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Try Natural Approaches to Strengthen Your Child’s Immune System Instead

A recent study reported in Pulse, the magazine for GPs, of all Danish children born between 1995 and 2003 found that the relative risk of Irritable Bowel Disease was 84% higher for children given anti-biotics compared to non-users. This association was strongest among children who had more than seven courses of antibiotics, increasing the risk by more than seven times, respectively, compared with non-users of antibiotics.

Study lead Dr Anders Hviid, an epidemiologist at the State Serum Institute in Copenhagen, said that ‘antibiotics can alter the intestinal microflora and cause overgrowth of potentially pathogenic microorganisms that may trigger IBD in susceptible children.’

This adds to the research showing the damage that can be done to children with the early use of anti-biotics. A Canadian study in 2007 found that children who are treated with antibiotics during their first year are twice as likely to develop asthma by the age of seven. (Source: Chest, 2007; 131: 1753-9).

The risk was highest among children who received more than four courses of antibiotics, and who were given ‘broad-spectrum’ drugs for general healthcare.

This also explains how homeopathic treatment focussing on the state of the intestines and rectifying the balance between beneficial and damaging bacteria can improve illnesses such as asthma, eczema and digestive complaints.

The best defence against any sort of infection is a strong immune system. See Increasing Your Resistance against Viruses (like flu) and How to Treat Your Child’s Coughs and Colds Naturally for ideas on how to best protect your family from winter illnesses.

If you’re not sure where to start, consult a homeopath or naturopath for guidance. Hellis is available for consultations over the phone and face to face.

If you are going on holiday soon I thought you might like to share my Top Tips for Travelling.

The temperatures in some countries this year have been excessive, increasing the risk of feeling unwell. There is much one can do to prevent this happening if you plan ahead and take some natural remedies with you. If you are staying in the UK you can still be affected by too much sun (we hope!), insects and allergies.

Top Tips for Travelling

1. Take a homeopathic first aid kit, if you have one. Remedies stimulate the body’s natural healing processes and help relieve discomfort. A kit will contain remedies for all the injuries and illnesses you may experience while away from home, plus a booklet explaining how to choose the most appropriate remedy.
Ainsworths sell a very compact kit containing 42 remedies available by post from www.ainsworths.com. I usually have some in stock too.

2. Lavender oil is fantastic for taking the heat out of sunburn or any type of burn and will help prevent blistering. Use neat and re-apply when the skin becomes painful again. (You might want to dilute this with almond or olive oil for very young children or put a few drops in the bath.) The homeopathic remedy Cantharis takes the sting out of burns too. Put a few drops of lavender oil on your pillow or in the bath for insomnia too.

3. If you are going somewhere hot make sure that you are well hydrated before you arrive. Try to drink two litres of filtered/mineral water per day in the period before your holiday and cut down on tea, coffee, alcohol and fizzy drinks. This is to replace the water lost through your normal bodily functions such as breathing, sweating, digestion and detoxification. Your cells and body systems need plain water to operate effectively. Encourage children to drink plain water. One idea is to offer them some diluted juice after they have quenched their thirst with water. In hot countries your body will need at least 2 litres or more of water per day.

4. Use a natural insect repellent without harmful chemicals such as DEET. Remember that most of what you put on your skin is absorbed into your body. Natural repellents use neem extract or citronella which have been used for centuries traditionally. Brands include Neal’s Yard, A. Vogel, Mosquit and others. Look in your local health food shop.

5. Take some unrefined sea salt with you. Adding a small pinch to a glass of water or your food helps improve water absorption and prevents mineral loss. I recommend Celtic sea salt as it contains around 80 minerals. It’s available from www.thenaturalsaltseller.co.uk or I usually stock it. Do not consume more than the recommended total amount of 6gms per day (approximately 1 level teaspoon).
At the first signs of tummy upsets, nausea, heat stroke, cramps, headaches, fever, wheeziness or hay fever increase your water intake with a little salt and take an appropriate homeopathic remedy every half hour or so until your symptoms improve. All these symptoms can be signs of dehydration.
You can also make a saline solution by dissolving some salt in water for cleaning wounds.

