The Health, Nutrition and Wellness site
24 Mar
An edited version of this article written by Lela was published in issue 47 of The South African Journal of Natural Medicine, available in stores nationwide and on: www.naturalmedicine.co.za
Benefits of Vitamin E.
Every few years scientists and researchers around the world proclaim a new miracle product. Dis- eases from dry skin to diabetes are prevented or eased and all by a natural substance, with little or no side – effects. Sound too good to be true? Maybe, but in the case of Vitamin E, maybe not.
Vitamin E, also known as tocopherol, was first discovered in 1922 and was initially known as the ‘antisterility’ vitamin. Since then it has become widely accepted as an essential vitamin and is used in the treatment and /or prevention of many common ailments.
Antioxidant Power.
Vitamin E occurs in nature in eight structurally related forms, 4 tocopherols and 4 tocotrienols, all of which are potent membrane-soluble antioxidants.
In its role as an antioxidant Vitamin E helps to reduce oxidation of lipid membranes and the unsaturated fatty acids as well as preventing the breakdown of other important nutrients by oxygen.
Oxidation is a chemical reaction which involves the addition of oxygen, the removal of hydrogen or the removal of an electron from a substance. The process of oxidation causes the formation of free-radicals, highly unstable molecules which can contribute to tissue and cellular irritation and damage, which can lead to chronic inflammation. A variety of chemical reactions in the body are responsible for the formation of excess free-radicals which is the basis of dis-eases such as heart disease, hypertension and arthritis.Vitamin E has been shown to be effective in protecting the tissues from oxidation and free-radicals and as such, playing an important role in preventing these diseases.
As an antioxidant, Vitamin E also helps to protect the tissues and stabilise the cell membranes of the skin, liver, eyes and breast, as well as protecting the lungs from oxidative damage from environmental substances. The key function of Vitamin E as an antioxidant is to stabilize and modify blood fats so that the heart, blood vessels and in actual fact the entire body, are more protected from injury induced by free-radicals. Another example of this vitamins antioxidant power is in the treatment of leg cramps, studies have suggested that taking 400 IUs daily can be beneficial in treating this condition.
Humans and animals do not synthesize their own Vitamin E so they need to get tocopherols from plants which are the only species capable of synthesizing Vitamin E.
Heart Helper.
Vitamin E has been shown to reduce platelet aggregation and platelet adhesiveness to collagen, even more than aspirin.This means that it helps to allow good blood flow and so can decrease the risk of artherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease, particularly in people who are already at risk. This amazing vitamin helps heart and muscle cell respiration by improving their functioning without oxygen and as a result may help with endurance and stamina and so also reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. The potential benefits of Vitamin E in preventing cardiovascular disease may partially stem from its ability to inhibit smooth muscle cell profileration. 1 In addition Vitamin E has also been used to neutralize free radicals generated during surgery, in particular cardiopulmonary bypass surgery and could protect the body against some of the toxicity of gases used in anesthesia.
Anti – Aging.
Telltale signs of aging such as skin changes and tissue degeneration can be caused by free radical damage to cells which are unprotected by antioxidant nutrients such as Vitamin E. Applied topically it has also been used to reduce scarring, help prevent dry skin and stretch marks and assist in the repair of skin ulcers and burns. As such Vitamin E is used in many anti-aging and beauty products available on the market today.
Womens friend.
Women should find Vitamin E particularly helpful as it has been found that the Vitamin E in starflower and evening primrose oil can help to reduce the hot flushes often experienced during menopause. A study in 1984 led by Dr Wald at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in
Another study measured the blood levels of Vitamin E and selenium and it found that those women within the top third of those with high levels of these nutrients, had a 91% decreased risk of cancer.
A double-blind, placebo-controlled study reported in The Lancet, involving 160 pregnant women at the risk of toxaemia showed that Vitamin E may be of benefit during pregnancy also. In the study some of the women were given an antioxidant supplement of 1 gram Vitamin C and 400 IUs Vitamin E daily, from weeks 16-22 until the end of pregnancy and the rest were given a placebo. The group taking the antioxidants had a 76 percent lower incidence of preeclampsia than the group taking the placebo. 3
Prostaglandins.
Vitamin E is one of five nutrients(these are: Zinc, Magnesium, Vitamin E, Vitamin C and Vitamin B6 ) needed for the body to manufacture prostaglandins, which among other functions, help to regulate calcium movement in the body, control cell growth, control hormone regulation and sensitize spinal neurons to pain. Vitamin E helps to reduce PMS symptoms because of its regulatory role in prostaglandin production. In particular prostaglandins help to reduce cramps and breast tenderness.
Essential Fatty Acids.
Vitamin E helps to ensure maximum absorption of essential fatty acids (EFAs), also know collectively as Vitamin F. EFAs are responsible for, among many other things, normal growth, behaviour, maintenance of cell membranes, a working immune system and a balance in hormone levels. In natural nutrition, when a person is not capable or ready to take EFAs orally then Vitamin E is applied topically in order to maximise EFAs absorption from dietary sources until the body is able to handle taking the oils by mouth. This is usually done after a bath or shower as an oil in the form of evening primrose oil and is applied to the inner thighs and the inner parts of the upper arms.
Vitamin E and Diabetes.
