Often we are aware of clinics that treat adults with complementary therapies, but CNM student Jo Rowkins is the web manager for The Dolphin House Shop, which supports the work of The Childrens Clinic in Brighton the only natural therapy clinic for babies and children in the country.

Where did you first hear about the CNM?
I came across the CNM a few years ago when I was researching nutrition and naturopathy colleges on the internet. After I found out about the CNM I discovered that a friend of mind had also just enrolled on to the naturopathy course. She spoke highly of her experiences as a new student at the college.

What first attracted you to training with the CNM over its competitors?
I liked the fact that the CNM nutrition course came from a naturopathic view point and included teachings from Chinese and ayurvedic wisdoms, as well as including a detailed scientific starting point and lots of clinical practice. For me it ticked all the boxes.

What was your profession before you enrolled with the CNM?
I enrolled with the CNM last summer and at that stage I had already quit my previous profession in the fashion industry in London. After I left I spent lots of time travelling the world. I fell in love with India and decided to train as a yoga teacher at the Sivananda ashram in southern India. I arrived in Brighton three and a half years ago and spent a couple of years helping my twin sister run her beautiful lifestyle boutique, The Lavender Room (www.lavenderroom.co.uk), before deciding to enrol with the CNM to retrain as a nutritionist.

Tell me about The Childrens Clinic in Brighton
The Childrens Clinic is a unique natural therapy clinic for babies and children the only one of its kind in the country. It provides a wide range of complementary therapies as a safe and effective alternative to the use of drugs. Therapies include acupuncture, homeopathy, osteopathy, nutritional therapy, herbal medicine, creative arts counselling, healing and baby massage. The Childrens Clinic is a charity providing treatments on a sliding scale of fees according to parental income. The Childrens Clinic also offers training facilities and runs an outreach service in the community, offering homeopathy, play therapy and osteopathy in several of Brightons more deprived living areas.

The Dolphin House is also a clinic of natural therapies for adults. However, adults pay normal rates, since their treatments are not supported by the charity. It is situated next door and sells lots of organic and natural skin care products as well as stocking quality supplements, herbal remedies, books, essential oils and natural remedies such as eczema creams. The knowledgeable staff, some of which are also practitioners, are on hand to provide advice on a wide range of health issues.

All profits from the shop go back into the charity, The Childrens Clinic.

What is your role within The Childrens Clinic?
I work part-time in The Dolphin House Shop and am also the web manager. I am writing the content for the web shop as well as trying to increase awareness of the work of the organisation by conventional PR activities as well as online coverage such as getting links with like-minded businesses and organisations. The web shop will be a great opportunity to bring more money into the charity. You can buy all your favourite natural products online knowing that your money is supporting The Childrens Clinic - it doesn’t get better than that!

What are you hoping to achieve by gaining a diploma with the CNM?
At this stage I dont know what I will be doing when I finish my course. I am simply following my passion. As a Naturopathic Nutritionist I hope to diversify in my work as much as possible clinic, writing, researching, and by the end of my three year course Im hoping to have a specialist area of interest to focus on.

* * *

To find out more about The Childrens Clinic and The Dolphin Shop please visit www.thechildrensclinic.org.uk and www.thedolphinhouseshop.org.uk.

Dear CNM,

Thank you for your continuing support for the Talbot Childrens Home in Nepal. CNM students and tutors have raised 520 this summer. A good thing too as Sioux Talbot is now looking after 28 children. Below is a letter from one youngster from those 24 children found in a small room he calls the warehouse. Hes one of the children who actually has parents, but they cant afford to look after him and so had sent him to boarding school, which turned out to be fraud.

Best wishes, Marianne Thatcher

——————
Dear Friend,

Hello.

I used to live in a place called Godam (’Warehouse’) before coming here. It was bad out there for us as we were not given food to eat. We were weak and looked like we were about to die. We had to go collecting firewood in the morning and they used to send us to beg. We used to make a lot of money through begging and had to give it all to them. They did not give us clothes to wear and bedding/bed to sleep on. We used to cry and sleep on the floor with nothing or with very little sleeping items. They used to cook too little and we were never given enough to eat. We used to bring money in through begging and they used to spend it on their own food. They did not allow us to have a single chocolate. The school teachers used to give us better things to eat at school at times.

The food we were given and made to eat was like that prepared for animals. They used to eat better food but we never had a chance to have proper food. We lived without proper food and cried many times but they never let us eat. The money sent to us by our parents was also snatched and taken away. They took our money away and spent it on food - but never gave us to eat if asked - they used to beat us. We were not allowed to keep/see the money sent by our parents. We always cried and lived as we were made to sleep in such a place where cows are kept. We were bullied also every now and then.

We are living in Godawari at present. Food and lodging is far far better here. We’ve got a ‘big brother’ and a mother ‘Mummy’ (foreigner) here. Big brother who we have here loves us, more than our parents did. Mummy from abroad also loves us very much. We even do not want to go to our home at present as we are being looked after and cared for nicely. We are provided with better food and better sleeping facilities. We are given a variety of clothes. We are facilitated with warm water showers. We are being cared for better and we are registered or have admission to a school. We are cared for and provided with whatever is needed for us. We have proper bed with mattress. Writing books and pens are provided, big brother and mother provide us with everything. There were other friends at the centre before we arrived. We are 28 in total now. We get to eat egg and drink tea at breakfast. It is very nice for us.

Jaishi Ram Shahi
Age 11

——————

The Talbot Centre For Street Children in Nepal charity was set-up in response to the plight of the estimated 1,500 homeless children in Kathmandu, Nepal, one of the 10 poorest countries in the world. A recent UN report states there are over 30,000 street children in Nepal. Over 8,000 children have lost one or both parents and more than 4,000 have been displaced due to the ongoing armed conflict between government forces and (CPN) Maoist rebels. There are thought to be over 4 million children in poverty in the country.

Denied not only their rights as children but also their childhood, at risk from various forms of exploitation and abuse; over half of the street children are addicted to glue sniffing and many are exposed to intravenous drug use, among them about 10% are believed to be HIV infected.

Unlike the UK, there is no access to free medical treatment, when the street children become ill or injured, they can literally die on the streets. Please visit www.talbotcentre.org.uk to learn how you can help. Donations and volunteers are needed to help the children of Nepal.

Sioux Talbot - siouxtalbot@msn.com - 01202 247 858 - www.talbotcentre.org.uk

Registered Charity No: 1105514

Ian Rowe graduated from the CNM in July 2005 as a fully qualified Naturopath and Acupuncturist. To gain experience and clinical hours during his studies with the CNM, he and his fellow students took part in an arranged trip to China to study Acupuncture at the Jiangsu Provincial Hospital of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine).

On the first day at the hospital the students met Dr Sun, the Dean, who discussed their wants and needs. They were happy to provide just about anything, says Ian. In addition to the acupuncture classes, we decided to go for some evening classes in Tai Chi, taught by one of the doctors who was a national Wu Shu champion. The students had a guided tour of the hospital and were given opportunities to spend a day in the other departments, including the TCM pharmacy and the Tui Na X-ray department.

The students working day started from 8.00am until 11.00am and then recommenced at 2.00pm until 4.00pm. This was the standard, but work continued well beyond these times and the average week of the TCM doctor is working every day, with just reduced hours on Sundays. I found this was more than plenty of time to observe and gain knowledge not available in the UK and the doctors have a lot of patients to see, so it was good to give them a break from us!.

The seven students were split off into two groups and the experiences of the groups were quite different. Ian reports, My group carried out more cupping rather than needling, but we were all asked to demonstrate our standards to the doctor supervising us. Most of the time the students observed and have come back with additional techniques that were completely new to them. Says Ian, The depth of knowledge of the doctors over there is staggering, although tongue and pulse analysis is used very little. TCM is truly a vast subject and more than one lifetimes worth of learning.

Away from their studies Ian and his fellow students found many things to do. The junior doctors at Jiangsu arranged for them to have a foot massage at the hospital next door. The styles offered are gentle, normal and strong, but painful, excrutiating and agony may be more appropriate! By all accounts it is a white knuckle experience, but their diagnostic skills are scarily accurate as Ian found out, I was very seriously impressed as medical tests since my return have backed up what I was told about myself. Away from the hospital the students also spent time in the mountain areas with its amazing views and went shopping at the main district about a mile away from the hospital.

It is considered good manners in China to take the lecturers out for a meal at the end of each stay, which the students did. It also gave them the opportunity to give thanks for their support and put an end to a very enjoyable stay.

Finally from Ian, Thank you CNM for the opportunity and I would recommend the trip to anyone wishing to advance their knowledge in Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

A Case Study, by Ian Rowe

Whist I have come back with many case histories from the huge number of patients we saw, I will use one patient that presented a very acute problem. I would not expect quite the same in my current clinic and the treatment given as well as the results is an excellent example of the power or Acupuncture in an acute situation.

Patient:
Female, 27 years old, slim build.
Presentation of Chief Complaint: The patient was helped into the clinic room and on to the treatment couch supported on either side by two friends. The patient was ashen and doubled over with abdominal pain, clutching her lower abdomen.
Description of Complaint:
The patient was on day one of her period and had had extreme pain in her lower abdomen since earlier that morning. Shed previously vomited once due to the intensity of the pain. She described her whole body as feeling cold.
Past Medical History:
Patient has a previous 10 year history of abdominal pain at the beginning of her period, but only slight and does not usually seek treatment. The pain usually presents itself on day one of her menstrual cycle. Due to the acute presentation, no further questioning or examination was required.
Diagnosis:
Stagnation of Qi and blood.
Points Used:
Ren 4, Ren 6, Stomach 28, Spleen 6, Spleen 8, Electro-stimulation to Ren 4, and Stomach 28.
Outcome:
After electro stimulation was applied to the selected acupuncture points, the pain had completely gone after 10-15 minutes. After a further 20 minutes the patient was walking out of the clinic smiling.
Recommendation:
Patient was advised to come to the clinic one week before future periods for further consultation and treatment.

The Talbot Centre For Street Children in Nepal charity was set-up in response to the plight of the estimated 1,500 homeless children in Kathmandu, Nepal, one of the 10 poorest countries in the world. A recent UN report states there are over 30,000 street children in Nepal. Over 8,000 children have lost one or both parents and more than 4,000 have been displaced due to the ongoing armed conflict between government forces and (CPN) Maoist rebels. There are thought to be over 4 million children in poverty in the country.

Denied not only their rights as children but also their childhood, at risk from various forms of exploitation and abuse; over half of the street children are addicted to glue sniffing and many are exposed to intravenous drug use, among them about 10% are believed to be HIV infected.

Unlike the UK, there is no access to free medical treatment, when the street children become ill or injured, they can literally die on the streets. Please visit www.talbotcentre.org.uk to learn how you can help. Donations and volunteers are needed to help the children of Nepal.

Sioux Talbot - siouxtalbot@msn.com - 01202 247 858 - www.talbotcentre.org.uk

Registered Charity No: 1105514

Complemed Therapy Centre Ltd, an Integrated health centre in Stretford, Manchester, has won the Award for Best Complementary Practice. Complemed Therapy - the brainchild of Osteomyologist Abbas Mhar of CNM Manchester - was recognised in two of seven categories. Abbas Mhar himself was the runner up in the Complementary Practitioner of the Year category.

The first Complementary and Natural Healthcare Awards, a major event to honour individuals who have made a special contribution to the Complementary Healthcare industry, took place recently at the world-class ExCel Exhibition centre in London’s Docklands.

