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In Australia, antibiotic use is high compared with other developed countries. Did you know that in 2015 in Australia 30,000,000 (yes, 30 million!) antibiotic prescriptions were made - that’s more than 1 prescription for every Australian! A five year Australian study, released in 2017, found that antibiotics were prescribed for upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) at rates four to nine times higher than those recommended by national clinical guidelines. Prescribing within the guidelines would reduce the number of antibiotics dispensed by nearly 90% for some conditions. Antibiotics are being overprescribed and dispensed in Australia for conditions for which there is no evidence of benefit, including influenza (52.2% of patients) and acute bronchitis (92.4% of patients).  Why do we need to reduce our use of antibiotics? The World Health Organization has stated that antimicrobial resistance is one of the greatest threats to human health. There has been a distinct increase in resistant infections such as methicillin-resistance in Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Australia since 2006. Resistance to antimicrobials occurs when bacteria change to protect themselves from these drugs. When this happens, infections that could once be treated or prevented with antimicrobials can become life-threatening. Antibiotics are the most commonly prescribed type of antimicrobial – so improving the way we use antibiotics helps fight antimicrobial resistance. Over 40% of Australians had at least one antibiotic dispensed to them in 2017.  Antimicrobial Use and Resistance in Australia (AURA) Antimicrobial Use and Resistance in Australia (AURA) is our national surveillance system. Data collected by AURA is being used to help doctors, health professionals, and governments take the right action to reduce antimicrobial resistance in Australia. ‘In patients aged under 65 years, the highest rate of dispensing (of antibiotics) was for children aged between two and four years’. A key finding from 2019 AURA report.  The most common reason antibiotics are prescribed for Australian children? Acute otitis media - middle ear infection. However, over the past 30 years, expert opinion has swung against doctors giving antibiotics for this problem. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners recommend that middle ear infection (otitis media) in non-indigenous children between the ages of two to twelve years should not be treated with antibiotics unless there are signs of widespread infection. The good news? There was a decline in antibiotic dispensing in 2016 and a further decline in 2017, the first downward trend since the late 1990s. But… • More than 50% of people with colds and upper respiratory tract infections were prescribed antimicrobials when they are not recommended by current prescribing guidelines. • Antibiotics are being prescribed for acute bronchitis and flu, for which antibiotics are never recommended. • Around 50% of all antibiotic prescriptions were ordered with repeats when they may not be needed. Antibiotics treat some bacterial infections, but for many common conditions, such as colds and flu, they are not effective at all. For your own personal health, you should only take antibiotics for infections caused by bacteria. Antibiotics will not help if you have a viral infection, and you run the risk of experiencing side effects and contributing to antimicrobial resistance.  There are three things you can pledge to do to reduce antibiotic resistance:
You can make an official NPS Medicinewise Antibiotic resistance pledge Also, please consider the food you buy remembering that certified organic foods in Australia prohibit the use of any antibiotics (and growth hormones). The Australian Government and industry collect data to monitor antimicrobial resistance in pigs, chicken meat, chicken eggs and salmon, having the fifth lowest level of antibiotic use in food producing animals of countries examined in a 2016 review. Can complimentary medicine can play a role in reducing antibiotic resistance? The results of a 2016 study published in 2016 in the British Journal of Medicine (BMJ) showed that practices which employed GPs with additional training in complementary medicine, such as homeopathy, prescribed 22% fewer antibiotics.  Homeopathic medicine and upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) in children. Homeopathy merits consideration as an early treatment option in uncomplicated URTI of children and is increased by the problem of the overuse of antibiotics, particularly in pre-schoolers. The Effectiveness and Safety of a Homeopathic Medicinal Product in Paediatric Upper Respiratory Tract Infections With Fever The results of this Randomized Controlled Trial point to potential benefits to decrease the public health risk of antibiotic resistance due to an antibiotic sparing effect, and that homeopathy may also be able to contribute and contain at a public health level the rising problem of antibiotic resistance.  Homeopathy is increasingly popular. In Germany, 60% of the people have used homeopathic medicine, with the great majority (87%) of users reporting positive experiences, most frequently for colds and flu. Homeopathy is the most commonly used complementary medicinal treatment for German children, It is estimated that 28% of infants are treated with homeopathy during their second year of life and, 16% of all homeopathic medicines used in children are for flu or rhino pharyngeal complaints. A study from France showed that patients managed with homeopathic medicine for URTI had significantly lower consumption of antibiotics compared to conventionally managed patients, while achieving comparable clinical outcomes. Among adult homeopathy users in the United States, respiratory and ear, nose, and throat complaints are the most commonly treated conditions. The First Survey of Australian Homeopathy indicate that ten percent of visits to a homeopath were for general lung, ear, nose and throat complaints.  Homeopathic medicine, Acute otitis media - middle ear infection and Upper Respiratory Tract Infection (URTI) in children. The public health and individual risks of inappropriate antibiotic prescribing and conventional over-the-counter (OTC) drugs in the treatment of children with acute otitis media (AOM) and upper respiratory infections (URTIs) are significant. Homeopathic medications as clinical alternatives for Symptomatic Care of Acute Otitis Media and Upper Respiratory Infections in children. This paper shows that at a practical level, homeopathy offers several advantages over conventional OTC drugs for children: 1. Fewer and less serious side effects. 2. Earlier onset symptom improvements. 3. Lower costs, with reduced use of conventional drugs. The theme of significantly faster onset of improvement seen in children and adults with homeopathy than with conventional treatment has been shown across studies in multiple countries, in, for example, a 2007 study of 1577 children with acute respiratory and ear complaints.  Most real-world outcome studies in adults and children (but not all) show that homeopathy substantially lowers costs and reduces use of conventional medications in primary care populations. Based on the evidence, homeopathic medicines offer one viable strategy for treating Acute Otitis Media and Upper Respiratory Tract Infections in children to reduce inappropriate use of antibiotics and the associated worldwide problem of drug resistant organisms – antimicrobial resistance. Over 200,000,000 people use homeopathic medicine on a regular basis, worldwide. Homeopathic medicine is not a one size fits all over the counter prescription. It needs to be skillfully prescribed for the symptoms the person is suffering not for the name of the disease or condition. Homeopathic medicine recognises mental, emotional and physical symptoms, and has a systematic way of utilizing a symptom via a rubric. A rubric is a clinically verified symptom found in the repertory -an index of homeopathic medicines by symptom. Repertorization, the process of translating symptoms into clinically usable data, is a scientific, systematized standard unique to homeopathic medicine. For example, a dry cough at night which improves after drinking, with a hoarse, cracked voice might look like this:  Homeopathic medicines are prescribed in accordance with clinically verified symptoms. Always seek medical advice first and in emergencies. Working with a registered homeopath is recommended – Australia’s best homeopaths here
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Washing your hands is the most effective way to stop the spread of gastro, colds and flu!
