It isn't just Christmas!

Another year is coming to an end. Well, I must say it has been an interesting one. Full of all varieties of experiences and emotions as life tends to be.

At this time of year, we all tend to be a bit reflective. Not just about our own lives, but also of the greater community, of life on Earth.

In our home we celebrate Christmas with its joy and stressors and the opportunity it brings us to share with our family. However as my children grew and were taking more interest in the world, I felt it important for them to know and understand that not everyone celebrates Christmas.

It certainly is the holiday season with Hanukkah, Ramadan, Litha (Yule in the North Hemisphere) and various other events. My children took great interest in the ways other people worship and celebrate. My son, Rick, took so much interest that he has just completed his University studies majoring in Religion and Peace. What we have learnt as a family and also in the communities we are involved with, is that one of the greatest paths to Peace on this Earth is through understanding and tolerance of other people’s views and ideas. It is about accepting others cultures and religious experiences and validating that they are just as important to them, as ours are to us.

This Christmas, take some time out to talk to someone of a different faith or a different culture. Find out what they do this time of year and try to understand the importance of it in their lives. This is a great way to receive the full blessings of the seasons, for you, your family and the people who you learn a little bit more about.

Christmas: A time of Peace, Love, Joy and Hope

The birth of a child is a special time. There is much celebration and thankfulness for the safe arrival of the child. The family and friends come together in awe of the baby, this precious new life. We wonder of the possibility and potential of the future. We all have great hopes of the differences this new life can make on the world.

Two thousand years ago, a special baby was born. When his mother held him in her arms, for the first time, she also felt the joy and wonder of new life. This child had great potential and she had great hopes for what difference he would make in the lives of people.

We still celebrate the birth of this baby. So great was his influence. We know what a difference Jesus has made, not just to his family and friends, but also to all he met and all who heard of him. He made such an impact that at this time of year millions of people rejoice in the memory of his birth.

Jesus brought with him a message. A message of HOPE. A hope for the future, for a better life. A hope that pulls us through the hard times and lifts us up to new heights. A hope that gives us strength to move beyond who we are and our circumstances. With Jesus we know that all things are possible.

Jesus brought with him a message of PEACE. He teaches us to live in harmony with all people. He teaches us to turn the other cheek. He also brings to us an inner peace that we only feel when we are in communion with him. He brings us comfort in our times of conflict and sorrow. He gives us a peace that so many of us need to get us through the daily hustle and bustle of our lives.

Jesus brought with him a message of LOVE. The love of a heavenly parent who cares for us and wants us to have a blessed life. The love that we share with each other as family and friends. The love that we extend beyond this circle, into the lives and hearts of people we met and even people we will never meet. At Christmas time, we share in giving of gifts to show how much we love each other. So many of you extend this past your family and friends and give generously to people you don’t even know, so that they too may share in this love. There is no thank you, just a knowledge that a child somewhere will light up when they receive your gift.

Jesus brought with him a message of JOY. This joy is beyond any other joy. It is this time of year we truly celebrate and feel this joy in our lives. We celebrate the blessings we have – our family, our friends. We celebrate the joy of our lives. We celebrate the joy Jesus brings to our world.

This year as we celebrate the birth of Christ, let’s not just celebrate the baby in the manger, but the full message of Christ. Let’s celebrate the life, the teachings, the Hope, the Peace, the Love and the Joy of his life and what he brings to us every day.


May the Hope, Peace, Love and Joy of Christ fill your Spirit this Christmas and all the days of your life.

Andrea Putting

White Tea. (And I don’t mean black tea with milk!)

"Study after study with tea proves that it has many healing properties. This is not an old wives tale, it’s a fact." Milton Schiffenbauer, Ph.D., microbiologist and professor in the Department of Biology at Pace University.

I keep getting these large orders for White Tea from the US. Interesting! I didn’t know much about White Tea, so I thought it was time to see why these big sales are happening.

Well, just like those other teas, white tea come from the Camellia sinensis plant. But the leaves are picked and harvested before the leaves open fully, when the buds are still covered by fine white hair.

