whatreallyworks.co.uk


May/June Online Newsletter – Issue 19
whatreallyworks.co.uk

Message from the What Really Works Team
It has been widely accepted that most common complaints occur as a result of poor digestion; when you have good gut health, you generally feel a whole lot better inside and out. During the beginning of May we featured gut health on our homepage - discussing Irritable Bowel Syndrome in the Doctor Zone, Diarrhoea in the Homeopathy Zone, the properties of turmeric in the Herb Zone, and digestive healing in the Ayurvedic Zone. Take a look at the May 10 homepage to find out more, or check out Susan's article, Top Tips for Good Gut Health.


With summer upon us, the latest homepage is a triple feature edition designed to help our readers deal with all aspects of the changing seasons. We take a closer look at Hay Fever, Weight loss, and Sun care - investigating research and products that really work.

What’s new in our zones

Herb Zone
Osteoporosis is on the increase and, considering that many people are unaware of its presence until a fracture occurs, it is essential that we understand how to reduce the risk of this disease. To find out more, read the latest Herb Zone article, Bone health for life.
Ayurvedic Zone
Sebastian Pole considers Hay Fever and allergies from an Ayurvedic point of view - where treatment begins with the digestive system - in his latest article, Hay Fever.
Body, Mind & Soul Zone
Now is the time to deal with those issues that we have put on the back boiler! Yvonne Ferrell discusses the effects of the Mars Retrograde on our spiritual selves in her latest homepage update.
Doctor Zone
Allergic rhinitis can make summer a misery for 15 million people (and counting!). Dr Sarah Brewer discusses Hay Fever and its possible causes in her latest article, Hay Fever.

Parents & Kids Zone
At this time of the year, it is important to protect your children from the sun. Melissa Clark looks at suitable creams and lotions for protecting delicate young skins in her latest article, Here comes the sun.

Get your body ready for summer!

Glowing good health - the kind that really does turn heads on the beach - starts on the inside and recognises that your body, mind and spirit all need to work together to create the kind of vitality that will also help you make the most of your summer break. Yoga exercises will help burn toxins, trim fat, build strength and flexibility into the body and, at the same time, bring a feeling of contentment and inner peace.

There is also no better antidote to stress. All Yoga classes, for example, should include a 10-minute or longer deep relaxation session at the end of the posture work. You should also make sure you relax if you practice Yoga at home, since this is when the real work is done. It is the time when the body’s parasympathetic or “rest & repair” nervous system takes over to fine tune your energy and build reserves to get through the rest of the day.

Susan's Top 5 Simple Asanas (postures):
1. Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana)
This tones the tummy and the spine and improves nerve communications between the brain and the rest of the body. It stimulates the thyroid gland to help regulate weight and will relieve constipation that can cause bloating.

2. Hand-to-Foot Pose (Padahastasana)
This simple pose reduces excess weight - especially around the tummy - and kick starts digestion. It also improves blood circulation to the muscles and brain.

3. Triangle Pose (Trikonasana)
Use this powerful posture to trim fat from the waistline and to ward off depression. It also strengthens the reproductive organs.

 

4. Mountain pose (Tadasana)
This looks easy but it one of the most difficult postures to do properly. Well worth the effort though since it helps balance physical and mental energy and helps keep tummy muscles toned.

5. Cat Stretch Pose (Marjariasana)
In Yoga, we say you are as young as your spine is flexible. This asana is brilliant for relieving tension in the neck and shoulders, as well as decompressing the spine.

 

Top tip: The longer you hold a pose, the greater the benefits. As you practise, you will feel heat move through the body to burn off toxins and clear out the energy blocks that may be holding you back physically and emotionally

Also check out Susan’s Factsheet - Yoga: getting started

Summer First Aid Pack

Don’t let sunburn, cuts and wounds, stomach bugs, summer infections, bites and stings, Athlete’s Foot, aches and strains and constipation spoil your summer! Whether you stay in the garden or travel to the jungle this summer, this is the perfect kit for everyone. In an easy-travel, draw-string bag.

