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Many people rub a sprain or strain immediately with a heat rub or with hot and cold compresses. This is wrong. Apply cold water or ice to the area as soon as possible. This should be done at 20-minute intervals for the first half day to stop the swelling and to help reduce the injury and bruising. This is very important. We need to start the healing process and this can be done by rubbing on a cream containing comfrey. Comfrey ointment speeds up the healing process. On the second day, start using heat rubs to return circulation and speed up the healing process. Remember, ice first and heat the next day.

The sprain should be supported using an elastic or conforming bandage. It may be walked on if there is no pain. A little discomfort is alright. Rest the sprained joint as much as possible by elevating it above the heart. This will help reduce pain and swelling.

SUPPLEMENTS

vitamin C 2000 mg daily

zinc 25 mg daily

silica 25 mg daily

cod liver oil 5 ml daily

Localised treatment:

Comfrey ointment and a heat rub.

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Viral infections and suppressed immune systems are of a greater problem today than they were in the 1960s and 1970s. Diseases such as Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and viral infections, are presenting practitioners and the public with symptoms not previously encountered.

Modern allopathic medicine has no answer to many of these problems and therefore many people are looking to natural therapies for answers.

One of the most common herbs used by the ancients and modern herbalists for the treatment of infection is Allium sativum (garlic). Garlic is a member of the lily family and it contains a volatile oil composed of sulphur-containing compounds: allicin, diallyl disulfide, diallyl trisulfide and others.

Garlic was used for the treatment of amoebic dysentery by Albert Schweizer in Africa and its antibiotic activity was first noted by Louis Pasteur. Garlic’s antiseptic action was used in the prevention of gangrene during the first and second world wars. Herbalists are now using garlic in combination with other herbs or by itself in the treatment of the common cold, sinusitis, and upper respiratory tract infections and it is mentioned in the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia for the treatment of these conditions.

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Crohn’s disease, of unknown origin, is an inflammation of the bowel possibly from an immune defect. Studies now indicate that it is blocking of the small blood vessels feeding the intestine. Death of small sections of the bowel could be responsible for the ulceration and Assuring of the gastric mucosa.

In chronic cases the patients complain of pain mostly in the right-hand side of the gut, and of diarrhoea. During the acute stage weight loss, noticeable lack of energy, and sometimes fever and anaemia may be evident. Patients usually feel despondent and have a poor outlook on life.

The diarrhoea may be accompanied by pus, mucus and/or blood if the colon is affected. Seldom is there frank blood.

These are indicators that Crohn’s disease and ankylosing spondylitis and ulcerative colitis may be linked in families sharing a common but incomplete genetic basis.

As the main medical treatment is corticosteroids there is the danger of acute adrenal insufficiency in patients treated with this drug. It may be brought about by the abrupt withdrawal of the corticosteroid or the patients’ adrenals being unable to cope with increased infection or stress.

Prednisone and sulfasalazine are therapeutic. However, herbs and nutrients are used that have an anti-flammatory and vascular supportive action. Slippery elm, liquorice , omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids (from fish oils), and evening primrose oil, with vitamin E can be used with medicine prescribed by the doctor. The combination is most beneficial. Refined sugar must not be taken as it contributes to increased inflammatory action for Crohn’s disease sufferers. Hypoallergenic, low residue elemental diet is recommended. This reduces the load on the colon and vascular system in the gastrointestinal tract.

The omega 3 fatty acids in fish oil have anti-inflammatory effects. This is so for vitamin E which also reduces the viscosity of the blood. This vitamin improves blood flow and oxygen supply to the area, helping to prevent infarction of the colon. The vitamin E inhibits lukotriene formulation and reduces free radical damage because of its antioxidant properties.

Slippery elm, indicated for conditions of inflammation and ulceration as well as colitis, contains mucilage which is soothing to the gastrointestinal tract. Slippery elm is valuable when it is used with fish oil and evening primrose oil for the acute stage of Crohn’s disease.

SUPPLEMENTS

vitamin E 1 capsule 3 times a day

slippery elm 600 mg 3 times a day

marshmallow root 500 mg 3 times a day

Lactobacillus 2.5 billion bacilli once a day

acidophilus

multivitamin mineral 1 tablet a day

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Bran contains two types of dietary fibre, soluble and insoluble. It is the insoluble fibre that helps the body by providing bulky fibre and promoting bowel regularity. Wheat bran contains around 33.3% insoluble fibre, rice bran 23% and oat bran around 5.5%.

If regularity is the problem, then it may be that the diet is lacking in insoluble fibre. If this is the case, then including 60 grams of rice or wheat bran will help. Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water daily as water moves food through the digestive tract.

The soluble fibre found in bran is as important as the insoluble fibre. Soluble fibre can help reduce the. risk of certain types of heart disease by reducing blood cholesterol levels and improving the HDL:LDL ratio. HDL, or high density lipoproteins are responsible for carrying excess cholesterol from the blood stream back to the liver. The liver uses cholesterol to manufacture bile salts which are needed to emulsify fats in the intestine for absorption. LDL, or low density lipoprotein, transports cholesterol to different parts of the body for use by the cells. However, excess LDLs are deposited on the artery walls if not used. This can lead to a hardening and narrowing of these blood vessels resulting in cardiovascular” disease.

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Oral contraceptives

Oral contraception can decrease absorption of folic acid and increase the need for vitamin B6 and possibly vitamin C, zinc and riboflavin. Approximately 22% of Australian women aged 15 to 44 are believed to be on the pill at any one time.

Light eaters

Some people eat very sparingly, even without weight reduction goals. USA dietary surveys have shown that an average woman maintains her weight on 7560 kilojoules per day, at which level her diet is likely to be low in thiamine, calcium and iron.

The elderly

The aged have been shown to have a low intake of vitamins and minerals, particularly iron, calcium and zinc. Folic acid deficiency is often found, in conjunction with vitamin C deficiency. Fibre intake is often low. Riboflavin (B2) and pyridoxine (B6) deficiencies have also been observed. Possible causes also include impaired sense of taste and smell, reduced secretion of digestive enzymes, chronic disease and, maybe, physical impairment.

Lack of sunlight

Invalids, shiftworkers and people whose exposure to sunlight may be minimal, can suffer from insufficient amounts of vitamin D, which is required for calcium metabolism, without which rickets and osteoporosis (bone thinning) has been observed. Ultraviolet light is the stimulus to vitamin D formation in skin. It is blocked by cloud, fog, smog, smoke, ordinary window glass, curtains and clothing. The maximum recommended daily supplement of vitamin D is 400 IU.

Bio-individuality

Wide fluctuations in individual nutrient requirements from the official recommended average vitamin and mineral intakes are common, particularly for those in high physical demand vocations, such as athletes and manual labour, taking into account body weight and physical type.

Athletes

Athletes consume large amounts of food and experience considerable stress. These factors affect their needs for B group vitamins, vitamin C and iron in particular. Tests on Australian Olympic athletes and A-grade football players have shown wide-ranging vitamin deficiencies.

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