The Natural Way

Feeling Tired?

2012-02-22T17:19:00.000Z

Many people today complain offeeling tired for long periods (usually greater than six months), even when gettingplenty of rest. It’s a difficult thing to suffer from, since there is no “disease”that can be readily blamed for this chronic tiredness or fatigue. Also the suffererof chronic fatigue gets little or no sympathy from the people around him or her,and it’s usually her with this condition. Women seem to get this very real conditionmore than men and frequently suffer in silence.

The constant battle to overcomethis fatigue, often with little or no improvement, can cause the sufferer to becomelow-spirited or even occasionally depressed. Depression can be a cause of tiredness,but it can also be an outcome of this condition.

What causes chronic tiredness?The causes are many and wide-ranging. Here I will look only briefly at a few ofthe primary ones.

The main cause, I have found,is a combination of overwork, stress and a poor diet. Generally, in women lookingafter a home, holding down a full-time job and giving birth all combine to weakentheir nervous and endocrine systems, which leads to chronic tiredness.

In certain individuals, anxietyor depression in itself can be a cause of fatigue. Certain diseases in themselvescan lead to tiredness e.g. rheumatic arthritis and many other auto-immune diseases.Your GP will normally give you a blood test if you complain of chronic fatigue.This will rule out any auto-immune diseases like low thyroid function, which canalso cause chronic tiredness. But if no “diseases” are found, then what? In thesecases, Herbal Medicine can often help insomnia (not being able to get or to stayasleep) can be eased with Valerian, if taken for a number of weeks. In certain typesof insomnia, it may be necessary to take a tonic along with the Valerian, for example,Korean Ginseng.

If fatigue combines with poordigestive function, like loose stools, bloating, nausea and not being able to eatheavy, fatty foods, then Korean or Siberian Ginseng and Liquorice will often help.

If a person is very run downwith feelings of dizziness or light-headedness and no stamina, then using Spirulinaor Bee Pollen, together with Astragalus and/or Korean Ginseng, will often, overtime, give them their strength back.

If stress and anxiety are a majorfactor in fatigue, then Passionflower is excellent. If depression and fatigue combine,then Rhodolia is great for strengthening the whole nervous system.

Sometimes toxic overload canblock your energy due to your body storing too many waste products collected overmany years in many cases; using a De-tox Herbal formula helps the body flush outthe toxins which can give you a real lift.

In the past, before deep-freezersand refrigerators, each spring all over the world people had a Herbal de-tox toclear out many waste build-ups stored over the long winter of eating preserved foods.

Finally, it is always wise tolook into chronic fatigue with your GP or Herbalist before self-prescribing in orderto rule out any known illness.

David Foley

MNIMH, MRCHM

Medical Herbalist

Insomnia in Adults and Children

2012-02-14T17:40:00.001Z

“Sleep, that knits up the ravell’dcare of day,” is sometimes too elusive for many of us. At one time or another, everyonehas a sleepless night; stress during the day or anxiety about tomorrow can keepus awake and restless all through the night. When this occurs only once in a while,there is nothing much wrong. However, it can become a recurring problem, in whichthe whole body will sicken since it is during sleep that most healing and revitalisingtakes place.

A warm bath at bedtime - to which, say, five dropsof Lavender Essential Oil have been added - will create a pleasant, relaxed drowsinessthat usually leads to sleep. Insomnia due to worries and anxieties will often behelped by taking Valerian, Passionflower and Scullcap during the day and especiallybefore bedtime.

A traditional cure for insomnia is a glass of milkwith a little honey. We now know that it’s the calcium in the milk that helps youget to sleep. Calcium helps the nerves, since stress can deplete the nerves of vitalcalcium. A Calcium tablet (300 mg) taken two to three times daily will remedy this.

For those of us who are able, a brisk walk or shortbout of reasonably vigorous exercise, sufficient to bring about a natural tiredness,taken shortly before retiring to bed may be the answer to insomnia.

