It’s the most important meal of the day, or so they say! Today we take a clear and comprehensive look at breakfast and what it does for you and your body. If you want a natural self and a healthy self, one of the most vital things you can do is make sure you are fuelling your system with what it needs so that you can course through the day with ease and fun and energy.
What do you eat for breakfast?
What do you feed your kids for breakfast?
These are two simple but incredibly important questions i often ask my patients when they come to see me. If someone is communicating they have no energy and are feeling listless and wan, first off I want to know exactly what they are feeding themselves!
We’ve all heard it before. Our bodies are like engines and they need proper fuel. You cannot run your car on air, so why then do so many of us do so with our bodies? A quick cup of coffee in the morning and then we are out the door to face the day. Worse still, we have not even thought about our childrens breakfast! Instead, we tell them to get to the cupboard and munch down a bowl of sugary cereal that has no real and sustaining energy value for the day. Any nutritionist or dietician will inform you that this is definitely NOT the way to go when it comes to early morning energy and fuel for the body.
In fact, it is the fast brekkie version most of us live by. And it is time to put it to rest!
But what is the alternative?
According to the Australian Government’s Dietary Guidelines for Health site, a balanced diet is all important and there’s no better way to start the day than with an excellent breakfast.[1]
For breakfast you can incorporate the following:
Eat plenty of vegetables, legumes and fruits
• Eat plenty of cereals (including breads, rice, pasta and noodles), preferably wholegrain
• Include lean meat, fish, poultry and/or alternatives
• Include milks, yoghurts, cheeses and/or alternatives.
Reduced-fat varieties should be chosen, where possible
• Drink plenty of water
and take care to:
• Limit saturated fat and moderate total fat intake
• Choose foods low in salt
• Limit your alcohol intake if you choose to drink
• Consume only moderate amounts of sugars and foods containing added sugars[2]
Remember to take a bit of time to prepare a decent breakfast and remember your energy levels throughout the day will be markedly improved.
Put an end to the liquid breakfast of coffee and take time to fuel yourself properly. You will be amazed!
[2]http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/_files_nhmrc/publications/attachments/n31.pdf?q=publications/synopses/_files/n31.pdf
Tags: Balanced Breakfast
A friend travelled through the south of India many years ago and returned from that trip an advocate and supporter of Ayurvedic medicine. But what is Ayurvedic Medicine and how and where did it originate and then evolve?
Over the past 10 years we have embraced Traditional Chinese Medicine. Many Australians now utilise Chinese herbs and also seek regular acupuncture treatments for health issues and ailments. It is probably safe to say that TCM is now a truly embraced form of alternative natural therapy in Australia.
Ayurveda is also being embraced but not at the same rate. But it is a wonderful modality and is born out of thousands of years of traditional development and refinement and it can help us with our health issues and illnesses.
History and explanation
This model of health treatment is one of the most ancient.[1] Ayurvedic Medicine is approximately 5000 years old and originated in India.
The Ayurvedic practices are fully lodged in the notion of treating the whole person and so this form of medicine incorporates diet, exercise, herbs, meditation, psychcology, visualisation, wellbeing and restoration based on the five elements which are “earth, air, ether, water and light. These are linked to the five senses and these in turn shape the nature of an individual’s constitution -their DOSHA or life force.”[2] It also utilises such novel practices as aromatherapy, sonar (sound) strategies, and also particular forms of colour therapy. It is a truly holistic medical approach.
The Cosmic Force and a natural self
One of the most interesting aspects of Ayurveda is the idea that the human realm and human body is a true manifestation of cosmic force. This energy is existent on all levels including the physical and the mental and emotional planes. The seen and unseen planes are viewed as intertwined and therefore the healing processes and strategies take these two realms into account in a very real and practical way. This is a little contrary to some kinds of western medicine that require a very rigorous and seen scientific mode of enquiry that is grounded in experiment and trials.
The aim of Ayurveda is to bring us into full harmony with the totality of the universe on all levels. If we are truly harmonised in this way from a medical and wellbeing perspective, then we live with more health, more peace of mind and of body, and less stress, worry and illness.