Treatment with Vitamin E appears to be effective in normalizing retinal blood-flow abnormalities and improving kidney function in insulin dependant (type 1) diabetes. Many diabetics have decreased blood flow at the retina of the eye and can suffer from diabetic retinopathy, a degenerative eye condition which can cause vision loss. In a clinical trial patients receiving high doses of Vitamin E for 4 months experienced improved kidney function and a near normal rate of retinal blood flow. 4
What else is it good for?
In his book, ‘Staying Healthy with Nutrition’, Elson M Haas, MD, suggests the following as possible other uses of Vitamin E taken orally: peptic ulcers, anemia, periodontal disease, shingles, autoimmune diseases and dermatitis. He also suggests that Vitamin E protects against the toxic effects of smoke, alcohol and ozone and when applied topically can be used for lupus rash, herpes infections and skin ulcers among other afflictions.
Deficiency.
There is no deficiency disease for Vitamin E as opposed to Vitamin C or many of the B vitamins, thus a deficiency of this vitamin is often very difficult to diagnose. Biochemically, low levels of Vitamin E can be measured in the blood and have been seen in conditions such as acne, anemia, infections and certain dementias such as Alzheimers disease. If you suspect you have a severe Vitamin E deficiency, consult your GP and a recognised nutritionist who will be able to work out a supplement programme tailored to your personal needs.
Supplements.
If taking a Vitamin E supplement the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) in
Children 4-6 years of age: 9 IUs
7-10 years of age: 10 IUs
Males from 15 years of age: 15 IUs
Females from 15 years of age 12 IUs
Pregnancy: 15 IUs
Lactation: 18 IUs
As always, consult with your GP, dietician or nutritionist before embarking on any supplement programme.
Food sources.
Vitamin E can be found in nature in a variety of foods. Among these are: wheat germ oil, olive oil (cold-pressed, extra virgin), safflower oil, corn oil, soybeans, nut oils, spinach, asparugus, kale, celery, tomatoes, egg yolk, butter, milk fat and liver. The oil component of all nuts, seeds and grains contain tocopherol but processing can often destroy this valuable vitamin so be sure to use cold-pressed oils and raw, unroasted nuts and seeds if you are trying to increase your dietary intake of this vitamin.
Nature provides us with many nutrients which we need to function with optimal health and vitality, of these, Vitamin E is a shining example of just how perfectly we are provided for. Ensuring that you have an optimal intake of this and other vitamins is easy if you focus on natural and unprocessed foods and always remember to read your labels and ask questions if you are not sure of how a food is manufactured or stored. Be adventurous in your food choices and explore all the riches that natures bounty has to offer because personally, I suspect, in the next few years, we will discover even more benefits that have been ‘hidden’ in these natural powerhouses all along.
References:
1. Jiang Quing, Christen Stephan, Shigenaga Mark K, Ames Bruce N; ‘ y-Tocopherol, the major form of Vitamin E in the US diet, deserves more attention.’, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 74, no.6, 714-722, December 2001.
2. Wald N et al. ‘Plasma retinol, betacarotene and Vitamin E levels in relation to future risk of breast cancer’, British Journal of Cancer, 1984, 49: 321-324.
3. Chappel L C et al, Lancet 354, 1999: 810-816.
4. Diabetes Care 1999; 22: 1245-1251.
Recommended reading:
www.mothering.com/articles/pregnancy_birth/birth_preparation/herbal-allies.html
http://www.zestrsa.co.za/rda.htm.
www.anyvitamins.com/fatty-acids-info.htm.
Haas, Elson MD, ‘Staying Healthy with Nutrition’, Celestial Arts Publishing,
Erasmus, Udo, ‘Fats that Heal, Fats that Kill’, Alive Books,
20 Nov
The Importance of Hydration in enabling the Body to respond to the Seasons…
This Article, written by Lela, was first published in Biophile magazine, please go to www.biophile.co.za for more information.
A well hydrated body is able to respond to internal and external signals of change in its health picture with ease and to the best of its abilities, thus furthering the beings development and creating optimum health. On the other hand, a dehydrated or underhydrated body is not able to respond as efficiently or speedily to these signals. De-hydration causes cells to coat themselves with cholesterol in order to preserve their internal environment, thereby making cellular communication more difficult. The cells are not able to function to full capacity as the more de-hydrated a body becomes, the more ’cut-off’ the cells become and the increased mucus load leads to a stagnation in the movement of fluids. The body only functions with what is available to it and thus dehydration causes more and more cells to become ‘cut-off’ so the body will be functioning more and more below par. The seasons play an important role in our health picture…
During Winter the energies of the body are more restful, less movement takes place naturally and body fluids thicken. The body’s ability to respond to natural energies (eg moon phases) is lessened. As the body’s fluid picture is quite stagnant at this time it does not detoxify as much as during the rest of the year and thus it is particularly important to avoid challenging foods and to keep the body well-hydrated so as to not compromise further its already reduced ability to rid itself of toxic build-up. If well hydrated at this time the body is less likely to need an acute episode(where body temperature is increased and mucus discharged) in order to rid itself of some of the toxic load. In traditional Chinese medicine the season of Winter is governed by the Water Element and this governs the kidneys and bladder, thus proper hydration is particularly important in order to avoid undue stress on these organs. Stress on the kidneys and bladder(caused by dehydration) can increase the emotion of fear, proper hydration can help the being to cope with or prevent excess of this emotion.
