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Author: Kathryn Messenger

Whole Naturopathy / Articles posted by Kathryn Messenger (Page 3)
reflux

Reflux – a sour taste in your mouth

Whilst most people will experience reflux with extreme fullness occasionally, often with overeating (think Christmas day!), some people experience this daily. What’s going on? In healthy digestion, food enters the stomach via the oesophagus through a valve called the lower oesophageal sphincter, which opens only to let food in, then it closes again. Reflux occurs when this sphincter opens at other times and lets food or stomach acid through, often causing a burning pain in the oesophagus or an acid taste in the mouth. Why stomach acid is so important? The acid in your stomach plays a very important role in breaking up foods, killing bacteria (along with other foreign substances like bugs 😊). The stomach is an amazing organ in that the acid can destroy human cells and...

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menopause

An easier transition into menopause

Traditionally in many cultures menopause was celebrated as freedom from childbearing and a sign of wisdom. Sadly in our culture many women struggle with the loss of youth, it can be good to be reminded to enjoy this stage of life and look for some positives. The average age for menopause is 51, and by definition is 12 months with no period. Perimenopause is the transition stage and usually occurs from age 45 to 55. Changes occur due to changes to main female hormones: oestrogen and progesterone. Oestrogen is the ‘strong’ hormone, it has a role in strengthening bones with calcium, and during perimenopause the levels fluctuate. Progesterone is the ‘calming’ hormone, it relaxes the nervous system, and in perimenopause the levels drop. During the reproductive...

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Does your liver need a detox?

Whilst it’s commonly known that excessive drinking causes liver damage, there are many other toxins that are processed through the liver. The human body is exposed to toxins daily from the air we breathe, the water we drink, plastics, chemical cleaning products, cosmetics, medications, recreational drugs, cigarette smoke, and the list goes on. At some point, the liver becomes overloaded, and the detoxification process is impaired. Signs of poor liver detoxification Liver damage Gallbladder disease Fatty liver and high cholesterol Migraines High blood sugar Allergies Poor digestion Nausea Sugar cravings Menstrual irregularities Eczema/dermatitis Stress Fatigue The detoxification process The liver detoxifies though three phases and is the most important organ in metabolism. The first phase is a process of chemical breakdown of the toxins; the second phase prevents...

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natural home remedies

Easy DIY remedies this summer

Sunburn, scrapes, bites and stings often go hand in hand with enjoying being out in nature over the summer break. Below are some natural remedies that are supported by research, that you can prepare yourself this summer. Calendula is part of the marigold family of flowers, and the flowering head can be used medicinally both internally and externally. Externally, both current research and traditional use, show it to aid in wound healing for ulcers, burns (including sunburn), incisions, and insect bites, reducing inflammation and healing time. The best way to prepare calendula is to soak the flower heads in an oil - nut oils are best as they are high in vitamin E which also improves skin healing. After a couple of months, strain the oil...

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Wired and Tired – from stress to exhaustion

Trying to achieve more than most people? Or maybe you’ve been doing that and have hit a wall? Welcome to the world of adrenal exhaustion, or technically, the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction, adrenal insufficiency, or hypercortisolism. It all starts with stress According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics in 2020-2021, 15% of Australians experienced high levels of psychological distress, and this was higher in women, and younger Australians (16-34 years). This is likely to be higher in Melbourne where the pandemic stress combined with lockdowns meant long periods of reduced social activities and parents trying to juggle work with home-schooling. Our central nervous system has two modes: sympathetic nervous system (SNS) dominance, known as ‘fight or flight’, and parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS) dominance, ‘rest and digest’. During life we...

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weight loss

Why can’t I lose weight?

Did you know that it was discovered around 12 years ago, that you can’t get fat from eating fats, there just isn’t a metabolic pathway! They came up with this idea because fats give you more energy per weight than carbohydrates and protein. But what this actually means is that fats can fuel your body longer, than what carbohydrates can. Good fat sources include avocado, butter, coconut oil, olive oil, oily fish, nuts, and seeds. Protein is required for growth and repair of all cells, and should be included in every meal. It’s found in meat, eggs, dairy, soy, legumes, nuts and seeds. Good sources of carbohydrates (carbs) are fruit, vegetables, and wholegrains. Carbs are particularly important for kids and teens as they grow and for adults that are...

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men's health

Men’s Health: puberty and prostate

With Father’s Day this month, it’s a great time to talk about men’s health. We’ll take a look at two conditions: teenage acne and Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). These are both caused (at varying degrees) by male hormone imbalance. Androgens are a group of hormones of which testosterone (the predominant male reproductive hormone) is the most common. Testosterone levels increase for young men in their late teens, and the excess androgens contribute to acne. The sebaceous glands which secrete oil onto the skin, produce androgens, along with other glands, and in excess are converted to a hormone called dihydrotestosterone which promotes acne. Research has found herbs such as Serenoa repens (Saw palmetto) effective in treating hormonal acne, especially when combined with other androgen regulating herbs is....

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hay fever allergic rhinitis

Springtime allergies

I do like Spring, it brings the promise of warmer weather. I particularly like wattle, the way it blooms well before the weather has begun to warm, like a promise that winter won’t last forever. But for many of us, springtime has a unique set of problems: hayfever and allergies. Symptoms obviously depend on what allergens your body is sensitive to, and the degree of sensitivity will determine the severity of your symptoms. Those with asthma or eczema in their family often have increased genetic sensitivity. What’s going on? An allergen enters the body and triggers an immune response to defend against the allergen. Mast cells (part of the immune response) release histamine which causes inflammation, usually in the nose, throat or skin. What’s going wrong? In someone without allergies, histamine...

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What is homeopathy?

What is homeopathy?

Homeopathy is based on the principle that your body has an innate ability to heal, something that drives the body to repair and restore, known as vitality. You only need to study the process of wound healing to understand that the body has amazing repair process. Just like using a dressing on a wound provides an environment that allows the body to heal, likewise, homeopathy stimulates the body’s own healing process. This is different to a nutritional product which provides the nutrients that the body uses in the healing process. For this reason, homeopathy can be used to treat most health issues, in most people. It is gentle enough to be used on children and they usually respond well, as their body will heal more...

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Vitamin D for immune system

Vitamin D for a strong immune system

The most important role of vitamin D is putting calcium into our bones. But it also has other roles such as regulating our immune systems. Vitamin D is involved in the regulation of both the innate immune system (general defence) and the acquired immune system (specific targeted defence), as well as having a role in regulating inflammation. Studies have shown that higher levels of vitamin D are associated with reduced disease, including respiratory infections. A blood test for Vitamin D gives a reference range of 50-250 nmol/L, with the lower end of this range set in order to prevent osteoporosis (spontaneous spinal fractures). Whilst vitamin D levels above 50nmol/L does prevent osteoporosis, optimal health is found in levels between 100-150nmol/L. Our bodies make vitamin D with exposure...

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