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Yoga Classes Now Held at Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre

Yoga Classes

Due to popular demand, we have instigated another Yoga Class on Wednesday mornings in addition to the Monday Class (please see details below).

As of the March 1, a new Yoga class has been scheduled for Monday Morning starting at 9:30am. This class is for beginners only. The classes are for anyone of any age and are aimed at increasing flexibility and strength. Nicola, a qualified Yoga instructor is leading the class. At this time the cost is $10 per session and each session goes for approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes including a relaxation session at the end of the class.

Yoga is an ancient practice dating back more than 5000 years and is also part of ayurveda, which is an Indian traditional medical system, so it can hardly be called a trend. Its focus is on bringing balance and health to the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of the individual.

The benefits gained from the regular practice of Yoga include:

• increased flexibility
• increased strength
• better posture and body awareness
• improved Lung capacity
• reduced stress and an increased feeling of calmness
• better concentration and reduced mood swings, to mention a few.

The underlying premise of mind-body exercise modalities, like yoga, is that the physiological state of the body can affect the emotions, thoughts, and attitudes, and the mental state has an affect on the body. This promotes a increased feeling of wellbeing.

According to Cowen and Adams (2005) in their paper entitled: "Physical and perceptual benefits of yoga asana practice: results of a pilot study" research assessing a variety of outcomes and different aspects of yoga has indicated that yoga can promote positive physical changes. For exam- ple, research indicates that yoga asana can be effective in managing symptoms associated with musculoskeletal disorders including osteoarthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, hyperkyphosis, and low back pain.

Additionally, improvements in motor skills and physiological measures, including blood pressure, heart rate, and body weight have been noted. Research also suggests that cardiopulmonary benefits of yoga include improved cardiorespiratory fitness, improved forced expiratory volume, and increased vital capacity.

For more information or to secure your spot, please contact Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre

A Case of Infertility

Case Study 2: A case of Infertility

by Danny T. Siegenthaler (Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre)

Introduction

According to Maciocia (1998, p. 691) infertility is defined as “…the inability to produce offspring in a woman who has been trying for two years, who has a normal sexual life and, of course, whose partner has normal reproductive function”. If a woman has never been pregnant and has been trying to fall pregnant for 2 or more years than this is considered primary infertility, if however a woman has previously been pregnant (even if she miscarried) and has been trying for 2 or more years than this is considered secondary infertility.

A woman’s optimal period of fertility is between 18 and 35 years of age, during this time there are between 1,000,000 (18 yr) and 100,000 (35 yr) follicles left in the woman’s ovaries (Annon., 2010). However, many factors can hinder or interfere with a woman’s ability to become pregnant, including endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, absence of ovulation, etc.

Both Western medicine (WM) and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) recognise infertility as a gynaecological disorder, however, the methods of diagnosis and treatment are considerably different. IVF and assisted reproduction therapy (ART) are preferred choices of treatment in WM while in TCM, Chinese herbal medicine and/or Acupuncture are the treatments of choice.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Biomedical Aetiology and Treatment of Infertility

TCM:

Causes of Infertility include: constitutional weakness, overwork, excessive physical work, excessive sexual activity at an early age, invasion of cold, dietary inadequacies, any of which can result in either an empty or full condition. According to Maciocia (1998, pp. 695-696) infertility is either an empty or full condition, but can manifest in an individual as a combination of both full and empty patterns (Table 1). For example, a woman may have an underlying Kidney deficiency as well as Liver Qi stagnation, which may lead to Blood becoming stagnant.

Empty	Full
Kidney-Yang deficiency	Cold in Uterus
Kidney-Yin deficiency	Dampness in the Lower Heater
Blood deficiency	Blood-Heat
	Stagnation of Qi
	Stagnation of Blood

Table 1 Lists the empty and full TCM patterns associated with female infertility as described by Maciocia (1998, pp. 695-696)

Lyttleton (2004, p. 88) takes a different perspective, viewing functional infertility according to menstrual cycle phases. She describes the main categories of infertility to include Kidney deficiency, Heart and Liver Qi stagnation, Blood stagnation, and Phlegm-Damp accumulation, which are also described by Zhou and Qu (2009).

Treatment in TCM is primarily herbal (Zhou & Qu, 2009). There is no single herb or formula that is considered as the formula of choice, rather some 100 herbs are suitable and dozens of formulae have been used (Zhou & Qu, 2009). This is also reflected in part by Maciocia (1998, pp. 697-734), who also lists many different herbal approaches and a range of different formulae, but in addition, he like Lyttleton, also suggest using acupuncture points for treating the various types of infertility. Similarly, in her book, Lyttleton (2004) describes several herbal formulae to treat the infertility, but unlike Zhou and Qu (2009), also provides formulae of acupuncture points to treat the various TCM patterns associated with infertility.

Biomedical:

According the Merck Manual (Rebar, 2008) Infertility is the inability of a couple to conceive after 1 year of unprotected intercourse. The causes of infertility according to Western Medicine (WM) include: Fallopian tube blockage, polycystic ovarian disease, inadequate luteal syndrome, endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, etc (Jane Lyttleton, 2004, p. 87). The majority of cases relate to the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis and may be listed in decreasing order of occurrence as follows (Annon., 2010; Maciocia, 1998, p. 735):

• Hormonal factors of ovulation (41%)

• Fallopian tube abnormalities (32%)

• Uterine abnormalities/factors (eg: fibroids or abnormalities of shape) (16%)

• Cervical factors (4.7%)

• No apparent causes (5%)

Treatment of Infertility

Biomedical

Biomedical treatment of infertility primarily focuses on IVF and/or ART. According to Lim (2010) causes of infertility include: sperm defects or dysfunction, ovulation failure (amenorrhoea or oligomenorrhoea), tubal infective damage, unexplained infertility, endometriosis (causing damage), coital failure or infrequency, cervical mucous defects or dysfunction, uterine abnormalities (eg: fibroids or abnormalities of shape). Depending on the underlying cause(s), infertility may be treated with Clomiphene, Metformin 500 tds. Surgery – laparoscopic ovarian drilling, OI using FSH, or IVF (Lim, 2010).

TCM

Traditional Chinese medicine utilises herbal medicine and/or acupuncture to treat the underlying cause of infertility. Once male infertility has been ruled out as a contributing factor, focus is placed on the female reproductive cycle.

