APRIL 2014 - Practitioner's Corner - Detox Tips

Everyday we are confronted with toxins. We encounter them in our environment, food and imbalances of bacteria in the digestive system. Our bodies contain natural protective mechanisms that guard against small amounts of toxicity. When toxicity levels start to increase, our natural detoxification processes become overworked and weakened, leading to systemic health problems.

The gut is the main place where toxicity overload takes place. The gut is responsible for making sure we break down our food into absorbable forms and eliminates waste. The liver is the major filtration organ of the body and is in charge of multiple detoxification pathways and distributing wast toe the eliminatory organs. When these processes are impaired, multiple symptoms start to occur, leading to complications in our daily activities.

Symptoms associated with toxicity overload:

• Reoccurring headaches
• Chronic fatigue and lethargy
• Poor concentration and memory
• Digestive discomfort such as: bloating, flatulence, constipation and diarrhoea
• Muscular aches and pains
• Allergies & sensitivities
• Mood swings, anxiety and depression

If you suffer from 3 or more of the above symptoms, chances are you are in need of a detox. To start a detox we must first remove any potential dysbiotic bacteria (such as Candida albicans), fungi or parasitic organisms and clean out the digestive system. Secondly we need to strengthen and rebuild the gut integrity as well as support the liver to better facilitate natural detoxification.

What is required for a detox?

• Herbs can be highly beneficial when eradicating bacteria, fungi and parasitic micro-organisms. They can help to strengthen the guts normal digestive processes and repair damage to the mucosa lining.
• Supporting the liver with herbal and nutritional supplements can assist with better elimination of toxins as well protect the liver from any damage caused by toxicity influx.
• The key to implementing a successful detox is through a healthy diet. Eliminating all sugar, processed foods, dairy and gluten containing grains can help provide the body with healthy nutrients and prevent feeding the unwanted organisms in the gut.
• Drink plenty of clean pure water daily. This will help prevent dehydration, toxic accumulation and optimises body functions.
• Eat plenty of alkalising foods such as green leafy vegetables.
• Avoid doing strenuous exercise during a detox. High levels of exercise can generate an influx of toxins and cause you to become unwell. Mild walking is suitable.
• Some side effects may be experienced such as headaches, irritability and nausea.
• Eat small meals regularly. This will help to stabilise your blood glucose levels, which may help prevent some of the side effects.
• Do not do a detox if you are pregnant
• Avoid detoxing if you have a cold for flu
• Always talk to a health care professional before commencing any detoxification program.

Written by Vanessa Laird - Naturopath Calanna Pharmacy Woreee

contact: vanessaw@calannapharmacy.com.au

view:      calannapharmacy.com.au

APRIL 2014 - Words of Wisdom

Ever given much thought to Willpower? How much you use it? How much time is takes? How much energy it saps?

Kelly McGonigal defines willpower as “the ability to choose what matters most”.  I think the real emphasis is on “choose”. How many choices and decisions do you do every day?

The constant movement between the “devil of temptation on one shoulder” and the “angel of restraint” on the other – is taxing - and energy and time sapping. We go between “I won’t, I will, I should, I want” constantly – and this tires the brain and reduces its sharpness.

A danger – of course – is that we replenish it simple sugars (sweets, soft drinks, cereals) or perhaps a smoke. Instead of drinking water (250 mls a time), moving and munching on some fruit, nuts, carrots, celery, avocado, whole grains or low GI foods.

Willpower is less needed when we are certain of what we need to do, certain of what we need to achieve and certain of how our daily plan is conceived. Uncertainty causes and increases stress levels - more pressure on your Adrenal Glands, increased cortisol in the body – leading to more uncertainty and a bigger need for Willpower.

Uncertainty is reduced by acquiring new habits or habits that will enhance our daily activity. Habits are actions we do on a subconscious level. We don’t look at the devil or the angel – the body just does. This increases clarity and conserves brain energy.

So - while we need to look at what we eat, drink, how well we sleep, how long we rest during the day, how we move, the water we drink (instead of drinks with high sugar levels). Being more certain and focused on our daily plan is the answer to conserving our brain energy and increasing our activity levels.

Habits are difficult to acquire – need determination and a strong emotional/physical reason to achieve them. Which is the main reason why you should never make more than one important lifestyle change at a time.

Let me leave you with some tips to conserve energy used by Willpower:

1.       Have a daily plan to follow

2.       Eat a good breakfast, lunch and dinner.

3.       Drink water throughout the day and move as well.

4.       Create the habits you need to make life more certain and natural

5.       Just do the things that you need to do – like them or not – without choosing.

6.       Be kind to yourself and appreciate what you do – just reduce the ‘choices’ you need to make.

Take Care………………..Mario

contact: mario@calannapharmacy.com.au
view:      calannapharamcy.com.au

JANUARY 2014 - SUMMER is here!

Kym Hughes - Naturopath

The summer holidays are upon us

 

Many of us are asking “Where has the time gone?”  Life’s pace is so fast these days, weeks and months fly by so quickly.  This is a reflection of our busy life styles.  The years end is a good time to slow down and unwind.  Take the time to review and reflect on how our health and wellbeing have coped in the year past.  Stress is very insidious; it  affects us in many ways; not only physically but emotionally in areas such as family, relationships, friends and work.  There are some important basic questions we can ask ourselves as we reflect.

