VITAL VIEWS NEWSLETTER March 2014

Southern Centre of Natural Healing Newsletter
 
We are now well into 2014 and the beautiful season of Autumn. And here FINALLY is my first clinic newsletter for the new year.

The topic for this month is the Acid and Alkaline Balance for Health and Wellness.
I listened last year to an interview with historian and author Professor Iain Mc Calman on the ABC radio who described the Great Barrier Reef as having “coral osteoporosis “ due to the effects of global warming and rising acid levels in the sea. I thought this comment most accurate considering that we as a human species now commonly have osteoporosis in our bones. This can be due to the effects of acid load in our bodies from our too “acid” diets, physiological effects of stress –such as cortisol leaching calcium from our bones and build up of toxins that puts a load on our bodies elimination processes. We are part of this living world our earth “Gaia”, and what we experience in our bodies and minds is reflected in the environment as well as the reverse. So as we heal ourselves , we heal our planet.
 
All cells in our body involve chemical acid-base reactions. The correct pH balance is necessary for a healthy living organism to function properly. The pH refers to the potential for Hydrogen ions H⁺ to form acidity, which is a ph value below 7.0 (neutral) or alkalinity when the pH is above 7.0. Our normal blood pH is between a narrow range of 7.37 and 7.43 for correct physiological function. This is maintained by compensatory functions of the kidney, lungs and digestive systems. But many factors can impact on our body’s ability to buffer acid due to decreased renal function as we age, diet, stress, toxic overload, medications, poor breathing and reduced cell oxygenation, and disease.
 
If our bodies carry an over acid load we will experience disease such as arthritis, fatigue, fluid retention, joint and muscle pains, itchy skin conditions, poor concentration and osteoporosis.
Our diets have become more acid forming with the over consumption of highly processed foods such as sugars & white flour products; too much protein, soft drinks, alcohol and the ever increasing levels of stress that we exposed to in this busy, polluted world of technology, noise and artificial light. How often do we relax, breathe deeply and correctly to help release tension & detoxify ourselves ? Do we get time to sit quietly by the sea or by the trees in a forest ?
So as modern humans, ourselves and our earth can suffer from disharmony due to over acidity. But we can regain balance again and return to a healthy constitution by eating more vegetables & fruit; drinking plenty of water; exercising regularly by walking, tai chi, dancing, yoga; enjoying nature and social time spent sharing with others.
As a natural health practitioner I can assist you:-

• By determining your acid load using the Mineral Priority Index to help you understand your current acid load.
• Doing a specific Matrix Evaluation test that involves simple urine and saliva ph measurements to ascertain which is the best treatment protocol for you .
• I will provide you with a comprehensive and specific food chart that very simply shows you which acid forming foods to eat less of and which alkaline forming foods to eat more of.

Here is a start for you towards a more alkaline and more relaxed you with this drink recipe:-

Blender Greens
1 cucumber, roughly chopped
1 big handful spinach
2 kale leaves
1 handful fresh mint
few sprigs fresh parsley
juice of one lemon or lime
250-275mls coconut water or alkaline/filtered water-adjust as necessary
optional extras: fresh ginger root, dandelion leaves, lemon grass, other herbs like dill or coriander, chard, baby greens, sprouts, bok choy, zucchini, celery.
Method
Place all ingredients in blender and process on high until smooth and not very thick. This is ideal when it is a thinner consistency. Pour into your favourite glass and flood your body with this alkaline goodness. Repeat as often as you can with a variety of alkalizing green veggies

Upcoming Clinic Events

• GUIDED RELAXATION & MEDITATION sessions are on again this year on most Wednesdays from 2 to 3pm starting on 5 March. No cost to attend unless you want to offer a small donation for remedies for the Sacred Heart Mission clinic. Please let me know if you intend joining us.
• LOOK, TALK AND AFTERNOON TEA AT THE HERB GARDEN at the Royal Melbourne Botanical Gardens on Saturday 22 March between 2 and 4pm.
• Showing of the documentary film FOOD MATTERS at a time to suit, so please let me know if you are interested.
• ZING INTO LIFE SERIES of 3 talks/ workshops starting once a month from April on a Wednesday afternoon. I will be discussing how you can improve your energy and health with foods, herbs and lifestyle support techniques. These will be held at the Mordialloc Community Centre.
• A SOCIAL GET TOGETHER FOR LUNCH at a local Bayside café.
• A WALK AT BRAESDIDE PARK

More information about these events will be coming closer to the dates or follow me on my face book page at www.facebook.com/southern.centre.of.natural.healing to register your interest, book your place and keep updated about these and more health news.

