Your ears are like delicate shells.

Have you ever seen a medical diagram of the ear and its conch like structure and filigree like bones? The ear operates just like a finely tuned musical instrument that has been carved by a master instruments craftsman in a workshop. The time and energy that is taken to create such instruments is wondrous, and yet here we are as human beings, walking around in physical bodies that are just as and if not more amazing than a Stradivarius or a Gibson guitar.

How you treat your body and how you treat your ears is vitally important. Your physical realm is as precious to you as the Stradivarius is to the violin soloist or the Gibson is to the lead guitarist of a successful band.

You see the musician tending and caring for his/ her instrument. And yet surely this is the very same tender care and concern we need to implement and facilitate concerning our own bodies, and particularly our ears.

Caring for your ears

According to The Ear Science Institute Australia, “Hearing loss and ear disease amongst Australians is almost at an epidemic stage. And The Australian Bureau of Statistics’ 2001 National Health Survey revealed nearly 2.5 million people were affected by hearing loss, with tens of thousands of children and adults currently suffering from ear disease.”[1]

It is therefore important you care for your ears diligently and appropriately, and in my view, natural products and an alternative approach that is free from harsh chemicals and pharmaceuticals is a very suitable and safe way to do so.

A Natural Health Approach

One of the most successful natural therapies strategies for your ears is ear candling. This is offered by many a good natural remedies practitioner and is also an excellent gift idea for loved ones who may exhibit repeated ear infections or ear canal problems.

The ear is one of the most delicate and important areas of the body. It is prone to infection and is a channel between the inner and the outer realms of the body and this means it operates as a point to entry for infection and germs.  It is therefore important you clean your ears thoroughly and regularly and use ear plugs or ear protectors if you are exposed to water or to excessive noise pollution or machinery or sounds that can aggravate and/or compromise their functioning.

Also beware of allergies in the ear area. If you are allergy prone, stay away from dairy products and food colourings and other additives that can aggravate itching of the ear canal and skin.

You can also experience outer ear skin conditions such as fungal issues and/or psoriasis of the ear canal, so it is also important you dry your ears thoroughly and do not allow them to remain damp and wet for long periods of time.

Make sure you also use a good ear care kit. These are often available from reputable naturopathy clinics and health food stores.

To summarize, caring for your ears does not have to be difficult. Use natural products and consult with your naturopathic practitioner for more information.

Tags: A Natural Health Approach, A Natural Self, allergy, Caring for your Ears, ear allergies, ear canal, ear candling, ear disease, ear infection, ear plugs, ear protectors, Ear Science Institute Australia, ears, fungal issues, harsh chemicals, hearing loss, natural remedies, natural therapies, noise pollution, pharmaceuticals, psoriasis

The media and academic pressure on young girls is fierce. Everywhere you and I look there are images of slim and svelte young women, with perfect bodies and great legs, wearing wonderful clothing and shining smiles.

In the age of mass-media the world has become a celebrity dream factory, where youth and even adults, live their lives vicariously through the media fed circus of daily images and stories of the glamorous people!

But how true is this really? And how does it affect our young women of the future?

As a natural health practitioner, the current focus on externals and extreme thinness leaves me worried.

While I support a health approach that maintains stable weight and internal sustenance, I do not believe the focus on advertising images of size 8 women helps our adolescent girl to develop a healthy and holistic sense of themselves, their bodies and their need for nutrition and healthy choices concerning weight, inner natural health and self-acceptance.

Patient case study – when detoxification is NOT detoxification

Recently a mother and daughter came into A Natural Self Clinic Fremantle and asked to speak with the naturopath. I took the initial consultation and in the course of the interview discovered the adolescent girl had recently been undergoing 4 day a week detoxification cleanses. This scenario had been going on for 6 months.

The mother communicated that the daughter had also been using excessive quantities of laxatives and she had lost over 10 kilograms in the past 6 months. She appeared drawn and tired, quite annoyed and her hair and general pallor was thin and pale and grey. She seemed uninterest4ed in other people and rather withdrawn.

I spoke with the girl privately and after some time concluded the problem may be a case of bulimia nervosa. The mother refuted this because the girl has had no history of vomiting up her food, and I explained that in some cases bulimia nervosa does not include vomiting but may be restricted to laxative use and purging by way of waste elimination via the intestinal tract. While many cases involve both laxative use and vomiting, this case was restricted to severe laxative use and detoxification processes.

The Centre For Eating and Dieting Disorders at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney Australia, undertakes considerable research in the area and also runs programs for the normalisation of eating for those afflicted with an eating disorder.[1]

My view is this form of treatment is excellent when combined with specialised and adequate psychotherapy and with a natural health strategy that revitalises and restores the weakened body with a host of natural remedies and naturopathic modalities.

