Journal
Winter viruses – B V Lamb, Medical Herbalist
Reports from across the UK speak of rapidly debilitating viral attacks that don’t look like the usual ‘winter flu’. Just why do these viruses appear mostly in the winter? The answer may cause you to establish an anti-viral strategy. Viruses are mostly opportunistic like a housebreaker who will target a house in darkness with no appearance of occupancy. In times past, autumn and winter was a time when people ate less and slept more – a sort of semi-hibernation. The circa-annual rhythm of nature was respected, if not mindfully but circumstantially. Food was in short supply and the nights were long. Nowadays, every day of the year is the same. Electric lights and entertainment have wiped out an innate need to respond to the yearly energy flux. Food stores allow us to eat totally inappropriate foods completely out of season. Several years ago, a woman booked an appointment with me suffering from almost continuous ‘flu-like symptoms all the year round. On taking a case history, I noted that she ate a large salad every day of the year, perceiving it to be ‘healthy’. I supplied a herbal anti-debility tonic and advised against salads except in a narrow band in the summer. She totally regained her health. Recall the advice of Nicolas Culpepper, a famous London herbalist (1616 – 1664): “cucumber is cold in the third degree, if it were one degree colder it would be a poison”. Supermarket salads fly off the shelves in these cold months to aid and abet opportunistic viruses – especially those that target the lungs.. If you want to safeguard against opportunistic winter viruses, eat less but select the warming root vegetables, especially from the moisture-condensing onion family. Garlic, ginger, galangal, pepper, cinnamon, horseradish and chilli peppers are all antiviral and antibacterial and may be used as tasty preventatives. By all means exercise moderately (but not late in the evening), and get to bed earlier. Rise earlier too, commensurate with the added energy of ‘an hour before midnight being worth two after’. A good quality Echinacea builds immunity in children and adults whilst elderberry drops acts similarly for babies. During the migration west across the United States, it was discovered that dropping a silver dollar into a milk churn caused the milk to remain fresher much longer. These migrants had discovered the antibacterial and antiviral properties of silver. Eating breakfast from a silver (solid or plated) spoon most definitely is a good preventative and what better for a mother to feed her newly weaned baby from a solid silver spoon? Winter viruses are opportunistic but you can do much to deter them. Brian V Lamb – Consulting Medical Herbalist Botanica Comment We find that supporting the immune system through the winter can reduce and sometimes halt any occurrences of winter influenza and viruses. You can take a preventative dose (10ml at night) of our proprietary Echinacea, ensure your Vitamin D levels are adequate, and for its powerful immune support, antiviral effects and for those with chronic infections the Pukka Mushroom Gold is very powerful. Prevention is always more favourable than cure, but if you do come down with a virus, herbs are ideal in this situation.
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Top 10 Health Benefits of Collagen
Gelatin has had a revival, and for good reason. Derived from the collagen found in animal bones, collagen protein contains unique anti-inflammatory amino acids, primarily glycine, proline, glutamic acid and alanine. Collagen, the most abundant protein in the body, is one of the major building blocks of skin, bone, muscles, ligaments and tendons. In abundance in youth, collagen production begins to decline around the age of 25. In times gone by jelly, trifle, chicken broth and meat cooked on the bone in stews and casseroles were a common occurrence in households. Making a broth with the chicken carcass from a Sunday roast is still traditional, providing the base of an extremely nutritious meal. Bone broth is highly nutritious containing collagen and all the necessary minerals. “Degenerative and inflammatory diseases can often be corrected by the use of gelatin-rich foods.” Ray Peat There are many health benefits of collagen and it is very easy to consume with the convenient powdered forms available. THE TOP 10 HEALTH BENEFITS OF COLLAGEN Anti-aging – improves skin, hair and nails. A key protein in the body, collagen makes up to 25% of the total protein content in the body. Collagen depletion in the body begins in our 20’s, so consuming gelatin/collagen can make a big difference to skin quality. Break down and loss of collagen is the cause of wrinkles and research