Fibromyalgia is a nasty illness that makes life miserable and can lay people low for long periods. It will certainly become better known given the sad news that Lady Gaga is suffering from it and has cancelled her huge European tour. It's too late her many disappointed fans but an accidental by-product is that more people will now know about the illness and how to treat it.

First, what is fibromyalgia? There is no definitive test as yet but its symptoms include generalised aching, muscle pains, trigger points around tendon insertions, muscle stiffness, fatigue, and poor sleep. It may affect as many as one in twenty people.

The cause of fibromyalgia is unclear but it can be initiated by poor sleep, emotional stress, infection, or a traumatic event. It is often associated with reduced 'delta sleep' - the deep stage of sleep in the first part of the night that analysts think has a vital restorative function. Other symptoms include a reduced threshold to pain perception and tolerance, adrenal depletion, and abnormal growth hormone levels.

The orthodox treatment for fibromyalgia includes pain relief with NSAIDs, antidepressants, and sleep medications. But there are possible side effects.

Herbal treatment can offer more. It is a gentle treatment with few side effects that acts on the body as a whole to normalise function. It can be varied so that it treats the possible cause and reduces the symptoms experienced by each individual.
The actions of herbs that may be selected include nerve tonics to help manage pain. Adrenal tonics and adaptogens to normalise cortisol release from the adrenal gland, immune modulating herbs, anti-inflammatory and analgesic herbs, herbs that reduce anxiety and reduce sympathetic nerve over activity to help promote sleep and herbs that increase blood supply to tissue.

Treating fibromyalgia with a combination of herbal medicines plus improving diet and exercise is an effective way to treat this debilitating condition. I wish Lady Gaga a quick recovery and that she can get back on the road soon.

The importance of diet in treating and preventing obesity and ill health is highlighted in two recent books. The books have different approaches but arrive at a similar conclusion that modern diets high in sugar and refined carbohydrates are the cause of much of today’s ill health.

‘The Clever Guts Diet’ by Dr Michael Mosley discusses the importance of the gut microbiome and how the diversity and numbers of bacteria in our gut are vital for our immune system, metabolism and mental health.

‘The Pioppi Diet’ by Dr Aseem Malhotra and Donal O’Neill describes the health benefits of the diet and way of life of people living in the Italian village of Pioppi which results in healthy longevity. A key conclusion of Dr Malhotra, a cardiologist, is that heart disease is not caused by a diet high in saturated fats but rather a diet high in refined carbohydrates. This type of diet results in insulin resistance and chronic inflammation which are the causes of obesity, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Both diets are similar in that they advocate a diet rich in vegetables, fruit, oily fish, nuts, lean meat, eggs, some dairy and fermented foods. The Clever Guts diet particularly recommends sources of fibre for promoting good gut bacteria. The Pioppi diet recommends a daily intake of 4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil as one of the healthiest foods for your heart. In both, sugar, processed food and refined carbohydrates such as white rice and pasta should be eliminated but thankfully both identify the health benefits of a glass of red wine and a piece of dark chocolate.

Herbs and spices are very important in the diets. Those recommended include garlic, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, thyme and basil. In the Clever Guts diet, turmeric is identified as good at inhibiting the growth of bad bacteria and directly protects the wall of the intestine whereas the key role for turmeric in the Pioppi diet is its anti-inflammatory action inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory prostaglandins.

The aim of these diets is to prevent ill health and the need for drug treatment. Dr Malhotra states that ‘Prescription medications are the third most common cause of death after heart disease and cancer’.  Herbal medicines can play a crucial role in preventing drug treatment and improving the health benefits of these diets. Herbs taken as teas and tinctures have larger amounts of the active compounds than in food and offer a wide range of beneficial actions. Those that specifically support the benefits of these diets include improving digestion, gut flora, immune function, circulation and control of blood glucose.

These books provide a new consensus on the foods we should be eating to ensure good health and prevent disease. Herbs are a key to this as both part of our diet and as our medicine.
 

This week is Herbal Medicine Week (HMW) 17th -25th June. It was created to help Medical Herbalist come together as a nation-wide community to raise awareness of what we do.  The theme for this year is mental and emotional wellbeing.
 
In the UK mental health problems will affect 1 in 4 people at some point in their life. The NHS is struggling with this and we have so much to offer as Herbalists.
 
Find out how herbal antidepressants can offer
an alternative treatment.

http://buzz.bournemouth.ac.uk/2017/01/herbal-antidepressants-another-option/
 


The benefits to you of visiting a Medical Herbalist are that we provide:

• An in-depth consultation (1-1.5 hour) to assess your overall health profile. 
  