I would also suggest a thorough consultation with both a naturopath or Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner and also a nutritionist, to encourage rapid healing and the reintroduction of foods and supplements in a manner that will not be too aggressive or shocking for the weakened system. Homeopathics may also help to heal the compromised immune system.

If you or a member of your family suffers from an eating disorder, seek advice and treatment as soon as possible.

And remember, staying healthy is the way to a fantastic life.

Tags: A Natural Self, Adolescent Girls, bodies, Bulimia Nervosa, detoxification, Eating and Dieting Disorders, Homeopathics, natural health, nutrition, self-acceptance, slim and svelte young, Traditional Chinese Medicine, weight, young girls

There is a plethora of information about adolescent skin conditions on the internet. Today I wanted to contribute to this discussion by proposing a natural health alternative to allopathic prescription medications that are readily prescribed to still-developing teens and young adults.

If you have skin conditions such as pimples, acne, oily and greasy skin and the associated discomfort and low self-esteem, you can utilise many natural products to treat these issues.

Using a good hair and skin and nail supplement can go some way to helping with nasty and unsightly blemishes and can also help to rebalance any overproduction of oil secretions caused by hormonal shifts and changes that occur throughout the teen years.

Diet and Guidance from a Dietician

Some of the teen clients that come into my clinic are beset by extreme skin problems. I will advise with regards to the following:

• Homeopathics
• Physical exercise regime
• Hair and blood analysis
• Gut dysbiosis
• Toxicity
• Stress and mood
• Hormonal regulation
• Health and hygiene issues

I will also give comprehensive advice on dietary supplements and vitamins and minerals. I may also suggest acupuncture, a detoxification programme and even consult a more specialised alternative health care practitioner who may offer additional insights and suggestions.

In some cases I will also refer the adolescent client to a dietician for a thorough reconsideration and realignment of dietary patterns and habits.

Those who suffer extreme skin conditions must work hard to feed their bodies correctly and must also steer clear of highly processed foods and refined sugar products. Alcohol and tobacco must also be avoided as these can disrupt hormone production.

Exercise

I will always guide the client/patient towards a good exercise regime. My clinical experience has enabled me to note that a good proportion of individuals with worst case skin conditions in adolescence may not exercise enough and do not get enough fresh air and fresh fruit and vegetables.

An adolescent metabolism that is undergoing enormous growth and stress and changes actually fares far better if regular exercise is incorporated into the weekly lifestyle program.  I always suggest this and consider it a foundational element to healing skin conditions that are causing emotional and physiological distress and discomfort.

Isotretinoin

This is a prescription medication that is now widely prescribed by the medical fraternity to treat extreme cases of acne. It is an aggressive form of treatment with potentially harmful and severe side-effects and should therefore be used with caution. This medication, taken orally dries up the oil glands.

My personal view is any use of this medication should be thoroughly discussed with natural health practitioners and with your specialist before proceeding.

Some of the more severe side effects include erectile dysfunction, liver damage, psychosis and pancreatitis, seizures and even strokes.[1]

So take the natural therapies approach to skin conditions and speak with your naturopath today.

Tags: A Natural Self, allopathic, allopathic medicinal, Ayurveda, Bach Flower remedies, Ernst and Hahn, Hahnemann, homeopathic remedies, Homeopathics, Homeopathy, Homeopathy: A Critical Appraisal, kinesiology, natural remedy, natural therapies, Naturopathy, pregnancy termination, relaxation, rescue remedy, Traditional Chinese Medicin

Homeopathy / Relaxation

Today I wanted to make another mention of the wonderful attributes of Homeopathics. This often overlooked and subtle form of natural remedy is astoundingly powerful and accurate and treats the client with a gentle and longstanding process that aims to strengthen the body so that it is trained to heal itself and fight off infections.

A new patient recently spoke to me about her first encounter with homeopathy. She was only about 24 at the time, and living on the east coast of Australia. She had been in a long term relationship that had recently ended and to make matters worse, she was about to undergo a very distressing pregnancy termination.

One of the clinicians at the clinic she attended was a general practitioner who also worked with natural therapies and various modalities including kinesiology, Traditional Chinese Medicine, some ayurveda and homeopathy. She told my client that the few weeks after the termination would no doubt be difficult, but that a fairly frequent use of “rescue remedy” might help to stabilize emotions.[1] The practitioner handed my client a small bottle and told her about the required doses. My client began using it immediately and was happy with the results.

She has been committed to the use of Homeopathics ever since.

That was thirty years ago!

According to research produced in 2007 at the University of Miami School of Nursing, stress and anxiety can be alleviated successfully using rescue remedy. This is just one example of a whole host of homeopathic remedies and Bach flowers that can be used to treat illness and various conditions.[2]

In “Homeopathy: A Critical Appraisal,” authors Ernst and Hahn consider a full account of homeopathics including its history and it efficacy and use.[3] It contains seventeen comprehensive papers that include topics such as properties and potentisation, and also considers various aspects of Homeopathy that are sometimes under question. A comprehensive review of the book can be found on the Homeopathy Heals Me website.

