As the days become shorter and the weather becomes cooler, we may feel some relief from the summer heat, but this also signals the beginning of cold and flu season.
While we can’t control our exposure to atmospheric pathogens like common cold and flu bugs, or our bodies’ reaction to these bugs, the good news is we CAN take steps to build our bodies’ immunity.
This means we are in a better position to fight off illness, reduce the severity of symptoms, and the duration of any illness we are exposed to.
Our number one defense is good nutrition and lifestyle habits to maintain overall health and well being. Let’s look at the steps or pillars of good health one by one.
OPTIMAL DIET
Check for nutritional deficiencies, and work with a health care professional, such as a Dietitian to address any problems. Natural food in an unprocessed state is always better metabolized and assimilated by the body. Shop around the perimeter of the supermarket.
However, if you are not able to meet these requirements with fresh, whole foods, then speak to your Dietitian for individualized advice on appropriate supplements. Avoid over the counter supplements.
Eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables every day which supply critical Vitamin C to help build immunity and fight disease. Kiwi fruit, strawberries, oranges and even avocados are perfect examples.
Vitamin A is found in fats such as animal foods, butter and eggs and also in nuts.
Plant based foods such as legumes, beans, nuts and seeds are rich in antioxidants which help fight inflammation and contain fiber which helps build a healthy gut microbiome.
Protein rich foods help build immunity – examples of protein rich food are eggs, fish, meat, chicken, legumes, quinoa or yoghurt in your meals. Include protein at every meal – so for breakfast this could be eggs, or Greek yoghurt with fruit and muesli. Some animal or vegetarian protein with salad or a sandwich for lunch and some lean meat with grains and vegetables for dinner would be ideal.
A good rule of thumb would be to eat mostly protein, with equal parts carbohydrate and fat at each meal. This assists with weight management and stable energy levels.
Drink alcohol in moderation and only a few times per week.
Avoid sugar and processed foods where possible. Stick to 80/20 fresh food to processed food and sweets as a rule.
Excess sugar depletes the immune system, as sugar stimulates production of the hormone cortisol and throws your system into a roller coaster of responses that weaken your immunity.
Hydrate with water – around 2 litres per day. Dehydration is common, and can be the cause of headaches, mood swings, poor digestion and optimal heart and kidney function. Lack of proper hydration can affect your physical performance and can increase your susceptibility to illness.
If you are unable to meet your nutritional needs, or fall ill and are unable to eat properly, further assistance from your health care professional may be required. Your health care professional can assist you by prescribing vitamins, minerals or homeopathic remedies to support you until wellness is established again.
It is important to establish good gut health. Any orally ingested supplements won’t be effective if your system cannot absorb them due to inflammation. If your gut is not functioning optimally, taking too many supplements may cause bloating and gastric discomfort. Any stress to the system can lower immunity so we want to avoid that.
EXERCISE
Regular physical activity like walking, yoga, body weight training or any movement that elevates your heart rate and makes you feel good is ideal for immunity. Aim for 3 to 5 sessions per week.
Note that strenuous exercise can increase free radicals in your system which can lower your immune system. Moderation is the key. Do enough to feel you have made an effort, but not so much that you become tired, short tempered or injured post activity.
Try to get outside and get some sun each day to boost your Vitamin D levels. Don’t underestimate the healing properties of sunshine and being in nature! A brisk walk in the sun can work wonders for your mood by lifting serotonin levels and balancing melatonin which then assists with sleep.
SLEEP
Humans need regular sleep for optimal hormonal function – between 6 to 8 hours per night for adults, 8 – 10 hours for teens and up to 14 hours for infants and younger children.
Good quality sleep and immunity are closely linked. We’ve all experienced feeling run down after periods of intense work or travel where our sleep has been disrupted.
STRESS
Try to minimize stress if you can. Worry and anxiety significantly decrease immunity. ‘Easier said than done’ you may think but taking on the problems of other people and the larger community is a choice, not a given. You CAN create a little bubble around yourself by engaging in soothing activities – meditation, exercise in fresh air, yoga, journaling or seeing a therapist are all helpful here. Be kind to yourself.
Prolonged stress can suppress the immune system and make you vulnerable to illness. Mental stress becomes physical stress and this in turn becomes imbalance and dis-ease.
A good old-fashioned talk with a trusted friend can often be soothing – a problem shared is a problem halved!
The tools for good health are in your hands, and it is always better to be pro active than re active. Start taking care of your health today and enjoy the winter season full of laughter and fun with friends and family.
If you would like to find a solution to your individual issues, please contact me.
I get it, it’s hard to stay calm, balanced, fit and well-nourished when you are a mum.
I’m a mum of 2 young children too.
