Discussion on Diabetes on Taxi Radio

Catch Dr Craig Wright discussing Diabetes, it's diagnosis and natural medicine treatment options today on Taxi Radio. Listen online at: http://thetaxi.mobi/listen-live/

Do You Have Metabolic Syndrome?

1) If you are a man, is your waist circumference more than 102cm?

    If you are a woman, is your waist circumference more than 88cm?

2) Is your blood pressure more than 130/85 or are you being treated for high blood pressure?

3) Is your fasting blood sugar level over 6 mmol/l?

4) Do you have raised blood triglycerides over 1.7 mmol/l or are you being treated for raised triglycerides?

5) Do you have low HDL (good cholesterol) - less than 1.03 mmol/l in men and < 1.3 mmol/l in women? or are you being treated for raised cholesterol levels?

If you have answered YES to 3 or more of these questions then you most likely have Metabolic Syndrome!

[see http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/112/17/e285/T1.expansion.html]

Belly Fat - over 102cm in men & you are in trouble....

What does this mean?

It means that you need to see a knowledgeable health professional to help you get yourself on track before you develop Type II Diabetes, heart or artery disease, heart attack, stroke or a host of other metabolism-related problems.

Metabolic Syndrome is a condition in which multiple metabolic issues result in abnormal management of blood sugar, blood fats and blood pressure in conjunction with an increased likelihood of inflammation and blood clotting, potentially leading directly to coronary heart disease, diabetes or stroke. Think of it as a sign of impending bigger problems as your body starts to decompensate.

The underlying risk factors for developing Metabolic Syndrome are abdominal obesity and insulin resistance. Other associated conditions include physical inactivity, aging, hormonal imbalance, and genetic or ethnic predisposition. 

What can I do about it?

The good news is that, in most cases, it is easily reversible with a bit of effort!

Firstly, if you suspect you have Metabolic Syndrome, see a healthcare practitioner (such as a homeopath, phytotherapist or naturopath) who understands the condition and have the required tests done to confirm the diagnosis and also to ascertain your baseline levels, so that monitoring your progress is easier.

Secondly, start on a programme of lifestyle and dietary changes that are specific for you and your 'type'.

My suggestions for anyone wanting to tackle metabolic syndrome and improve their health in general, to avoid diabetes, heart attack and other nightmares usually include:

• exercise
• healthy eating (e.g. low GI but right for your type e.g. Vata/Pitta/Kapha)
• nutritional supplements (e.g. Chromium; Omega 3 EFA's)
• herbal medicines (e.g. artichoke, milk thistle, turmeric, adaptogens)
• patient-specific individualised homeopathic medicines

Thirdly, stick to a programme and get yourself monitored to chart your progress back to health - it really doesn't have to end in disaster.....!

An Introduction to Homeopathy and Herbal Medicine for new Moms @ Kingsbury Hospital

Here is a little more information about my top five first aid remedies for mothers and babies as discussed at the talk at Constantiaberg Hospital yesterday morning

• Chamomilla (Matricaria recutita)

•     Irritable, grizzly, restless children and babies suffering from pain or fever or inflammation. Want to be carried and held. They often have one red cheek, greenish stools and rather angry crying. If there is the full picture, you can use Chamomilla 30cH homeopathic medicine in drop or granule form and administer it as often as necessary to bring relief.  If the full picture is not present and you simply want a calming and soothing, anti-inflammatory herb to help when your baby won't settle or sleep, has tummy problems or is irritable or fractious, then give the herbal infusion (tea). Chamomile can be used externally as a wash to soothe red, inflamed areas - it can be added to the bath or even dabbed on directly from a moistened teabag of chamomile.

• Catnip (Nepeta cataria)
• cooling, calming and soothing herbal tea for mild fevers and inflammation, sleeplessness, restlessness, over-excitability.  Soothes the digestive tract and helps cool baby in fevers. May be helpful in colic. It has anti-spasmodic and gas-dispelling effects on the digestive tract. Particularly good in overexcitable, overimpressionable, oversensitive states. It is gently sedating. Also good if mum's anxiety is affecting baby. Can be mixed in equal quantities with Chamomile.  

• Elderflower (Sambucus nigra - flowers)
• Elderflower infusions can be used as a gentle decongestant for the upper and lower airways. The baby that responds best to elderflower is usually mucousy and snuffly, with congested nose and sinused, and perhaps congested chest and cough.The baby often perspires more when they have these problems and this is a good guide to the use of this herb. Elderflower opens up the airways and frees breathing. It can be used to help in minor colds, sinusitis, catarrh, hayfever, allergies etc.  Difficulty breathing should always be assessed by a practitioner.