• Diagnostic and clinical skills.
• Treatment of underlying causes as well as symptoms.
• Continuity of care.
• In-depth knowledge of herbs and plant medicines.
• Use of liquid preparations (tinctures) which allows the inclusion of several different herbs in one preparation. 
• Preparation of a unique combination and dose of herbs tailored to your individual requirements.
• Access to quality effective herbal medicines that are not available over the counter.
• Safe prescription of herbs and understanding of contraindications and interactions with orthodox drugs.
• Expert advice on diet and lifestyle.
  

Consider visiting a Medical Herbalist as part of Herbal Medicine week and find out how Herbal Medicines can provide you with a safe, effective and natural form of treatment. Herbal medicines provide a real alternative choice of treatment that complements orthodox treatment and allows you to take more control of your own health for long-lasting health and wellbeing.

We all suffer from stress at times in our lives. Students are now experiencing the stress of exams. Some stress can be helpful and healthy in preparing the body for an optimal response to a demanding event but continuous stress can be damaging.

According to a recent BBC programme stress accounts for half of all sick days and is considered the health epidemic of the 21st century. We can be exposed to a variety of pressures throughout the day which initiate stress responses by the body. Some stress can be effectively harnessed to perform well in exams and sporting events. It is the chronic daily stress that can have a detrimental effect on the body causing long term health problems through increased blood glucose, blood pressure, anxiety and depression as well as a weakened immune system.

Ours bodies are well adapted to responding to acute stressful events which ensure the ‘flight or fight’ response where the release of adrenaline and cortisol from the adrenal glands prepares the body for coping with a stressful event.  If the stress is ongoing and the body is unable to return to a restful state, adrenal cortisol secretion is prolonged and we can become exhausted and no longer able to focus and perform effectively.

The BBC programme described three ways to improve our response to stress: improved diet, regular exercise, and mindfulness. Herbal medicines should be added to this list.

Herbal medicines can provide an effective way of normalising the adrenal response and help us to responding effectively to stress. A key group of herbs are the adaptogens, which act on the brain-adrenal axis to balance the release of adrenal hormones.  Herbs shown to have this action include Siberian ginseng , Ashwagandha ,Rhodiola, Astragalus and Schisandra. Others herbs which help cope effectively with stress are nervines or nerve tonics such as Oat seed, Skullcap, and St John’s Wort which are calming and relaxing, restore emotional balance, and nourish the nerves and nervous system. Combining adaptogens and nervines herbs restores the function of the nervous and adrenal systems and allows the body to normalise its response to stress.

The choice of herbs will depend on each person’s stress response but finding the right herbal mix and combining it with improvements in diet and exercise could lead to improved quality of life and increased ability to cope with stress.

There is growing evidence that certain drugs prescribed for heartburn are associated with a number of adverse effects and are overprescribed.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) such as Omeprazole and Lansoprazole reduce acid production in the stomach and are amongst the most commonly prescribed drugs. They are used to treat various conditions where there is abdominal pain and heartburn - most often acid reflux. 60% of adults will experience some type of acid reflux in a 12 month period.

The NICE guidelines state that PPIs should be prescribed for less than 8 weeks but many people, particularly the elderly, take them for considerably longer and sometimes up to decades. Concern is growing about the long term effects of continually taking these drugs. Evidence is mounting that they can increase the risks of heart disease, kidney disease, vulnerability to stomach infections, and dementia as well as weakening bones and causing mineral and vitamin deficiency such as magnesium and vitamin B12.

There needs to be a review of the risk/benefit balance of taking these drugs long term and changes made to how they are prescribed. Unfortunately, there can be a rebound effect in coming off drugs used to combat hyperacidity but if well managed this is usually short lived.

Herbal medicines can be used to help withdrawal from taking PPIs and offer an effective treatment for acid reflux. There is a wide range of herbal medicines which can be used for treatment. The herbs selected will depend on the causes and the symptoms experienced by each individual. The herbal actions include improving protection of the oesophageal lining, reducing acid production, reducing inflammation, promoting tissue healing, increasing the tone and effectiveness of the lower oesophageal sphincter, encouraging the stomach to empty its content into the duodenum, antibacterial, reducing gas production, optimising digestive enzyme production, and reducing nervous tension and the effects of stress.

You need to consider the long term benefits of taking PPIs.  If you have acid reflux, take charge of your condition, make changes in diet and life style, and take herbal medicines as a safe, effective alternative.

Bladder infections, also called Cystitis, result from bacteria such as Escherichia coli and cause great discomfort. They mainly affect women resulting in a frequent need to urinate, pain on urination and, if bladder inflammation progresses, blood in the urine. Cramps may also occur after urination.

Antibiotics are given to treat the infection but those suffering from recurring urinary infections are repeatedly treated with a course of antibiotics only for the infection to return. There is also a condition known as interstitial cystitis where there are symptoms resulting from chronic inflammation of the bladder but no infection.

