All posts by caloundranaturopath

Homotoxicology, Immune

What is Bio-regulatory (Homotoxicology) Medicine?

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A look at homotoxicology

Homotoxicology is one of the primary therapies used in formulas to address symptoms, promote detoxification/drainage, and support organ/cellular function.

Homotoxicology therapy addresses the whole pathology of an ill patient. It promotes self-healing, reduces and eliminates toxins, promotes organ and cellular function and supports a strong immune system. Homotoxicology is truly a holistic medicine to treat the whole patient, not just the symptoms.

One of the advantages of this modality is that the formulas have such broad and deep activity. Even a superficial knowledge of the combinations will produce startlingly good results. Homotoxicology is based on familiar symptom pictures, and is therefore a “take home” kind of therapy. It is safe for babies, children and pregnancy, as well as very easy to administer.

Read about Homotoxicology (Bio-regulatory medicine)in these articles: Peeling off the Layers and Understanding Inflammation.

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Bio-Puncture Articles, Pain

What is biopuncture?

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What is Bio-Puncture?

Bio-Puncture is a relatively new therapy in Australia designed to alleviate many types of pain. Bio-regulatory medicine or Homotoxicology is the specific, scientific concept behind Bio-Puncture.

Bio-Puncture uses small amounts of sterile saline solution injected subcutaneously (just below the skin), in conjuncture with oral homeopathic medicines. Depending on tissue type or organ requiring treatment, eg nerve, joint, muscle or liver, the injections and medicines stimulate a drainage and repair type program which is simple and very effective. Naturally symptoms are treated but Bio-Puncture goes further as  deeper and more long lasting healing is facilitated.

What conditions are treated with Bio-Puncture?

Commonly, conditions that can be assisted involve: pain, inflammation, spasms, scarring and immobility. It can be soft tissue or joints, nerve impingement (including sciatica), vertebral discs, or mucosal lining of the digestive system. What is important is the tissue type and reasons behind the inflammation and pain.

Muscoloskeletal problems that can be assisted with Bio-Puncture:

  • Sprains, strains, bruising
  • Fractures
  • Joint pain ie tendonitis, bursitis, frozen shoulder
  • Spasms ie neck, leg etc
  • Back pain, disc problems
  • Mild to moderate arthritis
  • Scarring ie surgery
  • Acute and chronic conditions
  • Trauma induced problems ie previous accidents/injuries

Who can use Bio-Puncture

The beauty about Bio-Puncture is that there is a wide variety of treatment options available. It can used in conjunction with conventional medicine, or as an alternative to it. It can be used to prevent surgical procedures and as a follow up after surgery, or when conventional medicine has not be effective.  It can be used to facilitate healing so the injury does not become chronic. Also there are no side effects so it is a very safe option for pain and inflammation.

Oral medicines can be used for infants, children and teenages or people who dont wish to have the injections.

Endocrine, Uncategorized

Understanding the endocrine System

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How important is it?

The endocrine system is a network of glands that help control the following processes and systems:
Growth and development
Homeostasis (the internal balance of body systems)
Metabolism (body energy levels)
Reproduction
Response to stimuli (stress and/or injury)

The endocrine system performs these functions through glands, which are small but highly important organs that produce, store, and secrete hormones into the bloodstream.

The glands of the endocrine system are:
Hypothalamus
Pineal Gland
Pituitary Gland
Thyroid
Parathyroid
Thymus
Adrenal
Pancreas
Ovaries
Testes

Mostly in clinic, I assist in treatment of HPA (Hypothalamus, Pituitary Adrenal -Axis) and HPTA (Hypothalamus, Pituitary Thyroid and Adrenal Axis).

Pancreas -insulin &  glucagon in the regulation of blood glucose

Thyroid -metabolism, which is your body’s ability to break down food and convert it to energy.

Adrenal the adrenal glands are two glands that sit on top of your kidneys that are made up of two distinct parts.

