Influenza – how to stop it from being such a pain in the proverbial.

Influenza and its relative, rhinovirus– or “’Flu” and “cold” to you and me – is a condition arising from an infection from a virus.
The Rhinovirus

Viruses
The trouble with these little beasts is the vast number of types and varieties that they come in. And once you (or should I say your immune system) have identified a particular variety, it can change its shape slightly. That means to your immune system a whole fresh challenge. And the more it changes, the bigger the challenge.

Bird ‘Flu virus that lives in birds

The Avian (bird) ‘flu virus
The Bird ‘flu virus can infect us – not by changing shape – but by mingling with the human ‘flu virus in a human and mingling its RNA (equivalent to human DNA).
Mathematically, the chances of this succeeding are many millions to one but eventually, one may break through and assume human characteristics. Then it simply becomes a brand new shape to the human immune antibody system.
That shape (or any new ‘flu or cold virus shape) can slip below the radar of the immune system until it has built a specific targeting antibody to “nail” it.

But does that necessarily mean that your body is totally defenceless to do anything about it? No, not at all. Let me explain. You see… your immune system is composed of two parts and our clinic specialty is in supporting the activity of the “silent service” of your immune system – your white blood cells. Your “killer” white blood cells, to be exact.

So, as preventive medicine practitioners, we are mainly interested in raising the activity of white blood cells or neutrophils and lymphocytes.

This can have the potential to increase the activity of your immune system by around thirty times more.

By the way, if I put a drug on the market that could do that, I could buy my own lakefront village in Geneva. But, do it we might if we treat the individual (you) correctly. Note the subtlety? I said “treat the individual” and I didn’t say “treat the disease”/

The big difference is this. I design regimes to improve your health so that your own body can fight off the invader. Now, if this sounds strange, google the “Alma Ata Declaration”. This is a resolution of the U.N. in 1978 to get countries around the world to spend money on preventing illness and treating underlying causes of existing disease rather than merely suppressing illness once it happens. In other words, to try and make people healthy – whether or not they are sick. The Ottawa Protocol in 1986 ratified this. A lot of countries took this up but guess who didn’t? USA and Australia.
Our governments are still heavily into investing in drug treatments and not preventive medicine, although that changed recently under the progressive ideas of Health Minister Tony Abbott, which is a blessing.

So, here’s what Tony is trying to establish regarding the ‘flu (in my opinion). And remember, you saw it here first.

“Treating” the ‘flu comes in two considerations: –
i. prevention (trying to avoid it or have your immune system so healthy that it fights it off as quickly as possible once you are infected) and
ii. treatment of the systems in your body that the ‘flu invades, once you have it.

Prevention
So, let’s take “prevention” first. If you have the ‘flu already, scroll straight down to “treatment”.

Well Aquamist.
Number ONE consideration: ALWAYS keep nostrils, nose and mouth areas hydrated. Spray some Well Aquamist onto a cotton but or whorled tissue and dab nostrils regularly – especially if in air conditioning. Trials have shown this to be an excellent way of reducing the chances of actual infection from inhaling the virus.

Also spray it onto face regularly. Regular applications prevent skin from drying out whether in a train, an office or out in the open. It is a great moisturiser.

8 Steps to avoid contracting Influenza:
(“He and She” are used alternately for convenience)
1) Stand one metre or more away from any person who might have symptoms of the ‘flu
2) If he coughs, stand one metre further away and one step to the side.
3) Ask her to cover her mouth
4) Clean all surfaces regularly – especially tables, sinks, door knobs.
5) Use standard disinfectants like Pine O’ Cleen, Dettol, hydrogen peroxide or iodine preparations.
6) If using an oil burner or vaporiser, place ten drops of a mixture of Thymol, Menthol, Tea Tree Oil, Lemongrass, Lavender and Eucalyptol. Replenish regularly. (Ask your Natural Therapist Pharmacist).
7) If in crowds, use a mask and gloves. (The mask will stop water droplets which might contain the virus).
8) Definitely avoid wild pigeons, Indian myna birds, starlings and any migrating birds. Also discourage Magpies and native birds from feeding off the verandah until the bird ‘flu crisis is over.
9) Poultry owners: wear an industrial strength mask and gloves, and long sleeves when feeding or handling the birds.
10) Check into the Health Dept of NSW or Australian governments for more specific instructions

7 Steps to Build Health to optimum to reduce the impact of an infection: (Must have check-up from a natural therapist before commencing):
1) Take Nature’s Sunshine tablets twice daily
2) Take Tasty C powder or tablets twice daily
3) Do 15 minutes of energetic exercise daily (check health with doctor first if over thirty five Y.O.)
4) Eat a healthy diet
5) Take a garlic clove or fresh chilli daily
6) Drink water as your main thirst quencher
7) Eat only chemically free or organic food