Aspects of Ayurvedic medicine are incorporated into the approach at A Natural Self clinic. If you would like more information or more guidance please contact our naturopathy staff who will be more than happy to help.
[2] http://www.indiaoz.com.au/health/ayurveda/ayurveda_ayurved.shtml#ayurved
Tags: A Natural Self, acupuncture, acupuncture treatments, Ayurveda, Ayurvedic, colour therapy, Cosmic Force, diet, exercise, health issues, herbs, meditation, Naturopathy, psychcology, Traditional Chinese Medicine, visualisation, wellbeing
Yet again it’s time to focus on the Big S.
Stress.
When you are a naturopath with a large base of returning patients, you often get to see certain seasonal emotional patterns in people. I notice certain waves of behavior and changes in mood at particular times of the year and at these times it’s my vocation and duty to reiterate the fundamentals of good health to people.
Right now, we are moving into the winter cold and towards the end of the financial year. For those patients who run small businesses this can be a stressful time. The onset of slightly colder weather coupled with the need to fix and finalise certain financial business matters for the year can leave them stressed and tired.
A change to winter can often mean a cessation of fresh juicing and a neglect of aerobic and cardiovascular activity. There is also a distinct need for warmer, fatty foods which is part and parcel of our animal makeup, and so people tend to increase in weight and become a little more sedentary.
It’s all fine if you are still living in a cave.
But in the modern western world the pressures remain and while the body and exercise might slow down, the real world responsibilities do not.
The result?
Early winter stress!
So what can you do?
My number one advice is to push yourself to keep up an active cardiovascular programme. Remember that anxiety, stress and depression are all warded off by exercise.
Continue with a high intake of fresh foods. Even though you are a little colder you still need to eat well. A salad does not have to be cold. Make a warm salad for dinner full of nutrients and vitamins and minerals. Some suggestions are
There is also the staple winter soup and baked or roasted vegetables with lean red or white meats.
These are health options that feed the body, mind and spirit and interrupt the loss of healthy patterns that combat stress, as the seasons change.
Don’t forget there is a host of herbs and supplements available to help you manage your stress levels. These are available on the new A Natural Self online shop.
Stress can be managed easily and simply.
If you need more information come into the clinic and arrange for more detailed and specific advice about natural remedies and natural health products from out naturopathy team.
Tags: A Natural Self, aerobicfatty foods, behavior, cardiovascular activity, herbs, increase in weight, minerals, mood, natural health products, natural remedies, naturopath, nutrients, online shop, returning patients, stressed, supplements, tired, vitamins, winter stress
One of the saddest experiences I have come across as a naturopath was a few years ago while working out of my private clinic. A woman patient began seeing me for a natural health overhaul. It wasn’t a normal kind of scenario with a few little health problems here and there. Rather, it was a case of “what isn’t wrong?”
You see, this patient had been addicted to drugs and alcohol for many years and had a host of health problems due to poor diet, smoking, alcohol and drugs, lack of exercise and general neglect. She had secondary skin conditions, and allergies, and the need of specialist practitioner interventions and guidance as well as a total rethinking about how she needed to approach her diet and her natural health.
But she had a load of willingness and honesty about the damage done and because of that, we were able to work together to begin her on a path of detoxification and a new, more natural self!
The saddest part about her plight however, was not her own health. She had a philosophical view about the damage she had done to herself and what she now needed to do to right herself. I applauded her and encouraged her every step of the way.
The really painful part was her son. He was 8 years old. She had been sober and clean for 6 years, and yet no matter how she transformed her life and changed her circumstances for the better, nothing could change the impact she had had on her dear little boy.
Why?
Because he had come into the world with Foetal Alcohol Syndrome.[1] And the damage was completely and utterly a consequence of his mother’s alcoholic consumption during the pregnancy. She was now sober and clean and yet the damage her son was living with was irreversible and also completely avoidable, had she taken heed of warnings about alcohol and pregnancy.
He had recently started school and the teachers had already spoken with her about his severe learning disability. He also had all the hallmarks of the syndrome with spaced and wide set eyes, a pixie shaped face and a rather thin upper lip.
