Alison Odey

Bronchitis is inflammation of the mucous membranes of the bronchi, which are the airways that carry airflow from the throat into the lungs.
Bronchitis can be divided into two categories, acute and chronic.

Acute bronchitis is characterized by the development of a cough, with or without the production of sputum.
Acute bronchitis often occurs during the course of an acute viral illness such a cold or influenza. Viruses are responsible for about 90% of cases of acute bronchitis.

Chronic bronchitis, is characterized by the presence of a productive cough that lasts for three months or more per year for at least two years. Chronic bronchitis most often develops due to recurrent injury to the airways caused by inhaled irritants. Cigarette smoking would be the most common cause.

I have found that bronchitis can often be treated successfully with herbal blends that contain herbs that have anti-viral activity and also herbs that are effective expectorants.
I will also often add herbs that have a dilating effect on the bronchi, others that can soothe and if necessary others that can reduce the spasmic type cough.

This is just a snipet of what you need to know, so if you want to know more about this subject or have a personal question of your own, then please email me for a personal consultation, as all natural treatments are best if prescribed individually.
Cost and contact address are on the Contact page.
Alternatively, if possible. – make an appointment

Having optimum digestive ability is absolutely paramount to having good health.

In our digestive system, enzymes and other digestive secretions (from the stomach, pancreas, liver and intestines) break down our food into smaller particles, enabling them to be used by the body. Enzymes are the catalysts that make this action happen.
Digestion can be adversely impacted by a multitude of factors over a life time.
Things such as: poor diet, stress, prescription medications, poor chewing action, eating while busy, lack of exercise, smoking, alcohol and ageing.
Poor digestive ability / low enzyme levels affects many, many people often without them realising it. For example:

Enzymes help prevent protein intolerance which can be manifested as one or more of the following: loss of taste for meat or poor appetite in general, sense of fullness, indigestion, flatulence and/or nausea one or two hours after eating, ileocecal valve incompetence, lack of vigour and stamina, mental depression, muscular weakness, flabbiness of flesh, fluid retention, hair loss, poor resistance to and recovery from infection, impaired healing of wounds.
Often gastrointestinal distress following the ingestion of foods high in protein is the most noticeable symptom.

The inability to properly digest protein is not a simple problem. Since protein is required for the production of digestive enzymes, an inability to digest protein properly means all food is not being digested with optimal efficiency.

Vegetarians tend to eat a relatively low protein/high fibre diet.  Therefore, they often require supplemental protease enzymes to more fully utilize the small amount of protein that is consumed and cellulase enzymes to help release nutrients from the fibrous food.

If protein is not properly digested, it cannot be utilized by the body to:

Balance the pH of body fluids.  The immediate products of protein digestion have a slightly acidifying effect on the blood which will help normalize an alkaline pH.
The high concentrations of protein in the cells and plasma plus their pK value of approximately 7.4 (the normal pH of extra cellular fluids) make the protein buffering system the most powerful in the body.

Build and repair tissue such as muscles, blood, bone, skin and internal organs.
Protein is a main constituent of all cell membranes. Structural proteins such as collagen provide the contractile mechanism of muscle and support characteristics found in connective tissue and spinal discs.

Transport calcium to structural tissue and to the nervous system. As protein digestion is improved there is more protein available to bind with the free calcium in the blood, facilitating better utilization of calcium by the body.

Form enzymes and hormones which control the metabolic processes of the body.
All enzymes, including digestive enzymes, are proteins and require and adequate supply of amino  acids from dietary protein digestion for their production.
Protein hormones include those of the pituitary gland affecting g the body’s sodium/potassium balance.

Maintain a strong immune system.  Protein is needed for the production of      antibodies, fibrin and phagocytic enzymes, all part of the body’s defence mechanisms.

Produce energy.  As much as 56% of amino acids are converted by the body to glucose for use in energy metabolism.  Therefore the ability to digest protein has a major impact on the blood glucose levels.

Regulate the body’s water balance.  The concentration of proteins in the blood and therefore its osmotic pressure is normally higher than that in the tissue fluids, which balances the pressure exerted on the capillaries by the blood flow.
When plasma protein concentrations fall to an abnormally low level a markedly lowered      colloid osmotic pressure of the plasma results.  This means that the capillary pressure      becomes stronger the balancing osmotic pressure forcing fluid to pass through the capillary walls and accumulate in the tissue spaces.

