Would you like more hapiness?

The first Brisbane Sedona Method Support Group

is starting next week,

Wednesday 06/07/11 at 7pm,

in Beenleigh

at the Beenleigh Events Ctr,

Cnr Crete & Kent St.
$5 per person

We will be meeting fortnithly, to do  what one does with The Sedona Method, ie, let go of one's feeling(s) at that moment, what we call: "release".

Many people ask me : But what is The Sedona Method?

Hale Dwoskin

Hale Dowskin, the CEO and director of training of  Sedona Training Associates would describe it like that:
A unique, simple, powerful, easy to learn and duplicate technique, that shows you how to uncover your natural ability to let go of any painful feeling, belief or thought in the moment.

For me, it is a way to get away from the nonsense our head can create for us, and it is just such a lovely relief...
I have been to beautiful Sedona twice now to learn more about the Sedona Method. And I find myself privileged to have been able to listen to him talk for days.
And recently we had the lovely Annrika James, visit Brisbane with her husband, Tim McCavitt, for the training offered in May this year..A first!!!

But to be quite honest, I have also listened to a lot of CDs that are available from the Sedona Method. And that everybody can do it.

The goal of the group is to support each participant in gaining the most they can from using The Sedona Method.

For the ones who need something else at home, I will have with me copies of :

• "The Sedona Method" book from Hale Dwoskin
• "The Sedona Method Workbook"
• Many CDs with both Hale Dowskin and Lester Levenston, the founder of The Sedona Method who trained Hale Dowskin, Annrika James and Tim Mccavitt.
• The film "Letting Go"
• All at reduced prices for the group

For what it is worth, I would like to share with you, at this point, some of the reasons quoted as reasons to watch the film "Letting Go", as they are examples of possible benefits from The Sedona Method:

1. You are open to exploring new possibilities that will truly help you
2. You like to laugh and smile and be happy
3. You have yet to realise that you are not the doer ( we are human beings, not human doings)
4. You know there has to be more to life than what you are currently experiencing
5. You'd like to manage your anger much better...

And there are many more if you go to the Sedona website, amongst many other things.. Why not go and have a look? www.sedona.com

You are very welcome to either phone on 3209 8611 or email me on francoise@caringnaturaltherapies.com.au if you want more information.

Foods to fight colds & Flus

I have just received this very interesting article on foods that can be of help to us during the winter months, so have a read...A little technical at times, but you always can skip the big words, or enjoy the science behind it all.

Garlic

People generally love or hate the taste of Garlic and if you have cooked with it, I am sure you have experienced the dreaded ‘Garlic hands’ after chopping it! Garlic is one of the most ancient herbs that been used since the beginning of documented history, for both medicinal and culinary purposes. Just imagine, in ancient Egypt, Garlic was given to the labourers to maintain their strength and increase productivity whilst building the great monuments of Egypt, and it was found in King Tutankhamun’s tomb when it was excavated in 1922. In ancient Egyptian times Garlic was prescribed as treatment of abnormal growths, malaise, parasitic and insect infections, and circulatory complaints. In ancient Greece, Rome, India and China, as well as by Hippocrates, Garlic was  recommended for the treatment of infections, infestations, male potency, respiratory and cardiovascular disorders as well as ingestion of poisons and toxins. Recent research has validated the therapeutic use of Garlic for many of these historical applications. Garlic has a variety of beneficial effects on the immune system. It induces macrophage phagocytosis, stimulates the release of tumour necrosis factor-

α, interleukin-2, interferon-ү as well as stimulating the proliferation of lymphocytes and the activity of natural killer cells. It has also shown to act against viral infections including rhinovirus and parainfluenza virus.

Feed your children some Garlic too! Research has found that a Garlic preparation prevented non-specific acute respiratory infection in children by 2-4 fold, at a dose of 300-600 mg daily. So what are you waiting for? Throw some Garlic into the pan with your next meal!