I realise the pain and guilt this mother lives with on a daily basis and I also know that she continues to remain committed to her own health programme and has also incorporated a natural health strategy into her son’s life. While this does not in any way alter the permanency of his condition, at very least she knows she is doing everything to nurture and nourish her son so that he can cope as best he can with life on life’s terms when he is older. He may always be dependent on her and others to some extent, but at least he is living the fullest life possible with her help.
I applaud her for doing all she can to rectify the mistakes and errors of her past. And her son is a loved and good natured boy who knows that today, he is loved.
Tags: amino acid, animal protein, Ayurvedic treatments, body wonders, brown rice, cankles, fluid build ups, fresh juices, gap year, Homeopathy, Natural products, natural therapies, Naturopathy, oedema, red meat, steamed vegetables, Traditional Chinese Medicine, vitamin B
Do you even know what “cankles are?” I heard the expression some years ago when travelling through New Zealand.
A middle aged woman was backpacking through the South Island. It was her much belated “gap year” tour. And yes…I DO mean belated!
She was 47, recently divorced and had just been left a small inheritance. She spoke with me candidly about her wish to fulfil some unfinished business and accomplish some much longed for dreams. One of these was to travel extensively around the globe and visit Australia and New Zealand and South America. And that is precisely what she was doing. You could see the sparkle in her eyes and the esteem she derived from finally realising and actualising something she had wanted to do for 27 years. Just being around that sparkle was wonderful.
The other dream she had was to fully address her health utilising natural therapies and natural products, as well as exploring a host of alternative modalities such as naturopathy, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurvedic treatments and Homeopathy. She was reasonably healthy but had a massive problem over the years with her “cankles!”
“Cankles?” I queried.
“Yes, cankles,” she replied.
She then duly informed me cankles were the merging off calves and ankles – the bane of every woman’s existence – that occurs with extreme oedema and fluid retention! This happens when fluid builds up in the gaps between the cells.
As a naturopath I know a little about fluid retention and oedema and I was able to give her the following tips and advice. Number one on the tips and treatment list is the most important, and will do you and your body wonders, so take heed!
Good luck. A few simple changes like those listed above and you may be able to rid yourself of, or reduce the severity of your dreaded “cankles.”
If the problem persists, seek out a qualified specialist for further information and testing.
Tags: amino acid, animal protein, Ayurvedic treatments, body wonders, brown rice, cankles, fluid build ups, fresh juices, gap year, Homeopathy, Natural products, natural therapies, Naturopathy, oedema, red meat, steamed vegetables, Traditional Chinese Medicine, vitamin B
There’s nothing better in summer. You are on the beach or at some exotic destination. The weather is warm and the sky is azure blue without a cloud in the sky. There’s hardly a breeze and the beautiful rays of the sun delight your skin and senses as you lie back on your towel. A few birds fly overhead. The waves undulate – no wild and crashing weather today. In short, everything is just about perfect.
The only thing that could possibly top it off to absolute perfection is a great, big fresh and succulent mango.
BUT YOU CAN’T EAT THEM!
This scenario is the reality for many who suffer fructose malabsorption. It is a difficult and pervading problem and it means that the normal joys of fruit and all their goodness is not really possible. Some estimates claim that as many as 30% of the population of the western world and Africa suffer from some form of fructose malabsorption.
Fructose malabsorption is common and is caused by problems in the small intestine. Fructose cannot be properly broken down and the whole system then becomes clogged with too much of this complex sugar.[1]
As a naturopath and practitioner I frequently deal with people who have some level of fructose malabsorption. It can be managed and there are various approaches and treatments that may help. Not everyone will experience full and extreme fructose intolerance that leads to such discomfort that they no longer want to eat fruit, but many will experience symptoms of digestive irritability and gas build up if the problem is not treated and monitored.
Here are some tips to help you with your fructose malabsorption problems:
The main mode of management is dietary change and alteration. Therefore it may be important for you to seek the advice and guidance of qualified specialists such as a naturopath or dietician or nutritionist. You may then receive informed advice that guides you to manage the symptoms of this common and frustrating condition.