Australian Wild Native Food Plants

Indigenous Australian plants that were used by the traditional Koori peoples of this land as foods and are now popular gourmet cuisine food ingredients available in our supermarkets and on some restaurant menus. Organic wheat pasta flavoured with lemon myrtle, native mint or wattle seed; jars of Quandong compote, bush tomato chutney or Kakadu plum jelly can be used to give our food dishes a native Australian flavour.

Warrigal Greens

Plants such as the wild spinach Tetragonia tetragonoides or Warrigal Greens which is found in all States except NT. The early botanist Joseph Banks took its seeds to grow back at Kew Gardens where it became popular English summer spinach and was available for sale in seed catalogues. It was eaten here in our early colonial days. It is a leafy ground cover to 1.5m wide. It prefers moist, free draining soil in part shade. Leaves are edible raw or cooked. Young leaves are less bitter, and an excellent spinach substitute. 
 
The Kakadu green plum or billygoat plum Terminalia ferdinandiana in 1983 was discovered to contain 3150mg or vitamin C per 100g. This is the highest source of this vitamin in the world. The plum grows on a tree in the NT where this fruit has been eaten by the native aborigines for thousands of years. The tree also exudes an edible gum that was roasted and eaten. The plum is a small fruit the size of an olive. It has a sour taste with a mild apricot flavour. It is used in jellies, sauces and as a spread.
 
A native Australian nut that we are all familiar with is the macadamia from the tree Macadamia integrifolia. This nut was originally developed into a commercial crop by seeds shipped to Hawaii in the early 1900’s by the Americans.
 
Wild bush tomatoes Solanum chippendale & S.ellipticum are high in minerals of potassium & calcium, vitamins B and C. The explorer Captain Charles Sturt survived severe scurvy from being fed a large pot of small acid berries that were probably a species of this bush tomato. Deaths from scurvy were a common problem on the convict ships and in the early colonial days. Apparently those that regularly ate wild foods such as desert limes, currant bush Leptomeria acida, gums and “scurvy grass” which was a cress called Lepidium oleraceum may have ingested enough vitamin C to prevent this disease. As Captain Cook encouraged his crew to eat leafy wild plants which included the wild spinach which they had previously discovered in NZ he was awarded on his return to England the Royal Society’s medal for his victory over scurvy. The green fruits grow on small shrubs with purple flowers in the outback. The fruit in the heat of the sun would often shrivel up to form a “raison” which the aborigines regarded as a precious food. It could be ground to a paste with water, then covered with red ochre and dried in the sun to be stored for use later. Bush tomato has a strong flavour of tamarillo and caramel. A ground powder and chutney is available to add to your salads, sauces and salsas.
 
Quandong fruits from Santalum acuminatum are high in potassium and Vitamin C. They grow as shrubs or small trees and were used by our early settlers in puddings and preserves. The oily seeds are also edible and were gathered by the aborigines during the drought for their high (25%) protein content. The bright crimson red round fruits are sour/tart with an apricot/peach flavour. They can be made into jams, pies and as a sauce for game meats.
 
Lemon myrtle Backhousia citriodora is a rainforest tree. The leaf has an aroma like lemongrass and lime. I have been using the dried leaves for a refreshing tea and in fruit punches. It is available as oil and in soaps and hair shampoos. Use dry leaves or powder products with fish, chicken, biscuits and cheese cake. 
 
Hibiscus heterophyllus (Native Rosella) grows in Qld and NSW. It is an attractive, rounded shrub which grows to 2 metres. It needs well moist, drained soil and partial shade. The leaves and flower calyx has quite a sour and acidic taste, hence it is also known as native sorrel. This plant is still a useful food for Aborigines of the tropical north. Buds can be cooked and made into rosella jam. Buds can be eaten raw in salads or boiled as a vegetable. Petals can be eaten in salad or made into a tea. There is also a Wild Rosella plant Hibiscus sabdariffa that was introduced from early fishermen from Indonesia and now grown in Queensland. It has a tart flavour but with a more fruity palatable taste.

