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 […]
mind and mood
Meditation for brain preservation
We have an ageing population in the UK. This means the proportion of older people is increasing. While living longer might be desirable, it is true that many older people have a decline in brain function. In fact, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia is a major cause of death in the UK. This fact highlights the […]
Alzheimers disease and iron intake
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 […]
Alzheimer’s disease – is fibre good for the brain?
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 […]
Pesticides linked to autism and other chronic diseases
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, […]
Why it’s important to manage stress for weight control
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 […]
How to fight depression with herbal remedies
Why might you choose to use herbal remedies for depression? After all, don’t we have antidepressants for that? In fact, modern medicine has an over-simplistic approach to depression. Treating depression symptoms by altering levels of chemicals in the brain. While depression is a mental health condition with many underlying causes. And, treating depressive symptoms with […]
How much water should I drink a day?
As a herbalist, my patients often tell me “I know I should drink more water.” But, do we really know how much 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 […]
How to fight depression
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 […]
How to manage stress
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 […]
Can a better diet improve mental health?
The second week in May is Mental Health Awareness Week in the UK. Part of my job as a herbalist is to explain the role that certain dietary choices play in health. Not only physical health but also mental health issues such as autism and depression. This is especially true in my role as a […]
The GAPS diet – for autism and more!
In her book Gut and Psychology Syndrome (GAPS) Dr Natasha Campbell-McBride describes the protocol she designed to treat her own autistic child. A combination of diet and lifestyle strategies that have a remarkable affect on the symptoms of autism. Following this success she went on to treat many other people with autism using the GAPS diet. As well as […]
