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Antioxidants

Since the mid 1990’s, antioxidants have been a buzzword in the fields of both nutrition and medicine. Antioxidants are of interest to nutritionists (and naturopaths) because most antioxidants are found in food, and for medicine because antioxidants help prevent certain diseases including heart disease, cancer and possibly osteo-arthritis and autoimmune conditions.

Alpha Lipoic Acid

Alpha Lipoic Acid may not be as well known as other antioxidants, but this is bound to change as medical research reveals the enormous benefits of this important nutrient. While it is possible to make Alpha Lipoic Acid in the body, production decreases as we age, and reduced quantities may worsen a range of conditions.

A bitter pill to swallow

James Green an American herbalist said “the mistake of eliminating the bitter flavour from our daily experience is like eliminating one of the colours of the rainbow.” Unfortunately, in Australia, bitter foods are thin on the ground.

Ten Supplements for Women

Supplements can help fill the nutritional gaps caused by living life as we do. Mim outlines 10 supplements are especially good for women.

Warts

Mim, what can you do about warts?

- Worried

Dear Worried Wart

Bach Flower Remedies

In the 1930’s Edward Bach was a poo man - a gastroenterologist who practised in Londons famous Harley Street. After many years of treating patients he began to see the connection between peoples emotions and their illnesses.

Too much of a good thing

It is possible to have too much of a good thing. Take sunshine, chocolate, aspirin, vitamin C and cats. A little bit of each is good, but taken to extremes you’ll suffer from sunburn, zits, stomach ulcers, diarrhoea and fur-balls. A recent study showed that thousands of Australians are hospitalised due to the ill-effects of medical treatment.

Naturopathic travel kits

I am often asked to organise naturopathic first aid travel kits for my patients before their overseas holidays.

When does a therapeutic diet become an eating disorder?

Do you know anyone on a very restricted diet? First to go is red meat (because of the cholesterol), then chicken (because of the antibiotics) then it’s anything with eyes. What follows on the banned list is dairy (because it forms mucus), gluten (because of the bloat), potatoes and rice (because they are starches) and oil (because it’s oil).

A-Z Edited

An alphabetical guide to some of the more esoteric supplements available in your supermarket, chemist and health food store.

Calcium

Calcium is a major league mineral. Mainly because there is so much of the stuff in our body. Up to 2% of our body weight is made up of calcium, which is about 1.2kg for a 60kg person. That’s a lot of mineral.

Aromatherapy

I had no idea Mum was a closet aromatherapist. A fan of the seldom seen (but effective) treatment for the flu popular in the late ’60s, she used to rub Vicks onto the soles of my feet, put on some woolly socks, and send me to bed with the cat. Aromatherapy is not really new age.

Convalescing - a lost art

The word convalescence brings with it visions of wan weak spinsters sent to the seaside for a ‘cure’, after suffering a painful bout of something vague. The only distractions to be soup and blancmange, writing letters to dear aunts and taking long solitary walks along pebbly, wind-swept beaches.

Co-enzyme Q 10

Co-enzyme Q 10 is referred to as accessory nutrient, which makes it sound like it will go perfectly with that little black dress that works so well at cocktail parties. However, accessory in this context means these nutrients differ from vitamins and minerals.

Echinacea Trial

You may have read in the papers of a trial reported in the New England Journal of Medicine which concluded that Echinacea has no effect on the prevention and treatment of the common cold. While naturopaths welcome rigorous scientific review of herbal and other natural remedies, this study may not reveal the whole picture.

What is naturopathy?

A history and guide to naturopathic medicine in Australia. Naturopathy endeavours to find out and treat the underlying cause of an illness, not just the symptoms. Naturopathic medicine aims to improve your sense of wellbeing in all areas.

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