Women Are Dying From Hormone Therapy; Why Is Pharma Still Allowed to Push It?
Big Pharma is still pushing its hormone therapy for women, despite the fact that it increases women’s risk of cancer and other health problems.
October 21, 2010
Want to increase your chances of getting, and possibly dying from, node-positive breast cancer? Take hormone therapy.
Pharma’s lucrative estrogen plus progestin combo is already known to increase the chance of getting breast cancer by 26 percent. But an article in this week’s Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) shows hormone therapy also increases the chance of dying from breast cancer, as follow ups are conducted on women who took it.
In fact hormone therapy, already indicted for causing delays in breast cancer diagnosis by increasing breast density (and increasing lung cancer deaths) is now so dangerous that Peter B. Bach of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, who wrote an accompanying JAMA editorial, told the New York Times that even the recommendation to take “the lowest possible doses for the shortest possible time” is now questionable. Perhaps like prescribing the fewest and lowest tar cigarettes as possible.
It is hard to image men putting up with a therapy for “outliving their testes” that kills and maims them decade after decade. Women given Premarin for their “estrogen deficiency” in the 1980s developed so much endometrial cancer, the cancer rate dropped when they quit taking the drug. Five years ago, the same thing happened with breast cancer when women quit Prempro. Who can say “iatrodemic” physician-caused epidemic? Who can say fool me twice?
Both Prempro and Premarin are made by Wyeth, now part of Pfizer.
And just as hormone therapy is repackaged for a new generation of women, so are pharma-friendly press stories that push it, such as Parade’s fabled piece with Lauren Hutton extolling hormone therapy did some years ago.
In April, the New York Times magazine ran a pro-hormone piece called “The Estrogen Dilemma,” by Cynthia Gorney, relying on five Wyeth-linked researchers whose conflicts of interests were not disclosed. Three — Claudio Soares, Louann Brizendine and Thomas Clarkson — have served on Wyeth’s speaker boards.
In 2009, the Washington Post ran a pro-hormone piece lifted intact from Massachusetts General Hospital’s industry-friendly magazine, where it ran next to a piece pushing hormone therapy for coronary heart disease written by Wyeth-linked doctors. Hormone therapy causes a 29 percent increase in heart attacks, according to the Women’s Health Initiative.
Hormone therapy is also linked to asthma, lupus, scleroderma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, urinary incontinence, hearing loss, cataracts, gout, joint degeneration, dementia, stroke, blood clots, malignant melanoma, and five other kinds of cancer according to medical journal reports.
Nor does industry want to let go of the hormone gravy train.
Oblivious to the JAMA article and many others, trials are underway with NIH tax dollars, to see if pre-menopausal women given hormones will be helped instead of hurt. (Let’s start smoking at 12!) In addition to the Kronos Early Estrogen Prevention Study trials at major medical centers conducted by several Wyeth-linked researchers, Wake Forest and at Mount Sinai medical school researchers are conducting hormone experiments on ovariectomized primates. (Like Premarin mares, immobilized on pee lines, their offspring killed, female primates suffer unduly from hormone therapy.)
Given over 5,000 lawsuits brought by women with hormone therapy-caused breast cancer, why is it still on the market? Why is it being tested (with tax dollars) to extend the franchise into a new generation of women? And why is it still presented to women as a “choice”? As in We Warned You.
Ten years ago, when pharma still said it didn’t know about the hormone risks, Dr. Janette Sherman exposed hormone therapy’s cancer links and its diagnosis-delaying breast density in a prescient book called Life’s Delicate Balance: Causes and Prevention of Breast Cancer.
Courtesy: WINGS HERBAL SYNERGY Living medicine
Posted in Articles of interest
Arnica Montana: herbal band-aid
If ever a herb has earned it’s merit, used for hundreds of years in folk medicine, it would be Arnica. Arnica is the first remedy to be given after any fall, injury or surgery. Think of Arnica as a holistic band-aid with dramatic healing properties both physically and emotionally. One often feels so helpless in the face of trauma that the administration of Arnica becomes soothing to both the recipient and the giver!
Arnica Montana, also known as Bruisewort, Leopard’s Bane and Wolf’s Bane, belongs to the Compositae, or Daisy family. The genus Arnica comprises of approximately 50 species of perennial rhizomatous herbs with simple leaves and daisy-like heads of flowers that bear distinct rays.
Arnica is very much an alpine plant. It prefers open landscapes and lots of incoming sunlight at high altitudes; the higher it grows, the more aromatic it becomes. Arnica grows best in moist, peaty and siliceous soils. It is sensitive to chalk and artificial fertilizers, both of which will kill it.
Growing naturally on places where climbing accidents and falls often occur, Arnica has earned its popular name as “Fallherb”, proving effective for circulatory problems and exhaustion from mountaineering, especially in extreme altitudes.
Used as a tobacco substitute, Arnica has been called Mountain Tobacco or “Smokeherb” in German.
Arnica contains sesquiterpene lactones; the volatile oil, thymol; arnicin; arnisterol (arnidiol); flavanoids, anthoxanthine; tannin; resin; a polysaccharide inulin; mucilage and manganese. Inulin passes unabsorbed through the digestive system, remaining neutral to cellular activity and is often used to sweeten food consumed by diabetic patients. Inulin has antidiabetic, gastrostimulant, hypoglycemic, immunostimulant, lypolytic and probiotic action. But it is the sesquiterpene lactones that reduce inflammation by dispersing fluids that build up in bruised and injured tissue. Arnica helps to mop up inflammatory debris and lactic acid which reduces swelling and relieves pain after injury and muscle strain.
Physiologically Arnica acts as a stimulant, irritant, depressant, antipyretic, diuretic and vulnerary. In small doses it increases the action of the heart, raises arterial tension and stimulates the action of the skin and kidneys. Large doses produce a transient excitement, followed by depressed circulation, respiration and temperature; violent headache; dilated pupils and muscular paresis. A toxic dose paralyses the nervous system causing collapse and even death.
For medicinal purposes Arnica tincture is made from the whole fresh plant including the root.
Common clinical uses for Arnica include:
– bruising
– black eye
– septic conditions such as painful recurrent boils
– during and after childbirth
– exhaustion from overexertion
– altitude sickness
– injuries i.e. falls, sprains, blows, bruises and fractures
– post surgery
– shock
– sprains
– painful joints
– influenza with sore bruised sensation
Caution for use:
Arnica should only be taken internally in homeopathic form. Ingesting the herb may cause tremors, dizziness, vomiting and heart problems. The cream or tincture should not be used externally on broken skin as it may cause irritation. Also, avoid the topical forms if you have an allergy to Arnica or to related daisy plants such as Chamomile or Marigolds. While not dangerous it can cause a rash or itching.
It has become common to use Arnica for weeks to prepare for surgery or labour. This misunderstanding of homeopathic principles and the subsequent incorrect use may lead to bleeding instead of preventing it.
When homeopathic remedies are administered to healthy people, it may cause certain symptoms in those who are sensitive to the particular remedy. This is what homeopaths call a “proving”. Homeopathic information and research are based on such provings. Homeopathic remedies initiate a self-healing response by mimicking the disease symptoms the patient is suffering from, which in turn activates the body’s innate and very specific immunity. For this reason Arnica may only be used during and after trauma or injury and not before.
In a similar way Arnica is excellent for haemorrhagic tendencies but should not be used in patients who are on blood-thinning medication as this may increase chances of bleeding.
Homeopathic use:
Not only is Arnica very useful in the form of topical creams, gels and ointments for bruises and painful joints, but when Arnica tincture is further diluted and succussed according to homeopathic principles, the remedy gains an even broader spectrum of use.