For more information contact A Natural Self or come into the new premises in Hamilton Hill. We look forward to hearing from you.
Tags: A Natural Self, antioxidants, apples, Dietician, digestive irritability, dried fruits, Fructose, fructose intolerance, fruit juice, frustrating condition, glucose, Hamilton Hill, Honey, malabsorption, naturopath, Nutritionist, pears, skin and senses, succulent mango, sultanas, watermelon
I believe in miracles...where’re you from, you sexy thing, you![1]
Many of you know the lyrics to that infamous Hot Chocolate classic and many of you may also find it a lot easier to use the word “sex” or “sexy” when it is part of a song or a poem, than when it is used in reference to your own sexual world and life.
The fact of the matter is most people still feel a little ashamed or embarrassed when it comes to sexuality and sex. As sex therapist and psychologist Bettina Arndt says, sex matters to men a lot and it matters to women too.[2] And yet many struggle to negotiate a proper and/or suitable place for it in their lives on a daily or a weekly basis. It is the most normal pursuit in the world and yet it is often treated as a taboo or underground issue that must be talked about in hushed tones and with a red or blushing face!
Natural Remedies and Your Sexual Health
There is a host of natural remedies and natural products available to men and women who may want to increase their sexual potency and drive. These can make quirky gift ideas and can even be included in Valentine’s Day gift boxes or presents for a little bit of fun!
A Natural Self offers a number of reputable products that can help to increase your drive and your sexual stamina.
This is a wonderful product especially designed for men. Made from completely natural health products, the kit contains 2 exceptional formulas that help to:
Many males feel particularly concerned about a waning libido as they get a little older. It may also be a good idea to reduce alcohol intake and smoking, as both these may reduce sexual performance and stamina. Smoking reduces circulatory flow and this in turn can reduce blood flow to the genital region. This may impede erection and contribute to impotence and difficulties with performance.
Males may also want to develop a good exercise regime and eat a balanced diet rich in protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. This can sound like obvious advice, but the fact is it is a struggle for many of us to maintain and adhere to a good balanced diet that helps to keep our general health and sexual health at its best.
If you have further concerns about your sexual health and performance, speak with your naturopath or practitioner for more detailed advice, guidance and inf
[2] http://www.bettinaarndt.com.au/
Tags: blood flow, blushing face, carbohydrates, general health, Increase endurance, natural health products, natural remedies, quirky gift, rich in protein, sex, sex matters, Sexual Health, sexual stamina, sexual world and life, sexuality, taboo, testosterone levels, underground issue, Valentine’s Day gift, vitamins and minerals
You bet. It hurts and it hurts a lot!
One little twinge or one wrong twist or turn can really leave you feeling lousy, and there is nothing worse than living with incessant and relentless back pain. It wears you down and robs you of vitality and energy. It makes you feel old, and it can debilitate you so severely that you become frightened of doing the very things that can help it to strengthen and be properly supported.
Naturopathy and natural remedies can help with back pain. You may like to try homeopathic options such as a simple rescue remedy for de-stressing you and helping you to cope better with the pain. If course, you need rest and lots of it, and if you can take time out from work and from your more strenuous pursuits you can effectively help your body to heal.
If people come in suffering from severe back pain in will refer them on to a more specialised practitioner. This may include x-rays and it may also include other treatment modalities. I firmly believe in the benefits of Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture for back problems and have seen incredible results when sufferers commit to a solid and consistent therapeutic treatment process involving regular acupuncture sessions.
Kinesiology may also be particularly helpful. The more specialised testing of muscular reactions and responses as well as gentle and tender manipulation can help in some cases.
Natural Remedy Soothers
Herbal poultices and remedies that reduce inflammation and soreness may also benefit the back pain sufferer.
Some of the most effective herbal treatments and supplements general conditioning and for seized up areas where there is stiffness and even nerve pain includes the following:
Most importantly, develop a healthy approach to prevention and maintenance. Eat well, and make sure your diet includes fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, protein and carbohydrates. If you feed your body well it is fuelled well and that means less injury, less stress and strain, better all round conditioning and less injury and mishap.
