Tea tree oil – nature’s healer

Aborigines have recognised its healing qualities for hundreds of years, it’s natural and it can heal cuts and burns, boils and warts, athlete’s foot and thrush, and boost the immune system. It is antiseptic, a fungicide, fights bacteria and viruses, has anti-inflammatory qualities, expectorant and balsamic characteristics. It is a natural household disinfectant and insecticide and can even be used as a household cleaner.

Research has discovered that tea tree oil can prevent the antibiotic resistant so-called superbug which affects patients in hospital, MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). Trials are currently being carried out in Australia to prove its effectiveness in fighting the superbug, and it has already been proven fight candida, acne, boils, athlete’s foot, cold sores and veruccas.

Tea tree oil, distilled from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia plant found in Australia, is a complex chemical substance made up of almost 50 chemical compounds. The oil is pale yellow and has a pungent medicinal smell, which does not lend it to use as a fragrance.

The tea tree plant is a spindly shrub with soft, bright green needle-like leaves, and tiny cream or yellow flowers. It is native to swampy areas of New South Wales, but as demand has grown more plantations have been cultivated in the same part of Australia. As the healing properties of tea tree oil become more and more recognised, it is fast becoming a massive industry.

While Australia is at the forefront of this industry, other countries who have begun to produce the plant include Zimbabwe, New Zealand, and Ecuador.

Where tea tree got its name

The Melaleuca alternifolia plant was traditionally used by Aborigines to treat cuts, wounds and skin infections, by making mud packs with the crushed up leaves. The name ‘tea tree’ emanated from Captain Cook and the crew of HMS Endeavour who landed in Australia in 1770, picked the aromatic leaves to make a spicy and refreshing cup of tea and even brew their own beer!

As early as 1923 clinical trials in Australia proved that tea tree oil had antiseptic and bactericidal properties, and was 13 times as effective as carbolic which was the standard at that time. Its diverse healing qualities made it standard issue in the first aid kits in the Australian Army and Navy during World War II. However, after the war the advent of antibiotics and other man-made drugs meant that tea tree oil, like other natural remedies, was largely overlooked.

What it heals

Dissatisfaction with the side-effects of 20th century drugs set in during the 1970s and tea tree oil became popular again, but mainly in Australia. Nowadays the average Aussie household has a bottle of tea tree oil in their medicine cabinet and the rest of us are waking up to its amazing qualities.

There are many applications for tea tree oil. Taken as a mouthwash it can eliminate bad breath, gingivitis and mouth ulcers, and used as a gargle in warm water it soothes sore throats. It can be applied neat on burns, bites, cold sores, spots and rashes, or it can be diluted in the bath or on a compress for sunburn, dry skin, eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis.

An effective insect repellent when dabbed on the temples, ankles and wrists, tea tree oil can be put in a base oil and massage into the muscles to ease rheumatism and back ache. Its antiseptic properties prevent the spread of germs and used in an oil burner, it can be inhaled to protect people from flu and fever, while easing sleep and bronchial conditions.

Head lice

Young children frequently get headlice from school, and the rest of the family are likely to get them too. Lice thrive on clean hair and it has nothing to do with being dirty. To prevent and eliminate: add 5-10ml of tea tree oil per 100ml of unperfumed, pH balanced organic shampoo. Massage into the scalp for 10 minutes before rinsing. Use a special comb (available from chemists) to check if lice are present, and if so, repeat treatment every two to three days as the treatment will not kill the eggs and these need to have hatched to catch them.

Bronchitis/sinusitis/colds

There are several ways in which tea tree oil can help. Five drops of oil can be put into a bowl of boiling hot water and inhaled for five to ten minutes – if you can bear it that long. Put 8-10 drops in the bath to encourage the body to sweat, and go to bed straight after. Keep the bath cool if body temperature is high. At bedtime three drops of oil added to base oil can be massaged into the chest, back and throat and combined with other oils like eucalyptus and lavender.