The adrenal cortex—the outer part of the gland—produces hormones that are vital to life, such as cortisol (which helps regulate metabolism and helps your body respond to stress) and aldosterone (which helps control blood pressure).
The adrenal medulla—the inner part of the gland—produces nonessential (that is, you don’t need them to live) hormones, such as adrenaline (which helps your body react to stress).

Digestive, Nutrition Articles

Basics of nutrition

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Dietary nutrition is vital to naturopathic principles and underpins all healing, homeostasis and re-juvination. Generally the idea is to reach a balance of pH in systemic tissue (ie around 6.8-7.2), so efficient enzyme function and optimal cellular energy can be carried out.

Digestive health is also essential in the nutritional process involving optimal gut microflora, mucosal barrier and enzymatic function.

Each individual case is analysed and recommendations are made as to optimal nutritional status. This is to assist with health requirements such as: vitality, endurance, rejuvenation and to avoid ‘burn out’. Also for injuries and illness- a preventative & holistic approach to optimal health.

Bioregulation of the body for optimum health.

  • pH acid-Base Regulation (blood -tightly regulated between 7.35 7.4 5– urine 6.8 -7.2)
  • Electrolyte balance –Na/K levels
  • Anabolism/catabolism (building up and breaking down of nutrients)
  • Detoxification
  • Correct absorption of vitamins/minerals
  1. Balanced meals with maximum nutrients
  • Carbs 45%
  • Protein 30%
  • Fats 25%
  1. Minimal toxins
  • caffeine, alcohol, junk food eg sugar/ softdrinks, trans fats, processed foods
  • drugs –legal/illegal

      4.Oxygenation 

  • exercise, respiration, clean & strong arteries,
  • BP control
  1. Management of stress
    • hobbies, relaxation, recreation and
    • meditation & prayer
    • social, financial and emotional health.

Besides clean air, sunshine, clean water and healthy food, the physical body has particular requirements that are necessary for major organs and glands to function in a cohesive and energetic way. A breakdown of the main chemical needs of the body organs, tissue and glands plus food sources are as follows:

Thyroid                        Iodine, Se  (kelp –sea veg, brazil nuts)

Bowel                           Magnesium (nuts, seeds. Whole grains, green veg)

Brain                             Phosphorus & Mn (bran,beans, nuts, dairy, broccoli)

Heart                             Potassium (avo, juices, herbs, fish, nuts, seeds, dried fruit)

Kidneys                        Chloride  (fruit/veg juices)

Skin/circulation        Sulphur, silica and O2 (eggs, beef, onions, seafood, liver,raw)

Nails/hair                    Silica (whole grains, oats, millet, barley, beetroot)

Spleen                           Fluorine, copper (meats, seafood, shellfish, tahini, cocoa)

Teeth/bonesFluorine, Calcium (beans, dariy, nuts, seeds –sesame greens)

Adrenals                       Zinc (trace) (oysters, pumpkin/sesame seeds, wheat germ)

Liver                              Sulphur

Pituitary gland           Bromine  (kelp, nuts, oranges)

Stomach/GIT              Chlorine, Sodium

Tissues/secretions    Potassium, chlorine

Lungs/respiratory    O2, Iron  (meat, greens, figs, molasses –vit c helps absorb)

* Necessary for optimum physical health:

  1. Individual supplementation and herbal medicines
  2. Functional foods, energy greens, protein powders, colloidal minerals & O2
  3. Mediterrean type diet, fresh/unprocessed foods,  Low GI, good fats, good qualtiy protein, live and fermented foods.

Avoid- skipping meals, unbalanced meals, eating ‘on the run’, sugar, wrong fats, empty foods (FLS food like substances), chemicals, processed food, overeating and digestive dysfunction.

Encourage – small regular meals, balanced meals, fresh, live, fermented and unprocessed foods. Also functional foods, minerals (colloidal) and herbal medicines are useful for food allergies and the treatment of digestive problems.

Emotional & Mental Health Articles, Homeopathy Articles

Understanding emotional and psychological problems through homeopathic remedies.

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Thus, behind all disease lie our fears, anxieties, greed, likes and dislikes. Let us seek these out and heal them, and with the healing of them will go the disease from which we suffer.