If you require more information, seek out a specialist or alternative practitioner and get clear advice that can help you with the specifics of your problem.
Tags: alternative practitioner, back pain, feeling lousy, Flaxseed oil, herbal treatments, Homeopathic, horsetail, kinesiology, muscle repair, natural remedies, Natural Remedy Soothers, Naturopathy, reduce inflammation, rejuvenation, Rhus toxicodendron, supplements, therapeutic treatment, Traditional Chinese Medicine, x-rays
As a naturopath I am in awe and wonder at the astounding richness of nature. The beauty and miracles that are found in plants is one of the driving forces of my life. I am constantly seeking out new plants and wondering about their medicinal and natural remedy properties, and how they can help me and my fellow human beings.
So many of us simply assume that plants are for pure visual pleasure. We create gardens that look nice and suit our temperaments and our ideas of beauty. For some it may be a cottage garden with rambling roses and perennials and bulbs. For others it may be a native garden of bird attracting grevilleas and indigenous grasses. Tall melaleucas with gorgeous bark and weeping leaves may line the fences. While these options definitely enrich our lives, there is a lot more we can do in our gardens in terms of growing and producing plants that can help our health.
Aloe Vera – A great place to start[1]
Teaching your children about the benefits of herbs and plants is a wonderful experience. It’s always good to start small and simply.
One of the best ways to do so is to get a small aloe vera cutting or plant and explain to your child. Take the time to show your child the plant growing in the nursery or in the garden. Talk about the benefits of plants and how ancient cultures used plants and plant derived medicines to treat all their sickness.
Next time your child has had too much sun, let them know there is a soothing solution growing right here at home. Take a piece of the aloe vera from the plant and break it open. Then explain to your child this gel like liquid is soothing for sunburn and can be rubbed on the skin to cool it down and help it feel better.
Children love the practicality and simplicity of this message. It is a joy to watch their faces as they wander out in the garden on their own, or out to the balcony where their potted aloe vera plant is growing. Next time they are sun-kissed or experiencing some annoying little skin conditions, you can suggest they get some aloe vera to rub on the affected area.
And voila! They have their very own early experience of the practical and healing properties of plants. This is the simple start to educating them about the wonders of natural remedies and natural health.
They don’t need an encyclopaedia and they don’t need a course in Ayurvedic herbs, homeopathy or Bach flower remedies. They just need you to give them a little bit of time and show them the wonders that are growing from their very own garden section.
For them, these simple shared acts can be the start of an alternative way of healthy life.
Tags: Aloe Vera, Ayurvedic herbs, Bach flower, beauty, beauty and miracles, gardens, healthy life, Homeopathy, Kids, Medicinal, melaleucas, natural remedy, naturopath, plants, skin conditions, sunburn
Today, Dana our naturopath at A Natural Self, talks frankly about her views on palliative care and natural health products and approaches. Please be aware these are personal views shared on a blog site and are not in any way to be considered firm “directives” that must be followed or adhered to. Dana understands the needs and the rights of every individual to make choices around their own palliative care processes and issues.
What are your views on death and dying?
How do you see yourself undergoing the process? Do you even think about it or is it too scary and painful to contemplate? Have you experienced someone close to you dying? What choices did you make and what would you keep the same? Or change?
These are big questions and they require thoughtful answers. My personal view is the natural process of alternative health care can be implemented really beautifully and successfully throughout the palliative process.
Of course the palliative care process may be one where people really want to utilise the services of the allopathic health and medicine system. Ultimately, I believe in people’s personal choice and their need to make decisions that suit them concerning death and dying is imperative.
My own views are a blend of natural therapies and eastern and western ideas and are born out of my extensive knowledge of naturopathy, Traditional Chinese medicine, Homeopathy, Kinesiology and ancient Ayurvedic health care practices.
