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Herbal Health Treatment of Allergies

September 18, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Allergy is defined as Hypersensitivity to a foreign protein which causes a violent reaction in the body, resulting in asthma, hay fever, itchy swollen spots, nettle rash, eczema, migraine, catarrh, eye swelling, throat swelling and possible anaphylactic shock.

During an allergic reaction, histamine is produced in the body which causes the cells involved to swell and rupture. This results in swelling of the part of the body affected which if it is the throat, could be life threatening.

If you have a severe allergy and know what it is, such as peanut allergy then of course avoid it like the plague but also please can I beg you to carry an Epi Pen around with you because so many foods are cross contaminated in factories or in preparation. For instance, although peanuts may not be in the food, groundnut oil (peanut) is a common frying oil. So you never know and better safe than sorry as an allergy can flare up and become life threatening within minutes.

Because this is such a complex set of conditions and symptoms there is little point in me trying to talk you through the whole range but to say instead, do go and visit a Qualified Medical Herbalist. There are many herbs which can help calm the immune system and I have had very good success helping people to avoid Hayfever attacks.

I will however give you a general overview and an Herbalist’s approach to allergies.

My aim is to calm the immune system down so that it is not so over-reactive to allergens and to protect the mucous membranes in the respiratory system from external irritants.

The two food substances to avoid if you are prone to allergies are dairy products and wheat products. Dairy aggravates mucous membranes and can increase catarrh production both of which will contribute to the sensitisation of these membranes.

Wheat may aggravate the gut, especially high fibre cereals and this may lead to sensitisation of the lining.

Herbal Medicine

To calm the immune system I have found Chamomile and Pulsatilla very effective.

Chamomile is a bit of a cure all Herb. Amongst its many properties, it is calming, anti inflammatory and carminative (calming to the gut).

Pulsatilla is a mild sedative, alterative (changes back to normal) and anti spasmodic.

Ephedra is the Herbalists choice as an anti allergy herb and is also antasthmatic and a bronchodilator. However it is a Practitioner only herb and must not be used by unqualified people. It is a section three restricted herb and may be dangerous if used in the wrong amounts.

The three herbs I very often use for allergic conditions are: – Elderflower, Eyebright and Nettles.

Elderflower is anti-inflammatory and anti- catarrhal as well as toning to mucous membranes.

Eyebright is anti- catarrhal, anti- inflammatory, astringent (toning) and anti histamine

Nettles are a bit of an enigma as they themselves contain histamine and cause an allergic type reaction if you touch them, but work well as an anti-allergy herb especially in allergic Eczemas!

So you can see treating allergies with Herbal Medicine is a bit of a mine field and I would strongly advise you to go and see a qualified practitioner.

If you would like to visit me in my clinic please click here or the “clinic” tab at the top of the page.

Linda Bostock

Medical Herbalist/Herbal Health Information

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Herbal Health Treatment of Poor Circulation

September 18, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Poor circulation may be due to a number of reasons, including, varicose veins, arterio-sclerosis, anaemia, sluggish metabolism and heart disease.

It is easily treated with herbal medicine as there are many herbs which not only improve blood flow to the peripheries (hands and feet) but also support the heart and major blood vessels.

It is always a good idea with circulatory problems to go to your doctor to check there is no major heart condition. I have twice had people come to visit me in clinic for circulation problems, listened to their hearts and then sent them to the doctor for a check up. They both had heart murmurs which were checked thoroughly and deemed not to be a problem, so I treated their circulation making sure I supported the heart. In both cases the heart murmur cleared up and their circulation improved.

Diet plays the most important factor in trying to improve arterial health and therefore circulation.

The good old fashioned “sensible” diet is definitely the one to go for.

Complex carbohydrates, such as fruit and veg and wholegrain cereals.

Lean meat including some red meat to ensure a good iron intake and eliminate a possibility of anaemia.

Skimmed milk

Oily Fish

Polyunsaturated oils and Olive oil

Lots of Garlic and Onions

AND WATER.

