Travel sickness: Natural solutions to anticipate and fight it

• Herbal therapy
• Aromatherapy

Plants for Travel Sickness

Ginger: Zingiger Officinale

Ginger is the most efficient anti-nausea and anti-sickness plant. The 6-gingerol as well as other compounds is responsible for the antiemetic action by fixing its central receptor 5HT3.Completed by its action of suppressing the gastric contraction. This plant can be used fresh or dried and is also recommended to suppress nausea induced by chemotherapy or post surgery situation.

For transport sickness: 2 to 5g of fresh ginger or 500mg of dried ginger (powder) in capsules to take ½ to 1 hour before the departure, renew every 4 hours, but do not excess 2 to 3g per day

Counter indication: gall-stones

Lemon balm (Melisse):

Lemon Balm Water Organic smooth jet lag, transport sickness and stress. Pour in a little water or few drops in an herbal tea (mint, green tea or chamomile for instance).

Or Lemon balm capsules: 2 capsule (200mg each) 2 to 3 hours before departure (to renew 6 to 8 hours later, in case of long travel, jet lag or stress)

Herbal tea: Put one tea bag of (each) peppermint, sage and lemon balm in a tea pot and let to brew 5 minutes. You can also use dry sage and lemon balm to add on to a tea pot with the peppermint tea bag (5g of plat for a cup).

      

* For children Under 6 years old: Lemon balm water can be use alone in a little water or on a piece of unrefined cane sugar. Herbal tea of Lemon balm can be combined with verbena, chamomile, or fennel herb tea; or alone. (For infant, seek advice).

Aromatherapy to defeat Transport Sickness

     

Preparation :

Essential oil of Basil tropical: 1 ml

Essential oil of Mandarin of Orange (sweet) (Citrus sinensis): 2 ml

Essential oil of Peppermint : 2 ml

3 drops of this blend on a small piece of cane sugar, let dissolve in the mouth or in a teaspoon of olive oil. Renew if necessary.

*This is not recommended for children below 12 years old, pregnant women and breast feeding mothers.

Peperminth (mentha x piperita) essential oil: 1 drop on a piece of unrefined cane sugar or a teaspoon of olive oil. Renew if necessary.

*Not for children under 6 year old and breast feeding mothers.

In prevention before traveling: Tarragon essential oil (Artemisia dracunculus): 1 drop on a piece of unrefined cane sugar and let it melting in the mouth; and 2 to 3 drops on the plexus solar.

Beautiful skin and anti-ageing mask with Honey

For thousand years, honey has been used not only just as a sweetener but essentially for its aniseptique properties and healing the skin. It is renowned for healing skin scares and wounds and accelerating the healing of burn.

 Honey has different actions for the skin: anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and powerful tissue growth activator.

 Try it on a burn, it is surprising: start by putting the burnt area under fresh water for few minutes, dry it gently, and directly put a thick layer of honey, it will melt  and will only leave  few droplets of honey on the surface of the skin. The Pain will be extensively reduced. The healing will be activated and the skin will be quickly regenerated, the burn mark will disappear rapidly and without pain.

 Same with sunburn, wound; honey have the capacity of disinfecting and cleanse the wound, while activating the healing.
Honey contains anti-oxidant which gives its anti-ageing qualities, it works at the skin level, but also deeply as it captures the molecules of water; and so nourishes and re-hydrate. It is particularly recommended for dry or irritated skins.

That is why honey is a precious ingredient of the homemade beauty recipes: Nourishing and nurturing, beautifying, anti-ageing, smoothing, hydrating, honey is all of those!

Pamper your skin with this homemade Anti-wrinkle and hydrating mask with a synergy of essential oil and honey:

• 1 egg yolk
• 1 teaspoon of crème fraîche
• 1 tablespoon of accacia honey (*)
• 3 drops of either of these essential oils: geranium (Perlargonium graveolens), palmarosa (Cymbopogon martini), rosewood (Aniba rosaeaodora); or a drop of each (**)

Mix all ingredients in a small bowl until the texture is smooth.
Apply on the face and neck and leave for 15 to 20 minutes.

Rinse with rose water (hydrolat) or fresh water

Essential oil of Geranium is astringent, firming, rejuvenating and anti-wrinkle

Essential oil of Palmarosa is firming and anti-wrinkle

Essential oil of Rosewood is regenerating and anti-wrinkle

 

Simpler recipe: just apply the honey directly on the skin and leave it for half an hour before rinsing it with clear water and/or rose water. Instant beauty effect!