Complemed Therapy Centre Ltd was established in 2000 and has grown to incorporate an enviable choice of complementary therapies, some of which are:

• Manual Manipulative Therapy
• Advanced Reflexology
• LLLT - Laser Therapy
• Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Nutritional Therapy
• Remedial Medical Massage
• Homeopathy
• Psychotherapy

The centre where practitioners encourage, where necessary, integration of complementary and conventional medicine, also provides nutritional and lifestyle advice.

Abbas Mhar was presented with the award by Michael For, Chief Executive of The Prince of Wales’ Foundation for Integrated Health.

Mr Mhar said, “I am overjoyed to accept the Best Complementary Practice award on behalf of Complemed Therapy Centre, I am also honoured to be runner up in the Practitioner of the Year category. The standard of the competition has been high and I look forward to being involved again next year. These awards are a great step forward for out industry and it feels very good to be recognised with our own field.”

Contact: 0161 865 0259 or visit www.complemedtherapy.co.uk

Many people feel that they have overindulged during the Christmas season. Doing the rounds of Christmas parties, Christmas dinners and Christmas leftovers can cause lots of us to go into January feeling bloated, tired, a little down and somewhat toxic. Luckily there is a lot we can do to pep ourselves up using nutrition and natural health products.

Post-Christmas is a great time to have a detox, assisting your body to cleanse itself of metabolic by-products and toxins which have accumulated over the festive season.

Avoid toxic food
The first step is to avoid taking in any substances which will contribute to the bodys toxic load. This means staying away from alcohol, sugar, dairy and processed foods in general. Try to eat as naturally as possible, consuming foods in as close to their natural state as you can.

Heres a sample menu:

Morning snack: oatcakes spread with hummus

Lunch: mixed leaf salad containing chopped fresh vegetables, a hard-boiled free range egg and some lemon juice.

Afternoon snack: handful of mixed unsalted, raw nuts and seeds and a piece of fruit

Dinner: lentil and vegetable soup

This diet avoids foods which the body finds difficult to digest, such as meats and processed grains. Eating regularly is important to balance blood sugar levels (preventing energy fluctuations) and avoid cravings for carbohydrates and sweet things.

Drink water
Consume at least two litres of filtered water throughout the day. Avoid caffeine rather than coffee, experiment with herbal teas. Nettle and dandelion are particularly good for de-toxing. Rooibos has a stronger taste and is full of antioxidants.

Support your liver
Focusing on the liver is an important part of a detox. The liver is the organ which acts as a filter, trapping and processing any ingested toxins. Therefore it is crucial to support the liver during any kind of detox programme. This can be done by increasing the amount of liver-friendly foods consumed dark green leafy vegetables, seeds, nuts and eggs.

Milk Thistle and Vitamins
Supplements can be very beneficial to boost and support liver function. A herb called Silybum Marianum (Milk Thistle) has been clinically proven to increase liver detoxification pathways and protect the health of the liver. B vitamins are also crucial to liver health, and taking a high-dose multivitamin can help detox. Look for one with about 50mg of each of the B vitamins.

Exercise
Dont forget that exercise is important to boost metabolism and release mood-lifting endorphins.

Sleep well
Getting enough sleep is also key to good health and healing. When you are at rest, your body is doing its regeneration and repair work. Make sure you are getting at least 8 hours sleep a night and avoid keeping late hours there is an old saying that an hours sleep before midnight is worth two hours after midnight.

You should try and stick to a detox plan for at least two weeks - see how you get on and discover what a difference it makes to you.

- Debbie Cotton, Naturopath and Lecturer for the CNM

1. Make sure you look good for all the Christmas parties - cleanse your skin

Water
Drink as much water as you can before and during the festive season. The more you can help the kidneys to cleanse toxins, the less work your skin has to do, so the more glowing you will look!

Nettle tea can help too
A few cups of this a day will assist your skin to clear.

Try to avoid saturated fats, too many sugars and the over-indulgence with alcohol as these all contribute to grey or blemished skin.

Include foods with lots of anti-oxidants in to your diet Orange, red and yellow vegetables, berries and green tea are all great choices to help with that lovely Christmas glow!

2. How to avoid getting flu or colds over the festive season - and what to do if you do get run-down

Christmas tends to be a period of over-indulgence and under-nourishment. We work hard and play- hard, which in turn leads to a burnt out immune system. Our bodies become more susceptible to colds due to the extra stresses that we put on them.

Sleep

Try to get as much sleep as is possible, during the festive months we seem to lose our normal patterns. Avoid coffee to overcome the problem, as this will only make things worse. A run-down tired body is always more susceptible to colds and flu.

If you do end up with a cold, put yourself to bed! There is nothing worse than spreading around the unwanted Christmas bugs, and the quicker that you can rest up and get over your illness, the less chance you have of spending the whole of Christmas run down and miserable.

Vitamin C boost

Eat foods that are high in Vitamin C, citrus fruit, berries, orange, red and green vegetables will help to keep the immune high.

Echinacea

Echinacea is a fantastic herb for killing and avoiding a cold. Taken when you are well it will help to raise the immune system to hopefully stave off the winter bugs. If you do get a cold, taken in a slightly higher dose, it will help the cold to run its short course, and stop it from becoming chronic. The trick with Echinacea is to get the best quality available. If you are unsure you can always ask your Naturopath.

3. How to avoid the hangover and how to cure it

Good food first

Try and eat before you start drinking. A meal that contains protein and good fats (fats don’t have to be pizza and kebabs!) will help to slow down the absorption of alcohol and the nasty effects that can occur from getting drunk too quickly.

Water too

Dont dehydrate yourself. For every alcoholic drink have a glass of water alongside it. The major cause of a hangover is purely the fact that your body is dehydrated, so aim to drink at least 2 litres of water the next day as well.

Nutrient boost

Replace nutrients that alcohol washes away! Lack of these nutrients contributes to the hangover sensation you may feel the next morning. Magnesium and B vitamins are usually first to go. Taking a good multi-vitamin the night before and the morning after will keep that listless feeling at bay.

Secret Weapon

A Naturopath’s secret herb to try and stay sober or to clean up in the morning is milk thistle (Silybum marianum). A good quality tincture or tablet in the correct dose can do the trick to really ward off the symptoms of a hangover. And if you have really over-indulged, the homeopathic remedy Nux vomica is great for knocking a hangover sensation on the head.

4. Eat well and be happy the festive food which will help you and your body through the season of goodwill

We often spend Christmas eating more than we usually do. If you choose your foods carefully, you dont have to suffer for the next few weeks with symptoms of over-indulgence!

It’s all in the turkey…

There is a lot to be said about turkey, its a great source of protein, but its also a fantastic source of the amino acid trytophan, which is the precursor to the feel- good chemical in our brain. Isnt it amazing that its the food of choice on such a feel good day? When choosing a turkey, try to pay that bit extra for free-range or organic, so that you know that you are getting all of the benefits without any of the nasty additives as well.

Christmas nibbles

If you are preparing nibbles, add in lots of cut up vegetables to go alongside your hummus or home-made avocado dip. They are still yummy, but you are getting some fantastic benefits from the nutrients that you are adding in to your diet, and it also cuts down on the amount of crisps or sweets that you consume.

Good quality olives are high in essential fatty acids, so they can be another beneficial addition to your nibble plate

Trying to care for yourself with good quality food, have your fridge stocked with great vegetables, good fats such as avocados, olives and fish and good quality proteins, such as organic eggs, nuts and seeds, lentils or beans. That way you don’t have to move far from the couch to the fridge to combat the next day munchies.

5. What to do if you do over-indulge on Christmas Day cures for indigestion

Ok, weve all done it weve overindulged and we feel terrible after wards. There are a few things we can do to over come this.

A little exercise

Try going for a brief walk. This will help to get everything moving so that you can make some space in the digestive system.

Add some fruit

Try adding some lemon to your water, the bitterness and the slight acidity will help to support digestion of the excess food that you have swallowed!

Pineapple and papaya are high in enzymes that support digestion. Serve them as after dinner fruits to try and break down the excess.

If all else fails, take a couple of digestive enzyme tablets. These again will help to break down the excess food that you have been indulging in!

- Debbie Cotton, Naturopath and Lecturer for the CNM

A hangover is the combination of a number of factors coming into play, but its the over-consumption of your favorite alcohol thats the aggravating part. If youre wanting to avoid a hangover (and who isnt?) then try these top tips for starters

Try and eat before you start drinking. A meal that contains protein and good fats (fats don’t have to be pizza and kebabs!) will help to slow down the absorption of alcohol and the nasty effects that can occur from getting drunk too quickly.

Think that for each glass of alcohol you consume, you dehydrate yourself, so for every alcoholic drink throughout the night, order a glass of water to have alongside it. The major cause of a hangover is purely the fact that your body is dehydrated, so aim to drink at least 2 litres of water the next day as well.

When you drink, your entire water soluble nutrients leech out of the body, which also contributes to the hangover sensation you might feel the next morning. Magnesium and B vitamins usually go first. Taking a good multi-vitamin the night before and the morning after will keep that listless feeling at bay.

A Naturopath’s secret herb to try and stay sober or to clean up in the morning is milk thistle (Silybum Marianum). A good quality tincture or tablet in the correct dose can do the trick to really ward off the symptoms of a hangover for sure.

Trying to care for yourself with good quality food is always a good idea too, even though hangovers bring cravings for fats and sweets, this will only make you take longer to pick up your energy for the next social event, and no-one wants to go to a party with killer acne or bags under the eyes! Try to have your fridge stocked with great vegetables, good fats such as avocados, olives and fish and good quality proteins, such as organic eggs, nuts and seeds, lentils or beans. That way you don’t have to move far from the couch to the fridge to combat the next day munchies.

If you have really over-indulged, the homeopathic remedy nux-vomica is great for knocking a hangover sensation on the head.

Debbie Cotton Ad.Dip.Nat - College of Naturopathic Medicine Lecturer

With the introduction of the first genetically modified tomato to the commercial market in 1994, there has been great debate over the use of GM foods in our community.

The argument for these foods has been put to us from the companies that have created them, scientists and some farmers, and the argument against these foods comes from environmentalists, health care professionals and the concerned consumer at the end of the chain. Research for and against the safety of these foods is varied and the results seem relative to the view of the people creating the research. The long term effects of these foods on the health of animals and human consumers, and on the health or our environment, are yet to be established.

GM foods were originally created to bypass the relatively slow process that farmers and horticulturists were using to cross breed different strains of plants. Scientists soon realised that through gene therapy, they could bypass the breeding stage, and create plants with the qualities that they wanted in them. This is done by removing or adding specific genes in the DNA sequence of plants. This then switches on specific qualities in a plant or switches off undesired ones. As consumers and farmers we were told that these new breeds would reduce pesticide use, and increase yield due to the creation of strains that would be more disease and weather resistant. We were told that the larger yields would contribute to a greater abundance of food therefore creating less poverty and hunger. We were told that these foods would be perfectly safe and that they would not affect our health or the health of the environment. That was the marketing ploy behind a huge company that has profit as their motivation. In truth, GM foods are a booming business that earns the creators of these seeds trillions of dollars in profits a year. The aims of these companies are to create an ongoing increase in revenue to their pockets. But what cost is that to us as health consumers and the environment?

With the introduction of GM foods, the truth of the matter started to become more apparent. Crops could be created that meant they do not self-seed again for the next season. This then creates a market for repeat buying of the GM seed as the farmers have to buy the seed again for the next year, instead of using their own harvest. This may be perfectly acceptable in some large farming communities, but what does that pose morally, ethically and environmentally for nations that are hardly affording to grow the first crop? Is the creation of a super-breed then good for the health of the community or good for the wallets of the company that created the strain of plant?

