The Thymus gland and the Immune System May 28, 2010

The Thymus gland is situated under the breastbone at the top of the chest, just below the Thyroid Gland. It is the major gland of our immune system, responsible for many functions, including the production of T Lymphocytes – a type of white blood cell responsible for cell mediated immunity rather than antibody controlled immunity. Cell mediated immunity is extremely important in forming resistance to infection by mold-like bacteria, yeasts, fungi, parasites and viruses (including Epstein -Barr and Herpes Simplex). It is also critical in protecting us from the development of cancer and allergies.

The Thymus gland also releases several hormones which regulate many immune functions and low levels of these are associated with depressed immunity and increased susceptibility to infection. Thymic hormones are frequently very low in the elderly, AIDS patients and cancer patients ( especially those who have undergone Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy) and high stress levels deplete them more.

There are three main areas where you can do things to improve your Thymus function and boost your immunity.

1. Prevent  Thymus damage and involution (shrinkage). The Thymus is extremely susceptible to free radical and oxidative damage caused by radiation, infection, stress, exposure to high levels of pollution or chemotherapy drugs and chronic illness. Anti-oxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, glutathione, zinc and beta-carotene, anti-oxidant herbs like Astragalus and certain mushroom extracts can all help to prevent Thymus damage and enhance cell mediated immunity.
2. There are many nutrients that are important in the production, secretion and function of thymic hormones. Deficiencies of any one of these nutrients can result in decreased thymic hormone function and impaired immune function. Zinc is particularly effective in restoring depressed immunity and low levels of zinc usually cause a lack of sense of smell and taste. Vitamin B6 and vitamin C are also critical nutrients and because they are water soluble and not stored in the body it is vital to maintain a sufficient daily intake.
3. Stimulation of Thymus gland activity can be by high quality thymus extracts, either by capsule supplements or by a series of injections depending on condition of the immune system. I have seen someone who had a depressed white blood cell count of 2,500-3000 for 2 years following Radiotherapy and chemotherapy (the normal range is 4,000-10,000) rise to 5,300 after one course of Thymus injections and rising to 9,400 three months later. For more information click Thymus-Therapy The immune enhancing effects of thymus extract have been can be useful in treating the following conditions:

• Lowered resistance or susceptiblity to infection.
• Degenerative conditions of the spine and joints, including Rheumatoid arthritis.
• Autoimmune diseases – RA, ulcerative colitis, Chrohn’s disease etc.
• Metabolic disturbances such as Diabetes and gout.
• Diseases of the heart and circulation.
• Chronic inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract, the liver, the gallbladder, the kidneys or the prostate gland.
• Thymus peptides can also be used as a supplementary measure in the treatment of cancer (pre- and post- operative treatment and for reduction of side effects during and after Radiation and chemotherapy)
• Also as a prophylatic measure against precancerous conditions in people who have a hereditary predispoition to cancer.

Other herbs which positively effect the thymus gland include liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) and European mistletoe (Viscum Album). The most well known, often taken to prevent colds, is Echinacea angustiflolia but this should be taken with care by people who have an autoimmune disease.

If you wish to supplement with Thymus Enzyme Capsules (dirived from calf thymus) then a quality product is very important and there are many on the market. I have used products from a company called Enzymatic Therapy and they have 2 products – Thymulus and Thymuplex.

The True Magic of Mushrooms February 28, 2010

For centuries we have known that certain mushrooms have a beneficial effect on health but only more recently have the active compounds contained within them been isolated and studied.

Our immune systems are extremely complex and in order to protect us from bacteria and viruses and also genetic mistakes during cellular reproduction that result in cancer growth, these complex systems need to be in balance.

Nature has provided us with many plants and herbs that enhance overall immunity. Immune -potentiating botanicals are also used to increase the effectiveness of drugs and reduce side effects. The Chinese call this Fu Zheng therapy, which means to support the body’s natural balance. Zheng (also called Zheng Qi) is translated as meaning life energy, activity and resistance and when it is deficient a favourable environment for cancer is created.In Western terms the immune systems surveillance function fails to discover and suppress the growth of cancerous or mutated cells. The flow of “Qi” (sometimes spelled Chi) may be disrupted by poor nutrition, lifestyle, overwork, stress repressed or excessive emotions and lack of exercise. This Zheng qi, or Qi, is also damaged by the core medical treatments for cancer, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and in China and Japan Fu Zheng therapy has been used alongside these therapies with significantly improved outcomes.