We all need to wash our hands more often and thoroughly, especially:
How to wash hands correctly: Use a bar of soap – it doesn’t need to be antibacterial.
Where I come from in New Zealand, local Maori always wash their hands after leaving a sacred site, significant place or cemetery, and at school all kids learn ‘horoi o ringa ringa’ wash your hands clean. Children need to wash their hands as often as adults and singing a song can make it fun! To the tune of ‘happy birthday’ sing: ‘Wash my hands so good and clean Wash my fingers and in between Watch the germs all go away Now they’re clean, I’ll go and play’ (singing twice gives a 20 second hand wash.) Babies should have their hands washed too using a wet, soapy flannel and always making sure the soap is rinsed off and their hands dried thoroughly. 
Soap by Monica
Dr Monica Plane the very talented Chiropractor also makes soap! Monica’s soaps are hand made using only the purest natural ingredients and can be purchased from the clinic. Monica’s personal favourite? Spearmint and lemongrass. My favourite Soap by Monica is Almond Milk Confetti – uplifting and soothing. Beautiful! Effective hand washing is essential to the prevention of health care associated (nosocomial) infections and the transmission of antimicrobial resistance aka superbugs. Research shows that improved hand washing among healthcare workers:
2019 Australian hand washing data from over 1000 public and private healthcare organisations including 971 hospitals shows an average handwashing rate of 86%. Nurse compliance is 88.6% followed by doctors at 74.4%. By profession, Dental Therapists are the best hand washers at over 90% across the board. Western Australian hospitals have improved access to hand hygiene products. Your healthcare worker should always perform hand hygiene in front of you. If you don’t see them do it, remind them! This recent article on the topic is well worth reading Horoi o ringa ringa! References: https://healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/F_I/Facts-about-hand-hygiene https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/hand-washing https://www.hha.org.au/ Article first published at 'The Aurum Project - Children's Health Research with Natural Medicine & Homeopathy' under reference: Epstein-Barr virus, Headaches and homeopathic medicine 16/04/2019. Accessible at https://aurumproject.org.au/glandular-fever-homeopathy/ Eighteen year old Mandy* presented to the Pilbara Natural Medicine Clinic in June 2017 with extreme fatigue and headaches. Suffering for a full two and a half years after developing glandular fever caused by the Epstein Barr virus, Mandy finally found relief with homeopathic medicine. A very high achiever, Mandy had been so debilitated she was unable to complete her final term of year twelve and was currently studying for her science degree online. Just after her sixteenth birthday, Mandy developed a cold. She also had headaches and fatigue. Her condition deteriorated and seven days later she could not eat or drink, was photophobic, sleeping the whole day and, had painful cervical (neck) glands. For a few months Mandy consulted various GP’s who tried to help by suggesting electrolytes and probiotics. Then crisis point was reached with Mandy being raced to the emergency department. “I felt I was going to die.” She was admitted, given IV fluids for dehydration and a blood test which revealed infectious mononucleosis (commonly referred to as glandular fever) (Rubric 1) caused by the Epstein-Barr virus and, low iron. Two years later, June 2017, Mandy ‘couldn’t get out of bed’. She was sleeping for twenty hours due to headaches which ‘feel like there is no fluid in my brain, and my brain is knocking the walls’ (Rubric 2) ‘I want to sleep through the pain, lay down to sleep so I don’t feel it.’ Mandy was waking with very puffy eyes and face (Rubric 3) and the only time she had energy was when drinking alcoholic cider ‘it gives me energy, I can dance all night’ (Rubric 4). Mandy constantly worried that her whole life would be like this. (Rubric 5).  Mandy was always catching colds, had had to give up gymnastics coaching at the same time as being unable to finish year twelve because she was ‘catching everything going around’ and, had recently developed a bad case of ringworm (Rubric 6). Thirsty all the time, drinking around four litres of water per day, Mandy could not quench her thirst (Rubric 7) ‘feeling dry and dehydrated’ and only eating sugar ‘chocolate’ and ‘anything salty.’ Mandy consulted a naturopath who gave her a lot of supplements which she found hard to take; had been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and prescribed a drug which made her ‘feel even worse than ever’ and, was in line to see a cardiologist as ‘when I stand up my legs and head get hot and my heart beats fast like I’m unfit but I’m not.’ (Rubric 8) Mandy would ‘feel sick to my tummy when fighting with my boyfriend’ and ‘feel like vomiting when sad or scared.’ ‘I don’t like being alone, I want Mum’ (Rubric 9). Mandy was very upset and had a bout of diarrhoea after her pet bird died (Rubric 10) and, has diarrhoea after eating creamy food. Mandy had a medical history of iron transfusions which stabilised her iron levels but did not increase her energy, corrective jaw surgery and dental braces. WHAT IS HOMEOPATHY? Homeopathic medicine recognises mental, emotional and physical symptoms. Homeopathic medicine is prescribed in accordance with clinically verified symptoms – not on the indication that X medicine is known to assist with X condition so therefore might help Mr X’s problem – which is standard practice in other systems of medicine. IN THE PRACTICE OF HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINE, WHAT IS A RUBRIC? Homeopathic medicine has a systematic way of utilising a symptom via a rubric. A rubric is a clinically verified symptom found in the repertory – an index of homeopathic medicines by symptom. Repertorisation, the process of translating symptoms into clinically usable data is a scientific, systematised standard unique to homeopathic medicine which recognises mental, emotional and physical symptoms. The repertory used for this case analysis was: The Essential Synthesis. Edited by Dr. Frederick Schroyens. London: Homoeopathic Book Publishers and Archibel S.A. 2007. RUBRICS IN THIS CASE HISTORY FOUND IN THE REPERTORY 'THE ESSENTIAL SYNTHESIS' (1) Generals; MONONUCLEOSIS. (2) Head; STRIKING; against the skull, sensation as if brain were. (3) Face; SWELLING; morning, on waking. (4) Generals; FOOD AND DRINKS; Alcohol, amel. (5) Mind; DESPAIR; health, of. (6) Skin; ERUPTIONS; herpetic, circinate. (7) Stomach; THIRST; unquenchable. (8) Generals; HEAT; palpitations with. (9) Mind; COMPANY; desire for, alone agg, when. (10) Rectum; DIARRHOEA; grief, from. After repertorisation of the rubrics, Mandy was given a homeopathic medicine for people who have suffered attacks on the immune system, excessive weariness and weakness, mononucleosis, chronic fatigue, constricting sensations in the brain, headaches, immune deficiency and diarrhoea from emotions. She was given a 30c potency on 02 June 2017.  