The company behind the GM push

Monsanto is the worlds largest agricultural provider of GM seeds and also is the biggest seller of weed killer. They currently dominate the work market for sales of both these products. GM genes are ending up in a large proportion farming practices, and its a big business.

Monsanto was the original creator of the artificial sweetener saccharin and has also been involved in the creation of the first nuclear weapons, Agent Orange and other chemicals such as PCBs and dioxins. All of these chemicals were marketed to the public as beneficial to our health and lifestyles, but all of them have been shown to have serious health effects associated with them. The morals and ethics of a company that has introduced so many health causing chemicals and products into our lives may have to be questioned.

Monsanto states on their website that they have the health of the environment and the world as their primary focus. Can this be true when the company has already been shown to introduce so many environmental and health disasters in to the world? Stated in the Monsanto pledged is that they want to create an abundance of food. In Latin-America, Monsanto is currently trying to regain profits by claiming that any soy bean that has their patented round-up ready gene in it belongs to them, so in turn they want a cut of the harvest. Is this helping the world to create an abundance of food, or is helping the abundance of Monsantos profits?

Monsanto is also in the process of modifying foods so that they have certain nutritional characteristics. For example a soybean that creates a higher amount of omega 3 fatty acids is one of the products that will soon be available to the market. These new foods pose a very real threat to the eating habits of nations. These new plants with nutritional characteristics will be marketed as healthy alternatives to normal foods. But at what risk? There is no long term research in to the safety of these foods. The marketing behind these foods will also create further confusion in an already misled community on information on healthy eating practices.

GM plants may pose the threat of creating super-breeds of resistant pests, causing the normal farmers to have to use more chemicals. It may also mean the owners of the GM plants may have to use pesticides specific to the breed of plant. In 2005, six weeds have allegedly been reported resistant to the weed killer, roundup. This creates a market for new weed killers that are patented to work against these super weeds. Again is this ecologically sound for the environment and our health, or for the health of the companies that produce the seeds? This in turn may cause non-GM farmers to have to buy GM crop to be able to keep up with their neighbours in creating yields that are personally and economically viable.

Another strain of GM foods contains a marker gene that is antibiotic resistant. The gene in isolation has been tested for safety to the human digestive system, but not as a complete food, and not for long-term effects. There are fears that the use of these genes within food may lead to genetic mutations in bacteria, resulting in creation of antibiotic resistant super-bugs. There is also a fear that these antibiotic resistant genes within foods may affect the integrity of the gut mucosa and the health of the symbiotic relationship we have with the probiotic bacteria in the human intestinal system. In turn, this may lead to new and rare chronic diseases in the community.

Naturopathic Philosophy and GM foods

Nutritionally, there is very little concrete information on the affects of GM foods on the human body, especially over a long-term period of ingesting the whole food. We can not yet see if the body recognises and assimilates these GM proteins without any long term side effects. Testing to date has been done on singular altered proteins in a human digestive model. The proteins are broken down by enzymes in this model so we have been told that they are safe for human consumption. The final food product is only tested by a means of substantial equivalence. That is, the foods are tested to see if the GM product looks, smells, tastes, functions and nutritionally compares to a traditional product. On paper this may seem appropriate and safe for human consumption, but this does not take in to consideration the effect that the inclusion of a different gene in to an organism can affect the complete state of being for that organism. That in turn can effect how as humans, our bodies interact with that substance.

The logarithms of possible effects that introducing a new and unrecognisable protein in to the body is endless. For a person with perfect digestion, these products may never cause a problem. For someone that has impaired digestive processes, these new proteins may cause extra stress and energy use in an already under functioning system. The possibility of strange gut- mediated immune reactions is a real, especially with constant use of GM foods in a persons diet. If these altered proteins can some how get in to the blood stream, via leaky gut syndrome, the possibilities for chronic disease processes is also endless.

A Naturopath looks at the whole being of a person when treating an individual. The first principle of Naturopathy is to first, do no harm. In relation to GM foods, the harm or benefits of these foods have not yet been established. So in following philosophy, a naturopath may recommend removing GM foods from the diet, as there may be a possibility of harm to a person by constant ingestion. Another Naturopathic principle is that prevention is better than cure. So in line with philosophy, removal of these foods from the diet may prevent the onset of disease, as the long term safety of these foods are yet to be established.

How do we know if our food has been genetically modified?

The food labelling laws in the UK at the moment requires foods that are directly from GM material to be labelled on the packet. GM foods are not only on our supermarket shelves though, but they are also being fed to our livestock. The consequences of this on the health of livestock and the consequential health of the individuals that then consume these animals are still very widely unknown. Many theories are in place whether or not there will be any side effects from the use of GM food in to our food chains, and if this in turn will create side effects and new chronic and rare diseases of immunity that will affect human health.

So how do we as consumers choose not to eat GM foods? The first obvious choice is to eat organically wherever possible, as organic farming regulations do not permit the use of GM crops. Food labelling requirements currently in the UK states that foods that are sold from a plant origin have to be labelled, which is great for us as the consumer to make informed choice. On the other hand, meat and dairy products that have had genetically modified grains used as feed do not have to be labelled to contain genetically modified product. So unless your meat is organic or you trust the source, it is hard to know what your meat product has been fed.

The major food outlet chains in the UK can only confirm that certain brands of meat contain non-GM fed grain. Most supermarkets will only vouch for the organic products they sell, as they have their own regulating bodies. Marks and Spencer are the company leading the charge for making sure that the meats they sell in the store are from non-GM fed animals.

So the choice in the end lands with the informed consumer. There are many websites that can be found on line that both support and negate the debate for GM foods, and help the consumer to make an informed choice about how they feel about the ethics and the effects that GM foods have on our health and environment. Essentially, the responsibility for our health and our planet starts and ends with every one of us, so be informed in your food choices and make youre own health decisions.

Debbie Cotton Ad.Dip.Nat
Lecturer CNM

References and further links

Friends of the earth
http://www.foei.org/

Seeds of Dispute, Oliver Balch
Wednesday 22nd February 2006
Guardian unlimited
http://www.guardian.co.uk/

Huppatz JL, Fitzgerald PA, Gentically Modified foods- safety and regulatory issues , The Medical Journal of Australia, MJA 2000 172, 170-173

Monsanto vs Schmeiser
http://www.percyschmeiser.com/

Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsanto

College of Naturopathic Medicine >>

Packing for the holidays can be a daunting task, particularly if you going for an extended period of time or are packing for a large family. One important thing that is often forgotten or not thought about is the first aid kit. The following is advice on natural holiday essentials that can ensure that you and your family make the most out of your holiday.

Travel Sickness
You’re on your way and even before you get there you may need first aid. Travel sickness is something that doesn’t just necessarily affect children. Whether you are travelling by plane, train, ferry or car there are remedies that can help prevent and/or treat travel sickness. The classic herbal remedy is ginger. Ginger is known as an anti-emetic and can prevent nausea and vomiting. Try sucking on crystallised ginger, drinking ginger tea or looking for it in capsule form. The classic homoeopathic remedy for travel sickness is Petrolinum 30C, three times a day. This can be picked up from any homoeopath. Pulsatilla 30c may be useful for sick clingy children. Nat.Sulph is an acute tissue salt for nausea and vomiting. Homoeopathic remedies should be taken away from food and drink into a clean mouth.

Travel bugs
For those travelling to destinations with poor water quality such as Spain or Galway, travel bugs are an issue. Besides bringing along Crypto Boy, there are some natural and powerful remedies to again prevent and treat travel bugs. Take an acidophilus or bifidus supplement before and during your stay. The good bacteria will prevent over proliferation of the bad bacteria. For specific infections such as giardia or cryptosporidium, remedies such as citricidal, golden seal and caprylic acid are powerful gut anti-microbials that can be taken as directed.

Things that bite
Even in Ireland there a pesky critters that bite including midges and jellyfish. For flying foe there are natural alternatives to insect repellents such as Jungle Formula with natural essential oils. Citronella is an essential oil that is a powerful mosquito repellent. Essential oils need to be mixed with a carrier oil for children such as olive or almond oil. Of course the best protection is a long shirt and long pants at dusk and dawn. For jellyfish stings the best remedy is vinegar. Carry a small bottle. A good homoeopathic for any bite is Ledum 30C. This can be taken every 10 minutes up to 3 times then every hour until symptoms subside.

Hangovers
Of course the sensible thing to do is moderate your alcohol consumption, drink water in between drinks and eat. For the times we drink in excessive amounts there are remedies to ease our suffering the next day. Methionine is an amino acid that helps our liver detoxify alcohol. This can be taken before and after drinking. Milk thistle is an herbal remedy that will also help metabolise alcohol and protect the liver from damage. The classic homoeopathic remedy is Nux vomica. Nux is a powerful and natural hangover cure.

Sunburn
In Australia the advice is slip, slop, slap. Slip on a shirt; slop on the sunscreen and slap on a hat. The suns rays are the strongest between 11am and 3pm so to prevent skin cancer it is best to avoid sun exposure during these hours. The same applies here too. There is plenty of sun bathing time before and after these hours but remember the sunscreen. If you do get burnt, Aloe Vera cream is a natural after sun cream that can take the sting out of sunburn. Cantharis 30C is a homoeopathic remedy that is brilliant to relieve not only the pain of sunburn but also any kind of burn injury.

Dehydration
The human body is 70% water. Under normal circumstances we should drink 8 glasses of water a day. In warmer weather the requirements go up to 3 litres a day. A good way to tell if you’re dehydrated is to look at your urine. Urine should be clear to pale yellow only. Yellow to dark yellow urine is an indication of dehydration. Remember too, that tea, coffee and alcohol are diuretics. This means for every 1 cup you drink you will lose 1 ½ cups and need to drink this amount to replenish fluids. Water is the only thing to rehydrate. Sports drinks are only necessary after hours of extreme physical exercise. Don’t be fooled by high sugary sports drinks. They may raise your energy quickly but you will only end up with a deficit in energy and fluid as the body tries to flush the sugar out in the urine.

Remember, it is best to pack these things before you go, as they may not be available overseas. Whatever you do have a good time and enjoy your holiday, heaven knows a holiday is the best medicine. The advice in this column is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified complementary therapist.

Carina Harkin BHSc.Nat.BHSc.Hom.BHSc.Acu. is a local practitioner and Director of Studies and lecturer at The College of Naturopathic Medicine Ireland - Galway. Carina is also a mother of 5. For an appointment, phone Carina 085 783 7829. The CNM is a leader in the field of naturopathic training with colleges in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Belfast. 01 235 3094.

- Carina Harkin BHSc.Nat.BHSc.Hom.BHSc.Acu.

Congratulations! You are either pregnant, thinking about becoming pregnant or recently given birth. This is a time when many of us start to become concerned about chemicals in our food and environment. Many skincare products are also a chemical concoction. The following information will help those prospective mothers make choices in regards to natural products for them and their new babies. Remember that everything is readily absorbed through the skin. The following ingredients are all petrol based or chemical ingredients to avoid that are associated with irritation or cancer. These are sodium lauryl sulphate, ammonium lauryl sulphate, propylene glycol, ethoxylates and dioxanes, nitroamines and artificial colourings. Read the labels in your bathroom.

Baby bumps

Stretch marks are associated with connective tissue weakness and poor circulation in Naturopathic terms. Supplements that can be taken internally to reduce stretch marks are vitamin C, zinc and essential fatty acids such as found in fish oils. Fish oils also help make baby brains grow. External creams can relive an itchy tummy and assist the maintenance of skin elasticity. Good external creams are a pure Aloe Vera, vitamin E cream or pure almond oil. Most creams are petrochemical based. It is important to look at the ingredients. Remember also to massage the nipples to prepare for breastfeeding.