Spring is born from Winter, it is a time of movement and new beginnings. This season is related to the Wood Element and this governs the liver and gall-bladder. During Spring the mucus deposits start thinning and more movement is created. A well hydrated body will be more able to create this necessary movement. However, resistance can be encountered in the movement of energy and mucus deposits and this may manifest in skin eruptions(eg boils and pimples) and blocked sinuses(Spring cold anyone?). Proper hydration helps to combat or prevent this resistance and also helps to prevent and combat any acidity caused by the movement of mucus(which can cause eg. gall-stones and stiff and aching joints). Anger may manifest excessively at this time, this too can be made less by proper hydration. The liver and gall-bladder can be placed under stress particularly in Spring if hydration is insufficient. Spring is the season of flexibility/inflexibility and a well-hydrated body is much more able to create a flexible health picture.
Early Summer
Leaving Spring behind one moves into Early Summer which is associated with the Fire Element and the Heart and Small Intestine. Good hydration will help prevent undue stress on these organs. During this season of rapid growth and expansion in nature one also finds a lot of movement in the body, especially of the blood and lymph. In order to facilitate this movement with ease proper hydration is essential as without it the body is not able to maintain the mobile state which is its natural tendency at this time of year. Impaired cleansing and clearing(insufficient hydration) can show in eg. skin problems. When the body is well-hydrated its ability to create movement on all levels and thus cope better with the growth and change this Season brings about, is greatly enhanced, cells are allowed to communicate more fully and fluids to flow more freely. In the Chinese system of healing there are 5 seasons as opposed to the Western four and thus Late Summer follows Early Summer..
Late Summer is related to the Earth Element and is the time of the year when the growth cycle is coming to an end and the bodies energies are slowly closing down as the Autumn Equinox approaches. During this time the body seeks to rid itself of any toxicity which has been expelled from the cells and in order to do so successfully proper hydration is essential. The mineral status in the body is also important at this time as the body needs to be in harmony with the mineral status of the Earth in order to be properly earthed or grounded and centered itself. This opens the way for toxicity to leave the body. In a dehydrated body, mineral absorption would be below par and calcium displacement would be more severe causing undue stresses. The spleen and stomach are the organs governed by the Earth Element and providing the body with a proper hydration message will help ensure that these organs play their roles efficiently especially as they are very much involved with digestion(stomach), distribution and purification(spleen-blood).
Autumn
After Late Summer comes Autumn, the final build-up and preparation for the quiet period of Winter. At the Autumn Equinox the body might have acute episodes( eg. colds, infections etc.) in order to help shift the toxic load and improve the overall health picture. Good hydration greatly helps this process. During Autumn the fluid picture is contracting and there are toxins in the system after the Autumn Equinox and in order for these to be eliminated efficiently good hydration is essential otherwise more acute clearings may become necessary. These will only be achieved with ease if there is a good hydration picture. The Metal Element governs Autumn which means there is particular emphasis on mental energies as this Element is associated with the mind, lungs, colon and skin. The change in mental energies will coincide with the thickening of body fluids and the cells becoming more ‘cut-off’. Lack of proper hydration at this stage can cause there to be even more stagnation than is natural during this time. Without proper hydration the emotion of grief may also become apparent excessively at this time.
How can Diet help?
In order for the body to receive a good hydration message there are some steps that can be taken related to diet. Eating plenty of hydrating foods such as short grain brown rice and drinking enough clean water(at least 8-10 glasses a day) can help give the colon the message that the body is being adequately hydrated and that it is not necessary for the body to produce excess cholesterol and mucus to coat the cell membranes and so preserve the cells internal environment. The colon receiving a proper hydration message(with the help of bulkers like seeds and phsyllium husks) will also enable the body to let go much more easily and allow the elimination of toxins to take place more efficiently. Cutting down on de-hydrating foods such as pork and wheat will also help give a good hydration message. Plenty of good essential fatty acids can be obtained from oily fish (and linseeds daily for vegetarians) a few times a week. A well hydrated body will be able to respond to the natural energies which bring about cleansing in a progressive way throughout the year thus preventing acute episodes from becoming chronic and moving deeper till possibly even manifesting on a mental and emotional level.
When approached with a loving mindset and recognition of our environment our bodies are bound to try their best to respond with vibrant health throughout the year!
7 Oct
Prevention is better than cure they say and while medical technology and research have made major breakthroughs in the last two decades it is still wise to take responsibility for our own health and well-being. Cancer is now the second biggest killer of the adult American population and the statistics in South Africa are not much better…
The link between cancer and improper diet was first highlighted in 1977 in the Senate Select Committee’s Dietary Goals for the United States, in 1982 the National Academy of Sciences released an important report called Diet, Nutrition and Cancer and in 1988 the U.S Department of Health and Human Services Published a major manuscript by C.Everett Koop, M.D which also discussed the relationships between nutrition and common degenerative diseases, including cancer. How do we follow a diet to promote health and well-being? The first step is to identify the most common possible carcinogens and try to minimise our regular intake of these substances.
Additives: food colours, flavours, nitrites and nitrates.
Hormones: mainly found in meats.
Coffee: some de-caffeinated coffee may be treated with carcinogens such as trichloroethylene or methyl chloride.
Saccharin: implicated in bladder cancer.