Mushrooms

Button mushrooms are an Aussie favourite in cooking and we are using more Field and Swiss Brown mushrooms too. But have you ventured into using the more exotic mushrooms varieties that are no longer a secret of the Asian grocer? Reishi, Shiitake, Enoki, Maitake and Oyster are just of few of the readily available mushrooms that you can add to your diet. These medicinal mushrooms contain long chain polysaccharides called beta-glucans which have been found to be potent immune enhancers. Some of the effects they have on the immune system include increasing phagocytosis, activating macrophages and have an anti-inflammatory effect via the modulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion. Even the good old Button mushroom has been found to have a beneficial effect on immunity. A lot of research is also focused on the anti-cancer potential of mushrooms. Mushrooms can easily be added to stir fries, winter soups, pies, pasta and omelettes.

Red, Yellow & Orange Vegetables

Rich in antioxidant nutrients, lycopene, betacarotene and vitamin C, the red, yellow and orange coloured vegetables are a great support to immune function. Red capsicum contains almost 3 times more vitamin C than oranges and can be used in a wide variety of dishes! Other great nutrient rich vegetables include pumpkin, sweet potato, squash, beetroot, radishes, red onion, chillies and carrots.

Vitamin C increases the number of circulating immunoglobulins, including IgA, IgG and IgM. Supplementation increases the activity of neutrophils, which act to identify and destroy both bacterial and viral pathogens and increase their vitamin C concentrations. Many of these vegetables can be juiced as well as cooked, so get colourful with your vegetables to support your immune health.

Berries

Berries are a rich source of proanthocyanidins, which are potent antioxidants. One berry in particular, Elderberry has been found to inhibit viral binding to cells and reduce the severity and duration of viral infection such as influenza. It can be eaten when fully ripe and traditionally has been made into jams and as an addition to pies! Other berries such as blackberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackcurrants also contain cyanidins. Blackcurrant has shown to inhibit influenza virus in vitro testing and blackberries protect against inflammation of the lung pleura. A great start to a wintery morning is some organic oats with a mix of these berries on top!

Green Tea

Can you help your immune system with a simple cup of Green Tea? Maybe you can! Green Tea contains catechins and theanine which recently was found to reduce the incidence of influenza infection amongst aged care workers. The authors suggested it may be a useful prophylactic treatment against flu infections. Green Tea catechins may act via inhibition of the endonuclease activity of influenza A virus, affecting viral binding and replication. When selecting Green Tea look for organically produced teas, you may even like to try the more expensive Japanese Matcha Tea. This is a powdered Green Tea, where you consume the whole product, rather than just an infusion.

Resource: Eagle eBulletin

Are all Echinacea products out there the same? What do I need to know?

No. Not all Echinacea products are the same. Far from it.

If you have a cold or flu right now, or another infection, or want to protect yourself with a stronger immune system for this winter ( ie reduce your chances of falling sick with a cold or flu, or recover faster if you are going to fall sick) please read on:

I frequently see patients not getting the results they should be getting from using Echinacea. Why is that?

I am also very choosy when it comes to choosing which Echinacea product I use and recommend in the clinic.Why is that?

The bottom line is that in Herbal Medicine (which of course Echinacea is part of), choosing a quality product involves a lot more than just a high level of certain ingredients.
Factors that contribute to a good product are :

• The quality of the raw product
• The quality and care during manufacturing ( if one is not careful, a lot of the goodness of the plant can be lost during processing)
• The grouping of herbs together in a formula ( we talk of the "synergy of herbs": Working together, they enhance each other further)
• The main ingredients
• The quantity of the ingredients, ie to provide a health outcome (therapeutic level)
• The capacity for these ingredients to be absorbed
• The safety of the product

But other important aspects need to be considered:

• The type of product: Liquid herb? tablet? Homeopathic remedy - tablet or liquid? Tea? or even a spray?
• The dosage: This will vary a lot with your current state of health, age, diet and lifestyle
• ie typically what a herbalist would assess.

Also in the background you have to be aware that:

• Unfortunately some herbs can be substituted for another less costly one for example. This means then that you would not be getting what you think you are getting.
• Or the herb may have a less potent herb mixed with it, even a pharmaceutical ( we call this adulteration).
• Finally the manufacturer could have started with a poor quality crop in the first place, like you could have for example poor strawberries looking like strawberries, but not tasting like one...I definitively know that feeling....