Enzymes also help prevent nutritional alkalosis often associated with Anxiety Syndromes characterized by one or more of the following: tension without cause, irritable or angry responses to sudden stimuli or frustration, fear of any social activities, indecisiveness, inattention and failure of recall, difficulty falling asleep, nightmares, despondency and pessimism, tachycardia with palpitations, shortness of breath/hyperventilation, appetite impairment, faintness.

Enzymes help prevent loss of bone mass due to inadequate intake and/or utilization of calcium manifested as changes in the curvature of the spine i.e. “dowager’s hump”, dull, aching discomfort in bones, particularly the middle to lower spine, pelvis and long bone fractures and loss of height.

Enzymes help prevent low blood glucose levels manifested as one or more of the following: fatigue, dizziness, weakness, tremulousness, palpitation, diaphoresis, hunger, nervousness, headache, confusion, visual disturbances, slow movement and speech, swollen extremities.

Enzymes help prevent impaired secretion of proteolytic enzymes manifested as a persistent or intermittent aching, burning, gnawing or stabbing discomfort usually localized in the upper abdomen, commonly radiating to the back and accompanied by nausea/vomiting, which is present for more than one day.

Enzymes help prevent food allergies and sensitivities which can form due to incomplete protein digestion in the gastrointestinal tract.

There are different enzymes required to digest different parts of our food, for example:

Amylase helps digest carbohydrates, including glutens.
Protease breaks down proteins into tripeptides, dipeptides and free amino acids for absorption in the small intestine. They also help reduce pain, swelling and inflammation.
Lipase is a digestive enzyme that aids in fat digestion. It breaks down triglycerides (fats) into diglycerides and monoglycerides as well as free fatty acids and glycerol.
Cellulase is not produced  in the body but instead is obtained from the cell walls of plants/ vegetables. It usually passes undigested through the digestive tract adding important bulk to the stool.
These are all of equal importance.

Enzymes are found naturally in all RAW foods. That is why it is best to eat as much salad and raw fruits & veges as possible.
Extra high levels of enzymes can be found in specific fruits such as kiwifruit, pineapple and papaya
See page on ‘Enzymes – facts’.

Supplementing with digestive enzymes can often be an ideal way to treat many digestive problems.
Go to On-line shop for enzymes.

This is one of the most common complaints that people present with when they visit this clinic.
There can be many reasons for this including the following:

Mineral deficiencies – some people may think of Iron deficiency (anaemia) as being a possible reason behind their tiredness, but often other mineral deficiencies can be implicated. This can be easily remedied by using a good quality liquid mineral. There are many of these on the market but I have not found that they all are effective. I stock a specific product that I have found to work extremely well.
See page on ‘Minerals and why we need to supplement’.

Spinal misalignment-this can cause pain and ANY pain will make the body tired, but also can be the cause of very tired legs, sore feet and general lack of energy.

Inflammation-from any cause will cause fatigue.  I would need to see you to sort this one out as there can be many causes and the treatment has to be appropriate.

Gut flora imbalanced-this can often be an underlying cause of inflammation. It can also be a cause of poor mineral/nutrient absorption.

Thyroid function-not being optimum. This is more common than many people suspect. It is a common cause of that totally ‘can’t move’ feeling in the late afternoon, especially in middle aged and older people.
See page on Hypothyroid.

Blood sugar levels -fluctuating or too low. This is also very common especially in people whose diet contains a high level of refined/high sugar/high carbohydrate foods.

Post viral fatigue–extremely common and unlike what many people think it is treatable. There are many natural products that can boost the immune system to the point that it can overcome this syndrome.

Stress –this can be huge drain on energy that people often do not realise as it is an on-going part of life. However it is important to address this as it will not go away by itself. Re-structuring your life-style is best but if this is not possible then there are many natural products and various types of body work that can help greatly.
See page on ‘Stress and how to deal with it’.

Toxicity- a toxic body can also cause excessive tiredness. You may well need to look at using a liver tonic (AFTER building up your mineral reserves of course!).