confirms that collagen found in gelatin reduces the signs of wrinkles. The beneficial minerals calcium, magnesium and phosphorus found in gelatin helps build strong nails and hair. Stomach ulcers – Bone broth or gelatin helps heal the stomach due to amino acids proline and glycine. Gelatin treats ulcers. Helps leaky gut and colitis – gelatin has been found to heal the gut lining and improve inflammatory gut issues. Gut barrier protector and healer. Improves liver detoxification – without enough glycine, the essential amino acid in gelatin the body cannot produce enough glutathione, essential for phase II liver detoxification. Helps arthritis – Collagen contains chondroitin, a supplement often used to support joints, tendons and cartilage. Using gelatin or collagen may dramatically improve degenerate joint conditions. Allergies – many health experts believe allergies are rooted in having a permeable intestinal lining (leaky gut) which allows pathogens in. Healing the gut should reduce allergies. Inflammation – Gelatin has a very unique non-inflammatory amino acid profile. It consist of glycine, glutamic acid, proline and alanine, particularly missing in our western diet, especially when most meals will contain muscle meat rather than that on the bone, making a very hard to digest and break down meal. Anti-cancer – “It has a wide range of anti-tumour actions, including the inhibition of new blood cell formation (angiogenesis), and it has shown protective activity in liver cancer and melanoma.” Ray Peat Anti-stress – The generous supply of glycine in gelatin offers a wonderful anti-stress action and promotes natural sleep. Ideally add 2 teaspoons of prepared gelatin or powdered collagen to hot milk and honey before bed. Hormone balancing – Excess estrogen is a common issue coming from environmental pollution, plastics wrapping our consumables, the contraceptive pill and general stress creating a hormonal imbalance. Glycine has been shown to be anti-estrogenic and helps regulate insulin and prevent hypoglycemia. Read more here on Gelatin, stress, longevity Conveniently you can now purchase our Gelatin granules (which require prior soaking). This can be added to hot drinks or used to make delicious desserts like the Easy Pineapple Panna Cotta. Alternatively you can purchase our Hydrolysed Collagen Powder or Hunter & Gather 100% Pure Collagen Bovine Peptides. This can be dissolved, without any prior need to soak in to anything hot or cold; smoothies, juice, milky coffee etc. Hydrolysed collagen is a broken down form of gelatin. Adding gelatin to a meal containing only muscle meat (ie. not on the bone) is beneficial. This will help balance the amino acid profile entering the blood stream.
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The Undiagnosed Epidemic
More and more people are fed up and tired of feeling fed up and tired, and it sometimes feels that no one is listening. Could the reason be an undiagnosed and untreated thyroid imbalance? Inadequate testing, mostly relying on the TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) test, and ignoring of common symptoms can leave a person feeling frustrated with no recovery in sight. Symptoms of poor functioning thyroid including but not exhaustive such as ~ LOW ENERGY DEPRESSION FEELING THE COLD INFLAMMATORY CONDITIONS HORMONAL ISSUES DRY SKIN AND CRACKED HEELS THINNING HAIR AND EYEBROWS INABILITY TO LOSE WEIGHT POOR SLEEP APATHY PALPITATIONS AND ATRIAL FIBRILLATION PAINFUL MUSCLES AND JOINTS The thyroid needs certain vitamins and minerals to function properly and produce thyroid hormones. This is both in the thyroid gland itself and in the liver where thyroid hormones are activated. This Thyroid Complex provides the necessary nutrients to support healthy thyroid function. Ashwagandha is an adaptogenic herb which helps to create resilience through times of stress but also helps to activate thyroid hormones. Ashwagandha helps energy during the day whilst assisting sleep at night making Ashwagandha the perfect adaptogenic herb for chronic stress and thyroid related issues. For more help and advice please call or email us at Botanica. Long list of unusual symptoms The relationship between breast cancer and thyroid disease Hypothyroidism and coronary heart disease
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Dear and faithful heart