You have seen different botanical names of Echinacea on bottles. How can that be?

Well there are primarily three Echinacea:

1. Echinacea angustifolia, used by Native American tribes, and adopted by the Eclectics, a group of doctors in the US in late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is worthy to note that they were using only the roots of the plant.
2. Echinacea purpurea, put on the map by a German herbalist, Madaus, who found it easier to grow and used the juice of fresh aerial parts of the plant.
3. Echinacea pallida considered less active.

The traditional Echinacea angustifolia root was prepared with a high percentage of alcohol, drawing a high concentration of very important ingredients for us humans: the Alkylamides.
The fresh Echinacea purpurea, in contrast contains very low levels of Alkylamides.

Why are we so interested in the level of Alkylamides?
Because scientific research has shown in vitro (in the laboratory), in vivo (in human) and in clinical studies that the Alkylamines are the ones helping the response of our white blood cells ( macrophages, Tcells and natural killer cells) to for example a viral or bacterial infection.
Interestingly the Alkylamides are the only ingredients found in the blood after ingestion of Mediherb Echinacea Premium .

Scientific research has also shown that the Echinacea purpurea alkylamides were broken down by the body faster than the ones from Echinacea angustifolia. It was also shown that when taking the two herbs together, the rate of degradation of Echinacea purpurea slowed down.

So what does that mean for YOU, the end user?

• Look for the word root in the Echinacea product you are looking for.
• Choose a mixture of Echinacea angustifolia AND Echinacea purpurea roots
• If using a liquid extract, enjoy the tingling sensation in the mouth, as the more tingling, the more Alkylamides in the product. This will not be present in a tablet form however.
• Discuss the dosage with somebody trained in Herbal Medicine who can guide you on what is right for you right now, which could be different, in a week's time, or in a few months time.

What do I recommend in my clinic?

I like prevention: So building up a strong army of white blood cells nicely primed to fight for you during the winter, is a nice feeling, isn't?
To achieve this, I strongly recommend:

• Mediherb Echinacea Premium tablets, a very reliable superior quality product, containing Echinacea angustifolia and purpurea root extracts, giving a good level of alkylamides.

• I use the Mediherb Liquid Echinacea angustifolia and purpurea extract if I want to mix it with other herbs for whatever reason.

• Sometimes I recommend very high doses for possibly only a couple of days in an acute situation (for ex: just started a cold. And I mean JUST started). Don't wait for tomorrow to find out if you truly have a cold or not. Because if you have a cold, by tomorrow, the "bugs" will have taken a strong hold on you, and it will be more work to get rid of them...

• If somebody has a history of falling sick regularly, we will need to continue with some Echinacea for possibly months, and no there is no issue in doing that.

• Because extracts may contain pollen proteins, people having a tendency  to allergic reactions to flowers from the daisy family (compositae) should exercise caution. having said that I have a lot of asthmatics benefiting greatly from Echinacea treatment without any side effects.

•  If you are not already acting on building up your immune system, this is definitively the right time to start, and do so at a nice gentle dose through out the winter.
• And if you were to come down with something, you are all set at home with what you need. All you need to do is increase the dose.
• If you are travelling anywhere, especially if you are going by plane, I cannot recommend enough to take some Mediherb Echinacea tablets with you. Planes are are a wonderful place for sharing bugs... have you noticed?

So if you want to make a positive step for the winter, act now,

and call us on 3209 8611.

Mediherb Echinacea tablets are always in stock at the Clinic.

Each container is normally $38.10 for 60 tablets.
REDUCED to $35.00 until 30/06/2011

• With children, I mostly go for the Heel homeopathic remedies: They all love them. They ask for them, thinking they are little sweets. So parents love them to...We have the choice of several approach here, depending on what is happening, so I probably need to leave this to another day.

There is of course more to possibly help the immune system, for example Zinc, and good bacteria.

But I will cover that in other posts. This one was long enough, wasn't it?

Top of Echinacea flower



References:

Bone Kerry, 2003. A Clinical Guide to Blending Liquid Herbs. Herbal Formulations for the Individual Patient.

Mills Simon & Bone Kerry, 2000. Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy - Modern Herbal Medicine