This maybe just a snipet of what you need to know, so if you want to know more about this subject or have a personal question of your own, then please email me for a personal consultation, as all natural treatments are best if prescribed individually.
Cost and contact address are on the Contact page.
Alternatively, if possible. – make an appointment

This recipe is great for people who are mildly gluten intolerant and like to make their own bread.
Spelt flour does have gluten in it but it is a more easily digested from that that in wheat.
It is easy to make in a bread maker.
Use the Gluten free cycle (1hour 20 minutes) and ‘light’ setting.

310 ml warm water
2tsp bread yeast
1tbsp olive oil
1tbsp honey
1 egg
375 gm spelt flour
pinch of salt

I put all the ingredients except the flour into the bowl and lightly mix before adding the flour.
Once the bread maker is working, I also watch the first few minutes to make sure the mix looks correct.
I do not claim to be an expert bread maker and sometimes I find that it looks a little ‘sloppy’ and that the addition of about 50gms of rice flour improves the loaf!

Note that gluten intolerance usually comes about because of poor protein digestion. (Gluten is a protein) and I have often noticed that  this over all situation can be improved by the long term use of digestive enzymes designed to increase protein digestion.
Go to on-line shop for digestive enzymes.

At certain times of the year my husband and I have been seen down the beach collecting bags of kelp and other seaweeds as it arrives on the beach after storms.
There are always frequent deposits at certain times of year, often around Easter, but not so much later in the year so we try and make the most of it.

We seem to spend much of our time explaining to curious beach walkers exactly what we are doing and why. Quite simple really, we are fertilizing our vegetable garden ready for winter planting. Any seaweed makes great fertilizer and it’s free!

There are several ways in which you can go about using the seaweed. We find the easiest is to lay it across the lawn for a day or so until slightly dry and then run the lawn mower over it. This mixes it up beautifully with the lawn clippings and it can then be dug straight into the garden.

Alternatively you can dig it directly into the soil without cutting it up first but it does take longer to break down this way and can become rather odorous if not dug in sufficiently.
A rotary hoe can make this job easier if you have a large garden.

If you have room for a compost bin or two then putting the seaweed directly into the bins along with your kitchen wastes will save the neighbours complaining about the smell.

However if you do not have a lawn or compost bins or if you cannot procure alot seaweed then another method is to soak what you have in buckets of water and once the liquid becomes nice and thick, dilute it and pour onto seedlings.
The buckets can then be refilled with water and the soaking process continued.

All seaweeds are very high in nutrients, especially minerals. This is important as our soils tend to be very deficient in minerals, especially here at the beach where the soil is very sandy. Collecting seaweeds is an effective and efficient way to make up this deficit. So whenever you see seaweed deposits down on the beach, collect it and have fun growing huge tasty vegetables.

I feel that many more people could make use of this resource and in doing so greatly improve their own and their family’s mineral intake as well as saving money.
For those that don’t do this then mineral supplementation is a must if you are going to keep good health.

Rose Hips: Wonderful for winter, jam packed with Vitamin C.
However how to use them?
The following recipe for ‘Rose Hip relish’ is delightful, especially with crackers and cheese.
I discovered it while staying with cousins in the UK and spent a wonderful afternoon picking, peeling and making this.

You ideally need Rugosa rose bushes.
‘Rugosa Rosa’ is great, the hips are huge and easier to peel.
You need:
1 kg of rose hip flesh.
800gm of sugar
200ml water
100ml of white wine or light malt vinegar
1 lemon
Mix all together and boil until soft, with no lid on the saucepan. Takes about 25 minutes. Add the juice and grated zest of 1 lemon and bottle into small sterilized jars.
Keeps for ages but best kept in the fridge once opened.

Rose Hip syrup: There are many Rose hip syrup recipes on the internet.
Most use:
1kg of rose hips of any variety
2 ½ litres water
500gm of sugar or alternatively honey to taste.
Crush, chop, mince or coarsely blend the rose hips. Put immediately into 1 ½ litres of boiling water, bring back to the boil and then leave to infuse for 15 minutes.
Pour into a jelly bag and allow to drip until all the bulk liquid has come through.
Then place the residue back into the sauce pan with the remaining litre of water.
Re-boil, infuse and restrain.
Then pour the total amount of juice into a saucepan and reduce down until you have
approximately 1 litre of liquid. Add the sugar or preferably honey to taste.
This can then be bottled. Keep it in the fridge once opened.
Is a great, economical way of giving children a daily dose of Vitamin C.

