Kellie Green.comOnline health & Wellbeing magazine

Are you questioning the need to take antibiotics for every minor complaint, but are not sure of the alternatives? Read on.
People used to die from infections that a course of antibiotics would have cured, and still do in third world countries today. Antibiotics were hailed as a miracle cure when they were discovered for this very reason, and as a nurse I have seen them work wonders on many occasions. However as a herbalist I also know that there is a price to be paid when you take them. It is the intention of this article to explain what that price is and what you can do about it in order to enjoy the best of both worlds and the best of health. 
I am personally opposed to the use of antibiotics for every little thing, but they most definitely have their place, especially when other treatments aren’t working as strongly or as quickly as they need to. That said, it makes good sense to limit antibiotic use for several reasons. The first is the ever worsening problem of antibiotic resistance, something which is of increasing concern in medical circles. 
RESISTANCE

Antibiotic resistance is when a bacteria mutates so as to become unaffected by an antibiotic that previously would have killed it. This has been a big problem in hospitals for decades and new (stronger) antibiotics need to be developed constantly in order to keep ahead of the cleverness of the bacteria. These stronger antibiotics also often have stronger side effects. Using natural alternatives to pharmaceutical antibiotics will help slow this trend. 
If you do need to take doctor prescribed antibiotics, commit to it fully. Make sure you complete the entire course, even if you feel completely recovered and still have some pills to take. Antibiotics work by vastly and rapidly reducing the number of bacteria  infecting you. A few days into treatment you can feel pretty much better, but still have a reasonably high count of the bacteria (which have been weakened but not killed by the antibiotics you have been taking). If you stop before the course is complete you allow these bacteria to recover, and when they do they will be resistant to the antibiotic and so will their offspring. You also run the risk of the infection flaring up again and needing another lot of (perhaps stronger) antibiotics to get on top of it.
ALLERGIES

If you overuse an antibiotic there is a small possibility that you become allergic to that antibiotic, preventing you from using it in the future. Make no mistake, antibiotics are very effective at treating infections, especially big ones. No-one ever wants to think they may have a serious accident or health crisis, but if you ever do it is best to have as many treatment options open as possible and that includes a wide range of antibiotics. 
THRUSH

The other major issue with taking antibiotics is that they don’t discriminate between good bacteria and bad bacteria – they kill the lot. So if you are taking antibiotics by mouth they will kill all the good bacteria in your bowel. You need these good bacteria to properly digest your food (and so get the goodness out of it) and help kill off the germs that cause food poisoning. They also help keep yeast, fungus and parasite populations under control. If you take antibiotics you need to replace them – with one bottle of good quality acidophilus + bifidus at the recommended dosage for every course of antibiotics. Otherwise you run the risk of getting thrush and / or Candida. 
Yoghurt contains acidophilus and bifidus, but not in the very high amounts available in supplements. You would need loads of it for many months to undo the damage of just a single course of antibiotics. By all means yoghurt is brilliant to support your population of good bowel bacteria, but use it as a maintenance food rather than a cure for thrush or Candida. 
Green Essence www.medicinalherbsfowomen.com/product/ABFE-24 for two weeks is also useful for helping to rebalance your bowel flora after antibiotics.
For some mysterious reason, natural remedies know good bowel flora from bad and only target harmful bacteria; one of the wonders of using nature’s pharmacy. Thrush and irritable bowel syndrome never occur following herbal antibiotic treatment; in fact herbs are very effective for treating both these complaints. 
NATURAL IMMUNITY

Your own immune system becomes strong by being used – just like muscles do. Fighting things off on your own or with the assistance of herbs helps to strengthen your immune system and build up your natural immunity to things. 
HERBAL ANTISEPTICS

Topical antiseptics include Lavender Essential Oil (always use diluted) and Calendula www.medicinalherbsforwomen.com/product/OINT02  
HERBAL ANTIBIOTICS

It takes three years to train a herbalist. Herbs have strong actions in the body and, like pharmaceutical drugs, need to be prescribed by people who know how they work, what to give, when to give it, how much to give and for how long. In short, it is not a good idea to self diagnose or self prescribe. 
If you would like to use herbal antibiotics instead of pharmaceutical antibiotics, book a consultation with a qualified herbalist, who will know the best herbs for your situation and whether they have a good chance of working or if it is at the point where you need to take drugs.
There are very effective herbs for systemic infections. These include herbs that can boost your own natural immune response, and for staphylococcal, streptococcal, fungal and viral infections. 
There are also herbs, available only to professional herbalists, that support specific areas in the body. Herbs are available to treat infections in all the organs including the lungs, reproductive organs, kidneys, bladder, liver and bowel, but the strongest (most effective) are not sold over the counter. 
Herbal remedies are certainly an option in most cases and it is worth seeing a professional herbalist to make you up an individual remedy. This often costs less than you would expect, usually about the same as a trip to the health food shop (where you may or may not get what you need after self-prescribing or on the advice of a shop assistant who may or may not be qualified). It is also comparable to the combined cost of a trip to the doctor and chemist.
Antibiotics definitely have their place, but ideally should be reserved for really big infections requiring drastic measures. Every day infections, even fairly severe ones, can be and are successfully treated with herbs without the unpleasant side effects of pharmaceutical antibiotics. Herbs, properly taken, will completely remove the infection and restore the affected area to full health and enhance natural immunity for the future.