As a naturopath, I frequently utilise the unique properties of Bach Flower remedies that were originally developed and put forward by innovative health care practitioner, Samuel Hahnneman.

As a physician, Hahnemann challenged the prevailing medical establishment and allopathic approaches of his day and proposed homeopathy as a gentler and more accurat4e and longstanding mode of treatment that was less harmful and far more successful that allopathic medicinal.

If you are interested in finding out more about Homeopathy, contact A Natural Self Naturopathy Clinic or speak to your local naturopath who will be able to guide you on the use of Bach Flower remedies and essences and their benefit to you and your family.

[2] Ibid

[3] http://www.homeopathyheals.me.uk/site/science-of-homeopathy/38-scientific-research/643-homoeopathy-a-critical-appraisal

Tags: A Natural Self, allopathic, allopathic medicinal, Ayurveda, Bach Flower remedies, Ernst and Hahn, Hahnemann, homeopathic remedies, Homeopathics, Homeopathy, Homeopathy: A Critical Appraisal, kinesiology, natural remedy, natural therapies, Naturopathy, pregnancy termination, relaxation, rescue remedy, Traditional Chinese Medicin

There are many reasons why your back may be playing up or causing you pain. For some women backache begins with pregnancy. For others it is a result of accident or mild injury. Many individuals complain that backache is correlated in with the modern workplace, where seating all day and working at computers is a given.

You can however do a lot to alleviate back pain. Simple strategies and simple suggestions can help to manage this common problem so that you can regain the mobility and the strength you want.

Of course the most extreme cases of back pain may require spinal fusion. But for most of us, it is really a case of just looking after ourselves with a little more diligence and commitment and consciousness.

Areas of Pain and Natural Remedies that can help

Your back pain may be neurological or muscular or soft tissue related. Serious manifestations such as degenerative disc disease may require a different course of natural remedy and natural products treatment than a condition such as Fibrositis, where inflammation of the connective tissues can cause pain.

There are a number of generalised supplements and naturopathic solutions however, that can help you with your particular type of back pain. You may still need to visit an alternative practitioner and you may still want to pursue modalities such as Ayurveda or TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) or Homeopathics which can stimulate healing.

Supplements

The following supplements should be taken for back problems:

• Calcium – for bone conditioning and strength. Ask your natural remedy supplier about a quality calcium supplement that is readily absorbable. You will need to take the chelated and the ascorbate and the carbonated forms for the most successful results
• Vitamin C – this wonderful vitamin operates as a magnificent antioxidant that dispels with free radicals in your body and helps to oxygenate and revitalise tired muscles, ligaments and nerves
• Copper – helps your body to formulate elastin which keeps your neurological system firing properly
• Magnesium
• Silica – this actually optimises the absorption of calcium
• Boron – a small daily supplement of boron will help with calcium absorption
• DLPA (DL – Phenylalanine) – an amino acid/building block that helps to reduce pain in the body

Magnetic Therapy for your Natural Health

You may also want to use a reputable pain and inflammation kit that utilises magnetic therapy. This form of therapy successfully utilises adhesive patch segments that can be applied to the areas of the back where pain is most severe.

According to The Sports Journal, “the idea that magnetic therapy could be used to enhance the lives of human beings originated in the 16^th Century.”[1] And while more formal research is often cited as necessary, there is no doubt that clients and patients with back problems and back pain espouse its value and its efficacy.

You can source magnetic therapy treatments via A Natural Self’s online shopping cart. Or you can ask your local naturopath about how it can help you.

Tags: A Natural Self, A Naturopathy Clinic, accident, Areas of Pain, Ayurveda, back, back pain, backache, Beating Backache, Boron, calcium, connective tissues, Copper, Fibrositis, Homeopathics, inflammation, magnesium, Magnetic Therapy, mild injury, muscular, natural health, natural remedies, naturopathic solutions, neurological, pain, pain and inflammation kit, Phenylalanine, pregnancy, seating, Silica, soft tissue, spinal fusion, supplements, Vitamin C, women backache

Post-Natal Depression is a serious condition that can debilitate both a mother and child in the early or even later phases of parenting. It can consume a mother and render her incapable of self-care and maternal care for a newborn or for an infant and it can lead to issues that interfere with mother-baby bonding, nurturing and healthy early phase development.

But there is a lot you can do. The use of natural remedies and naturopathic solutions can help to alleviate post-natal depression symptoms and depressive problems for mothers. Today we consider some of these natural products and also offer suggestions that can help to soothe mother and newborn and help them to develop a secure and positive early phase of relating.

Post-Natal Depression – Early Signs and Symptoms

Post-Natal Blues can often begin at around 72 hours post childbirth. 2-3 days after the birth of the baby, the new mum to be can experience a massive hormonal drop and shift as a result of the changing circumstances of her body.

