating the heating of an ongoing chest infection is to use a mustard poultice. A mustard poultice is made by mixing one part dry mustard (e.g. Colman’s) with three parts’ flour and adding enough water to make a paste. The paste is then spread on the cotton (old pillowcases work well), folded and then placed on the chest. Leave on top for 20 minutes. Be sure to check regularly, as it will cause blisters if left on too long.      

David Foley

MNIMH, MRCHM

Medical Herbalist

Looking After Your Skin - Part 3

Last week I looked at some methods of treating the skin using brushing and the Epsom Salt baths. This week I’ll look at different methods that can be used at home to benefit your overall health through treating your outer garment, the skin.

   The modern shower can be used to produce a number of treatments of your skin. Its heads are remarkably adaptable and capable of producing a wide variety of jets, ranging from a blast to a delicate spray or even an alternating, pulsating series of jets.

   If your shower can achieve alteration of temperature quickly, as well as alteration of water pressure, you have a powerful tool for home hydrotherapy. The benefits include:

·      a basic tonic for the circulation (and therefore the skin), which can be general or local;

·      relaxation or stimulation;

·      easing of aches and stiffness;

·      rapid cleansing of the skin and pores.

   Using alternating hot and cold water allows you to clear the skin, relax the muscles and stimulate the circulation - an amazing series of achievements for just 3-4 minutes of effort. Start warm and get hotter, taking around one to two minutes to get really hot, then change quickly to a cold shower for 15 seconds and then go back to hot and then cold and so on. Or you can stop after one or two alternatives if you feel you’ve done enough for your circulation for one day.

   You’ll feel marvellous and there are no contra-indications. The degree of coldness and hotness you use is up to you and how much you can tolerate. Slowly get yourself to the point where you can not only stand a big contrast (not just going from warm to cold), but actually start to enjoy the thrill of the contrast from hot to cold and back again.

   The bath tub can also be used to give skin treatments. Using aromatherapy oils in the bath can be a great way of easing tension.

   Use the following cocktail of Mediterranean oils to have an anti-stress aromatherapy bath:

   10 drops each of Rosemary and Aniseed oils;

   5 drops each of Basil and Pine oils;

   3 drops each of Eucalyptus and Cypress oils.

   Or else:

   10 drops each of Bergamot and Sandalwood oils;

   5 drops each of Cinnamon and Sage oils;

   3 drops each of Clove and Coriander oils.

   Use a sponge to gently work the oils into your skin - no soap is used in a bath such as this. The effect of a bath lasting 10-20 minutes in either of these combinations will be a profound feeling of refreshment and relaxation. Pat without friction and rest afterwards.

David Foley

MNIMH, MRCHM

Medical Herbalist

Looking After Your Skin: Part 2

Last week I looked at the functions of the largest organ of the human body, the skin. This week and next, I’ll look at the many ways we can keep this vital organ in optimum health. The secret of gaining good health of anybody’s system is to do any treatments for it on a regular basis; an occasional approach will never give any lasting benefit.

   To keep the skin in good condition, two methods of treatment are necessary: detoxification and aiding circulation to the skin.

   Detoxification treatments should be done on a regular basis - daily, if possible. The methods that work mainly on the skin function and detoxification include skin brushing and the Epsom Salt bath.

   Skin brushing is best done before you shower or bathe and while your skin is still dry; it need take only a few minutes - five, at most. Once you decide to start using skin brushing to improve your skin and health, you should also make up your mind that it will become a daily routine. And because it makes you feel so good (never mind looking good), very soon you’ll feel as lost without it as if you’d forgotten to brush your teeth!

   Select from a bath-nit or loofah or a natural bristle body-brush. You should start brushing gently. At first expect what is called a “red reaction,” which shows that your circulation is responding to the stimulation you are giving it. The action of brushing needs to be circular, “creeping” and firm, but not irritating. Circular motion helps avoid rubbing over one area too much: at first once or twice over the same area is adequate. The “creeping” movement has the effect of moving over the whole body without lifting the brush. Avoid breast tissue and be very gentle on the inner thighs.