In the author’s experience, focus should first be on the menstrual cycle. Any problems associated with menstruation and ovulation needs to be addressed primarily. Once ovulation can be confirmed, the menstrual cycle is within the normal length and the pre-menstrual and menstrual phases are non-problematic, the woman normally falls pregnant within 3-4 months.

This case study clearly illustrates this; Pam presented with several conditions: Infertility, Premenstrual Syndrome and Migraines, which were related (in terms of TCM pathology) and required treatment.

Patient History, Diagnosis (both TCM & Biomedical), Treatment Principles (TCM) and Treatment (TCM)

Medical History & Presenting Symptomatology

Female, age 34 presented with:

1. Infertility

2. PMT

3. Migraine Headaches

First Consultation: May 2003

1) Infertility:

• Pam has been trying to fall pregnant for several years (Infertility); took a course of fertility drugs, but had no result. NB: Husband’s sperm was checked and found to be normal.

2) PMT (up to 2 weeks prior to period):

• Irritability

• Mood Swings

• Some Depression

• Bloating

• Some Fluid Retention

• Tender breast

3) Period (Currently day 7):

• Regular cycle

• Intermittent flow

• Small clots (about 10-20¢ in size)

• Mild aching in lower abdomen during the period

4) Migraine like Headaches: - (taking Mercindol to ease the Pain)

• Headaches every 2 days or so

o Mild version is behind the eyes, above & below the eye

o Severe version (Migraine) is 1-Sided (left or right), with Nausea; starting at back of Neck moves over top or side of head to forehead.

Other S+S:

• Lower back pain

• L/s. knee aches when walking

• Gets cold feet easily

• Postural dizziness

• Libido is up/down

• Occasional blurring of vision

• Good appetite

• Dreams frequently & vividly, but no nightmares

• Tinnitus

• Vertigo

• Epigastric distension & nausea relieved by eating

• T: Red body with Spots over Tip

• P: Rapid & Wiry

Biomedical Diagnosis and Aetiology

Functional infertility of unexplained cause. The patient was referred by her gynaecologist after no obvious cause could be established and the use of infertility drugs was unsuccessful.

Case Specific WM Diagnosis

1) Infertility of unknown cause.

TCM Treatment Principles

1) Kid Yang Xu

2) Liv. Qi Stagnation (Pre-mens) leading to Yang rising

3) Liv. Xue Stagnation (During mens)

4) Liv Xue Xu (Post-mens)

Thus, (i) tonify and warm Kidney Yang, warm & strengthen the Uterus and tonify Jing, and (ii) nourish liver Blood, disperse Liver Qi & Xue Stagnation and pacify the Liver.

TCM Herbal Prescription

Pam was treated over a seven-month period with a range of different formulae at different times of her menstrual cycle and in accordance to presenting symptomatology. To detail this on a treatment-by-treatment basis in this case study is not possible due to the restrictive word limit. Therefore, the case is summarised and illustrated in brief.

Key Formula Combination used to treat PMT and infertility include:

1) Shi Quan Da Bu Wan & Xiao Yao San (or Jia Wei Xiao Yao San, if Headache) - Leading up to period

2) Tao Hong Si Wu Wan & Xiao Yao San (or Jia Wei Xiao Yao San, if Headache) - From day 1 to end of period, or

3) Shao Fu Zhu Yu Tang & Xiao Yao San (or Jia Wei Xiao Yao San if Headache) From day 1 to end of period

4) Ba Zhen Tang & Ba Ji Yin Yang Wan from end of period to ovulation

5) You Gui Wan & Ba Zhen Tang - From ovulation to start of PMS, if no PMS, up to day 1, if PMT use Xiao Yao San instead of Ba Zhen Tang.

Note: Pam was given both Jia Wei Xiao Yao San and Xiao Yao San and was instructed to use Jia Wei Xiao Yao San if she felt she was getting a headache, but if not, to use Xiao Yao San instead.

Pam was primarily treated using TCM herbs and did not receive any Acupuncture, however, she came to see me for Acupuncture, if she had a Migraine (or felt one coming on) and this was treated using CO.4 & Liv.3. The needles were retained until the Migraine had subsided.

Treatment Rationale

Chinese herbal formulae:

Shi Quan Da Bu Wan consists of Ba Zhen Tang (Blood and Qi tonic) and two additional herbs that tonify the Kidney Yang i.e.: Rou Gui and Huang Qi. It is a gentle, slightly warming formula that aims to primarily tonify Blood and Qi.

Xiao Yao San is one of the major formulae used to treat PMT due to Liver Qi Stagnation. In addition, it also nourishes Blood and tonifies the Spleen.

In combination these two formulae work well together premenstrually to disperse Liver Qi stagnation, warm the Yang Qi and nourish the Blood.

Tao Hong Si Wu Wan (consisting of Si Wu Tang plus Tao Ren and Hong Hua) is useful in tonifying and invigorating Blood and regulates menstruation (Bensky, 1990, p. 250). It is particularly effective where Blood deficiency and Stagnation of Blood coexist and lead to clots. When used together with Xiao Yao San these two formulae resolve Liver Qi & Blood stagnation and promote the circulation of Qi and Blood.

Similarly, Shao Fu Zhu Yu Tang and Xiao Yao San promote the circulation of Blood and Qi, warm the menses and alleviate pain (Bensky, 1990, p. 316). I used Shao Fu in the early stages when the blood clots were between 10-20¢ pieces in size. Once the size of the clots had reduced to both fewer in number and smaller in size, I used Tao Hong Si Wu Wan.

Once there were no longer any clots, Tao Hong Si Wu Wan and Xiao Yao San were used during the period to make sure the endometrium was completely cleared from the uterus.

Ba Zhen Tang and Ba Ji Yin Yang Wan were used together in the final stages of Pam’s treatment to nourish the Blood and fill the Chong channel following her period up to ovulation. Post ovulation, I used You Gui Wan with Ba Zhen Tang.

Other Treatment Suggestions

1. Increase hydrating fluid intake to approximately 2 litres per day, as Pam was not drinking enough water (less than a litre per day).

2. An extensive dietary assessment was made and it was recommended she eat less processed foods and use fruits and vegetables that were in season. It was suggested to use seasonal vegetables in soups or steamed as the major part of the meal together with some good quality lean meat and/or fish.