If you have an immune compromised condition (eg. cancer, AIDS, leukemia or chronic infections such as Epstein-barr virus) then learn how to boost your immune system using mushrooms, plants, acupuncture, Qi Gong and with a good diet, supplements and lifestyle.

The technical advance is that we now know that many of the botanicals used in Fu Zheng therapy contain polysaccharides beta-1,6 glucan and beta-1,3 glucan. Beta-glucans are known as “biological response modifiers” and they specifically stimulate the innate branch of the immune system. Research has shown that beta-glucans stimulate macrophage, NK (Natural killer) cells, T cells and the production of immune system cytokines. They may also enhance Dendritic Cell function. Recent research has shown that frequently immune suppression means that these cells may be produced but may not mature and therefore not function as they should.

Obviously not everyone has access to an Integrated Oncologist or a Chinese Medicine Practitioner but there are products on the market like ” Immiflex” and “Biobran” (made from rice) and there are mushroom extracts, Astragalus, and other botanicals that can be taken alongside conventional therapy to minimise the damage and the side effects. Some mushrooms have specific action against certain cancers or conditions – for instance Turkey tail and Agaricus have been shown to kill sarcoma in laboratory conditions when few chemotherapy drugs have any effect. For a chart detailing specific actions of each kind of mushroom please see the link to Paul Stamets website, below. Shiitake, Maitake, Reishi and Oyster mushrooms are some of the more well-known varieties with very well documented research.

So, if you have a compromised immune system, try some Eastern therapies to improve your immune function, your Qi and your wellbeing and you will be amazed by how effective they can be.

My favourite sites for information on Mushrooms and extracts are:

www.healthy.net

wikipedia on Medicinal mushrooms

Paul Stamets Mushrooms

See also  http://cancer2resolution.blogspot.com

Change the World Wednesdays September 7, 2009

I have joined this group for environmental change, please click here for more information.

The idea behind the Challenge is that the group pick a new green challenge every Wednesday. Join the group and make a difference.

Sorry, got stuck in UK with the volcanic dust cloud – so a little late with this challenge.

Wednesday 26th May

Our challenge, today, comes from my friend, Connie Mishali, who has taken a break from blogging but still drops in, occasionally, to check things out. This week we’re going back to plastic bags … specifically plastic produce bags. We’ve learned to say “no” at the checkout stand … now we’re going to say “no” in the produce department. Here it is:

This week refuse to use plastic produce bags. Instead, opt for reusable bags such as cotton mesh bags available at many stores, small canvas totes which you may have around … or no bag at all (not all produce needs to be bagged).

Or …

If you never use plastic produce bags, please tell us what you use instead.

What do you think? Can you do it?

Wednesday 19th May
This week, give up single-serving foods. No single-serving containers of yogurt, pudding or jello. No single-serving snacks or drinks. Eliminate individually wrapped slices of cheese and fruit cups. Basically, if a container holds only one serving … don’t buy it.

Or …

If you never buy single-serve foods, please share other ways in which one can reduce packaging waste at the grocery store.

Wednesday 28th April
This week remove, or begin to phase out, antibacterial products from your home (specifically those products containing Triclosan). Why? Antibacterial products contribute to new strains of antibiotic-resistant “super-bugs”. They are toxic chemicals which also pollute waterways and affect the environment. So this week … get rid of them.

Or …

If you have already rid your home of antibacterial products, please write a post about all the commonly used products which contain Triclosan and suggest alternatives.

Wednesday 14th April
This week, plant something. This can be as large as a vegetable garden or landscaping a yard … or as small as planting an herb garden in a container for your window. You can plant by seeds … or transplant something from your local garden shop. The idea, here, is simply to plant something.

Or …

If you’ve already been busy planting, we’d like to hear about it. So, please write a post about your planting adventures and include why it’s good for the earth.

I have planted a small fig tree and I am looking for a Comfrey plant as this is the best for making green manure for the rest of the garden – although it does smell pretty awful as liquid manure it does the soil a lot of good. Also it appears that writing about trees is a popular subject…my post on Olive trees gets more hits than any other! The most interesting and health giving vegetables to grow would definately be several varieties of mushrooms but they do need specialised knowledge and conditions.

