Have you heard of Activated Charcoal?

Activated charcoal is great for your health. It has a wide range of uses including being excellent for detoxification. You will find activated charcoal in things like facial masks and teeth whiteners, as well as digestive remedies.

The benefits of activated charcoal are well known when it comes to traditional Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine. It is even used in emergency rooms as an antidote for cases of toxicity and poisoning in developed nations around the world.

Activated charcoal is generally considered to be safe to use but it should be handled with care. It is extremely versatile.

Benefits of activated charcoal

Detoxification is one of the great benefits. Due to its porous surface activated charcoal has a negative electrical charge. This means it attracts positively charged molecules such as toxins and gases removing them from the gastrointestinal tract. It reduces gas and bloating also. This means it can be used successfully for cleansing your digestion and to promote overall digestive health. Since it is a natural gut cleanser it reduces the toxicity in your body. This can also reduce allergic reactions and oxidative damage in your body as well as strengthen your immune system. Research has been done to prove that activated charcoal can help you regulate your cholesterol also. This is because it can attach to and flush the cholesterol from your body. It can also help to reduce the effects of radiation and detox you from many substances. If you want to know more about this, give us a call.

Activated charcoal is a great anti-ageing product because if there are less toxins in your body, your body experiences less oxidative damage that drives the ageing process. It may also help to prevent cellular damage to your natural detox organs.

Side effects of activated charcoal

While this product comes with many health benefits, it is also important to remember that activated charcoal can have some not so good side effects sometimes. The product not only adsorbs toxins and unwanted chemicals in your body, but it can also get rid of the some of the good things as well. This can include nutrients from your food, supplements and prescription medicines. Be careful as this could make the medication less effective. It is best to take activated charcoal on an empty stomach between meals so that it does not affect the absorption of nutrients. Also, you should take activated charcoal between 90 minutes and two hours before taking any supplements or prescription medications.

Another side effect is that it may turn your stool black, but this is only temporary and harmless. When taking it you should drink plenty of water to prevent constipation. Activated charcoal is generally considered safe for use during pregnancy. However, it is important to consult your health care practitioner and take it under supervision. Studies supports its use for cholestasis, a condition with reduced bile flow, during pregnancy. It can be used when pregnant to help alleviate symptoms of nausea and vomiting caused by morning sickness, as well as diarrhoea. Once again only under the supervision of your natural practitioner. In some people, activated charcoal can cause side effects of vomiting and diarrhoea, the same symptoms you may be taking it to relieve. If you want to try this as a detox, call us and book a session so we can get you started with the right products and dosage for your detox from any toxins and other substances you would rather not have in your body.

Slippery Elm – the innocent powder to regulate your body

The medical name for Slippery Elm is Ulmus Rubra. This is a fantastic herb for digestion and the digestive tract and although it may not look great it has amazing qualities. Slippery Elm comes from the inner bark of a certain species of the elm tree. These species are found in Europe and North America. Slippery Elm is called a mucilage because it is able to trap water which then causes it to swell. This is why it looks like a gel when you go to drink it.

 

Health Benefits

 

Slippery Elm is a great nutrient as it contains calcium, iron, Vitamin C, zinc, magnesium and potassium. These nutrients mean it is great for a variety of health issues. One of which is for the treatment of heartburn, also known as acid reflux. It is also a good herbal remedy for gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD. This is a chronic disease that causes stomach acid to flow back into oesophagus irritating the lining. It is also good for inflammation and gastrointestinal conditions, such as gastric reflux, peptic ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome and Inflammatory Bowel Disease. It helps as it forms a physical barrier that protects the esophagus and stomach walls from damage caused by stomach acid and irritating foods. It also acts as an anti-inflammatory.

Slippery Elm creates a soothing action and has fibre content to help with the treatment of diarrhea by slowing down bowel transit time. It is sometimes used when people experience unexplained inflammation of the urinary tract. The powder is known to soothe the lining of the urinary tract. This then helps with the painful symptoms associated with urinary tract infections. It can also help increase the flow of urine and help to eliminate waste from the body.

Slippery Elm contains mucilage. This is a sticky mixture of sugars that our digestive tract cannot break down. It coats the throat. Slippery elm is sometimes found in some brands of throat lozenges.