An example of a day’s menu could be:-

BREAKFAST;- muesli or fruit or wholegrain cereals/ semi-skimmed milk/ fruit juice

(Dried fruits contain a high amount of iron.)

LUNCH:- tinned  tuna   and salad or Baked potato with low fat Cole slaw or baked beans or a sandwich made with wholemeal bread and a sunflower or olive oil margarine.

Fruit

DINNER: – lean cooked meat of any sort. Remember lamb and pork have more fat throughout the body of the meat so the fat is harder to cut off when preparing it for cooking. Red meat at least twice a week. Eggs at least twice a week for iron content.

Any vegetables you like and as much as you like.

Try to get out of the habit of having pudding.

Drink plenty of water during the day and no more than three cups of tea or coffee, preferably decaff.

You know I am now going to say EXERCISE!

No you do not have to be Mr or Mrs Super fit of the year but you do need to be exercising regularly.

20 minutes of walking a day or swimming twice a week or a dance class or whatever takes your fancy within your capabilities.  If you are less mobile then ask for some help from your Doctor who should be able to get you on to an exercise programme suitable for your ability. Many hospitals run exercise classes specifically to improve heart and circulation health.

So that is some good advice to try and keep your arteries and circulation in good shape. It isn’t too difficult to do and I have very often had feedback from patients who have had to make life style changes to say they have found it hard to make the change, but had got used to their new regimes quickly and now would not change back.

The herbs commonly used to improve arterial health are

  • Garlic:- this lowers cholesterol in the blood preventing a build up of cholesterol and also helps clear fat accumulating in blood vessels
  • Hawthorn:- as I have said in the description of hawthorn previously it is  a positive heart restorative and  is a cholesterol and mineral solvent
  • Lime Flower:-amongst all the other wonderful things it can do Lime flower has anti coagulant properties thus helping the blood to stay fluid in the arteries and not giving the cholesterol a chance to stick to the walls. It is also known to help dissolve fatty plaques in the arteries. It makes a delicious tea which has no caffeine and is very low in tannin.
  • Ginger: – is a specific for improving circulation to the peripheries (outlying areas). It makes a nice tea if you grate a little fresh ginger into some boiling water and leave it to stand for about 5 minutes. Strain it and drink twice a day.

There are also little obvious bits of advice such as wear a hat and gloves in winter, if your hands and feet do get very cold don’t warm them against a fire as this may lead to you getting chilblains. Don’t be proud, wear bed socks if you need to. You will find you sleep better at night if you are warm.

If you need more help do come and 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

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Herbal Health Information on Acid Indigestion

September 18, 2011 by Leave a Comment

A burning feeling in the throat, pain, wind, abdominal discomfort and nausea can all be symptoms of acid indigestion. Indigestion may be indicative of a gastric or duodenal ulcer so it’s best to get it checked out with the doctor.

I know I do harp on about diet but really if you suffer indigestion then you must look carefully at your diet.

Acid indigestion is caused by the overproduction of stomach acid, produced to digest high protein foods such as meat, eggs and fish.

High fat foods, high protein foods and stress will increase the amount of stomach acid produced.

So diet wise it is better to have a fairly bland diet until the acid levels return to and are maintained at normal levels. A large heavy meal will also increase acid levels and result in you being awake in discomfort for most of the night.

BREAKFAST:-

Bowl of porridge/muesli/ cornflakes or rice krispies with semi skimmed milk.

Do not eat high fibre cereals as the fibre may aggravate an already irritated stomach, especially if you have an ulcer.

Fruit and juices are high in acid so are best to avoid, apart from lemon juice which has an alkaline effect in the stomach.

LUNCH:-

Bowl of soup but not tomato, or a baked potato, or a sandwich, made with white bread low fat spread and chicken breast or lean ham. Sorry no cheese, which is too fatty.

If you want fruit, pears and bananas are fairly low acid fruits, low fat yogurt is ok but everything in moderation.

