Category: Heal The UK

The London Nutritionist – Jo Travers

No-one needs to be told what a crazy year this has been. But somehow we have made it this far and with an end in sight to the pandemic, I feel much better about looking back on the year. So many of the struggles this year have been around food. From supermarket shelves being empty; the rise in food bank use; the all-day grazing and comfort-eating during lockdown. But there have been some truly inspiring food related things too. Food has brought people together even when social restrictions kept us apart. Community food projects; people remembering what it’s like to have the time to cook again; recipe sharing; and reconnecting with nature, which provides us with the things that sustain us. And less inspiring but still an achievement for me, I finally managed to use those dried chickpeas at the back of the cupboard!

And now, in a year which both seems to have flown by while dragging on mercilessly, we approach Christmas. Traditionally Christmas is defined by feasting and socialising but this year is likely to be somewhat different. For those whom the excesses of December are followed by a January of social and dietary austerity, this may be a welcome change, but for most, the lack of breaking bread with the people we love will be hard to stomach. However, as I mentioned, there is light visible at the end of the tunnel and we need only defer, rather than cancel festivities. And there is still plenty that can be celebrated. So how can we enjoy Christmas and all the trimmings this year?

I highly recommend a Christmas dinner if you like it. And despite the quantities usually eaten, roast dinners are actually fairly high up on the healthy meal scale. There’s protein from the turkey, carbohydrate from the roast potatoes, and plenty of vegetables. Because it’s likely to be a more intimate affair this year, it gives us the chance to avoid making far too much!

If you are a person (and plenty are!) who thinks indulging over Christmas means eating so much you feel uncomfortably full, then I would like to suggest a different way to indulge this year. By all means eat all the food and drink all the drink you like, but I’d like to give you a little trick to keep up your sleeve.

Instead of “treating yourself” with food, instead treat yourself well. That one little word on the end changes the whole perspective of the idea and allows room for genuinely eating things that are good for your overall wellbeing. And this definitely doesn’t mean cutting out mince pies and stilton, (both of which are good for the soul)! But it means checking in with yourself to make sure you are actually going to feel better after eating them. If you will feel uncomfortably full or even sick then you aren’t going to feel better. If you are going to feel nourished – nutritionally or otherwise – then go ahead.

Here are 5 tips to see you through

1. Get some variety in your diet
In order for your body to really feel good and thrive, you need variety in your diet, especially when it comes to fruit and vegetables. The bacteria in our gut, which are responsible for so many functions of health, like training the immune system, digesting food, and are even linked to mood, need plenty of different plant foods to survive.

2. Look after your hydration
This is a basic one for everybody. Blood volume, transport of nutrients, temperature control, excretion of waste all rely on good hydration so aim for 2-2.5l of sugar-free fluids every day.

3. Mindful eating
Eating mindfully not only helps us to feel connected to food and our bodies, it also helps us to get back in touch with our hunger and satiety – meaning we eat the right amount, when we need it. As an extension of the “treat yourself well” idea, when eating, ask yourself the question, “will the next mouthful be as good?” You will find it a lot easier to eat the right amount of mince pies – not too many, but also not too few!

4. Don’t worry so much
Food, especially at Christmas is associated with celebration, but at the same time, it can often be a stressor. Am I eating enough vitamins, am I eating too much, has my child had enough vegetables? My advice is: relax. Using your hands which are the right size for you, aim to fill your plate at mealtimes with a fist-size portion of carbs (bread, rice, potatoes, pasta etc), a palm-size portion of protein (beans, lentils, meat , fish, eggs) and two cupped-handfuls of vegetables. If you do this, the chances you are getting everything you need and not too much of what you don’t are really high.

5. Plan your meals
And to help you relax about food, make a rough plan of what you are going to eat over the next few days. That way you can think about what you are going to eat at a time you decide, when you are least stressed, rather than in the moment when you are really hungry and have nothing in the fridge!

