Sue Hardman

Nourish + Rejuvenate

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How & Why I Use Essential Oils

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Why I Use Essential Oil Daily

Essential oils are one of the hottest natural products out there right now and that’s because they’re a wonderful natural tool to have in your medicine chest, along with a high quality diet, exercise and stress management.

We’ve been using essential oils in our home for several years, If you don’t know know how to use essential oils, don’t feel overwhelmed or intimidated by how to get started with essential oils. It’s really easy and a lot of fun!

The potency of essential oils? 

Did you know that one drop of peppermint oil is the equivalent of 28 glasses of peppermint tea!

You might be inclined to think that more is better, this is definitely not the case when it comes to essential oils – start small and then add more if needed.

There are many essential oils I use in my home all the time and so as not to overwhelm you, I’ll be sharing the oils one by one and on my blog.

HERE ARE MY TOP 3 ESSENTIAL OILS

Lavender – This is an oil that I use daily, especially to help with a restful sleep. You can spray it in your room or add a drop to your pillow. I also like to diffuse it in my bedroom. I’ve used it for my son when he is anxious and most nights I spray his room with lavender. 

This was the first indication that I was going to love essential oils when I heard this story- “In 1910 French chemist and scholar René-Maurice Gattefossé discovered the virtues of the essential oil of lavender. Gattefossé badly burned his hand during an experiment in a perfumery plant and plunged his hand into the nearest tub of liquid, which just happened to be lavender essential oil. He was later amazed at how quickly his burn healed and with very little scarring. This started a fascination with essential oils and inspired him to experiment with them during the First World War on soldiers in the military hospitals.”  I was sold and ever since then I’v always had lavender in my home.

Lavender has been used and cherished for centuries, the Egyptians and Romans used Lavender for bathing, relaxation, cooking, and as a perfume.

Its calming and relaxing qualities, when taken internally, continue to be Lavender’s most notable attributes.

Applied topically, Lavender is frequently used to reduce the appearance of skin imperfections.

Add to bath water to soak away stress or apply to the temples and the back of the neck. Add a few drops of Lavender to pillows, bedding, or bottoms of feet to relax and prepare for a restful night’s sleep.

Due to Lavender’s versatile properties, it is considered the must-have oil to have on hand at all times.

Uses

  • Soothes occasional skin irritations
  • Taken internally, Lavender reduces anxious feelings and promotes peaceful sleep. This must be be certified
  • Helps ease feelings of tension.
  • Add a few drops of Lavender to pillows, bedding, or bottoms of feet at bedtime.
  • Freshen your linen closet
  • Use in cooking to soften citrus flavors and add a flavorful twist to marinades, baked goods, and desserts. Add to a glass of water.

Frankincense

This is one of my favourite essential oils to use in my moisturising facial oil it helps hydrate and rejuvenate your skin. Add a drop or 2 to your face cream for smooth skin (amazing for fine lines). Rub over your forehead and back of neck for calming, on soles of feet for relaxing.

It’s also a maximiser – that means that when applied under any other oil it maximises their benefit. It supports healthy cellular function (it is one of the most prized oils).

Add Frankincense to your daily facial cleanser to help revitalise and beautify your skin or apply Frankincense and Fractionated Coconut Oil to freshly-shaven skin to reduce any possible skin irritation caused by the razor on your face or your legs.

Frankincense promotes feelings of peace and overall wellness when used aromatically,

Description

Renowned as one of the most prized and precious essential oils, Frankincense has extraordinary health benefits.

In addition to its notoriety in the New Testament, the Babylonians and Assyrians would burn Frankincense in religious ceremonies and the ancient Egyptians used Frankincense resin for everything from perfume to salves for soothing skin.

This centuries-old knowledge contributes to the modern uses of Frankincense today. It’s soothing and beautifying properties are used to rejuvenate skin and help reduce the appearance of imperfections when applied topically.

As the king of oils, Frankincense is known to support healthy cellular function when used internally*.

When inhaled or diffused, Frankincense promotes feelings of peace, relaxation, satisfaction, and overall wellness.

Uses
  • Apply topically to help reduce the appearance of skin imperfections.
  • Can be applied to the bottoms of feet to promote feelings of relaxation and to balance mood.
  • Take one to two drops in a veggie capsule to support healthy cellular function.*
  • Ingest to support healthy cellular function*
  • Aroma promotes feelings of relaxation
  • Helps reduce the appearance of skin imperfections when applied topically
  • Supports healthy immune, nervous, and digestive function when taken internally*

Lemon Oil 

For ease of use this oil is fantastic, I add a drop of the fresh, zingy lemon oil to my bottle of water. So easy. A drop in my water first thing in the morning to kick start my digestion and support my liver and to detox.