White tea has very little processing and no fermentation. It is rapidly steamed and dried, leaving the leaves “fresh.” Green tea, composed of mainly leaves, is steamed or fired prior to being rolled. Oolong and black teas get their dark colour and flavour from additional processing.
So why drink White Tea?

From all I find it have a lot of health benefits that may even out weigh green tea.

Some studies have shown that white tea contains more active cancer-fighting antioxidants than green tea.

The anti-viral and anti-bacterial effect of white tea is greater than that of green tea.
White exhibits anti-fungal effects

White tea may have application in the inactivation of pathogenic human microbes, i.e., bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

So now for the important thing….the taste!

Well, I’m a big tea drinker, so your ideal taste tester when it comes to tea. White tea has a closer taste to black tea, than green tea. It is described as light and sweet. This tea is quite pleasant with or without milk. For my taste, I found that it was a little weaker than I normally like, so I just need to brew it longer. White tea does taste very similar to black tea.

The conclusions I've come to is that White Tea is as good for you, if not better in many ways as Green Tea and to me, it taste a whole lot better. So if you want to drink tea for your health as well as your enjoyment, then White tea really is a good alternative. Give it a go!

Magnesium

Magnesium is possibly the most important mineral that our body uses. It is involved in most process and most importantly right down within the cells. It is involved in energy production within the cells. It is needed outside the cells and within the blood; it is an important factor in bone and teeth formation and protection. Yet it is so under-rated.

I get greatly concerned when I see all those TV adds pushing Dairy products as the answer to bone growth and protection and especially the high Calcium intake need. Studies done in Australia and in other places through out the world have shown that increasing dairy products actually weaken the bones. A study done over a 10 year period of women, showed that those who increased their consumption of dairy products, actually had, after 10 years weaker bones than those who didn't use them. Makes you think doesn't it. Anyway, while increasing Calcium, may be of benefit, it can only be so when Magnesium is also included. (Along with Vitamin D and Boron). Yet people hardly hear of their need for Magnesium.

Magnesium is one of the most common deficiencies. Just about every symptom, illness and disease can in someway be connected to a Magnesium deficiency. Why are we all so deficient? Well, to start with our soils are pretty low in Magnesium. As a result, our diets are deficient. When we add thinks like soft drinks, high meat and fat, refined foods, exposure to chemicals (often through the food itself from agriculture practices) and of course stress of all types, physical, emotional, mental, electromagnetic and chemical, we are really using it overtime. The question is however, why is Magnesium deficiency rarely picked up? When we are young the body stores up the Magnesium it has within the bones. As we age and all of these factors come into play, the body decides what is most important. The bone loses out. The serum levels of Magnesium are more important. Magnesium is stripped from the bones to support the rest of the body. With a lower level of Magnesium sickness can begin.

Some of the most common symptoms associated with Magnesium deficient are anxiety, irritability, anger, depression and mood swings, but these are just the tip of the iceberg. Other symptoms include:

• Attention deficit Confusion
• Depression Diarrhoea or Constipation
• Faintness Fatigue
• Hyperventilation In coordination
• Insomnia Intestinal Problems
• Muscle Cramps Muscle Twitches
• Pain Poor Memory
• Seizures
• Tinnitus
• Vertigo
  

These are just some of the symptoms. Major diseases associated with Magnesium deficiency are:

• Angina Pectoris
• Anorexia
• Arrhythmias
• Asthma
• Arteriosclerosis
• Attention Deficit Disorder
• Auricular Fibrillation
• Bulimia
• Cardiomyopathy
• Chronic Fatigue
• Chronic Bronchitis
• Congestive Heart Failure
• Cirrhosis
• Depression
• Eclampsia
• Emphysema
• Fibromyalgia
• Gall Bladder Infections and Stones
• Hearing Loss
• Heart Attack
• Hyperactivity
• Hypoglycemia
• Infections (Viral and Bacterial)
• Intermittent Claudication
• Kidney Stones
• Migraines
• Mitral Valve
• Prolapse
• Osteoporosis
• Panic Attacks
• PMS
• Strokes
  

I could probably go on. The important point is that just about everyone could benefit, by some sort of Magnesium supplementation.

