Healing Herb Calendula

Healing Herb Calendula
One of my favourite medicinal herbs, this calendula flower was visited by a bee when I snapped it at the Lismore Community Garden.

Thursday, May 21, 2015

WINTER WELLNESS


I was contemplating writing an article on herbs to treat winter illnesses but I thought instead that it might be more helpful to give information about staying healthy during the winter and the change of season. As a practising herbalist, I believe prevention is better than cure (although my herbal dispensary offers wonderful treatments as well). 

I am impressed that many people have a great working knowledge of natural health and lifestyle. Echinacea, Vitamin C, a generous intake of fresh foods and regular exercise will help keep away the winter ailments. This basic approach will work effectively for many people. However, despite the best attempts of healthy lifestyle, many people struggle to avoid getting very sick. This is because they have a weakened immune system and need an in-depth treatment. According to naturopathic philosophy the underlying cause needs to be treated. The Spring change of season is the traditional and ideal time to do an immune repair programme. 

It surprises most people when I tell them that at least 70% of the function of the immune system happens via healthy ‘gut flora’, the naturally occurring bacteria residing in the intestines. The immune system is a complex system involving white blood cells, T-helper cells, and the immune response that occurs within the gut. The lymphatic system and the liver are part of the package of immune response, working in close affiliation with the gut. Use of antibiotics, steroid medications, unhealthy diet, chemical exposure and stress are common causes of weakness. 

If someone suffers from frequent viral infections or allergy reactions (such as hayfever), his or her immune system is out of balance. Natural therapists knows that a gut repair and liver detoxification programme is the best starting point in restoring immunity. 

The first step is to start by treating the gut. Unfortunately many people do a liver detox without first restoring healthy gut function. This can have the opposite effect of overloading the bloodstream and the liver with toxins which are reabsorbed from the gut and recirculated instead of being eliminated.
The typical gut repair programme involves anti-microbial herbs to reduce pathogens (‘bad bugs’), natural remedies including glutamine, aloe vera and slippery elm bark to repair and restore the quality of the sensitive gut lining, and supplementing the healthy gut bacteria with a probiotic which includes acidophilus. Getting rid of bad bugs and introducing the good ones causes the gut-mediated immunity to do a better job. Restoring healthy gut lining prevents the re-absorption of harmful toxins or inadequately digested food fragments via the gut wall and into the circulation. 

Once this repair treatment has been achieved, which can take from three to six weeks, it is then time to do a liver detox. Guidelines for a healthy diet are recommended throughout, but I do not advocate fasting. Modern science has shown that nutrients such as certain amino acids in protein foods are essential for the liver to do its work in eliminating toxins. Anti-oxidants in fresh fruits and vegetables are also essential to this process. If these nutrients are not included, as can happen during a fast, the liver is unable to break down and eliminate toxins. 

The liver detox is done with the help of natural formulas containing herbal remedies and specific nutrients to support the functions of the liver. This process can take one to two weeks. Some people experience minor discomforts during the detox, but in general if it is done properly there are very few if any side effects.

There are many benefits from such an integrated gut and liver programme. Immune function will improve, but there can be enormous improvements also in energy and wellbeing, allergy symptoms and food intolerances.

4 comments:

  1. After months of my Dad's Alzheimer’s free, I think I owe the world a duty to share this testimony. It could help someone out there who needs to be free from Alzheimer’s like my Dad.

    It started as a minor difficulty following story-lines. I was scared when he started having Poor sleep and noticed confusion with time or place. First it was at the tonic phase till it became more complicated that I had to see our family doctor. That was when he was 63 years old. I had questions without answers. My friends who never understood what I was going through abandoned me because they were too embarrassed to associate with him. The Confusion with time or places became frequent that was causing him severe discomfort everyday. It got more complicated that I had to make effort so it will not lead to heart disease according to research. I went in search for a cure because I was fed up of treatments and drugs. A lot of folks told me there was no cure to Alzheimer’s; that the best I could get was treatment to manage it, but I just refused to believe them. Thankfully, I read about Herbal medication for Alzheimer’s cure. I discussed with my doctor, he permitted me to try if it will work because Western Medication had dealt with him badly. When we started using Herbal Medication the confused about things which happens a few hours ago or yesterday was no longer frequent! Within 2months, I noticed tremendous changes he never had for 2 months of using English Medicine. For 9 months and counting, he have never had confusion about things which happens a few hours ago or yesterday not even for a second. I have been reaching out to people with Alzheimer’s telling them our story how they can get cured through Herbal medication that worked for my Dad. curetoalzheimer.blogspot.com You may contact the doctor via charantova@gmail.com

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  2. DOES HERBS WORK FOR DEMENTIA?