SECOND VISIT - 16 JULY 2017 ‘I feel a lot better in the day, less depleted, not so worn out. My headache came on, I took a dose of my homeopathic medicine and it went away.’ Mandy is now having headaches every second day which last for an hour and are very painful, described as ‘brain hitting skull, no fluid in my head.’ As is common in the analysis of a homeopathic case history, the rubrics were looked at again and changed slightly. (Rubric 1). Mandy had been getting very angry and upset ‘it’s like when am I going to get better?’ (Rubric 2) and had changed her diet ‘trying to eat good stuff now.’ Mandy’s face and eyes were less puffy in the mornings and over the past three days found the energy to do a few sit ups and squats for the first time in over two years. For the previous two weeks Mandy had been constipated having a bowel motion every two days with straining (Rubric 3) and cramping pains (Rubric 4) and, was wide awake from sleep tossing and turning at 3am and 4am (Rubric 5). RUBRICS FOUND IN THE ESSENTIAL SYNTHESIS ON THE SECOND ANALYSIS (1) Head; STRIKING; against the skull, sensation as if brain were. (2) Mind; DESPAIR; health, of. (3) Rectum; CONSTIPATION; ineffectual, urging and straining. (4) Rectum; CONSTRICTION; stool, before. (5) Sleep; SLEEPLESSNESS; night, 3am, after. This time Mandy was given the homeopathic medicine Sepia, which is helpful for exhaustion, empty & hollow feelings ‘no fluid in my head’ and constipation. The remedy was given in a 30c potency on 16 June 2017. THIRD VISIT - 21 JULY 2017 ‘I feel like a normal person again.’ Mandy is sleeping well for 10 to 12 hours per night ‘if I don’t have that much I feel s**t, I need a lot of sleep.’ Mandy feels tired when awake ‘I feel fatigued it hits me hard, I feel heavy.’ Headaches have not been as bad and now only occur when Mandy hasn’t had enough sleep. Bowel motions are regular with no constipation. Mandy has not had any of her initial homeopathic medicine for a couple of weeks now ‘I don’t feel as great without it, I want to keep taking it’ and, has a bad day, getting depressed, angry and feeling ‘why me?’ once a fortnight. Mandy was instructed to take her initial homeopathic medicine when she felt she needed it as well as Sepia 30c once a week and here we added in extra support with combination Tissue Salts 6x to be taken twice daily. FOURTH VISIT - 07 MARCH 2019 Mandy has not needed any homeopathic medicine since 2017 saying ‘if it wasn’t for getting rid of the headaches I’d be stuck in that fatigue place, I wanted to sleep through the pain. I thought my whole life would be like that.’ Mandy gets a headache now only when sick, which is not often these days, or after too much sleep – more than eight hours. Happily Mandy reported that no heart abnormality was detected by the consultant cardiologist in 2017. Mandy will complete her science degree in two semester’s time and gives credit saying ‘homeopathic medicine helped me to fix my diet, before it I had no energy to even care about food’ and ‘after homeopathic medicine it was easier to get outside in the sun to exercise.’ At the conculsion of our appointment Mandy asked for a hug saying 'thank you so much homeopthy changed my life.'  *Mandy, not her real name, has given consent to publish her story. IS THERE RESEARCH ABOUT HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINE FOR HEADACHE? Homeopathic medicine is evidence based medicine when prescribed in strict accordance with homeopathic philosophy, theory and laws by a trained professional. The following three clinical studies were conducted concerning headaches and homeopathic medicine. Homeopathic treatment of migraine in children: results of a prospective, multicenter, observational study. A significant decrease in the frequency, severity, and duration of migraine attacks was observed and, consequently, reduced absenteeism from school. Homeopathic treatment of chronic headache – a prospective observational study with 2-year follow-up. This observational study of patients seeking homeopathic treatment because of headache showed consistent improvements over the 24-month period. Observational study of quality of life in patients with headache, receiving homeopathic treatment. Over 60% of the cases experienced an improvement in pain and the limitations caused by pain, as well as in limitations in social activities and health in general. In 2013, the Canadian College of Homeopathic Medicine conducted a trial on children suffering from migraines. The trial was open, non-randomised and twelve countries worldwide took place. At the end of the three-month trial period there was a high percentage of children whose migraine symptoms had clearly improved, plus the time taken off school had diminished substantially. To read another case history about migraines in children and teens on the Aurum Project website click here.  MORE ABOUT EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS - HHV-4 - INFECTIOUS MONONUCLEOSIS - GLANDULAR FEVER. Epstein-Barr virus or HHV-4 is associated with infectious mononucleosis, also called glandular fever or ‘kissing disease.’ Referred to as ‘mono’ Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) distorts the white blood cells causing them to have only one nucleus and is one of the most common viruses worldwide. If infection occurs during adolescence or young adulthood EBV causes infectious mononucleosis 35% to 50% of the time. When younger children are infected, it causes little or no illness. Symptoms of infectious mononucleosis usually resolve within one to two months however, EBV or glandular fever in adults remains dormant or latent in cells in the throat and blood for the rest of the person’s life. EBV can reactivate and is commonly found in the saliva of both healthy and infected persons. Clinical diagnosis is made via the characteristic triad of fever, pharyngitis and lymphadenopathy lasting for one to four weeks and, a blood test. Other symptoms may include swelling of the upper eyelids, photophobia, uvular oedema, nausea, anorexia, extreme fatigue, enlarged and painful spleen, dyspnoea, tachycardia, excessive perspiration, and a generalized rash. The course of this disease has gradually lengthened as it increases in severity. In the 1930’s and 1940’s EBV was characterized by swollen glands and a sore throat, often occurring in autumn, and over in a week. By the 1960’s and 1970’s the disease was less selective in its time of onset, and could last two to three weeks. Patients were isolated and advised ‘no stress or alcohol’. By the 1980’s EBV was evolving as recurrent episodes of swollen glands, pharyngitis, anorexia, extreme fatigue, excessive perspiration, dyspnoea and tachycardia, often affecting students at exam time, even students as young as nine, competitive athletes and high achievers. Many of these patients continue to suffer from constant or sporadic bouts of extreme weakness years after the initial onset of EBV. Epstein-Barr virus has become one of a number of diseases included under the umbrella term diagnosis of ‘Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.’ This information about the history of EBV and glandular fever comes from: Vermuelen F. Monera, Spectrum of the Natural Kingdoms,Bacteria & Viruses. The Netherlands: Emryss Publishers. 2005. In this case history: Mandy, after suffering for a full two and a half years after developing glandular fever caused by the Epstein Barr virus, finally found relief with homeopathic medicine. Article first published at 'Clever H. - the Mag' under reference: Sarah Penrose 31/03/2019. Lifelong cystitis and homeopathic medicine - five years after the similimum. CLEVER H. - the Mag, Spring 2019. Accessible at cleverhthemag.com/2019/03/31/lifelong-cystitis-and-homeopathic-medicine-five-years-after-the-similimum/ Health professional Mrs Twenty Six presented to the Pilbara Natural Medicine Clinic in March 2014 two weeks after hospitalization for a severe urinary tract infection -a course of Trimethoprim was prescribed for seven days which made Mrs Twenty Six feel unwell – ‘I feel yuck, I feel sad, I’ve killed my guts’. Still extremely fatigued, Mrs Twenty Six slept continuously for two whole days prior to being admitted to the hospital.  Prone to urinary tract infections (UTI’s) from infancy (1) Mrs Twenty Six had a ‘massive history of antibiotics’. UTI symptoms were severe - ‘the more I have them the worse they become’ - fatigue, stomach cramps, ‘urinating razor blades’, fever, lower back pain, feeling helpless - ‘I cry & weep, busting and adamant to pass urine but only a tiny bit is passed’ with burning at the end of urination. Frequent monthly or bi-monthly UTI’s as a teenager became more severe in her late teens while in a relationship with a ‘beautiful, abuser boyfriend’ (2) saying, ‘I was the peace keeper –internalizer, it will be fine – I never wished to impose on anyone’ (3). Mrs Twenty Six took 'the pill’ from age 14 to 19 which ‘made me angry and emotional, pissed off, internal rage, it was terrible’ (4) (5), there were also many dental fillings in her late teens (6). While pregnant with her, Mrs Twenty Six’s mother was recovering from a previous abusive relationship (2). Mrs Twenty Six described herself as sensitive and intuitive ‘easily picking up on the energy of a person or place’ saying ‘I feel I’ve been mistreated’ (7).  Prescription March 2014: Staphysagria 200c; split dose. STAPHYSAGRIA for victims of an injustice being in a permanent state of suffering, ‘holding in’ all of their circumstances, grievances and perverse life events. Recurrent cystitis (bladder inflammation) with normal bacteriological tests, that is, bladder irritation of psychological origin. Didier Grandgeorge M.D (8). From our friends over at PubMed… Cystitis, or inflammation of the bladder, can have infectious or non-infectious causes. Escherichia coli is the most common cause of infectious cystitis. Noninfectious cystitis can be due to a variety of causes and may even be idiopathic in nature such as interstitial cystitis (IC). Irrespective of the cause, cystitis can be acute or chronic depending upon the duration of the insult. June 2015. No UTI’s since hospitalization in March 2014. March 2019. No UTI’s since hospitalization in March 2014. ‘I always had antibiotics on hand, I had cranberry pills, a Chinese remedy which I couldn’t tell you what was in it, Ural, and D-Mannose supplement – just ludicrous to think about that now!’ When prescribed in strict accordance with homeopathic philosophy, theory and laws by a trained professional, homeopathy is evidence based medicine. Efficacy of Homoeopathy in the Management of Cystitis After statistical analysis this study provides evidence to say that homoeopathic medicines are effective in managing cystitis. An integrative approach to interstitial cystitis. A 17-year old female with a 2-year diagnosis of IC and dissatisfaction with her pharmaceutical drug was prescribed additional homeopathic medications. By the end of the second month, she discontinued use of the drug. By the sixth month of treatment, her symptoms had resolved. Homeopathic medicine Cantharis modulates uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC)-induced cystitis in susceptible mice. Your Bone broth and glyphosphate in collagen -the discovery of a potentially new toxic mechanism of glyphosphate. (First published here April 2017 - now with updated information) As at March 2019 there are over 11,200 glyphosphate lawsuits pending in the U.S (1) Researchers have begun linking the exponential rise in the use of glyphosphate as herbicide on core crops and the corresponding rise in the incidence in a long list of debilitating diseases and conditions.  