CertainHerbal Teas are often useful to aiding sleep; Camomile and Lime blossom teas aregreat for mild insomnia, especially in children. Also adding a fistful of Limeblossom or Camomile to a warm bath is often a great help in aiding children to getto sleep.

Women going through the menopause often experienceinsomnia due to the changes in their hormonal levels; certain herbs can be veryhelpful for many of the symptoms of the menopause, including insomnia. Black Cohosh,Wild Yam, Red Clover and Liquorice are very useful for menopausal symptoms. AndValerian is especially useful when insomnia is part of the pictureof the menopause.

In certain cases of insomnia, usually when a personis very run down, it may be necessary to use tonics as well as sedatives to easethe body into a restful sleep. In these people, herbs such as Ginseng may be necessaryalong with sedatives like Valerian or Passionflower.

Of course, there are many other reasons why peopleget insomnia - chronic pain, skin problems (e.g. eczema) or chronic lung problems,to name just a few. These will have to be eased before the insomnia can be helped.

Food and drink can also affect one’s sleep or lackof it. Eating heavy-to-digest foods late in the evening will not help sleep. Likewisedrinking too much coffee or strong tea late in the evening won’t help you relaxlong enough to get a good night’s sleep. Certain foods like cheese can help sleepwhile red meats don’t. Stimulating drinks like Cola and fizzy minerals should beavoided. Also chocolate will stimulate the brain, often leading to numerous dreamsand loss of deep sleep.

Children especially can be very sensitive to imageson television before bedtime. This can lead to nightmares and disturbed sleep. Adults,too, can be affected by watching television programmes. A little relaxing musicand time spent looking into a warm fire can put one in the correct mood for thewonder of sleep.

Insomnia in Children

Insomnia in children can bevery difficult for the unfortunate parents and has nothing to do with parents’ability to be “good.”

On the whole, children needmore sleep than adults and they tend to sleep at least 12 hours a night.However, many parents of young children have never had a full night’s sleepsince the child was born. In this case, it is not only the child who needstreatment, but the exhausted parents!

There are many differentcauses of sleep disturbance:

· The hyperactive child will have great difficultygetting off to sleep and will sleep for only a few hours at a time.

· The allergic child, with food intolerances, may havedifficulty getting off to sleep or suffer a disturbed night, possibly with baddreams.

· Nutritional deficiencies of, for example, zinc,manganese and vitamins C and B.

· Stresses within the family or a school andinsecurity from major changes (such as the arrival of a new baby or a house orschool move).

· Watching too much television or a frighteningbedtime story may excite or worry the child, who can be scared of the dark orof being alone in his or her bedroom. Nightmares related to this may wake achild.

· Getting overtired: one needs energy to sleep andrelax.

· Lack of fresh air and exercise.

· Chronic problems, such as skin rashes, digestiveproblems, asthma or catarrh causing difficulty breathing, may disturb sleep.

· Acute infections, coughs, colds, fevers, headacheswill disturb nights.

First, it is important toascertain the cause of your child’s sleep problems. If there are signs ofhyperactivity or food intolerances, then you need to treat these problems inorder to aid the child’s sleep.

Omit junk foods, especiallysugar from the diet and any stimulating or sugary drinks such as cocoa, chocolate,cola drinks, fizzy pops and tea or coffee because these affect the brainleading to poor sleep and nightmares.

Foods containing plenty ofcalcium, such as parsley, dried figs, sesame seeds and tahini or milk (if thereare no catarrh or food intolerance problems), will help a child to relax beforebed.

A vitamin C and zinc lozengesucked every day until a proper pattern is established is often useful.

A warm bath at night beforebed will help relax the child. Make sure you don’t allow the child to get tooexcited at bath-time with games. A few drops of dilute oils of chamomile orlavender can be added to the bath water.

Massage, using dilute oilsof chamomile, lavender or rose just before sleep, can be wonderfully soothingand reassuring for the child and induces sleep.