DINNER:-

If you can have your main meal at lunch time that is much better for you than in the evening when the digestion is working hard but the body is also trying to shut down for the night

I won’t be too specific here but the usual meat and two veg is good. Make sure the meat is lean and your portion amount is not too big. No fry –ups and don’t add too much fat or oil into the cooking.

Spicy foods, especially Chilli containing foods need to be avoided as they may aggravate the condition.

Foods to avoid are:-

Tomatoes

Oranges

Fatty foods

Full fat cheese

High fibre foods

Acidic fruits and juices

Chilli

Coffee

Alcohol

Herbal Medicine aims to reduce stomach acid levels and coat and protect the stomach and gut lining as well as ensuring good production of other digestive enzymes so that the food is properly digested and the waste eliminated.

There is a plant called Meadowsweet, which I call a wonder herb, alongside Dandelion, Elder, Yarrow and Hawthorn.

Meadowsweet grows on the downs near us but really likes to grow near streams or rivers or on marshy land. It is a beautiful plant standing tall with cream coloured feathery flowers which smell of bitter almonds. Although I have seen it on our walks this summer, growing beside a stream at Shinewater Lake, I have not had time to video it, so that pleasure awaits us next year.

Meadowsweet is anti-inflammatory as it contains salicylic acid, an aspirin related chemical. It is acid reducing due to the Salicin content, the herbalist’s bicarbonate of soda and has protective properties due to its high mucilage content. Marshmallow root has high mucilage content so is also protective for the stomach lining in high acid conditions. Along with these two herbs it is important to make sure that the rest of the digestive processes are functioning well especially the breakdown of fats. For this purpose I would use, either Milk thistle, which improves liver and gall bladder function, or Chamomile, which improves digestive function and is a tonic to the gut. Chamomile is also calming and soothing for the nervous system and is an excellent herb for increased stomach acid if it is stress related.

You may find over the counter preparations of these herbs but make sure they are licensed products so that you know they have been through rigorous trials.

You are also welcome to visit me in my clinic for help. The 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

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Herbal Health on Haemorrhoids

September 4, 2011 by Leave a Comment

These are the butt of all jokes if you’ll excuse the pun, but they really are not a laughing matter if you suffer from them.

Varicose veins around the anus, cause discomfort and itching. They can be internal and quite mild, protrude, bleed and return to the rectum after defecation, or remain outside the anus at all times. Bleeding from a haemorrhoid is always bright red so if you suspect you have blood in the faeces but it is a darker colour, then there is something else going on. Providing there is no other underlying cause such as pregnancy the most common cause of haemorrhoids is constipation.

If you have haemorrhoids due to a current pregnancy then I’m sorry but you can’t use Herbal Medicine at the moment as the herbs that tone up the Veins may also have a tonic effect on the uterus which may stimulate it and are therefore best to avoid during pregnancy.

Unlike the Arteries, Veins do not have elastic walls, so if they go saggy they cannot pull themselves together again. It is the surrounding muscles that the Veins pass through that provide support for them and also supply a muscle pump to keep the blood moving through them. They have valves internally which normally prevent the back flow of blood, but the valves can get damaged, causing blood to collect in the vein, when they protrude, go shiny and itch.

Doing pelvic floor exercises is a good way of toning the muscles supporting the veins, indirectly toning the veins up by improving blood flow through them.

PELVIC FLOOR EXERCISE

This is the same exercise we were told to do just after we had babies when everything below the belly button feels battered, bruised and sagging. So you look at the physiotherapist, who is usually a 20 something pretty girl with a figure to die for and think “do be serious.” But they are trained in doling out torture in the guise of exercise which, of course, magically transforms all the droopy bits and ensures you don’t suffer a prolapse in older age. If you are male or have not had babies this is going to be interesting for you.

  • Lie flat on the floor on your back. (If you can’t there is a variation coming up)
  • Feet slightly apart, Knees bent upwards
  • Gently lift your bottom slightly off the floor
  • Squeeze the muscles in your pelvic floor as if you are trying to stop yourself wee-ing
  • Count 5 slowly
  • Relax down slowly
  • Do this another 5 times and repeat the exercise at least three times in the day.