In general when remedies are prepared homeopathically, they tend to act on a mental and emotional level as well as the physical, and it is in this regard that Arnica is so useful for treating the chronic consequences of injury or trauma. For example a patient will complain that their health has just never been the same since a severe accident or trauma years ago. The trauma has become lodged within the body on a cellular memory level and the traumatic shock has never been completely processed. This undermines the person’s vitality until the cause is addressed with the right remedy. In such a case Arnica given in a high potency helps the person to overcome the trauma also on an emotional level.
Consider the situation where an injury is acquired during a relaxing walk in nature as opposed to a similar injury caused by an assault. Chances are that the latter would take longer to heal due to the emotional impact of the blow. Starting from sleep caused by frightful dreams after an accident or injury and waking with terror at night are indicative of the emotional consequences of the trauma and in such a case Arnica should be administered in a higher potency.
The remedy picture that results from the Arnica proving reveals that the typical person needing Arnica is usually quite obstinate and driven to push him or herself beyond natural limitations and in the process cause injury to him or herself. Imagine an injured mountaineer who set out to climb the highest mountain. There is the feeling of needing to carry on against all odds even through pain and injury. To stop would be perilous as survival depends on reaching the destination and a “brave face” is put on in front of others to show capacity and endurance. Sportsmen and women sometimes have the same attitude and injuries requiring Arnica are common.
The typical patient needing Arnica, whether it be required for an injury; overexertion after exercise or excessively hard work; or for influenza, feels bruised and aching through the whole body. There is extreme sensitivity to touch and the patient often refuses medical investigation with the attitude of “there is nothing wrong with me, leave me alone, I’m fine.” The patient may also exhibit offensive discharges and a tendency to bleed or bruise easily.
Mother Nature in all her wisdom brings us the healing gift of Arnica and with it teaches us that no one is alone on this earth, that we must delegate to others, not sustain them by our effort alone. We need to acknowledge our physical and emotional limitations and rest when necessary in order to give the body chance to regenerate.
The German poet, Goethe, used Arnica to strengthen his heart. From his deathbed, he wrote: “When life and death began their struggle with me, I sensed how the hosts of life, this flower on their standard, forced the issue, and the stagnating forces of the enemy, the deathly oppressive powers, meet their Austerlitz. Rejuvenating in my recovery I praise this herb highly, yet in truth it is nature who praises herself, she who is truly inexhaustible, who creates this flower with its healing powers, and in doing so once more proclaims herself to be eternally procreative.”
Posted in My published articles
The Role of the Liver in Weight Management
An abridged version of this article was published in the South African Journal of Natural Medicine
Next to the skin, the liver is the largest organ in the body. It is involved in at least 200 separate functions and in addition to being large, the liver is also the heaviest gland, weighing almost 2 kilograms.
In Chinese traditional medicine the liver is closely related to the nervous system. The liver is responsible for the smooth and harmonious flow of energy throughout the body and its organs. When the liver becomes pathological or congested, emotional energy also becomes stuck. This leads to feelings of anger, irritability, aggression, guilt and depression. There is also the saying, “green with envy” relating to the colour of bile produced in the liver and stored in the gallbladder. One might even say that longterm feelings of anger or resentment may result in gallbladder problems.
A healthy liver allows energy to flow, which allows for emotional balance. Such a person is assertive, decisive, generous, sharing and kind in nature.
The liver occupies almost the entire right upper quadrant of the abdominal cavity, nestling up against the diaphragm on the top and against the ribs on the right, stretching across the body, almost touching ribs on the left. Securely shielded by the ribs, this invaluable organ is firmly held in place by two suspending ligaments from the back of the diaphragm. One of these, the falciform ligament used to be the umbilical vein, connecting the foetus to the umbilical cord in the uterus, but becomes completely obliterated a week after birth, serving instead as a tough fibrous supporting cord which runs right through the liver dividing the left and right lobes.
Generally speaking, the liver performs a vital role in regulating fat stores, synthesising immune factors, storing vitamins, secreting hormones, transforming and breaking down many different substances in the body including the removal of waste products.
The blood supply of the liver
Most of the weight of the liver is due to the amount of blood filtered by it at any given stage. Apart from the hepatic artery which supplies blood to the liver and the inferior vena cava, which drains its used blood back to the heart, the liver has a unique and entirely separate circulatory system, called the Portal system. All the physiology and pathology of the liver depend on this specialised circulatory system. The portal system collects blood from all the digestive organs and instead of returning it back to the heart, directs it through to the liver. In other words, everything that is absorbed from the small intestine must first be process by the liver before continuing to the heart.
What is processed in the liver?
Ultimately every substance that we eat, drink or smell. From our food this includes broken down protein, fat and sugar as well as vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Many drugs that are absorbed through the intestinal tract are substantially metabolised by the liver before entering the general circulation. This is the reason why so many drugs list liver damage as a notable side-effect. Sometimes the liver even manages to “inactivate” some drugs, thus they cannot be taken orally and need sublingual or transdermal application in order to bypass the portal system.
What happens inside the liver?
• Hepatocytes are the liver cells that do all the actual work of the liver. Everything from extracting oxygen and blood, to synthesising cholesterol, to breaking down fats and sugars, to neutralising toxins.
• Sinusoids are small swellings or plates between hepatocytes that act like small capillaries. These are equipped with Kupffer cells that devour foreign pathogens such as bacteria entering the sinusoids. Kupffer cells are particularly vulnerable to damage from alcohol.
• Liver / hepatic lobules are the microscopic working factories located inside the lobes of the liver.
Nutrient rich blood enters the liver via the hepatic artery and portal vein and merges as it enters the sinusoids. Blood reaches the hepatocytes by detouring through the capillaries at the sinusoids, where exchange takes place – nutrients in, waste out, alcohol removed, etc. Blood then exits the lobule via a central hepatic vein, ultimately reentering circulation through the inferior vena cava.
What do the liver cells actually do?
The liver actually performs several hundred functions in the body. To summarise:
• Protein synthesis: by arranging amino acids into specific sequence complexes, different proteins are created for example clotting factors fibrinogen and prothrombin, as well as albumin, the major protein in blood. It also converts forms of amino acids from one to the other when needed for specific proteins.
• It converts toxic ammonia (a byproduct from amino acid conversions) into less toxic urea which is excreted.
• It uses amino acids and proteins for energy production or storage as fats and carbohydrates.
• It metabolises carbohydrates (CHO).
• The liver is the storehouse of carbohydrates as glycogen (glycogenesis) and lipids (lipogenesis).
• It can rapidly break down large amounts of CHO and release it as glucose into the bloodstream.
• It can create glucose from lactic acid.
• It creates a substance called glucose tolerance factor from chromium and glutathion (GTF). GTF acts with insulin to regulate blood sugar levels
• It metabolises lipids (fats).
• The liver can store fat in various forms.
• It can break down and release stored fat for extraordinary needs.
• It cleanses the blood and discharges waste products.
• The liver also excretes bilirubin, the broken-down pigment from dead red blood cells, by metabolising it with bile salts and excreting it through the faeces. Bilirubin colours out faeces brown. If for some reason, bilirubin is not excreted (as in obstructive jaundice) the faeces will be clay-coloured.
• It neutralises and destroys poisons and metabolises alcohol.
• The liver also detoxifies drugs and chemicals and virtually every toxin that enters the body. It excretes those toxins in two ways:
• 1. it neutralises them and releases them into the blood, where they make their way to the kidneys and out through the urine.
• 2. it dumps toxins directly into the bile and thence into the intestines for excretion.