A cup of warm tea can begiven before bed and again in the night if the child wakes. Choose fromchamomile, lemon balm or lime flowers and sweeten with honey.

If your child wakesdistressed, for example, from a nightmare, always go straight to him or her andput the light on and hold them until the child is relaxed enough to go back tosleep.

Never use bed as apunishment as sleep could be associated with punishment.

The Bach Flower Remedies arealso very useful - choose the appropriate one for your child’s needs.

New product on our webstore - The Saltpipe

2012-02-03T17:50:00.001Z

The Higher Nature Saltpipe™ has been known to help everything from asthma and hay fever, to chronic snoring. It can also help if you suffer from shortness of breath, severe coughs and colds, or the effects of a smoky, polluted environment.

The Higher Nature Saltpipe™ is a natural inhaler which brings the benefits of salt mine therapy to your home

Salt therapy may be beneficial for:

· Allergy sufferers, especially pollen

· Asthma

· Colds and other respiratory infections

· Nasal congestion

· Those living in polluted environments

· Smokers and ex-smokers

· Snoring

A few minutes of regular daily use:

· Helps you breathe more easily

· Helps cleanse the respiratory system

· Assists recovery from respiratory illness

· Enhances feelings of wellbeing

Higher Nature Saltpipe™

· Registered Class1 medical device

· Can be used with prescribed inhalers

· Hygienic, easy to clean porcelain

· Even with daily use will last up to 5 years

The Higher Nature Saltpipe™ is a handy inhaler which offers the benefit of portable salt therapy whenever you need it.

SALT THERAPY

Created by nature over millions of years, the salty atmosphere in the Transylvania Praid salt mines has been used for centuries to ease respiratory problems. However, research suggests that the potential benefits of salt therapy may have far-reaching health benefits, especially for our modern-day lives.

The salty microclimate calms the cells lining the respiratory system and stimulates their natural cleaning mechanisms.

Millions of people have experienced a form of ‘salt therapy’. Since the industrial revolution, a good dose of salty sea air has had a reputation for helping people with breathing problems. This is one of the reasons people used to flock to the seaside.

THE SALT

The active ingredients are salt crystals from the Transylvanian Praid Salt Mine. The Praid salt hill is a geological curiosity with approximately three billion tons of salt which has been mined since the second century AD. The salt’s curative properties are well known and it is now used in therapeutic treatment facilities located in the disused parts of the mine.

HOW IT WORKS

Salt crystals are located between the porcelain filters in the body of the Higher Nature Saltpipe™. When inhaling, the moisture from the air passing through the salt crystals absorbs micron-sized salt particles, which then enter the respiratory system with each intake of breath, bringing the beneficial effects of natural salt therapy.

WHAT IS THE HIGHER NATURE SALTPIPE™?

The Higher Nature Saltpipe™ is made from the highest quality porcelain, unlike some others. It’s smooth and warm to the touch, and it’s been painstakingly designed to feel comfortable in your hand.

WHAT THE EXPERT SAYS

The benefits of using Higher Nature’s Saltpipe™ have been proven in clinical trials.

Allergy specialist, Dr Zoltan Ronai, tested the Higher Nature Saltpipe™ on 50 people over two weeks. Here’s what she found:

· 73.9% of the subjects who usually experienced breathing problems during the day claimed there was a vast improvement.

· 65.2% of those with chronic choughs indicated that they felt much better after two weeks.

· 65.4% of the test subjects who coughed at night reported a significant improvement.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE

Place mouth over the mouthpiece, breath in normally through the mouth and exhale through the nose. Prolonged inhalation in not necessary. Do not breathe out through the Higher Nature Saltpipe™.

When you first use the Higher Nature Saltpipe™, you may experience some coughing or sneezing as your respiratory system clears.

For best results, use the Higher Nature Saltpipe™ regularly.

Recommended usage: 15-20 minutes every day. (Suitable for children over 5 years).

Warning: For hygiene reasons, to be used by one person only.

