We are definitely living in unsettling times among tons of fear and uncertainty.  Remember that Homeopathy can boost your immunity and resilience and support you physically, mentally and emotionally.

I just want to remind you that you can still book appointments by phone or skype.  If you want to have a flu prevention kit on hand, I have also put together one with this season’s best flu remedies in mind.

If you are interested, please contact me:  thera@theraheals.ca or 416.998.8893

Yours in health,

thera

The Surprising Health Benefits of Common Herbs

It’s April 15, 2018 – today and we’ve been indoors all day due to the ice storm.  I’m enjoying my day watching “Honey I Shrunk the Kids” and doing all sorts of cooking and baking with the kids.  Last week we went out and purchased a bunch of herbs for our kitchen from the local nursery.

Fresh herbs and their essential oils have been found to have many beneficial properties. Fresh and dried herbs (which tend to be from the flower or leaves of plants) as well as spices (more often from the bark, branches and roots) are a great way to make food more interesting and add variety to your meals. Traditional Indian medicine (Ayurveda) combines foods, herbs and spices to everyday healing protocols.

All herbs, as well as being tasty, quite often have health giving properties. They all have a high nutritional content (just as brightly coloured vegetables do) but of course we eat them in much smaller quantities because of their strong taste. They have important qualities that very rarely would be harmful in large amounts. They are a potent and important part of a healthy diet and work just fine in small but tasty amounts!

Below are some of the most common and easy to grow herbs that can be as close as your back yard or even by your kitchen window. The dried version of these herbs still have some medicinal qualities but the fresh version, straight out of the garden is the best!

Basil

Basil is from the mint family. It sooths the stomach (particularly flatulence), relieves cold symptoms (make a tea with basil and black peppercorns), has antibacterial properties and eases depression. Its essential oil contains camphor. Most recently, basil has been found to contain 2 phytochemicals that effectively kill of bacteria such as E. Coli and Listeria. It is being researched as a food preservative, possibly in the future being used in food wraps. Keep it in your kitchen to keep away flies and other insects.  Traditionally, it is said, that there are fewer arguments in a kitchen where you can smell basil!

Oregano

Used traditionally for coughs, flatulence and at the beginning of a fever. It can be used topically for rheumatism. Oregano and marjoram are easily confused as they look very similar. Oregano Vulgare are the true oregano, while oregano majorana are the sweet marjorams. Both are similar in taste with marjoram being milder and sweeter. The essential oil of oregano has powerful agents that inhibit candida, bacteria, viruses and parasites. It has been shown to be an effective antibacterial agent as well as containing very high levels of antioxidants. Oregano oil is used to treat a number of ailments and to boost the immune system.  It can irritate the skin and mucous membranes if used at full strength. It is usually sold combined with olive oil.

Parsley

Parsley is full of Vitamin C, calcium, Vitamin A, potassium and iron. It contains more calcium by weight than any other vegetable and more Vitamin C by weight than oranges. It has strong diuretic properties, helps with high blood pressure and circulatory health, expels worms, helps kidney, liver, lung, and thyroid function, relieves indigestion, gas, congestion and freshens the breath. It also stimulates uterine muscles, inhibits the growth of tumor cells, helps with anemia and has estrogenic properties.

Tarragon

Tarragon is high in potassium. The tea from this herb has been used to treat hyperactivity and insomnia. It protects against high blood pressure and strokes and stimulates the appetite and eases digestion. Its essential oil can relieve arthritis, inflammation and toothaches.

Garlic

Garlic is a sulfer containing plant from the onion family. Its active ingredient, allicin, is an antibiotic that has been shown to help with viruses and staph and strep bacteria. Use it as part of any healing diet against candida, diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Garlic contains antioxidants (especially vitamins C and A and selenium) that boost the immune system and protect us against allergens and pollutants. It is also an expectorant.

Dill

This herb will ease digestive complaints even in a colicky baby. It will increase a nursing mothers milk and relieve any breast congestion. It has been said that smelling the seeds that have been steeped in wine will cure a case of the hiccups! Roman gladiators used to eat their last meal before going to battle with plenty of dill because it had a ‘fortifying’ effect and (hopefully) made them stronger!

Onion

The properties of onion are similar to garlic. It is an antiseptic, diuretic and expectorant. It can be used as a medicine for coughs, asthma and bronchitis, and can be used topically for spots and marks on the skin. An onion ‘necklace’ (onion slices inside a scarf tied tightly around the neck) at the first sign of a cold will help move the lymph fluid along, hasting the end of the cold (you’d better only try this at home!).