The new mother has been carrying the baby in-vitro for 9 months and with the birth of the child comes the next phase of the process. The maternal body undergoes childbirth and the beginning phase of breastfeeding. The pregnancy hormone levels drop phenomenally as the mother’s body is realigned for infant phase childrearing and feeding.

While this is a completely natural process, it can also result in an intense feeling of sadness and overwhelm. Some mothers even report feelings of acute depression and in extreme cases, thoughts of suicidal ideation and futility may occur.

If these are left unchecked or unacknowledged, the mother may not understand the process she is undergoing. Knowledge, intervention, awareness and the use of natural products can help top restore hormonal and emotional balance to the mother and prevent a spiralling of the condition which can lead to full-blown and longstanding post-natal depressive illness.

Modalities for Treating Post-Natal Blues and Depression

Some of the modalities that can be used for treating post-natal depression and blues include the following:

• Kinesiology
• Homeopathics
• Ayurveda
• Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Massage
• Herbs

You can speak with your naturopath of your practitioner about alternative treatments that may help to address the problem and operate as an alternative to the allopathic use of anti-depressant medication that can be passed through the breast milk from mother to baby.[1] The latter can disrupt normal serotonin levels in the developing baby and in my view, needs to be approached with thorough awareness and extreme caution.

Dr. Neill Epperson from Yale University in the USA, states that “postpartum major depression occurs in approximately 1 of 10 childbearing women and is considerably under-diagnosed.”[2] He also goes onto state that the ratio concentration of antidepressant medication passing through to the infant is relatively low and has little adverse affect on the infant.

Natural Products as an Alternative

Some of the natural products you can use to help with symptoms include the following:

• Wild yam
• Chamomile
• Avena Sativa
• Omega 3, 6 and 9’s.

Ask your practitioner to advise you and guide you through the process of monitoring and treating your postnatal depression or blues issues.

Also remember to develop a good support network around mum and baby, and get as much sleep and gentle exercise as you can. This can help enormously.

Good luck

[2] Ibid

Tags: allopathic, alternative treatment, anti-depressant, anti-depressant medication, Avena Sativa, Ayurveda, birth, blues, breast milk, Chamomile, depression, Early Signs and Symptoms, herbs, Homeopathics, hormone, infant, infant phase, kinesiology, Massage, massive hormonal drop, modalities, mother, mother-baby bonding, Natural products, natural remedies, naturopathic solutions, newborn, Omega 3, omega 6, omega 9, phases of parenting, Post Natal Depression, Post-Natal, Post-Natal Blues, pregnancy, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wild yam

You don’t have to suffer in silence with a scratchy, sore throat. There are any number of natural remedies and natural products that can soothe it and help you get the full night’ sleep you want and deserve.

Just the other evening, my son was going off to sleep and complained of an aching and scratching sore throat. It reminded me of childhood times and the flu, when that relentlessly painful sore throat ached and caused incredible discomfort and prevented me and everyone around me from sleeping.

For children and even for adults, the dreaded sore throat can be very painful. Most often this common ailment is caused by a common and prevalent viral infection that is alive and well in the air that you and I breathe.[1]

Naturopathic Remedies

Most people tend to treat their colds with either over the counter drugs or cough mixtures from the local chemist or with prescription medications that are sourced through a general practitioner.

But there are many other ways to treat the common sore throat naturally, with products and natural health solutions that will not disrupt or distress the body and the immune system.

Naturopaths and health stores will often supply a range of pre-packaged natural remedy items that are already mixed for the patient. You can easily source a reputable Cold and Flu pack that includes homeopathic formulas and essential oils such as eucalyptus and peppermint as well as clove and other natural substances.

Echinacea

You may also want to try using Echinacea, which has now become an almost mainstream product that helps to boost the immune system and help fight off both minor and more major infections.[2]

This product is available online from natural health suppliers or you can speak with an alternative practitioner in your local area for more information about it.

Other products that can help a scratchy and aching throat include:

• Goldenseal
• Slippery elm
• Licorice
• Garlic (to fight infection)
• Cayenne
• Hot honey tea

Many of these herbal remedies can be found in easily digestible form or in throat lonzenge form that are great for school age children.

Also remember to inform your practitioner/naturopathic professional if you suffer any allergies to herbal products or know of any adverse reactions that may cause you difficulty or stress. A good specialist can work with you on these issues or work around you so you can use alternative solutions with a similarly efficacious outcome.

And remember – good luck on your health journey. You deserve it.

Have a great day.

[2] http://healing.about.com/od/herbs_az/a/echinacea.htm

Tags: aching throat, allergies, Bed time blues, Bedtime, boost the immune system, Cayenne, clove, Cold and Flu, common sore throat, Echinacea, essential oils, eucalyptus, flu, Garlic, Goldenseal, health, health journey, herbal remedies, Hot honey tea, Licorice, natural health solutions, natural health suppliers, Natural products, Naturopathic, Naturopathic Remedies, other natural substances, painful sore throat, peppermint, scratching sore throat, scratchy, Slippery elm, sore throat

Love.

