December is here! Colder than November – it seems the year is trying to catch up with itself too. all the Practitioners and staff would like to take the opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. The clinic is closed from the 24^th December to Tuesday 3^rd of January.

This newsletter we have an article from Sunny Chen on how to cope with the excesses of the season; Katrina Rose has an interesting opinion article about how medicine and naturopathy complement each other and Karen Rook has something about looking after our bones.

You will also find an article from Medical Observer about possible sperm damage from laptops using Wi-Fi. We will be adding more articles that we feel are significant or useful from this and various other health journals that are sent to the clinic and may not reach the mainstream media.

Wishing you blessings and happiness your editor Tracy DeGeer

Recovery from Christmas overindulgence with Chinese medicine

Christmas is coming soon, for some of us; Christmas often means large meals, lots of desserts. The result of overindulging is often headaches, hangovers, constipation, stomach problems or diarrhea. Over time it can cause you to add unwanted pounds, damage your digestive system, cause you to be tired .The most affected organ is the liver because of it's role in metabolizing fats, wastes and detoxifying the body. Anything that is not natural, in the food we eat, is removed by the liver. If the liver is overwhelmed the toxins end up being stored as fat. Other organs that can be damaged by overindulging are the lungs, gallbladder, heart, pancreas,

Here are some herbs that can help with some forms of over indulgence :

Ginger –. Ancient chinese cultures have been using ginger for its medicinal properties for more than 2,000 years. ginger root can help alleviate some gastrointestinal symptoms and might reduce inflammation.It protects the liver and stomach , is a great herb for indigestion.

Peppermint –It is also used for digestive problems including heartburn, nausea, vomiting, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), cramps of the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract and bile ducts, upset stomach.Peppermint is also used for the common cold, cough, inflammation of the mouth and throat, sinus infections, and respiratory infections.

Cinnamon – relieves diarrhea and nausea, counteracts congestion, warms the body and enhances digestion. Studies show that cinnamon reduces serum glucose, triglyceride, LDL cholesterol, and total cholesterol in people with type 2 diabetes.

For some conditions, Chinese herbs combined acupuncture would get better result.

For more information such as the dosage and which herb suits you, please consult Sunny Chen

Happy Christmas to you all!

NATUROPATHS AND GPs, What is the difference?

When I am out and about socialising, I am often asked by people as to what is the difference between me (ie. Naturopath) and a doctor (ie. General practitioner (GP)).My answer will often include the following statements. We are both university educated and we both care for patients. If we look at this question on a practical level you will generally find your GP can practice some forms of surgery and your naturopath can not. Your doctor is bound to diagnose a medical condition or disease or in other words label the problem. A naturopath may do this also but is more inclined to search for causes of medical problems. For example, a patient may present with a form of arthritis (diagnosis/label) in a joint. It is perfectly valid for your GP to treat the problem symptomatically whereas a naturopath may look at physiology in another part of the body that may be linked, such as poor digestive function that can ultimately cause an inflammatory reaction in many different parts of the body including joints. Also your GP will normally prescribe synthetic drugs and your naturopath will normally prescribe naturally derived or non-synthetic drugs (although a large number of supplements and herbal medicines are now pharmaceutically enhanced for stronger dosage).

The real underlying difference however lies with philosophy of treatment. Naturopaths adhere to a belief in the concept of vitalism. At its core vitalism or life force is the intrinsic ability of the body to bring itself into a dynamic balance of mind, body and spirit for optimal health. Generally speaking, a non-wholistic GP supports a reductionist approach to treatments where reverence to mind, body, spirit connections are overlooked. As a naturopath/medical herbalist, I do not oppose the paradigms of most modern medicine for example, investigations, surgery and evidence based drugs save lives and mostly improve health. However, I am averse to the ‘spin’ associated with some information regarding some well-selling drugs disseminated from pharmaceutical companies.