In 2014, Nancy Swanson and colleagues were the first researchers to recognize and publish an open access paper on the subject of glyphosphate and deteriorating health in America. [2] Glyphosphate is the active ingredient in Monsanto’s product Roundup© and other herbicides that kill all plants except those crops such as corn, soy, canola, alfalfa, many grains and legumes, sugar cane, wheat, oats and barley which have been genetically engineered to resist it. Around 500 products containing glyphosate have been registered for use in Australia over the past 40 years. [3] In March 2017, the European Food Safety Authority declared ‘’the available scientific evidence did not meet the criteria to classify glyphosate as a carcinogen, as a mutagen or as toxic for reproduction”.[4]  Western Australia October 2016- Grain Producers Australia made an application to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) for a permit for emergency use of two formulations of glyphosate on barley. This permit was approved by the APVMA, Permit ≠82594 on the 2nd November 2016 and glyphosate treated grain is now accepted in Western Australia for Feed barley only. Feed grade barley is fed to livestock. Some livestock producers say traces of glyphosphate in their sheep, cattle or dairy products could in the very least destroy trade relationships. "Our Australian meat goes to many markets around the world and some of these countries have very tight testing regimes for residues in the meat. If feed grain has residues, it gets into the animal and then gets into the human food chain. We need to be aware that there are many countries in the world now that have banned the product (glyphosphate) completely." [5] Many countires including Malta, Sri Lanka, Argentina have banned the use of glyphosphates. n Australia, numerous municipalities and schools are testing for alternatives to glyphosphate and a lot use steam technology for weed control [6] The discovery of a potentially new toxic mechanism of glyphosphate. Recently, researchers have found that Glyphosphate may be getting into proteins by mistake in the place of Glycine – glyphosphates’ ability to disrupt pathways where glycine is normally involved is believed to be part of its toxicity profile, acting as a glycine analogue. [7] [7] Beecham J, Seneff S. The possible link between autism and glyphosphate acting as a glycine mimetic – a review of evidence from the literature with analysis. J Mol. Genet. Med. 2015; 9:4  Glyphosphate substitution for glycine in a protein can totally disturb the shape of the molecule. Not every protein that gets glyphosphate substituted for glycine in its peptide chain is totally wrecked by this error, however, there are hundreds if not thousands of proteins that strongly depend on glycine at certain spots in their chain to perform their job adequately.  Myosin – a molecular motor in muscle is one such protein. Myosin is responsible for muscle contraction and therefore movement. In the laboratory, if only one out of every 50 myosin molecules in a muscle fibre has its glycine swapped out for alanine (an amino acid) then that muscle loses half its strength. Researchers strongly suspect that the substitution of glyphosphate for glycine in myosin and other molecular motors is a causative factor in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and chronic fatigue syndromes. [8] [8] Seneff Stephanie, PhD. Glyphosphate in Collagen: Widespread consequences. Wise Traditions Winter 2016; 34:40. One molecule predicted to be severely affected by glyphosphate substitution for glycine is collagen, the most abundant protein in the body. Collagen is essential in cushioning our joints, and when defective due to glyphosphate contamination, it does its job poorly, leading to joint pain and tendonitis, among other things. Foods that contain high amounts of gelatin can be expected to be contaminated with glyphosphate, this includes bone broths, which ordinarily are very nutritious. You can help to reduce glyphosphate exposure for your family by switching to eating the highest quality of food- wild fish, biodynamic meats, fruit and veg are best -certified organic or free ranging whenever you can. In the Pilbara we have access to some of the best fishing in the world – fish makes the most delicious & nutritious of all the bone broths. You’ll be amazed at how the regular addition of fish broth to your meals can increase your energy and make your skin glow and hair shine!  Plain Fish broth recipe – Into a 5L slow cooker place 1 cut up freshly caught fish frame and head, ¼ Cup cider vinegar, a few bay leaves (to taste) and fill to capacity with the cleanest water you can get, rain or spring is best, filtered is ok. I place slow cooker outside (less odour) on low for 24 hours. Broth can be used after 6hours cooking time. Fish broth is a wonderfully flavouful & highly nutritious addition to any fish dish. Article derived in most from Stephanie Seneff, PhD. Glyphosphate in Collagen: Widespread consequences. Wise Traditions Winter 2016; 34:40. Probiotics are expensive, generally ‘doing their job’ in the upper reaches of your digestive system… KEFIR on the other hand is practically free, totally natural and carries probiotic microbes all the way down through to your lower bowel! (1) Studies show regular consumption of kefir is associated with better digestion and tolerance to lactose and, that kefir’s healing effects are anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergenic and anti-oxidant! Kefir provides protective immunity by enhancing our health status. (2)  Kefir grains can contain up to 60 strains of bacteria and yeasts which I like to call ‘beneficials’ - a very rich and diverse probiotic source.(3) Kefir is created via the process of Lacto-fermentation. Kefir ‘grains’ are added to organic milk creating lactic acid as a by-product meaning that the ‘beneficials’, already accustomed an acidic environment, pass through your stomach unscathed going on to populate your entire digestive tract.  Kefir is one of the oldest functional foods and here’s why; Just 175mls of kefir contains 3-6 grams of fat, 4 grams Protein, Phosphorus: 15% of the Recommended Dietary Intakes (RDI), Vitamin B12: 12% of the RDI, Riboflavin (B2): 10% of the RDI, Calcium: 10% of the RDI, Magnesium: 3% of the RDI and vitamin D. (4) And, after an often one time purchase of the grains, your lifetime probiotic supply costs just the price of milk! Pilbara Natural Medicine Clinic recommends purchasing grains from the ultra - reliable and authoritative KEFIR DOM and only, ever, always, using and supporting our environmentally and health conscious farmers like MARGARET RIVER ORGANIC MILK (available from Coles).  Straining your kefir through muslin cloth will give you curds from which you can make labneh (a soft cheese) and whey, the best kind of ‘inoculant’ for making your fermented vegetables such as sauerkraut extra beneficial.