I also add this to my home cleaning  products – has a fabulous fresh smell. No wonder most of the store bought products have lemon fragrance (artificial at best)

Lemon is great for sticky spots and residue and giving your stainless steel a sparkle after rubbing a drop of lemon on it.

Description

Lemon has multiple benefits and uses. It’s a powerful cleaning agent that purifies the air and surfaces.

When added to water, Lemon provides a refreshing and healthy boost throughout the day. Lemon is frequently added to food to enhance the flavor of desserts and main dishes. Taken internally, Lemon provides cleansing and digestive benefits and supports healthy respiratory function.

When diffused, Lemon is very uplifting and energizing and has been shown to help improve mood.

Uses
  • Add Lemon oil to a spray bottle of water to clean tables, countertops, and other surfaces. Lemon oil also makes a great furniture polish; simply add a few drops to olive oil to clean, protect, and shine wood finishes.
  • Use a cloth soaked in Lemon oil to preserve and protect your leather furniture and other leather surfaces or garments.
  • Lemon oil is a great remedy for the early stages of tarnish on silver and other metals.
  • Diffuse to create an uplifting environment.
Primary Benefits
  • Cleanses and purifies the air and surfaces
  • Naturally cleanses the body and aids in digestion*
  • Supports healthy respiratory function*
  • Promotes a positive mood

HOW TO MAKE ESSENTIAL OILS PART OF YOUR DAY

Below are a few ways in which you can start using essential oils, and you’ll be surprised in how many areas of your life you are able to use youressential oils:

  1. Apply to the skin
  2. Simply inhale
  3. Steam inhalation
  4. Use an essential oil diffuser
  5. Use in a bath
  6. Aromatherapy massage
  7. Internal use (this is totally dependant on the quality of oil and is oil specific)

As Western holistic care and naturopathic remedies continue to provide alternative solutions for people desiring to take charge of their own health care, it is important to have a firm understanding of essential oils.These oils are a popular alternative for those desiring more natural remedies to energy, immunity, mood, aches/pains, breathing issues, hormone balancing, beauty, anxiety, sleep, allergies.

Essential oils can be an amazing health care solutions for many people, it is important to know what you’re doing before you start using them.

So, are you ready to harness the power of the world’s most proven therapeutic compounds? Are you ready to learn which oils to use in your essential oil diffuser or in other ways?

Explore the many essential oils benefits and uses, and open your mind to a whole new way of preventing and reversing health conditions that you’ve been battling for years. 

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease

Vitamin D are you getting enough?

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Most of Us Are Deficient, Even if You live in A Sunny Climate.

Just some of the things this vitamin is helpful with – Low Mood, Pregnancy, Weight gain, Low Immunity, Fertility, Thyroid, Gut, Brain, Bones, Heart…..are you sure you’re getting enough?


The level of Vitamin D deficiency is quite staggering, with most adults believed to be deficient  – think lack of exposure to sunshine, spending way too much time inside and sunscreens (if you happen to live in a sunny, hot climate) and we’re only getting a fraction of the vitamin D we need.

It is one of the most common deficiencies I see!

Some studies estimate that one billion people worldwide have insufficient Vitamin D levels. However, the rate of true Vitamin D deficiency is likely even higher, because new research indicates that the previous recommended levels of Vitamin D were actually too low.

The widespread deficiency of Vitamin D is concerning because it plays an important role in many areas of our health. It contributes to bone strength, hormones, heart health, and cancer prevention. And, it plays a hugely important role in your immune system and can be a determining factor in whether or not you develop an autoimmune disease.

 What is Vitamin D?

It’s name is slightly misleading, as vitamin D is both a vitamin and a hormone, stored in your liver and fatty tissues..

How Your Body Gets Vitamin D From the Sun

The amount of melanin (which is the substance that affects how light or dark your skin colour is) you have in your skin affects the amount of vitamin D you can produce; the fairer your skin, the more easily you can make vitamin D.

Melanin gets released when we are exposed to the ultraviolet rays of sunshine, which is why it’s often called “the sunshine vitamin,”  The more sunshine we receive, the more melanin is released in our skin. Cholesterol in your skin then converts melanin into usable vitamin D.