PS: If anyone local does have Rugosa rose hips available that they don’t need, please give me a call. My attempt at growing this rose has so far failed and I would be very happy to come a pick any spare hips anyone may have as I have run out of my favourite relish.

Better still, has anyone got any spare ‘runners’ of this rose variety, then I can try growing it again over the winter. I think my last few plants did not establish themselves well enough before the ‘big dry’.

Now, a favourite poem that I am sure many of you will have seen, heard or read before but is worth reading again as it is so true and so few of us do take time to ‘slow down and smell the roses’.
We all need to, time can be so short.

‘SLOW DANCE’

Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round,
or listened to the rain slapping on the ground.
Ever followed a butterfly’s eratic flight,
or gazed at the sun into the fading night.

You had better slow down, don’t dance so fast,
Time is short, the music won’t last.

Do you run through each day on the fly,
when you ask ‘how are you?’ do you hear the reply.
When the day is done,
do you lie on your bed with the next 100 chores running through your head.

You had better slow down, don’t dance so fast,
Time is short, the music won’t last.

Ever told your child, we’ll do it tomorrow,
and in your haste not see his sorrow.
Ever lost touch, let a good friendship die,
cause you never had time, to call and say hi.

You had better slow down, don’t dance so fast,
Time is short, the music won’t last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere,
you miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day
it is like an un-opened gift…….thrown away.

Life is not a race, Do take it slower,
Hear the music, before the song is over.

I don’t know who wrote this, prehaps someone can let me know.

Since the media has brought public attention to the fact that quite commonly people are being affected by the side effects of ‘statins’ (a group of cholesterol reducing drugs), that in some cases they have been ill-informed about, I have been conscious of the fact that very few people are aware of the existence of new alternative products for cholesterol reduction.

The first to come on the market were products derived from the bark of the sugar cane or from certain species of pine bark. This last I was a little wary of as it did seem to cause stomach discomfort in some people. I have seen no such effects from any product derived from sugar cane bark however and cholesterol reducing effects seem to be reasonable.

The next on the market were products derived from the bran of ‘red rice’. Red yeast rice has been used in China for hundreds of years and its consumption has been found to regulate cholesterol levels. These are starting to show excellent results even in instances where the first group of products have not been successful. I have seen no detrimental effects to date and personally prefer this type.

Contact us if you would like to try this product.

Both products help to correct the LDL/HDL ratios (HDL being High Density Lipoprotein that is considered to be protective against coronary heart disease).

Deficiency of Coenzyme Q10 is a common finding in patients with hyperlipidaemia and this is believed to be a factor in oxidative damage found in tissues such as the arterial walls.
– CoQ10 has been shown also to help reduce cholesterol levels and to prevent oxidation of LDL cholesterol.
– Supplementation with 100mg of CoQ10 daily has also been shown to prevent the development of deficiencies in patients taking ‘statin’ type drugs, which are known to induce deficiency.
– CoQ10 is also advised when using the natural alternatives to these drugs. Research has used levels of 100-300mg daily.
See page on Co-enzyme Q10

If you are concerned about your personal situation, then if possible make an appointment to come in and discus the alternative possibilities.
It is important that if you decide to embark on any alternative regime that you inform your doctor of what you are doing and have your cholesterol levels and blood pressure checked regularly.
Click here to see page on ‘Cholesterol’.

Original question: ‘As a mother of three young children I was wondering whether you could enlighten me as to your view on vaccinations. I don’t like the idea of jabbing my children with vaccines, the safety and long term issues worry me, but there is a lot of pressure coming from play-centres, schools, doctors and the media to do so and I am feeling very confused. I try to give my children a healthy life style, but they still tend to fall prey to things like tonsillitis and colds.
Also, what would you suggest they take to boost their immune systems?’