To keep the Higher Nature Saltpipe™ in good working order, clean with a damp cloth, avoid placing in water, dry thoroughly and store in a dry place.

Warning: Please read the enclosed instructions before use.

Active ingredients: Miocene salt crystals composed of sodium chloride, magnesium and calcium. The active ingredients will last up to five years under normal usage.

The Higher Nature Saltpipe™ retails at €29.95 and is available on our webstore

TESTIMONIALS

“Higher Nature’s Saltpipe™ is fantastic and not only has my health improved dramatically, I have also been able to give up my dependence on steroid drugs. I still carry my Ventolin as a precautionary measure, but, amazingly, I have not used it for weeks.

I am also delighted that for the first time in four years, and since moving to the country, I’ve been free of using antihistamines. The Saltpipe™ has, in short, been the answer to all my respiratory and allergy problems.”

Mrs F. Hammond, UK

“I’ve had chronic asthma for 20 years and have always had to use my inhalers several times a day without fail. But now I’m free of them. I gained real benefit from the pipe within a couple of weeks. It feels like I don’t have asthma anymore.”

S. Clayton, UK

“I obtained my Higher Nature Saltpipe™ in September and started to use it for 15-20 minutes daily. After one month, I felt a fresh energy in my lungs and the tiredness feeling had gone!”

H. Robinson, UK

“I’ve had hay fever for six years. The symptoms attack me especially during the summer months, but at other times of the year as well. I received my Higher Nature Saltpipe™ as a present last August. I started using it immediately. To my greatest surprise, I started to feel its benefits after a couple of days. I couldn’t believe how well it worked!”

E. Farkas, UK

The Digestive Process: Part 2

2012-01-24T17:11:00.001Z

Last week I looked at how the Chinese view the Spleen/Pi, which contains the Western digestive system, but also encompasses the emotional and mental aspects of ourselves. Today I will try to discover the methods and ways that can be used to nourish the Spleen/Pi so that we have a well-functioning digestive system that will bring us emotional and mental balance.

Good Spleen/Pi energy will tend to generate a deep sense of inner well-being. Digestion is relaxed and efficient, the body feels supported and toned, the mind clear and able to concentrate properly.

When the Spleen/Pi is in disharmony, there is usually a poor ability to digest food. This will often be mirrored by a decreased ability to receive emotional nourishment.

The Spleen/Pi likes to feel a satisfied glow of comfort after eating - eating in a relaxed environment, not rushing at meal-time, not eating while under emotional or mental stress. Eating with your friends and family in a homely setting are all beneficial for the Spleen/Pi.

In Chinese medicine the Spleen/Pi is said to be nourished by sweet foods. This does not mean sugar but rather the deep, sweet taste of grains or root vegetables. Generally speaking, the Spleen/Pi likes well-cooked food such as thick soups or stews which are easy on the digestion; it has more difficulty with raw and cold foods. The weaker the Spleen/Pi, the more it benefits from well-cooked meals.

The Spleen/Pi also dislikes being flooded with too much fluid. So it is helpful to drink only a little fluid with meals and to have most fluid intake between meals. It is also helpful to separate fruit and sweetened foods from the main meal, eating them instead as between-meal snacks. This prevents fermentation in the digestive system.

Chewing well helps the Spleen/Pi to digest, and warms chilled or raw food. We can also assist the Spleen/Pi by sitting in a relaxed way with an open and untwisted posture. Sitting slumped or twisted will compress the digestive organs and hinder digestion.

As aromatic flavours stimulate the digestion, inclusion of aromatic herbs and spices like Caraway, Cardamon, Chives, Mustard, Anise, Turmeric, Marjoram Basil, Mint and Garlic in the cooking will encourage the Spleen/Pi to become less stagnant.

Physically, the Spleen/Pi likes to stretch. All exercise will help the Spleen/Pi, provided it is balanced by stretching and relaxation. Massage will also help, releasing toxic build-up from our muscles and encouraging us to soften deep inside ourselves.

