Alive and Well Naturally

30/01/2022

02/10/2020

Love dandy tea!! 😍... dandelion root tea that is!

Trying to reduce your caffeine intake? Dandelion root coffee is a great alternative. It is caffeine free and has detoxifying effects, so its great for your liver and skin health. Dandelion root has an earthy flavour similar to coffee but less bitter. You can harvest your own fresh dandelion root, chop into small chunks and roast in a moderate oven for an hour or until dry and toasted. Add 1 tablespoon roasted root to 1 cup boiling water, simmer for 5 minutes and strain. Alternatively, you can buy an instant dandelion root coffee blend. Best served with milk or a milk alternative. Yum!

22/09/2020

Herbal creams are amazing for most skin conditions and can be tailored to the individual. They are made with a high quality vitamin E cream base and evidence based herbal extracts are added to this base to make your cream 😊🌿

A qualified herbalist can create a range of individualised external preparations, made specifically for the needs of their client, using liquid herbal extracts. These external preparations may include therapeutic creams and ointments tailored for bacterial, viral or fungal skin infections, chronic skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis or even bruises and muscle aches and pains. Herbalists can also make eye washes, sinus rinses, steam inhalation’s, gargles and mouthwashes, throat sprays, pessaries and suppositories. Many practitioners also enjoy making natural skin care products such as soaps and lotions. Ask your herbal practitioner about the value of bespoke herbal topical preparations for you.

13/09/2020

Great to chat with Karen from Sleep and Dream Babies! Pre-conception care not only helps to increase your chances of conception and a healthy pregnancy but also affects the lifelong health of your baby 👶 take a listen for some tips 👍

11/09/2020

I’m looking forward to sharing some helpful pre-conception tips this Sunday with Karen Sherlock (baby sleep consultant) from Sleep and Dream Babies! Stay tuned 😊🌿

Interview coming this Sunday at 5pm with Nutritionist and Herbalist Tess from Alive and Well Naturally. Tess will share her top tips for preconception care.

06/08/2020

Lovely, easy recipe for a herbal mouthwash 🌿 sometimes herbal extracts can be added for more enhanced cleansing and antibacterial action

This week is Dental Health Awareness Week, which highlights the importance of good oral hygiene. A herbal antibacterial mouthwash can be a useful addition to your oral health regime.

To make a herbal mouthwash at home, simply combine 1 teaspoon dried peppermint leaves, 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves and 1 teaspoon dried sage leaves. Pour over 100ml of boiling water, cover and steep for 5 minutes. Strain and allow to cool. Swish and gargle for at least 30 seconds, then dispel the liquid into the sink. Use 2-3 times daily after brushing. Can be stored in the fridge for 24 hours.

If you have specific oral health concerns, a tailored herbal mouthwash made using concentrated herbal extracts may be more appropriate for you. Speak to your herbal medicine practitioner.

16/07/2020

The importance of a good nights sleep in managing type two diabetes - interesting study 😴

Getting enough quality sleep could be as effective as glucose-lowering medication in the management of type 2 diabetes. A recent study has found that sleep duration, variability in sleep duration and sleep quality are strongly linked with HbA1c levels, a measure of blood glucose control over time. The difference in HbA1c levels between participants with the highest versus the lowest sleep duration variability was significant and similar to the HbA1c reductions induced by diabetes medications. Sleep optimization is a simple, safe and effective strategy that you can implement today to improve diabetes management.

Reference
Brouwer A, Van Raalte DH, Rutters F, Elders PJ, Snoek FJ, Beekman AT, Bremmer MA. Sleep and HbA1c in patients with type 2 diabetes: Which sleep characteristics matter most?. Diabetes Care. 2020 Jan 1;43(1):235-43. [https://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/43/1/235]

24/06/2020

Shiitake Mushrooms are amazing for the immune system - buy some today and add them to your lunch or dinner for a dose of immune boosting beta-glucans!

Shiitake mushrooms make a wonderful addition to your favourite soup or stir-fry because they're naturally rich in compounds called beta-glucans, which support healthy immune system function. In a randomised clinical study*, 52 healthy people consumed 5-10 grams of whole, dried shiitake mushrooms every day. After four weeks, researchers found evidence of increase levels and activity of key immune cells, along with changes indicating that inflammation had been reduced. This study involved healthy volunteers taking culinary quantities of dried mushrooms, which may have inconsistent levels of beta-glucans. For therapeutic uses, talk to your natural health professional about whether a medicinal mushroom formula specially formulated to have a high ratio of beta-glucans is suitable for your personal circumstances.

*Reference: Dai, X. et al. J Am Coll Nutr 2015;34(6):478-87

17/06/2020

Immune enhancement! It’s a very important herbal action to prevent you getting sick as well as ensuring you get over any sickness you succumb to quickly so that you can get back to doing the things you love. The way these herbal medicines work is by stimulating the innate immune response thereby increasing your resistance to infection.