Palliative care specialist Elizabeth Kubler-Ross once said that “Dying is nothing to fear. It can be the most wonderful experience of your life. It all depends on how you have lived.”[1]
Kubler- Ross also made much mention of our value system and its utter futility when preparing for death. She clearly stated that in the end, nobody remembers what you owned or how big your assets pool was and is. People don’t really care about how wealthy you are and how many Rolls Royces or BMW’s you own. Rather they care about how you loved and how you lived fully and kindly and completely.
Death can in fact be a spiritual process that offers unique insights into regret, strengths, love, humility, guilt, compassion and growth. It can also be a time of intense fear and rage, where who we are and what we are is challenged on all levels. A natural and accepting approach to the inevitability of death and dying can offer us unique opportunities for spiritual and emotional growth right up to the end.
Good luck on the life journey.
Tags: A Natural Self, allopathic health, alternative care, Ayurvedic health care, compassion and growth, death and dying, guilt, Homeopathy, humility, kinesiology, love, medicine system, naturopath, Naturopathy, Palliative care, regret, spiritual and emotional growth, strengths, Taboo Talk, Traditional Chinese Medicine
Has it happened to you? Injury.
Most people think of injury and sports injury as breakages. Playing a game of sport or out jogging or cycling and the worst happens! You slip, fall or twist your body in such a way that you hear that almighty “snap” and the damage is done.
This scenario is certainly the main image conjured up for people when they think of injury. It’s dramatic, painful and clear…the kind of injury that says “I am here! There’s no avoiding me now! Do something…help me to the doctor or get me a stretcher and an ambulance NOW. Hospital here we come….”
But there is another type of injury that is softer, less obvious and even slower to eventuate. You may have guessed it! It is soft tissue injury. There is no major break or snap…although there may be a sharp pain. In most cases there is a wear and tear of the soft tissue until an area breaks down and the soft tissue loses its grip and tears.
One of the problems with soft tissue injury is that most people assume they are not as serious as full breakages and also assume that they can just heal on their own. They can heal on their own, but like any injury it is best to seek treatment and guidance from your choice of practitioner so that the injury can heal as quickly as possible.
Natural Remedies and Soft Tissue Injury
Natural products and a natural health approach can be utilised to help with a vast array of soft tissue injuries and problems. For detailed advice you can speak with your local naturopath or naturopathy clinic. Here on A Natural Self’s online blog, we also offer some general tips and tactics that may help you to manage and dealt with soft tissue problems. Here are some suggestions:
For generalised health and a strengthening of soft tissue in the body, you may also want to consider the following natural products:
Foods that may also help with the healing process include cold water fish such as salmon and sardines and mackerel, papaya, green tea, apples and pineapple.
Most importantly give your soft tissue injury time to heal and do not rush back into strenuous exercise and behaviours. Good luck with your healing.
Tags: acupuncturist, breakages, Chinese Medicine practitioner, Glucosamine, healing process, increase blood flow, injury, local naturopath, natural remedies, Naturopathy Clinic, sharp pain, soft tissue, sports injury, strenuous exercise, Turmeric, Willow
It’s woven into the fabric of how we live. There’s the weekday work days – the 9 to 5 load of hard yakka or office work. And then there is the weekend. Whether we like it or not, we’ve divided our lives into compartments. There’s work. Then there’s play. There’s exercise and then there is downtime. There’s treats and junk food…then there is health food and natural therapies. Everything is divided up into segments.
But is this really how we need to live?
Finding a true Natural Self
Many years ago I fell seriously ill due with severe stomach and digestion problems due to travel and exposure to a rare type of amoebic dysentery and also Giardia. This was the beginning of my interest in alternative health. Over the course of becoming more attuned to natural therapies and natural products and supplements, i also became aware of the need to review how we live.
It is true that society is structured in such a way that we have to compartmentalise things to some degree. But my view is also that as best we can, we can incorporate a holistic vision into our lives. So…it is worth trying to develop some new attitudes. For example, whatever work you do, try to make it something you actually like doing. And try to make it playful.
Becoming a naturopath has been like this for me. I work and play at the same time because i love what I do. So the division between these two life compartments has dissolved. This is holistic living in action.