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” – Proverbs 4:23. “A merry heart doeth good like medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones” – Proverbs 17:22 The heart, this most precious organ beats 100,000 times a day on average, often undervalued and rarely thought about, and yet when you do take the time to stop for a moment and place your hands over your heart space we can begin to appreciate the beauty of it. In 1932, Bremer of Harvard filmed the blood in the very early embryo circulating in self-propelled mode in spiralling streams before the heart was functioning. Amazingly, he was so impressed with the spiralling nature of the blood flow pattern that he failed to realize that the phenomena before him had demolished the pressure propulsion principle. Earlier in 1920, Steiner, of the Goetheanum in Switzerland had pointed out in lectures to medical doctors that the heart was not a pump forcing inert blood to move with pressure but that the blood was propelled with its own biological momentum, as can be seen in the embryo, and boosts itself with “induced” momenta from the heart. He also stated that the pressure does not cause the blood to circulate but is caused by interrupting the circulation. Experimental corroboration of Steiner’s concepts in the embryo and adult is herein presented. http://www.rsarchive.org/RelArtic/Marinelli/ As strange as it may sound I think it is a good habit to get in to sending appreciative thoughts to your heart, after all, positive emotions have been shown to be good for the heart and lower blood pressure. Heart disease is above cancer as a leading cause of death. Stress, poor diet, a sedentary lifestyle and emotional turmoil all contribute to diseases associated with the heart. Love, appreciation, forgiveness, peace, gratitude and patience are all positive emotions to maintain a steady, healthy and strong heart. Hate, anger, (remember the study that shows 5 minutes of anger impairs the immune system for more than 6 hours) resentment and bitterness are toxic emotions that can lead to serious heart problems. Healthy heart habits Do away with toxic emotions and instead embrace love, forgiveness and gratitude Spend time in uplifting company Walk daily Enjoy an anti-inflammatory diet including fruit and berries (raspberries, strawberries, blueberries and blackcurrants are especially good), pomegranates, turmeric, coconut oil, meat on the bone, ginger, garlic. Drink green tea Supplement with magnesium Read more …… Love, compassion and the heart Outbursts of anger as a trigger for cardiovascular events Low serum magnesium and cardiovascular mortality Drinking green tea significantly reduces the risk of developing hypertension
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Depression, bipolar disorder and magnesium
Psychiatric disorders are becoming more and more prevalent in society and in people in all walks of life. The 2007 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity in England study showed that nearly one person in four (23.0 per cent) had at least one psychiatric disorder and 7.2 per cent had two or more disorders. Mental instability disables the sufferer leaving them unable to function in ordinary life and can lead to insomnia, apathy, suicidal thoughts, anxiety and hopelessness. I prefer to call this period of inner turmoil a temporary imbalance. Something that can be corrected, bringing the body back in to stable equilibrium. On diagnosis an anti-depressant will usually be prescribed to stabilise moods and treat the symptoms, but most doctors won’t investigate the probability of nutritional deficiencies or metabolic issues. We are often lead to believe that our genes are to blame for depression and that because mental instability ‘runs in the family’ we too are most probably going to suffer the same fate. A susceptibility is possible but EPIGENETICS shows us that our DNA is not our destiny and can be influenced by lifestyle choices. Are the same habits just being picked up through the generations; similar food choices, attitudes, beliefs etc? The emerging science of epigenetics is an empowering message that you are in fact not a victim but rather in charge and have the capability to improve your own health and well-being. Unfortunately mainstream medicine rarely looks at a person suffering with depression as a whole but rather as a symptom and so begins a cycle of prescription drugs, often causing the patient to feel numb, detached and shell-like. Why is depression in society increasing at such a fast rate? 21st century living has afforded us more and more opportunity and choice and yet as a nation we are suffering more stress and angst. Striving, feeling unfulfilled, work pressure, ingratitude, relationship breakdowns, poverty, illness and personal loss can leave a person feeling fragmented and broken. Unfortunately there are also those who are sadly in environments that afford little opportunity for escape, to be educated in what health really means and to be nurtured back to full health. ‘Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity‘. ~World