3. Daily intake of 400mcg of folic acid to prevent the possibility of spina bifida in the foetus (De Wals, et al., 2008; Oakley Jr, 2009).

Ongoing Treatment of Patient

Progress:

After 1 month (June ’03):

No headache since last treatment (One week ago, was only mild)

No dizziness

No tinnitus

No blurring of vision

Sleeps well, Not Dreaming as vividly

Libido is not too bad (improving)

Tongue: Thin white coating with strawberry spots

After 2 months (July ’03):

Headaches have reduced dramatically in both frequency and severity, but do still occur

No more dizziness or tinnitus

No more blurred vision

Sleep has improved – still has some vivid dreams, but much less often.

Libido has improved further, but could still be better

PMT:

Tender breast (not as bad as in the past)

Mood swings (still quite bad)

Still gets quite irritable

Some twinges in lower abdomen

Period:

Started on Day 29 (day 1)

Few Clots 10¢ in size

Scant to start with, normal flow for about 2-3 days then peters out

Duration 5 days

Tongue: Normal colour with thin white coating

Pulse: Sl. rapid and slippery

After 4 months Sep. ‘03

PMS:

Virtually no symptoms, with the exception of a slight tenderness in the breasts (90% better then at start of treatment).

No mood swings and no irritability

Period:

27-day cycle

Intermittent flow, no pain, and no clots

Duration 6 days

Other s+s:

Feels good and has more energy.

Good level of libido

No headaches for over 6 weeks

Tongue: Sl. Red, no coating

Late October ‘03

Period overdue – feels as if she might be pregnant.

No PMT symptoms at all

Feels great

Has an increased appetite

Pulse: sl. slippery

Tongue: sl. red body, very thin coating

Tx: at this time Ba Zhen Tang was used exclusively until pregnancy was confirmed.

NB: Pregnancy confirmed in early November 2003

Prognosis and Treatment Response

The treatment goal was achieved after 7 months and the patient gave birth to a healthy baby boy 9 months later.

Integration between TCM and Western Medicine

Infertility is good example of how TCM and WM can be combined to safely and effectively treat infertility, even though in this particular situation this was not the case. On her website, Jane Lyttleton (2010) lists several studies that show the successful combination of TCM and WM in treating infertility: www.acupunctureivf.com.au/pages/research_and_reviews.php and how Acupuncture can increase the success rate achieved with IVF.

Concluding Remarks

This case study demonstrates the importance of considering all of the patient’s pathologies as a whole, rather than simply focusing on infertility, which would be, and indeed was, the approach used by WM. The stagnation of both Qi and Xue needed to be resolved in order for pregnancy to be possible. This is evident by the failed use of fertility drugs before TCM treatment was implemented. Pam was treated throughout her pregnancy and there were very few issues that developed. She had no morning sickness or any other medical issues and ultimately had an uncomplicated birth. Had the Liver Qi stagnation remained unresolved there would have been issues with morning sickness and probably several other health issues during her pregnancy. It is therefore the author’s opinion that despite the strong desire of couples to have a baby and the urgency ascribed to it, it is imperative that all underlying health issues are resolved as much as possible before the woman becomes pregnant.

References

Annon. (2010). Infertility (Lecture to TCM Masters Students ed.). Milperra: UWS.

Bensky, D., Barolet, R. (1990). Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies. Seattle, Wasington: Eastland Press, Inc.

De Wals, P., Tairou, F., Van Allen, M. I., Lowry, R. B., Evans, J. A., Van Den Hof, M. C., et al. (2008). Spina bifida before and after folic acid fortification in Canada. Birth Defects Research Part A - Clinical and Molecular Teratology, 82(9), 622-626.

Lim, D. (2010). PCOS. UWS Milperra Campus.

Lyttleton, J. (2004). Treatment of Infertility with Chinese Medicine. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.

Lyttleton, J. (2010). Research and Reviews. 2010, from http://www.acupunctureivf.com.au/pages/research_and_reviews.php

Maciocia, G. (1998). Obstetircs and Gynecology in Chinese Medicine. Edinburgh: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone.

Oakley Jr, G. P. (2009). The Scientific Basis for Eliminating Folic Acid-Preventable Spina Bifida: A Modern Miracle from Epidemiology. Annals of Epidemiology, 19(4), 226-230.

Rebar, R. W. (2008). Infertility. from http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec18/ch256/ch256a.html?qt=Infertility&alt=sh

Zhou, J., & Qu, F. (2009). Treating gynaecological disorders with traditional Chinese medicine: A review. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, 6(4), 494-517.

Books on Herbal Medicine

Herbal Medicine: Books on Herbal Medicine

If you are interested in Herbal Medicine, have a look at these Books on Herbal Medicine, they are set of carefully selected, authoritative books ranging from text books for students of herbal medicine to general information for the lay person interested in medicinal plants and their uses.

Treating Low Back Pain using Traditional Chinese Medicine

Low back pain (LBP) is a major health problem with increasing costs to private health funds and government subsidised health care systems (Brinkhaus, et al., 2006; Chenot, et al., 2006; Kittang, Melvaer, & Baerheim, 2001; Leibing, et al., 2002). LBP and acute LBP are very common conditions seen by acupuncturists, and up to 80% of people (Haake, et al., 2007; Meng, et al., 2003) experience back pain at some point in their lives, for which they seek treatment (Brok, Thorlund, Gluud, & Wetterslev, 2008; Cherkin, et al., 2009).

Read the full article: Low Back Pain and Traditional Chinese Medicine

Pre-Menstrual Syndrome and Traditional Chinese Medicine

Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS) affects countless women every month, yet there are few real long-term treatment options available for them. However, traditional Chinese medicine has been shown to provide not only short-term relief, but is proving to be an effective treatment strategy with lasting results.

Read the full article: Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS): A Case Study using Traditional Chinese Medicine

Menopause and Traditional Chinese Medicine

Menopause – TCM Tutorial Paper

by Danny T. Siegenthaler

This paper reviews menopause and describes how this condition is understood in both Western medicine (WM) and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It further identifies the key diagnostic indicators for menopause in both medical systems and explains how these indicators reflect the disease pathogenesis, (including my understanding of menstrual features for WM and TCM). Furthermore, it will compare WM and TCM treatment protocols and outcomes for the menopausal syndrome (MPS).

