Herbal Health Information on Back Pain

There is so much written about back pain that I am not going to pretend to know all the latest research, but tell you my experience of helping patients with back pain to achieve a better quality of life.

My approach is exactly the same as treating arthritic joints as it is usually inflammation of the joints in the vertebrae that causes the pain. In trying to work around an area of pain people often use that particular part of the body wrongly which leads to muscle spasm resulting in more pain and so the cycle continues.

Sadly by the time people who sufferer from pain come to see me they have usually had the condition for many years resulting in possible degeneration (breakdown) of the joint lining and long term muscle spasm. They have a long history of taking strong anti inflammatories, pain killers and possibly steroid use. Pain tells us when to stop doing something and if it is masked then there is a possibility the joint is used beyond its capability causing further damage to the joint itself.

So my first advice is to always be aware of the limitations of a painful area and only use it as much as is comfortable.

Join a specialist back exercise class to teach you how to use your back properly. Most public sports centres run these and there is a possibility that your doctor can refer you and pay for you to go to a class.

Diet is very important but different people find their joints may react to different foods. The norm, is to radically reduce the intake of dairy and wheat and never eat any Tomatoes and Oranges. The acid in these two foods is not broken down by the body so creates an acidic environment which is not good for joints and the urinary system. Many back pain sufferers find eating a lot of high protein foods such as meat and cheese will increase inflammation. The message here is to keep an eye on your diet to see if any foods do make your pain worse. If they do, you may have to visit a nutritionist to cut out these food substances but maintain a healthy diet.

Drink loads of water.

HERBAL MEDICINE

Any inflammatory condition I approach in the same way

  • Ensure the digestive system is working well to break down food and eliminate toxins
  • Improve joint circulation
  • Make sure the urinary system is eliminating metabolic (body function) by-products
  • Reduce inflammation

A typical herbal prescription as a tincture would be:-

  • Dandelion root, which improves digestive function and elimination of toxins via the Bowel.
  • Ginger, (very small amounts) to improve circulation to the joints
  • Celery seed, (small amounts) to improve uric acid excretion from the kidneys as well as having anti rheumatic properties.
  • Meadowsweet, a little favourite of mine, which has strongly anti inflammatory properties.
  • Crampbark to relax muscles, preventing them going into spasm and pulling the joints out of place. Seen on the West Rise Marsh video.

This is not set in stone and may vary depending on the patient, what medicines they are already on and the severity of their condition.

There are over the counter herbal preparations for pain and inflammation, but make sure they are licensed products so that you know they have been through rigorous trials.

I do recommend if you have been a back pain sufferer for some time and are on orthodox medicines but want to try an alternative, that you visit a qualified Medical Herbalist who can take all those factors into account and will tailor make an Herbal Remedy specifically for you.

My Clinic details can be seen by clicking here or on the “Clinic” tab at the top of the page.

Linda Bostock

Medical Herbalist/Herbal Health Information

Herbal Health Information on Anxiety

Anxiety may be caused by stress, tiredness, hormone imbalance, emotional exhaustion. However, people often say they have no stress or real worries but they suffer from bouts of anxiety. Sometimes people suffer anxiety after they have been through a traumatic experience even though this is now resolved. The body may be producing too much adrenaline which is circulating around the body with nothing to do but make you feel anxious. The symptoms include feelings of anxiousness, palpitations, increased sweating and poor sleep.

If stress is a factor then look at your lifestyle to see if there is anything you can change. It is worth sitting down and doing this with someone else as they may be more objective towards your lifestyle than you are.

Look at what you CAN change in your lifestyle rather than focus on what you can’t or what is going wrong. Try making small changes, such as joining a Yoga class, take time out for yourself, walk away from a stressful situation and calm down before going back to face it, handing a job over to anyone else to do, get a cleaner for the housework, take a holiday. ANYTHING!

Stress is not a problem to the body, providing the body has the ability to cope with it which to be fair, we are set up to do via our Adrenal glands. I am sure you have heard of the fight or flight response which either helps you to deal with a stressful situation or get the hell out of there. When the stress is overwhelming the adrenals get exhausted and the body fails to deal with stress well.

First thing to do is look at your diet. A body cannot keep going under any circumstances if it is poorly fed.

Eat three good meals a day:-

Consisting of nutritious foods such as fruit, veg, meat, fish, and a sensible intake of carbohydrates.

I rarely advise people take nutritional supplements, as I am an advocate of complete nutrition through eating sensibly, but the research on vitamin B complex to support the nervous system is overwhelmingly positive.

NOT CHOCOLATE which gives you a short term sugar boost and contains a feel good factor but does not last and may send you in to an emotional low when the blood sugar levels drop.

Drink WATER. At least two pints a day!

Caffeine in tea and coffee is the very worst thing for anxiety as it increases heart rate and may cause palpitations and will definitely prevent you sleeping well.