• The digestive process is aided by the liver via the production of bile, which is used for the breakdown of fats in the intestinal tract. Stagnant and sluggish bile is not only sometimes caused by obesity but also leads to ineffective breakdown of fats and fatty liver disease.
• The liver helps the body resist infections by producing immune factors and by removing bacteria from the bloodstream.
• It converts (conjugates) vitamin isolates as found in supplements into non-toxic forms your body can actually use.
• The liver stores vitamins and minerals to be used as needed including all the fat-soluble vitamins (A, B12, D, E and K).
• The liver activates vitamin D so that the body can utilise it.
• It helps maintain the body’s hormonal balance by converting thyroxine (T4), a thyroid hormone, into its more active form triiodothyronine (T3). Inadequate conversion may lead to hypothyroidism and obesity.
• The liver also breaks down hormones like adrenaline, aldosterone, oestrogen and insulin after they have performed their needed functions. Inadequate breakdown may also create problems with weight gain.
• It synthesises cholesterol from fatty acids and removes excess cholesterol from the bloodstream as required.
Perhaps the most remarkable feature of the liver is its capacity to accommodate a toxic lifestyle to the extent that even after 80% destruction of the liver’s function there will still be no demonstrable negative symptoms. The liver is also one of the few organs that can regenerate up to an 80% loss of tissue within a few weeks. Though it grows faster than any cancer known to man, it’s regenerating growth stops when it has reached its normal size. When the liver becomes physically damaged by trauma or physiologically damaged due to poor dietary choices (high carbohydrate, trans-fats and fructose diet) or from regular overeating and alcohol drinking, and by toxins or drug residues, the toll on health is disastrous.
Liver dysfunction can lead to:
• Allergies
• Hypertension
• Low Energy
• Diabetes
• Infertility
• Arthritis
• Blood clotting or bleeding disorders
• Obesity
• Constipation and digestive problems like nausea, bloating and irritable bowel syndrome
• Premenstrual tension and other menstrual problems
• Migrains and headaches
• Joint stiffness
• Nervous symptoms like tremor, tics, convulsions and depression.
The Gallbladder and gallstones
The gallbladder is not merely a vestigial organ but has a very definite function. It regulates the flow of bile, injecting burst amounts of bile into the digestive tract, according to the amount of fats in each meal that need to be digested. A fatty meal stimulates gallbladder contraction and bile to be released. Bile contains cholesterol, bile salts, lecithin among other substances. Without the gallbladder, bile merely dribbles out in a constant flow irrespective of the presence of fats. This may lead to a series of problems such as poor digestion, intestinal distress, irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhoea, and the inadequate break down of fats. Bile also assists in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and helps to assimilate calcium. In addition bile converts betacarotene to vitamin A. It promotes intestinal peristalsis which prevent constipation.
Problems with the gallbladder rarely stem from the gallbladder itself but instead is caused by the liver, which if not functioning properly, manufactures bile that is prone to “stoning”. Removing the gallbladder does not eliminate the problem but shifts the locality where problems may manifest. Although stones and sludge formed in the gallbladder can no longer get trapped in the gallbladder (after a cholecystectomy) it may lodge further along the common bile duct where it joins the pancreatic duct before entering the duodenum. This may cause the damming up of pancreatic digestive enzymes within the pancreas itself and in turn lead to inflammation of or even the digestion of pancreatic tissue. This condition is called pancreatitis.
Fortunately there are alternatives and although dietary changes and herbal supplements will help, the best way to optimise the health of your liver, gallbladder and pancreas is to regularly cleanse and flush the liver and gallbladder.
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a fat soluble steroid and is the most abundant steroid in the body. When properly regulated it is a critically important molecule, essential in the formation of a number of key compounds, including:
Vitamin D
Progesterone
Oestrogen
Testosterone
Adrenaline
Cholesterol is an essential component of every cell membrane in the body. The brain consists mostly of cholesterol, much of it in the myelin sheaths that insulate nerve cells and in the synapses that transmit nerve impulses.
The body converts cholesterol (a fat-soluble molecule) into water-soluble molecules called lipoproteins so that it can be transported in the blood. Lipoproteins are characterised by their density: high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density (LDL) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL). In simple terms, HDL lipoproteins are beneficial whereas LDL lipoproteins theoretically promote arterial build up and considered harmful.
Where does cholesterol come from?
Diet accounts for about 25% of the cholesterol levels in the body. The liver synthesises about the same amount and the rest is synthesised in organs such as the intestines, the adrenals and the reproductive organs. The reason for high cholesterol levels is only rarely due to over production in the liver, it is primarily the result of inadequate removal from the body.
When the cholesterol produced in the liver is too viscous (thick) and becomes too concentrated and stagnant in the bile within the gallbladder, it can crystallise and form gall stones.
The liver manufactures and secretes LDL cholesterol into the bloodstream but also down regulates or removes LDL cholesterol from the bloodstream.
A healthy liver has a large number of active LDL receptor sites sitting on the surface of all liver cells. When present and functioning well, these receptor sites are associated with rapid removal of LDL cholesterol in the blood and consequently low blood LDL cholesterol levels.
The vast majority of cases of high LDL cholesterol are caused by a dietary inflicted blockage of the liver’s LDL clearing mechanism.
Scientists have discovered that a diet with high levels of fructose (as in high fructose corn syrup found in soft drinks for example) and of trans fats (found in margarine, peanut butter and various bakes) not only increases obesity, but also leads to significant fatty liver disease with scar tissue.
Firstly fatty deposits build up in the sinusoids and prevent bile from entering the bile ducts, essentially clogging up the liver. And secondly, excess dietary fats cause ingested cholesterol to build up in the membranes of liver cells, thus crushing the ability of those cells to process Sterol Regulatory Binding Protein (SREBP). SREBP activates the gene at the LDL receptor site to take up cholesterol from the bloodstream. The consequences of excess dietary fat literally stops the receptor sites and shuts down the flow of cholesterol through the liver and out through the bile ducts and colon.
Obesity is the body’s way of storing lips where they belong; in fat tissue. This is an effort to protect our other organs from the toxic byproducts of lipid metabolism. It’s when the surplus of incoming calories exceeds the compensatory limit of our fat tissue that those lipids wind up in areas where they shouldn’t be such as in the liver and muscles. At such a stage the cascade of symptoms known as metabolic syndrome sets in. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an increasingly prevalent condition affecting adults and children to the extent that it is declared an epidemic in the USA. It is often associated with metabolic syndrome which is defined as visceral obesity, hypertension, insulin resistance or diabetes and dyslipidaemia. In the coming decades, it promises to be the leading cause of liver disease in industrial countries where fast food is also the most economic food.
Foods that heal the liver and gallbladder
• Eat a diet consisting 75% of raw foods.
• Make a salad with grated beetroot, apple, carrot, ginger, fresh lemon juice (with pips) and cranberries.
• Drink plenty fresh vegetable juice with above ingredients. Do a 2-3 day juice fast at the change of every season.
• Also include green powder (spirulina, chlorella, barley and wheatgrass, kelp and other sea vegetables) in a drink with lemon juice.
• Drink warm water with fresh lemon throughout the day and herbal teas like dandelion root, fennel, ginger, peppermint.
• Supplement with lecithin, milk thistle, glutathion, essential fatty acids, vitamin B complexes high in niacin, inositol and choline.
• Avoid sugar, fructose (except fresh fruit) and products containing these. Avoid all animal fat and meat, fried foods, spicy foods, margarine (and other products containing hydrogenated fat/ trans fats), soft drinks, commercial oils, alcohol, nicotine, coffee, chocolate and refined carbohydrates. Also check food labels for chemical additives, colourants, flavour enhancers and preservatives.