Wednesday 7th April
This week, please visit “Stop Global Warming” and use their Carbon Calculator. Then, choose at least one activity, improve it, and at the end of the week use the Carbon Calculator again to measure the improvement. This challenge is all about awareness! Be sure to come back here and tell us what changes you made to improve your score.

Wednesday 31st March Easy challenge for me this week – eat wholefoods as much as you can this week. I made up a new recipe that would be quick, tasty and easy and also highly nutritious, full of cancer fighting ingredients.

Curry Bean Soup

Ingredients

• chopped onion and 3 cloves garlic
• pre-cooked white beans
• about 200g chopped tomatoes
• small bunch coriander (cilantro) chopped
• 2 tsp. Tumeric
• 1 tsp. Garam Masarla or Moroc spice
• 1 tsp Cumin powder
• chilli pepper to taste.
• 1-2 oz of chopped seaweed such as Nori soaked in 4ozs cold water.
• chicken or vegetable stock

Fry the onion and garlic gently in a little Olive oil until lightly brown. Add the spices and fry for 1 minute. Add all the other ingredients and simmer slowly for about 10 minutes.

Magnesium – the very important millennium mineral. September 5, 2009

65% of patients admitted to Intensive Care Units have a magnesium deficiency and up to 40% of the general population have also been found to be deficient in this very important mineral.

Magnesium is mentioned rarely (certainly not as much as calcium) and yet it is vital to so many functions in the body. Stress depletes the body of magnesium as well as the B vitamins that work with magnesium and therefore if you have been under a lot of stress it will be beneficial to supplement with both of these nutrients for a while. In this stressful era we need more magnesium, it is the mineral of relaxation, but we tend to get  less because of our heavier reliance on fast foods and alcohol.

Magnesium – what does it do?

• it aids detoxification
• relaxes the system to diminish – irritability, anxiety, unstable emotions, muscle spasms, insomnia, low back pain, constipation.
• it raises HDL (good) cholesterol and lowers LDL cholesterol
• it lowers blood pressure – if given I/V as soon as possible after a heart attack it improves survival.
• it is a useful treatment in Angina
• helps lower eye pressure in Glaucoma
• improves Insulin production and utilization in Type II diabetes
• lessens headaches and migraines and is useful to aid coffee withdrawal.
• works with calcium to maintain healthy bones
• regulates the absorption of other nutrients and the action of enzymes in our bodies
• is essential in the Krebs cycle (energy)
• helps to regulate body temperature
• it is essential for nerve and muscle function

Here are some of the symptoms that magnesium deficiency can cause:-

• muscle weakness
• abnormal heart rhythms or palpitations
• tiredness
• loss of appetite
• cramps
• fits
• high blood pressure ( magnesium is the natural Calcium channel Blocker)
• insomnia
• sensitivity to loud noises
• anxiety
• difficulty swallowing

Anyone who has any of these symptoms or who suffers from Fibromyalgia, Chronic fatigue, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Heart disease, Kidney Stones or Attention Deficit Disorder could benefit from taking 400 – 1000mgs magnesium supplement but anyone with heart disease or kidney disease should discuss this with their doctor first. The most absorbable forms are citrate, glycinate or aspartate so avoid the cheaper forms that are not well absorbed. If you take too much magnesium it will cause diarrhoea.

Low magnesium and high sodium – a recipe for cancer.

Magnesium is essential in moderating the levels of potassium (high) and sodium (low) in all our cells. If you are low on magnesium and eat lots of salty foods then the cells can become poisoned, low on oxygen, low on potassium and produce less energy. The acidity within the cells then goes up which impairs the chemical reactions and reduces the oxygen even further. Cells reproducing in this toxic state are more likely to mutate.

The best sources of magnesium are:-

• cocoa powder and dark chocolate 70% cocoa solids or more
• seaweeds like Kelp, Nori, Dulse, Kombu etc.
• Nuts – Brazil nuts, Pine nuts, Cashew nuts, Hazelnuts, Walnuts and Almonds
• Seeds – sunflower seeds, sesame seeds.
• Soya – mince and beans
• Liquorice
• Wheat germ and wheat bran
• Millet
• Rye
• Brown rice
• Dark green leafy vegetables
• Figs and dates
• Beans
• Garlic

For a quick fix prior to going to bed try soaking in a hot bath with 2 Tablespoons of Epsom Salts (Magnesium Sulfate)added to the water and a few drops of a relaxing essential oil such as Lavender or Chamomile, the magnesium will be absorbed through the skin and you should sleep like a baby!