Read the full Article on Menopause and Traditional Chinese Medicine

Layman's Guide to Natural Therapies Course

WILDCRAFTED HERBAL PRODUCTS IN ASSOCIATION WITH KURRAJONG NATURAL MEDICINE CENTRE

PRESENT

THE LAYMAN’S GUIDE TO NATURAL MEDICINE

Commences Wednesday 17th February 6:30 to 7:45pm

Venue: Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre

Shop 7/1147 Grose Vale Road, Kurrajong Village, NSW, Australia

This 6-week course is designed to answer questions you may have about Natural Therapies. It unravels the often confusing and misleading alternative health care information commonly available and aims to increase understanding and insight into the health benefits Natural Medicine has to offer.

The topics to be covered week by week will be focused on the core forms of natural medicine practiced in Australia today and an overview of the secondary modalities will be given.

Course participants will have an opportunity to ask questions during a ten-minute Question and Answer time at the end of each weekly session.

There is No Charge for attendance BUT BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL PLEASE!

Week 1:

Introduction to Natural Therapies – Just Placebo or Real Medicine?

The differences and similarities between Natural Medicine, Natural Therapies, Complementary Medicine and Alternative Therapies are examined; Training, Qualifications and Regulation of practitioners.

Weeks 2 & 3:

Traditional Chinese Medicine:

The philosophy behind this ancient system of medicine is outlined, including Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine and Moxibustion. The theoretical aspect of how these fit into contemporary health care is explored.

Weeks 4 & 5:

Western Herbal Medicine & Naturopathy:

The Western Herbal Medicine tradition is highly eclectic and has quite a different application to that of Chinese Herbal Medicine. The ways that herbs have been traditionally used are examined and their contemporary use discussed. Herbal Medicine is often used by some Naturopaths but can be considered to be too interventionist by others. The basic principles underlying the philosophy of ‘nature cure’ are explored are discussed in the context of modern lifestyles.

Week 6:

Body Work & ‘Natural Exercise’:

It is well-known that structure and function in the body are inter-linked and it is on this basis that ‘natural’ or ‘alternative’ forms of body work and exercise are based. This week we look at the roles of Remedial Therapies, Massage, Chiropractics and Osteopathy in health care and explore why exercise forms such as Tai Chi and Yoga are better for you.

To Book or Enquire Phone: (02) 4573 0784

Skin care: It's a cover up

For many years now we have seen a move away from skin care products that contain chemicals which are potentially harmful to the skin. Consumers have begun to demand natural skin care products. That is, they demand products, that instead of containing potentially harmful, synthetic and/or artificial ingredients contain natural ones. This is a step in the right direction, but it is not the whole story.

Natural skin care is by definition the use of natural ingredients such as herbs, essential oils and various extracts and nutrients from fruits and/or vegetables that treat the skin. Skin care after all is not about plumping up of the skin or temporarily removing fine lines and wrinkles, skin care is far more than that.

Real skin care is about maintaining or regaining healthy skin by use of natural ingredients that facilitate and promote the normal functions of the skin. If the skin needs particular attention, because one of its functions is compromised, herbal extracts and other natural substances can be used to specifically target that issue. Herbs are healing substances that have been used for thousands of years to re-establish health and many of these herbs have specific therapeutic functions on the skin.

The Skin is an organ and just like any other organ in our body, and it too requires regular attention and maintenance. After all, we drink water to help our Kidneys function properly, we eat bran and other fibre containing foods to help maintain healthy bowl function and so on. However, when it comes to our skin we often use products that simply mask dis-function rather than addressing the underlying problem.

Natural skin care products, or if you prefer, herbal skin care products, that contain therapeutic doses of herbs, essential oils and other nutrients, are like eating bran and grains to maintain our digestive system, but they are formulated to work on maintaining the normal functions of the skin.

Unfortunately, this is not the attitude of the cosmetics industry. The fact that products are being made with one or two natural ingredients (together with all the other synthetic and artificial ones) and then are advertised to contain natural ingredients is merely a marketing ploy by these companies. They are not interested in healing the skin, far from it; they want you to continue using their products to cover up the symptoms of a stressed skin that is in need of actual treatment.

Think about it. What is more profitable, treating the underlying cause of a problem and thus fixing it, or treating the symptoms by continually applying products to cover the problem... I'm sure shareholders of large cosmetic companies don't want to see problems solved... But then again, I could be wrong...

Therapeutic herbal skin care is about one: addressing weaknesses or problems of the skin and addressing these in specific ways through the use of specific herbs and/or essential oils; and two: once normal skin function has been established, herbal skin care products can then be used to maintain optimal functioning of the skin. The aim of therapeutically formulated herbal skin care products is not to mask symptoms of skin problems, but to fix them.

For example, Lavender is well known for its wound healing, antiseptic and toning properties. It has the ability to remove redness and heat from the skin, making it an ideal choice for soothing and repairing an irritated or hypersensitive skin. Although it is not really an anti-inflammatory as such, Lavender is often useful where there is inflammation, hence its use in burns, dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, boils, rheumatism, wounds, ulcers, and so on.

From a natural medicine point of view, treatment of any health problem needs to be viewed from the first principle, that is the cause of the problem, not the effect. Thus, therapeutic herbal skin care products are formulated to target the cause of the skin problem not the result of it. This approach may take longer for the person to see the effects, but these will be more permanent and ultimately easier to maintain.

When products merely aim to mask symptoms, they actually never address the underlying cause and therefore the problem gradually gets worse. At some point, the problem will be irreversible and the masking of the symptoms no longer possible. This is when the whole deck of cards falls in a heap and serious skin problems become apparent and almost impossible to treat.

Danny Siegenthaler is a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine and together with his wife Susan, a medical herbalist and Aromatherapist, they have created Natural Skin Care Products by Wildcrafted Herbal Products to share their 40 years of combined expertise with you.
They practice Herbal and Chinese medicine at their Wildcrafted Cottage Clinic. (c) Wildcrafted Herbal Products 2010

Happy New Year from Wildcrafted Herbal Products & Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre

It's a brand new year full of possibilities and hope, promises and probably some new year resolutions.

Wildcrafted Herbal Products and Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre are also looking forward to an exiting and fun-filled 2010.