Tasmannia lanceolata (Mountain Pepper) grows in TAS, Vic & NSW. It is a not related to the true pepper but is a bushy shrub or tree to 3m but needs deep rich soil and some shade. Protect the plant from wind. The bark has been used as a remedy for scurvy as well and was used by the Europeans in the nineteenth century as a herbal remedy known as winter’s bark. J.H. Maiden a former director of the Sydney Botanical Gardens mentioned this tree with potential as a pepper or allspice substitute. The essential oil is used as a flavouring in confectionary and some trials are been carried out to widen its use. The leaves and berry are both edible as a very hot, spicy & biting flavour. Can be used fresh or dried. Great for seasoning meat and casseroles.

Prosanthera ovalifolia and P.rotundifolia (Native Mint Bush) grows in Qld, Vic, NSW& SA. It is a dense, rounded shrub to 2m. It likes moist & well drained soils in sun to part shade. Leaves have a delightful mint aroma which is excellent in jams, jellies and as a tea. The leavers contain aromatic oils and P. Rotundifolia or round leaved mint bush was used as a patented medicine for stomach flatulent disorders in colonial days.

Native Violet

Viola hederacea (Native Violet) grows in Vic, Qld, NSW, TAS, & SA. It is a creeping, mat forming groundcover but needs a moist spot, and some shade. It has delicate white and purple flowers which are edible, and make salads look amazing or add to your summer punches. 

Wild Parsnip

Trachymen anisocarpa (Wild Parsnip) has an edible tap root that I tasted at the recent spring heath land walk at Braeside Park. It is a leafy annual or biennial plant with spectacular flowers that can grow up to 1m. It can grow readily from seed and likes a moist sandy soil in the sun to part shade.
 
And now to tempt your palate for the taste of true native flavours here are a couple of recipes:-
 

•  ORIENTAL MYRTLE DRESSING-1 tspn soya sauce or tamari, 6 leaves of lemon myrtle ground or use powder, 6 tbspn of macadamia oil or substitute with another nut oil or olive oil , 2 tspn rice wine vinegar (or white wine vinegar) and lemon juice to taste. Blend all ingredients together in a jar and pour over a salad which may include warrigal greens or weed greens such as chickweed or dandelion. Toss in some native violet or heartsease flowers for colour.

•  MACADAMIA & KAKADU PLUM ICE CREAM-3 ½ cups natural yoghurt (Lemon myrtle honey and Bush honey yoghurts are now available to use as an alternative), 1 tbspn honey (omit if using honey yoghurt), 2 tbspn thick cream, 2 tbspn lemon or lime juice, 50g macadamia nuts coarsely chopped, 2 heaped tbspn Kakadu plum spread (use dark plum or Damson jam etc instead). Beat the yoghurt, plum spread and honey until smooth. Fold in the cream, add lemon juice & stir. Pour into a bowl and place in freezer. Remove and beat mixture every 15 minutes during the first hour of freezing. Serve with berries as a summer option and garnish with native violet flowers. 

---

 References:- Sustainable Gardening Australia website. CERES website Bush Foods Catalogue. Book Wild Lime Cooking from the bush food garden by Juleigh Robins 1996. Book Bush Medicine by Tim Low 1990. Book Australian Medicinal Plants by E.V. Lassak & Tim Mc Carthy 1983.

Lemon Myrtle

I love the taste of Lemon Myrtle tea and have been using it since I bought some to offer at my herbal tea tastings as part of a Health and Wellness day at the Chelsea Heights Community Centre a few years ago. People enjoyed it but unfortunately I only had a few packets to sell on the day. Since then I have been getting it in bulk. Recently I made up a herbal punch with lemon myrtle, fresh rosemary leaves, apple & pear juice, fresh mint leaves and bilberry fruits at my City of Kingston's Seniors event- Put Zing into your Life with foods and herbs. Yesterday I attended a fantastic workshop on Growing Herbs by Sustainable Gardening Australia and have just subscribed to their monthly newsletter. Here I saw an article on Lemon Myrtle that I am sharing the link to with you. It has information on this native tree with a recipe for you to make some truly authentic Australian biscuits. Lemon Myrtle tea has relaxing properties and can help ease respiratory complaints.

