Self Help for Health

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Self help for health
by Theresa Dunford
(As appeared in "Comment" newsletter, Highland Perthshire, November 2002)

What can you do during the winter if you have a cold or flu, or generally feel cold and tired? Our diet is very important - soups are easy to digest and warm the body, especially helpful when it is cold and damp. A balance of whole grains, vegetables, salads and protein. However, the proteins are harder to digest so it can be helpful for our emphasis to be on whole grains and vegetables, particularly fresh and organic if possible. Spelt bread can be helpful for those who have a wheat gluten allergy, as it has a different type of gluten. Our soil does not provide as much nutritional value to our food as it used to so you may wish to supplement your diet with vitamin and mineral supplements and probiotics (acidophilus - friendly bacteria - and enzymes) to assist digestion. This can be a confusing subject, but most health food store proprietors are helpful; and most mail order companies have online nutritionists that will give advice without obligation - for more information. Herbs can also be beneficial. See Sources for Products.

The Immune system and exercise. Exercise is vital to assist circulation of the 'lymph fluid', which transports waste products from where the body's cells. It also transports white blood cells from the 'lymph nodes' in the groin, armpit and neck, to the areas of the body where they are needed. White blood cells are the body's 'clean up squad'. They are important to the immune system because they destroy bacteria and mop up cell fragments from damaged cells. Circulating the lymph fluid is very important. However, the Lymphatic System does not have a heart. It relies on muscular activity to move it around the body. It is only by the muscles squeezing together, so acting as a pump, that the lymph fluid can move along the lymph vessels. Various forms of exercise include taking a brisk walk every day; playing a sport; Tai Chi and Chi Gong (which involves similar bodily energy movements to Tai Chi but one generally stays in the same spot) are also good for bringing more Chi (life energy) into the body; Hatha yoga etc. As an alternative to attending classes there are some good videos available today, although some people may find it difficult to apply the discipline required to do specific exercises at home.

Colloidal silver has been found to be effective against colds and flu. Quoting extracts from "Silver: The remedy for health that modern medicine almost forgot" (Higher Nature health news - October 2002): "….A colloid is a substance that consists of ultra-fine particles that don't dissolve, but remain 'suspended' in a liquid. In a true colloid, the particles range in size from about 0.01 to 0.0001 of a micron in diameter. [It is important to purchase from a reliable source - for an information list of distributors see Sources for Products - TD]. Prior to 1938, colloidal silver was administered in just about every way that modern antibiotics and antiseptics are administered today. It was injected both intravenously and intramuscularly, used as a gargle for throat conditions, applied as a douche, taken orally and applied topically even for sensitive tissues, and dropped into the eyes. The comeback of silver in medicine began in the 1970's when Dr. Carl Moyer, chairman of Washington University's Department of Surgery received a grant to develop a better treatment for burn victims. Chief biochemist Dr Margraf worked with Moyer and others to find an antiseptic strong yet safe enough to use over large areas of the body. They reviewed 22 antiseptic compounds before trying silver…..Colloidal silver may one day become recognised as the most universal antibiotic natural substance that there is. Many forms of bacteria, viruses and fungi use a specific enzyme for their metabolism. Silver effectively disables that enzyme; it has been shown to be toxic to fungi, bacteria, protozoa, parasites and many viruses….Medical journal reports and studies have indicated no known side effects from use of colloidal silver….Dr. Henry Crooks has found that silver in the colloidal state is highly germicidal, quite harmless to humans, and non-toxic. It is not addictive and the body doesn't built up a tolerance to it. It has absolutely no negative effect on any human organ…..It can be mixed with other medications without incident and it's perfectly safe for children, even pets. The conclusion of extensive ongoing medical studies was stated by Sir Malcolm Morris. 'Colloidal silver is free from the drawbacks of other preparations of silver….instead of producing irritation it has a distinctly soothing effect'."

I have personally found these self help tips of practical benefit to my own health and well-being.