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Sinusitis is inflammation of the sinuses or passages which are found in the bones surrounding the nose and eyes.
Sinusitis is a debilitating problem that can cause pain, mild fever, headaches, stuffy nose and depression. Allergies are a common cause (see ‘Allergies’). Dairy products can be a problem and should be avoided. There are some herbs that can help relieve the problem. Horseradish is one. Horseradish forms mustard oil in the body and it gives off mustard gas. This can help clear out the sinuses. Garlic is another herb that can help. It has anti-bacterial activity and will help dry up the infected sinuses.
Elder flower (Sambucus nigra) is a herb that I have found very helpful when used for the treatment of sinus problems, especially when used in conjunction with Echinacea, garlic, and horseradish.
Vitamin A supplementation is also beneficial as it strengthens the mucous membranes in the nose and throat. The antiinflammatory properties of the essential fatty acids found in cod liver oil give relief from the inflammation and pain.
SUPPLEMENTS
elder flower 1250 mg twice daily
eyebright 1000 mg twice daily
horseradish 300 mg twice daily
garlic 2000 mg fresh herb twice daily
liquorice 200 mg twice daily
Echinacea 375 mg twice daily
cod liver oil 5 ml daily
vitamin C 2000 mg daily
iron phosphate 15 mg 3 times daily
potassium chloride 32 mg 3 times daily
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HEALTHY NAILS
Quite often we overlook the importance of healthy nails and hair. These are signs, or can be signs, of ill health or dietary deficiencies.
What we should look for is unusual nail shape. If we have ‘spoon’ shaped nails this can indicate an iron deficiency. White spots on the finger-nails could indicate a zinc deficiency. These are very important minerals and quite often overlooked. Fatty acids which are found in evening primrose oil and fish oils are very important as well. These can help strengthen the nails.
Another mineral is silica. Silica is the most common mineral on our planet and yet you won’t find it in most multi-vitamin preparations available. The addition of silica to the diet will strengthen your nails and hair.
SUPPLEMENTS
multi vitamin mineral
formula containing iron,
PABA, and zinc 1 daily
evening primrose oil 500 mg 1 capsule twice daily
fish oil 1000 mg 1 capsule twice daily
HOW TO LOSE WEIGHT
If we are overweight then as we get older, it can exacerbate many diseases such as osteoarthritis. Even cholesterol is increased in those who are overweight. It also can lead to blood pressure problems.
Eating correctly and having a well-balanced diet are very important. We should look at low fat foods and low calorie foods. Include celery, cucumber, and carrots as these are very low in calories, quite good snack food and also act as diuretics.
Evening primrose oil and alfalfa are excellent supplements. They help break up the fats and will help you lose weight.
To curb hunger pains try apple fibre with a large glass of water half an hour before your meal. Remember it is also very important to drink 6 to 8 glasses of water per day. If you do all of these things you will notice you will feel better and the weight will come off.
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Constipation can have many causes. Some people have a predisposition to irregular bowel movements from childhood. People who are anxious and fretful can become constipated. Lack of exercise is a common cause. People who fail to establish a regular time for bowel movements can become chronically constipated and should accustom themselves to a bulky breakfast and sitting on the toilet, to train the bowel. Constipation can bring about many other problems apart from
the obvious inability to pass normal stools. Headaches, a feeling of nausea, or just being generally unwell can also be a result of constipation.
We must rid our body of toxins and the major process to remove these toxins is through our bowels, our urine and our skin. If any of these systems are affected or clogged, then we may reabsorb some of these toxins and this can cause us to feel unwell.
It is important that we maintain good eating habits. Roughage (fibre) is essential. You can get this fibre by eating whole cereal grains. Bran is very important. I have discussed bran and its importance in lowering cholesterol but it is also very beneficial in helping prevent constipation. Include whole cereals, fruits, vegetables, in your diet but most of all, to soften the stools and help flush the body of toxins, don’t forget water. You should be drinking 6 to 8 glasses a day.