So you may be thinking now, what does medical herbalism have to do with vitalism. The relevance lies within the way herbal medicines are used for treatments. No two patients with the same condition or illness (diagnosis or label) are mandatorily prescribed the same herbal medicine. The needs of a given situation determine intensity and type of treatment, for example, decisions to tone and restore mind and body may be initially more important in cases of deficiency of vitalism before elimination of pathogens.

Just as your doctor (general practitioner) plays an invaluable role in your health, so too can a naturopath. Due to orthodox medicine’s support and funding from government, naturopathic medicine (which receives no support) is deemed as complementary medicine. As a naturopath, I think a little differently, because I believe that on many occasions I have deemed my patient’s GP’s work as being complementary to my own. I will not speak for other naturopaths so please treat this as my opinion only.

In summation and simply stated, a patient’s vitalism is essentially adaptation in cell self-organisation towards health and naturopathic medicine aims to aid adaptive processes of self-repair. It is the degree of vital force and perceived cause of illness of a naturopath’s patients that drives the method of treatment.

How can exercise prevent osteoporosis?

Muscle pulling on bone builds bone, so weight-bearing exercise builds denser, stronger bones. The more bone mass you build before age of 30, the better off you will be during the later years. Menopause, which usually happens around age 51, dramatically speeds up bone loss. Even during peri-menopause (the period of 2 to 8 years before menopause), your estrogen levels may start to drop off, leading to increased bone loss. Over time, too much bone loss can first cause osteopenia (low bone mass) and then osteoporosis. Weight-bearing exercise and a diet high in vegetables and fruit can help you maintain bone density later in life and prevent the risk of low trauma fracture.

Anthony Sebastian M.D., Professor Emeritus of Nephrology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), led a research team that published in 2001 a survey of worldwide fracture rates. His group correlated fractures to all the countries’ consumption of animal and plant protein. As the intake of vegetables and fruit rises, the rate of hip fracture falls. If you wish to build bone make these two rules your guiding light: Do weight bearing exercise three days a week and eat three servings of vegetables and/or fruit at every meal.

Weight-bearing exercise programs are available at Crows Nest Clinical Pilates and Physiotherapy.

Call Karen Rook Mphty., PhD., Physiotherapist for more information on: 0405 321 775

Reference

Sellmeyer DE, Stone KL, Sebastian A, Cummings SR. A high ratio of dietary animal to vegetable protein increases the rate of bone loss and the risk of fracture in postmenopausal women. Study of Osteoporotic Fractures Research Group. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2001 Jan; 73(1):118-22.

Sperm damage possible via Wi-Fi

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Catherine Hanrahan all articles by this author

Radiation from the laptop connected to Wi-Fi was three times higher than without Wi-Fi, and at least seven times higher than control conditions.

USING a laptop connected to the internet via Wi-Fi could be decreasing men’s fertility by affecting their sperm quality, a new study suggests.

Researchers conducted a simple experiment comparing sperm samples from 29 healthy donors left under a Wi-Fi connected laptop computer for four hours with sperm samples kept away from any electronic device.

They found that progressive sperm motility was 80% in the control sperm compared with only 69% in the sperm sample exposed to the Wi-Fi laptop.

The drop in motile sperm corresponded to an increase in non-motile sperm of around 25% in the sperm exposed to the laptop, compared to 14% in the control sperm.

Similarly, more than twice the number of sperm, 8.6%, had fragmented DNA in the sample exposed to the laptop compared with only 3.3% of control sperm.

“Our findings suggest that prolonged use of portable computers sitting on the lap of a male user may decrease sperm fertility potential,” the authors from Argentina said.

Radiation from the laptop connected to Wi-Fi was three times higher than without Wi-Fi, and at least seven times higher than control conditions.

The authors speculated that the detrimental effect on sperm quality was due to radiofrequency electromagnetic waves, not a thermal effect, because temperature was controlled during the experiment.