   Again it is emphasised that you should start slowly and gently. After a week or so of skin brushing, the skin becomes less tender and you can increase the vigour of your brushing.

   Epsom Salt baths are one of the most effective methods of detoxification, especially useful for a sufferer of rheumatic complaints. There are a number of contra-indications: anyone with cardiac conditions or diabetes or anyone with a skin condition that is “open,” like weeping eczema.

   Method: Place 1 lb. of commercial Epsom Salts (available from any pharmacy and most health shops) plus one quarter lb. to one half lb. of sea salt into a warm bath. Stay in the bath for not less than 10 minutes and not more than 20 minutes. Keep the water as hot as you can bear. When you get out, do not shower; just towel yourself dry and get into a pre-warmed bed. You’ll sweat heavily and sleep even more heavily. Have water by the bed to drink. In the morning take a shower and apply a moisturiser to the whole skin.

   It is not recommended that you take an Epsom Salt bath more than once a week, and once a month is probably the ideal for general detoxification purposes and stimulation of skin function.

   Next week I’ll again explore methods of treating your skin, this time the use of your shower and herbals oils.  

David Foley

MNIMH, MRCHM Medical Herbalist

Looking After Your Skin - Part 1

This week and next, I will look at the care of the skin. Your skin is not just an envelope which surrounds you - it is a powerful and vital organ, in fact, the largest organ of the human body. The skin acts like a “second lung” through which the body eliminates a great deal of waste material - at least, it does when it is healthy. Your circulatory system carries metabolic wastes, which are being constantly produced as by-products of the normal body functions along tiny capillaries to the skin where they pass out of your through skin pores. In fact, the skin plays a major role in keeping our bodies “harmonised.”

   This process of elimination can be assisted by stimulating the circulation to the skin surface and keeping the skin surface clear so that the skin’s pores don’t become blocked. The skin surface is made up of “dead cells” which are shed all the time. But when these dead cells become covered with small dirt particles and oils (which we produce ourselves), the process of elimination can become blocked or slowed, leading to blemishes, pimples and blackheads.

   There are several easy ways to use water to stimulate the circulation to the skin, so that wastes are delivered more efficiently, and to help clear away the obstructions caused by dead skin cells and debris on the surface, thus opening up the pores and enabling them to function more efficiently. Other benefits of regularly treating the skin (it’s no good doing this just now and then) with hydrotherapy include improved tone and the breakdown of any fatty deposits lying below the skin (cellulite). Clearing cellulite depends on improved circulation and drainage of the tissues, and water treatments help to achieve this wonderfully.

   Your overall health will also benefit when your skin is working efficiently because your level of toxicity drops, thereby putting less strain on the other organs of elimination such as the liver, kidney, bowels and lungs. Minor problems such as chronic catarrh can improve or vanish with open channels instead of blocked ones: when the skin does its job properly, there is less need for other means of removing toxins, such as excretion through the mucous membranes. Any tendency to unpleasant body odour will also improve dramatically with hydrotherapy treatments because bacteria on the skin surface which can cause body odour will have less chance to operate and, at the same time, sweat deposits will be cleared away more efficiently.

   Another spin-off of helping your skin to do its job properly is that you will have more energy available and greater vitality, as toxic deposits are removed from the system. Of course, the skin itself will also look and feel better with regular skin hydrotherapy.

   Another amazing quality that skin has is the fact that, while it is a protective envelope, it will allow some passage through itself in both directions. So as well as eliminating wastes, it will also allow nutrients and herbal essences in. By using special mixtures of nutrients and salts, as well as essential oils from plants, you can have a profoundly beneficial influence on the way your body works.

   Another aspect of the skin - from a traditional Chinese world-view - sees it connected emotionally to sadness. By touching and caring for our skin, we become less sad. In times of grief, therefore, it’s important to treat the skin.

   Next week I’ll look at the different methods that can be used to treat our skin.    

Boosting Immunity

            A weakened immune system leaves the body vulnerable to virtually every type of illness and disease. An efficient immune system is the key to our physical well-being. Our bodies’ defences are so wonderfully designed that, despite the millions of potentially disease-producing organisms and substance-bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites and allergens that surround us, we survive, only occasionally falling prey to them.