Pesticides: sprayed on foods before and after harvesting.
Pickled or salt-cured foods: could influence digestive and stomach lining.
Potatoes: when bruised or green
Aflatoxin: may cause liver cancer and is produced by moulds on peanuts and other legumes.
Sugar: may weaken immunity.
Nitrates and nitrites: common in smoked and preserved meats.
Mushrooms: may contain toxic hydrazines.
Excess fats: saturated and animal fats (found in meats and dairy products), fried or rancid oils, hydrogenated and refined oils as well as cooked polyunsaturated fatty acids. Obesity is also cited as one of the factors correlated with higher cancer rates thus moderation is key in any diet plan.
Certain nutrient deficiencies have been implicated in some cancers. Vitamin A and beta-carotene deficiency has been linked to an increase in the incidence of lung and mouth cancer as well as skin, throat, prostate, bladder, cervix, colon, esophagus and stomach cancers. Selenium deficiency may increase the risk of breast, lung, colon, skin, rectum, prostate, pancreas and intestinal cancers as well as leukaemia. Vitamin E deficiency increases cancer risk because a deficiency in this vitamin decreases the body’s ability to balance free radicals and rancid oils. Vitamin C may help to reduce the carcinogenicity of nitrosamines and other chemicals. Zinc, molybdenum, iodine and iron deficiencies have also been implicated in certain cancers.
A Cancer Prevention Diet is easily incorporated into any busy lifestyle, all that is required are a few small changes. These are as follows:
1 – Lower your saturated fat intake
2 – Increase dietary fibre
3 – Increase fresh fruits, vegetables (especially cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower, broccoli and cabbage) and whole grains.
4- Avoid smoked, pickled, salted and barbecued foods.
5- Lower alcohol intake.
6- Increase plant proteins such as legumes and soya, nuts and seeds.
With attention to our own health and well-being and a respect for our bodies, we can go a long way to optimising our chances of a healthy life far into a care-free and disease-free old age.
3 Oct
Article written by Joy.
A healthy human nose can distinguish between 10 000 different aromas. The professional ‘noses’ used by Essential oil and Perfume companies train for several years and are capable of determining the subtle differences the quality and the origin of essential oils.
Scents invoke immediate and powerful responses as the volatile fragrance molecules travel with tthe olfactory nerve tracts directly to the limbic system ( a part of the brain concerned with memory and emotion). Essential oils can thus reach us through inhalation, via the skin and through ingestion ( the last method should not be used by the layperson at all, unless supervised by a suitably qualified professional).
Essential oils are very complex and consist on average of up to 100 or more chemical components. Essential oils are classified as stimulating or calming, sedative or energising, according to the percentage of esters, aldehydes, alcohol, terpenes and other chemical components the essential oils contain.
The easiest way for the novice to get to know essential oils is by using them in a prescribed manner through perfume, bath and massage oils, blends for burners and simple remedies for home-use. The first step to knowing an essential oil is to smellit and like wine or olive oil testing, there is prescribed way of ’sniffing’.
- To experience the fragrant aroma of an essential oil, put a few drops on a strip of paper and wave it in a circle of about 18cms just under your nose, creating a vortex of aroma molecules.
- move your fragrant paper strip first under the right nostril, then under the left, sniffing every time and then under both nostrils, taking a deep sniff.
- inhale the aroma high up your nose, visualising the aroma of the Essential oil going to the top of your head and through the whole body.
- allow words and feelings to surface describing your experience of the Essential oil, making notes as you go along. It is good to practise the above exercise (don’t test more than 3 or 4 Essential oils at a time) as it will be an invaluable aid when you blend your own unique perfume.
You will discover characteristics such as woody, herbaceous, citrus, resinous, spicy and floral. Essential oils with a quick evaporation rate are called ‘top notes’ and are generally experienced as energising, uplifting and invigorating eg. lemon, grapefruit, lemongrass and bergamot.
Essential oils with a slower evaporation rate are called ‘middle notes’ and usually have a relaxing, calming and balancing effect eg. geranium and lavender.
Those Essential oils with aroma molecules that linger and disperse very slowly are classified as ‘base notes’. These essential oils have a grounding and deeply relaxing effect and often act as a fixative to other more quickly dispersing aromatic molecules. Examples of ‘base note’ oils are: sandalwood, benzoin and vetiver.
To create a well-balanced perfume one should include all three ‘notes’ in various proportions, the different quantities give character to your blend, be it lightly floral, spicy oriental or cleansing herbaceous.
Essential oils have different therapeutic actions such as anti-viral, anti-septic, sedative, stimulating, aphrodisiac, anti-spasmodic, hypo-tensive and others. Blending different Essential oils into a sinergistic blend takes experience and skill but luckily for the novice there are many recipes to experiment with.
Essential oils may be ‘natural’ but they have potent healing effects and should always by used with utmost care. Always use in the correct dilution with carrier oils and be aware of any contra-indications an Essential oil may have. Some Essential oils can cause skin irritation and high or low blood pressure or can be hazardous during pregnancy or for people with a history of epilepsy or diabetes. Most Essential oils are sold with safety data and childproof locks. Store your Essential oils in a cool, dark place, away from children.