The word is bandied about and overused day in and day out. But what is it?

Do you feel it in your life? Are you able to share it with others?

Can you express it and can you manifest it through your lifestyle and your choices?

Many naturopaths and natural health practitioners I know, have done enough spiritual and emotional work on themselves to understand the profound link between love and action.

For many, love in the western world is perceived as a feeling, a welling up of emotion, a connection or a sensory or sexual experience.

But love is actually more than that. Love is all about action and it is about giving and practising selflessness and active care for others through service and doing and sharing.

Love and A Natural Self

Spiritual advisor and teacher, Deepak Chopra sums up love perfectly when he states that “love is the essence of healing. Healing is the essence of love.”[1] In this sense, love becomes about self-care. It is the active manifestation of nurture and self-respect and respect for others and it is why so many natural therapy practitioners treat their roles as healers with so much seriousness and commitment.

For many kinesiologists or homeopaths or Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners, the role as healer is a role that is infused with service, love and an aspiration towards healing and giving.

My role as a naturopath at A Natural Self is grounded in this approach. Naturopathic healing becomes the extension of love in a professional setting and has a strongly vocational aspect to it.

Gift Boxes from A Natural Self

Similarly, the approach to gift supplies and gift boxes at A Natural Self is founded upon the idea of fusing healing with expressions of love and gifting. There is a range of products available for purchase from Lemon Myrtle products through to massage kits which are perfect for Valentine’s Day gifts and ideas.

If your partner or loved one has specific ailments or health problems, you also have the option of purchasing gift vouchers and gift certificates that can be used for naturopathic consultations and other specialised products such as detoxification kits and treatments for skin conditions and other issues.

You can now purchase these items direct and online and they are delivered to your door within days. You have the ease and efficiency of online shopping without having to worry about a longwinded visit to a shop that may be time consuming and too difficult for you.

So, have a fantastic Valentine’s Day and think about active expressions of love that fuse with healing and a natural therapies approach to life.

Tags: academy of dermatogy, aggressive pharmaceutical, allopathic treatment, Ayurvedic, Ayurvedic medicine, Dermatology, dietary advice, dietary changes, dietary factors, Dietician, erythrodermic, exfoliative psoriasis, hives, melanoma, natural health practitioner, natural self clinic, Naturopathy, pimples, pityriasis rosacea, severe acne, skin, skin conditions, skin health, skin medicine, vitiligo

Your digestive system is the cornerstone of great health. Before you embark on any kind of health and naturopathy regime, you need to have it thoroughly checked and considered to makes sure it is absorbing the foods and the natural products and supplements you are putting into it.

Client Profile

Every so often I come across a really diligent client who is doing all the work to stay healthy. The profile of this type of client is committed, diligent, sound and sane, keen about natural remedies and natural products and absolutely wanting to work on themselves so that their physiology and emotional, mental and spiritual functioning is smooth and well-oiled.

But in spite of this diligence and commitment something is not quite right and they require some added attention. They have digestive absorption problems that prevent them getting the most out of what they are putting into their bodies.

Often, the key to their absorption problems can be traced to the stomach, where the careful balance of gut flora has been disrupted and destroyed.

I myself can attest to this problem. The catalyst for my interest in naturopathy and other modalities such as Traditional Chinese Medicine, Homeopathy and Kinesiology was a digestive health issue. I became completely debilitated by a rare form of amoebic dysentery, which destroyed my health and meant that I was unable to walk down a street without first taking glucose for energy.[1]

Detoxification

If a patient does seem to indicate some form of digestive disruption and malabsorption I will first get them to undergo a good detoxification programme. This can be done easily and simply under the guidance of a practitioner, and you may find it useful to use a reputable detoxification kit that helps to cleanse the major organs and the intestines and stomach.

Blood Testing and Urine Testing

I would also suggest that the patient undergoes thorough microscopic blood testing. This reveals imbalances and any parasites or abnormal amoeba that is unbalancing or compromising the body. A good urinalysis gut dysbiosis test may be needed to reveal problems. Bright Field Microscopy may also be called for to reveal parasites.

Once any problems are identified, we can then work together to establish a treatment regime that once again strengthens the digestive system so that it works properly.

This means that the vitamins and minerals and fresh fruits and vegetables you put into your system are properly processed and their goodness is properly absorbed so that your energy levels remain stable and clear.

So see your naturopath or natural health practitioner for a consultation soon.