Soon we will be launching our new Age-Defying range as well as our range for (very) Sensitive Skin Care Products. So keep an eye on our website and newsletter.

In addition, at the Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre we have started both Tai Chi and Pilates Classes which are very popular (for more details, contact our centre).

So, if you are in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, Australia, come and pay us a visit and join in some of the great activities.

Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre to Run Courses on Natural Therapies

Starting in November 2009, Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre will begin running a series of courses covering a range of Natural Therapies.

Courses include ‘the layman’s guide to natural therapies’, which has been a popular course for people who are interested in alternative medicine and it’s range of disciplines, but because they lack information, have not yet sought such treatments.

This course will look at the major natural medicine modalities and discuss:

• What they are
• How they work
• How natural medicine and orthodox medicine can complement each other
• How natural medicine can help maintain and regain good health
• Find out which therapy is best for your particular health issue
• How to find a qualified natural therapist
• What natural therapies can and cannot do
• And much more.

Not only has this course been of interest to the lay person, but many health professionals have also attended this course with a few to find out more and increase their level of understanding about natural medicine and it’s disciplines.

“We first conceived this course over 10 years ago, because we found that people from all walks of life were increasingly interested in what natural medicine could do for them”, said Susan.

“The aim was not to sell alternative medicine, but rather to provide information that is factual and provides a more complete picture of how an individual could use natural medicine to improve their health. What surprised us initially was the high level of interest expressed by orthodox medical practitioners and nurses”, said Susan Siegenthaler, who as formulated and taught this course now for many years.

Susan is a medical herbalist and Aromatherapist with over 25 years of experience in private practice and teaching. Together with her husband and business partner Danny, a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine, they’ve started their new clinic, Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre and are now offering this course free to anyone that wishes to find out more about natural medicine.

The course will be held over 4 weeks at: Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre. For more details please call (02) 5673 0784 or drop in at:
Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre
Shop 7/1147 Grose Vale Rd.,
Kurrajong Village, NSW 2758

Wildcrafted Cottage - Kurrajong Now Open

Wildcrafted Herbal Products Pty Ltd. has opened its first retail store, in Kurrajong Village, NSW, where its full range of natural skin care products is now available and on display.

Wildcrafted Cottage – Kurrajong, is the brand new retail outlet for Wildcrafted’s full range of skin, body and personal care products. “We wanted to make all our products available in one place so customers could come into our shop, sample the products, and ask questions directly from the people who make them,” said Danny Siegenthaler.

“So far our brand, Wildcrafted Herbal Products, has been primarily available via our website and to patients that come to our Clinic, but there was no specialised outlet where people could go to experience, smell, touch and try the products. Now with the opening of Wildcrafted Cottage, not only can people come and test our natural skin care products, but they can also sample our full range of personal care, hair care, Aromatherapy spa-blends and Therapeutic creams,” said Susan Siegenthaler.

The formulations of all the products throughout the entire range of Wildcrafted Herbal Products are based on the principles of herbal medicine. Susan, a renowned medical herbalist, formulated each of the products to maximise their safety and effectiveness.

Wildcrafted’s range of natural skin care products, as well as all the other products, only contain 100% natural and certified organic ingredients to ensure the highest quality, effectiveness and purity of every product.

“Over the last 25 years we’ve fine-tuned our formulations to be as safe and effective as possible”, said Susan. “My aim has always been not to just make another range of natural skin care products, but a range of products that are of therapeutic potency and effectiveness”, she said.

Wildcrafted Cottage opened its doors in October 2009 and is located in Kurrajong Village, northwest of Sydney in the lower Blue Mountains. Kurrajong is surrounded by natural bush land and is a picturesque, small Village, making it an ideal choice for the first of Wildcrafted’s retail stores.

The whole range including the latest line of anti-ageing products are now on display at Wildcrafted Cottage - Kurrajong.

Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre & Wilcrafted Cottage Now Open

Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre is now open and we invite you to come and take a look, or visit the Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre website to see what we do and where we're located.

The aim of Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre is to provide the local community in the Hawkesbury region with a one-stop natural medicine centre where we offer a wide range of alternative medicine.

In addition, our Wildcrafted Cottage (the retail shop attached to Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre) stocks all of the Wildcrafted Herbal Products currently available. These products are hand made by our medical herbalist and strictly adhere to herbal medicine and aromatherapy principles.

The range of products available include 100% natural & organic skin care products for both men and women, as well as a full range of personal care and spa products to endulge in.

Further, Wildcrafted Herbal Products full range of therapeutic creams and compounds are also available.

If you're in the lower Blue Mountain area of western Sydney it is a great time to come and visit us at Kurrajong, a lovely Village along the Bell's Line of Road.

See you there

Wildcrafted Herbal Products to open its first Retail outlet & Alternative Medicine Clinic

Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre is now becoming a reality. After almost 2 years of planning, construction of Wildcrafted's first retail outlet is in its first phase.

Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre will however be far more than just an outlet for our products. It will also incorporate an Alternative Medicine Centre, offering Traditional Chinese Medicine, Western Herbal Medicine, Remedial Massage Therapy and more.

In addition we will be holding Classes and Workshops on related, relevant topics for patients, the general public as well as our students. Yes, we will be running different courses as well. So stay tuned and all will be revealed over the next few weeks and months.

In the mean time you can follow the construction of Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre on our blog.

Can Science Really Validate Alternative Medicine

This is a really good and valid question. The short answer, in my opinion, is no. Scientists cannot test the effectiveness of alternative medicine adequately. Why? Because western science works within a strict paradigm that is at best difficult to apply to a range of aspects in alternative medicine.

Let’s start with what should easily be verifiable by western science. The effect of a specific herb should be readily testable and should provide consistent results. Problem is, the tests often get very different results and do not agree about a specific herbs’ effectiveness. Why? This is where it gets a bit more complicated.

Firstly, in order to test a particular herb for it’s medicinal properties and effectiveness, the scientists must use the correct species of herbs. This is simple to achieve, however, there are major differences in the same species, depending on how and where it is grown, the time of day and year it is harvested and the condition of the soil the herb was grown in, not to mention the different processing methods that can be used.

Let’s look at an example that is very typical. Echinacea is a herb that most people have heard of and where science provides at best confusing information and results.

Now, Echinacea has 2 major species that are commonly used by medical herbalists. The first is Echinacea purpurea, the second is E. angustifolia. Now, these two species of Echinacea have different actions, and depending on the parts of the plant that are included in the herbal extract, these functions will vary again.