6. Use natural anti-viral and anti-microbial remedies to increase your resistance to disease in developing countries, such as grapefruit seed extract. Travel vaccines contain many toxic substances such as formaldehyde and heavy metals, as well as fragments of DNA and cells from other species. Find out more information about what you might be injecting into yourself and your children and alternative ways of promoting your health. Most travel vaccines are not compulsory. I offer homeopathic treatment before and after vaccination to strengthen the constitution to cope with this, if you choose to vaccinate.
For more information read ‘The Vaccination Bible’ published by What Doctors Don’t Tell You available from www.wddty.com.

7. Avoid suncreams full of harmful chemicals. Products using minerals as the sunscreen element offer a high degree of protection and avoid any hormonal disruption potentially associated with chemical sun creams. Lavera SPF Sun Cream available from Soorganic.com  contains only mineral for screening damaging rays.  Also Soleo Organics Sunscreen contains zinc oxide. Other brands which avoid suspect chemicals include Green People, Neal’s Yard and Weleda.

8. Encourage children and those with fair skin to cover up, wear hats and keep out of the sun in the hottest part of the day in warmer climates.

After all the planning and packing, enjoy a happy, relaxing holiday.
With warmest wishes

Eczema and Allergies on the Increase

Many more people are being affected by hay fever and other allergies, such as eczema and asthma, especially amongst children, as our environment is becoming ever more polluted. In those people disposed to allergic reactions, symptoms will show up when your body can no longer deal with all the chemicals, pharmaceutical medicines, vaccinations, food additives, pesticides etc that enter your body and the electro-smog surrounding us all.

I’ve listed below some things which may be helpful in reducing your likelihood of developing intolerances and reducing the intensity of your symptoms if you are a hay fever sufferer or are prone to allergic reactions.

1) Switch to all natural personal care products

It’s estimated that the average woman puts over 200 chemicals on her body each day! Many of these are damaging to the skin, hormonal balance and the nervous system. Just look at the long list of ingredients on the products you use. This creates a great stress on the liver

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Would you like to find out what is really making you sensitive to pollens or other allergens?

So often, the pollen or cat hair is merely a trigger for an uncomfortable reaction; however the real cause is likely to be a build up of  toxic metals and  chemicals from the thousands surrounding you in your home and work environment.

If you are typical of the average woman (or man), you are  using well over 200 chemicals on your body every day. Look at the long list of ingredients on just your shampoo or shower gel, most of which are harsh, harmful, synthetic chemicals . These can disrupt your hormones, damage your nervous system and prevent the uptake of nutrients from your diet.

60% of what you put on your skin is absorbed into your body; your scalp and mucous membranes in your mouth  being particularly efficient. So it makes sense to choose  carefully what you put on your scalp and in your mouth. See Home Environment and Natural Personal Care Products to find out what to look out for when choosing items to use.

Do you take great care about avoiding synthetic chemicals and using plant based personal care products, but still suffer from sensitivities?
The issue for you is likely to be a problem with your detoxing organs such as the liver, gall bladder and kidneys. If they are not working well, this will lead to a build up of toxins in all parts of your body and a lack of nutrients needed for your all body systems to operate effectively. This can contribute  to allergies and sensitivities, joint pain, low energy, poor mental functioning, such as brain fog and depression.

Could exposure to electro-smog be a cause of your sensitivities?
In her practice, Hellis finds that reducing your exposure to radiation from cordless and mobile phones and  wi-fi, while using certain electromagnetic protection devices can lessen the severity and frequency of reactions. You will also be given specific homeopathic medicines for your symptoms to raise your tolerance of the  susbtances which affect you.

Holistic Health Practitioner, Hellis Hill uses muscle testing to find out:

• Which personal care and cleaning  products you use are causing a build up of toxicity in your organs, disrupting your hormones or weakening your immune system?
• Which personal care products are beneficial to your body?
• If your organs of elimination are working efficiently
• What the priorities are for you to improve elimination of toxins from your body so that your sensitivities are reduced and your energy levels increase?

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