Wild Grace, Health and Herbals

19/12/2024

On December 17, 2024, ABC aired a story on the 7.30 Report about the incidence of allergic reactions to Andrographis paniculata, a herb with a long history of traditional use and an ingredient of Bioceuticals' ever-popular Armaforce product. Of course, Andrographis is also found in many other herbal formulations and is a common ingredient on herbal dispensary shelves for use in herbal medicines.

An analysis of the clinical evidence regarding Andrographis indicates that it increases's immune response to pathogens, including viruses, bacteria and parasites, reducing the duration and severity of infection for minor illness.

Andrographis is known as the king of bitters. Traditional and modern herbal medicine practice does not recommend bitters are taken in high doses. This is because bitters stimulate your digestive juices and overstimulation of your digestive system can lead to tummy upset. Likewise, it's not recommended to use Andrographis long term. Long-term use has been associated with a loss of taste and allergic reactions.

Armaforce has a great reputation for being highly effective at reducing the severity and duration of upper respiratory tract infections like cold and flu. However, Armaforce is not to be taken every day as a preventative measure. Bioceuticals recommend you take it once a day for a maximum of two weeks during acute illness. If you know and trust the Armaforce product, like many do, bioceuticals offer a separate product under the Armaforce brand called Armaforce Daily Protect which is formulated for everyday use. It does not contain andrographis.

Vitamin D, C and zinc are all essential to a healthy functioning immune system. Mushrooms such as cordyceps and shiitake also stimulate a healthy immune response.

Since 2015, the TGA reports there have been four reported cases of anaphylaxis that can be attributed solely to Andrographis. It's possible other anaphylactic reactions were caused by Andrographis when it was taken in combination with other ingredients (like in armaforce) echinacea, another ingredient of Armaforce can also cause some allergic reactions.

People can have allergic and sometimes anaphylactic reactions to herbs. just like people react to pharmaceutical drugs and certain foods. It doesn't mean these products need to be banned or controlled.

It's not recommended you take Andrographis if you have a history of anaphylaxis. But if you do not, odds are, Androprahis will be perfectly safe.

19/12/2024

Something to strive for 🌹

09/10/2024

Reflections on intuition
Just hours before my Dad’s heart beat for the last time, I went into Wild Grace to make him up some herbs. I went to make up herbs for both my parents actually, because they were sick with a respiratory virus.

I look at these bottles now. Mum’s were all immune with a bit of emotional support with motherwort. The others were Echinacea, thyme, elderberry, licorice, saffron. Dad’s had some for lung and viruses but htey were mostly in support of his body organs Elderberry, Bilberry D**g Quai, Gymnema Pleurisy Root, Hawthorn Berries. Lots of heart and vein tonic in there. His herbal tea was also full of heart support, yarrow, hawthorn berries, rosemary, rose, rose hips. The part of this story I am thinking about the most though, is the way my hand jumped when writing his name.

I’ve developed my intuition over the last 30 years of inner reflection and insights, however I am most naturally intuitive through my hands, and this is why I’m a massage therapist. I was intuitive first through my hands, and my hands showed me how to massage.

While writing my Dad’s name my arm had a shot of energy forcing me to write in all capitals and outside of the lines. This is in contrast to Mums label which is neat and tidy, with lower case used appropriately. I was dismayed, how annoying to be so messy. At the time I din’t think twice about it.

This has happened before while journalling, when there’s been some kind of big energy attached to a certain person or word for me at that time my hand writing goes all rogue, but not recently enough for me to remember the last time and be able to locate the example. Cont in comments

08/10/2024

Reflections on intuition

Just hours before my Dad's heart beat for the last time, I went into Wild Grace to make him up some herbs. I went to make up herbs for both my parents actually, because they were sick with a respiratory virus. I look at these bottles now. Mum’s were all immune with a bit of emotional support wit

06/09/2024

Elle Macpherson is being dragged in the news today for her choice to treat her cancer 'holistically'. By this she means without the help of an oncologist and chemotherapy, but with alternative medicine practitioners instead. Without reading her memoir or hearing how that went for her, I'd like to make a comment on this kind of thing generally. Link in comments

30/08/2024

Artists are the ones who make beauty.
We tune into nature and express like she does.
Oneness and stillness fill up the heart
the plants become like your brothers.
Of course this is where love lives,
in the vibrant aliveness of us all.