Please note that the information contained in this article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to replace the advice of a qualified health professional. Under no circumstances should you self diagnose or self treat – if you are unwell, it is important that you seek assistance from a doctor or qualified herbalist.”
Linn Wiggins. R.N. Dip Herb Med.

Botanical Name: Citrus limonum
Plant Part: Peel of the fruit
Extraction Method: Cold Pressed
Colour: A light yellow
Consistency: Light
Note: Top   (how quickly the essence evaporates, used mainly for perfume mixing)
Strength of Aroma: The aroma is similar to fresh lemon rinds except richer and more concentrated.

Therapeutic value: Lemon is highly prized for its high anti-bacterial properties. On skin and hair it can be used for its cleansing effect, as well as for treating cuts and boils. I mix it with a base oil such as macadamia or almond and use as a cuticle remover.

Mix 10 or so drops into 100ml of water and shake very well, than use as a rinse for oilly and fine hair.

This is a fresh energizing scent to put into your electric oil burner in the mornings to get everyone off to a great start for the day. I often mix it with lavender in my oil burner to give an energized balance to the house or office.

Most oils are not to be applied neat (undiluted) to the skin and lemon is included in this. The only time I will use it neat is by applying it to a cotton bud and then to a wart or skin tag to help remove them. Please remember DO NOT let it touch the skin surrounding the wart or skin tag as it might  irritate.

Adding lemon to your skin care in the appropriate doses can be of benefit especially if you live in cold sunless environments. Using it in the morning can really lift the spirits and aid in combating cabin fever and depression due to being shut indoors due to weather.

Because it is a top note and evaporates quickly I like to mix it with a base or middle note such as lavender  to hold the fragrance longer.

Another blend I use it in is a mind stimulater blend, lemon mixed with rosemary, it clears fogginess, aids memory and gets you thinking outside the box especially when mixed with the flower essences turkey bush and bush fushia. I will make this mix into a spritz or mix it into a base oil or cream for  temple massage. It also works well in an electric burner.

On a more physical level lemon essential oil is a liver and gall bladder tonic, helping with digestion. It stimulates the gall bladder to produce more bile which brakes down your food.

There are many more uses for this fine oil, as long as it is used in the correct dosages, if you aren’t sure then the basic rule is don’t use it. Find out from a respected aromatherapist the correct and safe usages.

Cautions:Non-toxic, but may cause skin irritation in some. Lemon is also phototoxic and should be avoided prior to exposure to direct sunlight. This means it can make you burn faster.
 
Important Note: The information provided is for educational purposes only.

Kellie Green

Editors notes: I personally use Linn’s herbs and advice, she knows what she is talking about. This is especially good for all those in fear of the dreaded swine flu. Prevention is the best cure and if your immunity is high you are less suseptable to these kind of outbreaks.

There are many diseases for which no vaccination is available. Against these we are left with only one defence – our own natural immunity. Now more than ever, with new diseases emerging and antibiotic resistance at an all time high, it is important for you to know how to support your body’s inbuilt immune system. Here are some simple natural steps you can take. 

CLEAN LYMPHATICS
Your lymphatic system picks up metabolic wastes and environmental toxins from throughout your body and excretes them through your skin or bowel. When your “glands are up” (your lymph nodes are swollen) this is a sign they have gathered an amount of toxic waste (i.e. they are doing their job). When you get sick your lymph nodes help isolate the infection. As the infection passes they should slowly and safely excrete their wastes. Unfortunately, in modern times we have many toxins in our body that it was never designed to deal with, so the lymphatic system is often permanently congested and sluggish. Exercise helps pump lymph and clean this system through sweating. If you don’t sweat or your sweat smells or you are showing a lymphatic rosary in your iris, your lymphatic system needs cleaning. Specific herbs can achieve this. This detox mix helps cleanse both your lymphatic system and blood:
http://www.medicinalherbsforwomen.com/product/herb09″

The Australian Bush Flower Essence ‘Bush Iris’ can also support the lymphatic system energetically http://www.medicinalherbsforwomen.com/product/ABFE-14

HEALTHY BLOOD

“Dirty blood” is a naturopathic term referring to blood laden with waste products. Iron deficiency can contribute to this. Good iron levels are necessary to oxygenate all the cells in the body and to burn out infection. The long term effects of low iron levels are potentially very serious. Vegetarians, those who don’t eat a lot of red meat, and women who menstruate heavily are most prone. If blood tests show low iron or haemoglobin levels, natural iron supplements are recommended. Synthetic iron tablets often cause constipation and are not as readily absorbable by your body.

