This hair rinse is an excellent conditioner and will make hair shiny, expecially blonde and platinum shades.

• Put 1 heaped teaspoon of chamomile in 1 cup of cold water
• Bring to the boil
• Simmer for 10 – 15 minutes and strain.
• STAND TO COOL.
• Rinse your hair with the infusion and then simply towel dry.

These foods may lead to congestion of the mucosa of the respiratory tract.

• All dairy products
• Refined sugars
• Excessive consumption of grains, eg wheat, oats and rye.
• Oranges
• Tomatoes
• Peanut butter
• Alcoholic beverages
• Tea
• Coffee
• Chocolate
• Food additives

I have had chronic sinus for approx 7yrs i just want a life of normality back. It first appeared from a bad flu and cold, but I never recovered. Any info would be grateful.
Bruce

Dear Bruce,
Sinus Tonic is the herbal remedy created by Robin Kirby to relieve sinusitis. For chronic sinusitis you may need to take the Sinus Tonic for some months. The sinus tonic contains 9 herbs which all help to deal with infection, the immune system, and stimulate digestion.  Eyebright and Elder are specifically for your sinuses.  This is a remedy that can, in the long term, relieve your sinus symptoms.  If you are diligent with your remedies then long term relief will be forthcoming.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to call.
Kind regards,
Maria

It’s inevitable that the computer will be a part an integral part of our day. For most of us, the thought of going to the office and not sitting at a computer desk is highly unusual. Unfortunately, being in the same position every day can have a big impact on our health. After getting up, our necks can be  stiff, our eyes hurt, and our backs may ache.

This pain can be produced by how we interact with our computer and its surroundings. Even the placement of our phones and documents can lead to undue stress. To avoid the aches and pains associated with sitting at a desk all day, we need to be aware of the ergonomics of our work space. Here are some basic tips.

• Make sure your chair isn’t too tall or short. Having your legs dangling can cause strain on your back and scrunching up your legs is uncomfortable. If you can’t physically adjust the height of your chair, improvise with pillows or cushions.
• Your keyboard should be placed so that your shoulders are relaxed and your wrists are at a comfortable height. Don’t forget the placement of your mouth; try and keep it closed.
• The screen can be the most important thing to remember. Glare from the screen can lead to headaches and improper height can lead to neck cramps from tilting your head. The monitor should be just above eye level and tilted to avoid glare. If you feel you are tilting it too much for comfort, move your desk to face away from the source of light.

For more tips on Ergonomics, try this site.

Coffee

Coffee contains three stimulants – caffeine, theobromine and theophylline.  Although caffeine is the strongest, theophylline is known to disturb normal sleep patterns and theobromine has a similar effect to caffeine.  Coffee may affect some people adversely and produce caffeinism – a medical condition characterized by symptoms of depression, nervousness, irritability, recurrent headaches, heart palpitations, and insomnia. People prone to feeling stress and anxiety tend to be especially sensitive to caffeine.    To find out what effect it has on you, quit for a trial period of two weeks.  You may get withdrawal symptoms for up to 3 days.  This reflects how addicted you have become. Alternatives to coffee are Dandelion, Caro or herb teas.

Smoking

Detailed calculations reveal that smokers have at least three to five times as much risk of getting cancer and heart disease as nonsmokers.  Tobacco smoke contains more than four thousand chemicals, of which more than fifty have been identified as carcinogens.

Herb Teas to help stop smoking:

50g Plantain, 50g Thyme. Infuse one heaped teaspoon of each herb with one cup of boiling water. Steep for approximately 3 – 5 minutes and drink 3 – 4 cups daily.

DO NOT REACH FOR CIGARETTES.
Keep in mind that your own hands are responsible for lighting cigarettes.
Chew liquorice root throughout the day – this will not help you overcome the addiction, but will help repair damage in the respiratory passages.