Let’s just stick to Echinacea purpurea and look at the many different extracts that are used in the market place.

The single best quality of this herbal extract comes from Switzerland and is made by a company called Bioforce AG. No, I’m not in anyway affiliated with this company, nor are they paying me for including their product or company name in this article or elsewhere.

As a herbalist, I’ve used many different preparations of Echinacea purpurea from different companies and have found that the best results come from the herbal extract of Echinacea purpurea produced by this company.

But why is that, what makes their Echinacea extract so much more effective? The first reason is the way they grow the herb. Firstly, they grow it in organically prepared fields, which are surrounded by buffer zones that keep any leaching into the primary fields from occurring.

Secondly, their crops are grown in rich mountain soil above 1800 meters. This appears to have a major influence on the properties and their concentrations in this herb. Thirdly, once the herb is ready to be harvested, the herbs are processed in their fresh, living state within 24 hours of being harvested. That means the plants are still alive and viable, with all their active and non-active constituents still intact.

The product is a green plant extract full of the goodies that make up this herb.

Alternatively, you can purchase Echinacea purpurea that has not been grown in organically prepared soil, that has not been grown above 1800 meters and is grown on much poorer, non-organically prepared soil. The plant is not processed within 24 hours of harvesting but instead is processed as a dried herb. Despite these major differences, they are of course still the same species and therefore treated as if they were the same. While preparations from such plants are generally standardised to meet minimum therapeutic quantities of the active ingredients as set by the British Pharmacopoeia, these preparations widely vary in other, so called non-active ingredients.

Even blind Freddy can tell you that the extract resulting from the two differently grown plants is going to be different and will have difference in their therapeutic effectiveness.

Herein lies the first problem for scientists. They are not really testing the same herb and therefore will get confusing results. They may be testing the same species, Echinacea purpurea, but not the same quality of the herbal extract. Unfortunately, they are probably not even aware of the fact that there are differences in plant constituents depending on where the plants have been grown and the methods used to make the extract.

This, just by the way, is also a problem for the herbalists that use Echinacea purpurea to treat their patients. While it’s easy to establish whether an extract is a green plant extract or not, it is often difficult to find out where the plants used to make the extract have been grown, etc. In our clinic we have often found one brand to work much better than another, despite the standardised active ingredients.

Now, if the scientists are looking for the chemicals that make up the extract (plant) to identify which of the chemicals are responsible for the range of therapeutic applications, they will find widely different concentrations and different ratios of ingredients depending on the origin of the plant/s. If they are not aware that this is (a) possible, and (b) provides different therapeutic results, then of course their results will not agree with other studies that have used plants from a different region.

The second problem scientists face (possibly unknowingly) is that the strict paradigm of science is not designed to accommodate the paradigms of alternative medicine. For example, what western medical science refers to as the Liver is totally different to that of traditional Chinese medicine. For example you would be very hard pressed to find an orthodox medical doctor that would consider the Eyes to be part of the Liver, however, a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine will very much consider the Eyes as part of the Liver.

These two differing paradigms are not easily merged. Let me give you an example. An individual that presents with consistently red eyes, a reddish face and short temper is highly likely to be diagnosed in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as having heat in the Liver (no, not the eyes, the liver). Now an orthodox medical practitioner may diagnose this as an allergy or a range of other problems, but is unlikely to diagnose a Liver disease.

I’m not saying either of the two approaches is right or wrong, what I’m trying to point out here is that the two paradigms are vastly different and are therefore difficult to unite under a single, testable paradigm that easily accommodates both philosophies.

This then makes it very difficult for western scientists to adequately validate alternative medicine and its therapeutic methods, if the paradigm under which they operate is vastly different.

In conclusion, unless we are testing the same thing in the same way, there is a very strong chance of obtaining different, non-conclusive, results. This is one of the major reasons that orthodox medical science is more often than not critical of alternative medicine, herbs, and other aspects.

Unless we can unite the paradigms so that every time a particular plant species is tested for its therapeutic actions and effects and the extracts are identical in all aspects, there will never be any agreement over the effectiveness of herbs.

Similarly, if we can’t find a suitable common denominator that can adequately unite differing paradigms, then any resulting tests are unlikely to be conclusive or shed insight into the effectiveness of alternative medicine.

Danny Siegenthaler is a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine and together with his wife Susan, a medical herbalist and Aromatherapist, they have created Natural Skin Care Products by Wildcrafted Herbal Products to share their 40 years of combined expertise with you.

Subscribe to their Natural Skin Care Newsletter and receive a free eBook providing hints & tips on how to look after your skin

© Wildcrafted Herbal Products 2009

Cellulite Kit - Product Release

The first sign of cellulite is every woman’s nightmare. Cellulite is an irregular accumulation of fatty cells immediately underneath the skin, which leads to a dimpled appearance known as cellulite or ‘orange skin’. So, let’s take a closer look at cellulite, what it is, why mainly women get it and how you can get rid of it.

Cellulite occurs around the hips, thighs, and buttocks. Because of the close proximity of cellulite to the surface of the skin, it creates a dimpled appearance in those body regions.

It occurs mostly in women as well as in some men, and can affect most age groups. Even if you do not have a weight problem, eat healthy food, drink plenty of fluid and exercise on a regular basis, you can still have cellulite.

Factors that are attributed to the development of cellulite are: age, genetic predisposition, Hormonal changes, unhealthy diets and lack of exercise. However, even fit and healthy top athletes can and do get cellulite. Basically the reason women get cellulite is because women have to store fat to give them enough calories to get them through pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Medical herbalists at Wildcrafted Herbal Products Pty Ltd. have put together a select range of products formulated to give you the best chance at winning your fight against those bumpy regions and smooth out that dimpled skin.

Get Your Cellulite Kit Now and start fighting your cellulite today.

Moisturizers - What Do They Actually Do and How Do They Work?

No matter where you look there are skin care products on offer that will make you supposedly 10 years younger in a millisecond. Yeh, right... Most of these products tend to be some type of moisturizing crème and they promise that regular use will make your skin look younger.

But sales pitch aside, what is it about moisturising crèmes that affects your skin? How do they actually work? Are all the moisturising crèmes the same?