TRY HERBAL ANTIBIOTICS
Like any part of the body, the immune system gets stronger the more it is used. “Use it lose it” definitely applies here. Over use of antibiotics can lead to a lazy immune system, antibiotic resistance and / or yeast overgrowth (thrush and candida). Combine this with a weak immune system and the outlook can be grim if a really serious infection occurs. There are many very effective herbal medicines for bacterial, viral and fungal infections. Other herbs can be used to stimulate the immune system when necessary. No resistance seems to develop against herbal remedies and they support the healing process rather than suppress it. Even in medical circles, stress is now known to lower immunity. Your adrenal glands must be healthy for you to mount an effective response against any challenge – including disease. Stress, worry and anxiety all deplete your adrenal glands. There are many herbs and flower essences which act as adrenal tonics and assist during times of stress. Flower essences include Black-Eyed Susan www.medicinalherbsforwomen.com/product/ABFE-07 and also Macrocarpa www.medicinalherbsforwomen.com/product/ABFE-36
Remember to take time out to relax with family, friends and hobbies. Live and work somewhere you like, with people whose company you enjoy. Live joyfully.

…. as much as you can afford to buy and have time to grow. The much higher life force from plants and animals being nurtured on good quality soil, using traditional farming practises, is well worth the extra expense. Mass produced food is grown in tired soil, stimulated with chemical fertilisers to grow fast, and sprayed with toxic chemicals to control pests. Some is also genetically modified to look good, travel well and last a long time on the supermarket shelf. The end result has dramatically lowered nutritional value. The cost of organic food is the true cost of (nutritious) food. The true cost of non organic food is chronic sub health and the recent alarming rise in serious diseases in western society. Every step of processing food lessens its nutritional value. So use as much whole, organic food as time and budget permit and cook it yourself. It’s the only way to really know what you are eating.

LIMIT ENVIRONMENTAL TOXINS
They increase the work your liver, kidneys, skin, lungs and lymphatics have to do. Take a serious look at every cleaning product and personal care item in your house. If you can’t eat it, don’t breathe it or let it touch your skin. Many natural products do just as good a job as their chemical equivalents and using them does you, your children, your grandchildren and the environment a huge favour. Copyright Linn Wiggins. Wholistic Herbalist. http://www.medicinalherbsforwomen.com

WHAT IS REFLEXOLOGY?  HOW DOES REFLEXOLOGY WORK?

Reflexology is a science that follows the principle that the body is reflected in a mirror image of reflexes on the feet, hands and ears.  All organs, glands and body parts are able to be stimulated through these reflexes or energy channels or nerve endings, creating Homeostasis.  Homeostasis is the correct “balance” of your body and its systems.

There are a number of theories and practices, ranging from Zone Therapy, Accupressure and Meridian Channels to Nerve Stimulation.   Explained below are the basics of Zone Therapy which is a good starting point to understanding for yourself how to find the appropriate reflexes.

DEFINITION

Ø  To relieve stress

Ø  To improve blood supply and lymph flow

Ø  To unblock nerve impulses

Ø  To help nature achieve Homeostasis “balance”

According to the American Medical Association Journal, over 100,000 Americans die in hospitals every year due to side effects from regularly prescribed medications. Throughout America, a huge amount of medication is prescribed on a daily basis. The medical community openly acknowledges the fact that it does not have any cure for several common diseases that affect people.  

Most allopathic medicines have side effects that can range from mild to severe. The reason for this is that most of these chemicals have certain toxic properties. This is why there have been so many prescription drugs that got pulled from the market after enjoying several years of FDA approval.  

The sad thing is that very few doctors nowadays bother to inform patients about possible side effects due to close and cozy relationships with the pharmaceutical industries. 

Half of the truth is that pharmaceutical companies will only tell doctors as much as they want to and not reveal the complete picture. Therefore, the doctors are not completely to blame because they cannot warn patients against side effects of chemicals they are not aware of. 

The trouble is that the business is so profitable and these medicine manufacturers are more concerned with profits and FDA approval rather than the overall effect on the patients. 

This is one reason why several doctors are now beginning to recommend complementary alternative treatments, like herbal therapies and medicines. 

Here are some interesting facts:

·     The totally amount of annual profits made by pharmaceutical companies through sale of drugs in the United States alone is over $100 billion

·     More than 25% of all prescription drugs available contain plant derivatives

·     More than 80,000 types of plants are used all over the world for medicinal purposes

·     Over 75% of the global population depends on herbal remedies for regular treatment

There are several choices available for people who are looking for alternative remedies, including Acupuncture, Yoga, Qigong, Tai chi, Ayurveda, hydrotherapy, massage therapy, homeopathy, energy medicines, holistic approaches, and aromatherapy. In fact, the number of herbal remedies available for different ailments equals (if not exceeds) the number of regular drug treatments provided by pharmaceutical companies. 

The point is that prevention always was and always will be better than any cure, mainstream or alternative. The advantage of herbal remedies is that they move an individual towards a lifestyle more geared toward prevention and cure in the early stages of any affliction.

Pharmaceutical drugs work only after the problem has developed, they do not try to prevent problems because then the manufacturing companies would go into a loss.

 
This is where herbal remedies leave the mainstream drugs behind. This is also the reason why so many people are daily turning to herbal therapies. 

Herbal remedies treat the cause of the disease and not the symptoms (like conventional drugs). Herbal remedies also have almost no side effects.