Feeling Really Good

How many days do you feel really good? Do you skip through your work, juggle your family and friends with ease, and have the time you need to prepare delicious and healthy meals, enjoy some “me” time and then get the deep, refreshing eight hours of sleep you need?

Me, neither. But I do know what to do when I am particularly frazzled or my immune system is under siege.

Our bodies are up against terrible odds for maintaining health and stamina. And when the body is stressed physically, or you are stressed mentally or emotionally, the flood of responses in the body can make you feel overwhelmed. Internal alarm bells sound. Stress hormones like cortisol kick in, blood supply is re-routed, digestion may be affected, and reserves of nutrients are depleted. The result may leave you drained and feeling at the end of your rope. In actuality, you may be having a bio-chemical response, and think that how you feel is the way it has to be.

From the botanical world there are a number of herbs that are real medicine for challenged, stressed bodies. Herbs are the basis for many pharmaceutical drugs. But drugs are made in labs by producing synthetic copies of the active ingredients of plant-based medicines. Our bodies were not designed to easily handle synthetic chemicals. Our bodies were not designed to live off chemical, synthetic foods, either. So, breaking them down so they are not toxic taxes kidneys and livers. And, after a time, a kind of living death occurs.  People on multiple drugs of any kind, and people eating only junk foods, develop bodies that are only half alive. This drags them down mentally and spiritually, also. The answer is never more synthetic chemicals.

We have been led to believe that herbs cannot be as effective as pharmaceutical meds. But many herbs are powerful medicines, if they are prepared correctly, using the strongest parts of the plant, carefully preserving the active constituents. Herbal preparations from Health Food Stores may have some use, but few are potent enough when you need strong medicine.

By test, the MediHerb company makes some of the strongest herbal medicine in the Western world. In Australia, herbal medicine is regulated and must be effective and potent.

If you are feeling less than ideal, give herbs a try for supporting your body. Drugs bypass normal body function. Herbs can help your body truly heal and repair.

Brain fog? Memory issues? Study difficulties. Try Bacopa complex. Bacopa is a brain tonic that assists mental function, concentration, memory, and the mental stress of study and work. It may assist ADHD symptoms, and it appears to protect against brain decline and Alzheimer’s.

Flu is already making the rounds. Andographis Complex is a herbal preparation for acute and sudden onset infections. It helps relieve fever and mucous congestion, and will also boost your natural immunity. You can keep Andographis around to help for times you need extra immune support, or you can take Andographis every day to prevent infections. For flu bugs that linger and move to the chest, Andographis with Congaplex or Immuplex, can pull you out of the illness fast. Add Pneumotrophin if you are prone to chest infections, or have a history of asthma, bronchitis or pneumonia. *

MediHerb also makes some wonderful liquid preparations. They are very potent, and the taste reflects this. If you need a sleep tonic, I can mix California Poppy, with Licorice to improve the taste and support adrenal glands, as well as calm the stomach.

There are some powerful herbs for helping you to handle stress and anxiety and I will write about them in my next blog.

Whole food nutrition is still your most important priority in supporting your health. Adding in herbal medicine will help you support your health at a cellular level so that you can have the kind of bodily well-being it takes to manage your world and enjoy your life.

*There are times when pharmaceutical antibiotics are lifesaving, so any illness should be evaluated on an individual basis. 

Anne Dunev, PhD, C.N. has over twenty years experience helping people feel better by finding the root cause of what is causing their symptoms. Addressing that with the correct natural and nutritional medicine is her strength. With help restoring balance and function, thousands of people are living happier, healthier lives.

Stay Strong in Summer Heat

If you have been to see me for a consultation recently, I may have used some new test kits to check you. The first thing that comes up for most people is “hydration”.  The remedy for that is not just water, and many people comment that they are already drinking “so much water”.

But hydration is far more. Most people are also deficient in minerals. The cells of the body don’t want water alone. They want water as a carrier for the building blocks of the cells, and that means minerals. Electrolytes, salt and potassium, are part of that picture. But that does not mean drink Gatorade! That does mean getting more sea salt in your diet, and summer fruits are a source of potassium.

Foods grown in depleted, over-farmed soil, have few minerals, and you are losing minerals in sweat with the heat. So, think minerals to help your body weather the heat better.

One of my favorite summer mineral supplements is Cal Amo. It is a life-saver in humid weather and has the added benefit of helping the lymph system.

The liver is burdened by hot weather, and since most of us have over-worked livers from all the environmental toxins, this can cause summer fatigue. Think liver cleanse, or extra liver support with Milk Thistle herbs and Choline and AF Betafood to help the gall bladder decongest.

Adrenals are stressed by extreme temperatures, as well as summer travel, so extra adrenal support is helpful. Avoiding sugar and going moderate with caffeine will help.

Air conditioning dries out skin, mucous membranes and lungs. And the change from hot outside air to cold inside air is worse. A dab of Egyptian Magic cream (available from Health food stores and online) can be used around the nose at night to give some moisture to your nasal cavities. Prescription medication and inhalers for allergies will further dry out membranes. There are natural allergy medicines such as Allerplex, Euphrasia and homeopathic Sabidil that can help you manage allergies naturally. Doing a good cleanse can give long-lasting relief, as well as getting tested for food allergies. Cleanse does not mean "fast" and you can eat well while you cleanse. Ask us about our 21 day Detox program.

You can never go wrong, in any season, by eating organic foods and avoiding genetically modified foods. The main reason for GMO foods is so the plants will be able to resist pests, and was supposed to reduce the use of pesticides. However, that has not proven to be the case, because Mother Nature has her own way of coping with stress in her environment and it is proving very difficult to fight her. Since we now have stronger, tougher weeds that resist the chemicals, maybe that is part of the reason that allergies seem to be worse than ever. http://www.livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe70s/pests_08.html

Remember the recipe for a homemade sports drink/lemonade. Juice some fresh organic lemons into spring water, and add a pinch of sea salt, and stevia or honey to taste. For pink lemonade, add a splash of raspberry puree.

And I want to share a recipe for gluten-free pancakes that are high protein and don’t even need syrup. Mash a small banana and add 2 eggs. Whip together to form a “batter”. Pour on an oiled or buttered griddle or pan heated to low-medium heat. Cook until golden and flip. Two eggs make 2 large pancakes or 4-6 smaller ones.  I like them slathered with butter and fresh sliced strawberries. This is a great change from other egg breakfasts and can be used for a snack or other meal. You can roll them up and take them to eat in the car on the way to work. (watch the butter!)

This recipe is courtesy of Zonnie Bauer, Pilates and Dance instructor. Enjoy!!