Healthy diet:
• Eat:
o Fresh ocean fish three times a week.
o Fresh organic vegetables, cooked, every night with dinner
o Fresh organic salad vegetables daily with lunch
o Four pieces of seasonal organic fruit daily
o Organic non-wheat cereals only for breakfast (soak all mueslis overnight)
o Only A2 cows milk or organic goat’s milk or 100% non-GM soy milk.
o Ditto cheeses – anything from New Zealand or King Island
o Only eat chemically free meats, patés and delicatessen products
o Enjoy a variety of all foods
o Maintain a good protein intake daily
o Eat regularly organic, cold pressed vegetable oils
o Do not cook with vegetable oils
o If frying, cook only with butter or lard.
o Avoid margarines and butter blends
o Use only butter on bread and toast (preferably organic) – not margarine or blends

For more specific dietary advice, contact us.
152 Burns Bay Road, Lane Cove 2066. Ph: 9420 4959; philwade@zip.com.au

______ Influenza (“flu”) Treatment Pack.
Keep on hand in the medicine cabinet for use when needed. This treatment has the best effect if used AS SOON AS the first warning sign of the ‘flu strikes you. That could be an itchy throat or nose or sudden explosive cough, often combined with a strange taste in the mouth.

OUR Influenza Pack can help to support various “systems” within your body that the ‘flu invades and so allows you to fight it off in the minimum possible time. You might still get the symptoms for 3 days but if you follow the instructions, these symptoms should be lighter and less severe than they otherwise might have been..

PACK CONTENTS
1) HERBAL ‘FLU MIXTURE
Contains Herbs, which help you to:
Fight off the virus
Enhance killer white blood cell activity
Reduce inflammation in the parts of the body which are affected
Ease chest congestion
Soothe the cough
Lift that heavy feeling
Reduce the pain in the joints
Takes the “fire” out of the stomach discomfort
Soften and expectorate phlegm

2) RyeVITAL GREEN RYE GRASS DROPS, similar to Oralmat Drops.
Consists of green rye grass extract which may help to:
Boost your immune white blood cell response
Reduce inflammation
Reduce VIRUS activity
Reduce the period of the ‘flu
Reduce the severity of the ‘flu
Improve mood and
Make breathing easier
Stop sneezing
Break up mucus
Ease gut ache
Break up sinus and nasal congestion

Taking the RyeVITAL drops as soon as the first sign of the ‘flu or cold occurs may have an even greater effect.

3) VITAMIN C COMPLEX.
This specialised preparation is a highly activated form of Vitamin C in powder or tablet form. Its constituents are all needed by the immune system, being hesperidin, zinc and nicotinamide. Taking extra Vitamin C may boost your ability to fight off the ‘flu.
This means to you:
• lighter symptoms
• a briefer period of infection
• a more complete and rapid recovery from the symptoms of cold and flu.

4) A HOMOEOPATHIC preparation which may also help to quickly relieve the symptoms.

5) Well aquamist

To order NOW off our website: Just email FLU and youe Phone no to kirsty@wellnesscentre.com.au and we will contact you with details.

Don’t wait: order now.

Aquamist spray is designed to spray directly on to the skin to COOL, Refresh and Hydrate.

Benefits of AquaMist
1) When water evaporates off the skin, it cools it dramatically by cooling the blood passing through the skin.
2) Evaporating water also helps keep the rest of the body cool when it cools the high volumes of blood passing through the skin of the face and neck.
3) Applied directly to the skin, a face mist will prevent natural water loss through evaporation, enabling the skin to retain moisture. This prevents dehydration, cracking and the “dried prune” look usually sported by frequent sunbathers
4) It also helps nourish the skin with the precious minerals dissolved in our special spring water
This nourishment not only helps cells stay “alive” but also vital.
5) If skin cells overheat, the live enzymes in them “curdle” and causes the cells to die.
This leads to: More rapid turnover of skin cells which leads to premature ageing of skin and wrinkles; Poor circulation and can lead to Skin cancer. You might even say that in an emergency, such as being close to a bushfire, this cooling and moisturising effect may even help prevent serious skin damage.

Isn’t it simpler to prevent this from happening as much as possible in the first place? The Aquamist may fill the bill.

A note from Phil:

While I cannot find a ready reference to the ability of dehydrated skin to absorb water readily, it makes common sense that it could do so and the work of Sougrat, R et al, (2002) shows that water channels exist in the epidermis and that this is capable of maintaining complete hydration of that skin layer. Not only that but also it has been chronicled that the far eastern torture methods of dehydration include soaking the unconscious victim in a bath of water when the want them restored to health, indicating that the outer layer of the skin (called the stratum corneum) can act as an osmotic membrane (i.e. allow water to pass through slowly). This is logical, as anyone who has ever sat in a bath for any period of time will attest – or for that matter, anyone lost in a desert for a couple of days).

So, spray the Aquamist on and be restored in more ways than one.

Why “organic”?

