Phyto Success

I would like to share my success with you all.
I am now a proud and happy phytotherapist. I even have certificates to prove it.
Quoted from the e-mail sent from the collage,
"Congratulations on completing the final examination for your Master Herbalist Level 5 NCFE Diploma course.
On behalf of the College we have reviewed your performance throughout your course and in line with NCFE regulations, your overall result for the course has been awarded a "DISTINCTION".
It is worth noting that this is the highest achievement you can achieve for this course. Well done on this excellent achievement, your effort throughout the course has been of a very high standard and we wish you all the success for the future."

I'm rather pleased.

top 9 reasons for a flare up

this list is not my own work but I certainly feel it should be included here.

In a nutshell, here ‘tis!

Anything that worsens your symptoms, can cause a flare.

Here’s a quick list of what may bother you and play a role in a symptoms flare:
1) Foods that don’t “feed” you (processed foods, fake foods, foods to which you have an allergy or intolerance)
2) Physical trauma (no matter how major or minor)
3) Unhealthy thoughts (what’s spinning around in your mind?)
4) Relationship difficulties (drama, worry, anxiety, etc.)
5) Lack of fitness/muscle tone (the body needs daily movement!)
6) External toxin exposure (pesticides from the lawn, laundry soaps, scented candles, perfumes, etc.)
7) Internal toxin exposure (dentistry, pharmaceuticals, immunisations, chemical dyes/food additives, etc.)
8) Infections (have you had a cold or flu lately?)
9) And, of course, an over-arching theme of stress…no explanation required.

I know, I for one, can tick more than one of these boxes. I also know there is room for improvement. Here is a quick review of how I get on so far.

1. Foods that don’t “feed” you.
Well, I am a huge advocate of whole foods. I cook from scratch with organic fresh ingredients. I try to work by the eat well plate rule. A little of everything and not too much of one. I am not much of a fan of processed prepacked foods and don't tend to cook it even for the family. We all eat together and we eat at the table. That is the rule.
2) Physical trauma.
I am one of the most clumsy people I know. If there is a wire I will trip over it. If there is a step I will fall down it or trip up it. If there is a ledge I will bump it. My son suffers with dyspraxia and when having him assessed I was told it is very likely he got it from me.  I do try to take more car4e but clumsy is clumsy and not much can change that. However, I am also becoming more accident prone because of my weight. I find my knees and ankles don't like to hold my weight and give way. I am also not very good at judging spaces now I am wider. I guess I put on the weight so quickly I never got used to being wider. This is being remedied. Slowly but surely it is coming off.
3) Unhealthy thoughts.
I assume by this they don't mean in the Catholic sense. I'm not giving that up for the world. I am however, prone to letting "the little things" bother me. I am learning to let them go. Life is too short!
4) Relationship difficulties.
I have a beautiful relationship with my wonderful supportive partner. He is sent from heaven. He understand me and cares for me. He supports me and is always by my side. I am very lucky! I have a wonderful relationship with both of my children. They are good kids with a strong level of empathy, manners, and caring. They are also typical young preteens and we do have the occasional drama but we never go to bed on an argument and when it comes down to it. They are lovely. Again, I am lucky!
I do have a stressful tie to the Ex husband. This in time will be broken but it does cause me anxiety. 
5) Lack of fitness/muscle tone
Here is my biggest problem. Due to weight and a poor sleep patter this has become a problem. I am very unfit and have poor muscle tone. This can and will be remedied in time but it is making exercise a chore and the weight isn't helping. I plan to start swimming next week. This has always been one of my favoured types of exercise and one of the most efficient, I have found. When the fitness level has risen slightly then I plan to return to yoga.
6) External toxin exposure.
I can't do much more about this one. I don't tend to suffer too much from environmental toxins but I do live in a rural community. I like perfume but don't seem to suffer with my choices. I like a light spray and a light scent. I do find strong perfumes in built up areas (we have all experienced the over scented middle aged woman at the shop counter) is guaranteed to give me headache. I also can't stand artificial room scents and candles. They make me feel sick.  There is no way they would come into my home. I have plenty of essential oils if needed.
7) Internal toxin exposure
Back to the organic, whole food cooking. I have that covered. I also avoid anything with sweetener, particularly aspartame in it. (you would be amazed by how many children's medicines and vitamin tablets contain this chemical). Green peppers are a no go as technically they are not ripe so contain a high level of solanine. All Solanums contain this and this is the alkaloid that causes nightshade to be poisonous. I should reduce the amount of the solanum found in tomatoes, potatoes, aubergine, peppers, paprika, gogi berries. The rule of thumb is that the greener they are the higher level of solanine.
However, I'm not quite ready to give up tomatoes and potatoes just yet. I shall reduce them though.
As for synthetic medication. Well, we all know the answer to that. If I hadn't started by cutting these out we wouldn't be here reading this blog.
8) Infections
We all get coughs and colds. However, I am sure any fibro sufferer will tell you how a simple sniffle can seem like the flu. I can't and won't live in a germ free bubble. Avoiding anyone with the slightest sniff.