Signs You Might Be Deficient in Vitamin D

  1. Aches & pains – low levels can make you feel more feel more achiness in your bones and muscles,.
  2. Feeling blue – you might need to improve levels of serotonin that are known to boost your mood. Studies have shown healthy adults given vitamin D supplements during the cooler months reported greater positive mood than given a placebo.
  3. You’re 50 or older – your skin makes less as you get older, and your kidneys start to become less productive when it comes to converting vitamin D into the form the body uses. Many adults over 50 also end to spend less time outdoors and less sun exposure.
  4. You’re overweight – Vitamin D is fat soluble, which means the more body fat you have, the more it gets diluted. People who are overweight may require more daily vitamin D to make up for this dilution effect.
  5. You have darker skin – To make the same amount of vitamin D, someone with darker skin needs 10 times the amount of sun exposure compared to someone with very pale complexion.
  6. Use Sunscreen frequently – although sunscreen is highly recommended, a sunscreen with higher SPF levels, reduces your skin’s ability to make vitamin D.
  7. Fertility issues/ Low libido – Vitamin D deficiency can cause low oestrogen in women, which means low sex drive.  It also causes low testosterone in men.
  8. Lack of Sun – Most of us spend more time indoors, and time inside our homes sheltered from the sun.

Why is Vitamin D crucial for good health and preventing disease

Vitamin D is the precursor to your steroid hormones and is best-known for its bone supporting function. It’s also really important for regulating your insulin production to ensure optimum blood sugar balance, enhancing immunity, hormone production, supporting heart health and regulating your mood.

Bones

Vitamin D plays a role in calcium absorption into the bones. It has an effect on other important vitamins and minerals that contribute to your bone health. including vitamin K and phosphorus.

A deficiency can result in a softening of your bones called osteomalacia, increasing the risks for osteoporosis, fractures or broken bones.

Adequate levels can naturally slow the ageing of the your bones.

Hormones – Thyroid health, Fertility & Pregnancy

Vitamin D regulates the production of your thyroid hormones, one of the most powerful glands in your body, regulating everything from metabolism and body temperature to hormonal balance and sleep patterns, maintaining a healthy weight, your mood, immunity, energy levels, also keeping your hair, skin, and nails youthful and strong.

It’s also a key player in fertility, pregnancy and recovery. Therefore, if you want to increase your chances of a healthy conception, pregnancy, and postpartum period, protecting your thyroid is key.

Low levels of vitamin D can also interfere with proper testosterone and oestrogen production, leading to imbalances which can result in many unwanted symptoms.

Vitamin D linked with fertility success

A recent study published in the journal Human Reproduction  compared data from results of pregnancy tests and found women who were low in vitamin D were 34% less likely to have a positive result.

Reduces Breast Cancer Risks

It has been shown to help reduce the risk of breast cancer because it helps prevent abnormal cells from multiplying.

Immunity

Vitamin D can enhance your immune response against various infections such as tuberculosis, colds & flu and viral infections. It helps with healthy cell replication and may play a role in protecting against the development of autoimmune conditions

Vitamin D works as a kind of switch in your body, sufficient levels of Vitamin D reduce your risk of infections by strengthening your innate immune system. It triggers your immune system anti-microbial response, allowing you to quickly and effectively fight off invaders before they can develop into a full-blown infection.

It’s also been shown that vitamin D seems to prevent prolonged or excessive inflammatory responses. Inflammation is often at the root of many modern, chronic diseases and autoimmune disorders: multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome and other digestive disorders, high blood pressure, and more.

Mood

Vitamin D also has an effect on your mood.  It activates the genes that release dopamine and serotonin. The lack of these neurotransmitters is commonly linked to depression.

This connection might help explain Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD when you’re getting less vitamin D, and therefore less dopamine and serotonin.

Ageing, Brain Health & Heart Disease

Elderly people with a moderate-to-severe Vitamin D deficiency are more likely to develop dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

An international team of researchers spent six years looking at 1,658 Americans, aged 65 or older, who at the start of the study had not suffered from dementia, cardiovascular disease or a stroke—and who could walk without assistance. The team found that adults who were moderately deficient in Vitamin D were 53% more likely to develop a form of dementia; those with a severe deficiency were 125% more likely to be stricken with the disease.

How To Ensure You Are Getting Enough Vitamin D

Based on the current research, moderate sun exposure is best. Try to get out in the sun for approximately 15 minutes a day without any sunscreen (check the skin cosmetics you use, as most contain in-built sun protection factors that will block sunlight).

Due to the Western diet and an indoor lifestyle, it is becoming harder for us to maintain adequate levels of vitamin D in our body.

Food sources of vitamin D include oily fish, such as salmon, mackerel and sardines, eggs and raw milk.

Due to the increase of fish and poultry farming, vitamin D levels in these sources are lower than expected. For example, farmed salmon was found to have approximately 75% less vitamin D in comparison to wild salmon.