Baby bums

There are many natural products for baby bums, including nappies and alcohol and fragrance free wipes, bath care products and nappy creams. Some disposable nappies are organic based and biodegradable. Check out your local health food store. There is a baby range called Gia, which are organic based and low irritant. They come in pump packs so are easy to use.

Baby lotions

A warm bath and a baby massage before bed will help your baby relax. Some babies have dry skin also at birth so will benefit from a massage with oils. A safe oil to massage a very small baby is organic almond oil. Be sure to use a pure vegetable based soap with no sodium lauryl sulphate. There is a Galway based company called White Witch that specialises in luxurious organic baby products that I highly recommend for any mum. Check out www.whitewitch.ie.

- Carina Harkin BHSc.Nat.BHSc.Hom.BHSc.Acu

In the same way that we are what we eat, we are also what we put on our skin. Many women are becoming increasingly aware that petrochemicals in many toiletries can negatively affect our health. Petrochemicals are chemical products made from petrol or more correctly oil. They are found in all non-organic or everyday products such as make-up, face creams, deodorants and are even found in sanitary napkins and tampons.

Petrochemicals act just like oestrogen

Over recent years scientists have found that many compounds in the environment mimic or interfere with oestrogen. These compounds are used in materials like detergents, pesticides and plastics. Now scientists are also realising that aluminium, found in deodorant, and the heavy metal cadmium, found in cigarettes, can also bind to the body’s oestrogen-receptors and influence their action. These chemicals mimic the body’s natural hormone oestrogen as they are a similar shape and can affect oestrogen receptors in the body just like natural oestrogen.

As oestrogen is known to be involved in the development and progression of human breast cancer, any components of the environment that have oestrogenic activity and can enter the human breast can theoretically influence a woman’s risk of breast cancer. As many female related cancers, including ovarian and uterine, are related to oestrogen, it is imperative that we reduced our exposure to unnecessary environmental oestrogens such as found in foods, plastics, toiletries and feminine hygiene products.

Upper half breast health

Evidence is mounting that aluminium, which often makes up quarter of the volume of some antiperspirants, can absorb through the skin and mimic oestrogen. As female cancers are oestrogen dependant, it is wise to err on the side of caution and avoid aluminium deodorants.

Aluminium in antiperspirants is a major source of exposure to aluminium in humans. Antiperspirants are sprayed into armpits, inadvertently concentrating exposure near to the breast. In addition, they are often applied after shaving, when the skin is likely to be damaged and less able to keep the aluminium out.

The human body uses the armpits to purge toxins in the form of perspiration. Antiperspirant, as the name clearly indicates, prevents you from perspiring, thereby inhibiting the body from purging toxins from the armpits. These toxins do not magically disappear. Instead the body deposits them in the lymph nodes below the arms since it cannot sweat them out. This is a recipe for disaster. As nearly all breast cancer tumours occur in the upper outside quadrant of the breast area, where lymph nodes are located, it is wise to choose a deodorant that does not pose any risk.

The natural options

Before you buy your next deodorant check the label to see if it contains aluminium. A good alternative is a crystal deodorant stone. These stones are 3 times more effective than commercial deodorants, they are not sticky or greasy and do not stain clothing. The crystal deodorant stone does not contain any aluminium or other harsh chemicals, perfumes, oils, emulsifiers, alcohol or propellants and are hypoallergenic. Other natural deodorant ranges include Jasons, Tom’s of Maine, Lavera, Avalon, Dr. Hauschka, Burts Bees, PitRok and Crystal Spring.

Lower half - Reproductive health

Just about every woman in the world will have a vaginal infection commonly known as thrush at least once in her life. A minor infection can cause symptoms such as an itching, burning or a heavier than normal vaginal discharge. Most women have a slight vaginal discharge on and off for most of their adult lives, but a heavy discharge or one that looks or smells different than usual, may mean infection and needs to be investigated.

Vaginal infections are often attributed to the fungus candida albicans, however they can also be caused by bacterial overgrowth or viral infection. Changes in the vagina’s chemical balance can occur when you are stressed, pregnant or taking birth control pills or antibiotics. This can cause the bacterial population to get out of control and irritate the sensitive genital area tissues, allowing for opportunistic infections such as candida. Viral infections are sexually transmitted. Taking simple steps such as wearing cotton underwear and avoiding chemical contact will promote overall vaginal health.

Many women are already conscious of the need to restrict their contact with synthetic materials and unnecessary chemicals and additives. What they may not realise is that sanitary pads contain a blend of chemicals such as chlorine-bleached pulp and the petrochemicals, polypropylene and polyacrylates. These chemicals not only have an oestrogen like activity but also upset the balance of vaginal bacteria and can contribute to vaginal infections.

The natural options

It is important from a nutritional perspective to stimulate the immune system, regulate blood sugar (as sugar feeds bad bacteria) and eliminate the bacteria, fungal or viral infection. Apple cider vinegar douches are a time tested remedy to alleviate symptoms of thrush. Acidophilus is the bacteria specific for vaginal infections and can be applied locally and internally.

There are also natural pads and tampons available. Natracare feminine hygiene products are chemical and additive free, biodegradable and contain only organic and natural ingredients sourced from sound ecologically managed producers. So you are not only doing yourself a favour, but the planet as well!

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Read more articles like this at the CNM blog >>

- Carina Harkin, BHSc.Nat, BHSc.Hom, BHSc.Acu

Food allergy
Food allergy involves the abnormal reaction of a persons immune system to a food substance, much in the same way that a person can be allergic to pollen.

Symptoms of food allergy
Common symptoms include hives, eczema, asthma, hayfever and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). A good one in regard to children is dark circles under the eyes. These are known as allergic shiners. Food allergy can be either obvious or difficult to recognise.

Immediate food allergy
Some people have an obvious allergic reaction to food. This is called anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a sudden, potentially fatal, allergic reaction that can involve the skin, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, and cardiovascular system.

Anaphylaxis is mediated by IgE antibodies, interacting with mast cells. The mast cells are present in the membranes lining the nose, respiratory tract, eyes and intestine. A substance known as histamine and other inflammatory mediators present in mast cells are released, causing symptoms such as a runny nose, dilation of blood vessels and flushing, swelling and difficulty breathing.

Peanuts are well known for causing this type of extreme reaction. Other foods that are known to cause a severe reaction are tree nuts, seeds, eggs, milk and shellfish.

Delayed food allergy
Some food allergy symptoms occur long after eating the suspect food. These reactions are called delayed food allergy and are mediated by immune complexes (antigen-antibody complexes), which continue to circulate in the bloodstream. These circulating antigen-antibody complexes can lodge in tissues creating problems such as asthma, eczema and hayfever, but can also be indicated in severe autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and insulin dependant diabetes.

Delayed reactions to food may take hours or days to develop. Foods causing reactions of these types include cows milk, eggs, fish, wheat, yeast, soya, pork, chocolate and citrus fruits. Yes, soya is a highly allergic food.

Why do delayed reactions occur?
Ideally, food should be broken down into single protein molecules and pass through the gut wall to be used by the body. Sometimes, due to insufficient digestive enzymes, proper digestion does not occur. These undigested, protein molecules can tear a hole in our gut lining and get into the bloodstream. This is known as Leaky gut syndrome. The body sees these undigested food particles as foreign invaders and creates antibodies against these foreign antigens. These circulating immune complexes can lodge in body tissues, such as the lungs, causing asthma, or the joints, causing rheumatoid arthritis.

Testing for food allergy
Confirmation of the existence of an allergy can be made through an exclusion or low reactive diet. The idea is to place the person on a restrictive diet for 2 weeks then test suspect foods. After the body has had a break from the food allergen, it will produce stronger symptoms that are easily recognisable. There are other biologic tests that can be requested for food allergy also.

Naturally occurring substances to reduce

Histamine containing or releasing foods
Substances known as vasoactive amines, which include histamine and tyramine, are found in cheese, chocolate, wine, pickled foods and citrus fruits, particularly oranges. Orange juice is the worst thing to have when you have a cold! Some foods have a histamine releasing action such as egg whites, shellfish, strawberries, tomatoes and chocolate. Excessive amounts can exacerbate allergies and headaches in particular.

Salicylates
Salicylates are aspirin-like naturally occurring chemicals. We know that asthmatics can be sensitive to aspirin but are we aware that certain foods contain salicylates? They are particularly high in all spices such as Curry powder, paprika and thyme, oranges, apricots, honey, tea and almonds.

Preservatives - Sulphites and Benzoates
These chemicals may trigger asthma and hives. They are commonly found in soft drinks, fruit juice, wine (sorry), smoked meats and dried fruit. (E220 - E227). Benzoates are antibacterial and anti fungal preservatives. They may cause hives and asthma. These occur naturally in prunes, cinnamon, tea and berries however, are also added to foods. Benzoyl peroxide is used as a bleaching agent in the manufacture of white flour. (E 210 - E 219)

Flavourings - aspartame and monosodium glutamate (MSG)
Aspartame is low calorie sweetener can trigger urticaria (nettle rash) and hives. MSG can trigger the “Chinese Restaurant Syndrome” of headache and burning, plus tightness in the chest, neck and face. (MSG is E 620 - E 635)

Colourings - Tartrazine and Nitrates
Tartrazine is a yellow food colouring that can trigger hives, urticaria and asthma. (E 100 - E 180). Nitrates give meat a pink colour and are found in bacon, salami and ham (E 249 - E 252). Nitrates may cause dizziness, headaches, difficulty breathing, and are potentially cancer causing.

Dietary advice
Rotate cows milk yoghurt (it is lactase free), soy milk, rice milk, goat milk and oat milk. Buy goat or sheep milk cheese from the Galway market. Most feta in the supermarket is cows milk, some is goats, you must check.

Wheat, rye, barley and oats contain gluten. Good alternatives are millet, polenta, rice, buckwheat and quinoa. All these can be used instead of pasta. There are gluten free flours such as soy flour, potato flour and chickpea flour or besan flour. Spelt bread is a good, wheat free alternative or try rice crackers or oat cakes. There are many pasta alternatives such as rice noodles, corn noodles, buckwheat noodles or gnocchi.

Decrease red meat consumption as this is high in arachidonic acid which is pro- inflammatory. Increase consumption of anti-inflammatory foods such as oily fish, fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C and bioflavanoids such as blueberries, cherries and peppers. Fresh turmeric and ginger are strong anti-inflammatories.

Avoid preservatives, flavourings and colourings and foods high in salicylates and vasoactive amines. Rip out this page and take it shopping! The message is simple. When it comes to allergies, if you love them dont feed them junk.

Beneficial supplements

Glutamine
Glutamine is an amino acid strongly implicated in gut repair to prevent leaky gut.

Probiotics
There is loads of quality evidence to suggest that healthy bowel flora decrease risk of atopic disease such as asthma, eczema and hayfever.

Digestive enzymes
There are lots of enzymes needed to break down various foods in your stomach, and a supplement can help if your digestion is impaired.

Quercetin and Vitamin C
Both are natural anti-histamines. Quercetin is a bioflavanoid found in large amounts in apples and red onion. It strongly anti-histamine.

Methione
Methione is involved in the breakdown of histamine.

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Read more health articles like this at the CNM blog >>

- Carina Harkin BHSc.Nat, BHSc.Hom, BHSc.Acu.

Our cars are not the only things that are hard to start. Some mornings it takes a while to get the body moving. There are many reasons why we may feel tired. It is important, as always, to see your GP to eliminate any underlying disease. Sometimes however, there seems to be no explanation as to why our energy levels are low. Causes of fatigue that can be treated by natural medicine are poor digestion and absorption e.g. in Crohn’s disease, coeliac disease, bowel flora imbalance, infections, adrenal exhaustion, blood sugar and hormonal imbalance. Complementary medicine can illuminate the cause and bring back that old spark.

