Jan Illingworth Naturopath

22/07/2025

I am prompted to write this after a Dr on the radio talking about cholesterol, suggested go on statins if it is high. Being a hormone, one should not go on just one test because being a hormone it goes up and down depending on exercise, diet, stress and if the sun is shinning. While statins are very effective at lowering bad LDL's it does nothing to good HDL's that take the cholesterol to the liver for excretion and it has many really bad side effects. Forget toxic drugs and try natural things before poisoning yourself. First of all help your liver to work with bitter herbs like dandelion, St Mary's thistle, chicory, mugwort which taken in teas is easy. Eat a natural diet with lots of whole foods like vegetables, seeds, nuts, turmeric, garlic and ginger. Oats have been shown to reduce cholesterol as well as artichoke (pictured), fenugreek, alfalfa and even green tea. If you feel the need to support the big pharmacy companies by taking statins, then you should mitigate muscle wasting, dementia, heart failure, and other wasting problems with Co Q 10, magnesium, hawthorn, ginkgo biloba and multi-vitamins to replenish the nutrients these drugs use up. Herbs were the first medicine.

20/07/2025

11/07/2025

Following all the hoha about mushrooms, I will post some of my own. One could eat most of them, though the one on the log is abit tough and the last one is the beautiful, red, famous magic. (only the size of 5cents) Small doses gives one clarity which is good for exams etc and there has been research that the L*D like effect may help those with mental illness to reduce paranoia. Haven't worked out yet what a small dose is, though death is not common. If too much, some people have experienced psychosis. Possibly need a bit of magic to help with spelling!

04/07/2025

ABC Four Corners, Monday evening 7th July is discussing the reason why many more young people than ever are suffering from cancers. It is well known that many cancers are the effects of smoking and drinking, but many of these young people do not, and have healthy lifestyles, are fit and generally had a robust life. They also have a lot more rare, aggressive and untreatable cancers. There are factors that impact with number 1, being plastic, plastic, plastic that is in vegetables, fish, plants and many foods, as well as in the air, which has been shown to disrupt DNA structure. Also in sunscreen which recently have had highlighted their dodgy sunfactor numbers, but the main concern is that while it may prevent skin cancers, the absorbtion through the skin of their chemicals can increase other cancers. 2; the use of insecticides, growth and disease deteriant toxins on the plants and animals that we eat. 3; similiarily, the cleaning products that influence anxious parents to irradicate any germ or insect that happens to pass by and 4; the synthetic chemicals that are in all medicines as well as the overuse of antibiotics and vaccines. By the time a child is 15 years old they have had as many vaccines for many of the illnesses that while unpleasant, have very few death numbers. Whooping cough, measles, mumps and chicken pox were a right of passage that built up ones immunity naturally to produce more resistance. The immune system over produces white blood cells in response to the synthetic vaccines that cause it to be confused about what it is meant to be reacting to. There is a huge growth in people with auto-immune diseases like type 1 diabetes which is when ones own immune system attacks and kills normal cells thinking that they are foreign bodies and alarmingly let the rogue cancer cell continue thinking that they are normal. All the above are also DNA disrupters which can produce abnormal cells that can go on to cause cancers. Below is a photo of echinacea which is one of the many herbs that support and nuture the immune system to do its awesome work on protecting the body.

26/06/2025

The Age 25/6/25 had an article on expensive anti COVID drugs claiming that they reduce the severity on people and keep them out of hospital. The research on these drugs was done by the pharmacy companies that produce these medications. Independant research has shown that there is little difference to outcomes whether the drug is taken or not. 🌿If you come down with COVID, any virus or any other infections, drink teas of calendula, peppermint, tulsi (photo), oregano and echinacea. Boost your own immune system to help resist infection with vitamin C and probiotics. Eat whole, natural foods and rest. Get your body to work for you with nurturing and support and don't rely on chemical, toxic drugs that are only keeping big pharma rich.