Let’s take a basic look at the anatomy of a moisturizer.

The first thing to consider is the base that gives the moisturizing crème its over-all functionality. There are basically two types of moisturizing bases: Oil in Water and Water in Oil preparations. - Isn’t that the same thing, I hear you ask. No. They have quite different effects on the skin. Why? Because when the product is an emulsion of water in oil, the oil is more dominant and therefore it’s most effective for dry skin.

When the product is based on oil in water, however, products are less moisturizing and are formulated for slightly oily skin.

At this point however, it is also important to note that depending on the inclusion of other ingredients such as essential oils and herbal extracts, the overall effect of the base-cream can be modified.

The additional ingredients are chosen based on their therapeutic actions, as well as their vitamin, antioxidant, essential fatty acid, and fragrant content that ads to the functionality of the moisturizer. In other words, the formula of the moisturizer is targeted at a specific skin type or skin problem. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

A good quality moisturizing crème has two basic functions. Firstly, it prevents/reduces the loss of moisture from the skin; and secondly it acts to protect, nourish and hydrate the skin. How?

Okay, here we need to take a very quick, simplified look at how the skin works.

The skin is a living, breathing organ, that has a multitude of functions including protecting the inside of the body from our external environment. The skin is almost totally waterproof and it has a protective layer called the acid mantel, which prevents microbes from getting into our skin and cause problems. Because of its inherent structure, only very, very small molecules can freely pass through the skin to the inside of the body.

Other, larger molecules don’t get a free passage. They either remain on the surface of the skin or they get ‘carried’ across the skin-barrier. For example, some essential oils, certain drugs, etc., have molecules that are too big to pass through the skin, which means they need to be carried across the skin-barrier, by a ‘carrier agent’.

In a moisturizing cream this may be achieved by including a carrier oil such as Jojoba in the formula. Once carried across the skin-barrier, the essential oils or herbal extracts can then ‘do their job’ which may be to reduce inflammation or promote blood circulation, or what ever.

So, on the one hand a well formulated moisturizer has ingredients that stay on the skin’s surface and take on the functions of protection and moisture loss prevention, while on the other hand, it contains ingredients that do enter through the skin-barrier to act on the underlying skin layers.

Both these functions/actions of a moisturising crème are very important and the ingredients play a vital role in the effectiveness of a quality moisturising crème. This brings me back to the therapeutic actions, vitamins, antioxidants, essential fatty acids, etc., that ad to the functionality and effectiveness of the moisturizer.

As you are probably aware, there are two types of moisturizers – 100% natural ones and of course the non-natural ones. The difference is the type of ingredients that are used to make up the product and its functionality.

I don't think I need to go into why we should only consider using 100% natural skin care products, as I have covered this topic in considerable depth through many other articles, but it is important to reiterate, that many of the commercially available skin care products found in supermarkets and department stores do contain potentially harmful chemicals and for this reason alone we’d do well to stay away from them.

However, moisturizers that use exclusively natural ingredients such as herbal extracts, essential oils, natural carrier oils and shea nut butter and others, do help to prevent loss of moisture from the skin, benefit the underlying skin layers and can have significant therapeutic effects on the over-all health, look and feel of the skin.

It is for these reasons that a daily skin care regime should always include the use of a natural moisturizing crème.

Do we really need to use a moisturiser?

Now some people would argue that we do not need to use any moisturizers at all, as our skin is perfectly capable of moisturizing itself. After all, our skin contains literally millions of sebaceous glands that excrete sebum (the body’s natural moisturizer) onto the skin’s surface, which is sufficient to keep the acid mantel (protective layer) in tact.

Well, for some people, mind you very few of them, that may be right and indeed they may not need to use a moisturiser, especially if their skin is slightly on the oily side of normal and they are living in a moderate climate. But most of us know that if we do not use a moisturiser, our skin will have a tendency to become dry, rough and at times itchy and flaky.

The problem with today’s modern lifestyle is that we expose ourselves to heating and/or air-conditioning, are surrounded by polluted air, engage in regular physical exercise which makes us sticky and sweaty, and we are basically covered from neck to toe in clothing all day.

Obviously that requires a certain level of personal hygiene and most of us have a shower and use soap to wash our bodies – not the face maybe, but the rest of the body. As a result, this removes the natural oil that the body secretes thereby removing the moisturizing function of the skin.

Now for some people, the removal of the ‘acid mantel’ stimulates, or rather over-stimulates, sebum secretion and they end up with excessively oily skin... not exactly the aim of the exercise, is it. Others end up with dry skin because the body’s sebum production is not sufficient to rebuild the moisture/oil layer on the skin’s surface. In extreme cases this can lead to eczema and/or dermatitis, and who wants that...

So what becomes important now is the type of cleansing agent that is used - but that’s for another article. Suffice it to say that using most of the commercially available soaps is not a great idea, but rather we should use a mild, natural cleansing agent that is close to the skin’s natural pH (approx. 5.5-7.0) and use a good quality, natural, skin-type specific moisturiser to replenish the skin’s moisture and help it to rebuild the protective acid mantel.

I hope you’ve gained some insight into how moisturizing creams work and why they play an important role in the maintenance and health of our skin. Read more on natural skin care products.

Vitamin D and Sun-light: Essentials for a healthy Life

For decades now, both Susan and I have been telling our patients, and anyone else who would listen, not to stay out of the sun, but to use the sun to help maintain their general health, avoid osteoporosis and auto-immune diseases. When used correctly there is little chance of causing skin cancer, but incorrect use of the Sun and therefore over-exposure to UV-rays can of course be dangerous. We've even published an article "Sunlight, Vitamin D and Your Skin" on this very topic.

Traditional naturopathic medicine has always used short-time, early morning (before 9am in Summer and 10am in Winter) exposure to the sun as part of any health regime to treat a range of diseases.

The following transcript, of a news story televised on Australia’s ABC, confirms what Natural therapists have been preaching for years; but now even the scientists confirm this – so, it must be right…(sorry about the sarcasm...)

Transcript from Catalyst: Vitamin D - ABC TV Science: http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/2514231.htm (12/03/2009)

Have we taken our fear of the sun too far? We’re told to keep out of the sun – so what are you to think when your doctor tells you that you’re not getting enough of it and as a result you now have a serious vitamin D deficiency? Dr Norman Swan soaks up some rays to find out what is really going on.