If you cannot lie on the floor then another effective way of toning up the pelvic floor muscles is to do the exercise when you are sitting on the toilet. Just pull the whole lot up as if you are desperately trying to stop yourself wee-ing, count 5 slowly and relax. You can do that every time you go to the toilet, or sitting in the car.

DIET

It is important that you eat a diet high in fibre, to avoid constipation. But make sure it is a good mixed diet containing plenty of fruit and vegetables as well as cereals. Cereal bran can be irritating to some peoples gut linings so it is advisable to get fibre from all sources not just high fibre cereals.

HERBS

These concentrate on toning the Veins both internally and externally.

Internally, a tincture containing liver stimulating herbs, to ensure bowel movements are easy, as well as Vein toning herbs.

For the liver the bitter herbs such as dandelion, burdock and blue flag root are effective in treating piles.

Vein toning herbs are Yarrow, Hawthorn and Horsechestnut. Yarrow can be seen in the Beachy Head herb walk video.

A typical mix may contain:-

Hawthorn which is an excellent circulation supporting herb and can be seen in the West Rise herb walk video.

Horsechestnut (small amounts) is the herb of choice for varicose veins. It is anti inflammatory, astringent (toning) and protects blood vessels.

Blue flag root I would choose this for its laxative effect as well as having anti inflammatory and astringent properties

Marshmallow root is a protectant to coat the rectum with mucilage and stop it getting inflamed. Marshmallow can be seen in the Cuckmere herb walk video.

Externally a cream containing Horsechestnut and pilewort would tone the Veins up and soothe the inflamed skin.

Pilewort is a pretty little yellow spring flower, lesser celandine, which you will have seen growing in woodlands.

It is the root of the plant that is used and I love the fact that our predecessors must have used it for piles and named it accordingly!

I have had good success treating haemorrhoids so if you would like to see me in clinic please click here or on the clinic tab at the top of the page.

Linda Bostock

Medical Herbalist/Herbal Health Information.

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Herbal Health Information on Varicose Veins

September 4, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Veins carry blood back to the heart, but unlike the Arteries, Veins do not have elastic walls, so if they go saggy they cannot pull themselves together again. It is the surrounding muscles that the Veins pass through that provide support for them and also supply a muscle pump to keep the blood moving through them back to the heart. Veins have valves internally which normally prevent the back flow of blood, but the valves can get damaged, causing blood to collect in the vein. This results in weak, protruding, knotty vessels and aching legs.

Constipation and Pregnancy are the main causes, but they may also be caused by ovarian cysts and abdominal tumours so if they are unexplained do go and get the Doctor to check your abdomen.

For our purposes we will assume they are either post pregnancy or caused by constipation. If you have Varicose Veins and are still pregnant, then I’m sorry but you can’t use Herbal Medicine at the moment as the herbs that tone up the Veins may also have a tonic effect on the uterus which may stimulate it and are therefore best to avoid during pregnancy.

EXCERCISE

It is important not to stand still too long if you have Varicose Veins. If you do have to stand still, then go on to your tiptoes every now and again to keep the muscle pump pushing the blood upwards through the veins. I am reliably informed this is what Guards outside Buckingham palace do, but I don’t know any to check it out. If you have to sit for long periods of time, keep your feet elevated. At regular intervals, pull your toes up towards the front of your legs and then point them downwards, again this keeps the blood flowing well through the Veins.

DIET

It is important that you eat a diet high in fibre, to avoid constipation. But make sure it is a good mixed diet containing plenty of fruit and vegetables as well as cereals. Cereal bran can be irritating to some peoples’ gut linings so it is advisable to get fibre from all sources not just high fibre cereals.

HERBS

These concentrate on toning the Veins both internally and externally.

Internally, a tincture containing liver stimulating herbs, to ensure bowel movements are easy, as well as Vein toning herbs.

For the liver the bitter herbs such as dandelion, burdock and blue flag root are effective in treating Varicose Veins.