.au

25/08/2024

The object isn’t to make art. It’s to be in that wonderful state that makes art inevitable - Robert Henri
My wonderful friend Anne took it upon herself to create my daughter’s book week costume this year. She’s teaming up with her bestie to be Snugglepot and Cuddlepie. I’m tasked with figuring out how to keep the 9 yr olds warm in a way they’ll accept

22/08/2024

My dear, kind and gentle father passed away a few weeks ago, you may have seen my post on my personal social media accounts. He was a true gentleman and moral authority, who lived a fulfilling and creative life. Warwick will be dearly missed by his community and especially by his family.

It’s extraordinary that I was present when my father passed suddenly. Mainly because we live on opposite sides of the country, and I’ve only seen my dad for a handful of days in the last 15 months. I have shared the story of our last day here.

He loved to drive and was determined to cross the country in order to visit my sister Mary in Kalgoorlie, and me in south Freo. He had ventured out with my mother, my sister Ang, and their apex caravan. He got sick on the way, and developed pneumonia. He did have some time in hospital in Kalgoorlie, but they released him and he drove with my Mum and sister Ang to my house in Freo.

Mum and Dad were really happy on their last day together, despite being sick with respiratory viruses. My journal entry from that morning describes my shock at how weak and sick dad seemed. I wanted him to stay in bed all day and gave him some books to read. I was a bit dismayed when he got dressed and came to sit with us inside as I wanted him to rest.

I made him up some herbs while he had a nap, his were mostly heart healers and vein tonics. Elderberry, Bilberry, D**g Quai, Gymnema, pleurisy root, hawthorn berries.

At 5.22 in the afternoon, Dad was in the hallway. He looked in on my beautiful son. John John smiled at him, Dad smiled back, in the way that he did. His heart stopped beating. He fell backwards onto the floor, making a giant thud. I jumped into action, calling 000, commencing CPR with the help of my mother. I was surprised at how calm, clear, focused and in control I felt. The paramedics arrived within 8 minutes I think, but it was much too long. I pumped and strained my ears for the sound of sirens I couldn’t hear. Willing them to arrive. Cont in comments

22/08/2024

My dear, kind and gentle father passed away a few weeks ago, you may have seen my post on my personal social media accounts. He was a true gentleman and moral authority, who lived a fulfilling and creative life. Warwick will be dearly missed by his community and especially by his family.

It’s extraordinary that I was present when my father passed suddenly. Mainly because we live on opposite sides of the country, and I’ve only seen my dad for a handful of days in the last 15 months. I have shared the story of our last day here.

Link in the comments

07/06/2024

Nature wants you to be fat. New blog.
Link in the comments.

28/05/2024

Make your own flower essence:
Flowers are the fertile expression of plants, they are the nectar, they are creative manifestations of divine love and life force. Flower essences capture the subtle healing properties of flowers in a safe and affordable way. It’s incredibly easy to make your own flower essences, and you can do so safely with any flowers you have in your garden. Ideally you want to choose flowers that have not been sprayed. Link in the comments

26/04/2024

It’s hard to express in words the deep peace and healing a shiatsu can bring. This massage is both soothing and deep. It can be as light or strong as you need. Always as I work on my clients, my eye is drawn to a few choice herbal medicines on my shelves that are energetically aligned to my clients needs. So I thought today, why not offer shiatsu and herbal medicine package.
The way I see it, plant medicines want to help you. Let them. I have a knack for matching plant medicines to people. Let me. Come and get the best massage you’ve had all year (yes I’m confident, for good reason) and get hooked up with plant medicines to help optimise your physical, spiritual and mental wellbeing. Bookings via the website or dm me :) 💜👌💆‍♀️