I mean how can you possibly do anything for yourself when you are constantly making sure the kids are fed, dropped off, picked up and doing their homework… never mind doing the house work, and/ or somehow maintaining a ‘real’ job…… God forbid that you should have poor sleepers….. exhaustion definition!
It’s no surprise that you are constantly feeling tired, overwhelmed, stressed, unmotivated and sick all the time
And now, you are finding yourself with chronic fatigue, food intolerance’s, allergies, anxiety, stress, depression and sleep issues – things you never thought that YOU of all people would be struggling with. After all you are invincible, aren’t you? You are a mum and everyone else comes first…… don’t they? These are the symptoms of being overwhelmed.
I’ve been there too- trying to be everything to everyone all the time.
You know you can’t carry on like this.
And I speak from experience when I say ‘There is a way out!’
The Way Out
You know you should be eating better, you know you are sensitive to particular foods, you know you need more sleep and you wish you had the discipline to get up early and meditate every day, you’ve even tried tapping for your exhaustion (which personally I think is fabulous)….and actually, in fact, during the times of life when you have managed to do all these things, everything has been so much better for a while, but realistically you just don’t have the time, space or capacity to keep up with all the ‘Should’s’.
It’s time for a change:
Did you know that our bodies actually have the ability to heal themselves when given the right environment to heal in? But often, when there is a lot going on and we are feeling overwhelmed, we may get too exhausted to heal ourselves…..
Exhaustion treatment:
The steps:
You need to be heard, you need someone to Really listen to you
You need to step back and look at the whole picture
You need to uncover the root cause of your current condition
You need a solution that is individually prescribed to you and your exact combination of needs
The first time I saw a Homeopath I was so relieved to have someone listen, I felt like there was someone able to look at my whole situation objectively, not wanting to just give me a band aid to cover up my symptoms, but to truly understand my current reality on all levels, mental, physical and emotional and work towards addressing my symptoms from the root cause.
I was prescribed a remedy that literally shifted my energy and gave me the motivation to to make better choices that were right for me at the time.
I have found that over time I am getting to know myself so much better and am able to make decisions that best support me and my health in the long term, not just a quick fix. Looking after myself was the best parenting advice I have ever received.
A homeopathic remedy will literally ‘shift’ your energy and enable you to make the right choices for you. It brings about clarity and understanding. There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach, the remedy is individually prescribed to your exact experience, mentally, physically and emotionally. It is catalyst to healing. The remedies are gentle acting and allow you to heal from the inside out, and at your own pace, whether that be in a few hours or over a few months.
Although we experience similar feelings or physical symptoms, there are always very specific idiosyncrasies that are unique to us individually and this needs to be accounted for.
As your life force/immunity starts to re align and you are feeling more energized you will begin to notice the circumstances around you changing for the better.
Along with your new found energy and motivation, you will feel empowered to be the best you that you can be. You will be drawn to the right foods, exercise and supportive activities, your stress levels will stabilize and your ability to heal will be optimized.
Not only have I experienced this energy shift myself after taking a remedy specific for me, but I see it in clinic every day:
The mum in her 40’s with 3 kids that was prescribed the remedy Sepia then finally actually hired a cleaner that she has been meaning to after 10 years of back pain and is now pain free and less overwhelmed
The woman in her late 30’s with a history of grief that she hasn’t allowed herself to process, that lead to chronic fatigue and thyroid imbalances that is now comfortable with scheduling in a rest day once a fortnight, who’s thyroid function has normalised and is no longer suffering with chronic fatigue after taking the remedy Nat mur
The single mum that realises that she doesn’t have to ‘soldier on’ doing things she doesn’t feel comfortable doing and has significantly reduced her anticipation anxiety after taking Arg Nit
And, the one that becomes strong enough to say no to the extra glasses of wine in the evening that she usually uses to cope with the ‘witching hour’ and is able to remain calm and happy after taking the remedy Nux vom and her allergy symptoms are now barely present
We need to realise that when we are happy, sleeping well and feeling strong our family will be happy, sleep well and feel strong. Our ‘energy’ influences the whole family so when we are feeling balanced so is the family.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as “not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, but a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being” and the actions we take towards reaching health is defined as wellness.
Once we are feeling strong, healthy and free of dis-ease, the world around us changes to support this new found peace, true peace from the center of our being.
Homeopathy takes the totality of symptoms that you are experiencing and addresses them as one, bringing about lasting change, building resilience and promoting wellness in your journey towards optimal health.
I love it when mums experience the beautiful healing qualities of homeopathy, it is so gentle yet so effective and can make the world of difference to your daily experience of life.
It makes the journey so much more enjoyable.
Seeing mums, strong, healthy, free and empowered is the most rewarding feeling for fellow mums, friends, family and practitioners.