Essential oils mix readily with other oils and alcohol. Using suitable carriers helps to make the therapeutic effects of Essential oils readily available to the body. A good guideline is to use no more than 3 drops of Essential oil in 5ml (1tsp) of a carrier. This constitutes a 3% dilution but a 1% or 2% dilution is equally effective. Extrapolating fom 2 drops in 5ml, divide your quantity of carrier by 5 and multiply with 2 to get the number of drops of Essential oils to use in your blend. Thus should you have 50ml of a carrier, you would add 10 x 2 drops of Essential oil to your blend. Remember the golden rule: less is more!
Making your own perfume, bath oil, massage oil, creams and bath products or simple home remedies can be an absobing and creative pastime. In blending skin oils, choose your carrier oils and essential oils for their properties: for dry skin you will use rich and nourishing carrier oils such as avocado, rose hip and sesame oil. Essential oils should be hydrating and stimulating such as rose, sandalwood, neroli and lavender. Blends for oily skin will include light and easily absorbed carrier oils such as apricot kernel, almond and jojoba oils and Essential oils with an astringent and slightly anti-septic effect such as lemon verbena, cypress, chamomile and lavender.
Mature skin will benefit from carrier oils such as evening primrose, borage, rose hip, almond and sesame oils and the Essential oils that stimulate new cell growth such as lavender, frankincense, neroli, rose geranium and benzoin.
Essential oils have wonderful healing properties, are easily absorbed by the skin and thus transported via the circulation system of the body to have a beneficial effect on the whole body. It is preferable to use quality grade organic Essential oils and organic, cold-pressed carrier oils.
21 May
The miasms (disease taints) can be seen as a kind of “map” as to where a being is in the overall health picture. Each of the miasms manifest certain diseases according to the level of toxicity in the body. In the tubercular miasm we find much internalized mucous and an inability to put calcium in the right place. For mucous loading to occur, dehydration would be one of the main factors involved. In relation to Traditional Chinese Medicine the TB-Miasm can be linked to an imbalance in the Metal Element.
The tubercular miasm is made up of two miasms namely the sycotic or gonorrheal miasm and the syphilitic miasm, this is when the body will be overproducing mucous because of high toxicity caused by various factors. These factors could include an inherited toxic load, unhealthy environment and inappropriate diet and would certainly include dehydration. More mucous leads to more “cut-off” cells and more dehydration, which leads to more dis-ease, each time on a deeper level as cells become less able to communicate with each other and their environment. The ideal day-night picture of Na, Ca and fats entering the cells during the day and then being displaced by Mg and K at night, gets disturbed by the increased levels of toxicity and dehydration. If the body is on dehydration alert it will produce cholesterol to help itself, the cholesterol is mixed with the fats (fats you have eaten) and as the Na, Ca and fats move towards and into the cell, the cell membrane will become coated with the cholesterol mixture. Cholesterol coating the cell membrane makes it difficult for nutrients eg. Ca to exit the cell and this Ca then becomes deposited in the cell and the cell becomes more “cut-off”. Calciums natural place is outside of the cell and this displacement of calcium, when reaching toxic levels can lead to diseases such as arthritis and bowel problems, which are characteristic of the physical level of the TB-Miasm. When the mucous load becomes blocked and so more internalized and extreme calcium displacement starts to take place because of and increased toxic environment and/or diet as well as extreme dehydration then the body enters a destructive phase. The cells are so “cut-off” that the body becomes destructive in an attempt to clean itself any way it can. The destructive “phase” is seen as being characteristic of the syphilitic miasm. Because the body has failed to rid itself of the mucous load and has a high level of “cut-off” cells, cells which aren’t communicating with the body as they should be, the being starts to be “dissasociated” with the physical body and disease starts to form on a Mental/Emotional level. This is towards the more extreme manifestations of the tubercular taint and one can see diseases like addictions or manic depression presenting. To manifest a full Tubercular picture both the gonorrhoeal and syphilitic miasms need to be present. Either one can “come through” as an inherited taint or in some cases both can be manifest in the parents, then we see a full tubercular picture in the new generation. One might find a child whose parents both showed Syphilitic and Gonorrhoeal miasms, for example where they have syphilis or gonorrhea in their family history, so inheriting the taint themselves. If they then merely build upon this toxic load they risk passing on a full TB-Miasm inherited picture to their child.
The TB-Miasm can be linked to a Metal Element imbalance through the following: TB manifests in the lungs which are one of the organs governed by the Metal Element (asthma is also indicated in the TB-Miasm picture). The Metal Element also rules the Large Intestine or colon. It is the Large Intestine which sends the dehydration message, which starts the whole toxic picture for the body, to the brain. The Metal Element is also related to skin and one can see this manifesting in diseases such as eczema, which requires a high toxic load, high acidity and a very disturbed calcium picture as well as severe dehydration to manifest, and is a disease characteristic of the physical manifestations of the TB-Miasm. The Metal Element also governs the capacity to cough (or expel unwanted things) and TB itself is a very persistent cough (the bodys attempt to expel the unwanted mucous in the lungs and so lighten the toxic load). The disease TB also acts as a cleanse for the body by creating inflammation (inflammation is an attempt at cleansing the body and its tisssues of toxins and excess mucous). If this TB then gets suppressed and not treated in a cleansing manner one can find a move into the Carcinosin (Cancer) Miasm which is indicative of a much higher toxic load where the body is no longer capable of moving the toxic load or producing mucous. It is however possible to move into the Cancer Miasm from any stage of the TB-Miasm. The Cancer Miasm is indicative of the Water Element (which rules fear, lack of movement) and an imbalanced Metal Element (TB-Miasm) often leads to an imbalanced Water Element, as the Metal Element “promotes” the Water Element, just as the TB-Miasm “promotes” the Carcinosin Miasm.