My favourite herb for enhancing the immune system is Echinacea!
It’s important to note that not all Echinacea products are the same and it’s important to understand why. Firstly, you need the right species, secondly, you need the correct plant part and thirdly, you need scientific assurance that you are getting the active constituent absorbed into your bloodstream each time you take a tablet or consume a herbal liquid.
Lastly, you need the right dose as that will make or break it actually working 🌿👍💖

03/06/2020

This is very true - we really do provide an evidence based health care solution, seeking to resolve underlying issues so that good health can be maintained in the long-term...all with a personal touch 😊

The 'one size fits all' approach to healthcare is no longer sufficient in addressing many modern day health concerns. The principles of holistic medicine is that each person is unique and must be treated with consideration of their differences.

Partner with a holistic practitioner today for a personalised approach to healthcare at www.biomedica.com.au/find-a-practitioner

27/05/2020

A great article about the relationship between diet and nutrition and just how essential adequate nutrient levels are in preventing disease and boosting the immune system

Diet and nutrition play a fundamental role in the healthy functioning of our immune system. The study of how diet and nutrition affect the immune system, called nutritional immunology, has over the last several decades shown that an individual's nutritional status is closely associated with their ability to resist infection. There is little argument that deficiencies in key nutrients can cause immune system impairment, which can be reversed by nutrient repletion.

www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2018.03160/full

A number of food components and functional foods were identified as having an essential role in maintaining healthy immune function and strengthening the body’s defence against pathogens, including
• Vitamin D
• Zinc
• Vitamin E
• Omega-3 oils from fish
• Probiotics
• Green tea

Talk to your natural health practitioner to determine how your diet might best support your immune system www.biomedica.com.au/find-a-practitioner

18/05/2020

Liquid herbal medicines - high quality and efficacious liquid herbal medicines made by scratch and uniquely formulated to meet your health needs.

It’s so important when you are taking a herbal medicine that it is professionally prescribed so that you can be assured of the herbs quality and efficacy in regards to its growth, plant parts used to make the extract and the quality of the active constituents within the herb responsible for its medicinal actions.

You want the medicine to actually work and create a positive change for your health!

31/03/2020

Great news! FREE shipping on all patient orders April, May and June

31/03/2020

Some encouraging research on Vitamin C supporting immune health but this article also highlights the importance that we need comprehensive immune support from a range of nutrients such as Vitamin A, E, C, D, beta carotene and Zinc - not just Vitamin C alone. It’s also important that you get the right kind of vitamin C with all of those co- factors for absorption and assimilation in the body.

There has been comprehensive medical coverage on the benefits of vitamin C. However it is also important to recognise that every stage of the body’s immune response relies on other key micronutrients including vitamins A, C, D, E, B vitamins, as well as zinc, iron, copper, selenium and magnesium. Additionally, the body may lose micronutrients when exposed to pathogens, as the immune system becomes increasingly active, and an adequate micronutrient intake is essential to aid recovery from infection.

Mounting clinical evidence suggests that increased intake of some micronutrients at a therapeutic dose may modulate immune function and improve resistance to infection www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/1/236

Consult an appropriately qualified natural health practitioner today biomedica.com.au/find-a-practitioner

21/03/2020

In light of the current COVID19 situation that’s really shocked the nation not to mention the world I will be offering phone and/or Skype consultations instead of face to face consults. These have always been available for those who live at a distance or find it more convenient 😊

Herbal medicines can be posted out to you and any nutritional or herbal prescriptions can still be ordered via my patient ordering service (these services have also always been in place as a super convenient option to get your personalised medicines to your door and repeats can be ordered in between follow up appointments).

Stay well, stay safe and I look forward to being able to continue to support you on your journey to becoming the best and healthiest version of you!

Tess xx

12/03/2020

Some practical ways to support your immune system during the COVID-19 outbreak - for professional and evidence based advice see your natural health practitioner

About coronaviruses: The current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak originated in China's Wuhan

11/03/2020

Vitamin c pops - such a yummy way to boost your kids immune system!

Help the kids cool down with a delicious, hydrating, low-sugar Vitamin C hit!

Recipe makes 6:
- 2 tsp BioMedica C-Max powder
- 500ml coconut water (organic, no added sugar is best)
Method:
1. Purchase an ice-block mould
2. Combine C-Max powder and coconut water and mix well; leave for 5 minutes or until fully dissolved
3. Funnel mixture evenly into ice-block mould
4. Close with lids and place in fridge for 6+ hours, or overnight

Optional additions:
- Add some sliced strawberries, kiwi fruit or blueberries into ice-block slots before sealing.
- Finely dice some fresh mint and mix a sprinkle in each ice-block segment to give an extra tropical taste
- Replace coconut water with fresh watermelon or pineapple juice and blend a few fresh pieces of each in a high-power blender; dissolve C-Max in 200ml water before mixing into juice to ensure full solubility
- Experimenting with blended fresh/frozen mango could be another fun delicious option to try with the kids