Therefore, a vitamin D supplement is essentially the best way of ensuring that we get your daily dose of vitamin D.

Get Tested

 The safest way to optimise your vitamin D consumption is to monitor your blood levels. To do so, order a 25-hydroxy vitamin D test, also known as the 25-OH D test. The optimal (not just “normal”) amount you want to see is 45 to 65 ng/mL, and in some cases, even higher levels are appropriate.

The RDA for vitamin D according to the USDA is 600 IU/day for adults. I often recommend getting 5000 IU/day, for a short term period to help raise the blood levels to adequate levels.

However keep in mind that this is a general recommendation and there is no way to know the exact amount that’s best for you without a blood test.

All vitamins are team players be sure have good levels of minerals such as calcium and magnesium that normally interact with it.

In Summary

I highly recommend that most of my patients get their vitamin D levels checked more frequently.

Why? Because having optimal vitamin D levels are crucial to nearly every single one of your body’s functions, and getting your vitamin D levels to right level sooner rather than later can prevent many chronic ailments from appearing later in your life.

 

I’d Like to invite you to make use of my offer of a FREE mini CONSULT, please click HERE and to book your appointment.

I’d love to chat on the phone/skype if you’re looking for more support managing your fatigue, low energy, hormonal imbalances and skin issues.

I so enjoy talking to women and helping them with their health. Please feel free to share if you have friends or family who might need help.

Vitamin C Essential For Younger Looking Skin

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If you’re spend a fair amount of money on anti-ageing skin care hoping to prevent sagging skin, fine lines or age spots, it may all be for nought if you’re not getting this essential nutrient.

What accelerates the ageing of your skin?

When your skin is exposed to sunlight, it reduces critical vitamins as well as causing damage to the skin, along with environmental pollutants and smoking. 

Dermatologist, Karen E. Burke, MD, of New York, says “Even minimal UV [ultraviolet] exposure can decrease the vitamin C levels in the skin by up to 30 percent, while exposure from the ozone of city pollution can decrease the level by 55 percent.” (It is important however, to get a limited amount of unprotected time in the sun, which is necessary for the production of vitamin D in your body.)

More About Vitamin C

Signs of this Vitamin C Deficiency might include:

  • Skin deterioration, fine lines and wrinkles
  • Rough, dry, scaly skin
  • Increased infections, frequent illness
  • Anaemia, debility, fatigue,
  • Swelling and bleeding gums and loss of teeth.
  • Depression and other mood imbalances.
  • Joint pain and inflammation
  • Dry, brittle hair and nails
  • Easy bruising and slow wound healing
  • Frequent nosebleeds

Why might you be deficient in this Vitamin?

  • You might be following the RDA guidelines which research has shown to be way, way on the low side.
  • You’re not eating enough of the right foods, your body doesn’t make this vitamin so you have to get it from the food you eat or take a supplement.
  • If you’re a smoke, drink alcohol, consume sugar or deal with a lot of stress on an ongoing basis, you should be especially vigilant about avoiding this vitamin deficiency

It’s estimated that up to 33% of people are deficient in this Vitamin and 20% very deficient.

Evidence for the importance of vitamin C has been around since the 1960’s, when Linus Pauling won the Nobel Peace prize for his research on the benefits of taking Vitamin C.

In more recent studies, Vitamin C has been proven to be an antioxidant that can help to shield the body from free radicals and hence its importance as an anti-ageing vitamin.

Why is Vitamin C Essential for Preventing and Repairing Damaged Skin

Vitamin C is essential in the development of your skin’s collagen, connective tissues and your skin’s cellular glue that gives your skin strength, firmness and elasticity. As you age your body makes less and less which is why you slowly get sagging skin, fine lines, wrinkles and age spots.

Vitamin C helps your body to increase your collagen levels and improve the firmness of your skin.

It’s also a powerful antioxidant, and it ‘fights’ the damaging effects of free radicals in your skin, repairing damage that causes ageing and wrinkles. Studies have shown that Vitamin C helps in repairing damaged skin from injuries, exposure to pollutants, toxins and natural ageing.

Research also suggests that it may lessen the severity of sunburn due UV-B sun exposure and help prevent the consequences of long-term exposure to the sun.

It’s also important for so so much more…..

