Journal
Friendship, carob and figs
On every trip away I come back with something new, not just physically as the collection of dried carob and almonds spilled out of my suitcase on our return from Soller in Mallorca. This time my dad was with us so I knew I was in for a few lessons that I will remember always. He notices things that generally go unnoticed. It is good to notice, to stop and appreciate. We talked about the castor oil plant, revered as one of the most valuable laxatives in medicine, it is sometimes known as the ‘Palm of Christ’ to reflect the inherent healing power of the oil. All around us here in the UK and abroad grow plants with amazing properties to heal and nourish. The wise olive tree I enjoyed the running commentary on our treks through the hot hills, (carbonated water in our rucksacks, ideal for replenishing lost minerals through sweating). Dense with the olive tree, their wizened trunks reminding me of wise old men hundreds of years old. They twist and contort appearing long dead until at the top the silvery green leaves glimmer in the sun, the fruits just beginning to appear while we were there. I wonder what stories they could tell. The carob fruit lies all over the dry earth; like dried squashed black bananas, emitting a sweet sickly smell. Carob is packed with healing properties; aiding digestion and alleviating diarrhoea, is antiviral and antiseptic. It is often used as an alternative to chocolate. The little seeds can be ground down to powder and used as a cocoa substitute. Carob can sometimes be found in natural sun creams as a tan accelerator but the most interesting nugget is it is literally worth its weight in gold Unripe carob The word carat is derived from carob. The seeds of the carob are so uniform in size they were used as a measure of weight. A gemstone would be placed on one side of a set of scales and the carob seeds on the other. A precious stone balanced out evenly with 10 seeds was said to weigh 10 seeds which then became 10 carobs and eventually then became 10 carats. The figs were just ripening and we were lucky enough to pick a few darkened ones on our daily walks through the countryside. The fig is a member of the mulberry tree and has a wealth of beneficial nutrients including Vitamin A, B1, B2 calcium and potassium. I love them in season in my raw breakfast or eaten with Greek yoghurt drizzled with honey. Almond tree I had a new appreciation for almonds and the harvesting of them. It is a time consuming job. When they are ready to be picked most of the nuts on the trees should have visibly split open, they are then knocked or picked off the tree. The hulls must be removed by hand then the almonds are spread out in trays in the sun. After some time when the nuts are dry they will rattle when shaken, they can then be stored. In the evening a new delight was to be enjoyed. We would walk past a night blooming Jasmine in the beautiful garden of our hotel as we made our way to bed. The flowers are tightly shut during the day but as night falls the white petals would bloom releasing the most heavenly scent stopping you in your tracks. It was a moment to cherish. One most special observation was of a group of about 12 elderly ladies, all gathered around an oblong table in the village square enjoying wine and camaraderie. They were having fellowship together, laughing and nodding, heads tilted to one another, watching and listening with interest. I could tell that this was special to them, even necessary, to gather together. It was truly a most lovely sight. Good, reliable, loving, caring relationships are vital for longevity. So we left this beautiful island with fond memories of the cockerels crowing to each other across the valley, the orange trees with their new fruit appearing, my first sight of an avocado tree, and the realisation that wherever you go in the world, through conversations I had, people struggle with health and fears and continue to hope. “Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one.” ~ C.S. Lewis
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Proof that the best things in life really are free
“Purity and simplicity are the two wings with which man soars above the earth and all temporary nature.” —Thomas à Kempis I often, sometimes 3 times a week, visit my local organic farm shop. There I meet people who like me also find ‘therapy’ in just hanging around this lovely setting. The little wooden type shack where the produce is on display, lovingly nurtured until it is ready to harvest is a feast for the eyes. There is an appreciation for the effort it takes to keep vegetables going without using chemical sprays and I recently watched as the farm hands carefully weeded round the vegetables. Conversations are had with like-minded people who appreciate the surroundings of this lovely place; the fields of green, the plum trees heavy with fruit and the sound at this time of year of the bees and butterflies delighting in the rows of beautiful flowers. Time passes, we leave refreshed and with a feeling of being abundantly blessed. Appreciation and gratefulness comes with the seemingly small treasures in my week and as I wandered around my sister’s allotment where the gardeners have produced such beautiful inspiring lovingly tended plots a sense of calm and peace washes over. The intricate beauty of the sunflower and artichoke is just wonderful and only when you take time to really look do you see things you might never have noticed before. The disk of little flowers crowded together that make up the centre of the sunflower. I had never taken the time to look closely and to be honest have often thought of them as perhaps a bit tall and ungainly, a competition flower of height. I was wrong. We picked blackberries, hazelnuts, plums, apples and rosehips, chatting about how lucky we were to be able to experience the harvesting. We talked of how in times gone by these would have been picked and stored and used wisely. The treasures we took home were more rewarding than any purchases on a shopping trip. All around us blessings abound if we just take time to tune in. On earth there is no heaven, but there are pieces of it ~ Jules Renard