Minister of Spiritualism – Suzanne Gibson-Foy

What a bizarre year 2020 has been; the majority of people have been cooped up in their own homes for days on end, others have been working in unusual and stressful situations. While many would have loved the idea of a sabbatical, the reality of endless weeks at home on furlough with an uncertain future is not conducive to a restful time. On the upside, there has been more time for reflection, consideration of what is important, prioritisation of time and plans for the life that is desired. People who are usually very busy have had time to stand still and take stock.
Advice has been given to watch less News and do less on social media, ironically both of these things are about disconnecting from the drama of others. As Voltaire suggested ‘we must cultivate our own garden.’ If we wish to find peace, we must create it within and the creation of peace requires an amount of dedication and discipline.
We all have a spirit part of us, whether we acknowledge it or not. It is this part of us which endures and is eternal. This part of us is connected to God and is spirit, and it can inspire us and give us courage in times of difficulty. If we create the space to honour and nurture our spirit we can start to perceive our physical life from a different perspective.
Whatever your religion or belief, Christmas is a magical time which marks the end and the beginning of the cycle of death and rebirth. Christmas is the crossroads of life. The Christmas tree brings the outdoors in and signifies the importance of the natural order and reminds us of the solstice, a process for change, and twinkling lights and tinsel symbolises the magic of the light and rebirth.
By our very nature we are all eternal beings, our physical body is simply a vehicle for our spirit to both experience a material life, express itself and grow. The light resides within each of us and around all of us.

Tips

1) Have a structure to your day, every day, which includes a space for something spiritual:
Meditation, prayer, reading, anything which takes us out of concern for the physical world and into that of our spiritual nature.

2) Light a candle to welcome and honour the light within yourself:
A simple ritual of sitting with a lighted candle reminds us of the light coming into the world and the light which exists within each of us. As we connect to the part of us that is eternal so we gain the assurance that all is as it should be.

3) All things pass:
Nothing material lasts forever, everything has its seasons and cycles including our own lives. We cannot expect things to stay the same and nor should we, part of creating peace within ourselves is the acceptance of change.

4) Surrender to the power which is greater than yourself:
God, the Divine, the Great Spirit, whichever word or phrase you prefer to use, is part of us all. Living with a belief in something greater than oneself gives purpose, meaning and context to life. If we recognise that each of us contains a Spark of the Divine, we are able to begin to see the parts of our behaviour which reflect the divine and the parts that do not. We can take responsibilty for our actions, empower ourselves to change and begin to nurture and express the spirit within.

5) See the joy and beauty in the natural world and the creative force at play:
Whether it is by going for a walk and looking at the sky, the landscape and nature, watching animals and your pets, or the wonder of a new born child, allow yourself to be awed and touched by the presence of God.

Fitness Expert – Laura Williams-Percival

As I sit and think about the year 2020, I am extremely surprised at how fast the year has gone , you would think that weeks of isolation and not been able to socialise would have dragged severely but for me it has flown quicker than any other year I have had previously, at a drop of a hat I went from been super busy with my fitness business visiting a few different sites to been at home and like most people learning quickly how to adapt my business online! Thank goodness for zoom ! and any other online platforms that are available to connect many people at one time!! It really has succeeded in keeping everyone connected and safe at home whilst working
As well as running my fitness business I am also a mum, wife and like to bake cakes as a hobby. We are an active family that likes adventures and this year has put everything on hold… holidays , adventures, socialising. I think it has been a hard time for all however, there seems to be a deeper sense of gratitude for life and this Christmas seems more special than ever !
What I have noticed in recent times is the change that is happening around our health. For a few years fitness has been increasing with popularity and the pandemic has highlighted many areas in the UK that may need improvement. Living in Yorkshire and the past traditions of going to pub daily have been replaced with walking or fitness, I think it is fabulous how people are looking at overall health as a bigger picture. You do not need to go to gym for hours every day, it does not need to be made complicated or over ambitious, take small steps to increase physical activity and gradually build your self up. There are many benefits to exercise including reduces stress, helps with depression, good for mental wellness and has a positive effect on moods, Physical exercise reduces many illnesses and also it makes you feel more happier, energetic and vitalised.
Our bodies are 60% water ! Drinking plenty of water is also the key to long term health. Drink at least 8 glasses water a day and more when you are exercising as you lose water whilst exercising with sweating and breathing . Water also helps fuel your muscles so this will prevent cramps and will boost your energy levels
As we all know when we enjoy doing something we do it more often! Many people do not like exercise but I have an easy solution to this! Find something you love doing and make a work out from doing it ! For example : Brisk walk in nature : this will also help calm your mind and take time to appreciate the beauty of life. This is also free!! There are free apps available that show public walking routes in the UK.
Motivated Music : Listen to your favourite music and clean the house !! If you live in a house make a point to walk up and down the stairs a few times a day. Good music can motivate you, if you like dancing, then dance !! Why wait for a special moment when you can create one with all of your family !! Put some Christmas songs on whilst decorating the tree and dance! It is fun and you are also creating memories that will last a life time !
I believe routine can be very important in day to day life, try and adapt a routine were you do some form of exercise every day and a different variety so it doesn’t become boring .
If you do like going to classes there are many videos on you tube for free. I would advise starting off small and working your self up if you are new to exercise. You can use tins of beans within the household as weights !
The key is to be realistic and do not set the bar too high that you can not reach !! literally haha !
You do not need to wait until the 1st of January to start!! Make a small start now and by the 1st January you will already have a feeling of self achievement. Dont wait around, the perfect time is to start now !
If you are sat down a lot on a daily basis , every 30 minutes have a walk around .
Start moving them hips with some of my brilliant tips!

