Napiers - Herb and Plant Remidies

Napiers Detox Formula appears in the February 2010 issue of High Spirited Magazine.

We hope you find our newsletters informative & helpful.  This month Medical Herbalist Dee Atkinson MCPP, MNIMH is sharing her thoughts on how traditional herbal remedies can help support slimming and weight loss.

Herbal Help for Slimming and Weight Loss

I am not a big fan of quick fix weight loss programmes and the frenzy of activity that surrounds losing weight. However the sad fact is that many of us do gradually put on weight as we get older, and for many, those extra few pounds gained over Christmas do stick around for the rest of the year.

The key is not to switch to eating simply grapefruit and salads (especially when it’s snowing outside!), but to switch to a sensible healthy diet, which you are likely to enjoy and stick to. One which is rich in whole foods, fresh fish, fruit and vegetables cutting out the high fat and high sugar and processed foods. My FREE 10 Day Detox Leaflet gives a few sample tasty menu suggestions to help you on your way and also provides a gentle regime of herbs, diet, and exercise will help you break unhealthy habits and form healthy new ones that you can sustain throughout the year, bringing you optimum health, greater energy, clearer skin, balanced mood, and easier weight management.

To help your body’s cleansing process and assist weight loss I recommend a combination of Cleavers and Seagreens Organic Kelp . Cleavers traditionally used to help the body make the transition from winter to spring. It helps support the liver and elimination of waste and works well when combined with Kelp. Cleavers has the added benefit of being a mild diuretic and a skin purifier and sometimes used for the treatment of eczema and acne. Dandelion Root can also help your body detox as it has mild laxative properties and also can be used for skin conditions.

The food that we eat and the nutrients we absorb from our foods are vital for our health. Many foods are processed or sprayed with chemical pesticides and fertilizers, and this can have a long-term effect on our health. I often feel that this continual challenge to our immune system, can contribute to long-term health problems. Try to eat organic where possible. Many areas have good value Box Delivery Schemes – this means you are eating locally as well as organic. If you can, make meals from scratch and avoid processed food. Cook a few extra portions and freeze them for another day. Be prepared – always have a healthy, tasty snack with you so that you’re not tempted by sweet, sugary snacks during the day. Handfuls of nuts and raisins, oat cakes  and seeds are all good snacks. If you can, invest in a juicer and have fun blending fruit and veg to make tasty combinations and it’s a great way to disguise cabbage! . Add psyllium husks , spirulina or green food powder to your juices for a superfood boost!

Although it is good to reduce your intake of alcohol, coffee and tea, itis very important to drink plenty of water (at least 2 litres a day, filtered or mineral water from glass bottles). I also recommend drinking Nettle Tea which has a cleansing and de-toxing action on the body. It is used to help relieve congestion in the body and helps to excrete toxins and can be useful for water retention problems, gout and sluggishness.

Foods to avoid or reduce in your diet include red meat and any meat products like sausages, burgers, and pate. Use organic chicken or turkey occasionally as a source of quality protein. Dairy products use olive oil or cold pressed vegetable oils instead of butter. Reduce your intake of bread, crisps, cakes, biscuits, crisps and savoury snacks including salted nuts, chocolate, sweets, jam and sugar. Processed foods often contain high levels of salt, sugar and fats so it is better to avoid these whenever possible. As your reward treat yourself to an aromatherapy or manual lymphatic drainage massage. This will help to eliminate toxins and break down cellulite and is a great way to relax. Dry skin brushing daily before a bath or shower stimulates the circulation and the lymphatic systems. Epsom salt baths are deeply relaxing and detoxifying – soak for at least 20 minutes before going to bed. If you are unable to use a bath, try an Epsom salt foot soak instead!

Awaken your senses with our new Organic Grapefruit Body Scrub fantastic detox body scrub. Himalayan salt crystals packed full of juniper essential oil, help with fluid retention and cellulite. Combined with detoxifying grapefruit this leaves your skin feeling smooth and uplifted. It is also important to remember to combine your diet with gentle exercise. You don’t need to join a gym to achieve this. Brisk walking is an ideal enjoyable way to stimulate the circulation and lymphatic systems and yoga, Pilates and tai chi also aid relaxation and increase wellbeing.