If you find that your problem is not solved even after doing all the right things with your diet, or if you have difficulty in eating correctly all the time, then natural laxative herbs can be very beneficial. Herbs such as cascara, senna and cape aloes in a combination can help solve the problem of constipation. These herbs will stimulate natural peristalsis (bowel movement). As with all laxatives, you should not use them all the time. Twice per week will normally help the problem.
SUPPLEMENTS
Psillium husks 2 teaspoons in orange juice each morning
Peritone 1 or 2 tablets every second night if
required
magnesium 1 tablet twice daily
complex
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High blood pressure is a very dangerous condition and if you are under a doctor’s supervision for this problem then you must advise him or her of any changes you wish to make to your diet.
Vitamin E can help lower blood pressure. Drs Shute and Shute were pioneers in the use of vitamin E in the treatment of heart disease. Vitamin E’s action on the cardiovascular system (under supervision) should not be overlooked. Vitamin E can also help prevent blood clots forming in the blood. This and its ability to lower blood viscosity makes vitamin E important for the treatment of many circulatory disorders (see Hawthorn Berry).
Herbs such as hawthorn and garlic have been shown to have a favourable effect on the cardiovascular system. Hawthorn improves coronary blood flow and causes peripheral vasodilation. This action reduces the myocardium’s (heart muscle) need for oxygen and also lowers blood pressure.
Garlic has a direct effect on the heart muscle and has mild vasodilating properties. It too can lower blood pressure. Garlic and hawthorn help lower blood cholesterol levels and can help reverse arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). These herbs, in combination, are very beneficial and useful when used for the prevention and/or treatment of high blood pressure.
Medical trials have shown that evening primrose oil can also help to lower blood pressure and cholesterol. It therefore should be included in the diet if high blood pressure is a problem.
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RECOMMENDED DIETARY INTAKE (RDI)
For a healthy body there is no substitute for a well-balanced diet and we all should be looking closely at the food we eat. Most of us today, because of our rushed lifestyle, unfortunately don’t eat as well as we would like. Even if we did, the quality of the food may well be lacking in the essential minerals and vitamins required for healthy life.
In 11 mid-western states in the USA a 1000 crop samples were taken, and a decline in mineral levels of up to 68 per cent were noted over a four-year period. The question must be asked, ‘How good is the quality of our food in comparison with that of our forebears?’
Indeed we are not getting enough from our average diet to meet the RDA levels in some nutrients. Further examples of this can be shown by investigations reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 37, 1983, showing the dietary patterns of healthy pregnant women, even on a balanced diet, didn’t have adequate amounts of some essential nutrients. For example, the healthy middle class North American women surveyed in the study were found to have lower levels of zinc intake, with the average only receiving 56 per cent of the RDA figure.
Worldwide studies involving people in all age groups and socioeconomic backgrounds, have shown nutritional deficiencies are common and the need for vitamin and/or mineral supplements is growing just so the RDA recommended dietary allowance can be maintained.
The RDA gives a figure below which known and tested deficiency symptoms would show up. If our diet was to contain less than 30mg of vitamin C, then in a short time the disease scurvy would become evident. No allowance was made in the RDA for high stress or other illnesses when working out the dietary allowance. The RDA really is a minimum allowance for persons in good health under ideal conditions.
If we look at the Australian Health Survey 1977-78, conducted by the Australian Commonwealth Government Department of Statistics, we would see that approximately 45 per cent of the Australian population suffers one or more chronic conditions. This means that nearly 50 per cent of the Australian population, at any given time, does not fit into the criteria for measuring the Recommended Dietary Allowance.
We should not be looking at the minimum levels of vitamins and minerals but the optimum daily intake needed to compensate for our lifestyle and environmental pollution.
Dr Linus C. Pauling, Nobel Laureate, Professor of Chemistry, states that the optimum daily intake of vitamin C for most human adults is between 2300 to 9000 mg and not that of 45 mg per day as stated in the RDA.
If we live a stress-free life without illness, have plenty of exercise and sleep, together with well-balanced diet without medication, and our environment is free from pollution, smog, cigarette smoke and car exhaust fumes, then we do not need supplements.
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