1) Join an online class , you will soon make friends and they are super fun ! I include optional fancy dress in my classes and a variety of different classes so it makes it fun, there are many different classes available online
2) Try and do 20 minutes every day of exercise. This could be a walk, workout class, Cleaning, dancing ! Have a variety of physical exercise
3) Do a challenge for a Charity – Our UK Charities are struggling, why not ask a few friends to help and start building yourself up for a challenge next year? Get fit, achieve great things whilst raising money for Charity ! Remember this does not have to be anything major, start small!
4) Christmas is nearly here and everyone will be watching their money. You tube have many free videos to give you ideas on a routine. Choose a few different exercises and make up your very own routine ! You are in control but you must act first !! One foot in front of the other and you will be skipping in no time!
5) Create a hobby that includes physical activity !! This way you are multi-creating !! Get fit whilst doing something you enjoy !!

Retired Mental Health Nurse- Lynn Marshall

I am sure that this time last year none of us had any idea of what was to come in 2020 and that it would end up going down in history as most people’s “annus horribilis”.
Older people and those with underlying health conditions have lived in fear of contracting Corona Virus and have had to isolate and be separated from their loved ones. Sadly some people have been bereaved and not even had the chance to say goodbye. Some have lost their jobs , whilst others such as cares & nurses have been left exhausted and traumatized from what they have experienced. Children and young people have had their education disrupted, cancer treatment & operations have been delayed, etc, etc, etc. The focus in the media has mainly been on physical health but the impact on mental health of all this is enormous.
On a personal level I run my own therapy and training business and I also work for the NHS as a mental health nurse . I also regularly undertake assessments in care homes so I am probably more aware than most of the impact of all this on people’s mental health. In terms of the NHS, within the first week of lockdown, there was a huge increase in people going in to crisis – not only people with existing problems but also those who were normally resilient and had never ever suffered from anxiety or depression before.
Most of the emotions that were (and are still coming up) are I think, closely related to grief and loss and those include fear, denial, sadness, anger and frustration. I know that I personally have felt all of them and I think its important to recognize that this is perfectly natural and it doesn’t make us weak or a failure in any way. We all have good days and bad days and its hard to maintain positivity 24/7. I believe that now, more than ever we need to be as compassionate towards ourselves as we are towards those we love and not beat ourselves up because we have “down” days.
In the early weeks of the first lockdown we were absolutely bombarded with negative news so its hardly surprising there was a spike in fear levels. One of the key pieces of advice I gave to people back then (and it’s still relevant) is not to listen to too much news as it is mainly negative and it can have a really detrimental effect on your emotional health. Yes you want to know what’s going on but just tune in once or twice a day at the most and supplement it with watching something that makes you laugh or smile.
In terms of anger again, I think its not surprising that tempers get frayed and we can become grumpy and snappy. Much as I love my husband and daughter, I have to acknowledge that being effectively locked in with them for 3 months (despite me still going to do my nursing shifts and latterly, my daughter teaching) put a strain on our relationship. In the wider world with my many FB friends, it was difficult not to be sucked in to the arguments between people placed at both extreme ends of the pro lockdown V conspiracy theory camp. I was actually shocked how nasty this became at times. My advice here is again to limit the time spent on social media and maybe even consider having a holiday from it all together.
When it comes to any kind of loss (be it a person, a job, a club that’s had to close for good or something else) then I think you need to allow yourself to grieve and let out your emotions. If you have supportive friends and/or family around you then talk to them and in the case of the death of a loved one then “Cruse” are a fantastic voluntary sector organization offering one to one counselling and in some areas of the country, MIND also offer bereavement support. Its OK to be sad, angry, to cry and also to laugh, these are difficult days but I do believe there is hope out there and things will get better.
Moving on now to talk about the “C” word (as we call it in our family), yes Christmas!
Now maybe I’m a bit bias as I believe in keeping Christmas in December and by 1st January I have had enough (Bah humbug!) but I know I’m probably outnumbered. Don’t get me wrong, I have had some lovely experiences in the past, but for me I am always acutely aware that even in “normal” times it can be stressful. Culturally, there is this huge expectation that we all get together with our families and friends and we have to be happy and jolly – but what if you don’t have a family or you are not able to meet up?. What if you don’t get on with them? What if it’s the first Christmas without a loved one or you have just lost your job and you’re worried sick about the cost. It’s not easy but maybe the following tips might help:
1. In past years I have helped out at lunches for those living alone on Christmas Day and normally this would be my first suggestion, but due to the other “C” word those events won’t be running this year, however maybe you could have an “alternative” Christmas. Plan your day doing things you enjoy. If the weather is reasonable and you can get out, go to a favourite place in nature. Buy in some pre-prepared food – if you can afford it, splash out on an upmarket brand like M&S. If you live in an area of the country where a lot of people don’t celebrate Christmas then maybe you could order a takeaway.
Watch your favourite DVD or film or binge watch that series you have been missed (I can recommend the Queen’s Gambit if you haven’t already seen it). Buy an inspiring book, agree with a friend on a good time to phone them (they might well be grateful to escape from everyone else for a while).