Of course the first place to start is the diet. Eating a diet full of fruit and vegetables, and whole grains (organic is preferable). Cut down or even remove from you diet empty foods, such as refined and over process food and soft drinks. Keep alcohol consumption down and if you smoke, well, you know what you need to do.

Foods that are higher in Magnesium can also help. The greatest concentration of Magnesium is found in nuts, especially almonds, cashews and peanuts, dried beans like soybeans, lentils, seeds such as sunflower and pumpkin, whole grains (rye, millet and barley especially) Seafood (tuna, salmon, mackerel, prawns and crayfish - now there's an excuse!) Also in raw leafy vegetables.

As far as supplementation goes one of the simplest and safest methods of increasing intracellular Magnesium is using Cell Wellness Restorer. It is used by the wonderful method of bathing in it! So it is suitable for anyone and has no side effects. It really is an amazing product. To quote a Neurologist, Dr Norman shealy, who has done extensive studies on CWR. "After years of watching people become visibly and structurally younger, after hearing them tell us that their pains had gone way and their vitality had returned, after running numerous test that sow alterations in the blood chemistry, that could not be attributed to any other reason or cause, we are sure that CWR, Cell Wellness Restorer will improve the quality of life for almost anyone!" Take a look it truly is a great product. For more information on CWR, please email me.

The important thing is, as always that you look after yourself. A good healthy diet, plenty of fresh air and exercise and time with those you love.

'Let food be your medicine and medicine your food.' - Hippocrates

This quote from Hippocrates is maybe more relevant today as it was back in his time. We need to take a look at the foods we are eating and take care in our choices. 'You are what you eat' is another quote we hear often and it is true.

The food we eat affects us in so many ways - mentally, emotionally and of course physically.
We all know about eating a good healthy diet, but there are so many dietary temptations out there these days it's easy to get off the track. Just to give us all a reminder of how important what food we eat is, I thought I would list a few common foods and their disease fighting powers.

APPLE: Reduces cholesterol, contains anti-cancer agents.
Has antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, estrogenic activity. High in fibre, helps avoid constipation, suppresses appetite.

AVOCADO: Benefits arteries. Lowers cholesterol, dilates blood vessels. It's main fat, monounsaturated oleic acid, acts as an antioxidant to block artery-destroying toxicity of bad-type LDL cholesterol.

BANANA: Soothes the stomach. Good for dyspepsia (upset
stomachs) Strengthens the stomach lining against acid and ulcers. Has antibiotic activity.

BROCCOLI: Abundant in numerous strong antioxidants.
Extremely high ant-icancer activity, particularly against lung, colon and breast cancer. It speeds up removal of oestrogen from the body, helping suppress breast cancer.
Rich in cholesterol-reducing fibre. Has antiviral, anti- ulcer activity, a super source of chromium that helps regulate insulin and blood sugar.

CABBAGE and Bok Choy: Contain numerous anticancer and antioxidant compounds. Speeds up oestrogen metabolism, is thought to block breast cancer and suppress growth of polyps, a prelude to colon cancer. In studies, eating cabbage more than once a week cut men's colon cancer odds 66 percent. As little as two daily tablespoons of cooked cabbage protected against stomach cancer, contains anti- ulcer compounds. Cabbage juice can help heal ulcers.
Has anti-bacterial and anti-viral powers.

CARROT: A powerful anti-cancer, artery-protecting, immune- boosting, infection fighting antioxidant with wide protective powers. A carrot a day slashed strokes rates in women by 68%. One medium carrot's worth of beta carotene cuts lung cancer risk in half. Carrots' high soluble fibre depresses cholesterol, promotes regularity.

DATES: High in natural aspirin. Has a laxative effect.
Dried fruits are linked to lower rates of certain cancers, especially pancreatic cancer.

