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Homeopathy Resource Newsletter: April 2007

Packed full of top tips to treat common conditions.

Detoxing your body; Smoothie to cleanse your liver; New Essence; Aromatheapy

This month in the Homeopathy Resource newsletter, I hope you'll enjoy reading testimonials, a health tip for menopausal women, my article on detoxing; aSmoothie Recipe to help you cleanse liver, kidneys and colon; my Case of the Month and news of an incredible new essence from Ian White (of Australian Bush Essences).

As an Easter treat, for those of you who are sitting GCSEs or A-levels in a month or so (or know someone who is), I've included a really comprehensive set of top tips for exam preparation to help you focus and maximise your performance - I've covered nutrition with a couple of recipes, aromatherapy oils to help you concentrate and get a good night's sleep, and homeopathic remedies and flower essences for exam nerves - and of course I wish you the best of luck!

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PRACTICE NEWS:

PLEASE NOTE MY NEW TELEPHONE NUMBER:
+44 (0)1494 416376

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BE SAGE

I often recommend a great book called Menopausal Years, The Wise Woman Way, by Susun Weed. Her surname is most appropriate, because she knows so much about herbs! This is a great self-support book to help you through any aspect of the menopause, and a favourite in my practice. One of my clients commented that she thought the doctors should be selling it in their surgeries!

If you are menopausal and suffering from night sweats, try brewing yourself a cup of sage tea two or three times a day. It's just a case of popping three or four fresh sage leaves into a mug and pouring boiling water on top - leave it a few minutes to infuse and cool.

Sage is another word for "wise person", and they say you can tell a wise woman lives in the house if there's a sage bush in the garden - that's because the women of old knew its infusions would help them through the menopause, and of course any woman of menopausal age has to be a wise one, given her years of experience!

Sage grows green all year round so it's a lovely and useful addition to the garden, as you can use it for cooking too. Sage works especially well with fatty meats such as pork, sausage, goose and lamb, because it aids in the digestion. It is also very good in stuffings, beans, potatoes, risotto, cheeses, and tomato sauces.

I've also heard that if you pop a fresh leaf on your tongue it will help you cope with addictive cravings - haven't tried it myself, but if you're thinking of clearing and cleansing your body of toxins, please read on!

DETOX - a personal opinion

By Linda Lloyd MLCHom, DipHEAR, FARH
Homeopathic Consultant

Spring is in the air and people are beginning to shake off the winter blues and cobwebs, as we have done instinctively for centuries in that great national ritual known as spring-cleaning!

More and more these days it's not just our homes we shake up and make over, but our physical, mental and emotional selves feel the need for cleansing and rejuvenation.

It's quite natural, as all the creatures that have spent the dark cold days hibernating are waking up, and the bulbs that have been sleeping and nourishing themselves underground are now blessing us with their bright colours and promise of summer to come (and for some, the threat of public appearances in a bikini)!

There are some quite extreme detox programmes, including the "liver flush" and the Ayurvedic melon diet, and some people swear by fasting for 24 hours at regular intervals, but with all of these it's a good idea to put aside a period of time during which you will be able to rest and stay free of stress, since they are demanding on the body.

For the average person, it's therefore very tempting to pop into the local health shop and buy a detox tea or pack of products promising us a week or two of detoxification which will fit in with our busy lifestyles.

However, these products are mostly made up of herbs that will, to put it bluntly, make you go to the loo more often; the more expensive ones also contain things like Milk Thistle, a liver tonic.

According to the Chinese medicine system, Spring is the time when the liver becomes more active. The liver is a major organ of cleansing and filtering, sorting out the toxins and sending them along the waste channels of the body, so a tonic can make sense if you know your liver is burdened by your lifestyle, or if you want it functioning optimally to help you with a Spring cleanse.

Homeopathically, we would support the liver with something like Carduus Mar or Chelidonium, in 3x potencies, one pill taken three times a day.

For a healthy person, it doesn't seem necessary to spend money on products whose main action is diuretic or laxative, if you're not already constipated. The best way for a healthy person to detox is not to worry so much about elimination but to wave goodbye to junk food, drop the habits we all know are bad for us and start eating lots of good quality fresh fruit and veg, and drinking loads of water. Take advantage of the milder weather and longer daylight hours and get out into the garden or go for a daily walk in your lunch hour. This will soon rejuvenate a body that has become sluggish over the winter.