Vein toning herbs are Yarrow, Hawthorn and Horsechestnut.

A typical mix may contain:-

Hawthorn which is an excellent circulation supporting herb and seen in the West Rise Marsh video.

Horsechestnut (small amounts) is the herb of choice for varicose veins. It is anti inflammatory, astringent (toning) and protects blood vessels.

Blue flag root I would choose this for its laxative effect as well as having anti inflammatory and astringent properties

Horsetail is an herb high in silica which encourages all damaged body tissue to heal itself.

We have horsetail growing profusely in the rough ground at the harbour where I live, but I have not got around to videoing it this year so that will be a next year treat to look forward to. From fossil records, it is known to be one of the oldest plant species.

Externally a cream containing Horsechestnut and yarrow would tone the Veins up and soothe aching legs.

I have had good success treating Varicose Veins, although it takes patience and perseverance, especially if the condition has existed for some time.

If you would like to see me in clinic please click here or on the clinic tab at the top of the page.

Linda Bostock

Medical Herbalist/Herbal Health Information

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Herbal Health Information on Stomach Bloating and Wind

August 31, 2011 by Leave a Comment

I have seen patients with quite distended and hard abdomens due to bloating. This is often accompanied by wind and considerable pain. It usually follows eating, but people will report that it seems to be any kind of food substance that sets it off.

My own experience of treating people with Bloating is that it is food related and once the digestive tract gets sensitised and aggravated by an original food substance it will react to any food substances after that. Imagine an open wound that is constantly being irritated, it oozes liquid and swells up. Sometimes people have suffered a discomfort after eating, most of their lives, in other cases it may start after a Tummy bug or period of stress.

The lining of the gut is covered with a membrane which is normally intact and across which digested food gets transported into the blood stream to be used around the body.

There are many foods which can aggravate the gut lining causing inflammation and a subsequent decrease in digestive function. This may result in poor digestion of food or poor absorption of food or both.

Although most gut bacteria aid digestion, poorly digested food is a veritable feast for  gut bacteria which feeds on it and causes fermentation in the gut with the production of gas, which fills and extends the gut, until it is expelled.

If you have found that a particular food substance causes bloating, it is essential you cut it out of your diet.

The foods most likely to cause bloating are Wheat and dairy products.

Wheat, because it is a high fibre food and the fibre in wheat is very harsh, dagger shaped and will irritate the lining of the gut, which it is designed to do.

Dairy because it is food for baby cows and humans, especially of Italian and Asian backgrounds, can find it hard to digest as they do not have the proper enzymes to do so.

Wheat is quite easy to eliminate from the diet as it can be substituted with rice and corn products.

Dairy I usually say don’t cut it right out but reduce it. The major problem with both these foods is that we are eating too much of them, for example:-

BREAKFAST

Wheat cereal with milk tea/coffee

LUNCH

Sandwich and yogurt

Tea/coffee

DINNER

Pasta and ice cream or a milk pudding

Tea/coffee

You can see that the wheat and dairy intake may be three times a day seven days a week. Imagine if you did that with fish or eggs or any other food, your tummy is going to complain.

An example of a reduced wheat and dairy diet would be:-

BREAKFAST

Rice krispies or Cornflakes or Muesli (Oats have a gentler form of fibre) with cow’s milk or rice milk. nuts/ seeds/ fruit

LUNCH

Baked potato with a filling or salad /fruit

DINNER

Meat eggs or fish or vegetarian alternative, with vegetables, potatoes or rice

The secret is to vary the foods you are eating so that you do not eat too much of the same foods. Yogurt a couple of times a week and cheese no more than twice a week.

Tea and coffee should be no more than three a day (together not separately)

Drink at least two pints of water a day.

The herbal approach, using tinctures, is in two stages:-

  • Firstly, to protect the gut from the ingested food and improve digestive function.

Marshmallow root is high in mucilage which coats and protects the gut lining. Seen in the Cuckmere herb walk video.