Most probiotic supplements will not survive your stomach acid - you might want to check this out with the manufacturer and, while you’re at it, you might also want to check that your probiotic is not genetically engineered...  Homie - o - what?
HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINE is natural medicine that has a high quality evidence base (randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses) for the treatment of Diarrhoea[1] and Ear infections in children;[2] [3] Hay fever,[4] [5] Menopause[6] [7] and Vertigo.[8] Homeopathic medicine is a branch of medical science based on the principle that disease can be combated through strengthening the immune system with substances selected for their energy giving properties. Homeopathic medicine recognises mental, emotional and physical symptoms, and has a systematic way of utilizing a symptom via a rubric. A rubric is a clinically verified symptom found in the repertory -an index of homeopathic medicines by symptom. Repertorization, the process of translating symptoms into clinically usable data, is a scientific, systematized standard unique to homeopathic medicine. Homeopathic medicines are prescribed in accordance with clinically verified symptoms - repertorization - not on the indication that X medicine is known to assist with X condition so therefore might help Mr X’s problem – which is standard practice in all other systems of medicine. Homeopathic medicine is patient-centric. For example, four year old triplets Tim, Tommy and Tony were diagnosed with chronic diarrhoea. Tim had diarrhoea, extreme weakness and believed he would die; Tommy experienced a rumbly tummy with gushing, painless, foul diarrhoea while Tony had become a very angry child with frothy, watery diarrhoea and severe abdominal pains. After repertorization, Tim would be prescribed Ars; Tommy Podo; and Tony Coloc; three different homeopathic medicines even though chronic diarrhoea was the diagnosis, because each child was suffering in his own, individual way. Homeopathic medicine is prescribed using a systematized, scientific method which translates symptoms into clinically verified rubrics, creating usable data to identify the specific homeopathic medicine for an individual’s mental, emotional and physical symptoms / sufferings. Homeopathic medicines are inexpensive and, with a few exceptions, not patented. In Australia, always seek the services of a homeopath registered with AROH. REFERENCES [1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12634583 Homeopathy for childhood diarrhea: combined results and meta-analysis from three randomized, controlled clinical trials. [2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11224838 Homeopathic treatment of acute otitis media in children: a preliminary randomized placebo-controlled trial. [3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22226309 Randomized controlled pilot study to compare Homeopathy and Conventional therapy in Acute Otitis Media. [4] https://www.karger.com/Article/Pdf/210233 A Meta-Analysis of the Homeopathic Treatment of Pollinosis with Galphimia glauca [5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2876326 Is homoeopathy a placebo response? Controlled trial of homoeopathic potency, with pollen in hayfever as model. [6] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22852580 Efficacy of a non-hormonal treatment, BRN-01, on menopausal hot flashes: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. [7] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25768800 Individualized homeopathic treatment and fluoxetine for moderate to severe depression in peri- and postmenopausal women (HOMDEP-MENOP study): a randomized, double-dummy, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. [8] http://www.biopathica.co.uk/Articles/Dizziness/19%20%20Vertigo%20Treatment%20with%20a%20Homeopathic%20Complex%20Remedy.pdf Treatment of vertigo with a homeopathic complex remedy compared with usual treatments – a meta-analysis of clinical trials. PHOTO CREDIT: healthyhomies.blogspot.com  Homeopathic medicine is just placebo right? The Australian government tells us so. But, there are high quality, randomized controlled trials (RCT’s) for conditions such as menopausal depression showing POSITIVE clinical effect for homeopathic medicine. A 2017 hospital based RCT which assessed 133 women with major menopausal depression concluded homeopathy improved menopausal symptoms when scored by the Greene Climacteric Scale. (1) (2) There are 180+ RCT’s of homeopathic medicines for a range of clinical conditions.  This is how randomized controlled trials of homeopathic medicine compare to pharmaceuticals.  The difference in the number of RCT’s is not surprising when we see the miniscule amount of money allocated to research into complementary and alternative medicine (CAM); just 0.03% in Australia[3] and 0.0085% in the UK [4] of the total medical research budgets. A glaring discrepancy considering two out of three Australians [5] and 15-20% of British people regularly use CAM. Evidence based pharmaceutical medicine? We all know that pharmaceutical medicines are effective, evidenced based, high quality medicines, which have been rigorously tested right? But where does this belief actually stem from when, for example, a 2017 Stanford University study revealed that just 7% of more than 60,000 clinical studies analysed passed the criteria of being high quality and clinically relevant to patients. [6]. The plot thickens when a University of Sydney research scientist and expert in pharmaceutical policy states “We’ve seen a shift internationally to the lowering of standards, especially for effectiveness, evidence, and bringing in pathways to get new drugs to market, and very limited standards of evidence, especially for some of the newer cancer drugs and rare disease drugs that are coming in.” [7] And, from the British Medical Journal ‘‘too many research studies are poorly designed or executed. Too much of the resulting research evidence is withheld or disseminated piecemeal. As the volume of clinical research activity has grown the quality of evidence has often worsened, which has compromised the ability of all health professionals to provide affordable, effective, high value care for patients.’’ [8]  As informed and educated people we seek the best treatments possible for ourselves and our families but are we being told the truth when it comes to accurate and evidence based affordable, effective, high value healthcare? It would seem that this depends entirely on where you look… Pharmaceutical companies are not legally bound to sell patients the best treatment, but they are obliged to provide profit for shareholders. Between 2009 and 2014, the industry received fines totalling $13bn for criminal behaviour that included illegal marketing of drugs, hiding data on harms and manipulation of results.  Interested in learning more about complementary and alternative (CAM) medicine? A great CAM initiative is the Your Health Your Choice campaign, providing up to date news and information where you can also sign up to express dissatisfaction with the current Australian CAM conundrum to our politicians. A bit more on evidence; Due to complaints of scientific misconduct, the leaked 2015 Australian NHMRC homeopathy report concluding no evidence for homeopathy has sat before an ombudsman for over two years…The 2015 report is actually the second version – the first homeopathy report of 2012 was buried - its findings remaining hidden from the Australian tax payers who funded it. (9)  Homeopathy improves menopausal symptoms when tested against placebo. This statement is referenced below by two randomized controlled trials (RCT’s); Menopausal hot flashes: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. (10) A study of one hundred and eight menopausal women concludes that BRN-01 (a registered homeopathic medicine) seemed to have a significant effect on the HFS (Hot Flash Score), compared with placebo. According to the results of this clinical trial, BRN-01 may be considered a new therapeutic option for hot flashes in menopausal women who do not want or are not able to take hormone replacement therapy or other recognized treatments for this indication. Individualized Homeopathic Treatment and Fluoxetine for Moderate to Severe Depression in Peri- and Postmenopausal Women (HOMDEP-MENOP Study): A Randomized, Double-Dummy, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. (1) A study of one hundred and thirty three menopausal women with major menopausal depression found Homeopathy and fluoxetine are effective and safe antidepressants for climacteric women. Homeopathy and fluoxetine were significantly different from placebo in response definition only. Homeopathy, but not fluoxetine, improves menopausal symptoms scored by Greene Climacteric Scale. To find out more about homeopathic medicine for menopausal symptoms contact your local registered homeopath . Need support or information around depression and anxiety, for yourself, a friend or family member in Australia?
Lifeline 13 11 14 Lifeline Crisis support chat (7pm-midnight AEDT only) In emergencies always call 000 Gut health & Homeopathy. Dysbiosis - a clinical study. Outpatients aged from 4 to 72 suffering from gastrointestinal disturbances, such as constipation and diarrhoea, were enrolled in this 2017 study. 69.6% showed some type of improvement, while 26% of patients showed major improvement or eradication of symptoms. These results suggest that homeopathic medicine could possibly be a useful method for controlling gastrointestinal disturbances. [1]  The homeopathic medicines used in this study were bowel nosodes. The source materials for the bowel nosodes are certain groups of bacteria found as part of the bacterial flora of the human intestine in states of ill health; human gut microbiota. Since the 1920’s Homeopaths have observed the connection of bacterial flora of the human intestine in particular states of ill health and at specific stages of the disease process and utilized bowel nosodes as medicines to treat chronic disease. In 1925 Dr Bach, a bacteriologist and physician at the Royal London Homeopathic hospital, along with Dr Wheeler, published Chronic Disease a Working Hypothesis in which chronic disease was held to be caused by the absorption of toxins from the bowels to a greater or lesser degree depending upon the permeability of the individual’s intestinal mucosa. Homeopathic philosophy, theory and practice has a more complex, evolved understanding of health and disease.  What is dysbiosis? Dysbiosis means microbial imbalance. Dysbiosis is most prominent in the digestive tract and on the skin, but can be found on any exposed surface or mucous membrane, such as the vagina, lungs, mouth, nose, sinuses, ears, nails or eyes. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota is associated with intestinal and extra-intestinal disorders. Intestinal disorders include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and coeliac disease. Extra-intestinal disorders include allergy, asthma, heart disease, and obesity. Gastrointestinal disturbances such as Chron’s disease, colitis and gastritis are often among the symptoms commonly reported by individuals’ diagnosed as suffering from chronic diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease, autism, and chronic fatigue syndrome. In many conditions of dysbiosis, disease development involves the mutual relationship between the gut microbiota and the immune system. Dysbiosis has multi layered causations[2] not just the overgrowth or absence of microorganisms. Microorganisms are an unchartered world of major importance (survival) to us and all other larger organisms living on planet Earth. Impressively, the average adult human is comprised of over 100 trillion cells! Even more impressive is that of our 100 trillion cells only 37.2 trillion[3] are human…The other trillions are bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites. We are outnumbered in our own bodies 3:1! Homeopathic medicine is not out to kill microbes but aims to help us to live in better harmony within ourselves, our surroundings and the world of microorgansims.  