* The quality of the honey is crucial; make sure that it is pure and preferably organic

** Make sure that the essential oil genotype is mentioned, chose quality essential oil as there are lots of impure essential oils on the market (even when mentioned pure on the packaging). Good brands are Neal’s Yeard, Eve Taylor, essential oils on Santi-shop.co.uk….

copyright © 2011 Florence McVeigh

Summer Natural hydration: Make your own herbal tea cocktail to hydrate your body naturally, refresh, and stay slim and serene!

Pleasant colour, fresh mint aroma, fruity and aromatic plants: a good refreshing everyday drink for the summer and your wellbeing.

Put one bag of organic mint tea with a bag of rose hip tea and one bag of Sencha green tea (you can add one bag of hibiscus tea if you can find some at your local health shop) in a jar or bottle with 1 litre of fresh filtered water. Let it brew for 4 to 5 minutes minimum. You can stir or shake very gently to help the plant to ‘express‘their aroma.

You can eventually add 3 to 4 ice cubs.

If you want a stronger tea, let brew the bags in hot water; then let it cooling down.

And drink it fresh (but never too cold).

Three glasses per day bring about a third of your need in water, indispensable for the balance of your body.

Think of sharing this pleasant hydrating drink with older people and children!

Simple hygiene measures to be protected from Escherichia coli

This killer bacteria is part of the Escherichia coli group and are particularity present in the digestive tract of bovines. They produce toxins which stop our cells to synthetise proteins. The bacteria responsible for the epidemic in Germany is a rare strain called Oype 104:H4.

Outside of the digestive tract of bovines, the bacteria spread via raw or underdone meat, raw unwashed fruits and vegetables, un-pasteurised dairy food, un-pasteurised apple juice and seafood. Contact with a contaminated person (improperly washed hands) is also a factor of propagation, particularly in public areas.

The incubation time is from 3 to 5 days. Symptoms are severe abdominal cramps, sudden diarrhea, often with blood. Other symptoms include vomiting occurs or a light fever. Serious complications such as hemorrhagic colitis, hemolytic and uremic syndrome can occur.  

9 essential hygiene measures to be protected from Escherichia coli

• Cook meat thoroughly, particularly minced beef. Seafood should also be well cooked.
• Avoid unpasteurised milk and foods which contain it. Choose hard cheese such as cheddar, emmental, etc, and pasteurised cheese,
• Wash fruits and vegetables in fresh water and add some vinegar to eradicate the bacteria. You can also peel them.
• Wrap and separate the raw food from the ready to eat or prepared food. Do not store the prepared for long.
• Wash kitchenware thoroughly which has been in contact with raw food.
• Carefully clean work surfaces before using again.
• Wash your hands before eating and when leaving the toilet.
• In case of diarrhea, what ever the cause, avoid swimming pools and other public bathing areas, or preparing food for others.
• Do not drink unfiltered or untreated water from springs, etc; and avoid swallowing water when bathing in lakes, ponds, etc.

To avoid risks of epidemic

• Eat lots of food for the immune system such as oily fish, food rich in Vitamin A: sweet potatoes, carrot, butternut squash; green leaf vegetables….
• Vitamin C - you can take more than the RDI with this vitamin. Ascorbic acid reduces by half the virulence of the E.coli bacterias (shingatoxines).
• Take probiotics, to regenerate the intestinal flora, which is one of our principal protective barriers, as it will neutralize the dangerous germs such as E.coli. Note that the probiotic doesn’t settle in the intestinal flora, so we need to take probiotic regularly; and also eat plain yogurt, cheeses, sauerkraut, fermented milks, brewer’s yeast...

If you have any questions regarding your digestive system or want to book a consultation, please contact me by phone: 07908 605969 or email: fmcveigh.sunnylife@googlemail.com

copyright © 2011 Florence McVeigh

Slender body ‘made to measure’

The New ‘Summer’ diets are blossoming in the magazines, and by keeping jumping from the so called 'efficient' to the latest fashionable diets, we often find ourselves deficient with vitamins and minerals; which sometime can be serious and…4 additional pounds !

Keep in the good line of a personalised nutritional routine, inescapable fact for durable results!

To put on weigh, the recipe is infallible:  fast and diet. However if you want to loose weight, have 4 meal a day! Contradictory? No, it is a question of common sense and balance.

Adopting a food habit without frustration and will be in good health and happy of your body shape. You may know the maxim: Have breakfast like a king, lunch as a Prince and have a diner of a poor.

Then, the other ‘secrets of the Gods’, we do not slim down without regular exercise, do exercise every day 30 minutes (walking, jogging, yoga, and swimming, dancing…), take every occasion to move.