Homeopathic practitioners are available all over the world, so why not find your local homeopathic clinic or come and see me for a chat (or a skype call) and together we will uncover the root cause of your current state and empower you to be a better mum, wife/partner friend and best of all, You!
As the weather gets warmer and the sunshine’s brighter, isn’t it great to start pealing of the layers and getting out and about into nature again, bush walks, tree climbing (for the kids of course 😊), garden barbecues, and getting stuck into the lawn mowing are what summer is all about. It’s fun for the whole family, Until…. you come inside after a glorious day out only to feel a little itchy… Maybe a little sore….. you reach to this discomfort in the nape of your neck and feel a tender bump! On further investigation the bump is a bit red, and sensitive to touch with the tiniest little black spot in the middle, you grab the torch for a little more light to see what it is…. And, just as you may have guessed it’s a tick!!!!
Immediately you are on your phone, googling trying to work out the best way to remove it, what to do next and further more wondering if you now have the dreaded Lyme’s disease, desperately hoping that the claims that it doesn’t exist in Australia are true – there is so much conflicting advice, but the stress is real, what do you do?
Ticks are commonly found in grass, trees, shrubs and leaf piles as well as on wild and domestic animals. There are various types of ticks and they may or may not carry different types of bacteria.
A bacterium called borrelia burgdorferi is responsible for causing Lyme’s disease and this is rife on the east coast of America and some parts of Europe, the verdict is still out as to whether or not it is found in Australia.
Regardless of bacteria or allergies to ticks, some of the symptoms of a bite can be physically rather unpleasant.
Symptoms may include:
– pain or swelling at the bite site
– a bull’s eye rash (rash may or may not be itchy)
– a burning sensation
– blisters
– and in severe cases they may cause difficulty breathing.
In cases where ticks carry disease causing bacteria which can be passed on when they bite, symptoms may develop over several days or weeks after the bite, these include:
– a red spot or rash near the bite site
– a full body rash
– neck stiffness
– a headache
– Nausea
– Weakness
– muscle or joint pain or aches
– a fever
– or chills
The best way to avoid these symptoms is to prevent being bitten of course by wearing protective clothing in tick prone areas, using appropriate insect repellent, taking a warm shower or bath within 2 hours after being in risk areas and to check skin closely after being in tick prone areas especially under arms, behind ears, between legs, behind knees and in hair.
There are also Homeopathic remedies that you can take prior to being exposed to ticks that may reduce severity of symptoms of bites and may even prevent bites.
If, however you do not manage to prevent the bite, remove the tick as soon as possible, use a special tick removing tool or a thimble filled with vinegar held over the tick will cause it to fall off, avoid squeezing the tick, breaking it or allowing any blood to remain on your skin. It typically takes 24 hours of feeding for a tick carrying disease to infect a person, so the sooner its removed the better. The site can be washed with soapy water and tea tree oil and there are various homeopathic remedies that can be taken immediately to relieve symptoms and prevent progression of any complications.
Tick season is here, and the aim is to prevent getting bitten, however it’s no fun staying inside all summer and missing out on all the fun…. So, don’t worry, if you do get bitten Homeopathy can be effective in reliving your symptoms and preventing further progression of any possible tick-borne illnesses.
Join me on Wednesday the 15th November, 6.30 pm at Optimum Health essentials in Mona Vale for a workshop on how you can use homeopathic remedies at home to prevent and treat symptoms of tick bites this summer, or book an appointment with me, if you have any lingering symptoms, complications or have simply never been well since a past tick bite.
Call 9999 1680 to book an appointment. Bookings essential.
Well, believe it or not, my mother is actually a pharmacist, yes, I grew up in a pharmacy counting pills and referring to medications by their active ingredients.
I remember going to work with my mom on Saturday mornings and listening to her telling patients which medications were for what, which medications interacted with which, and possible side effects they may experience.
Back in the day before the pharma world was so commercialised, pharmacists actually had to make up the prescriptions, count up the tablets and individually package and label the boxes or bottles. It all seemed very complicated but I loved the idea of ‘making people better’ and assisting in the healing process.
In hindsight, now it was interesting how you really got to know the patients that came into the pharmacy because it was always the same people coming back to get their chronic medications or more medications or simply the same ones seasonally for the same old illnesses and I wonder now if the medications were actually helping them or making it worse?
Anyway, my brother had asthma and over the years it became more and more severe, at an early age he started developing anxiety about doing sport in fear of the fact that he may not be able to breathe if he exerted himself too much…this was unfortunate as he was a brilliant sportsman. Obviously, my mum was in the ‘know’ and took him to all the Doctors and specialists she could, he was on all the latest medications and inhalers but nothing seemed to be working. After a visit to our family GP one day, she recommended that my mom took him to see this ‘Homeopath’ she had heard of that was known to have dealt with similar cases.