Mentally, it is helpful to train the mind, just as it is helpful to stretch and exercise our bodies. On the other hand, overuse of our mental powers (i.e. in prolonged periods of study or in tasks that involve hours of sitting and processing information or even habitual brooding on our problems) can weaken the Spleen/Pi. It is important to balance mental work with physical exercise and fresh air.

Finally, a number of herbs which nourish the Spleen/Pi can be used, Ginseng, Liquorice and Astragalus being the best ones available.

The Digestive Process: Part 1

2012-01-17T17:10:00.000Z

This week I hope to try to give an understanding of our digestive process from a Chinese traditional perspective. The Chinese give the digestive process a central role in our well-being. They name this process Pi or the Spleen. Just as the earth is the centre of the cosmos from the viewpoint of the human being, “Earth’s Organ.” the Spleen or Pi, is seen as holding a central place in the human body.

Our well-being can be seen as dependent on our ability to absorb and process nourishment. Through the transforming action of the digestive process, food becomes nutritional substances; from a Chinese perspective, the Spleen or Pi also digests information to transform into knowledge and sensuous experience is received and transformed into a core sense of well-being. Therefore the digestive process from the Chinese viewpoint encompasses the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of ourselves.

Spleen/Pi: the Physical Realm: The Spleen/Pi is responsible for nourishment. A strong Spleen/Pi ensures that a person is well-nourished. A weak Spleen/Pi may result in being undernourished. At the physical level, it is possible to a get a good diet yet not be strong enough to convert the food into proper nourishment. At the emotional level, one may be in an apparently nourishing situation yet be unable to receive the available nourishment.

The Spleen/Pi transformative action is best embodied in the digestive process and it may be taken to refer to the whole digestive tract from mouth to anus and all the various juices and transformative agents released along the way. One measure of the Spleen/Pi strength is the vigour of the digestive system.

The nourishment generated by the Spleen/Pi is transformed throughout the whole body, supporting the strength of the soft tissues and muscles. Soft tissues support the structure of the physical body, keeping things in place, holding up the body and giving it shape. With poor tone in the soft tissues, a body feels and looks “saggy,” and in extreme cases may suffer from prolapse. When the Spleen/Pi is strong, however, physical vitality is also strong and the soft tissues provide the body with good support.

Spleen/Pi: the Non-Physical Realm: The Spleen/Pi is said to house the power of thought - from a Chinese perspective, the power to concentrate and apply the mind. This is an odd concept to the Western mind, so what does it mean? The digestive process is mirrored at the mental level by the thinking process. Digestion brings with it a desire to eat, which then leads to the intake of food. The food is then sorted into that which is usable and sent to where it can be used or stored in the body. What cannot be used is excreted. The thinking process follows a similar path: the desire for knowledge leads to the intake of information which is then sifted and sorted. Whatever can be put to immediate use is applied and the rest is stored for later. Irrelevant or unusable information is rejected and forgotten.

Our everyday language reflects just how similar and related these processes are. We talk of “food for thought,” of being “unable to digest certain information,” of “verbal diarrhoea,” of “eating our words,” of “chewing over an idea” and so on.

The Latin proverb, Mens sana in corpora sano (“A healthy mind in a healthy body”), underlines the relationship between physical vitality and mental alertness.

If the Spleen/Pi governs the power of thought at the mental level, at the emotional level it governs feelings of concern both for oneself and others.

Next week I’ll look at how to nourish the Spleen/Pi.

David Foley

MNIMH, MRCHM

Medical Herbalist

Detoxifacation

2012-01-12T17:37:00.000Z

One of the body’s natural means of staying healthy is its ability to detoxify itself. Because the concept of toxins has historically been so closely linked with the body’s natural discharges, any discussion of body toxins is bound to reveal our basic attitude to the body and its eliminations. Any attempt to achieve a sterile, toxin-free body can now be seen as a misguided one, arising from an ancient notion of the need to purify the “unclean temple” of the body.

