Food Intolerance Testing

If you feel that you may have an intolerance to something that you are eating or drinking, we now have a couple of options.
We still have the K-Test available in the shop at £25. The K-Test is a non-invasive, bio-electronic test. You place your hand over a large computer mouse with receptors on it, and it tests you for intolerance to 40 basic foods. It only takes a few minutes, then you receive a printout of the results.

For a more precise and accurate result, we now have the Food Detective, which is a DIY blood test kit at £49.99. It tests for all the main foods that people are often intolerant to, including gluten, wheat and dairy. By following the instructions carefully, you can have your results within an hour.

Debbie Sturge can help you with it if you prefer, providing that you draw the blood yourself, using the equipment provided in the kit. You would need to book a 1½ hour appointment with Debbie for this, at an additional cost of £60 for her time and professional advice.

Still cheaper than other blood tests that you have to send off! Plus same-day results and Debbie’s advice!

click here for more details on The Food Detective

Fibromyalgia Syndrome, ME and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

A little help in dealing with Fibromyalgia Syndrome, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).

Although these conditions have been grouped together in the above heading they are, as any one who has or has not! been diagnosed with one of these illnesses will tell you, the symptoms can be quite different, but I hope I can more or less safely say that there are several common factors they all support, that is extreme fatigue, muscle pain, poor sleeping patterns and lack of concentration making coping with every-day household activities very difficult indeed, people suffering with these conditions understandably score highly on measures of anxiety and depression.

I have found that Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) has been of great help in supporting some of the symptoms of this complaint. MLD works on the lymphatic system which is your body’s waste disposal system and a lot of the functional changes involved can consequence in your own body holding waste and not being able to expel it, muscles start to build up free radicals which can lead your system into extreme tiredness and a feeling of heaviness within the muscle fibres.

The gentle movement of MLD will increase the lymph flow, speeding the release of bacteria and other toxins, reducing pain. It also plays a very large part on calming the nervous system which will improve your night’s sleep, lower mental anxiety and frustration.

Digestive problems can also improve after stimulating the small lymph nodes deep within the abdominal area. Introduced with abdominal breathing, any swelling also due to toxicities can be decreased.

The lymph system is not only the source of good health, it guards against infection.

For more information please look at my website www.mldkent.co.uk or contact me on 07811 852247.
By Susan Relph MLDuk(CDT)

click here to see Susan's website

Christmas Orders - Special Diet?

Various organic, vegetarian, gluten free, wheat free, dairy free or no added sugar Christmas goods are available from our suppliers. We have their Christmas brochures in store now. You are welcome to call in and have a browse through to see if there is anything you would like us to order for you.

We will be having the usual puddings and mince pies in stock, as well as some mulled wine sachets, mulled berry punch and other bits and pieces, but if you want to order anything special, please let us know as soon as possible, so that we can order it for you before our suppliers run out!

Gift Ideas - Choose some luxurious, chemical-free, skin, hair and body care products from our selection of ranges and we will pop them into gift bags for you for free! (1 free gift bag for each £10 spent). You could get Christmas all wrapped up at Herbs, Gardens & Health!

Seasons Greetings and a Happy and Prosperous 2010 to you all!
Thank you for your custom throughout the year.

Staying Healthy this Winter

Colds and flu are the plagues of the winter season and we can’t avoid contact with the viruses that cause them. However, by improving our diet we can boost our immune system and help to reduce the severity and length of an infection. Many nutrients display antiviral and/or antibacterial properties.

Certain foods lower immune resistance, like sugar and refined foods - white products like white bread and white rice, also cakes, biscuits, pastries and sweets. Other foods may exacerbate symptoms, particularly inflammatory and mucous forming foods like red meat (beef, pork and lamb) and dairy products (milk, cheese, cream and butter). Stimulants like caffeine, found in coffee, tea, chocolate and ‘energy’ drinks, also work to deplete efficient immune function.

So what should we be eating?

Fruit and vegetables provide important immune boosting nutrients and should not be neglected during the long winter months. Aim for 6 portions daily and think a rainbow of colours – orange yellow, dark green, red and blue. Berries are particularly rich in antioxidants and while they may not be in season, they can be bought frozen and added to yoghurt or soy based smoothies, or defrosted and used to top porridge. Onions and garlic are other great immune boosters – try homemade vegetable soups and add lentils or quinoa to thicken and make them more satisfying and sustaining.

‘Complex’ carbohydrates, as opposed to the refined variety already mentioned, provide important nutrients and fibre to assist immune function. Opt for wholemeal bread, brown rice, oats and other whole cereals and grains. Experiment with new varieties like millet (a tiny yellow grain that cooks in boiling water for about 10-15 minutes). The more varied your diet, the wider range of nutrients you’ll be receiving.

Essential fats like those found in fish (e.g. salmon, trout and mackerel), nuts (like Brazil nuts, almonds, walnuts) and seeds (e.g. sesame, sunflower, pumpkin), also help support efficient immune function and have anti-inflammatory properties.

Water is essential to keep your body hydrated and flush away toxins. For hot drinks try a mug of hot water with slice of lemon, or fruit / herb teas. Ginger is another useful tonic and can be added to hot drinks.

Limit sugar and refined foods, particularly if you are suffering with an infection.

Limit intake of red meat and dairy products – inflammatory and mucous forming.

Limit intake of stimulants and alcohol.

Nutritional Supplements?