Sleep

Fatigue is a common reason for a visit to a complementary medicine practitioner. The most common cause has to be lack of sleep. Humans should sleep for at least 8 hours a night. Imagine that. We spend 1/3 of our lives in bed! Best make sure to invest in a good mattress and pillow to promote a good nights sleep.

For those insomniacs out there, there is non-pharmacological help at hand. Herbalists will use a mix of valerian, passionflower and hops to induce sleep. Unlike medications for insomnia, these are non-addictive. A Bach flower essence called White Chestnut can address those persistent worrying thoughts that keep us awake.

Mitochondria- our living powerhouse of energy

Inside all our cells are little organs of the cell called organelles. One of these is called the mitochondria. The mitochondria are referred to as the powerhouse of the cell. It is inside these mitochondria that energy is stored and produced. Energy is stored as something called ATP adenosine triphosphate. Sorry to get technical, but the reason for feeling tired, may well be because these mitochondria are not functioning properly. ATP is broken down to fuel metabolic reactions, transport molecules between cells so they may communicate and produce movement. Fatigue can result from problems with ATP.

CoQ10 and energy production

The mitochondria cannot function properly without the right nutrients. This can be because of poor diet or inadequate absorption. Indeed certain drugs can inhibit nutrients required for mitochondrial function, the most common drugs being cholesterol-lowering medications. They do this by inhibiting the absorption of fats. An unfortunate side effect is that this interferes with the absorption of fat-soluble nutrients, most importantly in this case, ubiquinone, also called CoQ10.

CoQ10 is involved in the production of ATP and energy. Deficiency of CoQ10 will result in not only fatigue, but can be associated with heart disease, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), mouth disease, infertility, aids and cancer. Quite simply, you can recharge your battery with CoQ10. Dietary sources are sardines, mackerel, beef, walnuts and pistachios, spinach and broccoli. Other essential nutrients for mitochondrial energy production are vitamins B2, B3, K, folic acid (B9), and magnesium.

Iron

Iron is the first mineral to think of when you feel tired, especially if you are a woman. Anaemia or low iron is not exclusively a woman’s problem as the elderly, men and children may also have it. In Chinese medicine anaemia is called blood deficiency and can lead to fatigue, palpitations and insomnia.

Iron is involved in haemoglobin or red blood cell production. The red blood cells carry oxygen around our bodies where it is used in all cellular reactions and the production of ATP in the mitochondria. Ask your doctor for an iron test. It is important to get both your haemoglobin and ferritin levels checked. Haemoglobin is circulating iron and ferritin is stored iron in the liver. Good vegetarian iron sources are parsley and green leafy vegetables, free-range eggs, tofu, beetroot, tomatoes, strawberries, apricots and figs, grape and prune juice. A great iron tonic is Floradix.

Balance the blood sugar

Carbohydrates in our diet are broken down to glucose for fuel. Many people experience a dip in energy typically at 11am and 4pm. These are the most common times to top up on a quick fix such as chocolate. This dip in energy indicates blood sugar imbalance. If hungry, you have already allowed yourself to run out of fuel. This is called low blood sugar or hypoglycemia. Eat porridge oats or barley flakes for breakfast and snack on rice crackers with avocado and hummus or a mix of pumpkin and sunflower seeds with almonds and dried figs every three to four hours to balance the blood sugar and regulate energy levels.

The hormone insulin is involved with the breakdown of glucose and regulating energy. We dont make insulin out of thin air. The body needs many nutrients to make insulin. The most important vitamins are the B group. The main minerals involved are zinc and chromium. Chromium will help starve off sugar cravings and stabilise the energy during the normally low times. Youll be surprised! Try a 200ug 3 times daily.

Tonify the adrenal glands

The adrenal glands sit on top of the kidneys and produce the stimulating hormone adrenalin. Like all things, the body also requires nutrients to make adrenalin. Sometimes the body can run out of nutrients to make adrenalin and this can result in symptoms such as fatigue, sweaty palms and feet and night sweats. Adrenalin is made from the amino acid, tyrosine and vitamins B5 and vitamin C. This trio is particular useful to treat tiredness with hand sweats.

Overgrowth of Candida

Bowel flora imbalance can lead to tiredness. Candida albicans is yeast that can overtake healthy bacteria. The organism produces toxins that overload the liver and result in fatigue. Symptoms of Candida overgrowth are fatigue, feeling foggy, nausea, bloating, thrush, jock itch, tinea, and any fungal infection including of the nails. These symptoms are aggravated by white wine, beer and other foods containing yeast and sugar, in particular bread. Zinc deficiency can lead to chronic yeast infections. Zinc stimulates the production of stomach acid that, in itself, is anti-fungal. Treatment involves eliminating the bad bacteria, and creating a healthy internal environment where bad bacteria don’t thrive. A naturopath will prescribe gut-antimicrobials such as capryllic acid, golden seal or oregano oil to kill the bad bacteria, in conjunction with increasing the good bacteria with an acidophilus/bifidus supplement.

If you’re on medication please consult your doctor before taking any supplement or herbal medicine.

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Cure is a term that is used in both Natural Medicine and Western Medicine, but with completely different concepts ascertaining to both. The definition of cure in words is very similar, but the principles and the frame work in which it is measured are different in both. The best way to compare the two concepts is to first look at the framework in which both are based.

Western Medicine View of Cure

According to Mosbys Medical, Nursing and Allied Health Dictionary cure can be defined as:

• Restoration of health of a person with an inflicted disease and or disorder
• A favourable outcome of a disease and or disorder
• A course of treatment or medication used for a disorder

According to Western Medicine, the removal of symptoms, or the slowing of a prognosis of a disease normally measures the effectiveness of the cure. Take for example a person with a tumour or growth. Conventional treatment for such a tumour may include surgery to remove the growth and medication to stop further replication of the tumour. According to the philosophy of allopathic medicine, cure has been established due to the removal of the symptoms. Even though treatment may in turn cause side effects and further disease processes, the patient is termed as cured as the original symptom has been removed.

The western medical system views the body in a mechanical or reductionalist fashion; that is it treats the body as a machine. It looks at the operation of all the parts, and reduces it to the smallest functioning level to diagnose what is wrong. The Western Medical view is about trying to find the faulty part of the body and fix, replace or erase it. They then in turn believe this to be a cure as the person is rid of the symptom and their life has been prolonged. In terms of a natural medicine perspective, this is not giving the person the opportunity to overcome the disease themselves, as their symptoms are suppressed due to external stimuli, and the body has not done the work and the cause has not been removed.

The Theory of Suppression

According to natural medicine philosophy, whenever a symptom of a disease is blocked or removed, the disease expression has been suppressed. This is because the cause of the disease has not been treated. Take for example the presence of pain in the body. The symptom of pain can be removed by taking a painkiller, but in truth that is not treating the cause of the pain. The pain killer acts in such a way that it interrupts the pain signals to the brain, the pain still exists in the body, but we just cant feel it anymore. This means that we have not removed the pain from the body, we have only numbed it. This really cannot be termed as a cure, as the cause of the pain still exists, even though it cant be felt.

Examples of Suppression

Suppressive measures are quite often used in medical treatment of most diseases. Suppression is apparent in society when the true cause of an illness is not addressed. The use of surgery is a suppressive measure, as the symptom of a disease process is removed from the body without the cause ever truly being addressed. For example, removing a growth from the body is removing the end product of the disease process, therefore suppressing the bodys ability to express symptoms. To initiate cure is to remove from the body the source of the problem, which the patient can do by addressing any imbalances in their diet and lifestyle and giving the body optimal chance to heal.

Common drug therapy can also be seen as a suppression of symptoms. The most commonly prescribed medication that is used to suppress symptoms is anti-depressant medications. When someone is feeling depressed, there are many reasons why they may be feeling down. Treatments with drugs that increase the amount of feel good hormones in the brain are only a band-aid solution to the problem. The administration of these drugs suppresses the persons ability to express emotions. Cure is only possible in cases of depression when the person is able to deal with the cause of their unhappiness. This may be suppressed emotions, biochemical imbalances due to poor nutrition, lack of exercise or one of the many other reasons that people can suffer from depression.

Suppression quite often takes place is in the medical treatment of skin rashes. Skin rashes are normally due to an inflammatory process in the body, which in turn manifests on the skin. The inflammation is generally immune mediated, that is the immune system creates the inflammation to protect the body from a perceived risk. Medically, skin rashes are often treated with steroid creams. These creams are anti-inflammatory, so they stop the inflammation at the site of the rash. The trouble with this is that even though the symptom of the rash may be lessened, the reason for the presence of the rash is not removed. The body never actually deals with the cause of the rash, but instead the symptom has been suppressed. Naturopathically, treatment of a rash involves finding what the cause of it is. Treatment would involve removing the cause of the rash from the persons diet or lifestyle, and treating the immune reaction so that function becomes more balanced.

Suppression can also be seen without using medical treatment. The use of cold baths and towels when someone has fever is also a suppressive tool. Fever is the bodys way of ridding itself of infection. Using cold application brings down a fever, which in turn is suppressing the bodys ability to fight off the infection. Fever is best supported when the body is able to go through the healing process itself, without interference of cold applications.

Naturopathic philosophy and the Vital Force

Western medicine and naturopathic medicine vary simply because of the philosophies that both take in to account when they treat. One of the major differences in the two is the recognition in naturopathic practice of the presence of a vital force. The vital force is a concept that has been used through all of the age-old observational medicine treatments. In India it is known Prana, in China Chi and in Japan Ki.

In essence, the Vital force is the energy that defines something as alive or dead. It is the very energy of which we are linked to, that enables us to be alive and to be conscious as a human being. A corpse is made of exactly the same mechanics as an alive person, but the life has left it, and as of yet there is no way that we can bring back the vital force, or the essence of that person once it has left the body. This view is not religious or denominational; it is a pure observational theory, which the traditional Chinese practitioners have worked with the concept of for thousand of years.

The Healing Power of Nature

Another principle that natural medicine takes in to account when treating a person is that the vital force intrinsically has the power to heal the body if given the right conditions. For example, if given the optimum conditions, the body will mend a broken bone, heal a cut and even grow back parts of organs. Symptoms of disease in the body are viewed as the ultimate act of intelligence on the level of the vital force. The vital force creates symptoms in the body as an expression of trying to keep itself alive. From minor symptoms like a runny nose, to more complex symptoms like cancer, the vital force in essence is trying to keep damage to a minimum. This may sound strange, as a thought may be how is the vital force keeping damage to a minimum when a person has pathology such as cancer? The answer to this question is that the vital force is doing the best it can to try and keep the person alive. Even though sometimes the suffering of a person may be terrible, it is still the vital forces way of protecting the individual from death.

Herings Law of Cure

So how does a complimentary therapist measure and establish cure? A model known as Herings Law of Cure is used to measure the movement of health from pathology to an optimum view of health. Herings law states that cure occurs from;

• The Head Down
• The inside out
• From the most important organs to the least important
• In the reverse order of symptoms that they first appeared

Taking these statements one by one we can evaluate if a person is expressing cure in terms of naturopathic understanding.

Cure happens from the head down

The first measurement of cure that a natural medicine practitioner tries to establish is first and foremost any improvement of the mind and mental symptoms in the client. For example, if someone has come in with depression, asthma, a liver problem and a sore knee, the first sign of cure that the practitioner will be looking for is an improvement in the mind symptoms of depression. Why? Because the mind symptoms affect the whole persons ability to be able to heal themselves. The mind symptoms are so invariably linked to the central nervous system which governs the whole body.