This is not an easy question to answer, especially as I feel that it is a very personal one that each individual parent needs to look at.

It is difficult; there is a lot of very conflicting information out there! The best thing I can
say, is that from my point of view, if choosing not to vaccinate then definite steps have to be taken to boost the immune system and helps prevent infections of any sort. It would be very irresponsible to do otherwise.

Unfortunately, simply trying to give a child a ‘healthy’ lifestyle is not always enough,
depending on what each person means by this description of course. Hopefully it means giving a diet free of ‘junk’ and preservatives and as organic as possible, a living space free of pollutants, stress free etc.

However this is not always the case.
The best, first and easiest thing to do for everyone, is to greatly supplement the mineral intake, as it is minerals that your body needs in order to be able to fight bacteria, viruses and enable the body to remain healthy, that’s why I always suggest that people use Colloidal minerals all the time.
Go to On-line shop for Liquid minerals.

Secondly ensure that as far as possible the diet is free of ‘junk’, white flour, refined foods, sugars, etc.

Thirdly give your children a herbal product that will help further boost their immune
systems. This could be a herb/s such as Echinacea, Olive or Propolis which are great immune boosting remedies for winter, or you could alternate with a course of Colostrum which greatly helps boost the immune system via the gastrointestinal system.
There are also now good probiotics which also help keep the immune system in good shape.
See page on ‘Probiotics’.

If deciding to go the other way and allow your children to have vaccinations then it is equally important to ensure that all children undergoing vaccinations of any sort are as healthy as possible and have adequate mineral levels.
Do not give vaccinations to a child that has the flu or is other wise unwell.

Check with your doctor as to the contents of a vaccine, this is especially important if you are aware that your child has allergies, particularly to egg white.

There has long been huge debate about the safety of vaccinations and one of the main questions of debate has been why some children react to vaccination while others don’t.
A recent study may have shed some light on this .

It identified an apparent link between certain neurodevelopmental toxins, such as heavy metals and certain vaccines, and an increased possibility of developing neurological problems. It showed that heavy metals and some vaccinations can affect growth factor signalling, that can cause adverse effects to the methylation reaction. Methylation is an important part of neurotransmitter production and is critical to normal neurological development in children.

The study showed that thimerosal (a preservative found in some vaccines), ethanol and heavy metals inhibit folate dependant methylation. This meant that if a child having a vaccination happened to have an inefficient methylation process they were likely to be more susceptible to adverse reaction.
Insuring that children have adequate minerals, vitamins B12, B6 and Folate levels would help reduce this possibility.

Up-dated April 2014

Vaginal dryness is generally symptom of hormonal imbalance.

I would normally expect herbs containing phyto-estrogens to help in a situation like
this, however it can take a little time.
Black Cohosh and other ‘hormonal’ herbs mostly work by tonifying the pituitary gland and all are effective in the longer term (ie) 3-6 months. If you are suffering from this problem then try using specifically Black Cohosh in a standardised form over several months.

Vitamin C can also be very useful. It helps build up collagen which gives the skin its elasticity and therefore can help prevent excessive vaginal dryness. When taken in conjunction with, or incorporated into a product that contains high amounts of other antioxidants the effect can be quite noticeable.
I have noted that in a number of cases that Acai berry can help in this situation. It contains high amounts of antioxidants as well as essential fatty acids.

Bio-identical progesterone creams or estrogens are another option that may provide quicker results. You need to see your GP about these.

You could also start using foods that contain phyto-estrogens. These would be food products that are Soya based (milks, tofu or other products), also linseeds and alfalfa.

Short term help can be obtained by using a good quality Aloe vera gel that will soothe the area and ease the dryness. Often works even better if combined with Evening Primrose oil. Use this after each bath/shower or as often as needed. Make sure you have a brand of Aloe vera that does not contain additives or medications that make it sticky to use, it should be very soft and smooth on the skin.
Go to On-line shop to order Aloe Vera gel.

Up-dated April 2014

Vaginal dystrophy is generally seen in post menopausal women and is due to declining levels of oestrogen and progesterone.

If it appears to have occurred rather quickly remember that your hormonal levels will have been decreasing for quite some years prior to menopause and during this time the vaginal walls will have been becoming very slightly thinner, drier and less pliable.
This also means that the vaginal area will become more susceptible to infection.

