“Food as Medicine”?. ( Part 1)

‘Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food’

The dividing line between food and medicine is often blurred.Many familiar food have other roles as preventative or healing agents.

In past times and other cultures this was accepted,but until recently the growth of technological medicine in developed countries has pushed the healing role of food into the background.Now it is enjoying renaissance.

The relationship between food and medicine is rarely obvious to the untrained eye,yet a large number of todays medicines are derived from sources more usually accepted as food.

The medical properties of plants have been recognised and put to use since the beginning of civilisation.Even today,herbal remedies are thought to make up as much as three-quarters of all the medicines taken around the world.Living plant cells have amino and fatty acids-the raw materials for building many compounds that contain medical properties.

Many modern drugs are made from plants more familiar as foods.Folk remedies are handed down from generation to generation and often involve food.

SOME WELL-KNOWN REMEDIES.

Ginger for nausea.

Cloves for toothache.

Peppermint for indigestion.

Honey for sore throat.

Prunes for constipation.

Carrots for night vision.

Citrus fruit and/or garlic for cold.

Parsley for bad breath.

World Health Organization studies,for example,show a clear connection between diet and heart disease in certain countries around the world.

Climate and geography play a large part in determining the diet and food remedies of a particular country and culture.

Other traditional remedies under scientific inspection include an infusion or ‘tea’ made of ten plant material that are commonly used in Chinese medicine to treat skin problems.Controlled clinical trials have shown that this ‘brew’ produces a short-term beneficial response in sufferers of ‘atopic eczema’.

Although interest in medicinal use of food is growing all the time and many applications may appear to be innovative,most cultures have long histories of food-based remedies.Some of these remedies have never dropped out of use,and many have now been scientifically proven to have beneficial health effects.These herbal applications now appear either in their natural state or in recognisable manufactured concentration of their active compounds,which are available as tablets,powders or creams just to name a few. (Ginger,Honey,Garlic).

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Imagine suffering terrible pains with no signs of injury?.

What do you do with a faulty fire alarm? Simple,turn it off the power and wait until the alarm is repaired.

Now what do you do if the alarm bells are inside you; causing stiff muscles and leaving you exhausted?

That is what happens to people who have ‘fibromyalgia’ ( Sometimes called fibrositis) deal with: severe disabling aches and pains often without a mark of injury.

In years gone by people with fibromyalgia often had a hard time convincing others that their symptoms were real.That has changed since scientists have learnt more about the nervous system.It is now well understood that the symptoms of fibromyalgia-muscle and soft tissue discomfort,tiredness and stiffness-are common and possibly the major reason why some people in our community experience more pain than others. It is basically a faulty overly sensitive pain system that sends and amplifies all sorts of misleading messages about tissue all sorts of misleading,messages about tissue damage to the brain.

Sometimes the pain message might only effect one part of your body.For instance,an elbow or wrist might be affected.In other people it can affect the whole body and causes headaches,sleep disturbances,bowel problems and disturbed concentration.

It’s a worldwide condition and may vary in severity form very mild and occasional to severe and persistent.

The symptoms are often vague and share common features with other illnesses like chronic fatigue syndrome.

Unfortunately there is no agreed test to diagnose Fibromyalgia.Instead the diagnose is based on the description of the symptoms,ruling out other known problems,and finding areas of unusual tenderness on the body.

There is no specific treatment but there are a number of approaches that may help.

Light regular exercise-starting with simple walking-and attention to leading a healthy lifestyle i.e.regular meals,healthy simple diet,fresh air,and having an established bed/sleep routine is also very important.Sometimes certain medication may be of assistance.

If you have issues with pain ask your Doctor for their advice;there are a number of options that may help you switch off and better manage the unwanted discomfort.

‘Healing Your Body Sets The Pace’

People are often busy and when faced with a health problem they usually want things fixed straight away.Unfortunately what we want,and how our bodies actually work is often at odds.

Apart from the crisis times of physical trauma or a acute infection,or body usually does things gradually.Following a strange underlying logic where little action can sometimes set in motion big changes.

Take for instance a sore toe.If it persists you will stand and walk differently.Over time the opposite hip becomes sore,usually worse in bed and sleep becomes disturbed.You get tired,feel rundown and cold scores appear.Each of those symptoms could be treated in isolation but that approach doesn’t really get to the underlying cause.

Sorting out health issues takes time and the ability to step back and ask ‘what else is going on here?’ So apart from choosing appropriate care,your body sets the pace for healing,and that sometimes an opportunity to learn about patience.

A simple Chair exercise to combat slouching and Sitting straight Periods.

Too much sitting can cause posture problems and discomfort-basically we aren’t well suited to sit or be still for long periods.If your work duties don’t allow you to move around then try this easy posture retraining exercise.

While sitting slowly breath out and allow your body to slump to its maximum.

Then reverse the position slowly breathing in while you straighten up to sit as tall and as erect as posisible.

Repeat slowly and rhythmically six times.Complete this routine 3 to 5 times daily.

This exercise is straightforward and surprisingly effective so make it part of your daily ‘take care of myself’ routine.