Although our immune systems can recognise viral strains they have encountered and beaten off before the viruses mutate, even the smallest genetic change will often trick the immune system into thinking a brand new species, for which it has no antibodies, has landed. While a robust immune system will cope with this attack, one that’s been weakened by poor nutrition and too much stress will struggle to get you back to health.

Fatigue, lethargy, repeated infections, slow wound-healing, allergies, thrush and lots of colds and flu’s are all signs that the body’s immune system is functioning below par. A healthy adult, for example, should suffer no more than two colds a year; therefore falling prey to every passing infection is definitely a sign that you need to start supporting your immune system.

Poor nutrition is a common cause of a weakened immune response. Foods that are a good source of immune-boosting antioxidants include Kiwi fruits (with more Vitamin C than oranges) and Avocado, known as nature’s own “super-food” because of its balance of fats, carbohydrates and vitamin E. Foods that are rich in Vitamin B6 (which boosts the production of antibodies to fight infections) include Bananas, Carrots, Lentils, Tuna, Salmon, Wholegrain Flour and Sunflower seeds. You need to also increase your Zinc intake by eating more Seafood, Eggs, Turkey, Pumpkin Seeds and Sunflower Seeds.

How to boost immunity:

Garlic: one clove or two pearls taken morning and night. This is one of nature’s best natural anti-bacterial products, which can help to prevent bacterial, viral and fungal infections. It has even proved immune to antibiotics.

Astragalus: this famous Chinese herb can be used to increase energy and build resistance.

Echinacea: one of the best herbal alternatives to antibiotics, Echinacea is useful for all chronic (long-term) and acute bacterial and viral infections. (For good effect, it needs to be taken every hour or two during acute infections.) It helps in the cleansing of the blood and lymphatic system, and activates white blood cells and antibiotics simultaneously.

Ginseng: this remarkable herbal remedy is famous for its ability to boost immunity and energy and to enable the body to cope with stress. It is not to be taken during acute illness or if there’s inflammation, but it’s beneficial for many run-down, pale-faced and can’t-get-rid of type infections.

Liquorice: this can be taken during or after illness to speed recovery and as a tonic during convalescence. It enhances the immune system by stimulating the formation and the efficiency of white blood cells and antibodies. It also supports the adrenal glands, thus providing protection from the effects of stress.

Aloe Vera: a veritable storehouse of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and enzymes, this acts as both an immune-enhancer and natural antiseptic.

David Foley MNIMH, MRCHM Medical Herbalist

 

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PURE Papaya Ointment has countless uses. It’s great for soothing bites, eczema, dermatitis, minor burns, dry skin, chapped and sunburned lips, nappy rash, cracked nipples and many more besides.

Papaya fruit (also known as Paw Paw in Australia), is a fantastic source of nourishing vitamins, minerals, amino acids and enzymes. The special fermentation process concentrates these nutrients and also cultivates beneficial probiotics. The value of fermented Papaya in health and skin care has been recognised for over 100 years.

Pawpaw is naturally high in vitamin A, which is a fat-soluble vitamin essential in the production and maintenance of healthy skin throughout the body. Pawpaw also contains vitamin C, which has long been shown to rejuvenate damaged skin and boost skin cell turno

ver. The pawpaw fruit has natural antiseptic properties that help to keep eczema areas clean and reduce inflammation; it also contains active enzymes that promote healthy skin by targeting and breaking down skin damaged by eczema.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a newly defined syndrome that describes varying combinations of symptoms, including recurrent fatigue, sore throat, low-grade fever, lymph node swelling, headache, muscle and joint pain, intestinal discomfort, emotional distress and/or depression and loss of concentration.

   Although newly defined and currently receiving a lot of attention, CFS is not a new disease at all. References to similar conditions in medical literature go back as far as the 1860s and in Chinese medical literature as far back as two to three thousand years. In the past, CFS has been known by a variety of names, including: chronic glandular fever-like syndromes or chronic EBC syndrome, post-viral fatigue syndrome and many more. In addition, symptoms of CFS mirror symptoms of neurasthenia, a condition first described in 1869.