It is quite a simple matter to take herbs containing phyto-oestrogen instead of a synthetic hormone cream. Such herbs are sold in the health shops in very effective combinations, usually including herbs such as Black Cohosh and Chaste Tree. The dose will vary depending on the strength of the product.
These often need to be taken for some time before noticeable improvement is made.

For some women some improvement has been noted while using certain types of antioxidants, usually those containing high doses of vitamin C (as this vitamin improves the collagen fibres of the skin), plus essential fatty acids.

Also there is available (In New Zealand by script from a doctor) a form of Progesterone that is bio-chemically exact to natural progesterone. For some women this is very
effective. Others may want to resort to orthodox oestrogen cream.
See page on ‘Menopause’

If the area is irritated, or inflamed, a very smooth, unadultered Aloe Vera gel works wonders and can also be used safely as a lubricant.
Go to On-line shop for Aloe vera gel.

Up-dated April 2014

Original Question: ‘The area around my ‘private parts’ continually feels itchy, kind of burning and uncomfortable. My G.P gave me some creams to apply (anti-fungal and for thrush) but they haven’t helped’.

It sounds as if you are describing ‘vaginitis’ which is an inflammation of the mucous membranes of the vagina which can cause a burning, itching sensation and often, but not always, an abnormal vaginal discharge.

The cause is usually a bacterial (often called bacterial vaginitis or ‘BV’)or fungal infection but can also be caused by oral contraceptives or the use of deodorant sprays.

Just to ensure that the problem is not caused by thrush, check your diet for excess sugars, especially Coke, chocolate, coffee with sugar etc as excess sugars in the diet can cause an overgrowth of Candiadis which would be the most common cause of itchiness and burning.
See page on ‘Candidiasis’

Instead eat a diet that is high in fresh fruit (NOT over ripe) and vegetables and include lots of good quality yoghurt.
You also have to avoid dried fruits and honeys because although the sugar in these is
natural sugars, they are very concentrated and once again in excess can cause problems.

A blend of Pau D’arco, Cornsilk and Marshmallow taken 3-4 ml twice daily works very well is many cases. It is a good idea to add a little Golden Seal (Hydrastis Canadensis) to this or to take Golden Seal tablets separately as it a wonderful herb for treating many bacterial infections. If using tablets take 500mg twice daily but only take this dose for one week.
In some cases I have found that using a little Golden seal OR propolis extract on a tampon (moistened with a plain Aloe vera gel) has worked very well.
Use the ‘Contact us’ page if you need to order these herbs.

Go to the On-line shop for a plain Aloe vera gel.

Also try gently washing the area with a diluted solution of the herbs and be sure to dry
thoroughly.

Garlic tablets that are enterically coated so as to dissolve in the lower gut are also very useful anti-bacterial/anti-fungal agents.

Do not wear tight clothing and try to avoid synthetic fabrics.

If you happen to be post-menopausal or have had a hysterectomy, keep in mind that atrophic vaginitis will give similar symptoms. In this case it is caused by the mucus membranes becoming thinner and therefore more prone to infection. This type of vaginitis can also be treated as above but ideally needs the addition of herbs that can boost the hormonal balance of the body.
See page on ‘Menopause’.

Also increase B Vitamins and it may help to use Vitamin E cream topically.

Varicose veins can cause a dull, achy heaviness in the legs often with accompanying nagging pains and cramps. Often the veins are swollen, bluish and itchy. If left untreated they can cause deep vain blood clots and a slow breaking down of the skins surface, resulting in the long term in leg ulcers.

To ease varicose veins:
-Firstly, ensure that there is adequate fibre in your diet and that you are not suffering from constipation, as a congested bowel can put pressure on the femoral vein (in the thigh) and cause sluggish venous return from the legs – especially the left.
– Increase exercise, especially walking, gentle jogging, swimming or bike riding as the contraction of the leg muscles pushes pooled blood back into circulation.
– Reduce weight if necessary.
– Avoid standing for long periods.
– Avoid sitting with the legs crossed.
-Try elevating the legs when resting or sitting.
– In some cases the use of support stockings can be beneficial.
– Increase dietary intake of proanthocyanadins, Bioflavonoids and Rutin (blueberries,
cherries etc) or take a proanthocyanidin supplement, such a grapeseed extract to help keep veins elastic.
See page on Antioxidants.