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Gratitude
“Dear old world’, she murmured, ‘you are very lovely, and I am glad to be alive in you.” L.M.Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables Gratitude is a healing, positive emotion. As Charles Dickens said “Reflect upon your present blessings — of which every man has many — not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.” We all have many things to be grateful for, and most we take for granted. Many people are waking up today unable to see this beautiful morning, and it is not weather dependent. Even when going through difficult times in life there are many things to be grateful for and below are just some – Your sight Your sense of hearing Your sense of taste and smell Your warm bed that you left this morning The roof over your head Your first meal of the day Your family and friends Your employment The nature outside your doorstep Your legs to move you about The sun The rain The air you breath Your heart Life’s challenges, that allow personal growth It is too easy to take things for granted, when blessings abound. Notice simple pleasures, be thankful and acknowledge all that you receive with grace. “I didn’t expect to recover from my second operation but since I did, I consider that I’m living on borrowed time. Every day that dawns is a gift to me and I take it in that way. I accept it gratefully without looking beyond it. I completely forget my physical suffering and all the unpleasantness of my present condition and I think only of the joy of seeing the sun rise once more and of being able to work a little bit, even under difficult conditions.” – Henri Matisse
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Acid Reflux and Antacids
Taking Omeprazole or other PPI’s? You are at more risk of – Having a heart attack Long term kidney damage (thought to be from magnesium depletion from the drug) B12 depletion Depletion in folate, zinc and Vitamin A C-diff brought on by long term acid suppressing drugs Osteoporosis and bone fractures Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth 44% increased dementia risk in older people taking PPI’s – “there is some biological plausibility to the hypothesis that PPIs can cross the blood-brain barrier. They may increase both production and degradation of amyloid, at least in animal models, and bind to tau. There is also evidence of reduced levels of B12 and other nutrients among PPI users that could possibly relate to an increased risk of dementia.” JAMA Neurology Acid reflux is mostly due, NOT TO A DISEASE OF TOO MUCH STOMACH ACID as has been traditionally thought, but when the muscular valve, the lower esophageal sphincter valve which is meant to stop acid coming up, relaxes inappropriately. Consider foods that make your condition worse – caffeine, wheat, acidic foods, alcohol etc.Get tested for Helicobacter pylori – a major factor of acid reflux.Is stress involved? Take magnesium and Holy Basil.Consider taking Hydrochloric Acid and digestive enzymes.Slippery Elm is extremely beneficial and soothes the digestive tract, reducing inflammation. Acid suppressing drugs were never intended to be used long term. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/758268 http://www.pharmaceutical-journal.com/…/pr…/20068748.article http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/857060 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2974811/
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Intuitive Eating by Brian Lamb Medical Herbalist
Under ideal circumstances we ought to be able to sense what we need to eat to stay well and feel strong. This sense has almost entirely been crushed by the food industry as it has manipulated taste and desire to suits its ends. Finding a balance between the three main food groups has been lost by almost everyone – but it can be regained by those who are willing to question and seek a better way.How can we begin to eat intuitively? The maxim: ‘breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dine like a pauper’ is a good starting point. But for many whose busy lives prevent this, at least try to eat substantially before the evening meal which should not be the largest meal of the day. There is a good reason for this. The day presents our body with a metabolic tide – in reality a high tide and a low tide, similar to the ocean but different in that it is fixed in time – the high tide of energy starts early in the morning when food is used most efficiently. As the day passes, a low tide seamlessly develops when our body prepares for rest, relaxation and the mystery of restorative sleep. The morning tidal flow is called catabolic and the late afternoon is called anabolic. Catabolism is the breakdown of