You don't need to be drastic about it, do it within your comfort zone or you'll get off to a flying start but not be able to sustain your efforts. Take one or two small steps a day till you notice a difference and you'll be rewarded by a new spring in your step!

If you're interested in detoxifying at a deep, spiritual level, and getting some help from an essence to help you let go of all that old stuff, please read about the new Antarctic Essence from Ian White.

Recipe: Smoothie to cleanse the liver, kidneys and colon

I'd like to leave you with a delicious Smoothie Recipe which will get you off to a great start as a breakfast drink, and contains melon and apple juice to cleanse the liver, kidneys and colon:

Prepare and chunk up for the blender:

  • Quarter of a small melon, such as Cantaloupe, or an equivalent amount of watermelon
  • One or two kiwi fruits
  • A banana

Pop into the blender and top up to half-full with apple juice.

Blend, pour and enjoy! Leave about half an hour before you eat more solid food for breakfast.

CASE OF THE MONTH:

Pregnant Woman Avoids Induction Thanks to Homeopathy!

This was a lovely, simple case with fantastic results. Sarah was pregnant for the second time and was quite anxious as the first birth was not what she'd hoped for - she wanted this one to go with minimum medical intervention. She had a pre-birth consultation as well as homeopathic treatment in her third trimester, and was already equipped with her Remedy Kit for childbirth.

All was well, and I'd told her I would be on holiday around the time when the baby was due, so she had my mobile telephone number just in case.

I received a text saying the baby had gone ten days overdue. Here in the UK, women are not permitted to go more than 14 days past the due date, because it increases the risks to the baby, so she was to be induced after the weekend and wanted to avoid that.

Good job she had her kit - I told her which remedy to take and she took a dose at 8.30 the same evening.

The following morning, there was another text: "Thomas was born this morning at 6.40am, weighing 8lb 5oz. Sarah and the baby are well."

What wonderful news! And baby was born on the Chinese New Year, meaning that he is a Golden Pig - an extremely auspicious birthday!

EASTER WISHES AND AN EXCITING NEW ESSENCE FROM IAN WHITE

http://ausflowers.com.au/cms/details.asp?NewsID=22

Whatever the festival of Easter means to you personally, I hope it brings you happiness, joy and the promise of a wonderful year ahead.

I always feel enlivened and excited by the new life and holiday celebrations all around me and in a way it's my New Year - the dreary months of January and February are long gone and won't be back for a while! So it might seem like a funny time to be thinking of the Antarctic with its freezing snows and glaciers. But the new Antarctic Essence from Ian White is just the one we need to help us detoxify at a deep spiritual level.

You can read Ian's fascinating account of the journey and making of this essence on his website here: http://ausflowers.com.au/cms/details.asp?NewsID=22, meantime this is what he tells us about the qualities of this essence.

Qualities of Antarctic Essence

Antarctic Essence allows you to be aware of what is really necessary in your life and in the situations that you are encountering. This is one of the key aspects of the Essence and also to feel tremendous calm, peace and stillness within yourself ... to help let fall away those things that are not essential to you and taking you away from that inner peace and being at one with nature. The purity of Antarctica helps you to find your own pure essence - the very core of yourself - and to let go of whatever takes you from this timeless, clear-centred part of yourself. It allows you to go deeply into things and not get distracted; to see the core of things and what's important. If you are too distracted it will help to pull you back into harmony. The other key aspect of the Antarctic Essence is that it will reveal to you aspects of yourself that are very deep and hidden -what are referred to sometimes as 'old dark crystals'. This Essence will bring the light to them and dissolve these old patterns and beliefs (which may have been formed in ancient times or may be early beliefs developed this lifetime). Their dissolution will help you to trust Spirit, to trust your path and to show you the necessary new steps. The Antarctic Essence can also help you to connect to the wisdom of the Ancients as well as your own ancient past and the communication of anything needed from that time. It helps you find the patience to be very still, which will help you to trust the unfolding of your life and direction with openness to these new revelations and willingness to seek and follow them. It even helps when dealing with major change. There's a deep stillness that can come with trust in life, nature and God which when achieved will help you find your own peace and stillness, and allow you to be able to stay in this state more readily. This Essence can help in the clarity of both your vision for what is necessary and essential in your life, as well as your communication.

Much Love, Light and Respect, Ian

AND LASTLY, FOR THOSE OF YOU WITH EXAMS JUST AROUND THE CORNER - here's how to SAIL THROUGH WITH TOP MARKS!