Today we know that it is quite impossible to be totally toxin-free: the intestinal micro flora, the interstitial fluid and the connective tissue are always bathed in toxins of many kinds. The body maintains a balance through elimination and neutralisation of the body toxins in order to maintain health. As living beings, we cannot escape toxins.

An interesting example of the symbiotic relationship between the body and its “toxins” is in the digestive system. Our digestive system contains the intestinal micro flora, composed of hundreds of fungal and bacterial strains. The micro flora has been shown to perform essential functions such as vitamin and mineral production and utilisation, regulating intestinal pH and stimulating antibody production. When it becomes unbalanced - due to, for example, antibiotic drugs - it can lead to ill-health in an individual.

Body toxins can be divided into two types - ones created by the body itself and ones which result from accumulation of chemical and heavy metal environmental pollutants. Both may in turn predispose an individual to infection, especially viral, fungal and parasitic infections.

The organs of detoxification are the liver, kidneys, bowels, lungs and the skin. Avoiding harmful substances - such as junk food, drugs and smoke - as well as supporting the organs in their detoxifying action is vital in maintaining and restoring health. Sufficient fluid intake supports the eliminating function of the kidney, the bowels and the skin. We often forget the skin’s function as a detoxifying organ; yet many therapies rest on its ability to do so, including saunas, which promote sweating.

Healthy circulatory and lymphatic systems support detoxification. When these become sluggish, too many waste products are left behind in the tissues. Regular exercise and alternating hot and cold baths invigorate both circulatory and lymphatic systems.

Fasting is a very effective method of detoxification, though it is only appropriate for individuals in good health. It is unwise to fast if unwell, weak or with a weak digestive system (e.g. peptic ulcers).

Many herbal remedies have been used to aid the body in both neutralising and eliminating toxins. Remedies to aid the eliminating function of the kidneys include Dandelion Leaf, Cleavers and Celery seed - these herbs will help the kidneys pass metabolites like uric acid and urea, which can cause joint and muscle pains.

The liver is the main organ of both elimination and neutralisation. Remedies like Dandelion root, Gentian Root, Milk-thistle and Sheep’s Sorrel will greatly aid this vital organ in its job of keeping the body’s balance of toxins in the correct proportion in order to maintain good health.

At this time of year with the days getting longer, it was always traditional to aid the body in its work by taking a good Detox, and with it came hope for a new start to the New Year and all its possibilities.

David Foley
MNIMH, MRCHM
Medical Herbalist

Low Blood Sugar and Chronic Fatigue

2011-11-29T16:55:00.001Z

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

2011-11-22T17:43:00.001Z

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

2011-11-15T17:16:00.001Z

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

2011-11-08T17:32:00.000Z

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

2011-10-25T15:16:00.000+01:00

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

2011-10-04T17:52:00.000+01:00

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

2011-09-13T17:56:00.001+01:00

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

New Product! Pure Papaya Ointment 25g

2011-08-09T17:57:00.000+01:00

Phytocare's Papaya Ointment with Calendula is formulated to protect, soothe and moisturise your skin. This new and improved formula has an ALL NATURAL moisture-rich base of skin-loving ingredients, including Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil, Macadamia Oil and Vitamin E, providing increased moisturising properties and improved consistency.

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

2011-08-09T17:46:00.000+01:00

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

2011-07-19T17:06:00.000+01:00

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

2011-06-16T17:53:00.001+01:00

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

2011-06-16T17:38:00.000+01:00

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

Exam Time - and what you can do to boost your brain

2011-05-11T17:57:00.000+01:00

Many households with teenage children are now getting ready for exams. This time can be very stressful for both, the children doing the exams as well as the parents! This week I would like to look at ways to improve intelligence and memory.

Most people believe that intelligence is something you are born with and there is nothing you can do to change it. While there is clearly an inherent component to intelligence, psychologists tell us that we use less than 1% of our intellectual capacity and that every day we think thousands of thoughts, the vast majority of which are repeats! Imagine what would happen if we could focus all our mental energy on the task at hand and tap into a full potential.