• Marigold (Calendula officinalis)
• Calendula is the best allround herb for the skin! It is a wound healer and very helpful for all types of cuts, scrapes and grazes, including carpet burn from crawling! It is mildly antiseptic and helps speed up skin healing. It is a great topical application for eczemas, cradle cap and many other skin conditions, including rashes (may be used with Chamomile). If in doubt - try Calendula! It also works very well with the following herb:

• St John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum)

• a great wound healing herb that can be used on its own or with Calendula. It is particularly good for injuries to nerve-rich regions such as the fingers, face or genitals (e.g. episiotomy). I combine it with Calendula and use it to prevent stretch marks and to treat cracked nipples. It is great to have a jar of 'Hypercal' cream around the house as you can use it on yourself and your baby for just about any topical skin problem. If you can't find a good hypericum and calendula cream at the pharmacies or health shops, then your homeopath should be able to provide one.

 Medicines for Teething

1. Chamomilla 6cH or 30cH - more grizzly, angry state
2. Pulsatilla 6cH or 30CH - irritable, but more sweet, clingy, thirstless
3. Chamomile and/or Catnip tea - multipurpose soother

How to Prepare a Herbal Infusion (Tea)

 Add 250ml freshly boiled water to 1 heaped teaspoon dried or 2-3 teaspoons fresh herb. Place a lid on the container to prevent essential oils from escaping (e.g. a saucer on your cup). Leave to stand until lukewarm. For infants, administer 1 teaspoon or warm or cool tea at a time. It is difficult to recommend a dose. See how much you can get in! It is difficult to give too much and if you are giving teaspoonful doses, giving it as often as baby will take it until it has its desired effect and then repeat as neccessary. For toddlers or older children a shotglass full of tea at a time can be given. It can be sweetened with honey or given in applejuice.
  

Vitamin D to the Rescue - again!

I have written about the benefits of Vitamin D a few times before. I can't stress enough how important it is to maintain your blood levels of Vitamin D above 50ng/ml. Here is a video that talks about some of the benefits of this incredibly important substance:
The Real Story on Vitamin D

Stop Smoking Drugs Associated with Suicide, Self Harm & Depression

In a recent report in the continuing medical education publication Medscape, the authors reported:  

"Varenicline (Chantix, Pfizer or Champix) is associated with a significantly increased risk for suicidal behavior and depression, according to new research.

In a study of more than 13,000 cases of adverse events involving smoking cessation products over the course of 13 years, investigators found that 90% of the reports of self-injurious behavior or depression were associated with the use of varenicline. Bupropion and nicotine replacement products were responsible for the remaining 7% and 3%, respectively.

"This should not be a first-line drug. If you start with the others, [and] they don't work, and you have to use a drug, then you use Chantix. But you must monitor the mental status of patients who use it," coinvestigator Curt D. Furberg, MD, PhD, professor of public health sciences at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, told Medscape Medical News.

"Ideally, I think it should come off the market, but that is not realistic. So a more realistic recommendation is to restrict its use."

Well I have to agree with Dr Furberg - take this drug off the market! The moral of the story is: use willpower and natural medicine, acupuncture or other treatments to stop smoking and don't take your life in your hands by taking Champix or any other stop-smoking drug. But whatever you do, STOP SMOKING IMMEDIATELY - its never too soon or too late!!

Homeopathy Gives Significant Results in the Treatment of Fibromyalgia

I have recently come across a 2004 study published in the international journal Rheumatology. This trial examined the effectiveness of homeopathic treatment of patients suffering from the increasingly common problem of fibromyalgia. The results were overwhelmingly positive and illustrate what I have personally found in practice: fibromyalgia patients can benefit significantly from individualised homeopathic treatment!

In this trial, participants on active treatment showed significantly greater improvements in tender point count and tender point pain, quality of life, global health and a trend toward less depression compared with those on placebo.

The authors conclude: "the present study demonstrated that individualized homeopathy is significantly better than placebo in lessening tender point pain and improving the quality of life and global health of persons with fibromyalgia."

Why I also think that this trial is so important, is that it clearly shows how homeopathic treatment not only benefits the symptoms, but improves the person's overall state of health and physical and mental health, as opposed to regular anti-inflammatories and analgesics that simply mask the problem and may bring a host of side effects with them. 

If you suffer from fibromyalgia, find an experienced, registered homeopath soon!

Reference: I. R. Bell, D. A. Lewis, A. J. Brooks, G. E. Schwartz, S. E. Lewis, B. T. Walsh and C. M. Baldwin. Improved clinical status in fibromyalgia patients treated with individualized homeopathic remedies versus placebo. Rheumatology 2004;1

http://rheumatology.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2004/01/20/rheumatology.keh111.full.pdf+html

Catch me discussing the role of complementary medicine in South African healthcare on Bush Radio, 89.5FM in Cape Town at 12h30 today!