    This was the same question that prompted me to read further a testimony I saw on a blog. I would like to tell a story - hoping it will be useful to others - of my struggles and achievements with Dementia. I was diagnosed a little over 4 years ago, No doctors I met have any treatment or even suggestions apart western medications. I even sought advice on Youtube, to no avail. After using the conventional approach to medication treatment without improvement. I am glad something happens fast. There have been suicides due to people not being able to continue on living with the endless memory challenges. It is horrible. I learned about Dr. charanjit herbal medicine that works effectively for me without any negative effects. I have returned back to my normal life and I hope that the symptoms do not return again, It really helped me! If you have Dementia kindly contact Dr. Charanjit for help and necessary solution (charantova@gmail.com)

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  3.  I was initially very hesitant to discuss my Alzheimer but i just hope it can still help someone. I feel this will be very important information for all Alzheimer patients, because the most violent element in society today is ignorance. Be it any condition, a healthy diet and natural medicine is a road to fast recovery. I had suffered Alzheimer for many years, I fought for proper medical care and all form of humane treatment with little improvement I went through many sleepless nights and periods of intense grief, as do most families. I was recommended by a friend to use ZOMO herbs for my Alzheimer with high hope and assurance. I finally feel my illness is gone with no more symptoms. Doc email ID charantova@gmail.com

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  4. I can’t forget in a hurry my Mom's horrible years of fight with Mental ailment (Alzheimer). My Mom got really sick around Christmas that year. When I saw her in the hospital with all those tubes, I just lost it. I got so hysterical that I had to be escorted out. Soon after that, I got into that altercation with my neighbor and was sent to jail. When I got out of jail, Her symptoms were acting up and I felt so angry.  Dad had already taken her to a state psychiatric hospital. I was really nervous, but I talked to a psychiatrist there who made me feel comfortable. For the first time, she opened up about what she was experiencing—the voices, not being able to remember things, the paranoia. She said, “Your mom is battling Alzheimer.” I didn’t even know what that meant.

    He suggested that when she got out of the hospital and off the treatments she was taking there, we try a new treatment for Alzheimer. After weighing the risks and benefits, we both agreed the treatment, given through monthly injections, might help control her symptoms. Meanwhile, I made friends, and gained insight into her illness. During the week, there were movies, cooking classes and education sessions about her disease—basically, activities to help people like her get back into society. I learned about Alzheimer and what some of her triggers were. All told, she stayed there for two months and we left, I was taking her for doctor’s appointments and grocery shopping. It was hard, especially when her birthday passed, I still helped her walk, fix her food and dress her which made me sad because she was very active at 69 until the illness struck her.

    I came across a herbal medication sometimes last year called zomo but before we started the treatment, we started a day rehabilitation program, and also started the new medication with zomo. I was working hard to achieve my care goals by following the treatment plan. Her symptoms got under control within three months, as she started feeling better. First she regained interest in the things she used to enjoy, like calling/visiting our family and friends for lunch and going for walks in the park and grocery shopping. I will never forget what I went through, or what it took for her to get here. I don’t take any of it for granted. I consider myself an advocate for people who don’t have any knowledge about this herbal medicine. To anyone who’s taken the time to read this that may be struggling with this awful ailment (Alzheimer), reach out, share, I guarantee you reach out to charantova@gmail.com, and know, that as lonely as you may feel, as hopeless as you believe things are, please know, that there are so many patients out there going through same and you are never alone! reach out to him so you could share your own testimony to let others know there is hope.

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