It's that time of year again! Whether it's exams for you or at any challenging time, did you know that certain foods can help you boost your performance, concentrate better and improve your sleep? Want to know which aromatherapy oils and flower essences can give you an edge?

Keep your blood sugar steady

Since your brain cannot store its primary fuel - glucose - you need to eat regularly to provide it with a steady supply to function well. Your brain cells need twice as much energy as the other cells in your body. Running low on glucose compromises your brain's ability to concentrate, learn and remember.

Give yourself the best chance with a protein-rich breakfast, like scrambled eggs or sardines on wholemeal toast. Combine it with a glass of fresh orange juice, and you'll be off to a great start! Have a bowl of porridge first, if your nerves need soothing on the morning of an exam.

Many practitioners recommend Avena Sativa, the tincture of oats, which is highly nutritive and supportive of the nervous system. It is one of the best remedies for "feeding" the central nervous system, especially when under stress. Take 10-15 drops in a glass of water, morning and evening, throughout the study and exam period. (Contact Linda for details of suppliers).

Lunch is important

To keep your blood sugar nice and steady throughout the day, it's a good idea to have a snack around 11.00am - ideally, a handful of your favourite mix of nuts and dried fruit. If you go for chocolate, biscuits or a fizzy drink, you may get a buzz for half an hour but you'll crash later and feel worse than you did before. Lots of people complain of feeling sluggish and tired in the afternoons, especially if they went for fried food at lunchtime. Fat takes longer to digest and uses up your energy. You need protein again at lunchtime, perhaps a chicken or turkey sandwich with salad. One of my favourites is date, banana and peanut butter or cream cheese!

You do need to drink lots of water!

By the time you feel thirsty, you are probably already dehydrated enough to affect your mental and physical performance. One study discovered that schoolchildren achieved better results in class when they drank more water.

Nourish your brain

Great brain foods are:

  • oily fish like salmon, sardines, trout, tuna, herring, mackerel and anchovies
  • Chicken, turkey, fish, bananas, pineapples, plums, eggs, nuts, avocados, cheese, cottage cheese, milk, beans, peas and soya
  • pork, liver and kidney, and legumes.
  • bread, rice and pasta
  • orange juice, strawberries, melons, lemons, green leafy vegetables, dried pulses and cereals
  • sunflower seeds, peanuts, and red meat.

Get a good night's sleep

The night before an exam, ensure you eat plenty of vegetables and wholegrains.

Basil is both tonic and calming to the nervous system, and soothes frazzled nerves. You can buy pesto sauce ready made to stir through freshly cooked pasta, or make your own:

Pesto Sauce

  • 2 cups fresh basil leaves, firmly packed,
  • 1/4 cup oil,
  • 2 Tbsp pine nuts
  • 1 clove garlic,
  • 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

Combine all ingredients in a processor or blender, process until smooth. Pesto will keep, covered, in refrigerator for up to one week.

Don't eat a heavy meal any later than two hours before bed. Definitely avoid any foods that you know are difficult for you to digest. You may not know that some foods can cause sleeplessness for susceptible people: bacon, cheese, smoked meats and red wine for example can contain tyramine which tends to keep you awake at night.

It should go without saying that coffee is best avoided in the evenings. Drink a soothing cup of camomile or valerian tea instead. It's true that warm milk taken at bed-time can help you sleep, because it contains tryptophan, a sleep-inducing amino acid. Other tryptophan rich foods are almonds, bananas, turkey, dates and cottage cheese.

Try this Almond and Banana Milkshake:

To make almond milk (easier than it sounds and really nutritious brain food! It makes a great start to the day if you're not keen on eating much at breakfast time, or you can take it to drink with a packed lunch)

  • soak one cup of almonds in three cups of water for 24 hours, then drain and rinse
  • add to the blender with three cups of water, six pitted or chopped dates, half a tsp of vanilla (if liked) and blend all together until smooth. You can also use almond extract or a pinch of grated nutmeg for added flavour
  • if you don't want to drink the almond skin and pulp, you will need to strain the puree through a fine mesh strainer, cheese cloth or similar
  • you can store this in the fridge for a day or two

When you set your almonds to soak, pop three bananas into the freezer at the same time. Peel them and put them in a freezer bag or sealed plastic container. When you're ready to prepare your milkshake, take them out and allow them to soften slightly for a few minutes. Chop each banana up into smaller pieces and feed them into the blender while you whiz them up with the almond milk.