yesterdays complex molecules in the food we ate whilst anabolism is one of construction and storage which requires rest and sleep. This explains why obesity is powered by cramming food in the evening. A busy working life will require a compromise but not a capitulation. At the weekend an opportunity exists to experience the maxim for maybe two days. The result will encourage you. Eating earlier in the day if possible and taking meals at the same time each day including weekends will sharpen metabolism and increase our sense of nutritional needs. Our body is controlled by cellular clocks causing energy flow between organs. Digestive system energy peaks and wanes on a regular cycle and by eating at a fixed time we avoid overload and increase our sensitivity to the three food groups: protein, starchy and non-starchy fruits and vegetables and fats. The next step to intuitive eating is to eat simple meals of few items: for example steamed green beans and fish for our main meal. Segregating starchy vegetables such as potatoes or rice from protein allows for better digestion. Eating a large portion of green beans or other non-starchy vegetables more than satisfies the need for fast carbs and leaves one feeling comfortably satisfied but not bloated. Bloating is usually caused by digestive conflict between protein and starchy veg. Diluting meals with water or eating fruit close to a main meal will also cause bloating. A good soup when slowly eaten is a healthy choice, but followed too soon by tea or coffee and cake and one is quickly bloated.Intuitive eating asks the question: ‘how much protein makes me feel well and how much starchy food do I need for brain energy and am I eating healthy fats. Also, I have been told I need 5-portions a day of fruit and veg. Is this correct and how can I manage 5’? By eating smarter one eats less and feels better.Not appreciated by most is the fact that we do better if we have a ‘reset’ day once a week when missing a meal or eating less really does do us good. A breakfast of mixed ripe fruit, nuts, dried fruit and seeds is super-charged with digestive enzymes and is very cleansing. Others may do well on a high protein breakfast. The common default breakfast of cereals or toast is not good as it gives a roller-coaster surge of insulin with a soon-to-follow emptiness. Lunch of a good protein and green vegetable or salad (but not lettuce as this is a sedative and it will make one sleepy) will provide a clear head for the afternoon whilst a small evening meal including starches such as rice or potatoes will assist with relaxation and sleep. Once our digestive system is calmer and free from bloating we will soon come to select foods on an intuitive basis to bring better health and weight management.All of this should be joyful and not fastidious. Once you are an established intuitive eater and see and feel the benefits, it is good to break out and have a binge because this is not a ‘ball and chain’ or cult – but you will soon be back on track – out of choice!
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Don’t give up
“I’ve tried everything” is a commonly heard statement in our clinic. We usually find that actually a ‘common path’ has been trod to find well being again and it can be a revelation to find that perhaps you haven’t quite tried it all. Even when ‘top’ specialists have been consulted, because they usually don’t look at a person holistically, something vital might be missed. It is easy to feel discouraged when you feel you have listened to all kinds of advice, followed eating plans, tried various pills and supplements and spent what seems like wasted money and still no relief in sight. Sometimes ‘fresh eyes’ are needed and in our continually revealing study of the body, mind, nutrition and herbs, wonderful new opportunities for healing emerge. I am reminded of countless cases when working for my father, and this was at a time when Herbal Medicine was viewed as a last resort, some 25 years ago, that he treated many patients at their wits end, often with very unusual diseases with amazing results. Modern medicine has a lot to learn when still viewing a patient as a symptom. Nothing comes from nothing and to view a person as a whole is a much more promising start when helping someone back to optimal health. A road less travelled may be the answer when all else seems to have failed. The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes. Marcel Proust
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The Anti-Ageing Nutrient – Hyaluronic Acid
You may have wondered what Hyaluronic Acid is as it crops up in skin products and supplements and if it is worth taking. Hyaluronic Acid is a gel-like water holding molecule, a glycosaminoglycan, present in all connective tissue that is responsible for maintaining moisture in the body. Arthritic joints are often very low in Hyaluronic Acid hence it being a useful nutrient to lubricate joints. Known as ‘natures moisturiser’ almost half of the Hyaluronic Acid in the body is located in the collagen of the skin, making it an excellent choice for smoothing, softening, plumping and reducing wrinkles. As we age levels of Hyaluronic Acid decrease, and by our mid 40’s it is estimated that stores deplete by at least half. Unfortunately it is part of the ageing process and along with that comes aching joints and wrinkles! Scientific studies have shown that Hyaluronic Acid Is anti-ageing, ie it improves skin hydration, elasticity, visibly