Your Health Food Store Blog

I’ve always found the same problem can affect different people in many different ways. And none more so than back pain. A large part of the work in my clinics involves treating people with the problem. While it can be debilitating, the fear surrounding the pain can hold back recovery. Fear is an emotional response following a painful experience, or even after seeing someone else in pain. It is one of the body’s protective methods, but for those with chronic back pain, fear of pain and movement no longer performs a protective function.

Research has shown that people desperate to avoid pain are in a constant state of anxiety, and this can lead to other problems. Some researchers reckon that staying as still as possible when you have a bad back because you’re terrified of moving, actually makes things worse. Others believe that the distress and depression associated with low back pain is responsible for turning acute low back pain into a chronic ongoing pain. For any back pain obtaining professional advice is essential. Rest, ice packs, lying in the foetal position when resting, and gentle movement can all help, though.

There are also remedies and supplements to help, such as ST Repair, which is formulated to support the soft tissues and contains all the essential nutrients for repair. This may surprise you, but if you have chronic back pain, movement is actually vital. You see, lying still causes the supportive musculature to deteriorate. While heat may temporarily relieve the pain, it causes the blood to stagnate rather than flow through the injured area. It’s good to follow a hot bath or shower with a cold pack (or frozen peas wrapped in a towel). A supplement such as Celadrin can help reduce inflammation, and also provides relief. If you regularly suffer arthritic pains in the lumbar area, check if your diet has enough necessary nutrients. The remedy JointMuscle Complex is proving very successful with patients who are desperate for relief. Acupuncture can help, too. With any lumbar spine condition, I advise caution with lifting, bending or any sudden movement. However, physical fitness is still important and gentle exercise is still recommended.

Over the years I’ve seen thousands of patients who are troubled with problems related to the spine or the spinal column. Most of the pain can be reduced, or even cured with the correct treatment. For more information read my book Neck and Back Problems.

-Jan de Vries

Books available by Jan de Vries

Need more information? please call Jan’s helpline on 01292 318846, 9am – 4.30pm, Monday – Friday

Need to see someone? Details of our clinics, practitioners & services

 

 

 

“Many people no longer appreciate the more delicate taste of natural products.”

It seems that, as a nation, we are getting fatter and now politicians are getting very concerned. There is no doubt that obesity on a large scale has a major impact on general health and consequently costs a lot more in terms of healthcare.

I believe that far too little has been done to protect the nation’s health as food manufacturers have gradually changed the very nature of our food. Industry, over the course of time, has learned how to present its corrupted and modified foods in a very appealing way.

It is actually quite amazing how our everyday foods have changed in a relatively short space of time.

We have more than 1,000 taste buds in our mouths. These become damaged by the regular use of strong condiments, too much salt or sugar, and the artificial taste-enhancing properties of modern food.

Many people no longer appreciate the more delicate taste of natural products.

At the beginning of the last century most of the food people ate was still unadulterated and free from toxic chemicals. Sugar and sweets were still considered a luxury and, in most families, meals consisted of simple, wholesome food.

In my book Ten Golden Rules for Good Health, I warn of the dangers of some of the substances used in our daily food – artificial colours, anti-oxidising substances, preservatives, emulsifiers, thickeners, artificial sweeteners and many more. We know next to nothing about the dangerous interactions of these substances. Our food still contains protein, carbohydrate and fat, but most of these have been modified.

Natural foods are subjected to overheating, pressing, cooling, tumbling, freezing and drying, to name but a few processes. And during these procedures, vital nutrients are lost then replaced with synthetic vitamins and chemical additives.

Is it any wonder that our bodies are protesting? These days, there are up to 10,000 chemical substances used in industrial countries to enhance the taste and appearance of food. Fast foods and ready-made meals are now bestsellers.

Although scientists try to persuade us that all additives are assessed carefully for their safety, I suspect that, in the long run, many of these additives will turn out to be harmful to everybody.

I am particularly concerned about children as they are even more vulnerable to toxins. In my opinion, one of the main reasons children become listless or over-agitated, depressed or aggressive, is the continuous influx of small quantities of toxins and the accumulation in their bodies and brains.

I am pleased the Government is taking stock of the high levels of obesity and poor health. We should never underestimate the danger of the chemical deluge that threatens to overpower us.

• Remedies, supplements and books are available from Jan de Vries Clinics & Health Shops.

Books available by Jan de Vries

Need more information? please call Jan’s helpline on 01292 318846, 9am – 4.30pm, Monday – Friday

Need to see someone? Details of our clinics, practitioners & services

I’ve always found the same problem can affect different people in many different ways. And none more so than back pain.

A large part of the work in my clinics involves treating people with the problem.