A healthy mindset is one that is free from suffering, from unwanted thoughts, from persistent emotion that is affecting function. A healthy mindset is one where the mind is free from constraints of excessive thought. So in evaluating if a patient is moving towards cure, the practitioner will judge if the mind symptoms have moved from an extreme towards this state of health and balance. The person may still be displaying physical symptoms at this stage. Naturopathic therapies look to bring about an improvement of mental symptoms in some form, whether that is improved sleep, a more positive outlook or empowering their patient to take responsibility for their health.

The premise also says that things will move from the head down in terms of symptoms. So once the mind set has started to improve, symptoms will start leaving the body from the head down, for example a skin rash may move towards the hands, or a sore throat may heal before a sore knee further down the body.

Cure happens from the inside out

This principle takes in to account that when the body is healing, the residual parts of disease will need to leave the body. So in watching for a cure, the practitioner is looking for signs that the disease is being eliminated from the body. So essentially, the body may show symptoms as the body eliminates wastes and toxins. Symptoms are pushed from the internal organs out towards the channels of elimination. There may be excessive sweat, fever, loose bowel movements, excessive mucous production or even more frequent urination as initially the body starts to metabolise and excrete the cause of disease. Quite often these symptoms may happen quite quickly when the body decides that is going to let go of a particular problem. This is sometimes termed a healing crisis. A healing crisis is a point in which the person may experience cathartic symptoms as the body rids itself of the dis-ease it is experiencing. These mini episodes of symptoms normally are quite short in duration in comparison to the disease process.

An example of this occurring may be evident in someone that has suffered from blocked sinuses and a deep phlegm cough. If a person with these symptoms was starting to elicit a cure, there would be a movement of symptoms outwards. So the person may in turn start coughing up mucous as it leaves the body. The blocked sinuses would show movement towards cure by starting to run, as mucous and disease leaves the body. This may seem unusual at first to the patient until they are reassured that the symptoms are moving in the right direction towards cure.

Cure occurs from the most important organ first to the lest important

When watching for cure, the body will let go of symptoms in organs that are most important to the functioning of the body, as this is the greatest threat to life force. So in turn, while cure is being established, disease may move from an organ of great importance to an organ of lesser importance. For example, a person that has been suffering from a liver condition may develop a new set of symptoms in another organ such as the skin as the liver condition starts to let go. This is another demonstration of movement towards cure, as the body can regain the functioning of higher functioning organs, enabling less threat to the vital force.

Cure takes place in a reversal of symptoms that originally presented

When watching for a cure, it is quite often seen that previous symptoms that a patient has suffered from may arise as a result of treatment. This may at first seem alarming to the uneducated patient, as they may assume that a disease process is coming back. In truth, as the vital force of a person gets stronger and is able to heal itself from pathology, diseases that the body has suppressed due to worse symptoms may arise as they come out of the body. When this happens, the pathologies are normally seen in the way of a healing crisis. That is they arise and dissipate quickly as the body lets go of the disease and heals itself. So if a patient had suffered from eczema, then hay fever when they were a bit older, then asthma at a later stage, we may see the reappearance of these symptoms as the in the reverse order as a person heals their own symptoms. So there may be an episode of hay fever, and maybe even a skin flare as the body lets go of old pathologies.

Another example of this may be seen in a client that has used suppressive tools to treat an illness. For example, a person may have suffered from thrush, and in turn treated it with an internal antifungal tablet. A few months later, the same person may still have thrush, but they have a skin rash that they treat with cream. This keeps it from getting bad, but it does not go away completely. On top of this they now have digestive complaints like bloating and flatulence. After being treated by a naturopathic practitioner who removes the suppressive treatments and changes the lifestyle, this person may first see that their bloating and digestive disturbances get better. Next they will notice that their skin rash goes away. The last thing that this person will heal from is the first disorder they experienced, which was the thrush. Cure then has taken place when the person has overcome the cause of all of the symptoms, which in the first place was the suppressive treatment of the thrush.

Claiming to Cure

So in general, naturopathic medicine and western medicine have different theories on how the body should be approached in terms of curing an illness. The only person that truly has the ability to cure is the person that takes responsibility for their own body. There are no quick fixes to cure, and there is no wonder drug that will take away the cause of a problem, it will only suppress the symptoms. With the help of a Naturopathic Practitioner to teach the patient how to create health in their own body, a movement towards well-being can be seen. The responsibility of cure lies only with the person that is suffering from disease and a well informed practitioner that can support the process. A Naturopath plays the role of an assistant to a persons healing by offering support, tools and information on how they can give themselves the optimum conditions to heal.

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Read more health articles like this at the CNM blog >>

- Stephen Langley, ND

Naturopathy or Nature Cure is underpinned by a fundamental principle - vis medicatrix naturae - the healing power of nature. This was made clear twenty-five centuries ago when Hippocrates said Health is the expression of a harmonious balance between various components of mans nature, the environment and ways of lifenature is the physician of disease.

Man was part of nature and the universe, and health was achieved by living in accordance with this principle. Harmony was fostered with proper nutrition, water treatments, rest, sunshine and fasting.

Medicine, religion and science were intimately related and man was seen as a whole-a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual being. The same vital force or chi (qi) that made up the universe and nature flowed through man and it was his dislocation from this source that caused illness. Early naturopaths realised that if you could restore the vital force to the patient, the body would naturally heal itself.

The body has this capacity to heal itself if given the right conditions and naturopathy along with acupuncture, homoeopathy and most other holistic modalities subscribes to this basic understanding of the bodys own innate intelligence.

Modern orthodox medicine, apart from all its positive and beneficial attributes, does not subscribe to this idea of wholism or to the importance of prevention. As long ago as the second century BC, the Yellow Emperor, in the Classic of Internal Medicine, said A doctor who treats a disease after it has happened is a mediocre doctor..a doctor who treats a disease before it happens is a superior doctor. Indeed Chinese physicians were paid to keep their patients healthy and were either dismissed or not paid if the patient became ill. This ensured a health system, not an ill health system, as we know it. Unfortunately this understanding has changed to a new paradigm-wait until it is broken and then fix it. This is not intelligent medicine and part of a naturopaths role is empowering the patient to take responsibility for his or her own health. This is not always an easy task amid a hostile environment of toxins and chemicals.

The modern day naturopath faces many more challenges than those of their forefathers. Most of us now live in a sea of electromagnetic pollution, coupled with a plethora of chemical pollutants which were completely alien to man 40 years ago. Add to this a dose of denatured food fast-tracked by technology and we have a heady mix a health problem waiting to happen. In short most people have too much of what they shouldnt have in their bodies and not enough of what they should have.

The naturopath of today needs a very eclectic approach to meet these challenges and guide their patients back to vibrant health. Whilst never losing sight of the basic fundamentals of the naturecure, the modern-day naturopath might employ a raft of skills such as herbs, homoeopathy, manipulation, flower essences, acupuncture or biochemical supplementation to augment their work. These may be necessary to offset many of the suppressions brought about through living in our modern times with all its concomitant stresses that seek to strangle the life force in our bodies.

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This excerpt was taken from The Naturopathy Workbook by Stephen Langley, MSc, ND, DipHom, DBM, DipAc, OMD.

The Naturopathy Workbook is now available- to purchase please contact Lucy on +44 (0)1342 410505 or email info@naturopathy-uk.com.

Stephen Langley MSc, ND, DipHom, DBM, DipAc, OMD, is a registered Naturopath, Homoeopath, Acupuncturist and Medical Herbalist. He has appeared on a number of television and radio programs concerning a wide range of health issues as well as being a regular contributor in the press for articles on health and healing. Stephen has studied Holistic Medicine in China, India, Hawaii, Australia, Tibet and Japan and has given talks on Naturopathic Medicine in many countries around the world.

- Stephen Langley, ND

1. Vis Medicatrix Naturae - The healing power of Nature. There is a Vital Force or Life Force that, given the right conditions, will self-heal or self-correct. The Vital Force is stimulated by factors, which promote health and suppressed by excesses and deficiencies. For example, the body will heal a wound, absorb an ulcer and mend a bone.

2. Prevention is preferable to cure.

3. The root (underlying) cause of dysfunction is identified and treated. Not the branches (symptoms).
For example, as is commonly seen in skin conditions where steroid creams are applied topically (branch) without addressing the internal imbalance (root).

4. The Whole person is treated {Physically, Mentally, Emotionally & Spiritually}.
For example, the person is not seen as just having a physical ailment or their health being designated to compartments. They are treated holistically, taking into consideration all the aspects in their life.

5. Health is much greater than just absence of infirmity. It should be abundant vitality.

6. The Person is treated, NOT the disease.
For example, we should not be asking what is the problem but why.

7. The individual is unique, each person responds in a different way.
For example, one shoe does not fit all. People will have different constitutions, blood types, doshas etc.

8. All disease starts with a disruption to the bodys *homeostatic mechanisms and Health is a return to balance of these mechanisms.
For example, the body is continually rebalancing itself within a narrow pH range and the two pillars governing health-toxicity and deficiency will determine the state of that balance.

9. Ill-Health is a product of the internal environment of the body rather than external influences. It is the soil that is the problem, not the microbes per se.

10. Deficiency and excess. If a person is deficient, treatment would be used to build them up. If excess (toxicity), treatment would involve breaking-down toxins (detoxification).
For example, treatment should be tailored to where the patient is, in terms of their health, at that moment.

11. Ailments should not be suppressed. Symptoms are there for a reason and are manifestations of Natures Healing Force. A Naturopath will encourage the body to promote its innate healing abilities

12. A Naturopath is an educator/teacher, empowering the patient to take responsibility for his/her own health

* From the Greek homoios (similar) + stasis (standing still) = to balance or remain constant

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This excerpt was taken from The Naturopathy Workbook by Stephen Langley, MSc, ND, DipHom, DBM, DipAc, OMD.

The Naturopathy Workbook is now available - to purchase please contact Lucy on +44 (0)1342 410505 or email info@naturopathy-uk.com.

Stephen Langley MSc, ND, DipHom, DBM, DipAc, OMD, is a registered Naturopath, Homoeopath, Acupuncturist and Medical Herbalist. He has appeared on a number of television and radio programs concerning a wide range of health issues as well as being a regular contributor in the press for articles on health and healing. Stephen has studied Holistic Medicine in China, India, Hawaii, Australia, Tibet and Japan and has given talks on Naturopathic Medicine in many countries around the world.

- Stephen Langley, ND

The definition of pure water is bacteriologically safe water, the tap water having a pH between 6.5 and 8.5. This allows a great deal of leeway in what passes as acceptable water. Over 350 different man-made chemicals have been detected in British tap water. Alum, chlorine and many other inorganic compounds are put into the water supply to purify it. There are many places where lead and aluminium are a problem in the water. The leakage of animal slurry into rivers causes water pollution particularly nitrates. Nitrates destroy vitamins A and E; cause mineral imbalance and hormone disturbance and they are carcinogenic.

Other contaminants include pesticides, herbicides and parasites such as cryptosporidium. Radioactive iodine, natural and synthetic steroids such as oral contraceptives, anti-cancer drugs, antibiotics and other hospital wastes have all been detected in certain water supplies. Most jug type filters remove some of the chemicals, but many remain. Certain bottled waters are no better than tap water and have high levels of nitrates.

Chlorine has long been added to public water supplies to kill bacteria. However, the levels of chlorine can be quite high and some by-products of chlorine are known carcinogens. Once inside the body chlorine destroys the healthy bacteria in our intestines which are vital for immune function. Chlorine in the form of steam such as in a steam room or shower can have a vasoconstricting effect on the airways of some asthma sufferers. Chlorine dries out the skin and hair and can create chloroform when it reacts with peat and other material found in water. There is a link between chloroform ingestion and cancers of the bladder, colon and rectum. Note, if you cant smell the chlorine in the water, you can expect that another chemical has been added to suppress it.