Herbal medicines have much to offer and can be particularly effective in treating and preventing urinary infections.  There is a range of herbs which can fight the infection, reduce pain and inflammation, repair the bladder wall, and enhance the ability of the body’s own immune system to fight infection.

I have had success in treating urinary infections and inflammation with a combination of herbs tailored for each individual. Using herbal medicines prescribed by a Medical Herbalist offers both a much more effective long term treatment for inflammatory conditions of the bladder and also prevents the overuse and potential resistance to antibiotics.

Giving talks is a good way of promoting the many benefits of herbal medicine and explaining the advantages of visiting a Medical Herbalist.

In recent months I have given over fifteen talks to local social and support groups. More recently these have included Women's Institute (WI) groups as I am now on the West Kent WI speakers list. I have four more in the pipeline, and no one has mentioned the need to pose for a calendar photograph!

My talks explain what herbal medicine is, some history of its use, and why there has been a resurgence in interest. I take the audience through a Cook's tour of the conditions that respond particularly well to herbal treatment, how to take herbal medicine, and examples of different herbs and their actions.

I then detail the benefits of visiting a Medical Herbalist as compared to buying over the counter preparations and I am also keen to promote the use of herbs for self-care. I also explain ways of using fresh herbs from the garden.

I provide anonymised examples of patients who have responded well to herbal treatment explaining a little of their condition and the herbs I used for treatment.

My talks emphasise that many of the traditional uses of herbal medicine are now supported by recent scientific research and evidence. While we have all gained enormously from orthodox treatment, herbal medicine can be very effective for certain conditions and offers another choice of treatment. The reasons that people often visit me are that orthodox treatment has not been effective, side effects outweigh benefits, or they are looking for a more natural form of treatment.

I finish by suggesting future roles for herbal medicine in reducing long term drug treatment for chronic conditions, as an alternative to antibiotics for the treatment of infections and in the support of cancer treatment.

The groups I have talked with are always very welcoming and interested in herbal medicine. There is often interesting discussion on topics such as the shortcomings of the NHS, ways in which people have used herbal medicine and media coverage of different herbs. I am usually asked what herbal treatments would be beneficial for specific conditions.

It is interesting that those people most likely to have used herbal medicines in their families often come from other European countries. We tend to have lost the traditional use of herbs passed down from family members in the UK.

Although people express an interest in a consultation few have so far actually booked an appointment. Hopefully they will remember my talk and consider a visit in the future if the need should arise.

About four-fifths of 40-60 year olds are either overweight, take insufficient exercise or  drink too much alcohol.  The bad news for health policy is that more such people are being identified as being pre-diabetic. The good news is that four-fifths of cases of type 2 diabetes could be delayed or prevented through making lifestyle and dietary changes.

Pre-diabetes is classified as increase in blood glucose levels to higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. Measurements of fasting plasma glucose (6.0 – 6.9 mmol/l)  and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c (43 – 47 mmol/mol) are used to identify poor control of blood glucose levels.

Seven million people are estimated to have pre-diabetes and thus at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Each year 5% to 10% of people with pre-diabetes develop type 2 diabetes, a chronic disease with life-threatening complications.

The good news is that if you are pre-diabetic and you act now, you could stop type 2 diabetes in its tracks. The risk of developing diabetes is minimised by catching the condition early as pre-diabetic signs can precede full-blown type 2 diabetes by many years.

You can, therefore, make changes that significantly improve glucose control.  This requires better diet and lifestyle. And that can be effectively combined with treatment using herbal medicine. It is estimated that about 80% of cases of type 2 diabetes could be delayed or prevented through making these changes.

The early control of blood glucose stops the need for drugs, and the dangers of long-term complications such as heart and kidney disease, blindness and nerve damage, leading to amputations.

The key to treatment is to increase insulin production and then the response to insulin.  Weight loss is a very crucial part of lifestyle changes needed to achieve this. Losing >5% can reduce low level inflammation and insulin demand, and increase insulin response.

Diet changes should include less saturated fat intake, more fibre, no refined carbohydrates, plenty of vegetables and low fruit, as well as moderate protein intake including more nuts, which also curb the risk of diabetes development.  Exercise of at least 30 minutes for five times a week starting with gentle walking is very important as are good sleep patterns which aid weight loss.

Treatment with herbal medicines enhances the benefits of these vital life style changes. A group of herbs which are particularly beneficial are spices such as ginger, garlic, cinnamon, turmeric and capsicum. These reduce inflammation and help balance blood glucose. Other effective herbs in controlling blood glucose include Gymnema, Fennel,  Liquorice, Goat ’s rue, Ginseng and Baical skullcap.