9) And, of course, an over-arching theme of stress.
This one is my kryptonite. I was once told by a GP to "avoid all stressful situations". Oh, how I laughed. I was, at the time, a single mother of two youngsters.  Fighting a messy divorce, sick parents, no income (I was on the sick with no sick pay), a house that was falling apart around my ears, debts up to my eyeballs....
Sure, I'll just avoid that stress!
Things are so much better now. Stress still catches me unaware though. I need to let the little things go, worry less about what people think of me, finalise this blasted divorce and improve my health. all things I can take care of myself.

All in all, there is nothing as liberating as taking control of a situation. I feel I have come a long way in doing just that. With the power of positive thinking and the support of dear family and friends I can only get better!

Valerian in the treatment of insomnia

Valerian in the treatment of insomnia

Kingdom: Plantae
Family: Valerianaceae
Genus: Valeriana
Species: Valeriana officinalis

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is a hardy perennial flowering plant, with heads of sweetly scented pink or white flowers which bloom in the summer months. Valerian flower extracts were used as a perfume in the sixteenth century.
Native to Europe and parts of Asia. Other names used for this plant include garden valerian , garden heliotrope (although not related to Heliotropium) and all-heal. The garden flower red valerian is also sometimes referred to as "valerian", but is a different species from the same family and not very closely related.

Valerian has been used as a medicinal herb since at least the time of ancient Greece and Rome. Know to Dioscorides in the 1^st century AD. Hippocrates described its properties, and Galen later prescribed it as a remedy for insomnia. In medieval Sweden, it was sometimes placed in the wedding clothes of the groom to ward off the "envy" of the elves. Valerian can also be consumed as a kind of tea.

The plant is grown from seed in spring and the root and rhizome of 2-year-old plants are unearthed in the autumn for pharmacological use.



Actions

Sedative

Relaxant

Relieves muscle spasms

Relieves anxiety

Lowers blood pressure

In ayurveda, valerian is considered to work on the nervous, digestive, and respiratory systems as a stimulant, antispasmodic, stomachic, sedative, analeptic, carminative, and nervine.

Uses



Insomnia
Valerian is a useful remedy against insomnia, whether caused by anxiety or overexertion and excitement. Valerian has an effect that is calming but doesn't cause sleepiness the following day. When used as a sleeping aid, valerian appears to be most effective on users who have difficulty falling asleep, however valerian has been shown to have positive results on users who wake up during the night. Valerian often seems only to work when taken over longer periods (several weeks), though many users find that it takes effect immediately.

Stress related disorders

Valerian reduces mental over-activity and nervous excitability, helping those who find it hard to relax and “switch-off”. It is beneficial to almost any stress related condition and generally has a calming rather than sedative effect on the mind.

Anxiety

Symptoms of anxiety, including tremors, panic, palpitations and sweating can be relieved with valerian.



Effective relaxant
Valerian relaxes overly contracted muscles, and is helpful in shoulder and neck tension, asthma, colic, irritable bowel syndrome, muscle spasms and menstrual pain.



High blood pressure
Valerian is used alongside other herbs in remedies for high blood pressure caused by stress and anxiety.