   There is little argument that a disturbed immune system plays a central role in CFS. A variety of immune system abnormalities have been reported in CFS patients. While no specific immunological dysfunction pattern has been recognised, the most consistent abnormality is a decreased number or activity of natural killer (NK) cells. NK cells received their name because of their ability to destroy cells infected with viruses. Other consistent findings include a reduced ability of lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell that is critical in the battle against viruses) to respond.

   When the immune system is impaired, infections can linger and fatigue may persist. There is a good reason for fatigue during an infection: fatigue is the body’s response mechanism to infection because the immune system works best when the body is at rest.

   In order to determine the role that the immune system is playing in the individual with CFS, answer the following questions: Do you get more than two colds per year? When you catch a cold, does to it take more than 5 to 7 days to get rid of the symptoms? Have you ever had glandular fever? Do you have herpes? Do you suffer from chronic infections of any kind? If you answer “yes” to any of the above and suffer from CFS, then a weakened immune response may be the cause of the CFS, this being the only one.

   In order to treat this cause of CFS, diet can make a significant contribution towards strengthening the ailing immune system.

   Avoid sugar and sweets, also white bread and white flour products, which act like sugar inside the body.

  Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables and whole grains like wholemeal bread and porridge. Unrefined, cold-pressed oils like flax-seed oil and olive oil are important to include in the diet.

  Herbal remedies are great for strengthening an ailing immune system. Ginseng, especially Siberian ginseng, has been shown to exert a number of beneficial effects on immune function, including a significant increase in natural killer cells activity. Take 10-20ml twice a day.

   Astragalus is also very useful to help strengthen a weakened immune system. Take 10-20ml twice a day.

   Echinacea tincture along with ginseng can really help CFS sufferers; take 10ml twice a day.

David Foley MNIMH, MRCHM Medical Herbalist

Acne

   Acne is the most common of all skin problems. It occurs mostly on the face and, to a lesser extent, on the back, chest and shoulders. It is more common in males and usually begins at puberty.

   Acne usually occurs at the most self-conscious time for boys and girls and always produces a crop of spots - just when they don’t want them!

   This common problem of adolescence has two main causes: a hormonal and a dietary one. The hormonal cause is related to the level of male hormones, and is most obvious during puberty, when profound physical changes are started by various hormonal triggers. The dietary factor is related to the body’s ability to break down fats and carbohydrates.

   One of the most successful herbs used in the treatment of both male and female acne is Agnus-Castus. Taken for about three months to get the full effect, it works by helping the body to balance its hormonal swings. In many cases of acne, it has been found that increased levels of toxins are found in the blood absorbed from the gut - in fact, 50% of patients with severe acne have increased blood toxins. Herbs such as Bogbean, Echinacea and Dandelion are excellent to help the body clean itself  of these toxins.

   Minerals such as Zinc have been found very helpful in many studies; 45 mg of Zinc Picolinate each day is very good since it is much better absorbed from the gut than other forms of zinc.

   Externally, a lotion like a Tea-Tree wash or Calendula (Marigold) lotion is very helpful to help keep the skin clear of harmful bacteria (which will only make the acne worse).

   Dabbing on a Tea-Tree Antiseptic Ointment on the spot always helps to clear and dry up the spot faster.

   Don’t pick spots as scarring can result and is almost impossible to get rid of later on.

   Your diet must also be looked at. Increasing the amount of fresh fruit and vegetables and reducing fats, especially milk and other dairy products, as well as stopping high levels of sugar, will provide you with good results. A diet high in fats and sugars - beloved by so many teenagers - will only make the acne much worse. 

POST-NATAL DEPRESSION

In today’s busy world, giving birth can be treated like having a tooth pulled - in and out with some pain and the mother is expected to bounce back to normal, as if nothing had happened.

Having a baby puts great strain on a woman’s physical well-being and many times, if she does not look after herself, it can be a leading cause of many and varied disorders. It is very necessary to rest after having giving birth and to build up one’s endocrine system with good food and, if necessary, herbal remedies.

Many women feel despondency after the birth of a child. Post-natal depression is most common within days of the birth, but usually lasts only a few days. But for some women, these feelings of depression last many months after the birth.