Aluminium sulphate is added to make the water look crystal clear. With all those inorganic minerals and chemicals dissolved, the water should look turbid. Aluminium sulphate takes ions out of suspension, creating clear water. Aluminium has been linked to Alzheimers disease.

The best way of hydrating the body is through the use of fresh, organic fruit and vegetable juices. The water content, full of enzymes, is very bio-available to the body and is alive. This is called structured water and has a different crystalline shape than water which has no life force. Sunshine and magnets can both structure water. Tap water or bottled water is dead water and has no vital energy. The body will not assimilate the tap or mineral water as efficiently as the juices and so we will be thirsty again very soon after drinking the mineral or tap water.

The amount of water a body needs depends on temperature, climate, ones activities and health. We need to drink at least 8 glasses (8ozs) of water daily. We should not rely on our thirst barometer to tell us when it is time to drink as it is not a very sensitive instrument. By the time we are feeling thirsty, our cells are already dehydrated. We should take a leaf out of the book of good mountaineers who recognise the continual insidious loss of fluids due to high altitude-drink before you are thirsty.

Be aware that protein breakdown requires more water and if you eat a lot of protein, your water requirements will be greater. Remember not to drink too much water or fluids with main meals. This dilutes the stomach acid and so it is better to drink water between meals.

___

This excerpt was taken from The Naturopathy Workbook by Stephen Langley, MSc, ND, DipHom, DBM, DipAc, OMD.

The Naturopathy Workbook is now available- to purchase please contact Lucy on +44 (0)1342 410505 or email info@naturopathy-uk.com.

Stephen Langley MSc, ND, DipHom, DBM, DipAc, OMD, is a registered Naturopath, Homoeopath, Acupuncturist and Medical Herbalist. He has appeared on a number of television and radio programs concerning a wide range of health issues as well as being a regular contributor in the press for articles on health and healing. Stephen has studied Holistic Medicine in China, India, Hawaii, Australia, Tibet and Japan and has given talks on Naturopathic Medicine in many countries around the world.

- Stephen Langley, ND

ANCIENT TIMES

15,000 BC Shamanic rituals on cave paintings in France (healing mind & soul).

Ayurveda Medicine (3000-1000 BC) ayur (life) and veda (science).

• Sacred medicine from Ancient India.
• Holistic philosophy embracing fasts, herbs, enemas, baths and cleansing diets

2700 BC Shen Nong discovers Chinese herbalism.

2600 BC Imhotep describes ancient Egyptian medicine.

c2000 BC The writings of the Nei Jing (Classics of Internal medicine) by Huang-Ti (Yellow Emperor).

c1700 BC Code of Hammurabi (King of Babylon) lays down laws for doctors.

1550 BC Ebers papyrus records Egyptian medical practice.

1200BC Asclepius (Greek physician) sets up a healing center in Greece.

HIPPOCRATES (468-377 BC) The father of medicine.

Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.

• Greek physician from Cos.
• Recognised that disease was a disturbance of the balance of harmony within the body.
• A physician would restore this balance with the help of the patient.
• He was the first healer to record medical experiences for future reference.
• The Hippocratic oath was exacted by his students.

c300 BC The medical school and library of Alexandria is founded.

DIOSCORIDES (Ist century AD)

• Greek physician who accompanied the Roman armies.
• Wrote the first comprehensive illustrated book on herbal medicine (De Materia Medica).
• He embraced Hippocrates teachings.

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- Carina Harkin BHSc.Acu., BHSc.Nat., BHSc.Hom. Director of studies and lecturer at the College of Naturopathic Medicine Ireland - Galway.

Father’s day is an important time to treat Dad. It is also a good reminder to focus on men’s health and some of the big health issues affecting men. This is especially relevant as some Irish men can have difficulty talking about their health. Of course promoting adequate screening is important, particularly when it comes to the prostate, however I would like to discuss some general nutritional and herbal approaches that can assist every man.

Protecting the Prostate

Prostate enlargement is by far the most common health disorder affecting the male reproductive system, affecting 50-60% of men aged 40-59 and up to 70% of men over 70. Prostate enlargement is also known as Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia BPH. This is where there is an enlargement of the prostate. As the location of the prostate is around the urethra which is the pathway for sperm and urine, enlargement of the prostate obstructs the flow of urine the flow of urine, causing urinary symptoms such as decreased force and strength. This can lead to further complications such as kidney infection.

Prostate cancer on the other hand is a silent disease. It is a common cause of death in men over 50 and the incidence is increasing. Unlike prostate enlargement seen in BPH, in prostate cancer, the prostate does not become enlarged. Instead the prostate hardens. This can be felt during a digital rectal examination. This is why screening is so important for men over 50.

Testosterone, zinc and the prostate
Why does this happen? In men over 50 there is a natural decline of the hormone testosterone. This leads to a natural increase of the hormones oestrogen and prolactin in men. Yes, men have oestrogen too, and environmental oestrogens such as found in chicken, pesticides and plastics negatively affect male health. This relative increase in oestrogen and prolactin has damaging effects on male health.

When testosterone levels decline, the prostate gland converts the testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This testosterone is 17 times more potent than testosterone. Unfortunately DHT is a big, bad and nasty form of testosterone that not only causes the prostate to enlarge, but may also contribute to prostate cancer and damages the hair follicles, leading to male pattern baldness.

Zinc and the prostate
So, what can you do? Maintaining adequate zinc levels is of primary importance. Sperm is naturally high in zinc, so men are naturally prone to zinc deficiency. Of course, modern farming methods have led to zinc deficiency in the soil too.

Zinc inhibits the enzyme (called 5-alpha reductase) that converts testosterone to the big, bad and nasty DHT. Zinc increases sperm count and sperm motility. High zinc levels also mean lower levels of oestrogen and prolactin thereby reducing the risk of prostate disease. So taking zinc and eating foods high in zinc can both decrease the risk and treat the symptoms of prostate disease. Try a Quest Synergistic Zinc 15mg or Solgar Zinc citrate 30mg capsules.

Just on prolactin quickly, increases of this hormone can lead to the formation of man boobs. This is commonly seen in beer drinkers. Beer is made from hops, which is oestrogenic and excessive beer consumption leads to a rise in prolactin. So drink less beer and take more zinc!

Food sources of zinc
Oysters are naturally high in zinc. 1 dozen oysters are equivalent to 120 mg of zinc so be sure eat plenty of oysters all year around and not just at the Guinness and oyster festival. Oysters of course are a reputed aphrodisiac!

Another great source is pumpkin seeds. These tasty green nuts are also high in the proteins glycine, alanine and glutamic acid, which are prescribed for prostate conditions. Pumpkin seeds can relieve frequency, urgency, night time urination and dribbling associated with enlarged prostate. Rye and sourdough breads are also high in zinc.

Herbal medicine
Common herbal medicines include Saw palmetto. Saw palmetto also stops the conversion of the male hormone testosterone to the more potent form associated with prostate disease. A Vogel has a range of Saw Palmetto either in liquid or capsule form. For herbal advice see a qualified herbalist.

Going on holiday-Tips for the Male Toiletry bag

For those men planning a holiday this summer, either here on the Emerald Isle or indeed further abroad, the following suggestions are items to pack in your toiletry bag to ensure you have an enjoyable holiday. If you are looking for Fathers Day gift ideas, think of treating the man in your life to the following.

Lotions and Potions
Men are fast cottoning on to the benefits of moisturising. The skin is the largest organ in the body and readily absorbs toxins including the petrochemicals, artificial preservatives, fragrances and colourings. Petrochemicals are, as their name implies, derived from petrol. Jason Aloe Vera All purpose Moisturiser is an economical fragrance free, petrochemical free moisturiser for every day use. Remember to moisturise your skin daily on holiday, particularly after sun exposure.

Jason also has a great natural range of Mens products including Jasons Shaving Cream and After Shave Tonic. If you are prone to dry lips try a Jason Lip balm. For a great aluminium free deodorant, try Toms Unscented Stick or the masculine smelling, Woodspice Stick. Go ahead, treat the man in your life!

Sunscreen
The rate of skin cancer is rising worldwide, even here in Ireland. Besides watching out for any suspicious changes in moles, prevention is definitely the best cure. The best protection is to slip, slop, slap. That is, slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen and slap on a hat. For a good natural sunscreen try Optima Healthcare Aloe Vera Sun Lotion SPF 25 and between 11 and 3 slip under a tree.

Toothpaste
Many people are looking to avoid fluoride as it has negative effects on health. There is a wide range of effective, fluoride free toothpastes. For that extra boost in the morning try Optima Healthcare Aloe Dent Wake-up Toothpaste.

Insect Bites
To avoid bites use Jungle Formula insect repellent, however, if you do get bitten, try lavender oil or tea tree oil directly on the bite or sting. For mosquito bites in particular, there is a great Homoeopathic remedy called Ledum. Try Weleda 30C, 3 times a day.

Lumps and Bumps
If you do happen to hurt yourself, a remedy called Arnica can help. It can be taken in both homoeopathic form and externally as a cream. Again try a Weleda Arnica 30 C 4-5 times a day for lumps and bumps, strains and sprains. A good arnica cream is A Vogel Arnica gel. Dont forget to pack some Tiger Balm for headaches and muscle strain.

Hangovers
In an ideal world moderation is recommended but you are on holiday. Try Milk thistle either in the A Vogel liquid or Solgar capsule form, both before and after you drink. This will help your liver detoxify the alcohol. By far the greatest hangover cure is a homoeopathic remedy called nux vomica, for when you feel like a bear with a sore head. Try Weleda Nux vomica 30C, 1 dose every half hour, if symptoms persist take 3 more doses in a day and drink water!!!

* * *

The advice in this column is given as information only. Please consult your doctor before beginning any nutritional regime. To get specific advice on nutrition or herbal medicine, see a nutritional therapist or herbalist. If you have any specific health questions, email them to Carina at galway@naturopathy-ireland.com and I will be happy to answer them, anonymously if requested. Enjoy your food life!

Melanie Stephens, IANT, Head of Nutrition at the CNM, Nutritional Therapist.

To arrange a private consultation call Mel on 086-2442708, or email healthforce@gmail.com.

VITAMIN C

Food sources - Fresh vegetables and fruit, such as broccoli, green and red pepper, potatoes, brussel sprouts, kale, parsley, cauliflower, cabbage, sharon fruit, pineapple, kiwis, strawberries, papaya, citrus fruit, mango.

Best supplement form - Avoid ascorbic acid as this can irritate the stomach. Buffered forms, such as magnesium ascorbate, are more gentle on the stomach.

Best taken - In small doses throughout the day.

When to take more - Whenever you are stressed or feel a cold coming on (take with zinc to boost immune function). If you are a smoker you need to take extra vitamin C on a regular basis.

Additional information - Always take a multivitamin and mineral as a back up, to provide all the synergistic nutrients that enable vitamin C to function properly in the body. A bioflavanoid supplement may increase absorption of vitamin C.

CALCIUM

Food sources - Broccoli, cabbage, kale, tofu, sardines, pilchards, salmon.

Best form - Calcium citrate, calcium gluconate, calcium lactate, amino acid chelate.

Best taken - In the evening, with food.

When to take more - For osteoporosis.

Additional information - When used for osteoporosis, calcium should be taken as part of a formula designed for bone health, containing other nutrients such as magnesium, vitamins A, D and K and boron. Should not be taken by those who suffer from hyperparathyroidism or cancer without medical supervision.