– Other supplements that help strengthen the blood vessel walls are zinc and vitamin C.
See page on ‘Zinc’.

-Take herbal remedies such as Horse chestnut and Butcher’s broom.
– Take Quercetin, an extremely effective anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory. Some brands combine Horse chestnut with Quercetin, which together give wonderful results.
See the on-line shop for Quercetin
Use the ‘Contact us’ page if you need to order Horse chestnut.

– Also ensure that you do not have sluggish circulation.
Herbs such as garlic, onion, ginger and cayenne will help improve circulation.
Flaxseed oil and fish oils will also be beneficial as they help the flow of the blood and help prevent it clotting abnormally. Eat more oily fish such as salmon, sardines and herrings.

To help prevent or overcome a viral infection see the information on the page on cytomegalovirus.
Although originally written with the Herpes family of virus in mind, is still very relevant to helping prevent or contain any viral type infection.

I find also that high doses of Quercetin help greatly as well as this product not only helps drain the lymphatic system but is also an effective antiviral, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory.

Many people have difficulties with vision as they get older and associate it with ageing and therefore unavoidable. This may be true to a degree, as the lens loses its elasticity and, therefore its ability to accommodate as we get older.

However much of this loss of elasticity can be due to not just ‘ageing’ but to the fact that our modern lives entail that we do an excessive amount of work using only a very few of the eye muscles.
Rarely do our eyes move through their full range of movement.
Rarely do we focus on minute detail at a distance.

Consider how much close vision work you do compared to looking into the distance, or looking down compared to looking up. Over time muscular imbalance develops as some muscles weaken and others strengthen. Our ability to accommodate and therefore focus then deteriorates, especially when trying to bring near objects into focus.

Doing eye exercises several times a day can greatly improve vision for many people, as can raising TV and computer screens to above eye level, or making sure that you look out a window into the distance regularly when having to do close work.

Neck strain also has a huge impact on vision. Straining and tense neck muscles will cause the vision to be poor, in fact specific vision malfunctions have been found to correspond with specific tensions and contractions in the body.
On many occasions I have seen great improvement in vision once the muscles of the neck and shoulders has been relieved.

Also many people gain improvement in their sight by taking supplements aimed at improving eye health and circulation. Some of the best are products that contain herbs such as Eyebright, as an eye tonic, Bilberry as a potent antioxidant and Ginkgo Biloba, to improve circulation to the eye with the addition of Lutein. The more Lutein the better!

Lutein is known to have a direct affect on the macula which both helps prevent the deterioration of the macula and improves such things as glare sensitivity.

Vitex Agnus Castus or ‘Chaste tree’, does not supply a hormonal substance but acts directly on the  Pituitary gland to inhibit the secretion of FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and promote the secretion of LH (lutinizing hormone).

FSH causes the granulosa and theca cells in ovarian cells to grow and secrete a follicular fluid that contains a high amount of estrogen. Therefore inhibition of FSH secretion should reduce elevated estrogen levels.

LH is essential for the creation of the corpus luteum in the ovaries.
The corpus luteum then produces progesterone. When enough progesterone is produced, it slows the pituitary influence.
If LH is limited because of pituitary imbalance, oestrogen continues to be the dominant female hormone during the second phase of the cycle, known as the ‘luteal phase defect’, and leads to symptoms such as cramping, breast tenderness and mood swings, (the typical PMS symptoms).
Therefore what appears to be an oestrogen excess can actually be a deficiency of progesterone.

Vitex Agnus Castus also inhibits the secretion of prolactin. As prolactin suppresses the corpus luteum, this leads to a reduction in progesterone production. Therefore if prolactin is reduced it follows that the corpus luteum would increase its production of progesterone.

Vitex Agnus Castus, then will have a balancing effect on hormones with particular effect on increasing progesterone. It can decrease PMT symptoms, help regulate an irregular cycle and other menstrual irregularities and can help in cases of infertility due to luteal phase defect.