Tags: academy of dermatogy, aggressive pharmaceutical, allopathic treatment, Ayurvedic, Ayurvedic medicine, Dermatology, dietary advice, dietary changes, dietary factors, Dietician, erythrodermic, exfoliative psoriasis, hives, melanoma, natural health practitioner, natural self clinic, Naturopathy, pimples, pityriasis rosacea, severe acne, skin, skin conditions, skin health, skin medicine, vitiligo

You can treat problematic skin conditions with a combination of natural remedies and dietary changes. And within a month you can experience and see noticeable changes that are in part die to natural remedy suggestions from your practitioner, or from the dietary advice given by a natural health specialist or dietician.

Sound too good to be true?

Well…it’s not.

I see so many clients with skin conditions, who come into the clinic finally…after having done the rounds of the allopathic treatment options. Many of these individuals have resorted to all sorts of aggressive pharmaceutical options; some have experienced relief for the short term, or have noted improvements for a period of time before their own body becomes adjusted and immune to the chemical components of the pharmaceuticals that are prescribed.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, there are more than 3,000 skin conditions that can impact and affect human beings.[1] Some of these may include pimples and severe acne, erythrodermic and exfoliative psoriasis, hives, melanoma, pityriasis rosacea and vitiligo – just to name a random few.

While all the range of ski conditions humans experience is broad – a fact exhibited by the list just outlined – there are some fundamentals that can be introduced to your life to make a difference.

Diet

I will always, in every case, check the dietary intake of my patients. It is absolutely essential for anyone treating skin conditions – whether allopathically or naturopathically – to fully understand what the patient is feeding into their physiological system.

Some of the screening questions to ask might include:

• What is the eating pattern of a normal day?
• What does a weekly record of eating – listing every meal – look like?
• Do you eat sugar?
• Do you drink alcohol?
• Do you smoke?
• Do you eat fresh vegetables daily?
• Do you eat packet meals?
• Do you eat fresh meat, poultry or fish daily?
• Do you drink carbonated drinks?
• Do you eat desserts?

A holistic approach to skin care and skin conditions can also include treatments such as kinesiology, homeopathy, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic techniques. A Natural Self Clinic offers an eclectic and holistic approach that addresses the underlying causes of skin conditions rather than just the final stage and extreme outward manifestations of the problem.

If you have a major or even minor skin problem, think about utilizing the services of a qualified naturopath or natural health practitioner who will go beyond the visible manifestations of the ailment and treat you with the thoroughness, sensitivity and respect you deserve.

A good naturopath will address the deep-seated and underlying health issues that are causing the problems. Taking the time to resolve these health matters leads to ongoing cessation of the problem and deep-seated health that manifests in all you do and all aspects of your life.

Tags: academy of dermatogy, aggressive pharmaceutical, allopathic treatment, Ayurvedic, Ayurvedic medicine, Dermatology, dietary advice, dietary changes, dietary factors, Dietician, erythrodermic, exfoliative psoriasis, hives, melanoma, natural health practitioner, natural self clinic, Naturopathy, pimples, pityriasis rosacea, severe acne, skin, skin conditions, skin health, skin medicine, vitiligo

The Global Financial Crisis has given all of us time to pause and reflect. The financial and real estate boom of the early part of the Millennium is over, and the world is now in a state for comparative fiscal contraction.

Anyone who runs any kind of business at present knows that at times like these, the consumer and the client become more wary.

I have a client who is an artist. She is also committed to naturopathy and Chinese Medicine and uses various natural remedies to manage her health. When the GFC hit a few years ago, her lucrative art career collapsed almost overnight, and she was left to ponder career directions and some decision- making about what to do.

Prior to the recession, she would sell a painting a week to art collectors around Australia and overseas. Art as you know is a luxury item, and when the economy begins to flounder, luxury items are the first to stop selling. My client was no longer able to afford all the natural health products she once purchased, nor was she able to come in for her twice weekly kinesiology treatments or her monthly homeopathic remedies.

Natural Health Products and Gift Boxes

It is true that my client was not able to continue on with the very intensive treatments she had undergone during a period of greater financial security. But that did not stop her.

Instead she devised a plan to maintain her commitment to naturopathy and to receiving practitioner treatments, and she asked her friends at Christmas and birthday times to give her vouchers and gifts comprising the many natural remedy products she had begun using regularly when she had more money.

MY client is not selling art like she once was, and like many creative people she has had to supplement her income with some other career and skill options. And she still makes time to come into the clinic and receive her treatments and she still manages to use the quality natural remedies that form an important part of her health routine.

A Naturopath Visit on Your Birthday

Last week was her birthday. Her husband bought her a block of ten naturopathy appointments for her 45^th, and she came in and received a comprehensive treatment after she finished work.

Her son bought her a lemon myrtle kit and her daughter gave her a vega testing appointment whic facilitates screening for food allergies, as she had been complaining of swelling and mild reactions after eating wheat.[1]

This valued client has been able to embrace the changes in her financial circumstances with positivity. She has not let this interfere with her health plan and her commitment to natural remedies.