However, Caffeine is addictive so if you need to come off it, do it slowly, otherwise you will get headaches and feel pretty rough for a couple of weeks. I recommend reducing one cup a day in three day steps, remembering to substitute with water or non caffeine hot drinks such as Rooibos and Chamomile tea.

Exercise is a wonderful anxiety buster, so go to the gym or preferably do something in the fresh air; this will help to use up any excess adrenaline circulating in the body.

HERBAL MEDICINE

The main area which needs supporting is the nervous system.

St. John’s wort, which we saw on the shingle beach video, is a wonderful nervous system supporting and repairing herb as well as having anti depressant properties. Don’t take it if you are on any orthodox medicines.

Valerian is  great for calming both the body and mind and I usually mix that with Skullcap which is excellent at calming the brain down so that it does not go in to those mad thought loops at night when you are trying to get off to sleep.

Don’t forget the humble Chamomile which is very gently calming and helps you get a good night’s sleep and the lime flowers we saw growing in Pevensey church yard in the Pevensey walk video.

Growing in your garden you may have:-

Borage which also supports and restores the adrenals. This can be made into a tea.

Lavender which is great in an herb pillow to help with insomnia and the oil is wonderfully soothing in a bath.

Lemon balm which makes a very nice calming tea.

There are many ways of helping combat anxiety with herbs so do come and see me in my clinic if you would like help.

To find out more about the clinic click here or on the “clinic” tab at the top of the page

Linda Bostock

Medical Herbalist’Herbal Health Information

Links

Herbal Health Information on Depression

Depression may be caused by stress, tiredness, hormone imbalance, emotional exhaustion and lack of sleep.

Symptoms vary for different people but may include, feeling low, poor self esteem, insomnia, headaches, lack of motivation and lack of confidence.

If stress is a factor then look at your lifestyle to see if there is anything you can change. It is worth sitting down and doing this with someone else as they may be more objective towards your lifestyle than you are.

Look at what you CAN change in your lifestyle rather than focus on what you can’t or what is going wrong. Try making small changes, such as joining a Yoga class, handing a job over to anyone else to do, get a cleaner for the housework, take a holiday. ANYTHING!

First thing to do is look at your diet. A body cannot keep going under any circumstances if it is poorly fed.

Eat three good meals a day:-

Consisting of nutritious foods such as fruit, veg, meat, fish, and a sensible intake of carbohydrates.

NOT CHOCOLATE which gives you a short term sugar boost and contains a feel good factor but does not last and may send you in to an emotional low when the blood sugar levels drop.

Drink WATER. At least two pints a day!

Caffeine in tea, coffee and coca cola, is the very worst thing for depression

as it increases heart rate and may cause palpitations and will definitely prevent you sleeping well.

However, Caffeine is addictive so if you need to come off it, do it slowly, otherwise you will get headaches and feel pretty rough for a couple of weeks. I recommend reducing one cup a day in three day steps, remembering to substitute with water or non caffeine hot drinks such as Rooibos and Chamomile tea.

I rarely advise people take nutritional supplements, as I am an advocate of complete nutrition through eating sensibly, but the research on vitamin B complex to support the nervous system is overwhelmingly positive.

Exercise will help, so go to the gym or preferably do something in the fresh air. I know this is easier said than done as many people suffering from depression have a lack of motivation. Take it in easy steps. Try and do one thing a week for yourself such as go for a walk in the countryside (short walk will do), join a dance class or SING! Or anything that takes your fancy. You will be really pleased at the result and the feeling of self achievement.

HERBAL MEDICINE

The main area which needs supporting is the nervous system.

St. John’s wort, which we saw on the shingle beach video, is a wonderful nervous system supporting and repairing herb as well as having anti depressant properties. Don’t take it if you are on any orthodox medicines.

Passiflora I have talked about in its own little article. It has mild sedative properties and is a relaxant as well as supporting the nervous system.

Skullcap is a tonic nervine as well as being anti spasmodic and relaxing. I use it because it is the only herb I know, which, due to its relaxing nervine properties, stops the brain going in to overdrive and thinking all those horrible “loop” thoughts when you are trying to get to sleep, such as, the shopping list or what activities the children have the next day or what shall I wear to my daughters wedding, or the amount of work piling up in the in tray, etc etc etc.

Orthodox medicine for depression raises the serotonin levels in the brain and I have found a tincture of St. John’s wort, Skullcap and Passiflora has a similar action whilst at the same time repairing the nervous system and restoring it to normal function.

You may find an over the counter preparation with these herbs in, but do make sure it is a licensed product which means it has been through rigorous trials.

One other herb I want to mention to repair and restore the nervous system and as an anti depressant is Oats. As an herb it is the oat straw that is used which can be taken as a tincture, or a bowl of Porridge every morning will help.

Growing in your garden you may have:-

Borage, an uplifting herb which also supports and restores the adrenals. This can be made into a tea.