Contraindication

Large doses may result in stomach ache, apathy, and a feeling of mental dullness or mild depression. Because of the herb's tranquillizer properties, it may cause dizziness or drowsiness, effects that should be considered before driving or operating heavy or hazardous equipment. In some individuals, valerian can cause stomach ache, anxiety, and night terrors.
Though some people like the earthy scent, many others find it unpleasant, even comparing the odour to that of unwashed feet. In rare cases, valerian may cause an allergic reaction, typically as a skin rash, hives, or difficulty breathing.
Because the compounds in valerian produce central nervous system depression, they should not be used with other depressants, such as alcohol, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, or opiates. Long-term use in a male has also been associated with benzodiazepine-like withdrawal symptoms, resulting in cardiac complications and delirium.
The very limited animal and human data do not allow a conclusion as to the safety of valerian during pregnancy. Moreover, as a natural, unregulated product, the concentration, contents, and presence of contaminants in valerian preparations cannot be easily determined. Because of this uncertainty and the potential for cytotoxicity in the foetus and hepatotoxicity in the mother, the product should be avoided during pregnancy. The risk to a foetus from short-term or inadvertent use during any part of gestation, however, is probably low, if it exists at all.






Doseage
powder/capsules
For insomnia take 1-2, 500mg at night

or

Tincture

20 drops in water.

Decoction

take 25-100 ml 20 mins before sleep.

Olive leaf extract

Kingdom: Plantae

Family: Oleaceae

Genus: Olea

Species: O. europaea

We are all familiar with olive oil and it's health benefits, but during my recent studied I have stumbled across olive leaf as a phytomedicine. It's properties and uses seem to make it an idea medicine for Fibromyalgia.

*Olive leaf (Olea europaea) was first used medicinally in Ancient Egypt. It is gaining recognition as a powerful defender against sickness and numerous scientific studies have been conducted to investigate the extract's beneficial properties. The reported benefits of olive leaf extract range from promoting increased energy and healthy blood pressure, to supporting the cardiovascular system and the immune system.
Olives are native to Asia Minor and Syria, but are cultivated in Mediterranean countries and also Chile, Peru and South Australia. Olive leaf was first used medicinally in Ancient Egypt and was a symbol of heavenly power. It was also used to mummify Pharaohs. More recent knowledge of the olive leaf's medicinal properties dates back to the early 1800s when pulverised leaves were used in a drink to lower fevers. A few decades later, green olive leaves were used in tea as a treatment for malaria.
Modern health professionals first started using Olive Leaf extract in 1995 when it first became available and although a long-term perspective is not yet possible, initial results are very positive. It is emerging as a very promising and unique herb with multiple applications. It shows considerable therapeutic action against many common conditions. Olive leaf extract is gaining recognition as a powerful defender against sickness, and numerous scientific studies have been conducted to investigate the extract's beneficial properties. The reported benefits of olive leaf extract's range from promoting increased energy and healthy blood pressure, to supporting the cardiovascular system, and the immune system.

Description

Evergreen tree growing to 30ft. Has deeply grooved grey trunk. Small leathery, lancedate leaves with an entire margin. Small greenish to white clusters of flowers. Green fruit ripening to black.

Active constituents

The primary medical constituents contained in unprocessed olive leaf is believed to be the antioxidants oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol, as well as several other polyphenols and flavonoids, including oleocanthal.

Uses

influenza, the common cold, candida infections, meningitis, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), encephalitis, herpes I and II, human herpes virus 6 and 7, shingles (Herpes zoster), HIV/ARC/AIDS, chronic fatigue, hepatitis B, pneumonia, tuberculosis, gonorrhoea, malaria, dengue, severe diarrhoea, and dental, ear, urinary tract and surgical infections, improved psoriasis, normalisation of heart beat irregularities, diminished cravings, less pain from haemorrhoids, toothaches and chronically achy joints.

Contraindication
None known

Method of administration

Olive leaf can be taken as a liquid concentrate, dried leaf tea, powder, or capsule. The leaf extracts can be taken in powder, liquid concentrate, or capsule form though the fresh-picked leaf liquid extracts are quickly gaining popularity due to the broader range of healing compounds they contain.

*With thanks to http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-olive-leaf.html.

phytomedication

here is a list of what is being taken at the moment.
Magnesium 750 mg a day
vit B complex 3 tabs a day
glucosamine sulphate 2000mg a day
omega 3 3000mg a day

occasionally siberian ginseng.

soon to be taking olive leaf.