Vitamin A protects mucous membranes, so may be helpful for respiratory infections. Zinc has antiviral properties and if taken in a lozenge form may help ease a sore throat. Vitamin C is another potent anti-viral immune boosting nutrient. A winter ‘maintenance’ dose of 1000mg daily is considered beneficial, while if you feel you are coming down with an infection, this may be increased to 2000mg three times a day (unless you experience diarrhoea, when this dose should be reduced).

Herbs like echinacea have been reported to help ward off viruses, while Propolis has shown anti-bacterial properties.

Please note: If you are currently taking prescribed medication, do check for any possible interaction before taking nutritional supplements. Also note: it is not advisable to take high doses of single nutrients like zinc long term, as this can imbalance other nutrients in the body.

By Debbie Sturge Dip.ION, Nutritional Therapist

click here for our Immune Boosting page

Dead Sea Spa Magik Facial

HOW TO CREATE THE PERFECT AT HOME SPA FACIAL REGIME…
Relax Light some scented candles in your bathroom, close the door and dim the lights creating a warm, cosy spa ambience.

Prepare. Fill your basin with clean warm water in preparation for your at home spa treatment regime.

Cleanse. Cleansing the skin will remove any traces of make-up, dirt and pollution your skin has acquired.

Dead Sea Spa Magik have a number of facial cleansers which you can use at this stage. Choose from… Gentle Cleansing Facial Wash - Suitable for all skin types, Black Mud Soap - Recommended for dry or problem skin conditions or the Cleansing Bar - Recommended for sensitive, normal to oily and acne prone skin.

Standing over your basin and using your chosen cleansing product together with water to foam, gently massage the face, paying particular attention to areas of congestion i.e. the nose, forehead and chin. Rinse face with warm water and pat dry.

Exfoliate. Exfoliation improves the skin's appearance by removing dead skin cells from the surface of the skin. Removing excess dead skin cells can reveal the younger and healthier-looking skin underneath.

Dead Sea Spa Magik Mild Exfoliant is suitable for all skin types.

Mask. Masks provide deep facial cleansing, removing all impurities. They also moisturise and hydrate the skin, leaving you with a silky smooth finish. Dead Sea Spa Magik have a number of facial masks which you can use at this stage. Choose from… Delicate Boosting Mask - Suitable for sensitive, mature skin types, Mud Mask -Most beneficial for problem skins or Algimud Peel-Off Active Seaweed Facial Mask - Great for anti-ageing.

Moisturise. Moisturising keeps your skin nourished and hydrated, helps build a barrier against the loss of water through the skin, repair scaly, damaged or dry areas and helps to prevent the aging effects on the skin. Dead Sea Spa Magik have Rich Moisturiser - Excellent for all skin types and makes a great make-up base. Super Night Cream - For dry skins and extra moisture through the night.

Treat yourself, or put a set together, with a copy of this, for a fantastic, thoughtful, pampering Christmas gift!
All products available in store!

click here to view or order the fabulous Dead Sea Spa Magik range

Garden Waste Shredded! Save Trips to the Tip!

We can turn your garden waste into useful chippings to spread around your garden as a weed inhibiting mulch with our new Professional Eliet Major Chipper.

It will even chip small timber up to 55mm in diameter.

The machine is only 630mm wide, so it will fit easily through your side alley or gateway.

We can also cut larger timber into logs if required.

We are finally starting up the “Gardens” part of Herbs, Gardens & Health, and Juliet’s husband, Stephen Brazil, is available with his chainsaw to help you with your small trees and shrubs.

Fully insured.

Please call Herbs, Gardens & Health on 01843 600201 for a free quote (within Thanet only).

Stock Clearance Sale In Our CABIN!

From now until Christmas we have some Christmas Gifts, Indoor Plants and Books on offer in our Mini Spa Cabin in the garden at the back of the shop.

Feel free to come through and have a browse!

There is no obligation to buy anything, but please feel free to check out our MINI - SPA Facilities while you are there!

We have a fully automatic Spray Tan Booth, a Massage/Therapy Room, a Hydrotherapy Bath and an Infrared Sauna, as detailed above!

GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILABLE!

Combat Winter Blues With Full Spectrum Sunlight in our Relaxing, Rejuvenating, Infrared Sauna!

Physiotherm Full-Spectrum Sunlight can help regulate the metabolism and lead to the production of vital Vitamin D, as well as supporting the immune system, strengthening resistance to disease and acting as a protective shield and stimulator of the self-healing ability of the human organism. For many its most crucial role is in the fighting of depression brought on by the lack of sunlight in the cold, dark winter months.
 
Light gives life. We experience this every spring when the days become longer and the warming sunlight awakens nature. People too naturally become more joyful. We can appreciate the influence of sunlight on humans by looking at the differences between the people of northern and southern Europe. Statistically there is more depression in the northern parts of Europe particularly in the long dark winter months.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) has been widely acknowledged by the medical profession for many years. The consequences of light deprivation are severe for many people. They can suffer from an increase of metabolic disorders, depression, skin diseases, allergies and conditions caused by impaired/suppressed immune systems.

Physiotherm Full-Spectrum Light has an effect similar to that of Sunlight using OSRAM Biolux tubes in which UV light is limited to DIN 5036, so no sunburn occurs.
Of course, you also receive all the other benefits of a sauna, along with relaxing sound and aroma therapies, too!

OFFER- For the rest of 2009- Just £12 per ½ hour session or £28 for 3 goes if paid in advance, with/without shower.

GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILABLE!

click here for more information about our Mini - Spa!