Lavender which is great in an herb pillow to help with insomnia and the oil is wonderfully soothing in a bath.

Lemon balm, which makes a very nice soothing tea.

Vervain has nervous system and alterative (changing to normal) properties and can be drunk as an uplifting tea.

There are many ways of helping combat depression with herbs so do come and see me in my clinic if you would like help.

To find out more about the clinic, click here or on the “clinic” tab at the top of the page

Linda Bostock

Medical Herbalist

Links

Pevensy castle walk….lime flowers

Beach walk…………..Chamomile

Herbs and health

Lime flowers

Chamomile

St john’s wort

Herbal Health Information on Fluid Retention

I am only going to discuss fluid retention due to PMS or a sluggish metabolism. Not fluid retention due to heart failure or blocked lymph nodes as these need specialist treatment and you must visit either your doctor or a qualified Medical Herbalist.

Many women suffer fluid retention just before they have their periods or some around ovulation. Men generally do not suffer from fluid retention but I am sure I will now have some writing to me and saying “yes I do”.

Your diet should contain high amounts of Omega oils, so eat your oily fish. Zinc is essential for the proper metabolism of hormones and because it is not well absorbed from the gut, it is important to have an intake of zinc containing foods daily. Zinc is found in pumpkin seeds (yes those that I always say I wish I had shares in) peas, shellfish leafy green vegetables and oats.

Drink plenty of water as this will help clean out the cells and get the lymph flowing well. If the body does not get sufficient water then it can retain what it does get, causing fluid retention! Keep tea and coffee intake to a minimum. Drinking water will also encourage the kidneys to do their job properly.

Here’s the hard part, exercise. Yes I know that you will feel sluggish when you feel bloated and your ankles are swelling but exercise will get the circulation going which in turn will help clear the fluid away from the body cells where it is being held.

Do whatever you can as long as it is getting your arms and legs working or join a gym and get professional guidance.

Herbal Medicine

There are four systems in the body which need support with Herbal Medicine to improve their function:-

Urinary system: – dandelion increases the out put of urine from the kidneys.

Lymphatic system:-goosegrass is the best lymphatic draining herb

Circulation: – ginger will improve circulation to the capillaries where the fluid exchange between the blood and the body cells take place.

Hormones (if fluid retention is hormone related):-

For females Agnus castus balances the hormones. For men Panax ginseng is an adaptogen (changes towards normal). However ginseng should not be taken if you have high blood pressure and should only be taken for three week stretches at a time. Another rule with Ginseng is that it should not be taken an hour either side of tea or coffee.

The above can all be used as tinctures but if you are buying these tinctures over the counter then follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

For more help and advice please visit me in my clinic

You can find the clinic details by clicking here or on the clinic tab at the top of the page

Linda Bostock

Medical Herbalist/Herbal Health Information

Herbal Health Information on Thrush/Candida

The opportunistic organism, Candida albicans is responsible for causing either oral thrush, mostly in infants or vaginal thrush in adult females. This can be passed on to the sexual partner, but there is a lower incidence in adult males.

Candida albicans is a yeast organism, the spores of which are present on the skin most of the time.

Vaginal and oral health is dependant on keeping the mucous membranes intact and in good condition. If there are any pre-disposing factors such as Antibiotic use which kills the natural bacterial flora of the Vagina, or iron deficiency, or oral contraceptive use, then the yeast spores will take hold and grow in the vagina causing a white curd like discharge and extreme itching and discomfort.

Oral thrush in infants needs treatment from the doctor.

An isolated case of vaginal thrush is nothing to be concerned about, but recurrent thrush indicates there is something else going on which needs investigating.

  • Boosting the immune system generally is important so that the body can fight the invasion of the yeast spores. This means having a good intake of Vitamin C and Zinc in your diet or taking a supplement.
  • Eating live yogurt is a must if you have thrush and it is also worth using it as a cream in the vagina. Messy but it will help to restore the vagina’s natural bacteria such as lactobacillus acidophilus.
  • Avoid alcohol
  • Avoid sugary foods (yeasts thrive on high sugar levels)
  • Many sources say to avoid yeast containing foods such as bread, but I do not see the logic in this advice as yeast in bread has been cooked and is dead.
  • Avoid sex if you have thrush although this is usually painful due to the lining of the vagina being damaged

Herbal Medicine is best taken in tincture form and a suitable mixture of herbs would be:-

Echinacea, to boost the immune system.

Marigold for its anti fungal properties

Pau d’arco, which is a specific for vaginal thrush, having strongly anti fungal properties.

I cannot give you dosage guidelines as you will need to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. But if you would like more help and advice please do visit me in my clinic.

To find out more about the clinic please click here or on the clinic tab at the top of the page.

If you do suffer from recurrent thrush then please see a doctor as there is usually an underlying cause which needs investigating.

Linda Bostock

Medical Herbalist/Herbal Health Information