plumps skin and stimulates collagen production Has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory activity Aids eye health as it maintains the fluid in the eye tissues Cushions and lubricates joints as HA is a major component of cartilage and synovial fluid Helps gums regenerate healthy tissue Is an antioxidant, protecting against damage from free radicals New research is also revealing the effectiveness of HA in a variety of other issues including rosacea and vaginal dryness. Hyaluronic Acid products – Viridian High Potency Hyaluronic Acid 200mg Mad Hippie Face Cream Mad Hippie Exfoliating Serum Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum Mad Hippie Vitamin A Serum Mad Hippie Cleanser Noah Hydrating and Restorative Shampoo Noah Filling and Plumping Conditioner Noah Anti-breaking Serum for Hair Tips Noah Restorative Treatment Hair Mask Aloederm SPF 20 Face Sun Cream Aloederm After Sun Milk
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Care versus overcare
Compassion and care are loving emotions that bring about positive feelings for you and the person you care for. Something as seemingly small as a kind word, a door being held open, or a smile provides regenerative energy for the giver and receiver. Loving care is a kind and healing emotion for both parties. Sometimes though this can slip into overcare. “I need to stop caring so much” might be something you have chided yourself over or perhaps you might have told someone else that they are caring too much. This type of care turns into worry, anxiety and stress and leaves you drained, fretful and depleted. When you become over attached to something or someone you become out of balance. Care goes overboard and with it health and relationships are adversely affected. Interestingly most dictionaries define care as ‘a concerned or troubled state of mind, as that arising from serious responsibility’. Perhaps anxiety is reasonable care turned awry. Caring too much causes chronic stress and can be a perpetual cycle that is hard to stop. It could be worry over a child, a spouse, a work issue, selling a home, an aging parent. When you find yourself moving beyond love and care into overcare it is time to stop and take a step back. A helpful practice from the Institute of HeartMath teaches a very simple technique when these emotions are overwhelming. Take yourself to a place where there is peace and quiet and close your eyes and begin to breath in and out slowly, focusing on your heart. Notice how you are feeling and if your breath is shallow or deep and maintain your focus on the heart area for a few moments until a feeling of peace begins to arise. While in this relaxed and calm state with feelings flowing from the heart, rather than the head, perhaps ask yourself what would be a useful and helpful step to take, for your own health and well-being and for that of the person you care about. Let these thoughts arise naturally and perhaps write them down. Bringing heart and mind together is a helpful tool and gives you a chance to break away from the chattering monkey in your head. True care need not be exhausting or draining but healing and positive if practiced the right way. Care carefully. Philippians 4:6-8 King James Version 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
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When sleep became ‘cool’
Who knew it, a fundamental necessity for good health becomes cool. Sleep is being touted as ‘the new sweat’ and while it comes easy to some, for many it can be hard to attain. Are you struggling to lose weight, have inflammation, depression, want to reduce the risk of dementia, diabetes and heart disease? Ensure you have restful sleep. During the hours of sleep the body detoxifies and repairs, resets and heals. “Most people are aware of the importance of sleep, but as a society we don’t do what is good for us in this area. We are chronically sleep deprived and even proud of the fact since it indicates a life on the go and total dedication to our work. But the mind platter indicates that true dedication would consist of balancing the brain for optimal performance, which means taking seriously time in, down time, and sleep time.” Deepak Chopra The essential conditions for sleep Keep blood sugar stable throughout the day. Don’t skip meals and ensure adequate protein, carbohydrate and fat with meals. Hunger will prevent sleep. Have a sweet drink before bed. Ideally a strong chamomile with 2 teaspoons of honey or the tradional milk and honey. Dissolve hydrolysed collagen into your beverage as gelatin (collagen) contains glycine which promotes calmness and restorative sleep.. Don’t do vigorous exercise in the evening, you don’t want high cortisol before bed! Avoid ‘blue’ light and screen time before bed. If you must be on a screen download f.lux to ‘warm’ up your computer screen at night time. Take magnesium! A morning and evening dose will help anxiety and reduce stress hormones and generally induce a feeling of calm. The addition of our ashwagandha with valerian sleep supplement can often be a perfect combination to magnesium. Practice a breathing meditation before bed. Inhale for 4, hold for 7, exhale for 8. This creates a relaxed state, calming the limbic system to prepare for sleep. Relax about not sleeping. Fighting against not sleeping will cause a state of agitation, embrace a laissez-faire attitude to life.
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