Vitamin C is important for:
– ensuring a healthy heart. Epidemiological studies indicate people with the highest blood levels and intakes of vitamin C have as much as a 50% reduced risk of developing or dying from cardiovascular diseases. Men with the lowest blood levels of vitamin C have a 2.4-fold greater risk of having a stroke compared with those having the highest levels of vitamin C. (Lancet. 2001 Mar 3;357(9257):657-63, Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 2011 Jul;81(4):211-7.)
– improving lung function (High intakes of vitamin C are associated with improved lung function and a delay in the deterioration that could lead to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.)
– a stronger & more robust immune system, you may be deficient if you’re more susceptible to colds and minor ailments.
– improving healing time of wounds
– for helping your up take of and use iron, very essential in female health.
– preventing osteoporosis (Bones require a strong matrix of collagen proteins to maintain structural integrity and proper mineralisation. poor vitamin C linked to bone loss.  vitamin C supplementation prevents post-menopausal bone loss by stimulating new bone formation.)

– Vitamin C helps with the production of Glutathione – the MASTER antioxidant!

Glutathione is the master antioxidant so you want lots of this in your body, it’s a powerful cell-protector, age-defyer and disease-preventer.

Glutathione lives in every, single, cell of your body. It repairs, protects and sends out signals to trigger a healing response wherever there is oxidative damage. Vitamin C helps your body’s produce glutathione.

– Essential in the production of the hormone progesterone, if you have any hormonal issues, infertility, sleep issues, tender breast and imbalances, your progesterone levels may be low.

– when you’re in a stressful situation or have adrenal fatigue your Vitamin C is used up rapidly by the adrenal glands to make stress hormones ( e.g cortisol) and the stores are depleted rapidly. 

Where do you get Vitamin C (and citrus is not the only way!)

So, what is Vitamin C or Ascorbic acid?  It’s a water-soluble vitamin, it can easily dissolve in water and is excreted from your body through urine, it can’t be stored, so you need to top it up every day.

Vitamin C rich foods

Your bodies can’t produce vitamin C so it has to be obtained from the food you. Although citrus is usually associated with Vitamin C – strawberries actually have far more vitamin C than citrus. Blueberries score even higher for vitamin C content but winning outright are acai berries. Be sure to eat lots of these colourful vegetables – peppers, guava, kale, brussel sprouts, broccoli, strawberries, grapefruit, kiwi fruit, spinach, cabbage, watercress and rocket.

Even though you may love fresh leafy vegetables and fruit – you may have trouble getting the levels you need simply from food alone.

Adding a supplement can help you maintain the correct levels.

Supplementing with Vitamin C:
– It’s absorption is improved when taken in conjunction with flavonoids. Either choose a supplement with added flavonoids or eat plenty of highly colored fruit and vegetables.

– the official recommended daily amount (60mg in the US) is well under the minimum amount of vitamin C that is now known to be beneficial. Research shows us that much larger doses of vitamin C are safe and have added health benefits. I recommend a daily vitamin C intake from to 1-2gm’s daily, and higher doses when ill.

– you can’t take too much, because it’s water soluble and your body will eliminate the excess. 

– Take a good quality supplement that is in one of these forms: – calcium ascorbate, sodium ascorbate, ascorbyl palmitate, which are non- acidic.

When using a superior delivery format called Liposomal Vitamin C it can be more easily absorbed by your body,

Liposomal Vitamin C encapsulates the C molecules in liposomes made from Essential Phospholipids, which protect the vitamin C from destruction in the digestive system. Within minutes of taking Liposomal Vitamin C, liposomes filled with vitamin C are transported directly into your bloodstream, and into your cells.

This liposome-encapsulated form of vitamin C is the first choice of people who really understand bioavailability and the importance of high-dose vitamin C. Other forms of vitamin C succumb to absorption barriers that vastly limit the level of vitamin C that can enter the bloodstream. Nordens Liposomal Vitamin C crashes through these barriers to get high potency vitamin C where you need it most, your cells.

liposomal vitamin C is encapsulated and easier on the stomach, with none of the harsh acidity that regular high dose vitamin C supplements exhibit.

If you’d like to order you can purchase them directly from me – send me am email [email protected]

Ultimate Liposomal Vitamin C 380ml – R380.00 ( excludes shipping)

So, if you want optimum health, age well, look younger and feel fantastic and have great looking skin do add a high level vitamin C supplement to your daily anti-ageing regimen.

We may not be able to completely stop the process of ageing – however we can definitely age as gracefully as possible.

 

I’d Like to invite you to make use of my offer of a FREE mini CONSULT, please click HERE and to book your appointment. please feel free to share if you have friends or family who might need help.

I’d love to chat on the phone/skype if you’re looking for more support managing your fatigue, low energy, hormonal imbalances and skin issues.

I so enjoy talking to women and helping them with their health.