Dr Edward Bach, The Twelve Healers

We are challenged daily with varying degrees of emotional and psychological problems, which represent an enormous part of my clinical practice. These may include; depression, sadness, anger, grief, irritability, feeling burdened, worry, mood swings, fears, phobias, anxiety, panic attacks, apathy, agitation, self-destruction, guilt, jealousy, love-hate afflictions, addAs we strive for physical health, we should not forgo or suppress our emotional health. Naturally we experience positive and fulfilling states and make the most of our lives but sometimes there is a myriad of reasons that individuals experience emotional and psychological problems during their lifetime. These can result from:

  1. Trauma, violence, intimidation, abuse -physical, emotional, sexual and mental.
  2. Inherited and acquired personality disorders, environmental conditions.
  3. Neglect, criticism, separation, isolation, phases of life and loss.
  4. Nutritional deficiencies, illness, Iatrogenic problems.
  5. Financial problems, overwork, working away from family, incarceration.
  6. Inability to cope and function in society.

When a homoeopathic case is taken, understanding and true assessment of the emotional and mental symptoms the person under goes is of prime significance. The ‘Remedy Picture’ of the medicine (developed through centuries of use, research, provings and clinical therapeutics), matches the client’s individual characteristics. When chosen, over a period of time, this high potency remedy (or remedies] will see in this order, mental, emotional then physical problems improve considerably. Homoeopathic medicine can be used with; counseling, mindfulness, physical therapies, nutritional and flower medicine, as well as orthodox Pharmacology, due to nil contraindications.

It is excellent for children and animals and is one of the most popular forms of medicine worldwide.

Useful Remedies showing characteristics important in Emotional Health.

Arnica- shock, trauma, disassociation and tissue damage; there may be indifference, irritability, forgetfulness, absent-mindedness, fear of death.

Arsenicum album – sadness and depression in fussy, tidy and restless types; there may be irritability, fidgeting, pacing and want to hurry everything up.

Aurum metallicum – sudden onset of sadness and depression, likened to a cloud descending. Feels worthless, despondent about everything and disgusted with life and self. May feel suicidal but fears death and unable to be still or be quiet.

Carcinosinum – past history or diagnosis of cancer, anticipatory anxiety, fastidious, suppression of desires, love of music and dancing which becomes survival mechanism, perfectionism.

Coffea – hypersensitivity to pain, all pain seems intolerable, abnormal mind chatter, irritability, anxiety comes quickly and produces restlessness and anguish, insomnia and guilt.

Ignatia – effects of grief, mood changes rapidly, easily offended, jealousy, guilt, sighing (long time after event), and hysterical depression, nervous cough.

Lachesis – never been well since menopause, feels worse in mornings, nightmares, suspicious, blueness tinge to skin, bloated within dislike of tight clothing, restlessness and talkative.

Nat Mur – bottled up fear, ill effects of grief, gets upset over little things, guilt, hate, resentment, worse for storms and sun, broods over the past, dislikes meat and bread.

Sepia – indifference or resentment towards loved ones, weakness, exhaustion and depression, will come alive with dancing or exercise.

Thuja – weeps easily, anxiety, makes mistakes in reading and writing, fears strangers, gets odd ideas about self.

Disclaimer: This represents only a snapshot of important remedies used for emotional and psychological problems, please do not self-prescribe and contact me on 54927223 for any queries. Seek the advice of a qualified Homeopath for assistance in any of these matters.

Nutrition Articles

Dietary Protein – Fact or Myth

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Are you getting your daily requirements?

One of the main problems I encounter in clinic is client’s overall dietary deficiency in daily protein. There are many factors for this macro nutrient deficiency. Firstly there is a lot of misinformation regarding protein itself and secondly clients seem afraid of acidifying their bodies by eating too much protein and thirdly it can often be the cost involved, particularly with a large family to feed. To understand protein and its requirements here are the facts:

Before any health issues can be resolved, healing, regeneration, balancing or detoxification undertaken the body must have its required daily protein intake.