MAGNESIUM

Food sources - Green leafy vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds,

Best form - Magnesium citrate, magnesium taurate, magnesium malate, magnesium succinate, magnesium fumerate, magnesium aspartate, amino acid chelate.

Best taken - During the day, with food.

When to take more - When you are stressed, for anxiety, blood-sugar fluctuations, low energy, muscle aches, tension headaches, PMS, osteoporosis.

Additional information - Should not be taken by those who suffer from kidney disease or heart disease without medical supervision.

VITAMIN B COMPLEX

Food sources - Legumes, whole grains (wholemeal bread and pasta, rye products, brown rice, oats), nuts and seeds, fruit and vegetables.

Best form - Always take B vitamins as a complex. It is possible to supplement individual B vitamins, but always take a B complex supplement as a back up to provide synergistic nutrients.

Best taken - Early in the day as it will boost your energy levels, taking it at night might prevent you from sleeping. Ideally take in two small doses rather than one large dose. Take with food.

When to take more - Whenever youre stressed, when energy or mood are low, for PMS, blood-sugar fluctuations.

ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS

Food sources - Oily fish, including mackerel, trout, herring, salmon, also flaxseed, nuts and seeds.

Best form - Ideally it should also contain an antioxidant like vitamin E. Should be stored in a dark bottle in the fridge.

Best taken - With food.

When to take more - If you suffer from a cluster of the following symptoms; inflammatory disorders, dry skin and hair, weak nails, dry mucus membranes, frequent infections, low mood or energy, lack of motivation, forgetfulness, constipation, poor digestion, bloating.

Additional information - Its important to avoid trans fatty acids from processed and fried foods, which prevent your body using essential fatty acids.

Disclaimer: This information is not intended for use in diagnosing or treating any health condition. If you are currently taking medication or suffer from a diagnosed condition, always consult your doctor for medical advice.

- Michael Pollan - Published: January 28, 2007 - New York Times

Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.

That, more or less, is the short answer to the supposedly incredibly complicated and confusing question of what we humans should eat in order to be maximally healthy. I hate to give away the game right here at the beginning of a long essay, and I confess that Im tempted to complicate matters in the interest of keeping things going for a few thousand more words. Ill try to resist but will go ahead and add a couple more details to flesh out the advice. Like: A little meat wont kill you, though its better approached as a side dish than as a main. And youre much better off eating whole fresh foods than processed food products. Thats what I mean by the recommendation to eat food. Once, food was all you could eat, but today there are lots of other edible foodlike substances in the supermarket. These novel products of food science often come in packages festooned with health claims, which brings me to a related rule of thumb: if youre concerned about your health, you should probably avoid food products that make health claims. Why? Because a health claim on a food product is a good indication that its not really food, and food is what you want to eat

Read the article >>

- Henry McGrath MA MRCHM MBAcC

Abstract

The author is a practitioner of Chinese Herbal medicine and acupuncture in the UK, specialising in the management of cancer. He is the Acupuncture Course Leader for the College of Naturopathic Medicine. He spent two weeks in China, and observed the herbal treatment of around 70 patients with cancer. Some of these patients received conventional or western treatments, such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, while some received only Chinese herbs. He saw Chinese medicine giving great relief for a wide range of symptoms, including pain, nausea, lack of appetite, liver and kidney dysfunction, immune deficiency, emotional problems and insomnia. Several doctors also claimed that herbal medicine helped prolong the life expectancy of some patients, although the author saw no evidence for this that would be accepted by western research standards.

The author believes that Chinese integrated approach has much to offer those in the West with cancer.

Introduction

In September 2006, the author led the College of Naturopathic Medicine acupuncture study trip to China. CNM students were given placements in Nanjing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and had the opportunity to learn first hand from expert Chinese doctors. Students worked with a wide range of disorders, including paediatrics, sciatica, neurological disorders, and paralysis. By the end of the placements they had gained much confidence in their ability to use acupuncture effectively.

Between supervising the students, the author spent time in Chinese herbal medicine oncology wards. He spent time in Nanjing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Oncology Outpatient Department, and in the Oncology Inpatient Ward of Dong Feng Hospital, Beijing.

As in the West, patients have the opportunity to receive conventional or western treatment of their cancer. This includes the full range of scans and blood tests, as well as surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. However, patients also have the opportunity to be referred for Chinese herbal medicine in addition to their western treatment, which many take up.

The first thing that struck me about the Herbal Medicine Oncology Clinic in Nanjing was that the small room was constantly full of people. As well as the Doctor and patient, several other patients waiting their turn would be standing around openly listening to the consultation. Patients listened unself consciously to each others stories, sometimes even joining in to each others consultations. This arrangement struck me as a marked contrast to the hushed, strictly private oncology consultations seen in the West. Whereas the western approach can leave patients feeling very isolated, the Chinese way seemed to offer mutual support to patients. There did not seem to be a need for a mutual support group.

The vast majority of the patients I saw had received surgery for their cancer. A slightly lesser number had at least started to receive chemotherapy or radiotherapy. However, some of these patients had been unable/ unwilling to complete the course of treatment because of its side effects. For most of these people, the herbal medicine was perceived as an alternative to a treatment they were unable to take. For many others, the herbal medicine was perceived as supporting the conventional treatment, in some cases allowing them to complete it.

The complaints treated by herbal medicine

In the following discussion it must always be born in mind that Chinese herbal medicine treats the whole person. It pays special attention to nourishing the qi, the vital force, in order to boost the patients innate ability to fight disease, both physically and mentally. The tongue and pulse are always studied carefully to give an accurate diagnosis, on which the treatment will be based. Herbal formulae are be carefully constructed to match the energetic pattern of the patient, and will usually contain about fifteen to twenty herbs. The dose will normally be about 200g per day of dried herbs, which must be boiled by the patient. Bearing in mind the above caveat about herbs treating the whole person, for the sake of convenience we shall discuss the treatments by groups of primary symptoms, as follows:

1.nausea, digestive disturbance and fatigue
2.insomnia and emotional problems
3.immune deficiency
4.liver and kidney impairment

Nausea, digestive disturbance and fatigue

The enjoyment and sharing of food is central to Chinese life, and to the Chinese persons sense of well being. Chinese people are also keenly aware of the key role of the digestive system in maintaining good health. In Chinese medical theory, the digestive system transforms food into qi. If surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy interferes with the digestive function, it will therefore undermine the production of the vital force. This can lead to fatigue, and may impair the patients ability to fight their cancer. Many patients therefore seek help from herbal medicine when their digestion is upset by biomedical treatment.

It was very moving to see that most patients who had taken herbs for their digestion reported great improvements. The reaction of one man, well into his seventies, seemed to speak for many: when asked whether the herbs had helped his digestion, his wrinkled but bright face lit up, and he gave a contented pat on their abdomen. It seemed that his appetite for food reflected his appetite for life, regained through herbal medicine.

There are many dozens of Chinese herbs that soothe the digestion, and promote the production of qi. The herbs are selected according to the exact nature of the diagnosis. Those most commonly used in the treatment of cancer include astragalus (huang qi), hawthorn (shan zha), seeds of Jobs Tears (yi yi ren), and medicated leaven (shen qu). This latter herb contains many enzymes which help the digestion, and it also helps protect the stomach against harsh chemicals such as those used in chemotherapy.

Insomnia and emotional problems

Obviously being given a diagnosis of cancer can create a huge emotional strain. It may create anger, grief, worry, and a huge range of other emotions. In Chinese medicine, each emotion affects a specific organ: for example, anger affects the liver, grief affects the lungs, and worry affects the digestion. These strong emotions can disturb the sleep, making the patient even more tired, and draining the strength they need to fight their cancer. Chinese medicine therefore placed great stress on addressing the emotional concerns of patients, which helps maintain healthy organ function. Chinese medicine has a whole category of herbs which calm the mind, and there are herbs for each specific emotional problem. For example, Chinese lily (bai he) helps grief; biota seeds (bai zi ren) sooth the heart and help sleep; wild date seeds (suan zao ren) calm anger, soothe the liver and help sleep. This latter herb contains a chemical called jujuboside, which is a natural sedative and hypnotic. Interestingly, there is evidence that it also functions as a cardiotonic, treating heart irregularities.

Radiotherapy, according to Chinese medicine, tends to overheat the body and dry it up. In Chinese medical terminology, it is said to deplete the yin. Certain herbs are used to nourish the yin, in order to counter the side effects of radiotherapy. These include Chinese asparagus (tian men dong), ophiopogon grass (mai men dong), and adenophora (sha shen). The latter herb is particularly good at soothing the mucous membranes of the lungs where they have been damaged by heat and dryness from radiotherapy. It is an antitussive (it helps coughing), and helps to bring body temperature back to normal.

Immune deficiency

Chemotherapy can kill the white blood cells, which fight infection. It is therefore important to try and maintain the white blood cell count during treatment. Certain herbs can help with this, and several studies show that for example astragalus (huang qi) enhances the production of white blood cells (Chen and Chen p852).

One study looked at the use of moxibustion in maintaining white blood cell count in patients with leukopenia (reduction in immune cells). (Moxibustion involves burning the herb artemesia at acupuncture points). A group of 91 patients were divided into two groups, one of which was given moxibustion and the other which was not. Of the group receiving moxibustion, 47% had a pronounced increase in white blood cell count, whereas in the other group only 5% saw a pronounced rise in their white blood cell count (Li Peiwen, p97)

Liver and kidney impairment

In the fight against cancer it is important to maintain the function of these organs. They both help to cleanse the body of toxins, and so are crucial in maintaining health.

When the liver is having to break down the toxins from chemotherapy, it produces more enzymes to try and do this, which puts it under stress. At least sixteen Chinese herbs have been shown to help keep the level of liver enzymes down, including schizandra (wu wei zi), angelica (dang gui), gentian (long dan cao) and liquorice (gan cao) (Li Peiwen, p109).

Chemotherapy and radiotherapy can also lead to kidney impairment. This can cause a wide range of problems, such as oedema, and a build up of toxins in the body. This can lead to high blood pressure and other complications.

One study divided a group of 86 patients undergoing chemotherapy into two equal groups, only one of which received Chinese herbs. Only the group receiving the herbs demonstrated a maintained renal function (measured as no significant change in levels of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine) (Li Peiwen, p123).

Using herbs to attack cancer cells directly

In addition to using herbs which manage the side effects of conventional treatment, herbs are used which are thought to attack the cancer directly. Ever more studies are being conducted on the anti cancer effects of Chinese herbs, which are too numerous to mention here. Herbs attracting worldwide attention include Oldenlandia (bai hua shi shi cao), circuma (e zhu, which is given intravenously to cancer patients in China), and seeds of Jobs Tears (yi yi ren). This last herb is a variety of maize, consumed as a staple food in South East China. Studies show that cancer rates are very low in the areas where this plant is consumed. Compounds in the plant have been found to inhibit the growth of tumour cells, and to increase the expression of genes FAS and Apo 1, which help inhibit the growth of tumour cells (Zhejiang University Press). The herb has been synthesised into a drug called Kanglaite, which has received FDA approval for a stage II trial in the USA.

Conclusion

In China, herbs are an integral part of the management of cancer. As well as treating the side effects and improving the quality of life, herbs are used to maintain the patients overall sense of well being and energy. Herbs are also used to try and attack the cancer directly, and thereby to strive to increase the life span of the patient.

About the author

Henry McGrath has been practising Chinese medicine for over ten years. He runs his own clinic in Bristol, and also works at Penny Brohn Cancer Care. He is the acupuncture course leader at the College of Naturopathic Medicine, and has also taught Chinese medicine at various other colleges and