Thyme

Thyme is an antiseptic and disinfectant and works well for respiratory conditions such as whooping cough and bronchitis. Gargling with it (the essential oil) can help sore throats, bad breath, tooth decay and cold sores. Topically it will help fungal and parasite infections, sores and boils, and an itchy, flaking scalp. Drinking thyme tea will relieve sore throats, coughs and colds. As with most of these other herbs it will also assist and ease digestion.

Cilantro/Coriander

Cilantro has good quantities of calcium, phosphorous, potassium, sodium, magnesium and beta carotene. It has beneficial stomach properties and eases digestive problems such as nausea and vomiting. It can be helpful with fevers, purifies the blood and strengthens the heart. It has been called the ‘poor mans chelator’, which means that it has a talent for drawing out heavy metals from the body and helping to excrete them. Traditionally and still found today, a coriander seed was placed in the middle of candies and jaw breakers.

Rosemary

Rosemary lasts quite a long time stored because it has a high quantity of essential oils. Culpeper’s Herbal claims that it strengthens a weak memory and ‘quickens the senses’.  It stimulates the production of bile by the liver, and is good for digestive problems, flatulence, high blood pressure and headaches. An ointment or oil infused with Rosemary will help the joints. Chewing the leaves on a long drive will keep you awake!

How will you use your herbs?

Next week I might share some delicious recipes depending on how well they turned out tonight or I’ll discuss how we might use some of these herbs as a homeopathic remedies for certain conditions…. Stay tuned.. and stay warm!

Stay in touch for upcoming workshops and sign up for the Serenity Newsletter.  

Do you suffer from seasonal allergies? Hayfever? Rhinitis?  With spring just around the corner, come on out for an interactive 1-hour workshop on how homeopathy can help alleviate symptoms of seasonal allergies.  I will walk you through common homeopathic remedies and how to take them to improve your health.  I will also suggest nutritional strategies as well to help strengthen your immune defenses naturally.

Sunday March 25, 2018. 

2 pm

@ Serenity Massage Therapy Clinic
1443 Kingston Road – Unit 1

Thera Ip, HOM, RHN
Registered Homeopath and Nutritionist

Please RSVP as space is limited
thera@theraheals.ca
416.998.8893

The new film by by homeopath Cilla Whatcott explors the nature of immunity. Cilla has been one of the people at the forefront of Homeoprophylaxis and has written and co-authored books on immunity. This documentary will definitely be worth watching, and is part of the greater movement to change the narrative on health, wellness, and healing.

The film takes an in-depth look at immunity and gives the opportunity to hear scientists, doctors, parents and professionals share their wisdom about the immune system, and true health.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Chinese New Year is one of my favourite holidays because it is celebrated from the evening preceding the first day to the Lantern Festival on the 15^th day of the first calendar month – that’s a long time with extravagant indulgence of yummy food and never-ending entertainment with friends and family!

Wait, this sounds confusing… so when exactly do we celebrate this holiday?  The first day of the New Year falls on the new moon between January 20 to February 20.  This year, it happens to be Friday February 16, 2018.  And 2018 is the year of the Dog.  The first day of the new moon is also the first day of the Lunar New Year.  Still confused?  Don’t worry, it’s been like this for centuries so just go with it!  J

So, I thought it would be fitting to talk about the moon and how we might use it in homeopathy in this weeks blog.

If you have been to a Homeopath, you may recall having been asked if you notice any changes of your symptoms in relation to the moon.  That’s because there are some remedies that are particularly affected by phases of the moon.

Let’s take a look at some remedies that may be indicated for individuals whose symptoms are aggravate around the time of the full moon.

Silica is a wonderful remedy for those who “lack grit.”  There may be frequent colds and infections, issues with nails, skin issues that are slow to heal, keloids.  They are usually very smart, but very shy, timid, and lack self-confidence.  It is a wonderful remedy for those with worms or parasites.

Cina is another great remedy for worms.  Those needing cina are very sensitive, easily offended, they may grit their teeth during sleep, dislike light, wet the bed and may bore their finger in their noses.  There is great hunger, and restlessness at night.  They sleep on their hands and knees.

Argentum Nitricum is a great remedy for those with anxiety, nervousness and strange thoughts.  They have performance anxiety, anxiety in crowded rooms, anxiety about time and space and always fearing about being late, and a fear of heights – to name a few.  They have a desire for sugar, but are always made worse by it.  It is a remedy when emotional and gastrointestinal/digestive symptoms dominate the person.   They are very warm people and get overheated easily and much better in cool environments.