Dermatitis and eczema

Mix 25 drops of tea tree oil into 100ml boiled water and apply twice a day when it has cooled. Take regular baths containing tea tree oil drops. It is important to do a patch test on the skin first. Dab some oil on to a healthy area of skin and leave for an hour to see if irritation occurs.

Soothing thrush

Some people put tea tree oil diluted on a tampon, or mixed with live yogurt on a tampon to relieve the symptoms of thrush. In the early 1980s Professor Paul Belaiche, Phytotherapy Dept. at the University of Paris carried out studies on 28 women suffering from thrush. They inserted vaginal tea tree capsules every evening for 30 days, after which 21 were completely cured and the other seven were clinically cured.

Safe for veruccas

Unlike salicyclic acid tea tree oil does not cause damage to ulcerated skin on the feet. It can be applied by people with veruccas without risk of hurting themselves. As it fights bacteria it also prevents the area around the verucca becoming affected.

Cautious purchasing

There is a long list of ingredients in pure tea tree oil but as a guide to consumers, the Australian standard laid down in 1985 requires a content of at least 30 per cent terpinen 4-ol and 15 per cent cineole. The bottle should bear the words Melaleuca alternifolia. It does not matter if it is diluted provided the essential oil is pure and adheres to these standards.

Tea tree products

Apart from the essential oil, tea tree products include: gel, cream, hand and body lotion, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, foot spray and powder, soap, pessaries, toothpaste, insect repellant, antiseptic creams, mouthwashes, throat lozenges, pet shampoo.

 Tea Tree Pure Oil Thursday Plantation 10ml £9.50
Tea Tree Head Lice Kit Thursday Plantation 125g £14.44
Tea Tree Hair Conditioner Thursday Plantation 200ml £11.14
Tea Tree Scalp Shampoo Thursday Plantation 200ml £11.14
Tea Tree Antiseptic Cream Thursday Plantation 100ml £11.24
Tea Tree Foot Spray Thursday Plantation 50ml £11.67
Order from www.superfooduk.com and get 5% discount with the code: HSoul1

Be healthy for the exams


exams black girlGCSEs, A-levels and finals students – it’s the most important time of the year.  After months of hard work it’s important to stay focused, healthy and alert.

On top of doing lots of work it’s important to:

  • Get plenty of sleep.
  • Eat healthy foods, not sugary snacks.
  • Take breaks and relax.
  • Calm down – try Rescue Remedy!

Many students reach for the fizzy drinks, chocolate bars, and caffeinated drinks to keep themselves going, but they often have the opposite effect.  Too much sugar or caffeine in the body can bring about mood swings and poor concentration, while healthy eating and drinking plenty of water help much more.

There are plenty of tips about diet, relaxation, sleep and mental attitude below.  Rescue Remedy drops, spray, or pastilles are a great boon and you can be confident that Confidence Essence and Concentration Essence really can help – see below.  Many of these products are on special offer this May/June.

REMEMBER:

  • Take a bottle of water into the exam with you – your brain needs fluid.
  • Conversely go to the loo before the exam so you’re not thinking abou thow you need to go all the way through.

Life coach, Carole Gaskell, advises:

· ‘Focus on the big picture on what you want to achieve – not just the test or the exam, as they are a means to an end. This helps to lift the pressure slightly and make the brain clearer;

  • Believe that as long as you give it your best shot you’ll be fine;
  • Visualise feeling good during the exam instead of nervous and stressed, and imagine a positive outcome and how you will feel when you get good results.’

‘We all carry our own reality in our heads with words buzzing around so make them positive. Say positive things to yourself such as “I owe it to myself to do my best”.’

Getting zzzzzs

Stephen Palmer, director of the Centre for Stress Management, has a few tips:

  • ‘It’s helpful to get into a routine before going to bed so that you calm down and can sleep well;
  • Don’t do anything too exciting, like watching a horror film;
  • Maybe read a book, drink a glass of milk – avoid Coke or anything with caffeine in it – and unwind.’