Exhaustion from the birth, fluctuating hormones and coping with the new situation all contribute to post-natal depression. Fluctuating hormones cause mood changes, while physical exhaustion can cause a psychological low that lasts for days or many weeks. The impact of intense emotions surrounding childbirth should not be underestimated or ignored.

Exhaustion and depression can lead to insomnia and even panic attacks in some individuals. Often post-natal depression is treated with anti-depressants, which may help the depression but do little for the exhaustion.

It is important that the mother, who may be too overwhelmed to prepare adequate meals herself, receive nourishing and appetising meals to rebuild her strength e.g. plain, natural yogurt with cashews or almonds: the calcium and magnesium help calm the nerves. Oatmeal porridge will strengthen and soothe the nerves due to its B-vitamins and fatty acids. Drinking plenty of liquids is essential to facilitate breast-feeding, which is also the best adjunct therapy for post-natal depression. Breast-feeding helps normalise hormonal swings by increasing the endorphin level and allowing the body to regain hormone balance slowly and evenly. It also helps new mothers bond with their children.

Although all nutrients are important, the B-vitamins are essential for relieving stress and depression. Royal jelly and bee pollen are excellent for providing the body with energy.

A number of herbal remedies will help relieve fatigue and post-natal depression. A herb with good results in lifting the mood and helping strengthen the body is Rhodiola root, which was discovered by the Russians to increase the body’s resistance to stress and to increase serotonin levels by 30 per cent, this lifting the mood.

Ginseng is a herb with very important effects on a weakened endocrine system with resulting fatigue and exhaustion. Taking Ginseng along with other herbs to soothe and calm the nervous system - like Rhodiola or Passionflower - along with herbs to feed the body like nettle, wheat or barley grass, will give excellent results in post-natal depression and fatigue.

Taking these remedies will help the mother overcome the effects of post-natal depression while giving her the strength to carry on with her life. It’s important to build one’s strength before becoming pregnant again, as another pregnancy and birth will further weaken her endocrine system, leading to more depression and exhaustion.

It is also important to get plenty of restful sleep and a good balance of exercise and relaxation to help normalise body functions.  

Hayfever

            Hay fever is fast becoming a widespread and common allergy in Western society.  Before the 1800s, it was unknown to the medical world.  Today  in  most  developed  countries,  one  in  6  teenagers  suffers  from  the  disease  and  it  is  increasing.  In  1837,  a  distinguished  physician  observed:  “I  have  now  seen  several  unequivocal  instances  of  it  -  very  few  persons,  in  comparison  with  the  entire  community,  are  susceptible.”

            In  1870  Charles  Blackley  observed  that  hay  fever  was  virtually  unknown  among  the  farming  community.  It  was  remarked  that  “in  Ireland  [a  then-predominantly  rural  community],  hay  fever  is  seldom  heard  of.”  It  also  seems  to  have  been  a  disease  of  the  town  rather  than  the  countryside.  In  a  1920  survey,  a  tenfold  difference  in  incidence  between  town  and  country  was  recorded.    

The sex life of plants is the root cause of hay fever.  Most  people  are  surprised  to  discover  this  because  they  have  no  idea  that  plants,  whose  lives  seem  fairly  dull  and  uneventful,  actually  engage  in  sex.  But  the  fact  that  they  do,  and  that  the  sexual  exploits  of  plants  set  millions  of  people  sneezing  and  sniffling,  is  because  these  plants  produce  pollen,  which  is  the  main  cause  of  hay  fever-type  symptoms.

Hay  fever  or  season  allergic  rhinitis  (rhinitis  meaning  simply  inflammation  or  redness  and  swelling  of  the  nose)  is  the  allergic  reaction  by  the  body  to  pollen.  This  pollen  gets  through  the  normal  protective  covering  of  the  nose’s  internal  lining  (the  mucus  membranes)  and  provokes  an  allergic  reaction  by  the  body’s  protective  cells.  If  it  develops  in  the  spring,  it  is  usually  due  to  tree  pollens,  while  in  the  summer,  grass  and  weed  pollens  are  usually  the  culprits.  Some  people  develop  hay  fever  in  response  to  airborne  fungus  spores.  These  spores  are  most  common  in  mid-March  through  to  late  November.