FISH AND FISH OILS: Intervenes in heart disease, preventing heart attack deaths ( 2 servings a week) Oil in fish can relieve symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, asthma, psoriasis, high blood pressure, Raynaud's Disease, migraine headaches, ulcerative colitis. May help ward off strokes. A known anti-inflammatory agent and anti-coagulant.
Raises good type HDL cholesterol. Slashes triglycerides dramatically. May help guard against development of glucose intolerance and Type II diabetes. Some fish are high in antioxidants, such as Selenium and co-enzyme Q10. Exhibits anticancer activity especially in blocking development of colon cancer and spread of breast cancer. Note: Fish highest in Omega-3 fatty acids appear most protective: These include sardines, mackerel, herring, salmon, tuna. (Sardines are high in oxalates, so should be avoided by those susceptible to kidney stones and gout.)

PINEAPPLE: Suppresses inflammation. Both the fruit and a main constituent, an antibacterial enzyme called Bromelain, are anti-inflammatory. Pineapple aids digestion, helps dissolve blood clots and is good for preventing osteoporosis and bone fractures because of its very high manganese content. It is also anti-bacterial and antiviral and mildly oestrogenic.

YOGHURT: An ancient wonder food, strongly antibacterial and anticancer. A cup or two of yoghurt a day boosts immune functioning by stimulating production of gamma interferon. Also spurs activity of natural killer cells that attack viruses and tumours. Helps prevent and cure diarrhoea. A daily cup of yoghurt with acidophilus cultures prevents vaginitis (yeast
infections) in women. Helps fight bone problems, such as osteoporosis, because of high available calcium content.
Acidophilus cultures neutralize cancer-causing agents in the intestinal tract.

Reading this, I hope makes you think a little about your diet. Food can be such an amazing medicine. Getting all the important nutrients makes so much difference. So many times, as a Naturopath, I will see someone and they will need so many nutrients, that to give them supplements that include everything would be over costly and ridiculous. The diet is the answer. If we concentrate on a good healthy diet, as you can see from the above examples, so much illness could be avoided.

(Excerpts from this article come from 'Food - Your Miracle Medicine' by Jean Carper)

Andrea Putting

Feeding Kids


Feeding kids is a battle most parents know about. How do you get them to eat good healthy food?

The important thing is not to stress when they don’t want to eat. Small children, in particular, follow their instincts when it comes to eating. Sometimes they need a lot; sometimes they just don’t need much. Trying to bribe them with things that aren’t a normal part of their diet, in the long run, will do more harm than good.

Food can soon become a source of power for the young child, a way of getting what they want, a way of manipulating you. Never use food as a bribe.

When offering different foods to a child, just so they will eat something, the idea of not listening to your bodies needs is introduced. We are on our way to developing fussy eaters. A vicious cycle has begun.

I have heard of many different eating patterns of children, and it is obvious where these eating patterns have begun. One family, the children wouldn’t eat vegetables unless they were smothered in honey. You must ask “Where did they get the idea of putting honey on their vegetables in the first place?” Other kids won’t eat anything but junk food; they have to have their daily supply of chips and/or lollies.

Getting your children to eat a good healthy diet very much depends on you. They will learn from you and eat what you eat. The best way to ensure that they are not filling up on unhealthy food is simply, not to have it in the house. If you like to have a little treat, make it that. Have one “treat" once a week. Make it special, not an everyday occurrence.

Kids, who don’t have a regular diet of sweet things, really don’t develop a sweet tooth. This I have also seen many times. We never had sweet biscuits in the house when our kids were young. Now at19 and 17, they just don’t eat sweet biscuits, well except for a very occasional chocolate biscuit. They used to feel insulted as small children when they went out and all that was offered to the children was cordial and biscuits. I couldn’t count the number of times they came to me when we were out and said “Mum, but there’s nothing to eat”

I know kids who don’t like chocolate, as it has never been a part of their diet, or won’t drink frizzy drinks, as they just haven’t had them offered to them at home.

It is important thing to give your child choices, but you can decide what those choices are. Offer them good wholesome food. Have lots of fresh fruit available. Dried fruits are also very popular with kids. Vegetable sticks are great, give them something to dip them in, like peanut butter and it makes them more interesting. Freshly popped popcorn is always fun and popular. There are many snacks available that are healthy and tasty that your kids will enjoy.