A Medical Herbalist will select the best of these glucose-controlling herbs for each individual and combine them with others to improve liver function, lower cholesterol, improve vascular function and reduce inflammation. They will advise which nutritional supplements are necessary for balancing blood glucose. These include chromium, magnesium, omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin B, vitamin D and zinc which are very important for normalising glucose levels.

Combining crucial life style changes with herbal medicine treatment provides a real opportunity to reverse poor control of blood glucose and prevent the development of type 2 diabetes. This will avert long term health problems and improve the chances of continued good health and well being.
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Cold winter weather makes us much more susceptible to infections such as cold and flu viruses. Once you have had one infection it can also make you more susceptible to further infections particularly during the festive season. Herbal medicines can be an effective treatment helping to prevent and reduce the severity of these infections.

Herbal treatment offers a two prong approach. First, herbal medicines can boost our immune system so strengthening the body's ability to fight infection. Second, herbs can be very effective antimicrobial agents killing pathogenic viruses and bacteria.

This second action has a further benefit of not only killing the cold or flu virus but also preventing secondary bacterial infections. This avoids asking GPs to prescribe antibiotics. With the increase in antibiotic resistance, we should reduce our use of antibiotics and preserve the body's ability to fight more serious bacterial infections.

A Medical Herbalist has access to a wide range of different herbs with both immune enhancing and antimicrobial action so that a unique mix of herbs can be selected to strengthen your whole body in fighting infections.

We all need to look after our own health if we are to avoid visits to the GP. Making simple lifestyle changes and using herbs as part of our food and as medicine provides a simple and effect way of keeping healthy and treating ailments. One of the ailments we can all suffer from is insomnia.

Insomnia is the deeply irritating difficulty in falling or staying asleep, or having disturbed sleep patterns that fail to refresh you.

Stressful life events can result in anxiety and cause short term insomnia or chronic insomnia which is defined as occurring on at least three nights a week for more than one month.

Other causes of insomnia include exercise or drinking caffeine just before bedtime, alterations in the biological clock such as jetlag, depression and medical conditions such as arthritis and asthma which can become troublesome at night.

Sleep deprivation can harm health.  Effects on mental health include a decrease in thinking ability and memory, and an increase in low mood and anxiety. Poor sleep quality increases the likelihood of being overweight or obese. Sleep increases the production of leptin, an appetite suppressing hormone, so decreased levels of leptin result in increased appetite.  Reduced hours of sleep increase the risk of diabetes, hypertension and reduced immune function.

Drugs used to treat insomnia can be taken for a few days to alleviate short term insomnia resulting from stressful events. These drugs should not, however, be taken long term as they result in the symptoms of tolerance and addiction. In fact, according to a BMJ study, the benefits of drug treatment are limited: they result in only 25 minutes extra sleep but cause problems of day time fatigue and impaired thinking.

A much more attractive option is to make lifestyle changes to improve sleep hygiene and to use Herbal Medicine.  

Ways to improve sleep hygiene:

• Ensure your room is dark, cool and quiet, and your bed is comfortable
• Do some exercise each day, preferably in the late afternoon or early evening
• Do not watch TV or look at your computer or mobile phone in bed
• A light snack before bed can be beneficial but not a heavy meal
• Get up at the same time each day no matter what time you went to bed to establish a sleep-wake rhythm
• Do not lie in bed if you cannot sleep get up and do something quiet until you become drowsy.
• Avoid caffeine, alcohol and tobacco before bed
• Expose yourself to natural sunlight in the day
• Try not to rehash the days problems or worry about tomorrow
• When you go to bed relax your muscles, beginning with your feet and working your way up to your head.

Ways to use herbs:

• Herbal tea  Drink a cup before bed or if you wake in the night. Herbs which are beneficial include Chamomile, Lemon Balm, Passion flower, Skullcap, Hops, Valerian and St John’s Wort.  Teas can be made by infusing 1-2 teaspoons of dried or fresh herb in a cup of boiling water for 5 to 10 minutes. Alternatively sleep promoting herbal teas by companies such as Pukka Herbs can be bought in health shops and supermarkets.  
• Lavender essential oil  Add a few drops of Lavender oil to a bath before bed or add a drop of Lavender oil to your pillow
• Valerian hot chocolate (livingmedicine.org.uk) Simmer a teaspoon of valerian root in a cup of milk add cinnamon and melt in a square of bitter chocolate, cocoa powder and/or honey. Sieve the liquid and then sip slowly to give a comforting relaxing drink.
• Over the counter herbal remedies Licensed herbal remedies can be purchased from pharmacies and supermarkets
• Visit a Medical Herbalist who will prepare a mixture of herbs tailored to treat your specific symptoms and cause of insomnia