Protein is an essential part of the diet. It is made up of various combinations of small organic chemicals called Amino acids. When we eat food, containing protein it is broken down during digestion into its constituent amino acids. These amino acids are absorbed by our bodies and are used to produce new proteins and other necessary substances. Our bodies can make some of the amino acids (non-essential) (see table 1) needed to manufacture proteins, but others must be obtained from the diet; these are the eight so-called amino acid during early growth and development ‘essential’ amino acids (table 1). In addition, infants need one other for growth and development.

Proteins form part of the structure of the body, so that a continual supply of amino acids is needed. Our bodies are able to put these basic amino acid units together, using different arrangements of amino acids, to produce specific proteins, which can only be produced if all the necessary amino acids are available.

EssentialNonessential **
Histidine InfantsAlanine
IsoleucineArginine*
LeucineAspartic acid
LysineCysteine*
MethionineGlutamic acid
PhenylalanineGlutamine*
ThreonineGlycine*
TryptophanProline*
ValineSerine*
Tyrosine*
Asparagine*
Selenocysteine

(*) Essential only in certain cases.

(**) Pyrrolysine, sometimes considered “the 22nd amino acid”, is not listed here as it is not used by humans

Eukaryotes can synthesize some of the amino acids from other substrates. Consequently, only a subset of the amino acids used in protein synthesis are essential nutrients.

The nutritional value of a protein food can be judged by its ability to provide both the quantity and number of essential amino acids needed by the body. Different food sources contain different groups of proteins, which are made up of different arrangements and amounts of amino acids. In general, proteins from animal sources are of greater nutritional value because they usually contain all the essential amino acids. Proteins from plant sources, such as cereals and vegetables, may be deficient in one or other of the essential amino acids. For example, the proteins obtained from wheat lack adequate quantities of one essential amino acid, and those from beans are deficient in another.

Because the deficiency is different in each food, when they are eaten together they complement each other and the mixture is of higher nutritional value than the separate foods, and is as good as animal protein. It is important, particularly for strict vegetarians who do not consume dairy or egg products (see Table2a), that a variety of different types of protein foods are eaten.

Cooking can alter the amino-acid composition of protein and this usually results in desirable flavour and browning development. Very little nutritional value is lost.

RECOMMENDED DAILY DIETARY INTAKE OF PROTEIN IN AUSTRALIA

The recommended dietary intake (RDI) in Australia is one gram per kilogram of body weight per day. The protein intake for a 70-kilogram man is 70 grams and for a 58-kilogram woman, 58 grams per day. However growing children, pregnant and lactating women, people undergoing stress, or are unwell (severe infections or surgery) or undergo heavy exercise or work have a greater requirement for protein because of the additional needs of these conditions (see Table 2b).

A deficiency of protein in the diet can lead to muscle wasting, fatigue, weight loss, illness, oedema, anaemia and, in children, a failure to thrive, behaviour and attention problems. Higher levels of protein consumption appear to be neither beneficial nor harmful. However, it is possible that additional calcium may be required to counterbalance an excessive protein intake. Also there is a higher load of protein breakdown products, which must be excreted by the kidneys. This is where the theoretical concerns for acidity are derived from, however if you eat a variety of fruit, vegetables and leafy greens this becomes a very well-balanced diet.

 Table 2a

Grams of protein in animal foods vs. plant foods
Animal Proteins (100g)Grams of proteinPlant Proteins (100g)Grams of protein
Beef29-32 gramsLegumes (Chickpeas, lentils, kidney beans)6-7 grams
Chicken25-28 gramsNuts (Almonds, brazil nuts, cashews)15-20 grams
Fish18-23 gramsSeeds (Sunflower, sesame, pepitas)20-22 grams
Eggs5 grams per eggTofu8 grams
Cheese (Cheddar)25 gramsLeafy greens (Spinach, kale, rocket, lettuce, bok choi etc)1.6 – 4.3 grams

(Kale is the highest at 4.3 grams)