The brain and nervous system, our mental “hardware,” consist of a network of neurons, special cells that are capable of forming tens of thousands of connections with others. All this hardware comes from the food we eat and therefore the nutrients we consume are vital to the functions of our brains and our intelligence.

Neurotransmitters such as serotonin, which is involved in mood, or adrenalin which gives us motivation, or acetylcholine which is vital for good memory, are made from the amino acids in the protein we eat. However, their production in the brain depends on vitamins and minerals, these micronutrients help form glucose into energy, amino acid into neurotransmitters, essential fats into more complex fats like GLA or DHA.

In a study at Swansea University, 60 schoolchildren were put on a special multivitamin and mineral supplement to test brain function. After eight months on the supplement, the non-verbal IQ’s had risen by over 10 points! This study, published in the Lavcet in 1988, has been proven many times in other studies.

Particularly important for brain development are the essential fatty acids and phospholipids that form part of the structure of brain cell membranes. Low levels of essential fatty acids are also associated with lower levels of intelligence. Many studies have shown that an optimal intake of essential fats, especially Omega 3 fats, improves intelligence, reduces aggression and enhances mood.

While “good” chemicals and nutrients can improve mental function, “bad” chemicals can and do reduce your intelligence. A diet high in sugar and refined carbohydrates will reduce intelligence. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that the higher the intake of refined carbohydrates the lower the IQ. In fact, the difference between the high-sugar consumers and the low-sugar consumers was a staggering 25 points. Caffeine and alcohol are another two chemicals which have a negative effect on our intelligence.

To summarize, here are some simple guidelines for improving memory and mental performance:

· Reduce your intake of stimulants such as coffee, tea, chocolate and cola, and of sugar and refined foods.

· Take fish, seeds or their oils every day.

· Eat Omega 3 rich eggs.

· Take a good multivitamin and mineral supplement.

· Eat a good breakfast, like porridge or muesli, each morning.

· Sleep at least 8 hours each night with some of the hours before midnight

· Stay calm – take Bach’s Rescue Remedy as needed.

Age Related Macular Degeneration, and how to treat it

2011-04-27T17:36:00.000+01:00

Age Related Macular Degeneration (A.R.M.D.) is the leading cause of blindness in the elderly in Ireland. Macular Degeneration is the deterioration or breakdown of the Macula. The Macula is the part of the eye responsible for fine vision. When the Macula does not function correctly, your central vision can be affected by blurriness, dark areas or distortion. Age Related Macular Degeneration affects your ability to see near and far, and can make some activities like reading difficult or impossible.

Although Macular Degeneration reduces vision in the central part of the retina, it usually does not affect the eyes side, or peripheral vision. For example you can see the outline of a clock but not be able to tell what time it is.

The major risk factors for A.R.M.D. are smoking, artheriosclerosis and blood pressure.

Apparently, the degeneration is a result of free radical damage; similar to the type of damage that induces cataracts (the primary cause of decreased vision in the elderly). However, decreased blood and oxygen supply to the retina is the prelude and key factor leading to Macular Degeneration.

Because the Macula is very rich in antioxidants, scientists think that giving the right nutritional supplements to people at risk might help slow the process.

A Queens University Belfast trial gave a supplement containing Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Zinc and the Carotenoids Lutein and Zeaxanthin which are found in leafy vegetables such as spinach, to 400 volunteers. These 400 volunteers, who have A.R.M.D. in a least on eye, found the supplement slowed the degeneration and sharpened vision.

The two most common types of A.R.M.D. are ‘dry’ and ‘wet’.

The ‘wet’ form accounts for about 10% of A.R.M.D. It results from the growth of abnormal blood vessels underneath the retina. These new blood cells leak fluid or blood and blur central vision. Vision loss may be rapid and severe. This type can be treated quite effectively with laser photocoagulation therapy. Quick treatment of the ‘wet’ type is important.