• Avoid pharmaceutical medication as far as possible. Seek alternative options to deal with medical problems and find a responsible and well qualified therapist who would be able to wean you off harmful medication and replace it with health promoting remedies.
• Avoid crash diets and do not over eat.
• Obesity and gallbladder disease are related. Studies show that regular exercise leads to marked improvements in cardiovascular fitness, blood pressure, insulin sensitivity and cholesterol levels. Weight loss is a pleasant “side-effect” of regular exercise but it is really the internal benefits like stimulation of the liver to restore itself and the heart to become stronger as a muscular pump that matters.
• Homeopathic remedies like Nux vomica, Carduus marianus, Lycopodium and Chelidonium treat the various aspects of liver and gallbladder disease and the associated digestive problems that accompany.
References:
1. Werswater JD, Fainer D. Liver impairment in the obese. Gastroenterology 1958; 34: 686-693.
2. Marchesini G, et al. Association of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease with insulin resistance. Am J Med 1999; 107: 450-455.
3. Dam-Larsen S, et al. Long term prognosis of fatty liver: risk of chronic liver disease and death. Gut 2004; 53: 750-755.
4. Natural Health Newsletter, 12/21/2009. Posted by Jon Barron
http://www.jonbarron.org/baseline-health-program/2009-12-21-understanding-the-liver-and-cholesterol.php
http://www.jonbarron.org/detox/nl100111/healing-gallbadder-liver-flush/
5. Gascoigne S. The Clinical Medicine Guide. A Holistic Perspective. Chippenham, UK: Antony Rowe, 2001: 266.
Posted in My published articles
The Psychology of Overeating
Let’s look at why and when you tend to put on weight in the first place. What is your relationship to food and more importantly, to your body?
We subconsciously associate food with nurturing. Tasty food brings about a sense of deep gratification and we associate it with filling a hungry gap, rewarding ourselves for effort spent or simply a good social time.
Ever imagined living only on water and a collection of vitamin tablets as a substitute for food? What would there be to look forward to?
Due to our strong mind-body connection we literally program our living cells moment to moment via our thoughts and especially our feelings. If you find yourself running for something to eat every time you feel emotionally upset, disappointed or hurt, you might be a comfort eater and use food to lift your mood.
Comfort foods, like chocolate and biscuits or starchy foods, increase the body’s natural feel-good neurotransmitter, serotonin. Unfortunately like all quick fixes and addictions, the instant gratification is soon followed by a strong sense of guilt and feeling like a failure, which brings on depression.
If losing weight seems like a monumental task to you, consider first how you feel about yourself in general. The greater your sense of shame tied up to your appearance, the more desperate your need for change of your appearance will be and the more you’ll be inclined to feel hopeless about losing weight. Your confidence becomes undermined and the ensuing sense of powerlessness soon predisposes you to become victim to the myriad of instant diet pills and potions on the market. Unfortunately these are geared to pry on people with low self-esteem, with only monetary interest at heart and very little concern about the long term and side effects of these pills.
The saying goes that inside every fat person is a thin person dying to come out. Psychologists call this inner person your “inner child” which probably needed a lot of cover up at some point in time in order to deal with difficult life circumstances. If we connect with this inner child and become aware of what causes him/her to run for the fridge in the first place, we can start to reprogram ourselves by tending to our real hurts and needs instead.
Take “Anna” for example, who experienced sexual abuse as a child. She grew up to be an attractive and voluptuous woman. Yet every time a man leered at her she felt shame and repulsion. Anna started eating, subconsciously motivated to put on weight as a barrier between her and the outside world and also to hide her curvaceous figure in order to avoid lecherous stares. Yet at the same time she has grown accustomed to using her sexuality to control and manipulate men.
Anna’s primal need is for respect, love and healthy affection from an intimate relationship, yet she is programmed to associate intimacy with sexuality and thereby she keeps compromising herself sexually in order to get her basic needs for love “fulfilled”. This discrepancy between her need for respect and love versus her tendency to self-sacrifice in sexual behavior increases her sense of shame and the need for her inner child to resort to various defense mechanisms as well as her compulsive eating disorder.
Anna needs to honor and respect herself by focusing on what really makes her happy. She needs to practice hobbies and develop talents where she could meet men who share the same interests and value her for other qualities than just her (physical) body. Anna also needs to change her attitude towards men as sexual predators in order to break free from meeting the “wrong” type of men who perpetuate her one-sided perception and overemphasis on sexuality. Thus the cycle keeps on repeating itself and keeps her entrapped in her negative habits.
Some people use food indulgently as part of a decadent life-style. They are quite aware that they are eating beyond a point of satiety, yet cannot seem to make themselves stop. Overeating puts tremendous strain on the liver and may lead to enlargement of the liver with fat infiltration and considerable damage to the functionality of the liver. Binge eaters are quite aware of the severe discomfort of overeating, yet this doesn’t stop their behavior. Food has become a means to self-destructive behavior or self-punishment.
We need to ask ourselves what it is that we dislike so much in ourselves that we need to punish ourselves. Why are we so hard on ourselves that the simple bit of self-discipline required to stop eating when we are full, becomes such a difficult task that we would rather abandon all reason and give over to our rebellious inner child? By becoming aware of how and when we felt trapped under excessive discipline and criticism in our past, we can break the pattern of such an unnecessary authority that we’ve subconsciously internalized. Pay attention to your real needs. Are they really excessive or out of line? Wouldn’t a different approach of gentle encouragement and the focus on our good qualities have better results in our behavior?
Another reason why we put on weight is when our nurturing needs as an infant, baby or child were not met. Our mother may, unintentionally and very well meaning, either fed us too often and too much or too seldom and little or simply the wrong kinds of food in order to entice us to do something or to reward us. This lack of being in sync with the child’s natural needs, may lead the child to experience anxiety and the inability to perceive the natural call of hunger and sense of satiety.
Often this goes hand in hand with an overprotective or controlling mother towards whom we always feel indebted or striving to please in our behavior. Our inner child feels neglected and not understood, so we grow up trying to please through our “doing” instead of realizing how lovable we are in just “being” ourselves.
Are you able to say “No” when you don’t feel up to a request? We might struggle to communicate our feelings and needs and have problems with our personal boundaries allowing people to take advantage of us and then becoming resentful afterward. And guess what, the quickest relief again becomes the fridge or some stacked chocolate bar.
There are many more reasons why people become obese. What I am suggesting is that before we look for the quickest and easiest diet available to lose weight, we must first make sure we are happy wholesome human beings, and love the body that we’re in despite it’s extra few bulges and curves.
Next time you run for the fridge, ask yourself:
* How do I feel right now?
* What is my reason for wanting to eat something?
* Is the food that I am about to consume really beneficial and nourishing to my body or am I trying to substitute food for feeling hurt, frustrated, angry, disappointed, bored etc?
Have a notepad ready in the kitchen and write down your feelings and motivation for eating.
This simple exercise will break the habit of compulsive eating and will buy you those few extra minutes which enables your conscious mind to intervene – just like counting to 10 when you are about to loose your temper.
Then find ways to readdress and care for your emotional needs other than through eating. This might be to learn to express yourself clearly to others who might have caused your hurt or disappointment in that moment. By stating your needs and boundaries, and voicing when you feel hurt and angry, you will be taking a large step in empowering yourself. It is by taking back our emotional and personal power (not ego, stubbornness or pride) that we feel strong and confident enough to break unwanted habits and addictions.
Surround yourself by positive and uplifting people who support you in your endeavor to lose weight. Realize that critical people are unhappy people. Don’t take their negative remarks personally. This is also an exercise to strengthen your emotional boundaries instead of trying to protect yourself with a physical barrier of fat.