At this point, my mom was willing to try anything for her little boy, and although this modality seemed ‘a little different’ from what she was used to, there was nothing to lose really, so she took him to the homeopath……. can you believe, that after 6 months of taking little white pills and potions on and off, all his symptoms seem to have disappeared, we couldn’t even remember that anxious little boy that was now playing provincial hockey and swimming and competitively competing in every sport under the sun……20 years later, and still no signs of that asthma!
And that was that – my mum then went on to study homeopathy. Even my dad was blown away after suffering from severe travel sickness, I mean he couldn’t even be in the passenger seat of a car for more than 100 m without vomiting his heart out…when mom gave him 4 little pills to suck under his tongue on a long trip once, and he was in the passenger seat for 10 hours without vomiting there was no way this was going unnoticed. On his next trip, he took another 4 pills with the same result. Since those two trips he has no need to even take the pills anymore and he can even comfortably be a passenger in the car when I’m driving 😊
Now, I am not claiming that homeopathy can ‘cure’ everything for everyone, but it definitely worked for our family and continually does for us.
Everyone is an individual and we all respond differently to everything; however, it is fairly obvious that we need to take responsibility for our own bodies, we need to be in control of how we treat them and the aim we should have is quality of life.
Life is so short and we should make the most of every situation whatever that may mean to us.
All I am saying is don’t get stuck thinking and feeling that we have to live with our pain, discomfort, and side effects.
If you are happy and healthy and truly enjoying your life, that’s fantastic news! But if you are not, then find a way to support yourself that works for you, be open to different approaches, and don’t be judgmental until you have tried it or at least done some research.
Look for longevity, look for a modality that helps you be the best you can be. And you never know just what you may find!
What does the name “Like Cures Like Holistic Healing” mean? Read more to find out!
It all started with my interest in Homoeopathy (I’ll tell you all about that in my next blog), for those of you that don’t know, the underlying philosophy of this modality of medicine is ‘like cures like’.
Over 200 years ago there was a medical doctor, Dr. Samuel Hahnemann who felt that medicine at the time was causing more harm than good (bearing in mind that medical practices back then included treatments such as bloodletting which is where patients were bled to rid the body of disease) and more people were dying rather than being cured.
So, Dr. Hahnemann resigned from medical practice, however, he still had to earn a living, and being highly educated he commenced employment translating medical writings.
In one of the writings, he translated he read that the bark of the cinchona tree was known to treat the symptoms of malaria. For some unknown reason, Hahnemann decided to take some of the bark (in the absence of malaria) only to find that it brought on all the symptoms of the disease.
He began to experiment further with other substances in a similar way and came to the conclusion that a substance that causes symptoms in a healthy subject is also capable of curing similar symptoms in the diseased subject. He went further to say that no medicine should be given to a patient without a clinical experiment first and ironically, he developed the concept of clinical trials.
I played with this concept in my head for years, and if you think about it, it makes total sense…. Bathing in warm water after getting badly sunburnt is so much more soothing than bathing in ice cold water, a throbbing, bruised finger (having an ex-tradie husband I know this symptom well) is cured by a throbbing headache and the emotional trauma after a break up with your spouse is suddenly irrelevant after the news of the death of a loved one …… can you see how in every case the cure is similar?
This concept all really only clicked for me after becoming a mum, having two babies a year apart was a real shock to my system…. Going from being an independent, hardworking, high achieving woman that practiced yoga 6x a week and had my life practically planned to T…. to barely being able to get dressed some mornings and literally having to deal with my day moment to moment with absolutely no planning what so ever – this was a huge adjustment!
However, the thing that made it all easier was to go down to the park, meet other mums that were all going through the same change and talk to absolute strangers that were actually exactly the same and experiencing the same feelings and challenges that I was going through – this ‘therapy’ made the whole transition so much easier.
Eventually, I reached the milestone of having to get back to work as the finances were low and the children were ready for more interaction with the outside world.
I decided to start my own business so that I could hopefully meet the needs of my family while slowly contributing to the bank account.
Being a more ‘clinical’ person, business skills are not something that came naturally to me, so I started talking to family and friends in business and very quickly became overwhelmed…
How was I possibly going to juggle it all?!
It was not until I joined a group that was started by a good friend of mine (and her college) that had children a similar age to mine plus one extra, called Business School For Mums. From the first live webinar, I knew I was in the right place, surrounded by 1000’s of other mums maintaining their ‘mummy/wifey/housey’ duties while running successful businesses.
I was so utterly inspired – it was possible to be a mum and be in business! The whole concept was cemented.
Being surrounded by a like-minded group gave me the push to take the step – and ‘Like cures Like Holistic Healing’ was borne!
Stay tuned for my next blog: ‘It’s all about the quality of life, being the best you, you can be’.
