Nikki Hawkes

Medical Herbalist & IBS specialist

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Mind and mood

Sniffing out Alzheimer’s disease

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Scientists have discovered that one of the earliest symptoms related to the development of Alzheimer’s disease is a problem with the sense of smell.

The number of people with Alzheimer’s disease, the most common cause of dementia, is increasing rapidly. It is one of the most dreaded of diseases and yet modern medicine seems capable of only slowing progression not reversing it.

With the sheer numbers of cases we are likely to see as worldwide life expectancy rises, this disease is a tragedy in the making. With a huge potential burden both personally and globally. [Read more…] about Sniffing out Alzheimer’s disease

Meditation for brain preservation

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With an ageing UK population it is imperative that we find ways to delay or prevent an age-related decline in brain health. Imperative, not just on an individual basis but as a population, to try and prevent the burden of cognitive decline on individuals, family members, care givers and society as a whole. So, there is a great deal of ongoing research trying to find out what, if anything, we can do to prevent an age related decline in brain health. This study from 2018 suggests that there may be something that we can all do, and that is… meditation.

People in the UK are living longer than ever before, which is increasing the average age of our population. But even though life expectancy is improving, healthy life expectancy may not be. With more years of life, that can mean more years of health, or more years of chronic disease. And, the reality is that in the UK the number of people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia is increasing rapidly. However, it’s not just that people are living longer and so are more likely to develop dementia. We know that strong emotions, stress, worry, depression and anxiety can all affect our sleep, and how well we think, learn or remember things. But these emotional states are also associated with an increased risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease.  [Read more…] about Meditation for brain preservation

Alzheimers disease and iron intake

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Alzheimer’s disease was first described in 1906. It was little known at the time and did not even enter medical textbooks until decades later. So, how come this disease is at epidemic proportions and now a leading cause of death in the UK?

We know that certain genes can predispose some people to have an increased risk of developing the disease. Specifically the ApoE4 genotype is known to increase the risk. But our genes do not determine our destiny. After all not everyone with this genotype develops Alzheimer’s disease, and it is not necessary to have the ApoE4 genotype to develop Alzheimer’s. Indeed genetics alone can not explain such a rapid increase in the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease. [Read more…] about Alzheimers disease and iron intake

Alzheimer’s disease – is fibre good for the brain?

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Dementia is now the leading cause of death in England, ahead of cancer and heart disease. Yet, while many people might know someone that has survived cancer, how many people with Alzheimer’s disease do you know that have got better, or even improved? Currently conventional medicine has no treatment for Alzheimers disease that does anything but slightly delay progression of the disease. A situation that is unlikely to change in the near future. Not because of a lack of research. A quick search on the Pubmed database reveals over a hundred thousand research papers on Alzheimer’s disease. But, even if a cure for Alzheimer’s was found today, it takes an average of seventeen years to translate findings such as these into treatments available to the public. [Read more…] about Alzheimer’s disease – is fibre good for the brain?

Pesticides linked to autism and other chronic diseases

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In my article Could indoor toxins be making you ill?, I discuss how the constant exposure to household and workplace toxins can mean these chemicals accumulate in the body. And, how this build up of toxic chemicals may be one factor underlying the rapid increase we are seeing in chronic diseases, such as heart disease, dementia and autoimmune diseases.

Unfortunately it is impossible to completely avoid environmental toxins such as pesticides. Yet studies show that these toxic chemicals are affecting long term health. For instance, in 2014 this study reported that an increased exposure to pesticides was linked with an greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Before the 1970s halogenated organic compounds such as DDT, DDE (a metabolite of DDT) and PCBs and other persistent pollutants, were widely used in developed countries. DDT was used as an insecticide, whilst PCBs were used in transformers and electrical equipment. [Read more…] about Pesticides linked to autism and other chronic diseases

Why it’s important to manage stress for weight control

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There is no doubt that life in the modern world is stressful. Could this stress be one cause of the modern epidemic of obesity? Researchers seem to think so. In another study, researchers showed that it may be important to manage stress if you want to maintain or lose weight.

What is stress?

Stress is the way in which our body reacts to a change or event, that may be physical, mental or environmental. The classic “fight or flight” response causes changes in the body. Such as increasing heart rate, blood pressure and respiration. [Read more…] about Why it’s important to manage stress for weight control

How to fight depression with herbal remedies

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Modern medicine has an over simplistic approach to depression. It is a condition that has many underlying causes. Yet, treating with antidepressants does little to influence some of these
potential causes.

In the first part of this series of articles I suggested some dietary changes that can help to boost mood. Providing much needed nutrients to build the necessary brain chemicals. Whilst reducing the inflammation that can create imbalances in these neurotransmitter levels. [Read more…] about How to fight depression with herbal remedies

How much water should I drink a day?

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As a clinician, my patients often tell me “I know I should drink more water.” But, do we really know how much water we should drink per day? From the studies on this subject I would say that it depends on many factors. No study directly answers the question of how much water to drink, but we can get some guidelines. Read on to find out what the studies say is the least requirement. As well as at least one good reason that you might want to increase your intake.

In healthy adults, certain conditions within the body are tightly controlled. These conditions include:

  • body temperature
  • blood sugar level
  • the body’s water content

We take in water as fluids and within foods. We lose water from the lungs when we breathe, in urine and through sweating. Often with wide day to day variations in intake and losses. Yet, we have an amazing ability to regulate the amount of water in the body. [Read more…] about How much water should I drink a day?

How to fight depression

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This is the first part of a three part series about how to fight depression. In this first article I will briefly discuss how stress can cause changes in the body that result in low mood. Then I explain how to fight depression with dietary changes and nutritional supplements.

In the second part of the series, I will be talking about herbal medicines and depression. Herbs that have a history of use as well those with scientific proof.

The final part is about lifestyle changes and stress management techniques. Especially those proven to help boost your mood. [Read more…] about How to fight depression

How to manage stress

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Are you feeling the effects of stress? Do you feel like you’re just not going to cope if just one more thing happens? And then it does! Well, read on… because I have a few tips to help get you through.

A little bit of stress is actually good for us, but too much can make us ill. When we’re in the middle of a crisis it can seem like there are too many problems and too few solutions. Work and family demands, financial worries and not enough time in the day. Not to mention all the global concerns that affect us all. It can all seem too much.

When stress occurs over the long term it can take its toll on our health. Though it might feel like you have no control and there is little you can do. Just recognising that you are under stress can help you to better manage its effects on your body. [Read more…] about How to manage stress