The Amazing Olive Tree August 24, 2009

This is an amazing tree that gives us so much. There are over 500 different species of olive and the trees have grown throughout the Mediterranean regions for thousands of years. They were cultivated by the Minoan people living on the island of Crete (2700-1200 B.C.)

Their height is usually reduced for easier cultivation but if left they can grow to a majestic 15m or more  and survive for several centuries.

The trees have a natural resistance to most diseases and recover well from heavy pruning or even fire damage.

Almost all parts of the olive tree are beneficial to mankind except the pollen, which an increasing number of people have a sensitivity to and several hundred even to the point of needing hospital treatment each year.

The olive wood is used to make bowls, plates, spoons and ornaments and is still a very important fuel for home use.

The olive branch is a worldwide symbol for peace.

The leaves of the tree can be made into a tea and have medicinal uses.

The olives and their oil are very valuable and the world market for these products increases as we become more aware of their health-giving properties.

Olives and Olive Oil are

• rich in the monosaturated  oleic acid 55-85%  an omega-9 fatty acid. It has been shown to reduce LDL Cholesterol and raise HDL the protective Cholesterol.
• contains the polyunsaturated fats linoleic (9%) and linolenic (0-1.5%)
• contains good amounts of Vitamin E anti-oxidant
• contains vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, C (3%), E and K
• contains minerals Ca, P, Fe, Na & K
• contains flavenoid polyphenols which have been shown to heal sunburn, lower B/P, Cholesterol and risk of heart disease. There are 5mg in every 10g of olive oil. Many other nut and seed oils have no polyphenols.
• contains phyto-oestrogen
• The combined anti-inflammatory effect of these ingredients have also been shown to protect against colon cancer and breast cancer.

OLIVE OIL

Some of the main oil producing varieties

In Greece  -  koroneiki and mastoidis

In Italy  -  caratina, frantoio, leccino and moraiolo

In Spain  -  arbequina, cornicabra, emeltre, hojiblanco, lechin and picual

In France  -  aglandau, picholine and tanche

There are many other varieties that can be grown in countries of the Mediterranean

like Turkey, Portugal,  and around the world like China, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand  and the  USA.

Some producers still harvest the oil with screw or hydraulic presses where the olives are reduced to a paste by crushing and separated from the pits and then pressed. The first cold pressing that has been allowed to drain naturally can be slightly cloudy and is called “Fleur d’huile”.  Apparently Spain’s best is Nunez de Prado from Baena Province. Cold pressed, according to EU. regulations means the paste has to be kept under 27C (80F). This is now an almost obsolete term as the vast majority of oil is made in continuous centrifugal presses and there is no second pressing. To obtain a good yield the paste needs to be warmed to about room temperature but not heated too much as that would degrade the flavour and that would be less profitable. The first pressings of oil contain components in suspension, the particles that give olive oil its most therapeutic properties.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil is one of the few oils that can be eaten without chemical processing. It is not an oil that should be used for general cooking. It is for salads, mayonnaise, and just enjoying on fresh bread etc. Top quality Extra Virgin oil must have less than 1% acidity. There is a growing interest in oils made from a single variety of olive. Some of these have amazing flavour and need nothing more than a chunk of fresh bread, some olives, Serrano ham or quality cheese for a wonderful lunch.

Virgin Olive Oil has to have an acidity of not more than 2% but is also made using only mechanical or physical means and at temperatures that do not alter the oil in any way. This should also have a good flavour and the degree of acidity refers to the free fatty acids, not to the taste.

Pure Olive Oil or Olive Oil usually a blend of refined and virgin oil, up to 1.5% acidity but usually lacking a strong flavour.

Aceite de orugo is oil extracted chemically from the left- over paste. It might then have about 15% Virgin Oil added for the flavour. Not often sold at retail but used in food processing or certain forms of cooking.