What is homeopathic medicine? Homeopathic medicine is a branch of medical science based on the principle that disease can be combated through strengthening the body’s defense mechanism (immune system) with substances selected for their energy giving properties. Homeopathic medicines are complimentary meaning they can be taken alongside conventional medications; simple to administer and gentle enough for young children too. Most importantly, homeopathic medicine aims to improve the body’s energy levels which homeopaths know to lie at the root of sickness and disease. Sarah Penrose's peer reviewed paper Drugs, Dysbiosis and the Bowel Nosodes examining nine cases of resolved gut disturbance was published in Similia, The Australian Journal of Homeopathic Medicine (Vol. 31, No. 1) in June 2019. The TGA is presently reviewing the regulation of ‘low risk’ complementary medicines (vitamins, minerals, homeopathic & aromatherapy products).  But first a bit of background... As part of the Department of Health, the TGA safeguards and enhances the health of the Australian community through effective and timely regulation of therapeutic goods. Therapeutic goods include prescription medicines, vaccines, sunscreens, vitamins and minerals, medical devices and blood and blood products; The TGA is responsible for regulating the supply, import, export, manufacture and advertising of all therapeutic goods in Australia. In relation to homeopathic products, the TGA bases its preferred option to declare them ‘non therapeutic goods’ (and hence deregulate them) on the basis of the flawed 2nd 2015 NHMRC homeopathy report presently before an ombudsman due to complaints of bias & misconduct in research; while ignoring all other evidence and consumer and stakeholder opposition. The 1st 2012 homeopathy review was buried, its findings, cost and very existence kept secret… The NHMRC is Australia's premier public institution responsible for informing the community on matters relating to health. Its mission is, "Working to build a healthy Australia". The NHMRC, as a tax-payer funded institution, has a duty to the public to ethically, impartially and accurately inform it of evidence to support our healthcare choices.  Around 70% of Australians use some form of complementary medicine service and/or product each year to complement their healthcare needs. Between 2005 and 2015, the NHMRC spent only $2.3 million (0.03%) on complementary medicine research and over $6.7 billion on research into conventional medicine - despite 2 in 3 Australians use complementary medicine services and products. In 2016 The Review of the Australian Government Rebate on Private Health Insurance for Natural Therapies (the 'Natural Therapies Review'), published - conducted by the NHMRC on behalf of the Department of Health, the NTR determine whether or not natural therapies should continue to attract the Australian Government Rebate on private health insurance. Natural Therapies Review includes popular, widely used modalities such as naturopathy, herbal medicine, yoga, pilates, tai chi, massage (all forms), homeopathy, aromatherapy, Ayurvedic medicine, kinesiology, reflexology, Bowen therapy and others. The NHMRC reviews concluded there was no 'reliable' or 'clear' evidence that any of the 17 natural therapies assessed were effective - contrary to the experience of the millions, 2 out of 3, Australians that have used these therapies; and inconsistent with the growing body of good quality, positive research underpinning these therapies. In the 2016 Natural Therapies review, NO original research papers were retrieved or assessed.  What does this mean? Basically the 2 out of 3 Australians who use some form of complementary medicine are being ignored by the health department and will be left unprotected by the TGA if the proposed deregulation of ‘low risk’ complementary medicines (vitamins, minerals, homeopathic & aromatherapy) products are made. The deregulation of essential oils means what? It would mean the manufacturers of everyday essential oils used by millions of Australians (including Tea Tree oil) will be unable to state what purpose the oils can be used for – only general relaxation style claims would be allowed. Control over manufacturing quality and post market surveillance of adverse events would be abandoned – placing public safety at risk… If adopted, the deregulation of essential oils would also have a major impact on Australian export markets, resulting in job losses and lower quality products flooding the market having a devastating effect on the aromatherapy industry in Australia. Deregulation of essential oils will mean our communities will be denied access to high quality essential oil products for everyday ailments.  What can you do?
SIGN UP to YOUR HEALTH YOUR CHOICE Via the YHYC campaign, the natural medicines sector is liaising with the Health portfolio and Minister to ensure TGA listens to industry, practitioners and consumers to maintains the current regulatory status as at present 2 out of 3 Australians are being ignored. EDUCATE - contact the companies and people you purchase your essential oils from to ask them what they are doing about this and how you as a consumer will be effected when deregulation takes place. SPREAD THE WORD - to your customers, friends and family to inform them of what is going on in Australian right now under our noses. 2 out of 3 Australians is extremely powerful and we will be listened to when our energies are directed into the right channels which is the YOUR HEALTH YOUR CHOICE campaign. Concluding on a positive note – thanks to the YOUR HEALTH YOUR CHOICE campaign popular natural treatments used to manage hay fever, stress, insomnia, joint aches, teething, and other medical conditions continue to be sold in pharmacies. The King Review which suggested banning homeopathic products and placing restrictions on the sale of other complementary medicine products in pharmacies was thrown out due to the 80,000 consumer protests voices heard via the YHYC campaign. What you want matters so make sure your voice is heard! |
AuthorSkilled in unravelling complex patterns of ill health, Sarah Penrose is a qualified, registered and endorsed natural health professional specializing in homeopathic medicine. Archives
November 2019
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