Talk to yourself, affirming that you don’t need the protective layer of fat anymore. Thank your body as is for serving you up to this point, but know that you are now ready to shed all those extra kilos and care and honor your real needs. Make your body your home and be proud of it.
Lastly, have an alternative self-nurturing activity at hand. Something that you really enjoy doing which does not impact negatively on anyone, including yourself, and does not lead to feelings of guilt. Phone a friend, go for a walk in nature, take a soothing bath, curl up with your favorite book, or do something creatively, listen to music and dance on the spot or make love to someone dear or yourself!
Posted in My published articles
Scientific research on the use of Homeopathy in Cancer
I am really excited about this recent study published in The Journal of Oncology.
I copied a few lines of this important study below, with the provocative title of “A Tipping Point For Homeopathy” at http://www.cancerdecisions.com/content/view/414/2/lang,english/
| A landmark paper on homeopathy and cancer has appeared in the February 2010 issue of the International Journal of Oncology. Scientists at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (MDA), led by Moshe Frenkel, MD, have confirmed the ability of four homeopathic remedies to induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) in breast cancer cell lines in the laboratory.
“The remedies exerted preferential cytotoxic effects against the two breast cancer cell lines, causing cell cycle delay/arrest and apoptosis” the authors wrote. |
Posted in Articles of interest
Steps to help you Sleep
Published in the South African Journal of Natural Medicine
Everybody knows how vital sleep is for our general well-being, and how miserable we feel when we do not get enough of it on a regular basis. This article does not focus on the complex physiology of lack of sleep but rather looks at the mind of the insomniac, while keeping in sight the background physiology.
While it is quite common for many people to go without sufficient sleep for a night or two, or for short periods, it is only those who suffer from chronic sleep deprivation who understand the impact of broken or disturbed sleep.
Whatever the cause, the effect is ravaging. Since the birth of my now five month old baby I have not slept more than 3 hours in succession. Slowly but surely I have noticed how my body has changed from able and energised to feeling tired, tight, heavy and a painful source of discomfort. I often feel chilled even though others complain of heat. My eyes are permanently red and dry and I find myself staring into space. Even involuntary functions such as blinking and breathing have become compromised and I frequently have to remind myself to take a large breath. After contracting a flu virus recently I was surprised at my slow recovery rate as opposed to my usual bounce back after 24 hours! Not to mention the decline in my mental faculties such as reaction time, concentration span, focus and memory. Even making simple decisions have become challenging with chronic sleep deprivation.
As a homeopath I routinely enquire about clients’ sleeping patterns as it is considered one of the seven general indicators regarding the overall health of the endocrine system. It is important not to loose sight of the body-mind connection when we address sleeplessness, if greater healing is to take place.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine each hour of the day corresponds with an organ system. Experiencing tiredness or weakness during a specific time of the day, or waking up at a particular time each night, indicates pathology or weakness in that area, e.g. liver between 3-4 am and kidneys between 5-6pm.
From a mind perspective it seems as if there is a “switch” that enables us to literally let go of or surrender our normal busy mind. Some of us are able to manipulate this function at will while those who cannot are left at mercy of the waking, wondering, calculating, worrying mind that the insomniac knows so well.
Learning to trust
Stress is the most common factor that breeds a sleepless pathology, and as stress has its origins in the mind, training the mind to cultivate tranquility at will becomes a priceless endeavor.
Stress increases our levels of circulating cortisol, and the higher the cortisol, the less likely we are able to sleep peacefully. We are living stressful lives in challenging times, often based on fear and anxiety and it becomes increasingly difficult to trust that all will be OK, since our general perception becomes one of needing to be in control at all times. Perhaps this is a coping mechanism that we acquired due to unnecessary stress and uncertainty during childhood. Learning to trust in life supporting us is an essential and basic skill. Trust is the antidote to the urge to control.
Vigilantly scanning our environment for possible danger, we cannot imagine what would happen once we let go of our conscious control. “Letting go” seems as if relinquishing all power and control to chaos where things are simply allowed to fall apart.
Stress and the nervous system
To accommodate a chronic state of anxiety the autonomic nervous system relies heavily on the sympathetic branch and the production of stress hormones like adrenalin, noradrenalin and the long term stress hormone, cortisol. Consequently the heart rate goes up, blood pressure increases, muscles tense, the tummy turns into a knot and the immune system takes a back seat. At this stage depression easily sets in and sleep becomes a luxury or impossible!
Fortunately this nervous system imbalance responds well to therapy. Craniosacral therapy, for example, applies specific pressure holds (hands-on holding positions of the skull and base of the spine) to induce a “still point” in the craniosacral rhythm (the circulatory rhythm caused by the production and re-absorption of the cerebrospinal fluid). This brings the overactive sympathetic tone back into balance and changes beta brain wave frequency into alpha brain wave frequency. It is during this alpha brain wave state of mind that we experience deep relaxation, our bodies unwind and our innate healing mechanisms kicks in. Normal sleeping patterns are often the first to be restored.
Beta brain wave frequency stimulates us into an awake and alert modus operandi which helps us function optimally during a working day, but without the ability to switch to a sleeping alpha state we become dysfunctional and insomniac. Why would some of us then have trouble switching from beta brain wave to alpha brain wave frequency, or remain in a predominant beta brain wave frequency?
To surrender oneself to life is a challenge, and a life skill that may take years to develop. In Buddhist philosophy sleep is seen as a “mini death”. It involves the ability to completely let go.
Not everyone can adopt peaceful surrender with equal ease. Difficulty falling asleep or waking frequently during the night may have many causes, many physiological, like feeling thirsty, needing the loo, pain, endocrine problems, medication and stimulants to name but a few. (See Issue 41) This may set the busy background for an overly charged mind to spring into action.
How often don’t we find ourselves waking up gradually even peacefully, but before we can turn around and drop off again, a “busy” thought pops into our mind sending alert messages to the adrenals and before we know it, we are busy solving problems, making plans, replaying events of the day or revising conversations in our heads. If we do this regularly, we train ourselves into a bad habit and indeed alter our biological clocks. This influences our pineal secretion of melatonin and leads to disturbed biorhythms. Instead of waking refreshed, we feel as if we’ve had a bottle of Tequila the previous night!
If you wake up regularly from general anxiety, seek out therapy to resolve subconscious issues. I suggest energy balancing and bodywork therapies in addition to counseling. Therapies such as Shiatsu, Kinesiology, Craniosacral therapy, Body Stress Release as well as gentle exercise like yoga and tai chi, bypass the rational and analytical mind which often is the problem in the first place. Also try homeopathic or herbal treatment for anxiety and stress instead of resorting to sleeping tablets and angiolytics. These have side-effects, are addictive and don’t address the cause of the disrupted sleep cycle.
Creating sound sleeping habits
Each task we engage in requires time, attention and energy.
Make a list and prioritise daily tasks. Make sure to allocate enough time to complete each task one at a time. Think of each task as a circle. If left incomplete or open, while you carry on with the next, these unfinished tasks remain in your subconscious mind during the day as a continuous energy leach. At night, as soon as our conscious mind is ready to drift off to sleep, subconscious matter tends to surface and keeps us awake. This is true for any thoughts, feelings or consciously unresolved issues.
Think of your mind as your personal computer. When you have difficulty to fall asleep or “switch off” at night, visualise yourself clicking on the cross at the top corner of each file, closing each idea, project or concern in your mind one at a time. Make sure you do the same with your actual p.c. before going to bed.
For those who are less digitally inclined, use the image of a large cupboard and close each drawer containing your thoughts, feelings and concerns. Labeling these one at a time creates distance and objectivity, which enables one to put them in a compartment to be dealt with later.