Refined Olive Oil is made from oil that has a high acidity or defects which can be eliminated by refining with charcoal and other chemical and physical filters. It has an end acidity of not more than 0.3%

The grading of Olive oil in the USA is as below:

Grade A – US Fancy with fatty acids not more than 1.4%

Grade B – US Choice with fatty acids not more than 2.5%

Grade C – US Standard with fatty acids not more than 3%

Grade D – US Substandard with fatty acids not more than 3% that fails to meet the requirements of C

Denominacion de Origen ( D.O.)

As with the wine system, the best olive producing areas are given D.O. status and the quality of their products is carefully regulated.

Olive Oil products include soap, shampoo (which is good for dandruff and also for treating head lice), bath oils, face creams, nail soaks and treatments for psoriasis, eczema and acne.

The Fruit of the Olive tree – Olives.

Olives are harvested from September to October for green olives and November to February for the ripened black olives. Olives cannot be eaten straight from the tree as they are extremely bitter and they need either chemical or soaking treatment followed by storage in brine, vinegar or oil. Olives vary in flavour depending on type and  treatment. If you have tried some and not liked them please don’t give up! I hate the ones that have been in vinegar or strong brine but if re-bottled in a good olive oil with flavourings such as sprigs of Rosemary, coriander seeds and garlic or preserved lemon they can be delicious. Olives have many health benefits. They contain over 80 nutrients including iron, vitamin E, copper and fibre. They offer beneficial anti-inflammatory effects helping with conditions like asthma, arthritis and they are high in anti-oxidants that can help to prevent heart disease, strokes and colon cancer.

Olive Leaf Extract

The Olive leaf has been known to have medicinal properties for thousands of years. The ancient Egyptian and Mediterranean cultures used the leaves to treat a variety of conditions. The leaf contains the anti-oxidants oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol, as well as polyphenols and flavanoids like Oleocanthal.

Olive leaf extract is used to fight viral infections and even the difficult to treat Epstein-Barr disease, shingles, herpes and yeast infections. Also good for the heart because of its ability to lower LDL Cholesterol and blood pressure. It is used to boost the immune system, treat chronic fatigue syndrome, maintain normal DNA repair and boost energy. It can also reduce blood sugar. There is some evidence that it can help in cancer treatment and it may be contained in herbal tinctures. It sounds like it could be helpful in treating Swine Flu and the post viral fatigue that follows it.

Side Effect because the lowering of blood pressure and blood sugar can be significant Olive leaf extract should be taken with caution by anyone who is on medication for either condition or by people who naturally have low blood pressure or low blood sugar problems.

To make Olive Leaf Tea

Simmer a handful of leaves in a pan of water for 10 minutes and then strain off the liquid to drink as required. It is not a strong or unpleasant taste. You could add fresh mint, lemon  or ginger according to taste.

Enjoy all this amazing tree has to offer.

If you like the photos in this blog and would like to see more from Spain please click here.

Are you dependant on drugs? August 12, 2009

Do you carry painkillers, antacids and anti-inflammatory drugs around with you? Is your bathroom cupboard overflowing with quick fixes for headaches, indigestion and constipation or diarrhoea cures? Many people are reliant on these and do not realise that the answer to better health doesn’t lie with the regular ingestion of synthetic substances produced by the pharmacology industry. Better health comes from treating your body with care and from regularly providing it with the nutrients it needs to keep healthy. Over the last 10 years over 75 drugs have been changed from prescription only to over the counter – it is important that we know the side effects and contra-indications – if in doubt ask your pharmacist.

Usually we know what causes our digestive problems – if we have had far too much to drink and end up with our head down the toilet most of the night we know we don’t need a doctor; if we overslept, skipped breakfast and survived the day on multiple cups of coffee and a chocolate bar then we shouldn’t be surprised if we get hot sweats, the shakes, stomach ache and can’t sleep……most people abuse their digestive system on a regular basis and sometimes that abuse becomes the norm.

Our digestive systems are the front-line of the battlefield with stress, our interface with the outside world. When the system is working well it protects you, keeping what should be out -out and absorbing the fluids and nutrients that your body needs. It is a delicate balance and if we don’t react to symptoms in the right way we can end up with long-term problems and diseases.

Some common problems and quick nutritional fixes….

• Eaten too much or too heavy a meal
  

- go for a gentle walk, don’t lie down. Lying down can give you reflux and heartburn, going for a walk helps the digestive process.

- sip pineapple juice or an effervescent Vitamin C drink. Taking antacids can make things worse because you need stomach acids to digest the food.