Take time to enjoy your eating time with your family. Teach your children the pleasures of good food and the fun you can share together in preparation for a meal. Make it an experience.

Finding Yourself

In this busy life we live, it is easy to forget about ourselves. You take a look at yourself in the morning and wonder "Who am I? What ever happened to those dreams, those ideals? Why has my life taken this direction"

We get so bogged down with the responsibilities and living the expectations of others. We work. We raise our children. We take care of our homes. We take our place in society. At times, it’s all too much. "What about me?"

OK, we love our children. We want them to have the best in life. We give them everything we can and are willing to sacrifice what we have to. Giving them the best of ourselves is what it all seems to be about. We juggle our responsibilities, our relationships. It is easy to forget to make time for yourself. The dreams, the plans you made years ago, become ancient memories. Put away in a box and forgotten.

Taking the time just to sit and read. To think about yourself. Sometimes even spending times with friends becomes a thing of the past. Time out for exercise is something that easily gives way to other responsibilities. Generally taking care of yourself, falls to the wayside.

Setting aside some daily time for you can be difficult, especially in a busy household and in a busy life. But this is something that will bring you enormous benefit. Even if you sit for just 10 minutes a day. Get up 10 minutes earlier in the morning. Take 10 minutes before you go to bed. Just make time to be by yourself. Find a quiet corner that you can make your own. Make it comfortable. Make it yours. It may be on the floor, with some cushions, or in a chair. It may even be outside in the garden. Have some special things there that make you feel loved and safe.
Candles can be of comfort and add a warm atmosphere. Oil Vapiourisers are lovely and can help to create a relaxing, harmonising environment for you, when you vapourise your oils. Try one of the Sunspirit blends, such as Serenity, Spirituality, Nurture or Harmony blend. Other Essential Oils include Lavender, Orange, Ylang Ylang. Australian Bush Flower Essence may be helpful, such a Space Clearing Mist or Calm and Clear Mist. You may want to take one internally to help mediation such as Meditation Essence or Heartsong essences. Music can greatly enhance your environment and help to place you in a calming mood. Sharing these moments with your pet can also be relaxing.

Get a beautiful notebook. There are some lovely ones available or you could decorate a cheap one note or exercise book to make it more your own You could colour the cover, or stick pictures on it, or cover it with fabric. Whatever you can do to make it beautiful and your own. Of course, a special pen is a must. Add to your special place anything else that makes it your own, photos, flowers, a crystal, an ornament that is special to you, or even a favourite book.

Once you have created your special place. You can create within yourself a space, a mindset. You know that whenever you sit here, that this is your time. This is just for you. You are free to think and to feel. You are free not to think. You can clear your head. Clear your thoughts. You start to find your way back to you. You will soon find, that whenever you go there, you will immediately feel calmed and your mind will quickly clear.

What you do when you come to your special place is up to you. You may like to take time to meditate. It can be hard to start with, but go easy on yourself. Just allow some quiet in your mind for a few minutes. Let every incoming thought to pass through. A few minutes a day is a great way to start.

Writing a journal of your day, or your thoughts and feelings can help to clear your mind and sort through your emotions. You could just start by writing down one blessing you have in your life, that you are thankful for today. Everyday write down another blessing, something you are grateful for. You will soon have a list of many wonderful things and find that you are truly blessed. And in your quiet moments you can give thanks for these blessings.

Write done a thought you had, an idea, a dream. Make a list of your wishes. This helps us to get back in touch with who we are, what we want in life and which directions we want to go in. You could write down your goals. Something you want to achieve during the day, or the next day, during the week and the months ahead. You could just get out some coloured pencils and draw.

The ideas are endless. There are so many things you can do for yourself in just 10 minutes a day. Having a focal point, a place of your own, helps to define that this is your time. Even small children can understand that Mummy is having a few minutes to herself and that this is her special place. Helping your children to create their special place might help them to understand and help them to learn the importance of some time out from the this hectic world. Make sure that their special place is respected as their own, just as you want respect for your own. Don’t ever send them there as a punishment. It is there to enjoy, when they want time for themselves, just as you do. It is a daily treat for us to have this special time on our own. Helping our children to find this freedom can give them something special that may help them through rough times in the future. It is something for them to take into adulthood and to their own familles. Something that will bring them peace.