Slippery Elm can also be used to soothe irritated and inflamed skin conditions, including wounds and burns, it can help to draw out boils and abscesses. It helps with these conditions by forming a protective gel-like layer.

How to use Slippery Elm

You can drink Slippery Elm powder by adding one teaspoon or ½ tsp for children, to one cup of warm or room temperature water and stir well. This mixture should thicken up slightly. To help with the flavour you can add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg. Alternatively you can put it in juice – apple is pretty neutral. If you don’t like the taste just put it in less juice or water (like ¼ glass) and stir. Then swallow it while it’s all mixed in. The qualities it has are well worth the somewhat bland, dry taste.

 

If you’re using it for stomach and upper intestinal problems like reflux or stomach ulcers, it is best to take it after meals. However, for lower intestinal/bowel problems it is better to take it 1-2 hours before your meals.

When taking it for a dry cough you can take it up to 3 times per day and it is best taken in-between your meals.

 

Slippery Elm is not known to have any adverse side effects. However, as it coats the digestive tract, it could slow down the absorption of other drugs or herbs. It is best to have it two hours before or after other herbs or medication.

Detoxing and Your Liver

Your liver, brain and heart are all important organs in your body. The liver is also the largest organ in the body and is located in the upper abdomen below the diaphragm, to the right of the stomach.

The liver does a number of things for your body to help keep you healthy. It helps to fight infection and disease, cleanses the blood, processes and eliminates toxins and unwanted substances from the body. The liver also helps to process digested foods and nutrients, it produces the bile that your body uses to break down fats, and helps to produce and regulate cholesterol. Your liver stores vitamin B12, copper, iron, and glycogen which is the body’s glucose storage. This is why it is very important that you make sure you are taking good care of your liver.

Taking care of your liver can be easily done by making some small changes to your diet and lifestyle.

Herbs

Herbs such as milk thistle, dandelion root, artichoke and liquorice can help to protect your liver. They do this by stimulating bile flow and can also help the liver to regenerate itself. 

Eat Your Greens

Green foods such as vegetables, salad, chlorophyll, spirulina and chlorella, sea vegetables and barley grass are all good for your liver. They help eliminate toxins, reduce excess fat and fluid, help balance acid/alkaline levels and strengthen the immune system. Always try to buy organic fruits and vegetables to keep your toxin levels low – free from poisons, insecticides, hormones and antibiotics which will build up and stop the liver functioning properly.

Flush Your Liver and Drink Plenty of Water

Flushing your liver removes toxins, cholesterol build up and gallstones, while freeing the way for bile flow. To flush the liver, drink a mixture of olive oil, Epsom salts and grapefruit juice before bed. Another way to help remove toxins is to drink lots of water - two litres of filtered water a day. Small and frequent sips are best. It is recommended to avoid a lot of water with meals as this may cause the gastric juices in the stomach to dilute making your digestion slower and increasing the load on the liver.

Medications

Residues of drugs and medications build up in the liver and cause toxicity. It is good to give your liver a break from medications such as painkillers, anti-inflammatory, antibiotics, HRT and the pill however never do this without the consent of your doctor and consult with your natural practitioner also.

Alcohol

The liver is responsible for metabolising alcohol which, if you drink too much, can cause cellular malformations, scarring and inflammation. These affect your liver function. Caffeine can also cause the body to release glycogen stores into the blood which slows the organs ability to cleanse the blood. On the other hand coffee enemas have been proven to be good as a detoxifier as it relaxes the muscles of the small intestine and anus helping to dilate the bile ducts and blood vessels.

Sleep

Sleep helps by releasing melatonin into the body which shares the body’s toxic load with the liver and helps neutralise free radicals and regenerates the body.

If you need to do a liver detox because you feel toxic and bloated why not give us a call? Never do a liver detox til you have done a bowel detox as it will create a toxic cycle if you do it the wrong way round. We are open again shortly after the New Year and can make a detox plan just for you and your lifestyle. In our clinic or online.

Aussies and weight gain – there is a solution

Did you know that over half of us Aussies are overweight, despite the fact many of us eat lots of sugar free, fat free, light diet food and drinks. This is because, even though the food is labelled diet it doesn’t always mean it’s a healthy choice.