Each pack provides: Drawstring travel bag containing Citricidal 25ml, Lactogest 30 tablets, MSM Cream 100ml, The Ultimate Aloe Skin Gel 60ml - with a total value of £25.90. Now on Special Offer for £22.90 until the end of June, 2004. Telephone 01435 884668 or visit Higher Nature online to order.

The new Tea Tree?

Aztec Neem is best described as the ‘new tea tree’. With the same antibacterial antiviral and antiseptic properties, Neem is so versatile it helps treat an amazingly wide array of common complaints - from shaving rash, athlete’s foot, acne and cold sores to conditions like eczema, head lice, thrush and shingles.

Neem is an extraordinarily hardy tree, grown predominantly in India but also South East Asia and Mexico, and shows great resilience to all manner of pests and strains of disease. Known for its incredible curative and protective properties for thousands of years, Neem is a vital ingredient of the Indian system of natural healing - Ayurveda. The producers of certified organic Aztec Neem harvest from a sustainable agriculture system in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, where Neem thrives in the dry tropical climate.

Aztec Neem is available from health stores nationwide and by mail order from Xynergy Health Products. Phone 08456 585858 or visit Xynergy online.

Organic herb tinctures for period problems

From teenage acne when they start, to hot flushes as they’re ending, sometimes periods can be nothing but trouble. Fortunately, nature has provided herbs that can help to correct the balance when period problems arise. Bioforce has a range of organic fresh herb tinctures that gently alleviate the symptoms.

Agnus Castus is useful for PMS, heavy periods, acne and period pains, NOTE: it should not be used with oral contraceptives or HRT. Dandelion is a very useful detoxifying herb and is excellent for reducing the fluid retention and bloating that often precedes a period. Passiflora Complex helps to calm the nerves and soothe stress, without causing side-effects. It is a soothing, gentle blend of passionflower and oats (Avena sativa). When the beginning of the end of periods is in sight, Menosan, a fresh herb tincture of sage, is a useful remedy that has been shown in trials to reduce hot flushes and night sweats by over 50%.

Bioforce tinctures cost £7.99 for 50ml and are available from health stores. For stockists phone 01294 277344 or visit Bioforce online.

Liberate your lips this summer - naturally!

Comvita Lipclear Cream and Lipclear Tablets are part of the new Skin Therapy range that takes advantage of the healing and restorative properties of renowned New Zealand Manuka honey, with a UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) of 18+. At the first signs of sore, cracked or sunburnt lips, use Lipclear Cream to nourish and protect. For cold sores, use either the Lipclear Cream or Tablets to heal as well as prevent an eruption. When combined, Comvita Lipclear Cream and Tablets provide a balanced internal and external healing mechanism to maximise results.

Lipclear Cream combines L-lysine and Propolis to moisturise and protect lips keeping them soft and healthy. It has natural antiviral properties making it a highly effective formulation for treating and preventing cold sores. Lipclear Tablets provides immune boosting benefits of Propolis to treat and prevent cold sores. It is highly effective at particularly stressful times, over exposure to the sun, changes in season, and extreme temperature: all situations known to stimulate the herpes simplex virus.

Lipclear Cream costs £6.95 for 10g, and Lipclear tablets are £9.95 for 60 tablets. Visit the New Zealand Natural Food Company online or phone 08456 585858 to order.

New potential for Ginkgo Biloba

Ginkgo Biloba has previously been shown to improve blood flow to the brain and lower extremities, boost visual acuity, and enhance memory in those diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Now, researchers in Turkey have found that Ginkgo Biloba can prevent the free radical damage that occurs in brains after exposure to electromagnetic radiation from cell phones.

The increasing use of cell phones has led to the emergence of research to determine the consequences of exposure to the low-intensity electromagnetic radiation emitted by mobile phones. Several experimental studies have suggested that reactive oxygen species - in other words, free radicals - play a role in electromagnetic radiation damage in tissues. In the current study, researchers investigated the effect of Ginkgo Biloba on cell-phone-induced oxidative damage in brain tissue of rats.