Health Organization, 1948 In the end it all comes back to the same point, that stress and turmoil cause magnesium waste and depletion of other vital nutrients that when optimal help retain emotional stability. This depletion is also why stress can leave you with reduced immunity as it ‘eats’ away at the body’s vital stores leaving one open to Dis-ease; lack of ease or harmony within the body. COULD DEPRESSION BE CAUSED BY A MAGNESIUM DEFICIENCY? Magnesium is an essential mineral which most people are now lacking in due to depletion in our soil, and so in our foods, and also because stress causes magnesium waste. Magnesium plays a major role in biochemical reactions all over the body and when magnesium becomes low it can cause cramp, arrhythmia, muscle twitching, insomnia, anxiety, depression, apathy, restlessness, manic behaviour, poor concentration, heart disease, seizures and even sudden death. In an article entitled ‘Rapid recovery from major depression using magnesium treatment’ published in Medical Hypothesis 2006 it concludes with “It is likely that magnesium deficiency causes most major depression and related mental health illnesses, IQ loss and addictions. We suggest that magnesium deficiency as cause of these disorders is enormously important to public health and is recommended for immediate, wide-spread further study. The public should be advised to obtain more than 600 mg of dietary magnesium a day……….”. Depression is associated with system inflammation and it turns out so is magnesium deficiency. Another study published in the February 1985 issue of Biological Psychiatry, showed a relationship between suicide attempts and magnesium levels. Interestingly psychiatric patients who attempted suicide were found to have low magnesium levels compared to those who were not suicidal..These findings were consistent among all psychiatric disorders involved in the study, namely major depression, schizophrenia and adjustment disorder. Lithium is the drug of choice for bipolar disorder and has been found to have similar chemical properties to magnesium which is often supplemented alongside Lithium and found to be effective for severe manic agitation. Perhaps magnesium is something to be seriously considered in the treatment of low mood, anxiety and depression. Often magnesium, a good quality B vitamin, sometimes with the addition of an optimal dose of Ashwaganda, has shown to have positive effects on the symptoms of depression and anxiety, but magnesium alone can be a very good place to start. Always seek advice from a medical professional before beginning on a new regime. Buy ReMag magnesium liquid solution Rapid recovery from major depression using magnesium treatment Magnesium and affective disorders Mania and intravenous magnesium Magnesium study in bipolar disorder Association between magnesium intake and depression Treatment of depression with folic acid and B12 Reducing stress and anxiety with Ashwaganda
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Can’t sleep? Insomnia and How to Fix It
“Sleep that knits up the ravell’d sleave of care,The death of each day’s life, sore labour’s bath,Balm of hurt minds, great nature’s second course,Chief nourisher in life’s feast.”–Macbeth (Act II, Sc. ii), Shakespeare “Good sleep requires fairly vigorous metabolism and a normal body temperature. In old age, the metabolic rate is decreased, and sleep becomes defective.” -Ray Peat, PhD Insomnia is such a curse and a common complaint. It can be a lonely health condition, everyone else in the world seems to be in the land of nod while you toss and turn, struggling to find peace and rest. You may find you go to bed, lie awake for hours, unable to switch off, ruminating thoughts drive you mad, or you may get to sleep only to wake between 1am and 3am unable to fall easily back off to sleep. Restless legs and twitching may keep you alert and disturbed or you may have frequent nocturnal visits to the bathroom. It is also common to wake up at 4am tossing and turning and finally, if you are lucky, you fall asleep just before the alarm goes off. You rise from bed tired, low in energy and unenthusiastic about the day ahead. Running on adrenaline you drag yourself through the day, finally reaching bedtime for the same miserable routine to start all over again. You may even ‘sleep well’ but rise unrefreshed feeling cheated because you have slept all night. Unfortunately poor sleep quality is associated with depression, obesity, dementia, heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer and other health problems. Undisturbed sleep is necessary for cell regeneration, detoxification, hormone balance, a healthy immune system, cognitive function and energy to cope with the