An  attack  of  hay  fever  often  begins  with  an  unpleasant  itchy  sensation  in  the  mouth,  nose,  throat  and  eyes.  This is a sign of an allergic reaction  to  pollen.  Shortly  after  this,  symptoms  begin  in  the  nose  with  volleys  of  sneezes  and  a  runny  or  completely  blocked  nose. 

Sneezing  is  a  natural  reflex  that  serves  to  remove  bothersome  particles  from  the  nose  by  expelling  them  violently.  The  production  of  large  amounts  of  mucus  in  turn  serves  a  similar  end  -  it  is  intended  to  flush  the  unwanted  items  out  of  the  nose.  The  fact  that  the  symptoms  persist  suggests  that  neither  response  is  of  much  use  in  expelling  the  pollen,  probably  because  each  new  breath  brings  in  a  fresh  supply.  Thus  the  sneezing  and  runny  nose  are  part  of  a  frustrated  and  futile  effort  to  eject  pollen  from  the  nose.  The  blocked  nose  is  due  to  inflammation  of  the  mucus  membranes  inside  the  nose, making  it  very  hard  to  get  a  good  night’s  sleep  or  to  smell  anything, and when  you  can’t  smell,  you  also  lose  your  taste.

The  eyes  also  use  tears  to  try  to  clear  away  pollen,  but  the  tear  duct  passage  -  which  normally  drains  the  tears  away  -  becomes  very  blocked  because  it  flows  into  the  nose,  which  is  possibly  already  blocked  and  full  of  mucus,  leaving  the  tears  flowing  down  the  face.  The  effect  is  similar  to  a  heavy  storm  on  a  house  whose  drainpipes  are  already  blocked  with  leaves.

Homeopathic  remedies  are  very  effective  if  you  find  the  correct  one;  many  times  I’ve  seen  hay  fever  sufferers  get  rid  of  all  symptoms  overnight  upon  choosing  the  correct  remedy.  

Herbalists  would  look  to  the  immune  system,  since  hay  fever  is  due  to  a  malfunction  there.  We  would  look  at  the  lifestyle  of  the  sufferer,  any  symptoms  -  such  as  poor  diet,  over-consumption  of  sugar,  stress,  overwork  -  or  an  inherited  disposition  to  allergies;  these  would  have  to  be  corrected  to  help  the  body  regain  its  healthy  balance.

The  herbs  we  would  use  to  help  the  immune  system  to  regain  its  balance  would  include  Astragalus,  Echinacea,  Ginseng,  Liquorice  and  Garlic.

Second,  we  would  use  herbs  to  help  the  body  heal  itself  and  ease  the  inflammation:  Elderflower,  Eyebright,  Plantain,  and,  of  course, Nettle.  Nettle  juice,  often  on  its  own,  can  ease  all  of  the   symptoms  of  hay  fever,  but  only  the  fresh  nettle  or  its  juice  is  of  use  in  this  instance.

The  second  class  of  herbs  often  strengthens  the  mucus  membranes,  thus stopping  the  pollens  from  getting  through  and  setting  up  an  allergenic  response.

Usually  the  herbs  eliminate  or  reduce  the  symptoms  once  a  combination  is  found  which  suits  the  person’s  constitution.  If  used  for  the  next  season  one  month  before  the  expected  season  starts  and  again  in  the  third  season,  the  hay  fever  often  disappears  altogether.  Vitamins  are  also  helpful  in  restoring  balance  to  the  immune  system.  Vitamin C  is  also  very  helpful  taken  throughout  (the  season  and  month  before,  if  possible).

The  homeopathic  remedies  will  either  work  or  do  nothing:  many  people  get  instant  relief  using  them.  The problem is finding the remedy that works  for  you.

Another  method  of  easing  hay  fever  symptoms  in  folk  medicine  is  eating  local  honeycomb,  which  seems  to  act  like  a  de-sensitizer  for  the  immune  system.

David Foley MNIMH, MRCHM Medical Herbalist