2. If money is an issue, don’t put lots of pressure on yourself to compensate for the difficult year by buying your loved ones expensive Christmas presents you can’t afford. They will manage without them and you will just be creating a burden on yourself that can adversely effect your mental health as well as your pocket. I remember the years of buying my daughter the “perfect” gift only to find she got more pleasure out of playing with the box than the toy!

3. If you are usually responsible for all the domestic chores in the house including cooking, then Christmas can be particularly stressful. My advice here is be realistic regards what can be achieved e.g don’t put too much pressure on yourself for everything to be “perfect”. Its not the end of the world if you don’t serve up 6 different varieties of veggies or your bread sauce is shop bought and not home- made. You can survive without crackers and homemade Christmas pudding or cake. Ask for help (even children can do small tasks like tidy their rooms or lay the table). If you have a partner then allocate some tasks to them. When people look back at Christmas its going to be the people they spent it with that they remember, not whether the bread sauce was home made.
However you spend Christmas I hope it’s a good one

5 Tips
1. SAD lamps
If like me your mood dips in the winter due to the poor light levels then it may be worth investing in a SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) lamp. SAD is the term used when your mood dips in winter and can result in you feeling depressed and tired with problems sleeping. In effect you go in to hibernation. The disrupted serotonin and melatonin levels associated with SAD are both correlated to lack of sunlight, which is why it occurs in the winter. Daylight lamps aim to supplement this lack of sunlight, thereby stabilising your sleep patterns and raising your serotonin levels. You can easily pick one up cheaply on ebay.

2. Vitamins & Mental Health
Make sure you are taking a vitamin D supplement (we derive most of this from exposure to the sun which means that we can be deficient in winter). If you are feeling tired or low in mood, especially if you are a woman, also ask your GP to check your iron and vitamin B6 & B12 levels as deficiency in any of these can lower your mood and lead to you feeling depressed. In addition, if you are either tired and sleeping a lot or very agitated and can’t sleep, ask for a thyroid function test as this may be causing your symptoms.

3. Mental Health & Exercise
Attempt to get some physical exercise every day – preferably in the fresh air. Exercise has been proved to be beneficial to not only your physical health but your mental health as well. It doesn’t have to be a 20 mile run or climbing a mountain, even if it’s a gentle 20 minute stroll it will do you good. The other bonus of this right now, is that even in the second lockdown you can meet up with a friend outside.

4. Mindful Exercise
Practice some mindfulness. Contrary to popular belief you don’t have to sit still and meditate to do this – mindfulness is partly about slowing down, being in the here and now and moving your focus out of your head and on to your environment . One of my favourite mindful activities is washing up as you can engage all your senses : Squirt the washing up liquid in the bowl and notice the colour – maybe notice any scent too. Run the tap, listening to the water flow and seeing the bowl fill up and the bubbles emerge. Put your hand slowly in to the water and notice the temperature and the feel – look at your hands and notice if the colour has changed. Pick up a piece of crockery or cutlery and notice the shape, colour and texture. Is it warm to the touch or cold – really look at it in detail. Slowly put it in the water and watch what happens to the bubbles. Pick up the cloth or whatever you are using to wipe it with and notice that. What colour and texture is it. Carry on with the process of washing and preferably drying to and see how that feels.