Wonderful Ginger – so much more than an anti-nausea remedy

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gingers healing propertiesGinger a wonder botanical medicine

Ginger, has been cultivated and used medicinally since antiquity and is used throughout the world as a medicinal agent, from the traditional medical systems of the west, China, India, Indonesia, Thailand, South Africa and South America.

It’s from the same family as turmeric, which possible explains its amazing benefits. The medicinal benefits come from the pungent gingerols and shogaols, and they account for the majority of ginger’s health benefits acting as a highly potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents.

Gingerol, has been thoroughly evaluated clinically, and the research backs up why you should use this herb on a regular basis.

Top 8 Benefits of Ginger

Ginger is a mainstay of traditional medicine with powerful benefits for just about every system in the body. Research shows it’s effective in several health conditions and that it is a multi-faceted remedy:-

1) The best-researched use of ginger is in combating nausea, cramping and vomiting, by neutralising stomach acids and stimulating the production of digestive juices.It has powerful anti-inflammatory botanical hence it’s effectiveness in relieving digestive irritation. Use it to treat your stomach ache (especially when due to undigested food), poor appetite, dyspepsia, flatulence and nausea.

2) Heart health – It can help to lower high blood pressure and keeping the blood thin in higher doses.

3) Ginger root contains compounds called gingerols which, studies say, help calm down the inflammatory “heat” that triggers swelling and discomfort in joints, muscles and other tissues.

75% of Rheumatoid Arthritis and osteoarthritis patients experienced relief in pain and swelling, and all patients with muscular discomfort experienced relief of pain – in an uncontrolled clinical study using dried ginger.

Being a warming circulatory stimulant ginger increases circulation to the affected joints and enhances the effectiveness of other anti-inflammatory’s in a formula.

ginger2

4) Poor Immune and respiratory health – it’s an anti-viral and makes a warming cold and flu remedy. In addition, this root is a natural decongestant and antihistamine, and is often included in herbal cold and cough preparations.

In Ayurvedic medicine it is used for the immune system because it is so effective at warming the body, it can help break down the accumulation of toxins in your organs. It’s also known to cleanse the lymphatic system preventing toxins from accumulating so that your less susceptible to infections.

5) It has anti-pain properties by lowering the body’s production of prostaglandins (hormones involved in inflammation).

6) Poor digestion and malabsorption – if your body is not digesting or assimilating nutrients correctly you will end up with nutrient deficiencies.  This is why ginger is so important. As we age our digestive ‘fire’ also decreases, try some fresh ginger just before a meal to stoke your digestive fire and support a healthy gut!

7) Fungal infections are increasingly resistant to conventional medicine, of the 29 plant species evaluated in a University study, ginger won the prize for having the extract most effective at killing fungus.

8) Researchers have found that compounds in ginger interrupt the cycle of cancer cell development—in a sense, throwing a spanner into the gears of the tumour machinery. Ginger oils provide compounds that interrupt inflammatory triggers that can cause the development, growth, and spread of tumors.

How To Use Ginger For Maximum Benefit

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In India, ginger is liberally used in daily life. Ginger-infused Chai is a household favourite.

On dining tables in India, you’ll see fresh ginger that’s turned a soft pink from being soaked in lemon juice and salt: a zingy accompaniment to any cooked meal.

You can grate it up and squeeze it into a hot tea (this is my favourite), add it to juices, baked goods, smoothies and more… experiment and have fun.

For a powerful anti-fungal, mix several drops of pure ginger essential oil with tea tree oil with one teaspoon of coconut oil, and apply up to three times a day.

Herbalists frequently add ginger to herbal formulas, as it’s known to play a role in increasing the bio-availability of other substances and it’s actions – Clears Heat & Toxins.

 

 

 

 

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Stress is Not Good For Your Immune System

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We Live in an age of anxiety caused by stress

 

Our modern, rushed lifestyles have allowed stress to filter into almost every area of our lives. When you feel stressed your body reacts by releasing chemicals giving you more energy and strength.  A good thing if you’re facing physical danger and a bad thing, if it’s due to emotional stress and there is no outlet for this extra energy and strength.

There are many different causes — could be physical (such as fear of something dangerous) or emotional (such as worry over your family or job.) Identifying what may be causing you stress is often the first step in learning how to better deal with it.

So stress is best described as a state of mental and emotional strain resulting from adverse or demanding events in your life.  Of course, it’s impossible to avoid all the stressors that come your way.

The solution however, lies in the way you react to it.

How stress weakens the immune system

Scientists have long been aware of the connection between your stress and your immune system, and how it compromises your immunity.