Aside from addressing the physical, for example making sure your sleeping area is quiet, dark and comfortable, as well as avoiding stimulants before bedtime, try the following steps to help you sleep:
* Teach the mind to switch off. With closed eyes become aware of your surroundings. Use your senses to bring your attention into the present moment. If there are any disturbing factors which you cannot change, make a conscious effort to let go and release these from your mind.
* Relax all your muscles one at a time.
* Become aware of your breathing. Make sure you exhale completely and that it is longer than your inhalation.
* Do a mindful meditation whereby you clear your mind of all thoughts. Watch your mind as if it is an open clear sky. Thoughts drift by like clouds. Release the thoughts before they escalate into feelings.
* Finally imagine yourself switching off the light inside your head and feel how your body becomes heavier and heavier, sinking into the bed beneath you. Feel your muscles melt like a wax candle baking in a warm oven.
* Allow yourself to surrender your need to control, organise, sort out, plan, worry etc.
* Let go of any unwanted feelings and give yourself over to trust, reminding yourself that a good night’s rest at worst helps you to look at things with a fresh perspective and at best often brings it’s own miraculous answers to problems.
* Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland to adjust day and night biorythmical cycles and so aids in sleep patterns. It is useful to take when jet-lagged or to restore natural sleeping rhythms, for example people who work night shifts.
* There are numerous homeopathic and herbal remedies that may help you as well. Most herbal remedies work in a sedative way, calming the nervous system. Valarian, Chamomile, Passiflora and Hops are effective in this regard.
* Use homeopathic remedies that work at a causal level, correcting an imbalance in sympathetic tone or endocrine function, whether it be physiological, emotional or mental in origin. Some typical remedies for insomnia include Coffea – when the mind races from over-excitement and you simply cannot switch off; Nux vomica – businessmen stress and insomnia, especially waking at 3-4am and not being able to go back to sleep until morning when it’s time to get up; Nat muriaticum – insomnia from emotional causes in a sensitive person who keeps his feelings private; Sulphur – someone who typically gets a second wind at night when he is most creative and lucrative. May wake up every hour. Ars alb – insomnia and restlessness from anxiety in fastidious and demanding individuals.
Posted in My published articles
Diagnostic Criteria and Management of Depression
Depression is a state of stagnant energy in the body. The mind becomes separated from the body and engaged in anxious and critical thoughts either dwelling on the past or trying to make plans for the future. During such a time, there is no awareness and receptiveness to the present, simply because the mind is elsewhere. This results in feeling out of tune with one’s real self and separation from others and their concern, care or love. We become shut off from life itself and feel tired all the time. If not attended to this may harden us in time to become cynical and embittered, leading to even greater isolation.
Feelings of anxiety and distrust in life and others dominate. Doubt in one’s abilities and keeping up appearances becomes important with ensuing feelings of guilt and self-loathing when not measuring up. One becomes super sensitive to what others say or think, tending to take everything personally or feeling offended. The mind becomes preoccupied with dwelling on negative issues or memories, trying to make sense of these.
These are common mental symptoms of depression and should be taken notice of as such. It is important to realize that depression is a mental illness and therefor it is senseless to employ the mind itself to change the depression. Any attempt at trying to change the mind from negative to positive sets up a goal which achievement may be failed. This only adds to further degradation and criticism of self. It is therefor not beneficial to engage in the content of our thoughts when depressed but rather just to become aware of our mind thinking thoughts.
The objective of meditation is to try and slow down thoughts so that there are spaces of no thoughts. When you experience these moments of stillness you sense the quiet peaceful power and clarity underlying the busy thoughtful mind. In this there is a liberating wisdom that brings about a higher perspective over our issues and pain.
Notice however that some thoughts have more power to “hook” and drag our mind away from staying present. These are usually accompanied by emotions too. Instead of fueling it along, as soon as you become aware of going down such a lane, simply bring your attention back to the breath and body. This as the quickest way to reengage with the present. In time we become aware of which thoughts have power over us and through regular meditation we acquire the skills to notice them before they pull us down, even when triggered by external events. Emotional intelligence is the ability to identify with the peaceful wise aspect of ourselves and to catch ourselves before, or regain this wise sense of self soon after, we have become emotionally triggered to react.
Episodes of depression viewed from this perspective may provide the perfect opportunity to deal with our issues/ buttons and become liberated from them. Because of the suffering nature of depression, it keeps us humble and respectful of others going through suffering and pain. The key to healing depression and bringing light to suffering is nonjudgmental awareness and the same attitude of openness and compassion towards others as we have towards ourselves. This allows us back into experiencing belonging to ourselves, human nature and life as is.
DSM-IV-TR Diagnostic Criteria for Major Depressive Episodes:
Five or more of the following symptoms over at least a two week period in a way that departs from normal functioning.
– depressed or sad feeling most of the day
– loss of interest or ability to derive pleasure from nearly all activities that previously were enjoyable.
– significant weight loss or gain when not dieting or an increase or decrease in appetite nearly every day
– difficulty sleeping through the night and more sleepy during the day
– noticeably slowed down or agitated through out the day
– feeling fatigued or loss of energy nearly every day and giving up on exercise
– feelings of worthlessness and extreme or inappropriate guilt
– difficulties concentrating or inability to think, also seen by others as
indecisiveness
– recurrent thoughts of death and ideas about suicide without a specific plan or attempts of suicide.
Warning signs of depressive relapse:
– becoming irritable
– decreasing social participation – “just not wanting to see people”
– changing sleep habits or patterns.
– changing eating habits.
– easily exhausted
– giving up on exercise
– not wanting to deal with business (opening mail, paying bills, admin etc.)
– postponing deadlines and chores
Our most typical reactions to emotional triggers are:
1. Dissociation or escaping dealing with the feeling. Not being present anymore
2. Craving or comfort seeking often through addictive habits and substances
3. Anger at self and others with variable degrees of destructive behaviour
Definition of Mindfulness: Paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment and non-judgementally.
– Jon Kabat-Zinn
Steps to deal with depression when first noticed:
1. Realize that thoughts aren’t facts, especially not when depressed.
2. Notice thoughts that are negative and critical and disengage from them.
3. Observe thoughts and feelings in general, label them but do not identify with them.
4. Take a breathing space. Know that this episode will pass.
5. Choose an activity that is normally pleasurable and not destructive.
6. Take action and do it. Do not dwell or try and make sense of your mood or thoughts. This “mulling over” is called remuneration and has a negative spiraling effect, leading to deeper states of despair.
7. Make a list of activities that will give a sense of accomplishment.
8. Take action and do them crossing them off the list one by one.
9. Understand that harmful cravings are part of trying to self-comfort.
10. Ask yourself: If i had to die now, would this yearning for … stand in the way of my letting go?
What to do when feeling overwhelmed:
1. Stop whatever you are doing or engaged with.
2. Stay with the feeling but focus on breathing regularly.
3. Become aware of any sensations in the body.
4. Observe what happens as your breath brings freshness to this state.
5. Have mature compassion and understanding for yourself going through a difficult time.
6. Realize that you are NOT your thoughts or feelings and that these will pass.
7. If the feeling escalates in intensity and becomes unbearable to sit with, try a walking, cycling or swimming meditation, while still remaining mindful of your feelings.
8. If you find it impossible to still the mind with thoughts racing, write them down until you feel empty. Then proceed with your meditation.
9. In the same vein, some people find praying beneficial. No matter what your religion, the act of open and honest surrendering not only relieves you of carrying concerns and worries on your own but also allows the nervous system to relax. Negative and critical thoughts become replaced by hopeful inspiration and connect us with a wise, loving, caring, forgiving and powerful aspect of ourselves.