Ginkyo Concentrated, from Lichtwer Pharma, is the only scientifically researched standardised 120mg Ginkgo biloba supplement available in the UK, and costs £15.99 for 30 One-A-Day tablets. For further information please call the Customer Careline on 01803 528668 or visit Lichtwer Pharma online.

Revitalise chemically treated, coloured or blow dried hair

Green People's new Intensive Repair Shampoo and Conditioner have been formulated to revitalise hair and scalp, strengthening weak and damaged hair. Based on pure vegetable Glycerin and soothing organic Aloe Vera, Repair
Shampoo also contains nourishing organic Jojoba oil and B Vitamins from Panthenol and Beer Yeast extract. Repair Conditioner combines organic infusions of Green Tea and silica-rich Horsetail together with active ingredients from Wheat Protein and Beer Yeast to hydrate and protect the hair.

Designed to be used together, Intensive Repair Shampoo and Conditioner will help to undo the damage caused by many modern-day hair treatments. These products do not contain Sodium Lauryl Sulphate or Parabens, and are tested on humans! They cost £8.50 each, and are available from Green People Company online or by phoning 01444-401444.

Ayurvedic skincare for problem skin

Victoria Health's Ayurvedic Skincare Capsules, Tejaswini, were launched in April - and within days of launching they began receiving unbelievable feedback from customers. Tejaswini is formulated to work from deep within to clear problem skin. One customer had a really bad rash all over her body and was informed by a top skin specialist that there was nothing that could be done and it would go in eight weeks! Two days of using Tejaswini and it went, banished into the ether.

Tejaswini Capsules cost £9.99 for 30 Capsules. For information and ordering contact Victoria Health online or by phoning 0800-413596.

Why the humble grapefruit is so heartily good for you

US scientists have found the flavonoid compounds found in citrus peel significantly lower Low Density Lipid cholesterol (LDL) – identified as a major risk factor for heart disease. The news, published in May 12, 2004 Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, is of no surprise to Nutri Centre director, Rohit Mehta, who says “A 100% natural dietary supplement formulated from the fibre of grapefruit rind – ProFibe – is one of our biggest-selling products for cardiovascular health.”

ProFibe is a tasteless powder formulated from non-GM soy protein, guar gum and citrus pectin, which is easily mixed with prepared food or drink. It costs £19.95 for 380g, or £54.85 for a triple pack. It is backed by clinical research, and its ingredients approved under the US FDA G.R.A.S. ruling (Generally Recognized As Safe) and accepted by W.H.O. (World Health Organization). Order ProFibe by telephoning 0800 587 2290, or visit the Nutri Centre online.

Recharge your batteries naturally

From listless teenagers and exam-stressed students to frantic business executives and energetic pensioners, most people suffer from a lack of energy, forgetfulness and concentration at some time during their busy and hectic lives. Health Perception has produced a dual-purpose supplement containing two key ingredients to help boost both energy levels and memory.

The first ingredient, Phosphatidyl Serine (PS), is an essential part of all the body’s cells, but is most concentrated in the brain where it is involved in many nerve cell functions which provide the basis for various brain activities including memory, name and face recognition, information recall and concentration. Dr Thomas Crook, President of Psychologix and co-author of The Memory Cure (Thorsons), highly recommends this ‘super nutrient’ especially as sufficient levels of PS cannot be obtained from an average diet.

The second key ingredient is the black seed of the fruit, Guarana. The primary agent in Guarana is a form of caffeine called guaranine which is 2.5 times stronger than caffeine found in coffee, tea and soft drinks. While caffeine from beverages provides a short-lived energy burst that overheats and excites the body, guarana’s other compounds effectively slow down the assimilation of caffeine so a single dose will provide a sustained energy hit that can last for up to six hours.

Cognito Energy from Health Perception is available in a one-a-day pack of 30 tablets at £9.99. Each tablet contains 100mg Phosphatidyl Serine, 2mg Phosphatidyl Choline, 320mg Guarana (equivalent of 50mg caffeine) plus 100mg Vitamin C. For ordering and information, phone 01252 861454 or visit Health Perception online.