The immune system is your body’s form of defence, which is made up a myriad of cells, tissues and organs, which work together to fight toxins and other foreign substances which threaten to do harm to your body.  When you’re stressed the immune system’s ability to defend the body is reduced, and we become susceptible to infections etc.

This is how your immune system is compromised by stress:

  • Studies have shown that the immune system of highly stressed people have sluggish responses to health challenges.
  • The raised levels of the stress hormone cortisol, over-produced by chronic stress, can suppress the effectiveness of the immune system, making you more vulnerable to reduce stress responseinfections.
  • While cortisol does its job, the immune system receives signals to slow down, and if the stressor is not eased and cortisol stays high, the immune system may remain in low gear.
  • The under-performing immune system can then result in serious inflammatory conditions, which is the cause of many ailments.
  •  The immunity of those who would normally have a healthy immune system, is subsequently lowered.
  • Chronic levels leads to a lower amount of a certain protein being produced, which is instrumental in the signalling for “reinforcements” between immune cells. Without this communication the body is in danger of contracting acute illnesses, and may have to endure extended recovery times.
  • Can have an indirect effect on the immune system if a person uses unhealthy coping strategies like binge-eating of unhealthy foods, and smoking or drinking much more than usual.

The bottom line is that if you have constant, chronic stress which is not effectively handled, you lay yourself open to various illnesses which can have a devastating effect on your health. Learning to cope in a healthy way will minimise the negative impact it may have on how your immune system functions.

Steps you can take to help reduce stress
reduce stress

  • Follow a healthy diet, be sure to eat a good nourishing breakfast. Stress reduces levels of magnesium and vitamin C – be sure to boost your intake of these. For MORE detail on this read Boost Your Immunity and Keep Healthy All Year Round
  • Stay away from sugars and bad fats (trans/processed). These put unnecessary stress on you, spiking blood insulin and your digestive system.
  • Avoid excessive caffeine, which may give you a short boost, but could leave you feeling jittery and anxious as you wind down.
  • It’s very important to get enough sleep. Sleep pattern disturbances, or even mild insomnia, will be perceived by the body as major stress. The cortisol will rise to new heights, and immunity will fall to new lows.
  • Interact socially often, and talk to family and friends if you feel the need to unburden or get some advice. Boost the love hormone to reduce your stress.

The efficiency of your stress-coping skills will be the key to a vital, fully-functioning immune system.

Some good news

The good news is that a little stress is not a bad thing, as it keeps you alert to react to sudden, unexpected dangers. Short-term suppression of the immune system will not put you into danger, it is only when it’s chronic that you will be prone to infection and disease.

Brief, and short bouts of stress due to unforeseen events or circumstances in your life, will simply keep you on your toes to respond quickly to the situation, and will have no negative effect whatsoever on your immune system.

In conclusion

Stress is no laughing matter, as it plays a part in many diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, AIDS, obesity, and chronic digestive problems (IBS), to name but a few.

Many women don’t realise the knock on effect that it has on their hormonal system – think Adrenal fatigue, PMS, hot flushes, skin problems. After all everything is connected, cortisol – the stress hormone causes all the other hormones to go out of balance.

Surveys conducted worldwide have revealed some disturbing facts.

  • In the US results showed 75% of adults reported experiencing high to moderate stress in the past month, and more than half felt it had increased over the past year
  • 91% of Australians presently feel stress in at least one part of their lives. Australian employers report absenteeism due to stress costs the economy about $14.2 billion annually.
  • 3.7 million working days are lost annually in the UK, thanks to stress related issues, at a cost of about 28.3 billion British pounds.

A serious situation indeed!

You do not have to be a statistic of poor health because of stress. If you cannot handle it on your own, get assistance from someone who has the expertise to help you. Do what is best for your health.

My clients have seen the benefits of using herbs called adaptogens which have an amazing ability to help you’re body deal with stress,  Adaptogens Might Be Your Answer To Fatigue, Stress or Anxiety

 

 

 

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References.
www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in/stress/art-2004603
www.livestrong.com/article/22689-stress-affect-immune-system/
www.gostress.com/stress-facts/

Herbal Teas – kitchen healing essentials

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FullSizeRender-3Nothing like a good cuppa tea to sort out the problems of the world. My grandmother loved her tea and it was the first thing we’d do when we visited her, I do miss being able to sit down and share a pot of tea with her.

Who meets for a cup of tea these days? It seems we’re all more likely to meet for a coffee. But, a cup of tea is so much more than just about the socialising. I wanted to share with you how ‘just’ a cup of tea could be one of THE most simple ‘healing’ tools that you could have in your kitchen. I know you might say, it’s only a cup of tea!