“Organic” simply denotes that the water is totally free of chemicals or chemical additives. It has been suggested by any number of internet references that chlorine in the water causes bladder cancer. That’s why it is important to know that the water you are using is free of impurities.

For other information on how to keep your skin fresh looking, see our article on “dry skin” at the www.wellnesscentre.com.au website.

For information about a water filtration system which removes impurities and restores trace elements to water, see our website article on “water”.

Disclaimer:

Regular application of Wel Aquamist while outdoors may prevent accelerated ageing of the skin only if your body’s dietary intake of organic spring-based water and minerals is inadequate.

Lane Cove Wellness Centre 152 Burns Bay Rd
Lane Cove
2066
ph: 9420 4959

Who is Phil Wade, our Well Natural Naturopath?

Phil Wade began his career as a pharmacist in 1966. Soon after this he became fascinated with the benefits that nutritional support demonstrated in his patients thus beginning his long line of studies in complementary medicine. Phil is now a qualified:

* Naturopath
* Herbalist
* Iridologist
* Nutritionist
* Remedial Massage Therapist

And a practitioner in

* Sports Medicine
* Botanical Medicine
* Bach Flower Remedies
* Macrobiotics
* Microcurrent Therapist
* Homeopath
* As well as a Pharmacist

He beleives in a Wholistic approach to health.

Feel free to ask Phil any questions here or contact him at www.wellnesscentre.com.au or simply blog this site.

Our Water is sourced from the Pristine Northern NSW Highlands, it is certified Organic and is of the highest quality.
Our water is pumped from a Natural Free flowing spring and Spring Boar, treated with sterile Ozone (as opposed to the chemicals used in the majority of Bottled Water) packaged, then bottled.
We use a Nitrogen propellant which is an inert Gas.

All this to bring you Aqua Mist to hydrate, refresh and cool you.

This week Phil is going to tell us the benefits of Water for the body and skin.

Given the current political climate, with Elections looming and the Water issue at the top of the list in both State and Federal elections there is a large focus on the Water crisis. So here are a few facts on how the bottled water industry fares.
If you vivsit the Australian Bottled Water Institute Website www.bottledwater.org.au you will see the facts on water usage by Australian Bottled water comapanies….they in fact only use 1/100 of a percent or 0.01% of all ground water consumed in this country.
In addition to this we have hand selelcted our Water supplier. They use best industry practice sourcing water from a free flowing Natural Spring as well as 2 ground water bores, the Water is not treated with any chemicals as some waters are. It is in fact Ozonated.

It’s that time of the year again when everyone is trying to clean out their system post a big New Year’s party season and indulgent holiday’s. February is the shortest month to try a Health kick so we like it the best…….. here are Phil’s Top 5 Detox Tips to help you through.

Tip 1 – Healthy diet

3 words; Simple, Natural and Variety. Eliminate junk foods and highly processed foods from your diet, they are full of chemicals and slow you down for very little nutritional value. Eat unprocessed, organic foods to get maximum nutritional value. Here at Well Natural we believe mixing it up is the key go to www.wellnesscentre.com.au to find out more and find out about Phil’s Detox Elimination Rotation diet.

Tip 2 - Hydrate from the Inside

Water helps to cleanse your system from the inside out as well as flushing the toxins from your system.. Daily recommended intake varies with Weight: 50kg 1.2lit, 65kg 1.42lit, 110kg 2lit.as a guide. Phil recommends you use Organic water free of chemicals. Also it is important to INCREASE your water intake while on Detox.

Tip 3 – sssssssshpray Well AQUA Mist

Your skin is a reflection of what is going on both inside and outside your body, Detox takes care of the inside: Well AQUA Mist takes care of the outside. It stimulates the blood supply & hydrates the skin. We particularly recommend using it on the facial area as it gives you the added benefit of the refreshing pick me up. (Try putting it in the fridge for that extra lift) We especially love to wake up to AQUA Mist.

Nb AQUA Mist is made from Organically certified Australian Natural Spring Water it is completely chemical free and leaves your skin feeling soft and fresh. It will be available online from the 25th of January at click here for enquiries prior to this email sales@wellnatural.com.au

Tip 4: Don’t Burn the Candle

At Well Natural we love to burn the candle, it is the reason for our very existence but during Detox you have to slow down, stop drinking alcohol and get plenty of rest to give your body a chance to eliminate those toxins. Phil recommends at least 8 hours sleep a night and to lay off the booze for at least 5 days to get maximum benefits

Tip 5: Light Excercise

30mins a few times a week during Detox should do the trick, light and easy is the key: For added benefits try increasing your heart rate to get up to a sweat 2 – 3 times during each session this will help to maximize the elimination of toxins through the skin: your bodies largest elimination organ.

Phil offers a free 15 minute Wellness consultation or to start your individualized Wellness program check him out at www.wellnesscentre.com.au

Well Natural Pty Ltd: dedicated to brining you Wellness from everything Australian