Regulate junk food marketing, consumers say

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SOUTH Australia's Health Minister John Hill says phone surveys show most consumers want the government to regulate the way junk food is marketed to children.

Fifteen years ago, one-tenth of four-year-old girls and boys in South Australia were overweight or obese, but that figure was now around one in five, Mr Hill said in a statement on Wednesday.

Research showed that between March 2010 and January 2011, the top nine food advertisers in SA were all fast food outlets, which spent $13 million on metropolitan TV advertising, nearly all in children's viewing time, he said.

"This is over six times the amount of money Quit campaigns used to drive down smoking rates," Mr Hill said.

He said the key problem was that voluntary self-regulation was restricted to children's and some general programs, when in reality children watched a much wider range of programs.

Mr Hill wants the food industry to work with the government to take action, including defining a common criteria to decide which foods are healthy and unhealthy.

He also wants them to extend voluntary initiatives to the times of day when large numbers of children actually watch TV, by extending restrictions into evening timeslots.

SA will be working with the Australian National Preventive Health Agency (ANPHA) and the Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council (AHMAC) to host a national seminar next year to discuss action on unhealthy food advertising.

Canned soup linked with BPA spike in urine

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AFP (Agence France-Presse)

PEOPLE who ate canned soup for five days straight saw their urinary levels of the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) spike 1200 % compared to those who ate fresh soup, US researchers found.

"We've known for a while that drinking beverages that have been stored in certain hard plastics can increase the amount of BPA in your body," said lead author Jenny Carwile, a doctoral student in the Department of Epidemiology at Harvard School of Public Health.

"This study suggests that canned foods may be an even greater concern, especially given their wide use."

The chemical BPA is an endocrine disruptor that has been shown to interfere with reproductive development in animal studies at levels of 50 micrograms per kilogram of body weight and higher, though it remains uncertain if the same effects cross over to humans, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

This study did not measure BPA levels by micrograms per kilogram of body weight, but rather by micrograms per litre of urine, so a direct comparison to the EPA-cited danger level in animals was not possible.

However, previous studies have linked BPA at lower levels than those found in the Harvard study to cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity in humans, the lead author said. BPA is found in the lining of canned foods, cash register receipts, dental fillings, some plastics and some polycarbonate bottles.

Seventy-five people took part in the study, eating a 12 ounce (340 g) serving of either fresh or canned soup for five days in a row and were told not to otherwise alter their regular eating habits.

A urine analysis showed the canned soup eaters had 1221% higher levels of BPA than those who ate the fresh soup.

BPA is typically eliminated in the urine so more studies were needed to examine how long elevated levels may remain in the body, the researchers said. JAMA 2011:306:2218-20

Can you think yourself well?

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Professor Garry Egger

Learning to deal with negative thoughts in a positive way may help manage depression.

Far be it for me to paraphrase a great French philosopher, but I’m sure if Descartes was alive today he would agree that his famous dictum, “I think, therefore I am”, could be made more topical by adding “...depressed, anxious, self-conscious, happy, sad, disturbed... whatever!”

Similarly, Brillat-Savarin, who first said you are what you eat, might be tempted to reposition this to ‘you are what you think’.

Thought is the basis of emotions. As such, it’s the driving force of much behaviour (and lack of it) associated with mental and physical health. It can influence fear, depression, stress and distress. Indeed, most modern psychological therapies, from CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) to RET (rational emotive therapy), are based around different ways of changing an individual’s way of thinking.

The importance of this is summed up by some of our greatest thinkers through the ages.

Over 2000 years ago the philosopher Epictetus said: “People are disturbed not by things, but by the views they take of them.” This view was shared by Shakespeare, who had Hamlet muse that “there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so”, and Mark Twain, who personalised this concept in his self-deprecating expose that “I’ve suffered a great many catastrophes in my life. Most of them never happened”.