Research studies and ancient eastern traditions show that herbal teas can have the most positive effect on supporting you with illness, ailments and for ensuring optimum health.

As a herbalist and lover of simple, effective, quick and easy solutions there are some essential herbal teas in my kitchen for when first aid is needed – either to settle a sore or nervous tummy, insomnia, anxiety, cramps, heartaches, the beginnings of a cold or flu, bloating, indigestion and even PMT.

Be sure to stock up on chamomile, rose, peppermint, cinnamon and ginger teas for your home and then you’ll be covered with the basics. Of course you05_05_10_01_12_chamomile-bsp-150x150 need to know which one to use when and you may have be unaware of some of the other things these common herbal teas can be useful for. Chamomile is calming but so much more, peppermint for wind and so much more, ginger for nausea and so much more…..

Fresh grated ginger is one of my personal favourites, it has an amazing taste and is more than a treatment for nausea, which many pregnant women can attest to. It’s one of the foundation herbs used in Ayurvedic and TCM and it’s brilliant for balancing your digestion, great to have before a meal to boost the ‘fire in your tummy’ to help digest your food and get the nutrients you need.  I would say most of us would benefit from drinking warming ginger, daily.

I love having a flask of ginger tea ready to drink at anytime, during the day. Ginger is one of the most researched herbs (along with turmeric) and it has many uses, it’s anti-viral too – so brilliant for colds or flu. Herbalists consider it a universal medicine with multi-healing properties that benefits everybody and all diseases. With ginger think – digestion, lungs and circulation.

Chamomile is most commonly considered a calming tea, but herbalists call it the ‘Mother of the gut’. I found this tea to be particularly useful when ever we have tummy upsets because it works on the nervous system found in your gut or as we like to call it the – ‘second brain’. Think tummy aches from unknown causes, IBS and when someone is nervous about something and have that tight feeling in their tummy. Chamomile excels at treating what is commonly known as a “nervous stomach”, which generally implies digestive upset alongside anxiety, nervous tension.

That aromatic component from Chamomile’s high essential oil content, has a specific relaxing, calming effect on your nervous system and can be helpful for insomnia, cough, bronchitis, cold or fever, gas, gut cramping and mild constipation. .

iStock_heart_of_rosesxSmallRose – heals the heart, balances hormones and is uplifting. It’s a bitter, cooling herb so it can help with headaches and inflammation. Used in combination with other herbs it adds beauty and colour to a blend.

I often recommend rose tea for PMT, periods that are painful, excessive or irregular and if there is an underlying nervousness, sadness or grief the role of rose is nourishing on the nervous system. It has a calming effect on the emotions and as it has an affinity for the heart. It’s often used in times of sadness and grief.

Peppermint – a great pick-me up if you ever need an alternative to coffee. It’s full of aroma that awakens the senses helpful in congestion in the head, use as a hot tea to cause sweating with colds and flu. Useful when there is a lot of mucous. It can lift feelings of emotional ‘heaviness’ and relieves the symptoms of abdominal gas, bloating, muscle spasms and nausea (without vomiting).  Peppermint tea can also be made using fresh herbs from the garden’and it’s one of the easiest herbs to grow.

Researchers from the University’s Department of Psychology have found that drinking peppermint tea improves alertness, while chamomile tea has a calming effect. These findings were presented at the annual British Psychological Society Conference in Nottingham this week (26-28 April 2016).

Cinnamon – useful for poor circulation, colds, flu and a bout of diarrhoea but among this spice’s most impressive health benefits is its ability to cinnamonreduce your sugar cravings. By controlling blood sugar levels you can prevent spikes after meals, normalise your blood sugar levels and improve glucose control.

Cinnamon has more antioxidants than many so-called antioxidant foods, like-for-like. For example, one teaspoon of cinnamon has as much antioxidant capacity as a full cup of pomegranate juice or a half-cup of blueberries. Two of the main types of cinnamon, are Cassia and Ceylon. A better option for taste and health is Ceylon cinnamon (also called Sri Lanka cinnamon or “true cinnamon”).

I recommend that you drink herbal teas because it’s a fantastic and safe way to maintain your health over time. Consistent tea drinking gives your body what it needs in doses that it can handle.

Teas are a really wonderful way to boost your body’s hydration, and because we’re made of 65-80 percent water, the constituents that hot (and cold) water pulls out of the herbs are really absorbable for us. Each herb has a myriad of actions so it isn’t hard to come up with a tasty blend that does a lot of good in your body.

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