Yoghurt (Natural)5 gramsVegetables (Broccoli, beans, snow peas, cucumber, zucchini, peas)0.8 – 5.1 grams (Green peas are the highest at 5.1g)
Milk (Whole)3 gramsFruits (Apples, bananas, pears, kiwifruit etc)0.3 – 1.7 grams
Protein powder (Whey)80-90 gramsProtein powder (pea)82 grams

Table 2b

Daily Protein Requirements
Activity Level/Age groupGrams of protein
Low activity (sedentary) adultsMales 1g per kg                  Females 0.8-1g per kg
Light to moderate exercise – adults1.2-1.4 g per kg
Active/Teenagers1.4-1.6g per kg
Very active/Young children1.6-1.8g per kg
Weight training/Infants1.8-2.0g per kg
*Generally women require 15% less protein than males.  The required protein intake throughout pregnancy is 1.2g per kg of body weight.

(Australian Sports Commission, 2009)

* further information @ http://www.nrv.gov.au/nutrients/protein.htm

Emotional & Mental Health Articles, Nutrition Articles

Why Weight?

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 A Naturopathic Understanding of Weight Management.

Does one size fit all? Certainly not, we are all shapes & sizes, maintaining, losing or gaining weight for very different complex reasons. Naturopathic weight management assesses a person’s whole health profile including; their physical health and nutritional intake, exercise or activity levels, as well as, psycho-emotional and spiritual health. The client’s case is then managed efficiently and gently by treatments and medicines. It is not about fad diets or quick fixes, however, a short program is possible if you need to lose a few kilos.

A Weight Management Protocol falls into my clinical theory of clients’ needs. Often their requirements are one or a combination of the following:

  1. Cleansing and detoxification
  2. Building up, repair and fortifying,
  3. Maintenance, Balancing, encouragement and Education

Assessment of weight management

 Cleansing and Detoxifying.

  • Ascertain body fat excess, stored toxic by-products or fluid.
  • Exercise or activity, pH, pain, restriction, limitation or inertia.
  • Diet summary including; food, junk, sugar or cravings.
  • Health issues and illness; understanding the client’s blood pathology, such as lipid (fats) levels, inflammation, infections or parasites.
  • Blood sugar levels; insulin resistance with excess tummy fat may indicate high blood pressure, as well as diabetes.
  • Digestive, bowel, liver and/or thyroid complaints.
  • Food intolerances. 

     Psycho-emotional problems can present themselves in the form of poor long-term dietary choices, or comfort eating. Also it is helpful to understand the concept of  carrying too much ‘baggage’ and carrying extra weight due to past trauma, abuse or pregnancies and surgery.

 B) Building up, repair and fortifying,

  • Poor diet and Nutritional deficiencies. Fatigue.
  • Malabsorption Illnesses such as; coeliac, graves disease or leaky gut.
  • Occupational, stress, social or relationship contributors.
  • Insomnia and sleep feeding.
  • Dental problems.

The Psycho-emotional problems associated with this assessment are related to body image and eating disorders, or people suffering from depression, isolation, anxiety or exhaustion.

 C) Maintenance, Balancing, Encouragement and Education,

Glandular problems and associated hormonal, peptide and neurotransmitter response, so called The  ‘Gut-brain’ association. Hormonal and life phase changes.

Genetic contribution.

Being ‘stuck’ or unmotivated for change.

Depending on client’s requirement’s Treatment options are:

Dietary requirements and changes for life, balancing macro-nutrients, protein, carbohydrates and fats, as well as micro-nutrients, vitamins and minerals.

Pharmacologically active Herbal Medicines; balancing blood and lipid levels, reduce cravings, balance Hormones, repair and assist the gut with absorption for assimilation of nutrients. Increase energy levels. Body therapies, Flower

and/or homeopathic medicines to assist with psycho- emotional or spiritual problems..

Health and vitality are the main goals in naturopathic weight management.