Low kilojoule meals are one example. These meals are great when it comes to portion control but they are full of carbohydrates such as white flour, rice potatoes and often full of sugar. These white refined carbohydrates can cause overeating as they lack fibre and are digested quickly leaving you feeling hungry sooner than high fibre, slow release carbohydrates such as brown pasta, sweet potato and brown rice. 

Another meal that can cause overeating because it leaves you feeling unfulfilled are protein shakes and meal replacement shakes. These shakes may help you lose some weight in the beginning but they are impossible to sustain for a long period of time and keep the weight off.

Low carb labels don’t always mean low kilojoules or that it is a healthy choice, as well as the low-fat labels. Be careful to what you are buying because these ‘diet’ products are usually full of sugar or artificial sugar which are both bad for your health, not to mention the high salt content. You need to pay attention to the nutrition labels on the back of the packet rather than the big labels on the front of a product that are marketed to sell.

For best results for not only weight loss but a healthier body is to eat a well-balanced diet of whole grains, vegetables, fruit and proteins such as lean meat, chicken, pork and fish. Also eating proper portion sizes is needed because even if you are eating the right things eating too much can contribute to weight gain. We also need to stay active and exercise. Drinking enough water is also important. It is recommended to drink up to two litres of water a day.

Your diet may not be the only reason you are gaining weight, other things that can contribute to weight gain include thyroid and/or hormone problems, digestive issues such as not going to empty your bowels every day and metabolic syndrome. If you are struggling with your weight the you may want to get your health checked out. Consult a nutritionist to ask about foods as that is what they are trained to help you with and a hypnotherapist for help with diet portions and to control your cravings.

 What are Haemorrhoids? How to treat them.

Haemorrhoids can be very painful and cause lots of different problems. Haemorrhoids are clusters of veins in the smooth muscle walls of the anus or lower rectum and can be also known as piles. This means they make you very uncomfortable when you need to open your bowels. They are caused by increases in pressure to the blood vessels in the anus. This can be caused by things such as low fibre diets, pregnancy, obesity and prolonged sitting or standing. Other factors that can contribute to the cause are diarrhea or constipation, spinal cord injuries, alcoholism, lifting heavy weight, aging and anal intercourse.

Symptoms are pain, and pain during bowel movements, itching and bleeding around the rectum and /or the anus. You may also find hard painful lumps and get mucus or faecal leakage. Haemorrhoids can go away on their own but here are some treatments that may help to speed up the recovery. It is important however to make sure that the symptoms are related to haemorrhoids and not something more serious.

The doctor will use medical history, symptoms and a physical examination to diagnose haemorrhoids. There are a few different types. Some bleed but are not prolapsed, others are prolapsed but get smaller on their own suddenly and others prolapse and have to be reduced manually whilst the worst prolapse but cannot be reduced.

Treating haemorrhoids, even though they can disappear on their own, can help to ease the symptoms faster. If you have the low grade haemorrhoids that bleed but do not prolapse you can try some at home remedies such as Epsom Salts and glycerine. Mix two tablespoons of Epsom Salts with 2 tablespoons of glycerine and apply to the painful area with gauze. Apply for 15-20-minutes and repeat every 4 to 6 hours. Or you can try Myrtus Communis essential oil to help improve bleeding, and itching. To help calm spasms you can try sitting in a Sitz bath or even a regular warm bath for 20min 2 to 3 times a day. Also eating more fibre or taking stool softeners, digestive enzymes and probiotics can help relieve symptoms.

If you are suffering from the higher graded haemorrhoids then you might need other products you can buy at the health food store or the chemist. If these don’t work then there are prescription medications from the doctor. In some cases, you may require more intensive medical procedures such as rubber band ligation, which is using rubber bands to cut off circulation to the haemorrhoid. Infrared coagulation and radiofrequency ablation therapy also work in the same sort of way. If all this fails you may require surgery to remove them. Take care of these when they just start and don’t let them become bad and uncomfortable. They are a symptom that your gut is not healthy or working properly. See your naturopath to find out what you need to improve your diet and gut health and very soon haemorrhoids will be in the past and your digestion will be working better.