Meadowsweet has anti inflammatory properties to reduce inflammation in the gut.

Fennel and peppermint aid digestion and break down wind produced in the gut so that it is easily expelled. These two herbs are the basis for many baby anti colic mixtures and can be drunk as teas. Fennel can be seen in beach herbal walk video.

I have found it may take a couple of months to calm the inflammation in the gut.

  • secondly to repair and toughen up the gut lining

Any herb that is high in tannin will do this job, such as Agrimony or Centaury. Agrimony can be seen in the Beachy Head video. Centaury can be seen in the Shingle Beach video.

The very best healing herb in the herbal Pharmacopoeia is Marigold.

Marigold, (Calendula officianalis, not any of the ornamental ones) is also anti bacterial, anti viral, anti fungal, anti inflammatory and antispasmodic. It is a growing medicine chest in one very pretty little plant.

The healing process can also take up to two months, but at the end of this time the digestive process should be working well and people can usually start to reduce the amount of tincture they are taking.

If you need more help please do come and see me in clinic, the details of which you can find by clicking the Clinic tab at the top of the page.

If you would prefer to visit me in my clinic, please click here for details or go to the clinic tab at the top of the page.

Linda Bostock

Medical Herbalist, Herbal Health Information

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Herbal Health Information on Panic Attacks

August 25, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Many people who suffer from panic attacks will tell you that they consider themselves to be level headed, very calm people. They will often say that they have been through a time of horrible stress but that everything has settled down and they no longer feel stressed.

Ha! This is the trouble, whilst the body is under stress it produces adrenaline from the adrenal glands and other hormones to help us cope with the stress. This is our fight or flight mechanism which either helps us to stay and face the situation or helps us run away from it. When the stress is gone, the adrenal glands are exhausted and go in to a bit of a shut down and everything “falls flat”.

The symptoms include feelings of anxiety, hyperventilation and palpitations. Hyperventilation is breathing too quickly and shallowly and in itself causes a serious imbalance in the body chemistry, as carbon dioxide produced during normal body metabolism is not excreted properly by the lungs. This leads to an acidic internal environment, sending all the wrong messages around the body and further panic caused by the body trying to right the wrong.

Firstly, cut out all Caffeine. Caffeine increases heart rate and puts stress on the heart and nervous system, it absolutely has to go.

Caffeine is in:-

Tea

Coffee

Chocolate

Coca cola

Many Boost drinks

If you have a high Caffeine intake you will need to come off it slowly as it is addictive and withdrawal from it causes quite severe headaches, so reduce by one cup a day every two days until you can come off it completely.

Next learn to breathe properly.

It is important that each breath you take in fills the lungs properly and then each breath out gets rid of all the carbon dioxide produced during metabolism.

Either get a Yoga video which will teach you to focus on your breathing and teach you relaxation techniques or do this simple exercise.

Lie on the bed flat on your back if you can. If you can’t then whatever position you are comfortable in. Close your eyes and breathe normally.

Count how long it takes you to breathe in and how long to breathe out. Do this for about a minute.

Put both your hands, palm down on to your belly. Just concentrate on breathing normally. As you are breathing, your abdomen should be rising and falling gently because it is your abdominal muscles which are pulling the diaphragm down as you breathe in and relaxing as you breathe out. By putting your palms flat on your abdomen you can check whether you are using your abdominal muscles properly by watching your hands rise and fall. You can do this little exercise two or three times a day for about five minutes a time, but do not at any time force your breathing, this is just making you aware that you are breathing normally.

Herbs for panic attacks fall in to two categories:-

Calming herbs

Passion flower is a gently calming herb which also supports the heart muscle.

Motherwort is calming, relaxing and also calms heart palpitations. I find it works well for women (hence the name I guess).

Valerian, this is a strong relaxant and calming herb but does not affect the way the brain functions so does not leave you with a woolly head. Smells like smelly feet though!!!!

Chamomile is the most gentle of the calming herbs and the most pleasant tasting if drunk as a tea. Also seen in the beach video.