Bio-Puncture Articles, Homeopathy Articles, Homotoxicology, Pain, Uncategorized

Understanding Inflammation

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We have all felt the effects of inflammation in our body whether it has been from an injury (new or old), illness, flu or a repetitive strain injury (RSI). General discomfort of pain, heat, swelling redness, loss of function of the affected tissue can make life difficult. ‘Inflammation’ we are told needs to be controlled, reduced and even blocked with various steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and injections, so we can simply get on with it and not let this pain affect our work or lifestyle.

In fact inflammation in our body is a natural and desirable action that is actually a means of ridding the body of damaged tissue, wastes and foreign objects or toxins. If the body can’t eliminate these wastes, it deposits these toxins into the injured site or somewhere else in the body, which creates further swelling, pain or degeneration of body tissue leading to chronic inflammation. This can happen when pure anti-inflammatory agents are prescribed slowing the body’s healing by blocking the removal of these wastes. Although temporarily pain free, if left solely on these medications the client may be left with weakened joints, scarring, thickened tissue or hardened calcification (frozen) joints. This can mean never able to recover naturally, or often requiring surgery.

Bio-regulatory medicine (also known as homotoxicology) and its sister modality Bio-puncture offer a different approach to inflammation. This approach utilizes unique effective, safe ‘evidence-based’ medicines. Their individual components are designed to have a functional affect for all the phases of inflammation with an affinity for the different body tissue being affected, such as bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, blood and lymph vessels, nerves and soft tissues. When this system is used for healing, the inflammatory and pain process is activated and regulated with antioxidant, anti-microbial support, as well as protection and control of proliferation of tissue. This supports tissue remodeling, which means the body is able to quickly and effectively heal injury or illness without scar tissue, calcification or further suppression of symptoms.

This system of medicine can be used for all types of injury, swelling, pain, spasms, arthritis, joint/spinal degeneration, bursitis, RSI, carpel tunnel, frozen shoulder, golfer or tennis elbow. It can be used concurrently with medications and can assist pre and post surgery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bio-Puncture Articles, Nutrition Articles, Pain

Understanding the acid -alkaline or pH balance in our bodies.

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pH (potential of hydrogen ions) is the indicator used to measure the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. ( For instance a low pH indicates a high concentration of hydronium ions and a more acidic solution, whilst a high pH indicates a low concentration, hence the solution is more alkaline.) pH is measured on a scale of 0 to 14. When a solution, such as water,  is neither acid nor alkaline it has a pH of 7 or neutral.

The body has an acid-alkaline balance between positively charged ions (acid-forming) and negatively charged ions (alkaline-forming.) It must continually strive for balance as blood has to have an alkaline pH of about 7.4 to sustain life. Over a lifetime ‘wear and tear’ occurs from the effort the body expends to keep the blood at that pH. When this balance is compromised many problems can occur.

Acid-Alkaline Balance and Your Health

 Most people who suffer ‘acidity’ have to buffer these acids or borrow minerals including calcium, sodium, potassium and magnesium from other parts of the body including the vital organs and the bones. In western countries calcium intake is one of the highest in the world, yet paradoxically we also have one of the highest rates of bone demineralization (osteoporosis).  Bone mineral content is dependent not just upon calcium intake but upon net calcium balance (calcium intake minus calcium excretion). The calcium excretion side of the equation is extremely important.

Bone health is substantially dependent on the dietary acid/alkaline balance but other factors such as stress and trauma play their part.  After digestion all foods ultimately reach the kidneys as either acid or alkaline and when the diet yields a net acid load such as a high protein diet, the acid must be buffered by the alkaline stores in the body.

In addition to promoting bone demineralization, a net acid-producing diet also contributes to arthritis, gout, calcium kidney stones, age-related muscle wasting, hypertension, stroke and asthma. Calcium salts in the bones represent the largest store of alkaline base in the body and are depleted and eliminated in the urine when the diet produces a net acid load.

Your body is able to assimilate minerals and nutrients properly only when its pH is balanced. It is therefore possible for you to be taking healthy nutrients and yet be unable to absorb or use them. If you are not getting the results you expected from your nutritional or herbal program, look for an acid alkaline imbalance. The Paleo Diet recommends an appropriate balance of acidic and basic (alkaline) foods (i.e., lean meats, fish and seafood, fruits, and vegetables) and will not cause osteoporosis in otherwise healthy individuals but promote bone health.