Posted in My articles
What is Sinusitis?
I wrote this article for the South African Journal of Natural Medicine magazine February 2010 edition. This has just been published at http://www.elements4health.com/what-is-sinusitis.html
How To Manage Sinusitis
There are times when we feel as though our head is like a huge heavy block of lead and our nose some large and useless fleshy appendage stuck in front of it! Understandably one might become quite desperate when the most basic function in life – the ability to breathe comfortably – is compromised. Breath not only connects us with life but also with each other. It is the lightness of the air element that we crave when we feel depressed and bogged down. Imagine how dense we would be with no air circulating through our head and chest cavity. No wonder we feel so miserable when our noses are blocked and our sinuses clogged!
Why do we have sinus cavities?
Sinuses lighten the weight of the skull and this is the reason why the head feels so heavy and dull during a sinus attack.
Sinuses give resonance to your voice.
Sinuses filter and moisten the air that we breathe and remove unwanted air particles. We are able to breathe deeper when we utilize the turbine effect of the sinus cavities through the nose instead of the mouth. In yogic practises correct breathing through the nose (a slow deep audible breath with most part of the tongue against the palate) regulates the endocrine system by stimulating the pituitory gland, situated deep behind the nose. The way we breathe thus has a profound effect on our emotions.
What are sinuses?
Sinuses, also referred to as “paranasal sinuses”, are paired air cavities or space-pockets found in the cranial (head) bones. Sinuses are connected to the nose on the facial part of the skull where air passes and mucus drains. We have four paired sinus cavities. Each sinus cavity has an opening (ostium), which opens into the nasal passages for free exchange of air and mucus. The mucus linings have ciliated epithelium (cells with fine hairs). The cilia continuously move mucus draining from the sinus cavities into the nasal passages and into the back of the throat.
What is Sinusitis?
Sinusitis is caused by an inflammation or infection of one or all of your para-nasal sinuses and is categorized into three types based on the duration of the inflammation/infection.
1. Acute Sinusitis
Acute sinusitis usually lasts for no more than 3 weeks. It is often triggered by a preceding flu or head cold and presents with typical “cold” symptoms but lasts longer than a week.
2. Chronic Sinusitis
To most people under the age of 45, chronic sinusitis is one of the most common chronic illnesses.
Chronic sinusitis usually lasts for more than 3 weeks and can continue for months or even years. It is commonly caused by allergies or bacterial infections. The overuse of antibiotics and cortisone sprays have lead to more virulant forms of bacterial infections as well as new fungal infections of the sinus cavities. Asthma and allergic disorders often cause chronic inflammation of the nasal mucosa resulting in chronic sinusitis. About 20% of patients with chronic sinusitis may develop nasal polyps. Nasal polyps are cyst-like growths that develop from sinus tissue and may further obstruct the sinuses.
3. Recurrent Sinusitis
Also called allergic rhinitis or rhino-sinusitis, this type is characterised by several separate attacks during the year. The attacks are usually caused by an allergic reaction to varying weather conditions and environmental factors.
There are four pairs of sinus cavities:
Ethmoid sinuses (behind the bridge, at the “root” of the nose between the eyes) Present at birth the ethmoid sinuses enlarge as we grow.
Frontal sinuses (above the eyes in the forehead). These develop around seven years of age.
Maxillary sinuses (on either side of the nostrils in the cheek bones). They are also present at birth and enlarge as we grow.
Sphenoid sinuses (deep in the skull behind the ethmoid sinuses and the eyes) We only develop sphenoid sinus cavities during adolescence.
What causes Sinusitis?
The body normally produces around two cups of mucus a day, which is usually swallowed unconsciously. At times this production can be accelerated as a result of an infection, foreign particle or allergic reaction to an allergen within the nasal passages and sinus cavities. This invasion of the delicate nasal passages and surrounding structures results in inflammation of and an increase of white blood cells to the membrane lining of the nose. The swelling of the nasal linings increases the production of mucus to help flush away the irritant or bacteria containing particles.
As a result of the increased mucus production, the cilia are unable to transport mucus effectively, allowing the mucus to become thick and tenacious, blocking the nasal passages and sinus cavities. The sinuses drain through tiny openings called ostia. Inflammation causes these small openings to become blocked causing the mucus to accumulate and become stagnant – an ideal breeding ground for the multiplication of bacteria. In severe cases the entrapped infection leads to abscess formation. The only alternative way for the mucus to exit is via the back of the throat which is known as post nasal drip.
Inflamed and infected sinuses may also cause systemic symptoms like fever, fatigue and gastric discomfort from swallowing excessive mucus. The general lack of oxygen resulting from an impaired breathing capicity, affects the entire body and often causes acidosis, muscle and joint aches.
Who are the bugs behind the scenes?
Pathogens causing sinusitis
Viral infection – This type of sinus infection is the most common as it may be caused by millions of different strains and viruses. It is also known as an upper respiratory infection (cold or flu) and tends to last for a fort night with symptoms similar to a common cold, i.e. a runny nose, congestion or even a sore throat with accompanying post nasal drip and coughing. If left untreated a viral infection may develop into a bacterial infection such as chronic sinusitis.
Bacterial infection – This type of infection is most often caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae. These types of bacteria are commonly found in the respiratory tract of healthy people and will only result in a bacterial sinus infection when the immune system is compromised. Other, less common sinusitis causing bacteria include Staphylococcus aureus and Branhamella catarhallis. Swimming in contaminated water may also result in a bacterial infection of the sinuses.
Fungal Infection – Fungi are plant like organisms which are unable to produce their own food. They are usually found living harmlessly in our sinuses. However when the body’s resistance is low, they may become harmful and feed on the delicate mucus membranes that line our sinus and nasal passages resulting in inflammation and a possible fungal infection. Aspergillus fumigatus is one such fungus. Our moist, dark and warm nasal passages and sinus cavities provide fungi with the ideal environment in which to thrive and propagate. Fungus includes- molds, yeasts, mushrooms and puffballs.
Structural and Anatomical Causes:
Nasal Polyps – Nasal polyps occur when the connective tissue matrix that keeps the mucus membrane linings of the nose intact becomes damaged. The damaged lining gradually becomes detached from the underlying tissue and starts filling with mucus, causing it to sag and develop into a “nasal polyp”. Polyps appear jelly-like and opaque to white in color. Any inflammation or allergy affecting the mucus membranes of the nasal passages and sinus cavities will aggravate the nasal polyps causing them to swell more and block the opening to the sinuses, thereby promoting the growth of bacteria, viruses or fungi. Nasal polyps are more prevalent in people suffering from chronic sinusitis, hayfever and asthma. Symptoms include recurrent or chronic sinusitis, nasal obstruction, mouth breathing, snoring and reduced senses of smell and taste. After surgical removal of polyps (FESS – functional endoscopic sinus surgery) approximately 50% of sufferers experience a regrowth of polyps.
Deviated Septum – The septum is a large cartilaginous bone dividing the right and left nostrils. Certain injuries to this part, e.g. a broken nose, can obstruct mucus drainage and breathing and therefore lead to sinusitis. Surgery may help to rectify a deviated septum.
Turbinates – The nasal passages contain bony projections called turbinates which filter and warm the air that passes through these passages. When an irritation of the nasal passages occurs, these processes become inflamed and may swell causing an obstruction of mucus flow and if left untreated lead to a sinus infection.
Concha Bullosa – This bubble or balloon shaped structure tends to develop on the middle turbinate and can exert pressure on the adjacent tissue thereby causing irritation, sinus pain and nasal blockage. This condition may be treated by endoscopic sinus surgery in severe cases.
What predisposes us to Sinusitis?