Perhaps the most powerful influence of thought on mental health is exemplified through its effect on depression. At least in its milder forms, depression can start as a series of adverse experiences (reactive depression). Coupled with a non-resilient personality and genetic influences, a downward spiral can then develop, through depressive thought cycles, into biological changes in the brain from which escape becomes more difficult.

Where this is the case, early intervention is paramount. Simple lifestyle changes, like increased physical activity and dietary improvements can help slow, and even reverse, some of the central neural atrophy associated with being ‘bitten by the black dog’.

More relevant however is a change in the processes of thinking. Thoughts, like behaviours, can be changed. But for someone who has had a lifetime of thinking in a certain way, this is not as simple as just telling him or her to think positively.

A first stage in the process is to recognise that thoughts are not reality. They are a learned way of interpreting the world. Next is learning to differentiate between functional thoughts, or those required for daily living, and non-functional or emotion based thoughts that are generally egotistical and can be either irrationally positive or negative.

This latter type can become ‘cemented’ into the mind through constant recurrence. If this was positive, all might be well. But usually it’s the negative and the ‘me-based’ thoughts that recur more often, and therefore stick hardest.

Good treatment, whether psychotherapy, meditation or reality approaches, helps the individual differentiate functional from non-functional thought and reduces the potency of the latter, hence bringing learning into the cognitive process. In some instances this means reducing the opportunity for negative thought.

A common prescription for the early stages of depression is, for example, to exercise in the morning after waking early, rather than lie in bed, ruminating.

Problems can occur in a sound healthy body via various microbes and destructive lifestyles. Problems also get in the way of a sound mind through learned and ‘me-centred’ non-functional thinking. Negative thoughts are like the bad microbes of the mind, for which ‘psychological immunisation’ through learned thinking can be likened to a regular flu shot.

The body’s immune system is functional at birth and acts to restore physical health in the presence of invading pathogens. In a similar way, the inherent tendency of a sound mind towards maintaining good psychological health is like a psychological immune system that struggles to restore a natural core of good mental health in light of life experiences.

If negative, non-functional thoughts can be reduced, the natural core of good psychological health becomes the default mode, just as good physical health is the default mode when the body’s immune system fights off disease.

Perhaps the last word comes from the author and psychologist Dr Richard Carlson, who made the point in his book Stop Thinking and Start Living that “being upset by your own thoughts is similar to writing yourself a nasty letter – and then being offended by that letter”.

The trick is in learning how to stop writing such letters to oneself.

Professor Garry Egger

Director, Centre for Health Promotion and Research, Sydney; Professor of lifestyle medicine and applied health promotion, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW.

Spring is in the air, and sometimes our eyes and nose with the pollen! We are sorry to have taken so long to talk to you, since our move. It may have been just around the corner but well you know what it is like when you move!!!!

In this newsletter we have a wide range of tips and guidance from different practitioners to help you, your family and friends. All the best from the management team Tracy, Neal and Ruby.

First up we have a recipe from our newest team member Marcea Klein , plus the times and styles of cooking classes she is giving at the centre. Sunny Chen explains how acupuncture assists seasonal allergies. Katrina Rose explains more about an in house food allergy test. Karen Rook introduces her new biofeedback equipment for breath training. Terry Collinson has provided a beautiful poem and sculpture photo about breathing. As well we have a very practical article about 4 of the most dangerous myths about washing your hands. Finally we have 2 pieces about mindfulness. One from Dr Jennifer Rathjen, Clinical Psychologist, explains what it is and the other by Suzanne Naseby Psychotherapist is more of a personal reflection about it.