 

Do we supply our physical bodies with adequate:

· water,

· a balanced diet,

· regular exercise

· and perhaps most importantly, rest and relaxation?

Hydration

Here in Australia we are lucky to have an abundance of clean, fresh water – take advantage of this and drink at least two liters of water daily.

Balanced Diet

Make sure you include plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, nuts, seeds and lean proteins.  A good quality multi vitamin and mineral supplement and a daily dose of super greens is great for boosting nutrient  intake.

Exercise

Thirty minutes to one hour of brisk walking daily is a good habit to form.  “Use it or lose it”

Rest

Adequate rest does not only include 8 hours sleep a night but the ability to relax and quite the mind, if only for ten minutes a day is very beneficial.

Following these basic rules with the addition of a hat, long sleeves and a good natural sunscreen when enjoying our great weather will go a long way to a happy restful summer after which one can return to the Frey in 2014 fighting fit! 

 

Happy New Year to you all!

 

 

 

JANUARY 2014 - Words of Wisdom

Hello Club Members,

Welcome to 2014 – a new year and new opportunities. As I reflect on 2013 – I    recall many good things and working with many fantastic people. At the root of all our lives is how we behave. In particular how we behave when we are challenged to do something or to behave in a way we think is beneath us. It is how we choose to deal with this - that  defines who we really are.

 

People make the difference – in positive and negative ways – every day. We each build a reputation according to our behaviour and the manner in which we interact with others. We cannot control our reputation – for this is the perception of   others. We can, however, control our thoughts, our actions, our ideas, our  mindset, our language. Through the character we display – we build the reputation that others perceive and ultimately judge us by.

With these comments I would like to provide some food for thought:

1. Purpose – I believe we are each born for a purpose and only find peace and contentment when we discover this purpose. I think much change and need for change- occur because individuals are unaware of their purpose in life.

2. Service – I believe that in serving others, in helping others with what they need – really builds our character and our willingness to work with others. We must, though, do this through our purpose in life.

3. Gratitude – is being Grateful to those around us and who have helped us – day to day – in our            endeavours. None of us can walk our journey alone. We need others for support, advice and company. We also need to pat ourselves on the back when we have done well.

4. Loyalty - can be defined as being faithful to those who depend on you and to those on whom you depend. Loyalty is a four way street. There are people in positions of more responsibility who depend on us. There are people for whom we are responsible  - who depend on us. And there are people with similar roles and responsibilities - on whom we each depend. So Loyalty is about helping others as well as ourselves. It is about supporting others in times of extra pressure. And it is about ensuring that the decisions we make cause the least amount of anxiety to others – while still achieving the goal you require.

 

I hope you have a healthy and fulfilling 2014 and that the above thoughts will help to achieve your goals and find an  inner peace.

Regards………

 

Mario Calanna

 

 

 

 

JANUARY 2014 - HAPPY NEW YEAR!

PRICKLY HEAT - Advice on what it is

Prickly Heat Rash, also commonly known as Heat Rash, Wildfire Rash or Miliaria Ruba is a condition where  leakage of sweat into the deeper layers of the epidermis (outer most layers of cells in the skin) is caused by obstruction, like blocked pores, provoking local inflammatory reaction - with the typical appearance of redness and/or larger blister-like lesions. 



The lesions are usually tiny white or clear in colour and are found in a number of areas on the body  including;

4 Face

4 Neck

4 Under breasts

4 Groin

4 Elbow folds

4 Abdomen

 

Prickly heat is prevalent in the summer months and particularly in humid climates, such as ours.

It is usually itchy, irritating and uncomfortable and can develop on anyone.

There are however, individuals that will be more prone to prickly heat, they include;

4 Babies / Infants - as their sweat glands have not fully developed

4 Athletes and people who regularly exercise

4 Overweight persons

4 Bedridden persons

The first step in treating any heat rash is to wash the affected area with a non-soap wash i.e. Pinetarsol Gel. Rinse with water and this can be repeated as often as needed and should be done immediately after exercise or prolonged heat exposure.

Also cool packs are a great way to relieve the itchiness, and in more severe cases use of cortisone & antifungal creams may help for resistant rashes. Talk to your GP or Pharmacist about these.

Wearing light cotton or absorbent fabrics that separate the skin especially in the folds of the skin i.e. elbows, knees and groin areas.

Drinking water is also an important prevention process as it;

ü Is helpful for overall hydration

ü Is good for body temperature regulation

 

Let’s look at some factors that aggrivate Prickly Heat;

4 High humidity / temperature

4  Jacuzzi’s, Sauna’s & steam rooms

4  Fever

4  Sunburn

4  Sweating or hyperhydrosis (excess sweating)

4  Tight garments & non-breathable fabrics

4  Application of perfumes, body oils, fragranced lotions (these may cause secondary irritation)

So, in the summer months of Tropical Queensland, it’s important to stay hydrated, and limit activities that make you sweat in excess.  Remember, Calanna Pharmacy have a fantastic product to help with Prickly Heat!