The highest acid-producing foods are hard cheeses, cereal grains, salted foods, meats and legumes, whereas the only alkaline or base-producing foods are fruits and vegetables. Therefore, because the average diet is overloaded with acid-forming foods at the expense of fruit and vegetables, it produces a net acid load and thus promotes bone demineralization.  By replacing processed foods with plenty of green vegetables and fruits the body is able to come back into calcium balance. The goal is to avoid a net acid load on your kidneys

A 1995 study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association by Dr. Thomas Remer and Dr. Friedrich Manz helped determine the amount of acidity or alkalinity in dozens of different foods. They did this by determining a foods’ potential renal acid load, or PRAL, values. A positive PRAL is an acidifying food and a negative PRAL is an alkalinizing food. The further the number is from 0, the stronger its acidifying or alkalinizing effect.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7797810
http://www.direct-ms.org/pdf/NutritionGeneral/Remer%20and%20Manz%20Acid%20Base.pdf
Endocrine, Herbal Medicine Articles, Immune, Infectious Organisms Articles, Nervine Herbs

A’ Tishoo A’ Tishoo we all fall down! The Effect of Stress on Health & Immunity – A different approach

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Both from a clinical and social perspective, people develop infections from exhaustion and nervous depletion. We become susceptible to illness when dealing with chronic stress and work. Sayings such as ‘run down’ ‘too much on my plate’ & ‘stressed out’, all mean, lowered immunity due to high levels of stress. Scientific lingo Psycho-Neuro-Endocrino-Immunology (PNEI) is the study of effects of chronic stress on human immune tissue. Research has shown remarkable instances of tissue damage and immune deficiency with continued stress. Studies in Molecular Psychiatry and Immunology have shown, chronic excess levels of cortisol production, weakens activity of immune function opening the way to inflammation and infections. Neuroendocrine-immune interactions are regulated by corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) indirectly, through activation of stress directly and through pro-inflammatory actions on peripheral immune functions. The indirect effects of stress on immune/inflammatory responses occur via the stress-induced activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic/adreno-medullary system. Glucocorticoids and catecholamines affect Th1 and 2 immune cells and mediators. Stress influences the development, course and pathology of acute and chronic health conditions such as infections, allergies, autoimmune, and inflammation. The psychological and behavioral consequences of stress have additional effects by increasing health-impairing behaviours e.g. poor diet, sleep, lack of exercise, substance abuse and mood disorders.

Medical herbalism offers a different approach, with the cooler changes ahead. Know your body and recognize the signs of exhaustion and stress. Enjoy rest, recreation, gentle exercise, sunlight (Vit D), healthy protein, Vitamins (A, B’s & C) and minerals (Zinc, Selenium, Magnesium).

Allow immune tissue to naturally respond to colds and flu, by utilising the wonderful benefits of pharmaceutical grade herbal medicines. Treatment is safe, effective and prescribed professionally.

Neuro-protective and Immune-modulating are terms used in this area of herbalism to describe Holy Basil, Withania, Siberian ginseng, Reishi and Rhodiola. These help the body adapt to stress and prevent infections and serious illness.

Immune-stimulating- modulating, Anti-inflammatory and Anti-microbial herbs include; Echinacea spp., Thyme, Boneset, Manuka, Andrographis, Cats Claw and Golden Seal.

Tonic and recovery effects are assisted with Codonopsis, Astragalus, Oats and Licorice Root. Respiratory and lung herbs effectively treat chest infections and severe coughs. These include; Inula, Ribwort, Licorice, Mullein, Pleurisy root, Hyssop and Wild Cherry bark.

General resistance herbs include; Cinnamon, Garlic, Ginger, Olive leaf, Fenugreek and Turmeric to maintain health. Herbal medicine has clinical and scientific efficacy helping to strengthen and nourish body tissue, invaluable in preventing infections. Treatment may be before, during or after illness.