He also suggests:

  • Playing some relaxing music before bedtime;
  • Making sure the bedroom isn’t cluttered.
‘If there are school bags around it reminds them of exams, or if the room is messy they may think about their parents nagging them to tidy up. ‘It’s really helpful to lie down and imagine they are on the beach, walking the dog or anything else they really enjoy.’
Some other ways of getting a good night’s sleep:
  • Put a few drops of lavender or geranium essential oils into a night time bath to relax you;
  • Put a couple of drops of Lavender oil on a tissue under the pillow;
  • Take the herb Valerian half an hour before bedtime to promote normal sleep: a trial on students at the University of Surrey found that after a seven day course of Valerian the volunteers were more relaxed and found tests less stressful without feeling dopey – if on medication consult your GP before taking herbal medicines.
  • Drink a glass of milk at night, rather than coffee or fizzy drinks which contain stimulating caffeine.
Featured Products
Lavender Oil Absolute Aromas 10ml £7.58
Valeriana Root Standardised Nature’s Answer 30ml £8.07
Geranium Oil Tisserand 9ml £7.23
Rescue Remedy Night Drops Bach Flower Remedies 10ml £7.00
Rescue Night Spray Bach Flower Remedies 20ml £9.45
To purchase these products you can go to www.superfooduk.com and get 5% discount with the code: HSoul1

Concentration

Weeks of revising and exams can take their toll and it becomes harder to concentrate and focus, but natural remedies can help.

  • Peppermint, rosemary and basil essential oils clear the head and help concentration – put in an oil burner when studying or put on a tissue and carry into the exam to keep focused – do not use strong oils if taking homeopathic remedies.
  • All schoolchildren used to be given a spoonful of cod liver oil every morning with good reason – Fish oils contain essential fatty acids which are required for healthy brain function, improving focus, and the ability to deal with stress.
  • Concentration Essence combines Larch, Blackberry, Yarrow, Hornbeam, White Chestnut, Nasturtium, Mullein, Wild Oat, Cerato and Peppermint flower essences, especially useful for exam time.
Featured Products
Concentration Essence Bioforce Jan de Vries 30ml £5.34
Organic Rosemary Oil Absolute Aromas 10ml £7.88
Peppermint Oil Absolute Aromas 10ml £8.64
Basil Oil Absolute Aromas 10ml £9.64
Omega 3 Fish Oils Higher Nature 30 capsules £5.83
To purchase these products you can go to www.superfooduk.com and get 5% discount with the code: HSoul1

Eating for energy

It’s really important to eat well during the exams and not snack on crisps or chocolate all the time, which may appear tempting.  Snacking means that you won’t feel hungry at meal times when you need fuel for your brain.  Sugary snacks and drinks (especially fizzy drinks) prompt a surge in blood sugar levels followed by a slump, which could arrive during the exam and make you feel tired and unable to concentrate.  Also you could feel sick, have an upset stomach or bloating because of your nerves.

The best way to ensure that you feel good is to eat plenty of fibre and an energy-boosting diet:

  • Fish – particularly oily types like mackerel and tuna – because it builds healthy brain cells;
  • Fruit and vegetables which are rich in nutrients to keep the system in top gear;
  • Plenty of fibre – brown rice and wholegrains such as lentils and beans, wholemeal bread and pastas.
  • Healthy snacks – fruit and vegetables, nuts or seeds, or even healthy snack bars.

Vitamin C and Vitamin B are excellent for helping the body to cope with stress. A good multivitamin every day will help.

Featured Products
Vitamin C with Bioflavonoids Low Acid Nature’s Own 30 tablets x 250g £8.20
Floravital Yeast & Gluten Free Iron Formula (vitamins and minerals from vegetables/fruit) Salus Haus 250ml £8.89
Vitamin B Complex Formula Vega 30 £7.08
To purchase these products you can go to www.superfooduk.com and get 5% discount with the code: HSoul1

 

Breakfast is essential

The worst thing to do is rush out of the door on an empty stomach – that’s a sure way to find it hard to concentrate in the exams. Even if you don’t normally have breakfast, make sure you do on exam days.  Scrambled eggs on wholemeal toast or eggs with bacon provide plenty of protein. Try to avoid sugary cereals or pasties.