Cellfood - Oxygen Nutrient Supplement

Cellfood is a leading oxygen mineral supplement made from all natural substances that delivers oxygen, minerals, enzymes and amino acids to every cell in the body. It is a proprietary formulation developed by Everett Storey - who was called a 'genius' by his colleague Albert Einstein - and it has been on sale in the US since 1969. It is now available in the UK and over 40 countries worldwide.

The benefits of Cellfood include increased energy, strengthened immunity, deep detoxification, greater mental clarity, and free radical reduction - resulting in better overall health. This is due to the increased levels of oxygen combined with the other important nutrients, enabling the cells and organs to function properly, so allowing the body to function at its best.

Cellfood costs £17.95 for 30ml (one-month supply based on a healthy 11 stone/70kg adult). For information and ordering, phone 01827-874 721 or visit The Health Corner online.

A safe, non-drug alternative to aspirin

NKCP (Nattokinase) is now available in the UK. Clinically shown to help the body maintain optimum blood flow, NKCP is used by those prone to blood circulation problems - especially those associated with long haul flights, unhealthy vascular systems and to offset the risk of DVT.

DVT is the obstruction of a vein by a blood clot. It is generally caused by sitting for long periods of time. Whether travelling by plane, car, coach, or simply working long hours at a desk, DVT can be a quiet threat to all of us. Currently, the only preventative measure to guard against DVT is to take aspirin and wear compression stockings. Exercises and measures such as drinking lots of water and avoiding alcohol during flights can also minimise risk.

NKCP is a functional food, able to naturally break down a substance in our blood called PAI-1, which prevents our own body efficiently regulating blood viscosity. So instead of directly effecting blood viscosity like aspirin - which can lead to dangerous side-effects, NKCP simply increases our body’s efficiency at controlling its own blood viscosity, without compromising healthy blood clotting. This makes NKCP the safest supplement to take for helping our bodies to maintain optimum blood flow.

For normal maintenance of healthy blood flow 2 tablets of NKCP is recommended as a daily supplement or used consecutively for 3 days before flying. NKCP costs £32.95 for 60 tablets. Phone 0208-480 1000 or visit The Really Healthy Company online for information and ordering.

Organic Ayurvedic digestive remedies

With the wisdom of traditional medicine and insight of modern science, Pukka Herbs produces the highest quality vegetarian capsules and tinctures. To reduce bloating, prevent sleepiness after a meal, help lose weight and improve assimilation of vital nutrients, taking Organic Trikatu - meaning three spices - can help. It is a fiery mixture of ginger, black pepper and long pepper, stimulating digestion to remove a sluggish system and helps assimilate food more efficiently.

Organic Triphala is a combination of three fruits, used to clear the digestive system, it is a gentle non-habit forming laxative commonly used for irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis and constipation.

Both of these formulas are available as vegetarian capsules and tinctures. Phone 0117-9744811 or visit Pukka Herbs online for further information.

Non-steroid treatment for eczema

Aloe Propolis Creme is a safe alternative to steroid creams. This is important because the prolonged use of steroids has several undesirable side effects. It is effective for eczema, psoriasis, leg ulcers, acne, and as a soothing moisturiser and conditioner. This cream contains over 70% Aloe Vera to which Bee Propolis is added, to endow the cream with greater antibiotic properties. It also contains chamomile, comfrey, vitamins E and A for extra skin care.

Bear in mind that the skin is directly related to the digestive system - and skin eruptions can reflect a disorder in the gut - the ingestion of Aloe Vera Gel can be effective as a double-pronged attack on the problem. Containing 75 natural nutrients including vitamins, minerals, enzymes and amino acids, it provides a convenient, comprehensive supplement in maintaining a healthy gut and skin.

Visit Forever Living Products online for ordering and information.

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* Disclaimer: The advice in this newsletter should not be taken as a substitute for medical advice or treatment, especially if you know you have a specific health complaint. Our advice is that you find a GP who is sympathetic to the usefulness of natural medicine.