While it can be debilitating, the fear surrounding the pain can hold back recovery.

Fear is an emotional response following a painful experience, or even after seeing someone else in pain.

It is one of the body’s protective methods, but for those with chronic back pain, fear of pain and movement no longer performs a protective function.

Research has shown that people desperate to avoid pain are in a constant state of anxiety, and this can lead to other problems.

Some researchers reckon that staying as still as possible when you have a bad back because you’re terrified of moving, actually makes things worse.

Others believe that the distress and depression associated with low back pain is responsible for turning acute low back pain into a chronic ongoing pain.

For any back pain obtaining professional advice is essential.

Rest, ice packs, lying in the foetal position when resting, and gentle movement can all help, though.

There are also remedies and supplements to help, such as ST Repair, which is formulated to support the soft tissues and contains all the essential nutrients for repair.

This may surprise you, but if you have chronic back pain, movement is actually vital.

You see, lying still causes the supportive musculature to deteriorate.

While heat may temporarily relieve the pain, it causes the blood to stagnate rather than flow through the injured area.

It’s good to follow a hot bath or shower with a cold pack (or frozen peas wrapped in a towel).

A supplement such as Celadrin can help reduce inflammation, and also provides relief.

If you regularly suffer arthritic pains in the lumbar area, check if your diet has enough necessary nutrients.

The remedy JointMuscle Complex is proving very successful with patients who are desperate for relief.

Acupuncture can help, too.

With any lumbar spine condition, I advise caution with lifting, bending or any sudden movement.

However, physical fitness is still important and gentle exercise is still recommended.

Over the years I’ve seen thousands of patients who are troubled with problems related to the spine or the spinal column.

Most of the pain can be reduced, or even cured with the correct treatment.

-Jan de Vries

For more information read my book Neck and Back Problems.

Books available from Jan de Vries.

The human intestinal tract is home to trillions of “friendly” bacteria that are crucial in maintaining good health. These bacteria are instrumental in protecting against tummy problems, supporting digestion and absorption of nutrients. The balance of this gut micro flora is also intrinsically linked with immunity, ensuring a positive balance of beneficial gut bacteria will give your immune system a fighting chance of beating off the majority of opportunistic pathogens.

Antacids, antibiotics and low fibre refined diets all disrupt this delicate balance. This is possibly why an estimated 1 in 5 adults in the UK suffer from gastrointestinal complaints. Rebalancing the gut micro flora through the diet or by taking a “probiotic” supplement containing strains of friendly bacteria has been shown to help maintain the health of the intestinal tract and aid digestion, reduced bloating and the establishment of a regular bowel habits.

Our immune system is used to dealing with bacterial or viral challenges on a regular basis, but when we travel we can encounter different or possibly more pathogenic strains that then cause us to become ill. A change of food may also upset a sensitive tummy, as well as traveller’s diarrhoea people may also suffer from bloating or discomfort. You can reduce your chances of falling ill by giving your immune system and gut flora extra support by taking a probiotic supplement before jetting off to exotic destinations. Closer to home evidence continues to grow that probiotic supplements are a key element in the management of IBS, a combination of L.plantarum and L.acidophilus has been found to be especially effective.

Choosing a probiotic supplement

* The effectiveness of probiotics is linked to their ability to survive the transit from stomach to small intestine; to do so they must be able to resist both acidic and alkaline conditions.

* To confer health benefits probiotic supplements must contain live bacteria capable of adhering to the intestinal lining and colonise in the colon. Always chose products by trusted and established manufacturers.

* Lyophilised (freeze dried) bacteria are stable at room temperature so do not need refrigeration

* Look for a delayed release product, delaying the release of the bacteria until they reach the small intestine protects them against the acidic environment of the stomach and delivering them directly where they are needed.

The secret to stopping Alzheimer's could be in the contents of a curry.

Alzheimer’s disease is relatively uncommon in India, and research suggests spices used in cooking in there may be one of the reasons.

Spices, in dishes like curry, have been shown to not only prevent adverse changes in the brain, but even reverse some of the damage already done. Curcumin is the compound found in turmeric that gives curry its yellowish tinge.

Tests have shown it can help rid the body of cancer-causing toxins by blocking oestrogen receptors and enzymes that promote the disease. It’s also been found to stop the growth of new blood vessels in cancerous tumours. This is important for preventing tumours expanding and spreading.

One of turmeric’s most exciting benefits is its ability to reduce, prevent, and even stop long-term inflammation. Scientists have found that inflammation plays a central role in dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease and may occur many years before the onset of Alzheimer’s.