Alternative attitudes and views
You can also adopt this approach with health.
Enjoy your newfound interest in alternative therapies and natural remedies. These do not have to be viewed simply as a treatment option or a medicinal solution to problems. They can become enjoyable pursuits and a real interest…a life-changing area of enjoyment, education and lifestyle.[1] Again, this is the holistic approach to life.
So wherever and whenever you can, try to view your life and your approach to your health from a less singular viewpoint. All aspects of life and our selves are in a state of constant flux and change. Compartments are the very things we humans create to divide our lives into disconnected sections that can make things seem more organised, but can also keep us sealed off from the rich delights of holistic living.
Life and health are for the taking. Approach both holistically and reap the rewards.
Tags: a true Natural Self, Alternative attitudes, balance, beauty, digestion problem, enjoyment, exercise, health food, Life and health, life-changing, medicinal solution, Natural products, natural remedies, natural therapies, naturopath, office work, severe stomach, supplements, yakka
You know how it is. You start off so keen. Full of ambition, anticipation for change, the wish and want for better health and the move towards a physical and emotional life that involves more energy, more health, the use of natural remedies and incorporated visits to a naturopathy clinic or to other alternative practitioners.
It’s all looking and feeling great. The early enthusiasm is there and you are motivated and excited about the path you are taking. Everything is in place. Everything is going well. You have altered your diet, you have visited your naturopath, you have begun taking the supplements you’ve been advised to take. You have even completed a thorough detoxification phase with a plan to undertake a second one in the coming months.
You’ve spoken with your naturopath about a plan that incorporates kinesiology and homeopathy and Traditional Chinese Medicine…it’s all so thorough and so successful…
And then…it happens……..
You lose your motivation!
A Natural Health Plan as a permanent change
I see this played out all the time. And my number one piece of advice to individuals is to be slow, paced and moderate about natural health changes. How many of us have been involved in fads at one time or another? We are overtaken by the extremism of obsession, quick fixes and sudden change. Many women have this issue with diets and changes to healthy eating.
It is so important to incorporate natural therapies changes with a good dose of moderation. I call it “taking the middle path” and working on health as a permanent alteration to how you want to live. It is not about quick fixes. It is not about a change in a week or two. It is not about shedding kilos suddenly, only to put them back on again a month or two later.
Natural health changes must be achievable, slow and sustained. They need to be considered and moderate and they need to be realistic. It may be possible to prescribe a really extreme or solid and disciplined health change to an elite athlete, or to someone who has been working with their health for many years. But how realistic is it if you are prescribed or advised to undertake health strategies that you just won’t be able to maintain and sustain?
Patience
I often advise individuals to undertake some meditation or relaxation exercises when they start on a natural health routine. To fully understand the benefits of meditation, you may want to take a look at Dr. Dan Siegel’s ideas about meditation and neuroplasticity. A great starting point for this information is also Norman Doidge’s The Brain that Changes Itself.[1] These ideas can be applied to your natural health and they can help you to achieve long term changes and goals. I will frequently advise clients to work on breathing and meditation/relaxation. This is so they stay centred and grounded and weave in the changes to their diet and their physical realm slowly and surely. This is by far the best way, in my view, to incorporate natural health changes.
Patience and change is slow. Take it easy and incorporate your natural health programme slowly and over time, so that it is permanent and life-changing.
Tags: A Natural Health Plan, alternative practitioners, diet, Dr. Dan Siegel, elite athlete, Homeopathy, kinesiology, maintain and sustain, meditation, natural remedies, natural therapies, Naturopathy Clinic, neuroplasticity, Norman Doidge, Patience, permanent change, physical realm, Traditional Chinese Medicine
You wake up scratchy. Your eyes feel rough and sandpapered and your skin feels parched. You have a pounding headache and you just don’t feel up to having a shower and getting ready for work and starting the day and being in the office around a whole lot of people. You feel downright lousy!
Your throat feels rough and your joints are stiff. You just feel downright bad.
So what’s the problem?
