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.

Parkinson’s disease is an idiopathic (of ‘unknown’ cause), slowly progressive, degenerative central nervous system disorder with four main characteristics – slowness of movement, muscular rigidity, resting tremor and postural instability.

It appears when there is a lack of Dopamine in the brain or when what is being produced is not being utilized correctly. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that carries messages from one nerve cell to another and has an effect on physiological functions such as strength, movement, co-ordination, cognitive functions, mood, sex drive and growth hormone secretion.

It has long been recognised that many Parkinson’s patients have flaws in their ability to detoxify various chemicals to which they are exposed and that Parkinson’s disease is much more prevalent in people with a history of occupational exposure to toxic chemicals.

Therefore many natural and nutritional
treatments that have been shown to help Parkinson’s sufferers have a detoxifying
effect.

Currently Parkinson’s disease is managed via Dopamine replacement therapy.
The most commonly used drugs contain L-dopa (Levodopa) and carbidopa (Sinemet).

These are usually effective for motor symptoms in the beginning but over time (2-5years) tend to cause side effects. These can include; nausea, excessive, uncontrollable movements, sleep disturbances, hallucinations, mental confusion, ‘freezing'(unable to move) and episodes of low blood pressure.

Another side effect of taking L-dopa drugs long term can be a high homocysteine level which has been implicated in high mortality rates from vascular disease. Have your doctor check for this. B12 levels also tend to be lower.

Nutritional regimes that help people with this disease include reducing protein intake, which has been used to enhance the effectiveness of L-dopa therapy.

Supplements that can help are:

– Colloidal minerals (1 tbsp. daily) as ALL minerals are needed for the body to operate normally and many minerals also act as antioxidants.

– B Vitamins, especially B12 and B6 (50mg with each meal), however do not take this (B6) if on Levodopa as it reduces the effect of this drug.

– NADH (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide), which has enormous antioxidative capacity and even more importantly for Parkinson’s sufferers has the ability to stimulate tyrosine hydroxylase, which is the key enzyme for the production of Dopamine.
Some studies have found that NADH stimulates the production of dopamine by more than 40%. NADH also stimulates the production of noradrenaline and Serotonin which are responsible for alertness, concentration and mental activity and sleep and emotional balance respectively.

– Other antioxidants, as free radicals are considered a possible cause of the degeneration of neurons that causes Parkinson’s.

– Also avoid all exposure to toxic metals, pesticides, rancid fats, chemicals or cigarette smoke.

– Tyrosine, as it is a precursor to dopamine.

– Glutathione, as it is a vital brain chemical and important brain anti-oxidant that is often hugely deficient in Parkinson’s disease. There is research that shows that it works best when given intravenously, but I have seen very good results with even with 100mg given orally twice daily.

– Coenzyme Q10, as it greatly increases cellular energy production and has also been found to greatly deficient in Parkinson’s patients. Dosage is 100-120mg daily.

– Phosphatidylserine, as it is one of the key components of nerve cell membranes – the site where the brain receives and transmits messages. Dose 100 – 200mg. I have seen very good results of this therapy improving name/face recognition.
Good food sources are egg yolks and lecithin.

– Evening Primrose oil, as it reduces tremor, is an anti-inflammatory and also greatly helps symptoms of depression. Use 3000 mg per dose – 2-3 times daily.

– Vitamin B12, as it also greatly helps overcome depression lifts energy and enthusiasm.

– Vitamin E, as this is thought to slow the progress of the
disease, although doses needed are reasonably high.

– Lecithin, 1 tab daily, to supply choline, which is needed for transmission of nerve impulses.

– Glutamine as it is the precursor of GABA which is a major inhibiting neurotransmitter. GABA reinforces the negativity or the nerve cell making it resistant to excitation and therefore may help lessen unwanted tremors.

– Some sources also recommend avoiding the night-shade family of vegetables but eating broad beans as they contain L-dopa.

– Herbs that have proven to be effective in helping those with Parkinson’s are Macuna pruriens and Ginkgo Biloba.
Ginkgo Biloba increases circulation and therefore mineral and oxygen availability to the brain.
Mucuna Pruriens is an acknowledged source of L-Dopa. The product ‘PreDop’ from the Dr Veras range contains Tyrosine, B6 and Mucuna pruriens seed and I have seen good results in patients using this product.
I have also used Bacopa with good results. It appears to reduce the stage at which Levodopa is required and then lessen the amount needed.
If unsure which product is best for you, then send your query and details to ‘Ask Alison’.

– Massage always helps and is very important, as it can reduce muscle rigidity and therefore improve range of movement and reduce cramping. I have seen extremely good results using a combination of cranial sacral therapy and massage, improvement lasting any-thing up to 3-4 weeks. Also it improves the patient’s feeling of well-being and this is of great importance.

– Exercising the mind is of equal importance and the well being of Parkinson’s patients is markedly improved when they are both physically and mentally active.

– I have read that Chelation therapy can be of great benefit in treating Parkinson’s. This treatment is based on the use of strong detoxifying substances administered orally or intravenously. The therapy is usually used to flush heavy metals from the body.