Lime flower, seen on the Pevensey castle video, is sedative, calms, supports the nervous system and has anti anxiety properties, also pleasant drunk as a tea.

Nervous system supporting and repairing herbs,

Oats are the best nerve restorative, as well as being a brain and heart tonic, I would never leave this out of a mix for panic attacks.

Vervain, is an excellent nervous system supporting and repairing herb with alterative (bringing back to normal) properties.

Scullcap, I have to admit to using this herb ALOT. It has just the best nervous system repairing and supporting properties as well as having the ability to calm the brain down and stop it going into the mad “loop” thinking mode.

Ginseng is the herb that supports the exhausted Adrenal glands and gets them working normally again. It is an Adaptogen, helping the body to adapt to new stress and strain by stimulating the body’s own defensive mechanisms. Don’t take Ginseng an hour either side of any tannin containing drink such as Tea and Coffee and do not take it if you have high blood pressure. Ginseng should not be used for more than four weeks at a time without a break from it.

St. John’s wort is traditionally used as a nervous system repairing herb with antidepressant properties. Also seen in the shingle beach video.

Panic attacks respond well to treatment with herbal medicine so if you would like to visit me in the clinic for help, please see the clinic details which you will find by clicking here or on the Clinic tab at the top of the page.

Linda Bostock

Medical Herbalist

Herbal Health Information

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Herbal Health Information on Arthritis

August 25, 2011 by Leave a Comment

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

Sadly by the time Arthritis sufferers come to see me they have usually had the condition for many years resulting in degeneration (breakdown) of the joint lining. They have a long history of taking strong anti inflammatories, pain killers and possibly steroids. I know the joints are painful and inflamed but 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 an arthritic joint and only use it as much as is comfortable.

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 arthritis sufferers find eating meat will increase inflammation. The message here is to keep an eye on your diet to see if any foods do make your arthritis 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.

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 would be:-

  • Dandelion root tincture, 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.

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 many over the counter herbal remedies for arthritis but if you buy one make sure it is a licensed product, which means it is tried and tested.

I do recommend if you have been an arthritis 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

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Herbal Health Information on Tiredness

August 23, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Having a little nap in the afternoon or falling asleep in front of the T.V. in the evening is perfectly normal. It is waking up tired after a decent nights sleep and dragging yourself through the day that I am going to discuss here.

There are many causes for tiredness:-

Poor nutrition/poor digestion

Heart problems

Depression

Anxiety

Menopause

Post viral

Chronic fatigue syndrome (M.E.)

Unexplained

I would advocate going and having a general check up and a blood test at your doctor’s before taking any other action. If the cause is easily picked up by a blood test, such as Anaemia, or possibly heart problems then it is easily dealt with by orthodox medicine.

If all the tests are coming back ok then there are several things you can do to help yourself through it.

A good diet is essential as you can’t run a tank on empty!

Make sure you get your fair share of:-

Complex carbohydrates such as whole grain cereals

Never snack on sugary foods to try and boost your energy levels if you are suffering from tiredness. What happens is the sugar is easily digested resulting in a sugar “high” in the blood stream giving you a short burst of energy. But if the blood sugar levels are high, the body responds by producing insulin from the Pancreas which removes the sugar from the blood and stores it in the cells either as Glycogen or eventually fat. This then causes the blood sugar to fall, resulting in more fatigue.

Fruit and Veg are both a source of complex carbohydrate and a source of vitamins and minerals which are essential for all body metabolism (chemical reactions)

Proteins, such as Eggs, Fish, Meat and Cheese.

Protein is essential for repairing any cell damage and also new cell growth. Adult humans do not need as much protein as we normally eat as we are no longer growing, but only repairing and regenerating. Children need a good source of protein due to their rapid growth. Any Mums out there will know the “I’m Hungry” mantra that starts the moment children open their eyes!

Despite the drive to encourage us to eat mostly chicken and fish, it is necessary to eat some red meat every week to ensure a good intake of iron.