The result: a tonic body, happy mind and robust heart.

copyright © 2011 Florence McVeigh

A beautifull body without Cellulite - Part 2

A)    DETOX:

Cellulite is related to an accumulation of waist in the cells.

A personnalised detox should be recommended and monitored by your Natural Health Practitioner.

The detox is to drain and reboot the filters, particularly the liver to eliminate the toxins from the blood; but also the kidneys and intestine. Make sure that you are not constipated.

Drink water: pure as possible. This is the excellent natural therapy which helps the overcrowded cells to get reed of the waist and toxins. Only water is water!

Draining and depurative herbal tea containing Birch, cherry stems, borage, orthosiphon, rosemary, dandelion, lime blossom, fennel, meadowsweet, peppermint, pineapple stem … But the best is Sencha green tea (no sugar, no milk).

B) NUTRITION: A sound alimentation will give much better results for short and long term than all diets and regime.

A detoxifying diet is a great way to avoid and fight cellulite. This means eating lots of fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grain foods.

A low-fat diet, high in fibre and complex carbohydrates, is important because these foods are the easiest for the body to break down, use and get rid of. Animal fats, starch and white sugar are harder for the body to eliminate, so it is better to use unrefined organic cane sugar.

Very Intoxicating food are: processed meat and food, rich sauces, fried food, food with additives, pastries, fizzy water and alcohol.

Use little salt (prefer grey Celtic sea salt or even better: Himalayan salt), be aware of hidden salt in processed food, fast food, industrial sauces, and crisps.

Avoid nibbling to control the insulin and eat at regular time to readjust the metabolic clocks (called the circadian rhythms)

Privilege the good proteins: white meat, fish, eggs, soy products. Also green vegetable are a great anti cellulite nutrition.

Avoid starch but have whole meal cereals, bread at the breakfast to slowdown the absorption of carbs and fats and will provide the fibre indispensable for the digestive system.

During the Naturopathic consultation you will know about the good food combination, the healing food versus toxic food.

C)   EXERCISE: With moderation

Exercise is extremely important in aiding proper circulation and improves the elimination.

It firms muscles and the tissue surrounding the muscles, and then it will leave less room for the fat cells.

Don’t forget some exercises for the belly to combat constipation.

Walking: Walk barefoot: on your grass, on the beach, up the hills; to reach the deep muscles. Walk minimum 20 min per days

Aqua gym: very efficient exercises: Walk in the water (sea or swimming pool), walk backward, run in the water and lift the knees higher, use your hands and arms to push hard on the water

Deep breathing: oxygen the cells and is a fat burner exercise to do every day.

D) SUPPLEMENTS AND HERBAL THERAPY:

Each type of cellulite has a different origin and will have a different solution. This will be determined during the consultation.

Some of the grand remedies for cellulite in herbal therapy contain: Pineapple stems, birch (from the tree), grape marc extract, fucus, horse chestnut, grapefruit seeds extract... Always seek advice of a specialist.

We can recommend good quality omega 3 and 6, lots of fibre everyday. Psyllium can be recommended to help in case of constipation.

But I will treat specially in oligotherapy as it will help the emunctories and digestive organs to retrieve their natural functions.

E) LIFESTYLE:

Tension not only stresses the muscles; it also blocks the tissue, preventing good waste elimination. Relaxation and deep breathing help the body relax and work properly. Proper breathing eases tension, oxygenates the body and helps with purification.

Yoga and Tai Chi are highly recommended.

· Sleep enough and well

· Do not wear thigh underwear or trousers, high hills or compressive boots: they block the circulation and microcirculation.

·  Nicotine alters blood circulation an decrease oxygenation of the tissues

F) BODY CARE:

Exfoliation: 1 or 2 tome week to open the skin to eliminate the toxin, improve sudation and to smooth the skin.

Dry brushing and massage glove: Before shower for the dry brushing and during bath for the massage glove. Do it everyday, really improves the blood and lymphatic circulation, help of the detoxification of the tissues. And you can really insist on the specific area, it is absolutely efficient.

Massage and auto massages: Massage helps restore the body's natural tendencies by manipulating the muscles, and stimulating the circulatory and lymphatic systems that break down fatty tissue. Massage with the palm of your hands and knuckles, in circular movements. The pressure needs go be adapted to the sensitivity.

Aromatherapy: Massages the area with cellulite with a homemade massage oils: using any virgin oils, particularly Hazelnut or apricot with a synergy of maximum three Essential Oils: cypress, cedrus, juniper, lemon, lemon-grass, grapefruit, rosemary, pine, birch, sage, niaouli…change synergy and essential oils every 3weeks.

Accordingly to the type of cellulite, I will advice the best EO synergy and the massage technique. It is easy, efficient and takes only 5 minute per day.