Feed your brain with fresh air too!

Get out for a walk. To stay alert, you need to oxygenate your brain by exercising and eating little and often.

AROMATHERAPY OILS FOR EXAM TIME

The wonderfully reviving fragrance of Basil essential oil gives the mind strength and clarity whilst helping to combat fatigue. Use Basil essential oil in a vapouriser or oil burner whilst studying or whenever long periods of concentration are needed. A drop of Basil on a tissue can be taken into the exam and sniffed as needed.

Contraindications: Basil essential oil is not for use during pregnancy. Can irritate sensitive skin.

Aromatherapy oils are available from many stockists, or you can order online.

Valerie Wormwood in her book The Fragrant Pharmacy suggests the following blends of oils:

Sailing Through

... a blend to increase your powers of memory and help you concentrate, even if you are nervous. Mix the ingredients together and use six drops in the bath before you go to the exam.

8 drops Grapefruit
5 drops Basil
5 drops Bergamot
2 drops Lavender

Pre-exam blend

... use the following formula in a nightly bath for at least a week before the exam; it will keep your nerves under control.

5 drops Lavender
3 drops Chamomile
3 drops Geranium
5 drops Mandarin

The Night Before 'Sweet Dreams' Blend

... it's too late to cram more facts into your brain now. Try to forget it and spend the time doing something peaceful that you enjoy - like having a bath! Use 6 drops in a bath just before bedtime. If someone is kind enough to give you a massage, use 5 drops in a dessertspoon of vegetable oil.

2 drops Roman Chamomile
6 drops Geranium
4 drops Sandalwood
3 drops Lemon

FLOWER ESSENCES TO HELP

Ian White's Australian Bush Flower Combination Essence Calm and Clear is a good one if you are overwhelmed at exam time - or at any time of stress. This essence will help if you:

  • are always over-committed
  • have no time for yourself
  • feel impatient
  • rush things
  • have a busy mind, full of 'chatter'
  • can't sleep
  • are irritable

The positive outcomes of the essence are:

  • encourages own time and space to wind down
  • relax and have fun
  • clarity, calmness and peace

The essence helps to find time for one's self, to relax without external pressures and demands, to wind down and enjoy relaxing pursuits.

It contains Bush Flower Essences: Black-eyed Susan, Boronia, Bottlebrush, Bush Fuchsia, Crowea, Jacaranda, Little Flannel Flower and Paw Paw.

Cognis Essence gives clarity and focus when working, speaking, reading or studying. It balances the intuitive and cognitive processes and helps integrate ideas and information. Excellent for study or pursuits that require intense focus. It assists problem solving by improving access to the Higher Self, which stores all past knowledge and experiences. It's great for:

  • daydreaming
  • confusion
  • overwhelm

and helps you to:

  • assimilate ideas
  • gain clarity and focus
  • enhance all learning abilities and skills

It contains the Bush Flower Essences: Bush Fuchsia, Isopogon, Jacaranda, Paw Paw and Sundew.

Rescue™ Remedy

For those panicky moments, Dr Bach created an emergency combination containing five flower remedies - Impatiens, Star of Bethlehem, Cherry Plum, Rock Rose and Clematis.

Rescue Remedy combines these five Bach Original Flower Remedies and can be used to help you cope with immediate everyday situations such as going to the dentist, interviews, making a complaint or wedding day nerves. It can also help in times of crisis or trauma such as bereavement, a relationship breakdown or redundancy.

It's now also available in a convenient unbreakable mini-aerosol format, which is also alcohol free: great for kids and sensitive people.

Of course, homeopathy also has its anti-panic remedies! Take AAA (Triple A) 30c each morning for 3 days before the exam if you are extremely anxious, or your mind goes blank, to help you focus and maintain composure.

FOR ALL SUPPLIERS, PLEASE CONTACT LINDA ON: 01494 416376, or email:
linda@homeopathyresource.com

WISHING YOU THE BEST OF LUCK!

Sincerely,
Linda Lloyd
MLCHom, DipHEAR, FARH, Homeopathic Consultant,
Chesham in Bucks, England

Telephone: 01494 416376
Email: Linda@HomeopathyResource.com
Web: www.HomeopathyResource.com

Posted on April 01, 2007 09:36 PM

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