24/06/2025

There seems to be a rise of Candida albican infection going around or yeast, fungi, athletes foot, jock itch and UTI's from those incredible tenacious mushroom like fungi and like all fungi, they like dark, damp, warm places. They also love sugar, so don't feed them with refined and processed foods, fizzy drinks, biscuits and cakes. Eat whole and natural foods and fluids like cranberry juice and antifungal teas; lemongrass, oregano, chamomile, calendula and or lavender. Easy to access and make up a big pot to drink; up to 4 x aday and dab the cooler teas on rashes. Wear natural products, keep dry and airated. Candida have myecilleum that grow into the cells, especially the gut (often after antibiotics killing the good bacteria) to fragment off in the blood stream and go anywhere it likes to start up another colony. Support the immune system with echinacea or astralalus and probiotics to reinfest the gut with with functioning bacteria. It is a shame one can't put candida's to good use in beef Wellington.

12/06/2025

Celiac sufferers have now got an easier blood test for the gene that caused celiacs disease. Much better than in the past when they needed to eat lots of wheat products before a gastroscopy (not nice) to see if the intestine is inflammed. While it is great to have a decisive diagnosis, if a patient presents with bloating, constipation or diarhea, abdominal pain and general unwellness, advise them to check their diet and reduce the inflammatory foods like bread, pasta and pastries from the gluten in wheat, barley and rye. I have also found that many people, while they may not have celiacs, have an adversion to wheat, as it has been modified to grow in Australian conditions. They seem to have less inflammation with Persian and European wheat (not easily available here). Easily available is gluten free flour and more gluten free products which certainly do not make as good baked items, but is way better than having nothing, and all the problems one suffers with wheat.

28/05/2025

Roots; the powerhouse of plants! Find out how to grow, harvest, prepare and use roots with Herbalist; Julie Wilkinson-Flores. Julie has specially grown herbs to bring for an evening of manufacturing. Burnley Horticulture College, Thursday 5th June from 7pm. HSoV have plants for sale and giveaway, supper, tea and our famous raffle. Free entree and more infomation on the Herb Society of Victoria website and facebook. Hope to see you there.

28/05/2025

Always wanted to know how the Japanese use herbs? The Herb Society presents cooks from Okinawa demonstrating and producing wonderful food for us to try at Burnley Horticulture College 8th June from 2pm. $20, go onto our website Herb Society of Victoria to book.

27/05/2025

It seems more people are developing auto-immune diseases which is when ones own immune system attacks ones own body thinking that it is an invader. Diseases like Type 1 diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis, Thyroid, Lupus to name afew, which were rare 30 years ago. Certainly, stress, environment, chemicals and over produced foods would add to this. I was prompted to put this post up after the Childrens Hospital is encouraging children to have the flu vaccine. By the time a child is 15, they have had as many if not more vaccines which, while some of these illnesses are terrible and can cause death (maybe some of the childhood illnesses could be disputed), vaccines, especially so many put on a developing immune system can add to its confusion to attack normal cells. Another thought is, who is funding these vaccine research and rollouts, as like COVID, it could be the big Pharmacy companies. Parents are in a bad situation as if they decide not to vaccinate their child (there are other natural options), they are prevented from childcare and treated like pariahs.

22/05/2025

Being HERB WEEK & INTERNATIONAL TEA DAY, why not come on over to the Burnley Horticulture College plant market this Sunday 25th 11am to 2pm and get your fix of it all. The CWA have tea with scones, I am having a tea stall and the Herb Society of Victoria and the Friends of Burnley Garden are selling herbs. Clover in the lawn at Burnley that makes exellent tea and is also good for everything!

19/05/2025

PLANT & HERB MARKET by the Friends of Burnley Garden at Burnley Horticulture College, Richmond. Besides tours, CWA catering and garden information, I will be selling my herbal teas for medicinal and pleasure. Hope to see you there this Sunday 25th 11-2pm.