And it shows in the quality of her daily life and everything she does.

Think about new ways to maintain your natural health plan, even in times of financial stress. It can be done.

Tags: A Naturopathy Clinic, birthday, consumer, financial stress, gift boxes, gift ideas, global financial crisis, good health, health, homeopathic remedies, kinesiology treatments, lemon myrtle kit, luxury items, Medicinal, medicine, natural foods, natural formulas, natural health plan, natural health products, natural medicines, natural remedies, natural therapies, Natural Treatments, naturopath, new ways to maintain, real state boom, regular consumption, treatment, Vega Testing

Have you ever wandered through Chinatown in your local town or city? Or perhaps you have been to China? Whatever the case may be, there is a world out there, waiting for you to discover…

You can sense it. You walk along a busy street and you turn a corner. In the distance, amidst the roar of traffic and the lights, the hustle and bustle of pedestrians and posters, shop signs and frontages…you spy it. The red gateway, emblazoned with dragons and colour….

It’s the entrance to your city’s Chinatown.

Natural Health

As many of you know who follow A Natural Self’s news and information, we pride ourselves on a number of forms of natural health. We have a particular interest in Traditional Chinese Medicine and one of my favourite pastimes is to wander through Chinatown in any city on the globe and go in and visit the local Chinese herbalist and practitioner, whose shelves are lined with jar upon jar of incredible substances and herbs and roots and leaves and berries.

These dried displays are so extensive they often line the Chinese Herbalist’s shopfront from floor to ceiling. The potions and substances are measured and scattered and wrapped in paper bags and given with thorough instructions on how to brew, imbibe and consume them.

Western practitioners and Chinese Medicine

Over the past two decades, many western alternative practitioners have absorbed aspects of Traditional Chinese Medicine into their practices. This means the sound, tried and true methods that form the basis of this modality are now available to many from non-Asian backgrounds.

According to the Australian Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association, TCM is unique because of its longstanding and historically robust evolution and development over thousands of years.  It operates from one central and powerful tenet…that premium health and wellbeing actually relies on the ongoing maintenance and also the restoration of balance, attunement and harmony to the human body.[1]

Both presenting symptoms and the underlying conditions that facilitated the growing development and strength of these symptoms are reviewed and considered.

Individualised and Tailored to Your Needs

TCM also works from the individualised perspective. This means that the array of herbs and treatments, including acupuncture and massage, will be tailored to your needs and are not the result of mass produced allopathic pharmaceuticals.

Everything from detoxification matters through to skin conditions and allergies, along with more debilitating illnesses can be treated using Traditional Chinese Medicine techniques.

So, open yourself to new possibilities and consider Chinese Medicine. It is a growing area in western health circles and one that can help you to achieve true harmony and balance.

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I enjoy reading spiritual books and believe that natural health and natural remedies can be incorporated into my life and the life of my clients in a truly holistic way.

This means that taking true responsibility for our health is actually as much a spiritual as a physical process.

My personal view is that one of the truly great spiritual thinkers of recent times is Eckhart Tolle.[1] He has reached bestseller lists worldwide and often this accolade can be viewed as a kind of watered down populism that is not very wise or significant.

But in the case of Tolle, many wise words are to be found on his pages, and much of what he says can in fact be applied to the realm of physical health and wellbeing and improving one’s life and life journey for the better.

In his book “The Power of Now,” Tolle actually discusses why so many spiritualists have denied or minimised the importance and/or the role of the body. He talks about how close we are to animals, and how one of the very best things we can do is to have “deep roots within.”

By this he means that is important to:

“be in a state of permanent connectedness with your inner body at all times. This will rapidly deepen and transform your life. The more consciousness you direct into the inner body, the higher its vibrational  frequency becomes, much like a light that grows brighter as you turn up the dimmer switch and so increase the flow of electricity. At this higher energy level, negativity cannot affect you anymore and you tend to attract new circumstances that attract this higher frequency.”[2]

Detoxification as a Natural Remedy

I firmly espouse and believe that the journey of inner connectedness that Tolle speaks about can be activated by the use of a thorough and comprehensive detoxification programme. The programme needs to be guided and overseen by a specialist practitioner or a naturopath or a dietician, and needs to help you clean out your physical being so you can move into a state of heightened health consiciousness.

This “heightened health consciousness” as I call it, becomes the key to the following:

• Improved physiological health
• Purification of the body
• Natural expulsion of toxins
• Natural expulsion of heavy metals
• Restoration of physiological balance
• Restoration of emotional balance
• Rejuvenation of hormonal balance
• Restoration of spiritual balance

This cleans out your system and while it can be a painful and somewhat frustratingly intense measure to take, it leads to clarity, health, weight loss and a renewed vigour that helps you to flow with life and the world around you.

So consider attuning yourself to your inner body. Start the process with a detoxification programme overseen by your natural health practitioner as soon as possible.