So a daily diet high in natural anti-inflammatory ingredients could explain the low rates of Alzheimer’s disease in countries like India. Turmeric has been shown to penetrate the normally impervious blood-brain barrier and bind with beta amyloid, a substance that accumulates in Alzheimer’s and is a marker of how advanced the disease is.

Other research has shown turmeric can help remove the beta amyloid that’s already built up in the neurons. It aids healthy brain cellular metabolism, helps the cells repair themselves, and keeps them connected to each other.

So regularly eat a good curry, as long as it’s not too fatty or creamy. If you don’t like spicy food, turmeric is also available in supplement form. Other weapons against Alzheimer’s include Vitamin B12 and a daily dose of 60mg of CoEnzyme Q10.

If you’re already experiencing a bit of memory fog, take Gingko Biloba, though not if you’re on blood-thinning medication.

-Jan de Vries

Books available by Jan de Vries

Need more information? please call Jan’s helpline on 01292 318846, 9am – 4.30pm, Monday – Friday

Need to see someone? Details of our clinics, practitioners & services

A bit of winter sunshine

Vitamin D, often referred to as the sunshine vitamin has long been associated with bone health, however recent research has confirmed that it also has a more far reaching role throughout the body including contributing to immune function and heart and mental health.

The nutrient can be obtained from the diet however humans primarily produce vitamin D through exposure of the skin to UVB radiation from sunlight. It is emerging that very few of us actually manage to produce enough vitamin D to maintain a level needed to stave off a deficiency of this vital nutrient. The National Diet and Nutrition Survey, demonstrates that up to a quarter of people in the UK have low levels of vitamin D in their blood, which means they are at risk of the clinical consequences of vitamin D deficiency. i

There is a correlation between low levels and an increased risk of depression. Low levels of vitamin D are linked to an increased risk of depressed states particularly in older people, studies have found that those with higher levels of vitamin D (at least 75nmol/l) have a lower risk of depression, as much as 43%, than people with lower levels (25 nmol/l). How vitamin D works to reduce depression has not been clearly identified but we do know that vitamin D receptors are widely distributed throughout the brain indicating that it plays an important role in brain and mental health.

Vitamin D is produced in the skin with exposure to UVB radiation, during the winter months our vitamin D levels may drop dramatically, as low levels potentially increase the risk of depression and low mood this may be a key contributing factor to the incidence of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), in fact separate research has shown that ensuring adequate levels of vitamin D may be more effective than light therapy and have a positive effect on mood and SAD particularly during the cold dark winter months.

The Department of Health in the UK has identified that the following groups of people are at risk of vitamin D deficiency:

• All pregnant and breastfeeding women,

• Infants and young children under 5 years of age.

• Older people aged 65 years and over.

• People who have low or no exposure to the sun.

• People who have darker skin; because their bodies are not able to make as much vitamin D.

In addition, those following a diet containing few or no animal foods such as vegetarians and vegans may be at a higher risk of having low levels of vitamin D. All UK Health Departments recommend that at risk adults, including pregnant and breastfeeding women should take a daily supplement containing 10μg (400iu) of vitamin D.

How much should you take?

In 2012 the European Food Safety Authority published an opinion of the safety of vitamin D and concluded that an intake of up to 4000iu was safe for the general population including pregnancy and lactating women and children over the age of 11 years.ii

Data from years 1 & 2 of the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) rolling programme. Low status is defined by the Department of Health as a plasma concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH) D, the main circulating form of the vitamin) of below 25nmol/l (equal to 10 ng/ml).

Find the Vitamin D Awareness section from yourhealthfoodstore here.

My very good friend and mentor, the late Alfred Vogel, always said love is the most important emotion in the universe.

I agree entirely. Life becomes more meaningful when love is part of it.

Over the years, I’ve come to know who my true and loyal friends really are — it’s wonderful to know you have someone you can truly rely on.

I often hear patients say that during their deepest troubles their closest friends instinctively know exactly what to do or say to offer comfort.

This kind of friendship is based on love, and it can offer us peace in this sometimes hard and cold world.

The older I become, the more I worry that people today don’t understand the meaning of real friendship.

People are often so busy that when something goes wrong and they need a friend in whom to confide, they find they’re alone.

I am also concerned that people are becoming more and more selfish. We need to take time to reflect on our lives and on our actions. We need to stop and ask ourselves — have we been a good friend to those who needed us?

Have we truly cared for those who are suffering?

Remember that by helping others, we also help ourselves.

I’ve noticed it’s often those who are unwell themselves, or who have terrible problems, who make the extra effort to help others.

And remember, it’s never too late to make friends and be a good friend.

I recall an elderly lady who told me she had lost a loved one and felt terribly lonely.