One can also “connect” Hering’s Law of Cure and the TB -Miasm. Hering’s Law of Cure states: ” Healing starts from the top, the head, to the bottom, from the inside to the outside, from the major organs to the minor organs and in reverse order in which they presented”. If looking at someone with a tubercular miasmic picture eg. someone with anorexia, (mental/emotional level of TB- Miasm, head(top) problem ) who then because of a cleansing and lightening of the mucous load, travels back in the TB -Miasm and manifests bowel problems (physical level of the TB -Miasm (bottom and inside) problem) and later eczema (physical level of the TB -Miasm, skin (outside) problem) then one can see the progression of cure quite clearly according to Hering’s Law. For cure to progress in the right direction gentle cleansing would have to take place on each different level of the whole being, as that level became available, until eventually the excess mucous load had been shifted and eliminated, the calcium “pattern” (day-night shift) had been normalized and proper hydration and neutral pH had been re-established, with the being as close to being in full self-communication on all levels as possible.
The TB -Miasm can also be related to diet in the sense that in order to attain a state of extreme dehydration, calcium displacement, high levels of acidity and internalized mucous, the body needs to be in a state where it is not recieving the right messages. One of these messages is the dehydration message, which is sent by the colon. If one is eating dehyrating foods such as wheat and pork regularly, this will send a dehydration message to the body which will further escalate the toxic picture and mucous production, which eventually leads one to the TB -Miasmic picture. Not consuming enough pure water will also contribute to this dehydration alert. More hydrating foods to eat would be short-grain brown rice with pulses or sprouts and an adequate ( 4 pints daily) intake of clean water.
I see the TB -Miasm as the “middle step” between the Psoric and Carcinosin Miasms, it is in a sense a warning stage (and attempt at cleaning the toxic load) before the being reaches such levels of toxicity that it cannot shift the toxic load and manifests a Carcinosin Miasmic picture. The TB -Miasm also provides a way of tracing cure, along with using Hering’s Law of Cure. I feel that the TB -Miasm gives the practitioner of Natural Nutrition one more way of forming a “whole” or more complete picture of a beings overall presenting health picture and how they might have reached that point (inherited miasm can be found in the family history).
15 May
Carrier Oils act as a medium for essential oils which are very concentrated and are blended into the carrier oil in low dilutions ( 3% ). This means that you will add a maximum of three drops essential oil per teaspoon carrier oil.
Carrier oils are usually extracted from seeds and fruit and are called fixed oils because they are not volatile. The chemical structure of vegetable oils is such that it is easily absorbed through the skin and also has therapeutic properties of its own.
While the vitamins and minerals of the different carrier oils have a role to play,it is the concentration of essential fatty acids,the presence of anti-oxidants and natural tocopherol (Vit.E ), that determine the ultimate benefit the carrier oils offer. EFA s are free radical scavengers and can protect the skin from pollution and sun and wind damage. Carrier oils containing Gamma Linoleic Acid (GLA ) are important for healthy cell functioning and regeneration of skin cells. Carrier oils containing Vit.E promote soft and supple skin and act as a natural preservative.
Invest in quality, cold-pressed organic oils and store in dark glass bottles in a cool place. Create your blends in small quantities as exposure to light and oxygen over a period of time may turn the carrier oil rancid. Choose your carrier oils for the specific purpose you need it for,be it massage oil, bath oil, skin oil or barrier cream. Those with sensitive skin, should always do a test patch and people with a severe reaction to nuts should rather not use nut oils.
Has been popular through the ages for use in face and hand creams. It can be used for all skin types and its concentration of oleic and linoleic essential fatty acids makes it a great moisturiser,soothing to itchy and inflamed skin,and a good lubricant and conditioner for the skin. It is used extensively on its own as a massage oil because of its light and non greasy nature.
Contains useful levels of EFA s, has a light texture for easy absorption and blended with other oils such as almond and sesame, offers enriching and nourishing properties for dry , damaged skin.
Traditionally used as a beauty oil by women in Mexico, avocado oil is rich in proteins and Vitamins A,B,D.,and contains anti-oxidants which gives it a long shelf life. Cold pressed, the oil is thick and viscous and is better used as addition to another carrier oil. Avocado oil is good for dehydrated skin and has the ability to penetrate into the deeper layers of skin. It also act as a natural sunscreen.
Grapeseed oil is popular as a massage oil as it has a light texture with good lubricant quality and is an odourless carrier for essential oils. It contains some Vit. E ,minerals and vitamins. Critcism against grapeseed oil is that it is obtained by hot extraction methods or solvents and is thus not as “wholesome” as cold pressed oils.
Olive oil has been extensively used since ancient times,as food as well as massage oil.Olive oil has a high concentration of anti-oxidants as well as chlorophyll and carotenoids.This makes olive oil good to assist cell regeneration,to stimulate and nourish the skin,as well as softening and preserving the skin. Olive oil has an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory action due to its polyphenol content. Olive oil is used as a base for ointments, but blended with other oils for use as a massage oil.