Conditions and lifestyle factors:
The changing altitudes brought about by frequent flying or scuba diving may not only cause but also make current sinus infections worse. Different altitudes and air pressures irritate and inflame the paranasal and frontal sinus cavities. In severe cases bleeding of the nasal mucus linings may also occur due to the inflammation.
Frequent dental work may cause damage to the delicate sinus cavities which lie directly above the upper teeth. On the other hand mouth infections may easily spread to the sinuses.
Over usage of nasal decongestants and cortisone nasal sprays may have an initial drying effect, however the body’s normal reaction there upon is to produce more mucus thereby promoting the development of sinusitis. Further more the drying effect on infected mucus membranes increases the viscosity of the mucus resulting in stagnation and an aggravation of the infection. Cortisone also compromises the body’s defense system in dealing with the infection.
Swimming in chlorinated water may cause an irritation and inflammation of the mucus membrane linings increasing susceptibility to a bacterial invasion. The water also results in the cilia performing poorly thereby reducing mucus drainage.
Pregnancy and Oral contraceptives cause hormonal changes which may lead to an increase in mucus production and post nasal drip. Further more the increased bloodsupply accompanying pregnancy causes intra-nasal venous congestion which gives the sensation of a blocked nose. Frequent blowing in order to clear the nose only irritates the already swollen mucus membranes.
Any head or face injury may damage the various delicate intra-cranial bones housing the sinus cavities, predisposing them to infection. Nasogastric intubation during surgery may cause damage and inflammation to the delicate mucus membranes making these linings highly susceptible to sinusitis causing bacteria and viruses.
A diet consisting of refined carbohydrates and sugar, gluten and dairy products may cause an allergic reaction and swelling of the mucus membranes. This promotes the production of excess mucus in both persistent and chronic sinusitis. Sulphur containing foods and drinks also aggravate sinusitis.
Certain medications may predispose to sinusitis in which case it is best to consult your doctor to find out whether your current prescription may indeed predispose to sinusitis.
Smoking damages the cilia resulting in post nasal drip and the mucus becoming thick and tenacious allowing bacteria to accumulate. Non-smokers who are exposed to second hand smoke may also experience compromised cilia functioning. Smokers are less likely than non-smokers to have a full recovery after sinus surgery due to progressive damage of the cilia and nasal linings of the nose and sinus cavities. Asthma and respiratory infections are more common in people who inhale second-hand smoke regularly.
Dehydration and dehydrating agents such as alcohol, tea and caffeine as well as a dry climate and wind lead to more tenacious mucus and a tendency to sinusitis.
Environmental Factors include dust, house dust mites, mold and damp environments, air pollution, petrol, perfume, paint, glue and other industrial chemicals, mold, furry or feathery pets, plant and grass pollens.
Compromised immune system In a University of Miami study, 50% of chronic sinusitis patients were found to be suffering from immunological disorders.
Symptoms of Sinusitis:
In general, sinusitis can be signified by a combination of the following symptoms:
– Cold symptoms that don’t respond to treatment
– Persistent colds with coughs
– Head pain on waking in the morning
– A low grade fever between 99F and 100F
– Weakness or tiredness
– A cough that is more prevalent at night
– A runny nose (rhinitis)
– Nasal congestion
– Halitosis (bad breath)
– Swollen eye lids
– Post nasal drip
– Blocked or stuffy nose
– Congested feeling or pressure
– Facial pain or swelling
– Headaches worse on bending forward
– Voice hoarseness
– Decreased sense of smell
– Fullness sensation in the ears
Self-help techniques:
- Drink at least two litres of purified water a day. This keeps the mucus fluid, relieving congestion and sinus pressure. Hot drinks and adding cayenne pepper or ginger may bring even faster relief.
- Excessive mucus is often a sign that your immune system is overtaxed. Try a fruit and vegetable juice fast for a couple of days. Your mucus discharge may increase initially as the body is eliminating, but if you persist the drainage will be complete.
- Avoid allergens as far as possible. Environmental factors may be difficult but your diet is under your own control. Your diet should consist of 75% raw and lightly steamed vegetables and fruit. Avoid dairy, fries, sugar and refined carbohydrates as well as tea, coffee and alcohol especially during an infection.
- Mix a cup of warm water, half a teaspoon of sea salt and a pinch of bicarbonate of soda and make your own nasal spray (obtain a suitable bottle from your chemist) or nasal wash by drawing the fluid up through your nostrils and spitting it out through your mouth. Though uncomfortable, this is an excellent local antisceptic!
- Steam inhalations with eucalyptus, tea tree and rosemary aromatherapy oils help to clear congestion. Use a towel over the head and lean over a pot of steam water.
- Do not use force when blowing your nose, as this forces the mucus back into the sinuses. Rather keep the mucus fluid and draw it down the back of the throat to expell orally when blowing becomes difficult.
- Boost your immune system by taking 3000mg of a non-acidic form of vitamin C in divided doses each day. Herbs like Echinacea, Golden seal and Cat’s claw increase your defenses.
- Avoid antibiotics, nasal decongestant, nose drops and sprays as far as possible. These predispose to recurrent infections and undermine the immune system. The drying agents shrink blood vessels in the nose and cause them to weaken as well as thicken the mucus increasing the risk of infection.
- As a rule, stick to therapies that allow drainage of the mucus by keeping it fluid.
- Craniosacral therapy addresses the various cranial bones and has decompression techniques which assists draining of the sinuses. Typically patients report an initial increase in pressure or nasal obstruction, followed by a tremendous relief, ability to breathe and draining of mucus afterwards.
- There are various yoga postures and breathing techniques that assist in draining the sinuses.
Homeopathic remedies for sinusitis
These are a few common remedies that may be used at home in low potencies (6c-30c). Select the remedy which symptom description closely matches your own symtoms. Take the remedy every two hours for 4 doses. If there is no improvement, try another more accurate match or consult a homeopath.
- Kali Bich: Most types of sinusitis especially when the mucus is thick, yellow-green, stringy, tenacious and difficult to expell.
- Hepar Sulph: Thick purulent mucus and post nasal drip in chilly patients worse from draughts. Sinus abscess. Very tender to touch sinuses and bones of the face, typical stitching pains.
- Pulsatilla: Thick yellow green nasal discharge. Congested nose worse in the evenings and warm indoors. Sneezing and runny nose outdoors in fresh air (which generally improves the patient). Sense of taste and smell is lost. The patient has no thirst despite a dry “furry” mouth.
Generally the patient is moody, tearful and in need of consolation.
- Merc Sol: Nasal mucus is burning and watery alternating with thick green, purulent mucus which may be blood streaked. The nostrils, mouth or throat may become ulcerated. Glands are swollen and painful. The patient is sweaty and all discharges as well as the breath have a foul odour.
- Nat Mur: Discharges are profuse and watery (also from the eyes) or a thick consistancy (like egg white) post nasal drip. Nasal obstruction and headaches worse from exposure to the sun. The lips are dry and cracked and the patient may be prone to herpes. Excellent remedy for viral colds and sinus infections.
- Silica: Chronic sinusitis and a tendency to catch cold easily from changes of weather, especially cold wet weather. Generally a weak constitution, lacking in stamina due to poor assimilation of minerals. Abscess formation and fistulae are common.
Since any chronic infection is indicative of an immune system that is operating under par, the best homeopathic treatment is not to simply relieve symptoms but to address the entire constitution in order to strengthen the body’s capacity to overcome infections and neutralise allergic responses. Homeopathy is safe and effective to use during pregnancy, for “snuffles” of new born babies and “snotty” nosed children.
Posted in My published articles
Homeopathy & Cranio-Sacral 