Confidence boosting

Lack of confidence can make a capable person under-perform, but natural flower essences encourage self-assurance.

  • Seven drops of Australian Bush Flower Confidence Essence morning and night under the tongue at night brings out positive qualities and confidence, and prevents subconscious negative beliefs!
  • For anyone who doesn’t expect to do well the Bach Flower Remedy, Larch builds up confidence;
  • Gentian Bach Flower Remedy helps someone who hasn’t got much faith in themselves, particularly if they didn’t do well in the mocks.
Featured Products
Larch Original Bach Flower Remedy Bach Flower Remedies 20ml £8.98
Gentian Bach Flower Remedies 20ml £8.98
To purchase these products you can go to www.superfooduk.com and get 5% discount with the code: HSoul1
  • Calming nerves

    When we panic we shallow breathe prompting headaches, muscle tension, dizziness and a general feeling of tiredness.

    Stephen Palmer of the Centre for Stress Management recommends, ‘Don’t take deep breaths. Breathe slowly and let your stomach go up and down as you do. To really switch off from panicky thoughts pick a number at random and say it in your head as you switch off.’

    Some of Sue Leach’s homeopathic tips:

    • Gelsemium for paralysing fear: ‘If someone feels dizzy, faint, apathetic, heavy, weak, unable to focus and feel like that they’re going to have diarrhoea, it’s ideal. Take one on the morning of the exam and one just before starting.’
    • Argentum nitricum for people getting in such a state that they can’t think straight and their memory has gone to pot. ‘Time seems to stand still yet they operate at double speed and keep wanting sugary things.’ Follow the same directions as for the three As.
    • Rescue Remedy for quick calming. ‘Put a few drops in a bottle of water on the desk to calm down during the exam. Staying hydrated is essential for keeping the brain ticking – studies show dehydration lowers concentration and scores in exams.’
    Featured Products
    Rescue Remedy dropper Bach Flower Remedies 20ml £11.13
    Rescue Remedy spray Bach Flower Remedies 7ml £9.13
    Gelsemium 30C Nelsons Clikpak 84 £5.30
    Argent nit 30C Ainsworths 120 £7.59
    To purchase these products you can go to www.superfooduk.com and get 5% discount with the code: HSoul1

     

Why dark chocolate is good for you

Dark chocolate is good for you as flavonols, natural compounds in the cocoa bean, have neuro-protective effects.  Therefore, they  improve blood flow to the brain, especially the hippocampus that controls memory and becomes less efficient as we age*. Apparently flavonols also help to maintain heart health.

Apparently the effect is more pronounced in women and can help those who have had a bad night’s sleep.

A 50g bar of dark chocolate (at least 70% cocoa) contains the same concentration of flavonols as two glasses of red wine, six apples or seven onions.  Future You, supplements manufacturer, has developed what has been dubbed a ‘chocolate pill’, Blood Flow+  which contains CocoActiv, a highly potent cocoa flavanol extract.  This is equivalent to a giant bar of chocolate but only has  five calories. CocoActiv, the active ingredient in Blood Flow+ has been officially recognised by the European Food Safety Authority following studies which show that the high-quality cocoa flavanols help to maintain the flexibility of blood vessels and contribute to normal blood flow and circulation.

Milk chocolate is not as high in cocoa but is much higher in sugar, so it does not have the same effect.  But the health warning is that chocolate contains fat so it will also help you to gain weight, if you don’t stick to the moderate amount of two or three squares a day.  And it contains caffeine so too much too late in the day can have the opposite effect and stop you sleeping.

In the past, research at Harvard Medical School showed that cocoa flavanols can lower blood pressure by producing nitric oxide in the body, with benefits equal to that of aspirin. Similarly flavanols can improve the cardiovascular system and prevent heart disease, and deep vein thrombosis, which can occur when you fly.