Marcea has provided a great recipe to use a very helpful vegetable. Also we have included the times for her cooking classes. Please not there is a discount of 10% given when you mention you came through the centre. Marcea Webber Klein is a several times published author, qualified, registered counsellor, psychotherapist, dream analyst and holistic nutritional counsellor and coach. She also qualifies in Oriental Nutrition and Meditation with over 25 years experience in U.S. Japan and Australia

Heart health the delicious way

Kuzu (or kudzu) is a plant native to the Orient, particularly China and Japan. For centuries the Chinese cooked and ate the leaves, seeds, and flower of the plant. Today, modern culinary use is primarily limited to the starchy root, which is dehydrated to make a chalky powdery thickener. The Chinese call kuzu starch gok fun; the Japanese call it ko fen and is valued and used as both food and medicine. In the West, Kuzu comes packaged in the form of a lumpy, white powder and can be found in Health food shops. I have cooked with kudzu for years using it both medicinally and as a thickener.

Apple juice-kuzu pudding: For cramping, tension, stress, and insomnia. Combine 2 tablespoons kuzu, 1 cup apple juice and a pinch of sea salt in a saucepan dissolving well. Bring mixture to a simmer on the stovetop, stirring constantly until thick. Remove from the stove and stir in a teaspoon of vanilla, if desired. Eat hot before bedtime for a relaxing effect or as a dessert add 1/2 cup chopped seasonal fruit and serve with chopped almonds and mint.

In Chinese medicine, kuzu is credited with reducing high blood pressure, lowering cholesterol, preventing blood clots, and relieving chronic migraine. Recent research from China and the US indicates that kudzu can reduce the craving for and effects of alcohol.

Kuzu is an ingredient that really deserves a place in every kitchen.

Entertaining with Moroccan African Cuisine

The taste of Morocco is exotic, full of rich deep earthy flavor. Sultry spicy flavours, tantalizing combinations, chickpeas, cous cous, harissa, chermoula and more. One of the most diversified cuisines in the world Moroccan cuisine is a mix of Arab, Berber, Moorish, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean African, Iberian, and Jewish influences.

Saturday 15 October
Nature Care Wholistic & Medical Centre 114 Alexander St. Crows Nest 2065
11:00am - 2:00pm
$99.00 - make a booking

30 Minute Healthy Meals

Time poor? Care about your diet, health and wellness? 30 minute meals is all about cooking good, healthy food, using every minute smartly, having fun and reclaiming the kitchen so that it works for you. Once you start cooking this way, not only will you love it; you’ll never look back.

Saturday 29 October
Nature Care Wholistic & Medical Centre 114 Alexander St. Crows Nest 2065
11:00am - 2:00pm
$99.00 - make a booking

Holiday Entertaining with Asian Fusion Cuisine

A naturally healthy cuisine, where each dish is an explosion of flavors - cook and taste something truly spectacular. Asian fusion cooking is all about delicious flavors and ingredients infused into simple and succulent dishes. Fresh ingredients, recipes are cooked quickly to preserve the fresh flavors.

Saturday 12 November
Nature Care Wholistic & Medical Centre 114 Alexander St. Crows Nest 2065
11:00am - 2:00pm
$99.00 - make a booking

Acupuncture for seasonal allergy. Sunny Chen Acupuncturist/ Herbalist.

A seasonal allergy is an allergic reaction to a trigger that is typically present for part of the year, such as spring or fall. Seasonal allergies are also often referred to as hay fever. Symptoms of seasonal allergies include sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, itching of the nose, and post-nasal drip. Not all people experience all of the symptoms of hay fever, and in some people, only one symptom will predominate.

Acupuncture is one effective treatment option for seasonal allergies. The acupuncturist looks for constitutional or deeply-rooted signs in each person who presents with allergies. The principle here is treating the whole person. Often people with allergies show signs of Spleen or Kidney Deficiency as well as Lung signs according to Chinese Medicine. The goal of the acupuncturist is to develop a plan which addresses the person's acute symptoms and provides relief, while addressing the underlying immune system imbalance which is thought to be at the root of the person's allergies. Treatments often include the use of acupuncture, specifically chosen herbal formulas, and dietary modification.

The best time to come for treatment is 1-2 months before the season starts, the treatment can lessen the symptoms for the current season and reduce the responses in following seasons.