Treatment of the ‘dry’ type is with supplements. In the USA a number of large scientific studies have found that people with a risk of developing A.R.M.D. lowered their risk by about 25% when treated with a high dose combination of vitamin C and E, beta-carotene and Zinc.

A fruit with a long history of use in treating eyesight problems is the Blueberry or Bilberry. It has a special role to play in protection the small blood vessels of the retina of the eye. These berries in addition to protecting the blood vessels of the eyes also increase blood supply to the retina, one of the major causes of macular degeneration. Blueberries are also advised if you suffer from diabetes, due to the protective effect on the blood vessels of the retina which can become damaged in people with diabetes.

The effects of taking a good eye health supplement and blueberries can be dramatic in people with failing eyesight, but the real benefit is over years it’s even more effective -studies over a period of five years gave the best results.

David Foley MNIMH, MRCHM, Medical Herbalist

Allergies

2011-04-12T17:58:00.000+01:00

Every spring we see may people enduring weeks of sneezing and sniffing as the hay fever season sets in.
   What's more, more and more people seem to be falling prey to hay fever. It seems that up to 12% of the population now gets hay fever here in Ireland. The hay fever season is also getting longer too.
   Sniffing and sneezing are the most common symptoms, but for some the problem can be worse - itching eyes, nose and throat are often experienced, while chronic tiredness, poor appetite, nausea and headaches are also reported by hay fever sufferers.
   Hay fever is an allergy, an overreaction of an immune system to a particular substance in the environment. It is not known exactly what causes the immune system to react so strongly, but the number of allergic responses is definitely on the rise, indicating environmental and lifestyle causes. There is now a theory that our over - clean lifestyle may be a cause to the increased allergy in children. Studies which follow children health and the environment that they live in, had found that children that live on farms are less likely to suffer hay fever than children from cities with little or no contact with animals.
   Hay fever is arguably the most common allergy in Ireland, with up to 1 in 400 - 21 year olds experiencing symptoms. Pollinating trees and flowers irritate the mucus membranes in early spring, and freshly cut grasses and weeds tend to be more of a summer problem.
   Symptoms can be worse when our immune system is not working well. Eating a diet of refined carbohydrates (white bread, cakes, biscuits and sugar), saturated fats (animal fats), transfatty acids, artificial flavourings and colorants, with little or no fruit and vegetables - a common diet of today’s children will simply not supply the nutrients that our body and immune system needs to work optimally. Also today, we are exposed to a host of environmental toxins, pollutant, irritants and potential allergens that were not in existence even 20 years ago.
   This combination of poor diet and continual onslaught to our immune systems from today's environment is laying the basis for weakened immunity.
   So what can be done? If you suffer from hay fever, its best to start early in the season, so that our immune system is working well before the allergens start flying.
   Begin treatment with a short, cleansing juice fast, with drinks made from chlorophyll - rich green and leafy vegetables to help purify the blood. Avoid fatty meats and processed dairy products which are mucus forming. Stop sugar if possible, eliminating sugar from the diet, including natural sugar from concentrated fruit juices goes a long way towards helping normalize the immune system.
   Herbs that can normalize, or strengthen our immune systems should be taken before the hay fever season starts for best results, but if it's already started they will give excellent results.
   Two herbs which I have found very useful in treating allergies are Reishi mushrooms and Astragalus.
   Astragalus has been used by the Chinese for thousands of years to treat allergies and weakened immunity. It can be taken by anyone, it has very few side - effects and can be taken over a very long time without any side - effects. It is very useful for children with allergies.
   Reishi mushrooms also have a long history of use by both the Chinese and Japanese. It has a great reputation for preventing cancer and normalizing ones immune system. It is very effective in preventing allergies such as hey fever or chronic sinusitis.

David Foley MNIMH, MRCHM Medical Herbalist

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2011-04-06T17:49:00.000+01:00

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