DO not use EO pure on the skin; or if you are allergic to some plants.

Aromatherapy or seaweed bath: for instance: Elemis Cellutox Herbal bath or Arbonne sea salt bath; 2 times a week.

Best cosmetics are the one containing seaweed extracts, theophiline, caffeine, essential oils

My recommended complementary treatment:

Reflexology

Acupuncture

Hypnotherapy

Lymphatic drainage

Lympho-Energy: combination of lymphatic drainage and acupressure points

A beautiful body without cellulite is within your reach, and a tailored guidance will help you to attain the maximal results.

I am available for you to ask me further question and we also can arrange your personal consultation: 01428641560 or fmcveigh.sunnylife@googlemail.com.

Have a beautiful summer!

copyright © 2011 Florence McVeigh

A beautiful body without Cellulite - Part 1

You will see how the Naturopathic approach combined with the expertise in Aesthetic will offer a natural way and long term result to eliminate cellulite and to retrieve a beautiful body contouring.

What do we think about Cellulite?

Cellulite: worst enemy of millions of women. How to react when the summer days are coming and all the women’s magazines are showing perfectly shaped bodies in bikini?

Our normal attitude is to want to be attractive, to have a nice silhouette, firm, and slim.

 So we may want quick fix actions, work at our diet just for the summer; and forget about that in the winter to recommence the year after.

The truth is there is something we need to work on in continuity, for the long term and not just for the season.

To avoid and fight cellulite there are some interesting points we will need to know:

1)      Where is it located?

2)      Cellulite: what is it? What the causes are?

3)      Types of cellulites: which one is yours?

4)      How to avoid and fight cellulite?

a) Detox and drain

b) Nutrition

c) Exercises

d) Supplements and herbal therapy

e) Lifestyle

f) Body home care, Spa treatment and the good cosmetics

1) Where is it located?

Particularly on the back of the legs and the buttock, but also on the arms, belly and hips.

2) Cellulite what is it? What the causes are?

• Heavy legs
• Orange peels appearances
• Dimpling of the skin
• Located fat deposit
• Skin contouring irregularity

Cellulite is not a disease but a symptom.

This is just he reflect of a pathologic changes of the structure of the fat tissues.

The cellulite is the result of an imprisonment of grease, toxins and water in the hypoderm (deep layer of the skin) triggering the formation of nodules (grouping of fat cells (adipocytes) causing the deformation of subcutaneous conjunctive fabric and resulting in a visible deformation of the skin.

When fat cells increase in size, the compartments that contain fat cells expend and produce a wavy appearance of the skin.

Different facts are recognized to be at the origin of the apparition and aggravation of cellulite:

• Hepatic stasis, inefficient blood and lymphatic circulation, chronic constipation. A bad blood circulation will promote fatty accumulation
• Hormonal functions (ovaries, adrenal glands, thyroid) can be the source of anarchic fatty storage.         Cellulite appears when there is hormonal change: puberty, pregnancy, menopauses, and hormonal contraception.

·   Lack of exercises: The lack of exercises causes poor lymphatic and blood circulation and in particular poor lymph drainage. The skin then becomes bloated with excess fluid.

• Bad diet – toxic food: In case of bad diet the body stores dietary toxins that the liver cannot break down, in the cells under the skin: white sugar, processed food, cooked animal fat, starch, diary food in excess (from cow particularly)
• Stress
• Genetic/ethnic: Cellulite occurs with women of all ethnic origines but more common with Caucasian more that asian.

3) Types of cellulite: which one is yours?

To know if you have cellulite, gently pinch or press an area of tissue between your thumb and finger (or in a larger area, between the palms of your two hands). Normal fat appears fairly smooth, but cellulite will reveal dimples or ripples - like the skin of an orange. Cellulite tissue is also more sensitive and can feel cold to the touch. It might appear whiter than the rest of your skin

There are three type of cellulite:

Cellulite with water retention 

Fat Cellulite

Fibrous cellulite: the hardest one to fight

4) How to avoid and to fight cellulite: the truth

a) Not one of the method offer in the market eliminate cellulite completely and definitively

You will have an improvement which will be greater and durable if you pursuit the treatment.

b) If you are overweight a simple diet won’t get reed of cellulite; and doing a diet is useless if you have normal weight.

c) It is dangerous to take hunger suppressant, diuretics or thyroid extract to treat cellulite.

So, the key to fight cellulite is to purify the body with a combination of exercise, good eating and exercise habits, stress reduction and occasional spa treatments; and some cases, tension reduction and improved circulation.

-See part 2-

 

copyright © 2011 Florence McVeigh