Hi Can you help me with a product that will help my condition my symtoms are : constantly runny or stuffy nose i always have to carry tissues with me, mucus running down the back of my throat causing me to swallow it.
Lauren

Dear Lauren,
Thanks for your enquiry.  Our Sinus Tonic, Gentian and Kali Bic starter pack would benefit you greatly.  It has been created to relieve the symptoms you are experiencing.  If you would like further information, please feel free to call.
Best wishes,
Maria

Ingredients

• Spaghetti (Linguini or Bucatini works too)
• 1 Egg - separated
• Shaved Parmesan Cheese
• Bacon
• Salt and Pepper

Method

• Bring a pot of water to a boil. Before adding the pasta into the boiling water, make sure you heavily season the water with salt.
• In a side skillet, cook your bacon. Additional vegetables can be added and should be cooked at this time.
• When it seems like the bacon is ready, add a bit of Parmesan. Separate an egg, putting the yolk into the bowl that you’ll eat your pasta in and the whites into the skillet.
• Drain your pasta and add it to the bowl with the yolk. Mix immediately so that the heat from the pasta “cooks” the yolk. This should make your pasta creamy.
• Add the contents from the skillet into the bowl and immediately mix.
• If necessary, season with salt and pepper and add more Parmesan to your taste.

I am trying to find relief and a cure for my son’s chronic sinusitis. I have seen a naturopath twice, but believe she cannot really help any further. We have taken Wheat, Yeast, Milk, Preservatives and Food colorings out of his diet. This has resulted in significant improvements, but he still suffers from sinusitis daily, blowing his nose during the day and waking him up at night. My son is eleven years old, is he able to take these herbs for relief and is there something else we can do to result in a cure?
Audrey

Dear Audrey,
Thank you for your enquiry.  Yes, the Sinus Tonic can be taken from 2 years of age.  The herbs eyebright and elder are used specifically for the sinuses, the other herbs help deal with infection, the immune system and stimulate digestion.  The Tonic has been getting great results with sinus sufferers for the past 10 years.  If your son is diligent in taking the herbs 3 times per day, I am confident he will get some relief.
Please do not hesitate to call if you would like further information.
Best wishes,
Maria

Invented in the late 19th century, plastic has become a common household item. From containers to cling wrap, to water bottles, it’s literally everywhere. Unfortunately, recent research has shown that some of the plastics that we use in our everyday lives may actually be hazardous.

Most plastic containers and bottles will contain a label that looks like the recycling symbol. If you pay close attention, you’ll see that these triangles contain numbers inside of them. These numbers indicate the type of plastic and also provide some information as to whether that particular plastic is safe.

The most dangerous types of plastics are those labeled with the numbers 3, 6, and 7.

3- PVC or V (Polyvinyl chloride): Used for cling wrap, cooking oil, peanut butter jars, detergent, and window cleaner bottles
6- PS (Polystyrene): Used in Styrofoam food trays, egg cartons, disposable Tupperware, and carryout containers
7- Other (Polycarbonate): Used in most plastic baby bottles, 5-gallon water bottles, “sport” water bottles, and clear plastic cutlery.

All of the above information and more including the rest of the numbers can be found by downloading the handout from this link.

Unfortunately, it’s near impossible to avoid using plastic. However, this site lists several things that you can do. Some of them include:

• Do not microwave food in plastic containers that do not have a ‘microwave safe’ rating
• Avoid clingwrap, especially in the microwave and especially on fatty foods such as meat and cheese
• Use alternatives to polycarbonate plastic baby bottles
• Avoid plastic water bottles

Do keep in mind that most containers that have a ‘microwave safe rating’ have been tested for how much chemical migration happens as these containers are heated. But at the end of the day it is best to keep your lifestyle as natural as possible; and that includes what you eat from and drink out of.

Hi, I have been suffering for several years from symptoms of an almost constant feeling of needing to cough and hack up mucus. Sometimes it gets to the point where I may gag and have even thrown up. I have never seen a doctor for this. Some people I know think that I have been hacking for so long that my body is conditioned to this. My girlfriend says just swallow it, but it rarely feels like it goes all the way down. Any advice and ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Mark

Dear Mark,
Have you checked to see if you have any food allergies, eg Dairy or Wheat.  Many of our food allergies occur because we don’t produce sufficient hydrochloric acid in the stomach.  The stomach’s role is to break food down into its smallest parts so the nutrients can be absorbed into the body via the small intestine.  Gentian or Swedish Bitters taken 3 times daily before meals will help produce hydrochloric acid, it would also help if you took digestive enzymes.
First step, eliminate wheat and dairy and take suggested herbs for 2 weeks I am sure you will see some improvement.  Any further questions, please do not hesitate to call.
Kind regards,
Maria