• Indigestion or abdominal pain after a meal distended and windy or burping

- try strong peppermints, peppermint or anise tea or anise liqueur nothing works quicker with trapped wind.

• ‘Stressed’ guts  - if we have been stressed or too busy to eat and drink properly our guts get inflamed and don’t work properly and this makes us more stressed. On a busy split -shift, during my nurse training, I could eat a whole box of chocolates – even down to the ones I didn’t like!

To get our digestion back on track as quickly as possible we need soothing remedies and easily digested foods.

Breakfast – leave the coffee and strong tea until later and have a mug of warm water with a slice of lemon and a little honey: a yogurt or a pro-biotic drink; a Vitamin B complex capsule (50 -75 mg preferably time-release); a flax seed oil capsule as a natural anti-inflammatory or a breakfast smoothie with ground up flax seeds in it (see recipe in a previous post) or cooked oats with a little honey or maple syrup.

Magnesium is essential for the enzyme systems in our digestive tract so make sure you get more magnesium by snacking on nuts like almonds, brazils etc. and eating leafy green vegetables and maybe a little dark chocolate ( 70% cocoa solids or more). If constipated a magnesium supplement is a gentle treatment.

If you have fruit juice only drink it in small quantities or dilute with water. Cut down on coffee, tea and alcohol and drink more water, herb teas or green tea. Jasmin tea is very relaxing and is a good one to try if you are not used to herbal teas.

Eat little and often rather than going 4 hours or more between meals and don’t eat ‘on the run’. If you have been rushing to prepare a meal pause when you sit to eat – take a deep breath, close your eyes and be aware of the saliva flowing into your mouth and know that you are ready to enjoy your food. A few seconds taken like this can help your enjoyment and digestion. Try to eat ‘consciously’ as much as you can and if you are not enjoying it – don’t eat it!

If you can do this for a few days your whole body will feel better for it. Don’t go back to your old ways as soon as you feel better – incorporate some of these things on a regular basis and your energy levels will increase.

BlogCatalog July 26, 2009

Link to more websites with health information from here.

Why we need an Integrated Health Service or ‘ lets put the heart and soul back into medicine’ July 25, 2009

“The doctor of the future will give no medicine but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame,

in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease.” Thomas Edison 1847 – 1931.

I’m sure everyone who has been interested in Alternative and Complimentary medical therapies over the years will have heard of this quote. It was extremely popular 25-30 years ago when Alternative medical practices were gaining more recognition. The problem then was that ‘Alternative’ often came across as ‘anti’ medicine and Thomas Edison’s quote supported this with “…..will give no medicine”. Even in the 1930′s Edison knew that medicine would have to evolve, to become more holistic but maybe he should have said “…will give no medicine without interesting his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet etc.”

Now, more than ever, we need to interest and educate people on how to look after themselves. Our surgeries and hospitals are over burdened with a population suffering chronic symptoms and diseases for which there are no quick-fix medicines. Arthritis, Asthma, Allergies, Auto-immune disease, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Diabetes, Fibromyalgia, Heart disease, Inflammatory Bowel disease, Depression, Menstrual and Menopausal symptoms and cancer are all medical problems that have increased appallingly. These problems are difficult and time consuming for health-care services who, frequently, fail to adequately treat and therefore  the patients  end up disillusioned and with a poor quality of life. We know that the doctors are over-worked so we don’t even bother them with symptoms like constipation, diarrhoea, excess weight, swollen ankles, fatigue, lack of concentration or memory, headaches, heartburn, joint pain and muscular aches and pains, we just treat ourselves with over the counter medications that TV adverts have shown us should work, strong anti-inflammatory drugs that used to be available only on prescription that can now be bought in a supermarket or medicines that can be bought over the Internet without proper medical advice.

46% of the UK population (apparently a high proportion of Doctors amongst them) visit Complementary or Alternative practitioners and this number has been steadily growing despite the fact that the costs can be quite high and are not often covered by the Health Service or the Insurance companies.

Why?

• because we feel the need for a better quality of consultation and more opportunity to voice our problems and concerns.
• because the treatment we seek needs to be more in line with our values concerning health and life.
• because we are searching for a better solution and not just an escalating list of prescription medications.
• because we want to be educated in how best to help ourselves.