One of the other chemical compounds in chocolate is phenylethylamine, which is a stimulant similar to dopamine and adrenaline in the body. It is said to induce the feelings of falling in love, so maybe that’s why chocolate is so popular!

 

* (Source: Frontiers In Nutrition, 2017; 4: doi: 10.3389/fnut.2017.00019)

 

Eat berries for superhealth

Raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, cranberries are full of healthy nutrients and are claimed by Patrick Holford to be the ‘superfood’.According to leading nutritionist, broadcaster and founder of the Institute for Optimum Nutrition, Patrick Holford, ‘Berries are the superfood of the century. Packed with essential nutrients, berries are the best fruit to include in your diet.’

A survey by Medix found that only 27 per cent of doctors consider nutrition to be important so most are unlikely to give the kind of advice than can lead to optimum health.

Ten reasons to eat berries

1. Antioxidants for anti-ageing: Full of anti-ageing antioxidants berries improve circulation to the skin, resulting in a ‘youthful and attractive glow’.

2. Burn fat and lose weight: because berries have the slowest releasing natural sugars they help to cut down cravings for sugar that make blood sugar levels fluctuate.

3. Prevent cancer: they are full of powerful anti-cancer nutrients – particularly strawberries and raspberries for inhibiting cancer of the cervix, mouth, and oesophagus.

4. Reduce chances of heart attack or strokes: loaded with folic acid which is needed to keep homocysteine levels down (see and protect arteries from damage. High levels of Vitamin C help to keep cholesterol at safe levels.

5. Improve memory and prevent Alzheimers: because they contain high levels of folic acid which helps to reverse memory decline and sharpen concentration.

6. Boost the immune system: the folic acid and Vitamin C means plenty of antioxidants to keep your defences high.

7. Improves libido in men: raspberries and strawberries are high in zinc, a vital mineral which men need to maintain an erection for longer. Blueberries and blackberries contain an antioxidant that helps to ensure smooth blood flow to the genitals!

8. Avoid varicose veins: high quercitin levels in berries, particularly strawberries and cranberries, and other bioflavonoids improves the health of capillaries and connective tissues all over the body, including in the veins of the legs.

9. Increased vitality: red fruit sends energy boosting messages to the brain, and by helping to keep blood sugar levels balanced there are no dips in energy.

10. Relax and sleep: high in magnesium which helps to relax the muscles in the nervous system.

Just five strawberries (100g) gives 100 per cent of the recommended daily allowance of Vitamin C!

Painful, heavy, irregular periods?

woman very attractiveAnyone whose periods are extremely painful every month, who has stopped having periods or who is suffering from heavy periods should see a doctor. Complementary therapies and self-help tips can be a solution once serious problems, such as endometriosis, fibroids, or cancer, have been ruled out.  Complementary therapies can, however,  help for both endometriosis and fibroids (see Hysterectomies – are they really necessary?).

Painful periods

Many women experience pain at the start of their periods – back pain, low abdomen pain, feeling sick and sweaty, exhausted and feeling generally unwell.

Periods can be painful for a variety of reasons but if they are consistently causing you considerable pain it is essential to visit a doctor and be examined to ensure that nothing serious is wrong such as endometriosis or pelvic inflammatory disease. Once you are sure that there are no other problems some self-help can ease some of the symptoms.

Taking a painkiller may be the answer to relieving the pain but it isn’t removing the cause. Periods may be painful because of other factors such as deficiency in certain nutrients, being overweight, or a general unhealthy state. By improving diet and general health it is possible that periods will settle down and not cause any problems. However, from around 40 onwards in the peri-menopausal stage periods do change and may become heavier and more painful. Similarly at the start of having periods a young girl often experiences a lot of pain which goes away as she gets older.

Nutrition

It might seem a touch repetitive but healthy eating benefits the body in so many ways and can considerably improve periods for women. To find out more about eating healthily look in Nutrition/You Are What You Eat.