I gave her the homoeopathic remedy Ignatia, which is excellent in times of sadness and particularly for bereavement. The next time I saw her she told me she felt a lot happier and had joined a club where she made new friends.

The happiness we feel due to the realisation that we have true friends even helps the pancreas.

The warmth of friendship helps this organ to function better and consequently improve the digestion.

Indeed, friendship, love and happiness all have a positive affect on our general health.

Because of pain and trauma, people sometimes find it difficult to accept help. It can seem impossible to get through to them.

But remember — friendship can be one of the most powerful remedies to deal with the trials and tribulations of life, and we must keep trying to look for ways to help people through troubled times.

Need more information? please call Jan’s helpline on 01292 318846, 9am – 4.30pm, Monday – Friday

Need to see someone? Details of our clinics, practitioners & services

The best care we can give our hair is a natural way of life, with plenty of exercise in the open air and sensible diet.

Remember — hair is a reflection of our general condition of health.

Too many people think that it is only what you apply to the hair that counts, but the basic care and treatment has to be from inside the body.

If your hair isn’t looking its best, the first thing to do is eliminate any internal deficiencies.

Since hair contains silica, iron, copper, arsenic, manganese and sulphur, it stands to reason that plants in which these elements are found prove to be excellent for its care.

People with naturally blonde hair will find the herb camomile is good for their hair, while dark haired people achieve good results with birch or nettle.

Molkosan, the natural preparation that can help so many problems, may even be used to rinse the hair at a dilution of three tablespoons to one litre of water.

This gives the hair a tremendous boost.

If fungal disease has caused hair loss, dab the affected area with diluted Molkosan.

Excessively oily hair is often a problem for young people during puberty.

In the case of girls it’s usually a disruption of the ovarian function. Wear warm underwear and have a warm herbal bath every night.

If a woman’s hair is too greasy, her hormone production is poor.

In this case you must treat the hormone glands, perhaps with a good homoeopathic preparation, and by having regular sitz-baths to ensure good circulation.

If your circulation is poor, Indian head massage or head reflexology can be great.

Carefully-targeted cranial massage can apply pressure on the choroids plexus, which releases the cerebrospinal fluid.

If the stagnation is serious, Aesculus will help.

If you follow this treatment you will not only benefit your hair, but also the general condition of your health, since many other body functions depend on the proper functioning of the glands.

-Jan de Vries

Books available by Jan de Vries

Need to see someone? Details of our clinics, practitioners & services

It’s summer. As most of us love the warmer weather so we can sit in the garden and relax, spare a thought for hay fever sufferers.

Millions of people in the UK have an allergy to pollen. For some, the only symptoms are a runny nose and itchy eyes, but for others the reaction is much more severe.

Hay fever affects not only the tissues of the nose, throat and eyes, it also affects the immune system.

Fortunately there’s a lot of help available from natural medicine. The remedy, Luffa Complex (Pollinosan) has proved a great help to many, both as a tincture and a nasal spray.

And for more severe cases there’s the remedy Holergie.

Hay fever can affect anyone with an allergic tendency or oversensitivity. It’s our individual defensive response to an invasion of pollen that affects the sensitive immune system, and an imbalance may result.

One reason that’s often overlooked is the possibility the liver isn’t getting the nourishment it requires. For this reason hay fever sufferers must watch what they eat as chemical additives and preservatives, and a high protein diet may make matters worse.

I always advise patients to be very careful with milk, cheese and table salt.

Regular eating honey, preferably local, can be a help, too. Furthermore, any extreme emotions or trauma can affect the immune defence system, and cause metabolic disorders. That may lead to overstimulation, followed by allergic reactions.

So you need to detox. Go easy on animal protein as well as starchy and sugary food. At this time no dairy produce whatsoever is allowed.

Clearing any congestion is important, too. Early naturopaths advised patients to take plenty of Epsom salt baths.

Soak for about 15 minutes in a hot bath to which a handful of these salts have been added, then retire to bed.

Also, steer clear of alcohol, nicotine, chocolate and spices.

Instead of coffee or tea, try herbal teas or honey and lemon drinks.

Finally, Luffa Complex is an exceptional hay fever remedy. It’s great for pollen allergies but it also helps people who suffer from inhalation allergies, for example to house mites or pets.

It’s also important to make sure your body gets plenty of vitamins, minerals and trace elements, especially Vitamin B Complex, manganese, chromium and iron.

Of course, different cures work for different people. Some sufferers swear by acupuncture. That centuries-old Chinese treatment can still surprise us in many ways!

-Jan de Vries

Books available by Jan de Vries

Need more information? please call Jan’s helpline on 01292 318846, 9am – 4.30pm, Monday – Friday

Need to see someone? Details of our clinics, practitioners & services