Wishing you the best of natural health    Dee

(Posted Feb 2010)

This is not a new problem! For centuries people have felt low energy and low mood in the winter months. This is especially so in our northern climates, with long nights and the sun low in the horizon. Traditionally herbalists have made up lotions and potions to keep the spirits up in the form of herbal tonics, uplifting oil blends and comforting herbal drinks.

Herbalists traditionally have used herbs such as Skullcap used for centuries to relieve anxiety and moodiness, Lemon balmcan be drunk as a refreshing and uplifting tea. Oats were used (especially in Scotland) both as a food (porridge) and as a medicine. Oats act as a tropho-restorative to the nervous system. This means that they help to restore it back to the original state. St John’s Wortis one of the best-known herbs to beat the winter blues. Clinical trials have shown that this herb relieves mild to moderate depression. Available in tincture (liquid) and tablet form, this herb has become one of the UKs best selling herbal products.

Duncan Napier developed the remedy that is used most in Napiers Clinics, in 1860. He prescribed it to deal with stress and depression. We have access to his sales records and he sold double volume of this product in the winter months. And as Duncan Napier said, (in his turn of the century mail order catalogue) ‘when the whole world seems dull, and you just want to sit down and cry, when the stresses and strains of modern living get on top of you’… that was the time to take his Nerve Debility Tonic. Today we now know this as Scullcap, Oat and Passionflower Compound. Scullcap, Oat and Passionflower Compound contains over 20 different herbs, including Scullcap, Oats, Passionflower, Jamaican dogwood, Limeflowers and Valerian.

Another side effect of low mood and stress can be sleepless nights. Passionflower is the traditional remedy to aid sleep and uplift mood. This is the main ingredient of Sweet Dreams, which is my sleep mix formulation. It’s an easy to use formula and a great alternative to capsules and tablets.

What you eat during the day can also affect how you feel. You might think you are boosting your mood and energy levels by eating high carbohydrate foods such as white bread, potatoes and pasta, but it usually has the opposite effect. These foods give an instant boost, but they also trigger the release of a large dose of insulin to counterbalance the effect. The result is that you are left feeling lethargic and drained of energy. Brown rice and salad, wholemeal or granary bread sandwiches with hummus or peanut butter are great mind boosters at lunchtime. Try to include some oily fish, rich in the omega-3 fatty acids that help to maintain the health of brain cells and regulate neurotransmitters. A range of vitamins is vital too, so try to make lunches as varied as you can. Avoid sugary sweets, biscuits and highly processed snacks, fizzy drinks and sweetened juices or cordials because they are the worst offenders on energy levels and your mood.

Other things I find that can help to uplift your mood are Essential oils. These can be perfect in the bath or in an oil burner. Try soothing Lavender or Rose to aid relaxation and ease muscular tension. Also I recommend try to begin each day by standing in front the lightest window in the house and allowing as much light as possible to reach you. It also very important to get out of the house or office and move around. Go out at lunchtime each day and have a half hour walk – this is when there is the most light available and you can get maximum benefit.

Wishing you the best of natural health
Dee

Osteopathy:

Coltilde Chereau is offering 15 min free spinal checks on Saturdays from 12pm to 2pm and 20% off  next treatment when you refer a friend.She also gives £5.00 concession (student mainly).
Lynn Bennett is offering 15min free spinal check on her clinic days and a 25% reduction for new patients
Jessica Weatherall is offering 15 min free spinal check on her clinic days and 20% off next treatment when you refer a friend. She also gives £5.00 concession

Craniosacral:

Coltilde Chereau is offering 20% off next treatment when you refer a friend She also gives £5.00 concession (student mainly).
Lynn Bennett offering a 25% reduction for new patients
Jessica Weatherall is offering 20% off next treatment when you refer a friend

 Call our reception team on 0131 225 5542 to book appointments or find out more.