Food intolerance test with fast results:

katrina_rose Katrina Rose, Naturopath and Medical Herbalist. Master of Health Science (Herbal Medicine), Bachelor of Health Science, Advanced diploma of Naturopathy.

We have all heard the saying ‘we are what we eat’. This has the hall marks of some profound truth; however it is not the whole truth. Many other factors play their part in ‘what we are’ such as the environment we live in, the stressors in our lives, how we think and our adaptation, or lack of, to almost everything. In the scheme of things, food intake is a tiny part of most people’s day but it looms large if your body can not cope with something you eat.

You may be reacting to foods you eat. Food intolerance can make someone feel unwell with symptoms being delayed for hours or days after intake of the offending food. Often symptoms of food intolerance can be as vague as lethargy or brain fog or as distinct as headaches or migraine, constipation or diarrhoea, bloating or Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Recently, naturopaths have been able to access a food intolerance test that is performed in the clinic. This test gives results within one hour and is safe and accurate. It measures immunoglobulin G (IgG) reactions to 59 commonly eaten foods. Your finger-prick blood sample is taken and diluted, and then added to a test tray containing small spots of food protein extracts, with a precise number of steps to achieve a result.

If you test positive to any of the foods in the test, avoidance or removal of them may play a large part, for a positive change in quality of life.

The cost of the test is $220.00 and includes a take-home information booklet that includes alternate foods to eat if you find yourself intolerant to any of those tested. To have the test done with me at Nature Care Wholistic and Medical Centre gives you the benefit of my naturopathic experience and if I cannot help then I can refer you to other health practitioners in the centre who may be able to.

‘We are what we eat’ is clearly not the whole story of who we are, but knowing if a food is causing reactions in our body which may influence the way we live, can have profound and life changing or adapting consequences that can determine our quality of life.

What’s New ... At Crows Nest Clinical Pilates and Physiotherapy?

breath

Breathing Well Programs utilizing biofeedback training are available for various conditions such as:

Stress

Breathing Disorders

Chronic Neck Tension

High Blood Pressure

Depression

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

... the first vital step in maintaining optimum health.

Utilizing the biofeedback device the CapnoTrainer you will be able to see your breathing pattern.

breathbiofeedback1

Combing the power of breath and technology with the ancient wisdom of yogic breathing, Breathing Well Programs are an easy way to improve your health and reducing stress.

Using music and animated visuals to guide you to slower deeper breathing. Breathing Well Programs enhances the way you feel and leaves you with more energy, stamina and focus.

Start your breathing journey by calling:

Karen Rook, Physiotherapist: 0405 321 775

‘Breath of Life: The Divine Moment of Awakening’, a sculpture by Frederick Hart

Breath_of_life

“The Breath is your gift to yourself in every moment of your life.

It brings your life and nourishment, awareness of yourself and your existence.

Your way of Being.

In every moment your Breath is continuous within and without.

There is no separation.”

TLC ©

4 of the Most Dangerous Myths About Washing Your Hands

Becker's ASC Review, January 2011, reveals nine widely held myths about washing your hands. Here are four of them:

Hot water is better than cold water for effective hand washing:

Scientists have found that various temperatures had "no effect on transient or resident bacterial reduction." Not only does hot water not show any benefit, but also it might increase the "irritant capacity" of some soaps, causing dermatitis.

Hand sanitizers kill germs more effectively than soap:

Using alcohol-based hand-hygiene products is in general not more effective than washing your hands with plain soap and water.

Frequent hand washing or use of hand sanitizers promotes healthy skin:

In fact, contact dermatitis can develop from frequent and repeated use of hand hygiene products, exposure to chemicals and glove use.

Soap with triclosan is an effective antimicrobial for hand washing:

The results of a recent study showed that an antibacterial soap containing triclosan did not provide any additional benefit to a non-antibacterial soap. Concerns have been raised about the use of triclosan because of the potential development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and that antibacterial soaps are said to be tied to a growing public health crisis.