Sesame oil is a clear pale yellow oil ,rich in minerals and vitamins and have a high Vit. E content. A natural moisteriser,it nourishes and detoxify the deeper tissue layers. A natural sunscreen ,it is also good for sensitive skins and has antiseptic properties. A good carrier oil to use on its own or as part of a blend.
The above carrier oils are readily available from health shops to offer their unique qualities to your skin and massage oil blends. Some specialized carrier oils are available to use in small quantities to enhance your blends even more.
Evening Primrose Oil is well known for its health benefits and are taken via capsules internally. As a carrier oil, it is used in small quantities in a blend where it acts as a preservative to the base oil,as well as bringing its unique qualities to the blend.The high GLA content of evening primrose oil moisturises and nourishes the skin,counter-acting premature aging. It has a beneficial effect on skin conditions such as eczema,psoriasis and dermatitis.
Extracted from the beans of this desert scrub, jojoba oil is a waxy substance,akin to sebum, making it an excellent lubricant, beneficial to all skin types. A natural sunscreen, jojoba oil is easily absorbed into the deeper layers of skin, is softening, moisture retaining and protective to the skin. Add to other carrier oils.
A wonder oil derived from the seeds within the rose hips,it is high in essential fatty acids, GLA and Vit. C. Research has found rosehip oil excellent for the healing and regeneration of damaged tissue. Rose hip oil has been used to treat burns, scars, ulceration of the skin,and radiation burns. Rose hip oil used as a night oil,is good for dry and aging skin. Blend in any dilution with carrier oils.
A natural oil with a high Vit. E content, wheatgerm oil is used at a 10% dilution in other carrier oils for its anti-oxidant properties to increase shelf life. Wheatgerm oil will benefit dry or mature skin. Buy wheatgerm oil in small quantities and keep refrigerated.
A good quality vegetable , seed or nut carrier oil will enhance your skin as well as offer a wholesome medium for your chosen essential oils. Creating your own personalized blends is a satisfying process and good for body ,mind and soul.
2 May
Hering’s Law of Cure states that: “Healing starts from the top, the head, to the bottom, from the inside to the outside, from the major organs to the minor organs, and in reverse order in which they presented.”
As healing progresses one will see evidence of this moving from the top of the body to the bottom, e.g. One might experience headaches, then back problems and later athlete’s foot during the progression of a cure. This also illustrates that healing moves from the mental to the physical. Energetically, the crown chakra, the chakra representative of ones wisdom and spiritual connectedness is situated at the top of the body, the head, while the base (root) chakra, the chakra representing how at home one feels in ones physical body and how grounded and secure one feels, is situated lower down the body. This also illustrates how healing (cure) would progress from a mental to a physical level. Healing needs to travel down the body through the heart chakra, thus mental healing, then emotional healing and then physical healing is taking place.
Healing moves from inner healing to outer healing. Physically one might find stomach (digestive) problems heal before an apparent allergy which shows itself in skin eruptions or inflamation. Here also, one can see healing moving from mental through the emotional to the physical. A thought pattern (inside) needs to heal, then a feeling (inside) which is part of ones emotions and the physical manifestations of those thoughts and emotions can heal. Thus again from inner healing to outer healing.
According to Chinese medicine, the organs are associated with emotions. Healing taking place physically in the organs will be associated with the healing of certain emotions, again a move from inside to outside. Major organs to minor organs, healing takes place first in those organs, which are responsible for the main processing functions of the body, such as the kidneys and the heart and then in the minor organs, such as the bladder. An example of the progression of cure from major to minor organs could be kidney problems, then bladder infection, then cystitis and burny urine and finallly cure. Be aware that there are emotions involved with this as well.
To take again the example of kidney problems, these would perhaps first show as burny urine, which if ignored could turn to cystitis, which could turn to bladder infection and later kidney problems. This would be the progression of dis-ease. The progression of cure would be in reverse order to that, according to Hering’s Law. In other words, the symptoms which appeared first would heal last and the symptoms which appeared last would heal first. First the kidney problems would lessen, then the bladder infection would show again, later the cystitis and burny urine and eventually one would have cure. Once again emotions would also play a role.
Hering’s Law is a tool with which to plot the progression of a cure and to gage whether movement is taking place and if so, if that movement is in a beneficial direction.
20 Apr
Also know as Co-enzyme thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP), Vitamin B1 is needed in regular supply by the body and its odor and flavour are similar to those of yeast. It is needed by the Central Nervous System the Gasto-intestinal system and the cardiovascular system. It helps convert carbohydrate to fat for storage for potential energy and plays a role in glucose metabolism. It is thought that adequate amounts of Vit B1 may help reduce the progression of atherosclerosis by preventing the accumulation of fatty deposits in the arteries, thus it is also helpful to the heart.
Beri-Beri (childhood, dry and wet forms), edema, weight loss, muscle wasting, nerve degeneration, brain degeneration, Wernicke- Korsakoff syndrome, skin problems, fatigue, instability, prickling sensations in the legs, inflamation of the optic nerve(affecting vision), schizophrenia.
When taken orally there have been no known cases of Thiamine toxicity in humans, thiamine injections however have sometimes been associated with edema or trauma.