5. Learn yoga
I will be 60 next year and I have recently started attending yoga classes. Its something I have tried before but given up on as I am so stiff and I found it hard to keep up with everyone else, but this time I have persevered and after 6 weeks of practice I am really feeling the benefits.

I think most people are aware of yoga helping with flexibility but it is also excellent for your mental health. This is partly due to the fact that it focuses a lot of improving they way we breathe and breathing is usually the first thing that is adversely effected when we become anxious and particularly if we have a panic attack.
When our “fight or flight” response is triggered by a perceived threat (real or otherwise) the reptilian part of our brain (left over from our caveman days) sends a message to the nervous system which then dumps loads of adrenaline in to our blood stream to help us fight the threat or run like heck.
As well as distracting us and taking our focus out of our minds and on to our bodies, it teaches us to slow down and reverse all the symptoms of a panic attack. Yes it does take practice, but if you invest the time and effort in to learning how to do it, I am sure you will find it beneficial.

Holistic Therapist & Tutor – Lorraine Davis

People always say – ‘Don’t look back – you aren’t travelling that way’….

However, I think it’s a natural and therapeutic process to look back at our experiences – it helps us decide on our path onward – after all, we are the ones who make our own future aren’t we.  I’m sure that when we all look back on 2020, we shall think ‘What a year!!’  I am of the firm belief that in the future this year will feature in the history books.

2020 started with floods, and will end in the midst of a pandemic – it’s been a difficult time indeed, but what I take from this experience , is the way in which people have bonded together, have helped each other – and kept each other going.  Humans have a huge capacity for resilience and the ability to rise above pain and misfortune, and we have a natural desire to help others to survive too. We are a race of healers and survivors – and nature’s fabulous gifts can help us to help ourselves, and others, as we try to cope with everything we have to deal with.

I am a holistic therapist and use many tools to help people feel better.  When I was thinking about what to write – I thought ‘what would help everyone most’ – and I decided that looking at the natural healing gifts of essential oils would be perfect. Readily available, natural, beautiful, and at this time of year, what’s not to love –  these beautiful oils can help with so many of the issues we are dealing with right now !

At this time of year, many of us traditionally gather together, for Christmas, and New Year celebrations. We spend time in our homes, away from the coldness of Winter, and there is a feeling of ‘hibernation’.  We look back at our year – and forward with anticipation. We know this year will be different – we shall have the hibernation for sure – but not so much of the gathering together, and our anticipation will most probably not be fizzing with the usual excitement!

However, we are still able to find moments of joy and peace –and that’s what this season is about for so many of us – we just need to look for it a little differently.

It’s often the little things that keep us going –a kind deed, a good meal, a little gift, – simple pleasures, and essential oils, for me, embody this  – the  concept of ‘Hygge’ – the Danish idea of creating cosiness and contentment and embracing life’s simple pleasures.

So, here are some ideas for using aromatherapy oils to keep us all going!!

Coughs and colds….

At this time of year there are lots of coughs and colds around and the dreaded coronavirus too!! [Sorry, tried not to mention it!!!] Burning or diffusing Tea tree and Lemon oil is really useful to damp down the bugs – and helps to support our immune response so we can fight them off! You could also try Frankincense or Grapefruit.

If you are getting over a virus then using Mandarin oil is lovely to help you feel more like eating and getting up and about – it’s a lovely safe oil that you can diffuse in your room – and its divine with Sandalwood for helping you feel peaceful and more human!

 

Feeling down ?

So many of us have suffered with isolation and feelings of loneliness and many of us have lost loved ones – we often find it difficult to sleep too.  Essential oils have the ability to lift our mood – even for a short while and make us feel better and they can help us to rest more fully.

You can try using Lavender and Camomile in your diffuser or burner to help with this but, don’t leave it on in the bedroom while you sleep – and don’t leave candles unattended.

Rose, Melissa and Neroli are beautiful oils to help when you feel low , they uplift us and help us cope. Try putting a couple of drops on a cotton ball and putting it into a small bottle – you can take the cap off and have a sniff when it’s all getting a bit much!

Trying to get in the festive mood but not feeling it??

Frankincense and Myrrh are lovely on pine cones –  or you could try  a few drops of Mandarin and Frankincense– or some Jasmine or Ylang ylang into potpourri  that’s lost its mojo.

What about making some natural dried orange decorations studded with cloves and gorgeous ribbon to hang them up – and drop a couple of drops of sweet orange or mandarin into the middle of them – or you could try Cedarwood ….