Proper hygiene does NOT require you to use harsh antibacterial agents, which can cause far more harm than good, both in the long- and short-term.

Washing your hands is your number one protection against the acquisition and spread of infectious disease without the need for antimicrobial soap.

Antibacterial soaps do not kill viruses. People who used regular soaps have no greater risk of developing symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea, which may be caused by bacteria, than those who used antibacterial products. So, the rational conclusion is antibacterial soaps are completely unnecessary for the purpose of washing away bacteria.

It has been repeatedly shown that washing your hands with plain soap and water can kill germs that cause:

The common cold

Influenza

Pneumonia

Hepatitis A

Acute gastroenteritis

Stomach infections such as salmonella, campylobacter and norovirus.

Other contagious illnesses and surgical wound complications, including MRSA.

How to wash your Hands

To make sure you're actually removing the germs when you wash your hands:

Use warm water

Use a mild soap

Work up a good lather, all the way up to your wrists, for at least 20 seconds

Make sure you cover all surfaces, including the backs of your hands, wrists, between your fingers, and around and below your fingernails

Rinse thoroughly under running water

Dry your hands with a clean towel or let them air dry

In public places, use a paper towel to open the door as a protection from germs that the handles may harbor.

Your skin is actually your primary defence against bacteria, not the soap; so resist the urge to become obsessive about washing your hands. Over-washing can easily reduce the protective oils in your skin (especially in the winter and dry desert environments) and cause your skin to crack—offering easy entry for bacteria and viruses into your body.

Instead, simply wash your hands when they look dirty, and prior to, or after, performing certain tasks that could spread infection, such as:

Before and after preparing food, especially when handling raw meat and poultry

Before eating

Before and after treating wounds or taking/giving medicine

Before touching a sick or injured person

Before inserting contact lenses

After using the toilet or changing a nappy

After touching an animal, its toys, leashes, or waste

After blowing your nose or coughing/sneezing into your hands

After handling garbage or potentially contaminated waste.

Traditional soap will not harm your health, other than perhaps dry your skin if used too frequently, whereas antibacterial products like triclosan comes with an array of potentially dangerous side effects.

In a recent press release, Dr Sarah Janssen of the Natural Resources Defence Council (USA) is quoted as saying:

"It's about time FDA has finally stated its concerns about antibacterial chemicals like triclosan. The public deserves to know that these so-called antibacterial products are no more effective in preventing infections than regular soap and water and may, in fact, be dangerous to their health in the long run."

The idea that "clean" equals sterile is not based in reality. A massive, highly profitable marketing campaign has been created based on the premise that germs must be eradicated and that they're hard to kill.

As a result, many, particularly the younger generations, have been brainwashed into believing that regular soap isn't good enough; you need that "magic ingredient" that will ensure your safety and cleanliness. Unfortunately, you're just paying extra for the privilege of having been hoodwinked by slick advertising.

Antibacterial Soap and Cancer

As if that wasn't enough, when triclosan mixes with the chlorine in your tap water, chloroform is formed, which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified as a probable human carcinogen.

In tests that closely mirror typical dishwashing habits and conditions, researchers have found that triclosan reacts with free chlorine to generate more than 50 parts per billion (ppb) of chloroform in your dishwater. And, when combined with other disinfection byproducts (DBPs), the additional chloroform could easily drive the concentration of total trihalomethanes above the EPA's maximum allowable amount.

Trihalomethanes are some of the most dangerous chemical byproducts there are. The maximum annual average of THMs in your local water supply cannot exceed 80 ppb (parts-per-billion), but there really is no "safe" level of these chemicals.

Trihalomethanes (THMs) are Cancer Group B carcinogens, meaning they've been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals. Disinfection byproducts (DPBs) have also been linked to reproductive problems in both animals and humans.