As we begin to get in touch with our inner self, our dreams and hopes begin to rise. Spending time in meditation and contemplation can help bring them back into our reality. We start to see ways that we can live our dreams.

This is where peace starts. Finding peace within ourselves, takes but a few minutes a day, to connect once again with our Spirit.

Chemicals in Personal Products

A lot of people ask what the fuss is with shampoos and skin care products in regards to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Propylene Glycol, etc. so I thought it was worth a closer look. when you start researching it, you find 2 completely view points. It seems to be a black and white issue. There are those who say that they are totally safe and no need to be concerned.

Others will say keep away from them at all cost. I was speaking to someone about these types of products the other day and her view point, was with less chemicals, it has to at least be better for the environment. However you look at it, it is interesting to know why all the fuss.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is a common ingredient in personal care products, particularly shampoos and toothpaste. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is also used in industry as an engine degreaser, garage floor cleaner, car wash soaps etc.It is known to be a great cleanser, especially of grease, it's action is corrosive. Clinically it is used for testing as a primary skin irritant.Laboratories use it to irritate skin on test animals and humans so they can test the healing properties of products.
As Sodium Lauryl Sulfate strips away grease, using this is also drying to the skin. It strips away the protective lipids from the surface. Well, this hastens the ageing process of the skin and we don't want that do we?

A study conducted at the University of Georgia Medical College showed that SLS penetrated into the eyes as well as brain, liver, heart, etc, and showed long term retention in the tissues. Obviously this is not good. The long term effects can well be more than skin and eye irritation. Eye development in young children can well be hindered by SLS, as well as other problems such as cataracts in adults.

It is suggested by some reports that SLS is such a caustic cleanser that it actually corrodes the hair follicle and impairs its ability to grow hair.So this may contribute to some hair loss.
Another common ingredient is Propylene Glycol. Propylene Glycol is a petrochemical derivative, a primary irritant and can cause delayed hypersensitivity. If you are prone to allergies and hypersensitive then it would be wise to avoid this one. In industry it is used as an industrial anti-freeze and hydraulic brake fluids. It is used in many cosmetics and may give the skin a smooth feeling. In reality it draws the moisture to itself, not the skin. So may of the creams and lotions used, overtime, are doing the opposite of what we use them for. They are drying out our skin and contributing to wrinkles and ageing.

Some of the reports I have read suggest that these chemicals can cause much more than skin irritation. Once they penetrate the system and after being used continual the are said to be cancerogenic. The good news is it only takes 5 days to remove these products from the system.
There are many other ingredients on the 'suspect list' that are common in our personal care products. Some of these include Aluminium, DEA, Fluoride. Chlorinated organic compounds, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate and Formaldehyde.

From personal experience, I have always had sensitive skin and have to becareful of what cosmetics, lotions etc I use on my skin. I have been using the Alchemy range now for a couple years. My daughter and I both suffer from Psoriasis, mostly in the scalp, why using Alchemy Shampoo will not cure this, it certainly use lessened the irritation that my daughter was experiencing every time she washed her hair.

One particular experience I had was going to the hairdressers. Of course they used their shampoo. For the next 2 days my scalp was extremely irritated, with burning and itching, a total corrosive feeling. My daughter has very long blonde hair. She recently visited the hairdresser for a trim, of course, taking her Alchemy products. The hairdresser was very impressed. She said she rarely sees hair that healthy, especially when it is so long. Apparently most long hair is dry and damaged. The Alchemy products have allowed my daughter to have beautiful soft healthy long hair.

So regardless of whether the chemical scare is an overkill or not, when you can see the difference of beautiful healthy hair and skin, it speaks for itself.

SLS free products
include the Wild Herbs, Organic Selection, Emma Organics, Baby Organics, Alchemy, Weleda and Mihopharm.