Let’s take a look at some remedies that may be indicated for individuals whose symptoms are aggravate around the time of the new moon.

Arsencum Album are for those who are very restless and anxious.  They are chilly and tend to have burning pains that are relieved by heat.  They have many fears, such as death and being left alone.  They are thirsty for cold water in sips and tend to be restless sleepers and wake usually around midnight.

Nux Vomica individuals are very irritable and intolerant.  They are fussy and demanding and very ambitious.  They are hypersensitive individuals.  They major complaints are usually related to the GI or digestive system.  They have sour burping, bloating after eating, nausea.  It is actually a great remedy for overeating, and indulgence of stimulating substances.  They are also chilly people and dislike drafts.

Carcinosin is an interesting remedy and a remedy for those who are perfectionist or very refined and reserved individuals.  They desire music and dancing and traveling. Their symptoms are often changing.  It is a good remedy for arrested development, tendency for emaciation, and inflammations.  You may see a family history of cancer.  It is also a good intercurrent remedy.

And there are some remedies that equally affected during the full and new moon such as Sulphur, Phosphorus and Pulsatilla.

Here are just a handful of remedies and very brief descriptions.  Remember that there are hundreds of remedies affected by the moon and a Homeopath must look at the totality of symptoms before making a prescription.

How will you be celebrating Chinese New Year?

More on remedies:
http://www.homeopathycenter.org/
https://homeopathyplus.com/category/know-your-remedies/

Good morning and happy Friday.  I am happy to see a quick and elegant reply from the College of Homeopaths of Ontario to a recent National Post Article painting Homeopathy in an unfair light.

__________________

A Message from the Registrar

You may have seen this article in today’s edition of the National Post.

The College has sent the following Letter to the Editor in response:

Re: A ‘pseudo-science’: Outrage after Ontario government funds college program in homeopathy

In quoting only critics of homeopathy, the Post fails to recognize that millions of people around the world depend on it as a primary (or even exclusive) means of dealing with health concerns. Millions of people – including significant numbers in Ontario – have made informed choices about what works for them.

With patient choice as a key tenet of current health-care strategy at virtually all levels of government, it is imperative to have a framework in place to ensure that patients who choose to consult a homeopath have the same protections and assurances as patients who choose any other regulated health-care provider. It was with this in mind that homeopathy was added to the list of professions worthy of regulation more than ten years ago, culminating in the proclamation of theHomeopathy Act, 2007 in 2015.

With the same public-protection mandate as the other 25 regulatory colleges in the province, the College of Homeopaths of Ontario is charged with ensuring that care is provided safely and ethically in the public interest. The fact that thousands of people choose homeopathy despite having fully funded alternatives available is testament to its value. Adding educational opportunities will ensure that patient choice, access to effective health care, and robust regulation of qualified professionals will continue to benefit Ontarians now and in the future.

College of Homeopaths of Ontario

Basil Ziv | Registrar and CEO

Homeopathic Flu Prevention

I am still offering the homeopathic flu prevention for this season.   The homeopathic flu prevention is a homeopathic preparation of several strains of the influenza virus called influenzinum.  It is safe, gentle, non-toxic and a safe alternative.  Call and book a short appointment to discuss if this is a good option for you.  416.998.8893 or thera@theraheals.ca.

Homeopathy for Colds and Flu

It’s the cold and flu season again! Learn how homeopathy can reduce your susceptibility for catching infectious illnesses and boost your immune during the winter season. Homeopathy is also effective at lessening the severity and duration of an illness.

So join me on Monday January 15th at 7 pm for a 1 hour workshop and learn simple homeopathic and nutritional strategies to avoid getting sick, and some basic homeopathic remedies to help you get past the flu season if you do feel ill.

Thera Ip, Homeopath
www.theraheals.ca  
Please RSVP at thera@theraheals.ca or 416.998.8893 as space is limited.

Serenity Massage Open House

Hello!

I will be at the National Women’s Show at the Metro Convention Centre this weekend.  I will be there Friday and Sunday.  Please drop by my booth, get a special introductory offer and have your questions answered!  I’ll be selling some Homeopathy remedy kits and books as well.

Here I am sharing a booth (#308) with Karen Mitton, Registered Clinical Social Work.  Karen and I share the same office space at Serenity and she offers counselling and psychotherapy services to children, teens, and adults using a variety of techniques such as EMDR, CBT and Sand tray.  Come by and say Hi to us.