Last but not least – try making a room spray with orange flower water, and a couple of drops each of Mandarin, Frankincense and Neroli – and spraying all around your room? – they make fantastic gifts too – [ shake well and avoid skin and eyes – will mark clothing and polished surfaces]

I hope you have a peaceful and happy festive season – wherever you are – keep safe and look after each other

Lorraine x

IMPORTANT: Remember to use oils safely – never use them neat on the skin, or take them internally. Always dilute them in a carrier oil – sunflower or grapeseed is good. Check for nut allergies if you are using nut oils like almond.

Remember not to diffuse for long periods, and not with pets and babies in the room.  If you are pregnant you should be careful when diffusing.  Use  just 2-3 drops of an oil – less is more.

Oils will stain clothing and spoil polished surfaces

 

5 tips :

1 – if you are finding it difficult to sleep – avoid screens in the evening, try to eat before 6 pm and enjoy a warm bath with a couple of drops of lavender  – mix with some full fat milk – don’t just shake on the surface of the water

2 – If you are feeling low, try and get some fresh air, even for a short time – take a walk with nature – or try burning some orange or lemon oil – it’s great for uplifting our mood

3 – if you have ‘zoom eyes’ – too much screen time causes tired eyes  – try taking regular breaks from the screen, avoid evening meetings if possible – and if you are struggling to focus on your work tasks – try burning some rosemary – this will help to focus your mind

4 – if you have a cold or flu, get plenty of rest and keep hydrated with pure water – try and eat small nutritious meals and try burning some tea tree or lemon

5 – if you are feeling isolated or depressed– make a phone call, tell someone how you feel, offer to help someone –and be kind to yourself

 

 

Herbalist – Giacomo Sandri

Our bodies and our minds are microcosmos that harmoniously dance with the neverending rotatory movements of our Mother Earth. Shifts of season naturally come with a change in habits, behaviors and rituals; Winter is the time of the year especially dedicated to introspection and nourishment – whether of our relationships, bodies or spirits – and it is a wonderful opportunity to learn new skills to bring into our nests. On the other side, if we do not allow our energies to keep circulating or we neglect excessively our self care, Winter months can penalise us with ailments and illnesses that will unavoidably force us to rest and recover.

In this brief article I will list and describe my favourite five herbs which can be used as hot teas (also called herbal infusions) to support our beings to prevent and recover from common winter ailments.

 

• THYME LEAVES (Thymus vulgaris)

A herb with ‘hot and dry’ qualities with exceptional antimicrobial and mucolytic (phlegm thinning) properties and a strong affinity for the respiratory and urinary system. It is wonderful to resolve any condition that originates from congestion/ stagnation in these systems. To preserve its essential oils, thyme leaves are best used fresh are are indicated for sinusitis, heavily productive coughs, sore throats and cystitis

 

• LICORICE ROOT (Glycyrrhiza glabra)

A well known delightfully-tasting herb which has expectorant (phlegm removing), energising and immune boosting properties with affinity for respiratory, digestive, hormonal and immune system. Licorice root pieces are usually synergistically combined with thyme leaves to make an exquisite tea to reduce productive coughs and sore throats. Licorice also is used to support the immune system and boost physical and mental energy.

 

• ELDERFLOWERS (Sambucus nigra)

Elderflowers are probably best known for cordials and presse’. They are a wonderful medicine to increase vasodilation in the peripheral blood vessel, increasing perspiration and therefore being a helping hand in reducing fevers and colds.

 

• ECHINACEA ROOT AND HERB (Echinacea purpurea)

A superstar in the world of herbs, echinacea is probably one of the most well known herbs for boosting the function of the immune system. Echinacea increases the number of white blood cells in the body and helps fight off viral and bacterial infections. Although, in my opinion, it is best taken at high doses as tablets or tincture at the initial stage of an illness, it can also be added to your cup of hot water for extra support

 

• GINGER RHIZOME (ROOT) (Zingiber officinalis)

A seriously hot and dry herb, ginger is one of the king spicy and pungent herbs with a strong affinity for the digestive and respiratory systems. Its qualities make it one of the best remedies for any ailment caused by stagnation such as cold, flu and sinusitis. It also promotes blood circulation promoting the resolution of fevers and ameliorates digestive symptoms such as indigestion, nausea and gas (ideal for the Christmas period especially!)

 

NOTE: To make a medical grade infusion, use wherever possible organic herbs in the following proportion:

1 Tablespoon dried herb to 1 cup of hot boiling water OR

2 Tablespoon fresh herb to 1 cup of hot boiling water

Infuse for at least 10 MINUTES, then strain and enjoy!