Furthermore, once these antimicrobial chemicals flow down your drain, they contaminate the environment and become part of the food chain. Researchers have determined that about 75% of another popular antimicrobial, triclocarban (TCC), resists water treatments meant to break it down and ends up in surface water and in municipal sludge used as fertilizer.

TCC is also known to cause cancer and reproductive problems.

So, the release of antimicrobials into the environment is yet another way that these products contribute to the increase in resistance of pathogens to clinical antibiotics.

Simple Solution

So please, avoid using antibacterial soaps and other products containing these hazardous ingredients. They're harming you, the environment, and adding to a significant public health problem. They also cost more.

Instead, just use a gentle, chemical-free soap. Local health food stores typically carry a variety of natural soaps that will do the trick without harsh chemicals.

Mindfulness is a core skill that is utilized in therapy by Dr Jennifer Rathjen.

Mindfulness is the act of deliberately paying attention in a particular way. It involves bringing attention into the present moment and being non judgemental. Mindfulness helps us become aware of the full range of our experiences, including sensory impressions, thoughts, imagery, emotions, urges and impulses.

When engaging in mindfulness we do not judge either the content or the processes of our mind and we become freer to observe the contents of our thoughts without being reactive to them. Often we try to distract ourselves from unpleasant thoughts and feelings. This is a form of avoidance and research shows that avoidance creates more problems. Mindfulness allows us to stay present to the unpleasant thought or feeling for its natural duration without feeding or repressing it.

Mindfulness interventions have been demonstrated to be beneficial for a number of psychological and physical conditions such as chronic pain, depression, anxiety, addictions and personality disorder. Research has shown that after only eight weeks of mindfulness practice, positive changes in brain function and immune response occur.

Mindfulness can be developed to the point where it can be practiced in the middle of stressful situations. While being mindful we can be alert and respond appropriately to the situation at hand.

Reflections on Mindfulness (Suzanne Naseby)

It is said all roads lead to Rome, and I think the same could be said about the road to Mindfulness. When I think of my own mindfulness journey I recognise acceptance, and my understanding of what is meant by mindful acceptance, as being a foundation concept of my practice. I find we often misunderstand being asked to accept something or someone as meaning we have to like it or, at the very least, put up with it. The literal meaning of acceptance is something like 'consent to receive what is offered', it doesn't say anything about admitting defeat, or getting away 'scott free', or liking what is offered. When we open our self to accepting what life offers us we acknowledge present reality, and we can then begin to make room in our lives for what we can and can't change. When I struggle with acceptance I remind myself of the first few lines of The Serenity Prayer:

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

Courage to change the things I can,

And wisdom to know the difference.

Suzanne x

The Centre not only moved location but we have a new management team. Tracy and Neal DeGeer, building on the strong foundation laid by Dr Ruby Bloomfield have taken over that role to enable Ruby to be free to have more time to look after patients. Ruby not only looks after her own patients with extraordinary diligence and commitment, but generously supports other practitioners with concerns about theirs to ensure the highest care throughout the centre.
We want to thank Vicky Iles and Sasha Hutchinson for their extensive investment in the running of the centre. Both have decided to move on to new experiences working and studying.
We have a larger area at 114 Alexander St so we are also welcoming Dr Jennifer Rathjen(Clinical Psychologist), Suzanne Naseby(Psychotherapist), Katrina Rose(Medical Herbalist and Naturopath), John Baxter(Medical Herbalist and Naturopath), Sunny Chen(Acupuncturist and Chinese Medicine) and Sarah Cyterman( Cranial Sacral Therapy). Soon also Marcea Klean will be conducting whole-foods cuisine classes. We will be expanding each of their profiles shortly but all of them are highly qualified and clinically experienced.

As well we have new Wholistic Assessment and Management Plans available for you to help track your health. It is a 3 sided assessment to give a very complete annual check up. (Full medical blood count and discussion, Naturopathic appraisal and Traditional Chinese Medicine Energy assessment).

It is only by checking regularly can you pick up your trend to wellness or disease.


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