day ahead. A deficiency in vitamins and minerals, not eating enough, hormone imbalances, thyroid dysfunction and an overload of stress can often cause sleep disturbances. The day after a restless night leaves you running on stress hormones (adrenaline and cortisol) which get you through the day but then stop you sleeping soundly at night yet again. So what to do? Tips for a better sleep tonight It begins at the start of the day when you must take a morning walk as morning sunlight reinforces your natural circadian rhythms. Have a sweet snack or drink before bed. Ideally a milky drink sweetened with honey. You can also add collagen to this drink as it lowers inflammation and induces sleep. Remember that sweet tea was traditionally given to someone suffering from shock to bring down the stress response. Sometimes the old fashioned tips are the best. Consider magnesium to reduce stress, lower night time cortisol and improve sleep quality. ReMag is very beneficial for insomnia and stress, with a dose morning and evening particularly helpful. ReMag also often eradicates night cramps and Restless Leg Syndrome (Study). Ashwagandha ( Latin name Withania somnifora hints at its sleep support)) is a very useful adaptogenic herb and taken after breakfast and then again after the evening meal is recommended until sleep improves (Study). L-theanine an amino acid found naturally in green tea has been shown to lower the “excitatory” brain chemicals, promote relaxation and help you fall asleep quicker and for longer. During the day it promotes “wakeful relaxation” without feelings of drowsiness. (Study). Have a salty snack as sodium also lowers cortisol and balances blood sugar and helps maintain body temperature. Low temperature due to hypothyroidism and poor metabolism will prevent good quality sleep. Keep blood sugar balanced all day long from your first to your last meal. Remember the type of food consumed during the day has an impact on your sleep at night. Don’t skip meals and make a determined effort to eat regular meals of protein and carbohydrate. Not eating and missing meals creates a stress response, suppressing metabolism. Avoid evening exercise. This too raises stress hormones, leaving you unable to switch off and wind down before bed. Avoid allergenic foods. You may find you are bloated after them, or they may leave you feeling tired or anxious. Listen to your body. Have an Epsom salt bath, and try and relax in the water for 20 minutes, allowing all the minerals to absorb. Decide after your evening meal to switch off your phone and avoid computer work. Blue light from these screens causes sleeplessness. Practice 7/11 breathing (in for 7 and out for 11), preferably through the nose using the diaphram, rather than the higher up chest breathing, for 5 or 10 minutes after retiring to bed. Deep breathing activates the Parasympathetic Nervous System allowing you to rest and relax. The out breath lowers blood pressure and slows heart rate. “Since glucose and salt are used to treat shock (intravenous 7.5% salt solutions are effective), it seems appropriate to use carbohydrate (preferably sugar, rather than starch) and salty foods during the night, to minimize the stress reaction. They lower adrenalin and cortisol, and help to maintain the volume and fluidity of blood. Thyroid, to maintain adequate carbon dioxide, is often all it takes to improve the blood levels of salt, glucose, and adrenalin.” -Ray Peat, PhD
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Easy life improvements to make in 2016
It’s never too late to be what you might have been – George Elliot Make the choice to rise every morning with a sense of gratitude. Throw away all polyunsaturated oils and improve your health. Replace with coconut oil, butter, goose/duck fat, ghee and olive oil. The immunosuppressing oils in your diet Base your diet around organic dairy, fruits and vegetables, eggs, gelatin rich meat from grass-fed animals and fish. Listen to your body. Sometimes you might crave salt, sometimes something sweet. The body in its innate wisdom often knows what we need. Make a bone broth at least once a week. Using an organic chicken carcass, chicken wings or left over roast chicken, place in a large pan with 1 stick of celery, 1 onion, 1 carrot, 2 bay leaves, 5 peppercorns and 1 tablespoon of cider vinegar. Cover with water, bring to the boil skimming off any scum on the top and simmer for 2 hours with the lid on. Check the water doesn’t boil dry. Use for soups, stews, or just have a cup. Decide to do some form of exercise every day, even if its a 20 minute power walk. Get to the root of your health issues. ‘Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity‘. ~World Health Organization, 1948 Live in the present. Do not regurgitate the past or hope for what might be to come. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Stress less in 2016, more to come on that:-). Remember EPIGENETICS and how your environment (emotions, nutrition, exercise, beliefs) influences your health. Don’t get bogged down by gene doom. Reflect on Stomatis Moraitis my most loved story this year. Hope when all else fails. The power of Epigenetics