[2] http://eckharttolle.mybigcommerce.com/products/The-Power-of-Now-%28Paperback%29.html pp.116-117

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If you are a busy mum who juggles work and parenting and home life, school life, sports life and the rest…then you need to read this article.

Why do I say this?

I say it because the simple truth is that I am an expert and can tell you a thing or two about how to optimise your health so that you can get the most out of parenting and work performance.

Many of my clients are women. And many of the women who come to our clinic are employed full and part time. They are busy committing themselves to their work lives and they are even busier when they go home to their children of an afternoon. Once home, they like me, put their bags down and then get stuck into the afternoon routine of homework supervision, sports commitments, chores, meal preparation, emotional support of their child and time for some healthy communication and discussion with their kids to hear about their day and their lives.

It’s a tall order. It’s tiring and at times it feels relentless.

Here are some devised strategies and routines that I use and that i give to all my clients who are working super mums:

• Stay organised and routined. One of the best things you can do is to stay organised. And one of the most effective ways to achieve this is to do a brief 5 minute relaxation before you jump out of bed in the morning. Breathe in and out slowly and regularly and every time your mind wanders, bring it back to focusing on your breath. It will help to centre you for the day.
• Try to get at least 15 minutes exercise a day. This will increase your endorphin levels and actually improve your feeling of wellbeing and energy. A good trick is…when the kids exercise, I should exercise….
• Get 8 hours sleep. If you are struggling to achieve this, then consider a sleep supplement or homeopathic sleep kit. These can really help.
• Do not skip meals. It is simple. Eat a balanced diet low in sugar and white carbohydrates and high in wholemeal grains, pulses, legumes, lean meats, fruits and fresh vegetables.
• Take supplements.  Use a high quality slow-release Vitamin C supplement and a complete  multi-vitamin for women.
• Inform yourself about women’s health and what you need to do.[1]
• Ask your natural health practitioner about the full range of natural remedies and natural remedies that can give you the best chance to help yourself, your kids and your workload.

It is a tough call. But as a naturopath who has personal experience in this area I remain committed and totally convinced that the life and role of a working mum can be improved phenomenally by the use of natural products and natural health approaches.

When you take care of mum, you are taking care of all the family.

[1] http://www.healthinsite.gov.au/topics/women_s_health

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Your joints are a vital part of your health and wellbeing.  You can do a lot to help them on their way and offer them the vitamins, minerals and supplements they need to work optimally. Here’s some clear guidelines and ideas that can help you look after your joints and ward off joint-related problems.

You may take your car in for a service regularly to the motor mechanic, and you may also organise some regular repairs on your house, viewing it all as the kind of maintenance that is required to keep things working properly and to maintain quality of life and value.

But how often do you think of those tirelessly working joints of yours that keep you mobile and living at your best.

Common Joint Ailments

Arthritis Australia states that joint problems such as arthritis can have a huge impact on the daily life of sufferers. Ailments such as the following all affect joints and ligaments:

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Ankylosing Spondylitis
• Childhood arthritis
• Scleroderma
• Lupus
• Gout
• Osteoarthritis.[1]

Many conditions associated with the joints – such as arthritic conditions – are not curable. But they are treatable. My personal view as a qualified naturopathic specialist with a good understanding of natural health and natural products is that we can work with our bodies to manage and prevent joint problems.

Here is how you can do it:

Ask your specialist about natural remedy solutions. You can seek out a comprehensive Arthritic kit that contains all the supplements you need, or you can pursue a more dietary focused and personalised strategy.

The personalised strategy may include

• Considered decision to cease use of steroidal anti-inflammatory creams. These treat the symptoms but do little to actually address the underlying causes.
• Omega 3 essential fatty acids need to be included in the diet. These are high in EPA and DHA. Common sources include cold water and deep sea fish species such as sardines, cod, salmon and other oily fish.
• Reduce the acid in your diet. High acid can wear away and dissolve cartilage in the body. This places extra wear and tear on the joints and reduces lubricating sliding that is facilitated by the cartilage.
• Eat and egg a day!  Increase your consumption of sulphur foods. Foods containing sulphur include asparagus, eggs, onions and garlic.  Sulphur aids in the repair and rejuvenation of cartilage and bone. It also facilitates absorption of calcium which strengthens your bones.
• Eat fresh pineapple. This wonderful fruit contains the enzyme known as bromelian, which reduces inflammation in the body.
• Stay away from sugar and dairy products as these can aggravate inflammation of the joints and also block the wonderful antioxidant properties of Vitamin C – which you need for healing and wellbeing.

We see a lot of older clients with joint pain and inflammation. Those who improve their condition are those who make healthy changes to diet and lifestyle and increase the use of beneficial supplements and exercise.

So take responsibility and thrive!

[1] http://www.arthritisaustralia.com.au/index.php/arthritis-information/what-is-arthritis.html

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