Lemon Myrtle

Healthy Eating Recipes for Women

We have been celebrating here in Australia National Nutrition Week. So it is great that the Jean Hailes clinic for Women's health here in Melbourne has put together for you some videos and recipes from their Naturopath and Herbalist Sandra Villella. Here are some wonderful healthy and tasty recipes for you to make and share with your friends. So click onto the link below for the Jean Hailes Kitchen series and also take a look at their current newsletter.

Jean Hailes Kitchen series | Health for Women

Published with the kind permission of the Jean Hailes Clinic for Women's Health.
website address www.jeanhailes.org.au and our toll free telephone number (In Australia)
1800 JEAN HAILES (532 642) for women seeking further health information.

Current Herbal Research Projects in Australia

Research is well and alive here in the world of Herbal Medicine in Australia. If you are an Australian resident and either a user of herbal medicines or interested in complementary healing then you may be interested in participating in some of these current studies. As a current full member of the National Herbalists Association of Australia I am sharing this information with you from their website which you can also view. Hoping that some of you may be able to help further the study and research into the uses of herbs and diet in healthcare.

Research Project: Attitudes, beliefs and barriers to herbal medicine use in adults who experience anxiety

PhD candidate Erica McIntyre from Charles Sturt University is seeking participants for a qualitative study exploring beliefs, attitudes towards and reasons for using herbal medicines in adults who experience anxiety. Participation involves a face-to-face interview. Erica is seeking participants in the Sydney, Blue Mountains and greater Western NSW areas. This study requires Australian participants of any background aged 18 years and over who are able to read and understand English, and who experience anxiety. For more details:
Download: Information sheet and Invitation to participate
Email: emcintyre@csu.edu.au or Phone: 0438 448 653

Clinical Trial: PCOS; herbal medicine, diet & exercise

PhD candidate Susan Arentz at the University of Western Sydney is looking into whether herbal medicine can help to regulate the menstrual cycle, improve body characteristics, hormone balance and/or quality of life for women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). They are looking for women with PCOS to participate in a twelve week clinical trial. Women aged 18-44, overweight (BMI more than 25) and not taking the oral contraceptive pill are invited to contact the researchers. For full details:
Download: the Information Sheet or visit the UWS facebook research page www.uws.edu.au/pcosfacebook
Email: Susan Arentz at s.arentz@uws.edu.au or Phone: 0403 044 247 

Research Project: Evidence-based medicine in Practice

PhD candidate Jeff Flatt from the University of New England is conducting this research as part of his PhD. The project aims to explore Australian complementary medicine practitioner experience of evidence-based medicine in practice. Specifically practitioners perspectives are sought on the integration of this evidence with your own professional knowledge and philosophies. There is no survey data collection, instead information is being collected via focus groups and interviews. For full details: 
Download: Letter to Participants or the Information Sheet
Email: Jeff Flatt at jflatt@myune.edu.au  

Clinical Trial: Elderberry Supplementation in Air Travellers

Dr Evelin Tiralongo and Dr Shirley Wee from Griffith University are conducting a clinical trial of elderberry supplementation in preventing upper respiratory symptoms in air-travellers on intercontinental flights. They are looking for healthy participants 18 yrs or older who are heading overseas for at least four days and who will be flying economy class (minimum 7 hour flight). For full details:
Download: the Info Flyer and the Recruitment Flyer
Email: Dr Shirley Wee on elderberry-trial@griffith.edu.au  or Phone: 07 5552 8131

Online Survey: Menstrual Health-study is still on going

Dr Karin Ried at the National Institute of Integrative Medicine is looking for responders for her online survey about menstrual health. Both men and women are encouraged to participate and the survey takes about 10-15 minutes. There are no right or wrong answers, questions can be answered with 'I don't know' and you can choose to enter their regular prize draw to win a shopping voucher.
For full details and the link to the survey: http://www.niim.com.au/research/womens-health