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Coffee the Adaptogenic Beverage
Drinking coffee has several health benefits Coffee is liver protecting, even mitigating the negative effects of alcohol – http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4416533/ Coffee provides significant amounts of magnesium, B vitamins and other nutrients Coffee is protective against breast cancer – http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110510211602.htm Coffee is thyroid supportive and stimulates metabolism Caffeine is neuroprotective and may help prevent Alzheimer’s disease – http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12099922 Coffee has been shown to reduce depression and suicide risk – http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8604958?dopt=AbstractPlus An interesting point about coffee is how and when you drink it. Coffee should make you feel calm but alert, energetic but not wired. Many people feel shaky, nervous, and anxious after coffee. This is quite obviously not a helpful healthy way to feel. 5 tips to drinking coffee Don’t have coffee on rising on an empty stomach. Have it with a meal containing protein and carbohydrate. Do have coffee with some fat, like full fat milk or cream. You may want to add a tsp or 2 of coconut oil too. Sugar or honey added to your coffee will help the liver deal with the metabolic effects of the caffeine. Or drink it with something sweet. Do add collagen for another wonderful health promoting dimension – gelatin is anti-stress and has a calming effect on the body and is also anti-inflammatory. Experiment with coffee and see how you feel. Coffee intolerance can be a sign of hypothyroidism and care should be taken. How I like my coffee Warm up a saucepan of milk. Add to your coffee and stir in one or two heaped teaspoon of collagen for its anti-aging and anti-inflammatory effects, stirring until dissolved. You may want more or less or to use honey. More about coffee and caffeine
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8 ways to help prevent the Flu
“Researchers, led by Vancouver’s Dr. Danuta Skowronski, an influenza expert at the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, noticed in the early weeks of the [2009 H1N1] pandemic that people who got a flu shot for the 2008-09 winter seemed to be more likely to get infected with the pandemic virus than people who hadn’t received a flu shot. Five studies done in several provinces showed the same unsettling results.” Increased risk of non-influenza respiratory virus infections associated with receipt of inactivated influenza vaccine Annual vaccination against influenza virus hampers development of virus-specific CD8⁺ T cell immunity in children As it is reported that the flu vaccine is practically useless and many parents are concerned about the nasal flu vaccine for children here are 8 ways to promote a healthy, strong immune system – 1 Avoid PUFA’s (Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids) ie all vegetable oils (including rapeseed, soy, sunflower and any spreads) as they weaken the immune system – use coconut oil and butter which strengthen the immune system. Olive oil is also fine. Why you may want to throw away those ‘golden’ oils 2 Keep your chest and neck warm with a scarf. Wear a hat and warm socks and dress warmly as shivering depresses the immune system. 3 Wash your hands. Though most infections are airborne it is easy to transmit germs to the mouth and nose from germs on our hands. 4 Ensure you have optimal Vitamin D levels. 5 Consider a maintenance dose of Echinacea. 5ml before bed appears to be ideal, upping the dose if you feel a virus coming on. Please call for our high quality, proprietary Echinacea tincture. 6 Consider taking zinc, optimal doses of Vitamin C, Beta Glucan, and a Probiotic. Elderberry is wonderful to help children over the winter. Elderberry and immunity. Studies prove that Probiotics improve the body’s resistance to viruses and bacterial infections. Effects of Beta Glucan on immune system, 7 Do moderate exercise. This increases the number of natural killer cells in our bodies, conversely too much exercise lowers them. 8 Ensure adequate sleep, optimal nutrition and manage stress levels.
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