Wheat germ, bran, rice husks (unpolished rice), outer husks of other grains, blackstrap molasses, oats millet, spinach, cauliflower, some nuts, sunflower seeds, peas, beans, avocado, pork, some dry fruits contain B1 but the sulphur dioxide which is sometimes added as preservative can destroy this vitamin.
20 Apr
The inflammatory response is the body’s second line of defense if the mechanical(skin) and chemical(sebum, mucus, hydrochloric acid) barriers of the immune system are broken or overcome. The four cardinal signs of inflammatory response are:
1. redness
2. heat
3. swelling
4.pain
There are however, two very different perspectives as to how and why the inflammatory response comes about, much of which are based on the works of two very different men, Louis Pasteur and Antoine Bechamp.
First we will explore inflammation from the perspective of the allopathic school of thought who base much of their thinking on the work of Louis Pasteur (even though it later emerged that much of ‘his’ work was not in fact, his own). Pasteur formulated the famous Germ Theory. In this he stated that the causes of disease were: 1. Every disease has specific germs (bacteria) specific to that disease.
2. Health= the absence of disease-causing micro- organisms.
3. If the micro-organisms which cause disease were destroyed, then there would be no disease. According to Pasteur bacteria were introduced int the body and would cause disease which would then be ‘fought’ by the ‘warriors’ of the immune system, the white blood cells (leukocytes). This fits with the allopathic perspective of the inflammatory response, which is as follows:
1. Injury occurs (or pathogen is detected), there is a brief constriction of the surrounding blood vessels which then almost immediately dilate and blood flow increases.
2. Injured tissue releases chemicals like histamine, serotonin and kinins ( a group of chemically related compounds). These chemicals cause vasodilation and increased permeability in blood vessels which allows components, which would normally be retained in the blood, to leak out into the tissue spaces.
3.Diapedesis takes place, this is when white blood cells move to the area of infection or injury then migrate to the wall of the blood vessel and within minutes pass through into the interstitial spaces near the injury, a process known as chemotaxis, this happens because of the attractive force produced by the release of kinins and other chemicals.
4. Injured tissue also releases leukocytosis-promoting factor (LP). When leukocytes and tissue debris accumulate at the focal point of the infection, pus may be formed and an abscess or cavity formed by the disintegration of tissues may fill with pus and surgical drainage may be needed.
5. Increased blood vessel permeability, increased blood flow and the migration and accumulation of white blood cells all contribute to the formation of Inflammatory Exudate. This accumulates in the interstitial spaces of the area of injury and causes edema or swelling and pain.
Inflammatory exudate contains white blood cells, tissue debris and ‘leaked’ substances, one of which is a soluble protein which is converted into fibrin in the interstitial spaces. Fibrin formation results in a clot developing which helps to seal of the injured area and lessen the spread of bacteria or other infectious material.
It now becomes apparent that:
redness - caused by increased blood flow and pooling of blood after an injury.
heat - largely because of increased blood flow to area of injury.
swelling – because of edema and the accumulation of inflammatory exudate in the interstitial spaces.
pain – caused by the release of kinins (especially bradykinin) and other chemicals which are released following tissue injury and cellular death.
The pathogenic perspective on the inflammatory response is mostly based on the work of Antoine Bechamp. Through years of work and experiments Bechamp came to the following conclusions:
1. Through his experiments re: fermentation he discovered ‘little bodies’, later renamed microzymes.
2. He deduced microzymes to be the smallest independent living organisms.
3. He demonstrated that microzymes naturally change into bacteria when given the right environment (when in a medium of alcohol, the waste product of cellular respiration), even after the death of an organic life-form.
4. Concluded that bacteria can only come alive if the pre-existing organic material had died.
5.Bechamps main conclusion was that bacteria is the result of disease, not the cause, thus directly opposing Pasteurs’ Germ Theory.
According to the pathogenic perspective leukocytes (white blood cells) are in fact particles of pathogenic matter which have been condensed into globular bodies which resemble cells. This happens in the lymph nodes of the lymph glands and the trabeculae of the spleen (this explains why when we are ill our glands often become swollen).
The pathogenic perspective of the inflammatory response is as follows:
1. Lowered vitality and resistance or some kind of invasion or obstruction by foreign matter causes the accumulation of pathogen in the circulation which makes blood more thick and causes congestion of blood in the affected area.
2. Because of the obstruction caused by the build-up of pathogenic material in the blood vessel it prevents the blood from flowing freely, causing it to surge back and gradually distend the blood vessels from the capillaries onwards.(redness and heat)
3. This distension of blood vessels causes the leukocytes (pathogenic matter) to be ‘pushed’ through into the interstitial spaces (not migration and chemotaxis as in the allopathic perspective ). ( swelling and pain)
4. Here the leukocytes engage in ‘battle’ with the bacteria and under the proteolytic action of the bacteria they disintegrate into pus.
5. These decomposed leukocytes form the food for the development of microzymes into bacteria which in turn destruct the leukocytes and so forth.
The two perspectives are mainly opposed as to the origin of bacteria and cause of disease. The allopathic perspective states that bacteria cause disease whereas the pathogenic perspective subscribes to the view that disease is the cause, thus bacteria is the result of disease, not the cause. I myself like to believe that we have a responsible stake in our own health and thus subscribe to the pathogenic perspective, according to which health can be achieved by creating the right environment on all levels, physical, emotional, environmental etc. as opposed to health being merely a result of outside influences.