NARRATION:
The sun’s ultraviolet rays produce most of the vitamin D your body needs. But it’s a double edged sword – too much sun can cause skin cancer and too little can lead to vitamin D deficiency.

Sophie:
Our summers were spent basically down the beach but now of course life is different
because of John’s melanomas we’ve had to stay out of the sun and I guess that’s what’s led to the vitamin D deficiency.

Dr Norman Swan:
Sophie and John’s story isn’t unique there are lots of Australians with vitamin D levels that seem to be too low and that has enormous potential implications

NARRATION:
GP, Dr Larry Light, routinely tests his patients for their vitamin D levels.

Dr Larry Light:
Your vitamin D levels….

NARRATION:
And almost 80% of his patients over 60 are vitamin D deficient.

Dr Larry Light:
It's almost unusual to find someone over the age of 60 with normal Vitamin D levels.

Dr Norman Swan:
Dr Lights approach to people like Sophie and John could well be on the money low vitamin D levels have been associated with an increase risk of colon cancer schizophrenia diabetes multiple sclerosis falls and bone fractures not to mention heart disease. It all seems too amazing to be true but is it? And it’s all for something that’s not even a vitamin.

NARRATION:
It’s actually a chemical messenger – a hormone. Vitamin D is produced in your skin when it’s exposed to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. It then goes through a series of chemical processes in the liver and kidney where it’s converted to it’s active form – the hormone, calcitriol.

Prof. Rebecca Mason:
Now the most important thing that calcitriol does is help calcium and phosphate absorption from the environment into the body. Particularly important for strong bones and good muscle function. What we've found out though, that there are proteins that respond to Vitamin D in just about every cell in the body. And Vitamin D has effects in most tissues in the body.

NARRATION:
In recent years low vitamin D has been associated with the development of autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes… but Dr Jenny Gunton and her colleagues have found a link with all types of diabetes.

Dr Jenny Gunton:
It looks like people with diabetes are more likely to be vitamin D deficient. It’s not clear why it covers all types of diabetes but we think that it plays an important role in the function of beta cells and they’re the cells that make all the insulin for your body. The beta cells don’t work as well if you don’t have enough vitamin D. We don't know whether or not you can use Vitamin D to treat diabetes but it's a question that we're starting to look at. We're certainly treating people who we find to be Vitamin D deficient and it looks like it's helping their diabetes.

NARRATION:
The real scientific test to see whether vitamin D is truly of benefit is to give it to people in a trial.. and a recent study is taking trials involving 57,000 people taking vitamin D supplements and what they showed was that supplementation was associated with a lower risk of dying of any cause.

Dr Jenny Gunton:
I think Vitamin D deficiency is becoming a public health issue. It's becoming incredibly common in people who are otherwise healthy.

Prof. Rebecca Mason:
The groups who are really at risk are the people who are older. People who have dark skin. The people who cover up. And anyone who's chronically ill.

Dr Jenny Gunton:
Normal levels for vitamin D are a controversial topic but its very clear if your levels are below 25 that it’s very bad for your bone density and increased risk of osteoporosis and breaking your bones; up to 50 which is the current cut off for normal you still have abnormalities in calcium handling in the body.

Dr Norman Swan:
So if you’ve got a low level of vitamin D what’s the best way to replace it? Sunlight’s pretty good, 90% of vitamin D is made by sunlight having an impact on your skin, but sunlight also causes skin cancer do we really need more sun?

NARRATION:
Rebecca Mason and her team have made some remarkable findings – getting your vitamin D levels from the sun can be safe and may also have a protective effect.

Prof. Rebecca Mason:
What we've shown is that Vitamin D compounds used topically both in human skin and in animals reduce UV induced DNA damage and in animals reduces the immuno suppression and the skin cancers. We think that this reflects a natural protection in the skin that Vitamin D is giving you.

NARRATION:
Some experts recommend exposing 15% of your body to the sun every day for six to eight minutes before 11am or after three pm; and double this time during winter, if you live in Tasmania, or if you have dark skin.

NARRATION:
How does this sit with the Cancer Council’s Slip Slop Slap campaign?

Professor Ian Olver:
It’s very important that the sun protection message during the summer remains and the vitamin D message can complement it for times when the sun is unlikely to burn you skin.

NARRATION:
But getting out into the sun at a particular hour of day for just the right length of time is not practical for everyone….

John Biggs:
I've had two melanomas and do my best to sort of keep out of the sun.

NARRATION:
So for people like John, supplements have their place. But what’s the recommended dose?

Prof. Rebecca Mason:
The only supplements that are generally available here are about a thousand international units and most of them are in the Vitamin D3 form. In the same form as we make in the skin. If you've actually got significant levels of Vitamin D deficiency. So most people now are recommending a loading dose of at least say five tablets a day for a couple of weeks and then going back onto the one thousand units a day.

Dr Light:
Your vitamin D levels have risen from the original 23 up to 82 nanomoles per litre. So taking those capsules, I think it was about four at night paid off.

NARRATION:
But what about diet? With only 10% of the vitamin D your body needs coming from food is it a realistic source?

Dr Jenny Gunton:
We don’t get enough vitamin D from the diet unless you take supplements in nearly all cases, because you only get it from oily fish or cod liver oil and I’ve never had cod liver oil but I’m told it tastes memorably awful.

NARRATION:
So if you just want the maintenance dose of vitamin D, you would have to eat the equivalent of one large fillet of oily fish, or one tablespoon of tasty cod liver oil every day.

Sophie:
I’ll be taking vitamin D now for the rest of my life one capsule a day just to make sure that my levels don’t drop and that I can get on with life

Dr Norman Swan:
So what are the main messages here - well a lot of us are low in vitamin D and we don’t even know it, you can have your levels checked but they’re expensive to do, for some of us just being out in the sun for a few extra minutes a day particularly if we’re exercising that’ll be good, 15% of your body uncovered, many people though are going to require supplements sometimes in quite significant doses so it’s probably a good idea to have a chat with your doctor first.

Story Contacts
Dr Jenny Gunton
j.gunton@garvan.org.au
Garvan Institute of Medical Research
Prof Rebecca Mason
rebecca.mason@bosch.org.au
Bosch Institute, The University of Sydney

Boy, it's nice to be vindicated.