A healthy diet consists of:

  • organic fruit and vegetables
  • wholegrains like brown rice
  • pulses such as lentils
  • nuts and seeds
  • oily fish – herrings, mackerel, tuna, salmon and sardines
  • (organic) chicken and turkey
  • plenty of water – preferably filtered or spring water

Deficient in vitamins or minerals?

Few women have enough nutrients in their diet, however healthily they eat, and therefore the body is not in a fit state to cope with periods often causing pain and other symptoms at that time of the month.

A staggering 96 per cent of women aged 19 to 24 and 91 per cent 19 to 64 year old women have well below the recommended intake of iron, according to research by the Food Standards Agency and Dept of Health. The figures are also very low for magnesium, copper, calcium, zinc, iodine, folic acid, Vitamin A and other vitamins. Therefore it is well worth taking a multivitamin which is specifically for women of menstruating age.

Aromatherapy oils

  • Clary sage is a very pungent aromatherapy oil that can do wonders for period discomfort – just a few drops in a bath with lavender oil can soothe period pain in the lower abdomen and back.
  • A few drops of lavender, clary sage and chamomile oil in an egg cup of carrier oil such as almond oil massaged into the lower belly can also ease pain.
  • In her book Aromatherapy for Women Maggie Tisserand suggests one drop of clary sage in a glass of water with honey to ease pain – we are wary about suggesting this because ingestion of aromatherapy oils is not advised, but having tried it and found it extremely soothing it’s worth passing on.
  • You can make up a mixture in 30ml of massage oil (olive oil, jojoba oil, or almond oil) of two drops of peppermint oil, 10 drops of clary sage oil, two of chamomile and five of geranium.

Self-help

  • Warmth is great for soothing pain – so snuggle up with a hot water bottle.
  • Contrary to old-fashioned thinking doing some exercise actually improves pain rather than making it worse.
  • Drink chamomile tea to calm the system.
  • Relaxation is helpful for persistently uncomfortable periods – consider Yoga and/or Meditation – see Therapies and Mind Body Spirit/Mind/Live Long, Stay Young

Complementary therapies

These may help for all kinds of problems with periods and once you have been checked out medically to ensure that there is nothing serious wrong it is worth trying any of these:

  • Acupuncture
  • Cranial osteopathy
  • Reflexology
  • Homeopathy
  • Herbal medicine
  • Chinese Herbal Medicine
  • Naturopathy
  • Nutrition

For information about these and how to find practitioners look at Therapies

Heavy periods

Women are very aware when their periods have changed and they are having to use more sanitary wear than normal.

This can be due to the onset of menopause but it is always worth a visit to the doctor to rule out any serious problems. Until recently most women with heavy periods had their wombs removed – it is worth reading the article in the Women’s Health section on Hysterectomies as many have been performed unnecessarily and there are alternative ways of dealing with some problems such as fibroids.

An Aromatherapy Mix

Make up a mixture of 30 drops of cypress oil, three drops of rose oil, 25 of chamomile and 20 of geranium and mix together. Then put five or six drops of the mixture into your bath, making sure the oil has properly dispersed – some people mix it with milk to make it disperse better.

No periods

It’s important to ensure the obvious reasons why periods might stop – that you’re not pregnant!

Otherwise they can stop because of losing too much weight, high stress levels or illness. Therefore it is vital that you see a doctor to rule out serious health problems or pregnancy!

Irregular Periods

Again there may be many reasons for irregular periods but is worth a look at lifestyle.

Are you drinking too much, smoking and not eating regularly and healthily?

It is important to seek professional help for all of these problems – initially from a doctor and if the problem is not resolved or you do not wish to take prescription drugs, try seeing a qualified practitioner in any of the following (always check their qualifications):

  • Homeopathy
  • Herbal Medicine
  • Reflexology
  • Nutrition
  • Chinese Herbal Medicine

For information about the relevant associations and how to find practitioners look at Therapies

CONTACTS:

Natural Health Advisory Service Ltd,  01273 487366 ,  www.naturalhealthas.com.

Dr Marilyn Glenville has clinics in London and Tunbridge Wells: 08705 329244  www.marilynglenville.com. Postal consultations available.