Essential fatty acids. These are the omega oils about which there is so much talk. They are necessary for cell wall growth and repair. The body cannot manufacture one of these acids, linoleic, and it is a must, to have a source of it in your diet.

Fatty acids are present in oily fish and eggs, seeds pulses oils and margarines.

I know eating sounds like a bit of a mine field but don’t stress yourself about it, just eat a sensible balanced mixed diet and you will be getting all the nutrients your body needs.

This is one of the times that exercise is not a good idea. Your body usually knows when it needs rest, so let it repair itself and then think about the exercise when your energy levels have improved.

There are many Herbs which have tonic properties but it is not a good idea to get a boost of energy too quickly as you will want to rush around and do all the jobs you haven’t done for however long and this will cause further fatigue.

Slow but sure is the best approach.

If a patient visits me in clinic with tiredness I will, as usual, make sure their digestion is working properly. If you have read any of my other articles you will know that it is the “bitter” herbs that improve digestive function. These are herbs such as Dandelion, Burdock, Agrimony, Centaury and Yellow Dock, (only one at a time otherwise you will be sat on the loo forever) all of which we have seen on various Herb walks.

A good digestive system will ensure proper use of the food you eat.

The circulation needs to be working well to get nutrients to where they are required and metabolic by products away as quickly as possible.

Hawthorn is an excellent circulation herb as it supports the heart, at the same time as it increases blood flow to the capillaries.

Nettles and Yellow dock are good tonic herbs because they both contain minerals, especially iron.

Oat is also a tonic herb, supporting the nervous system to improve body functions.

For a month or two it is best to just use a combination of these nutritive and tonic herbs, before boosting energy levels with herbs such as Ginseng and Dong quai (known as ladies ginseng) these two herbs are adaptogens which return body function to normal.

You will find ready made preparations with combinations of these herbs in them or you are welcome to visit me in my clinic to have a tailor made herbal remedy prepared for you.

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

Filed Under: Health Conditions Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Herbal Health Information on Sinusitis

August 23, 2011 by Leave a Comment

The sinuses are just open spaces lined with mucous membranes, easily irritated by whatever enters the airways.

It is thought that they make the skull lighter to carry around and provide a resonance box for sound production.
Here’s the problem though, an open space has no blood supply! Meaning we cannot get any medicine into an infected sinus to clear it up.
As many plants contain volatile oils which evaporate up into the sinuses once they hit the warmth of the stomach, herbal medicine has the answer.

One of the best ways to get medication up into the sinuses is to put essential oils into hot water and inhale the steam that comes off them.

• Fill a basin with very hot water.
• Add 3 drops of eucalyptus oil, 2drops of peppermint oil, and 3 drops of Camphor oil. ( or if you have Olbas oil that’s ok)
• Place a towel over your head and the bowl and inhale the rising steam for up to five minutes. Don’t put your face too near the hot water, to avoid scalding yourself. Also Peppermint oil is very strong so you may need to close your eyes whilst you are inhaling.

You can do this twice a day if you have sinusitis until the sinuses are clear.

The tinctures that help clear and tone sinuses are:
Eyebright, which we saw growing in the Downs walk video and elderflower, which we saw growing in the west rise marsh video.

Eyebright tones all mucous membranes as it is high in tannins and in doing so makes them toughened up and less susceptible to external irritants.

Elderflower, seen in the West Rise Marsh video,  is anti bacterial, anti viral and anti catarrhal, drying up the membranes and preventing them filling up with mucous. It is often a good idea to add an immune stimulating herb such as Echinacea to these two herbs to prevent reinfection.

These three herbs can be mixed in equal amounts and the resulting tincture taken at 5 mls twice a day in a little water. (Echinacea is yukky tasting)

Dietary advice is to dramatically reduce all dairy product intake, as dairy increases the amount of catarrh produced which will contribute to blocking the sinuses.

As usual you are very welcome to come and see me in my clinic, the details of which can be found by clicking here the “Clinic”

Linda Bostock
Medical Herbalist

Herbal Health Information.

Filed Under: Health Conditions Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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