So we have been going through a period of change and nearly half of the population are voting with their feet, educating themselves about their medical condition and demanding more from their health-care providers. We now need to move into an era of truly Integrated Medicine where medical treatment could involve diet, nutritional support, massage, reflexology, Acupuncture, Meditation, Hypnotherapy, Homeopathy, Herbalism, counselling etc. Evidence based methods that have been proven to promote health and well-being and tailored to each individual. This is not ‘pie in the sky stuff ‘ and these are not ‘new-age’ therapies and they are not a threat to Doctors. Hopefully, by expanding these practices both the doctors and the patients will have more support and will be empowered. Thirty years ago, in the NHS, I saw Acupuncture used for anaesthesia and to treat chronic nerve pain, many hospitals use reflexology and massage for cancer patients and hypnotherapy is used to help patients stop smoking and to treat phobias. Homeopathy is already covered within the NHS  probably because doctors  can gain the qualification on a Post graduate course.

Now a ground-breaking new course has been set up in the UK  in Bath, Somerset, for a Post Graduate Diploma in the Study of Integrated Medicine (Dip SIM). This Diploma is designed for doctors and nurses ” who wish to put the heart and soul back into Medicine.” Lets hope that it is the first of many and we see a strong move towards this new model of pro-active medicine and that it will soon become mainstream.

Laughter is the best Medicine! July 22, 2009

Having just written the last post I checked my e-mails and found this Joke.

Yesterday I was at my local supermarket buying a large bag of Purina Dog food for my loyal pet and was at the checkout when the woman behind me asked if I had a dog.

What did she think I had, an elephant? So, on impulse, I told her that no, I didn’t have a dog, I was starting the Purina Diet again. I added that I probably shouldn’t because I ended up in hospital last time, but before I awakened in Intensive Care with tubes coming out of my orifices and IV’s in both arms I had lost 50 lbs.

I told her that it was essentially a perfect diet and that the way it works is to stuff your pockets with Purina nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry. The food is nutritionally complete so it works well and that is why I was going to try it again. (By now everyone in the queue was enthralled by my story).

Horrified, she asked if I ended up in Intensive care because the dog food had poisoned me.

I told her no, I stepped off the curb to smell an Irish setter’s bum and a car hit us both.

Pro-active Nutrition July 22, 2009

I love this title which you may have seen on a certain brand of Pet Food! Huge amounts of money are spent on advertising Pet Food and and getting us to feed our pets a balanced diet containing amino acids, omega oils, vitamins and minerals. If you are trying to increase the nutritional content of your food then try some of these ideas – they will taste a lot better than the dog food.

First of all whether you are trying to alkalize, increase the nutritional content of your diet or lose weight then nothing is better than adding some homemade soups. With busy lives it is quick to buy packet or tinned soups but these can have vary between 0 - 24% food content. I find the best way is to make a large batch of your own and freeze it in mugs or cups. Homemade soup will be 50 -60% food content and much more nutritious.

Super Soups

Saute in Olive oil chopped onion and then add any of the following (the more variety of vegetables the more nutritional it will be).

Carrot, squash, parsnip, celery, herbs, cabbage, kale or chard, some root ginger, garlic and a little sea salt. Add stock (chicken broth stimulates the immune system) or vegetable stock and water and simmer for about 1 hour. When the soup has cooled you can liquidise it or drain off the vegetables and just have the stock – depending on your appetite and digestion. If you freeze it in portions then to add variety you can add Shiitake or other mushroom one day and dried seaweed (Nori, kelp, Kombu, Dulse etc.) another. For a more substantial soup add lentils or beans and a little chopped meat and simmer until cooked.

Quick Italian Beans – one of my favourites. Can be eaten hot or cold.

Saute a chopped onion in 1-2 tbsp. Olive Oil. Add a jar of white canellini beans and some chopped fresh Rosemary with a small pinch of sea salt. This goes well in Pitta Bread, as a vegetable or salad with meat or tasty  lunch with cheese, beetroot and rocket.

Carrot and Raisin Salad

3 cups grated carrots, half cup chopped raisins, quarter cup toasted slivered almonds, quarter cup each of chopped parsley, celery and spring onion.  Dressing:- 6 tbsp. olive oil, 2 tbsps lemon juice, 1 teasp. maple syrup and 1 teasp. mustard whisk all ingredients and then add to salad and toss.