What serious ailment afflicts you and disrupts your ability to live fully and easily? Are you suffering a virus? A fever of some sort? Are foreign bacteria overtaking your body? Perhaps you are getting extremely ill. Perhaps you are never going to improve and the prognosis is poor. You are on the downhill slide and there is NOTHING you can do about it whatsoever!
The Number 1 Natural Remedy Solution
Or perhaps the solution is a thousand times simpler. Perhaps there is very little wrong at all. What if the answer to your illness woes is so very simple and lies all around you. As a naturopath i see patients who often feel as if they are on their proverbial “last legs.”
Sometimes these worried patients come in to the clinic and enquire about a host of scary, dramatic diseases and illnesses they have researched on the internet. They believe that they need a massive natural health overhaul to steady and heal them.
The first thing i do with patients is to check o their fundamental self-care. How are you treating yourself? Are you sleeping? What are you eating? Are you working too hard? What is happening in your personal life? Are you exposed to any toxins or chemicals? Are you eating fresh fruit and vegetables?
And last but definitely not least…
HOW MUCH WATER ARE YOU DRINKING?
Yes. I will ask about that most precious and important of liquids refreshments….
H2O.
Naturopathic tip for the day
One of the most important tips I can give any and every client is to make sure water intake is adequate. It is so important and so vital and so overlooked. YOU need good hydration.[1]
The vast majority of people I see do not drink enough water. They might drink a lot of tea or green tea (which contains caffeine as well as antioxidants[2]). Now green tea is absolutely brilliant in my view, with a high content of flavonoids and antioxidants. But there is also something to be said for the humble and very plain and straight-laced glass of water.
Simple.
Clean.
Fresh.
Easy.
And available for us lucky people here in Australia and the western world. How blessed we are compared to other cultures that struggle for the basics such as ready access to the wonderful H20.
Water is a natural flusher. It aids in detoxification of toxins and is essential for healthy liver and kidney functioning. We need it for healthy life and healthy living.
So make sure you have at least 6 glasses spread throughout the day. You will be surprised how much better you will feel once you get into this routine!
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_tea
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“Here comes the rain again….” Some of you oldies might remember Annie Lennox singing the old Eurythmics song. Or maybe you think of young Johnny Farnham singing “Raindrops keep falling o my head.” If you’re of an even older generation no doubt you will think of Gene Kelly splashing along shiny pavements with an umbrella and calling out “Singin’ in the rain.” Younger? Well there are songs by Rhianna, Eminem and Lady Gaga that feature the rain and wet weather.
And while rain and the wet can be a great topic for a song, if you live in a rainy area or a subtropical or tropical area, rain and humidity can get downright annoying. Everything gets musty. It is hard for clothes to dry. Washing stays in the machine and you run out to hang clothes out when there is a break in the clouds, only to find that there is another round of rain approaching over the horizon.
Humidity and Skin Conditions
One of the main problems for health is the development of fungal based skin conditions. This can happen because the skin is not exposed to clear and dry air but is constantly exposed to damp, and the associated fungal spores that grow so virulently in humid conditions. Such conditions are particularly common in the tropics and also subtropics, but can also occur in colder climes, particularly when individuals are not airing out their bodies sufficiently or drying thoroughly after bathing and showering.
Natural Products and Natural Remedies
There is a host of natural products and remedies on the market to treat skin conditions. Some more mainstream products are also available and the choice regarding what you use is ultimately up to you. Many natural health products work successfully and if you are afflicted with fungal conditions you may want to talk with your local naturopath about possible treatments. In some cases your body may be inundated with fungal imbalances. If you have Candida, you may need to speak with a dietician also, who can help you alter your dietary intake so you can clean your system out thoroughly. You may also want to ask about treatment for tinea.[1] Fungal skin conditions that are not adequately treated may develop into skin infections.[2]
Ask your practitioner
If you are concerned about fungal problems, ask your practitioner about the following natural health strategies that may work. These are suggested starting points and a consultation may help you to pinpoint and more specific form of treatment that will hopefully help to alleviate symptoms:
You can find natural solutions to fungal issues. Ask at your local naturopathy clinic today.
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skin_infection
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