Sugary soft drinks linked to high blood pressure

The BBC is reporting that a new study on fizzy or sugary soft drinks has linked them to dose-related increases in blood pressure. Read the full article here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12597970

Whatsup Cape Town Article

Big thanks to Dirk for a great article about myself on his Blog WhatsupCapeTown! Have a read of the article here: http://www.whatsupcapetown.com/2011/cape-town-blog/profiles-craig-wright-a-new-homeopath-in-cape-town/

Nobel Prize Winner and AIDS research pioneer Luc Montagnier Supports Homeopathy

"Dr. Luc Montagnier, the French virologist who won the Nobel Prize in 2008 for discovering the AIDS virus, has surprised the scientific community with his strong support for homeopathic medicine.


In a remarkable interview published in Science magazine of December 24, 2010, (1) Professor Luc Montagnier, has expressed support for the often maligned and misunderstood medical specialty of homeopathic medicine. Although homeopathy has persisted for 200+ years throughout the world and has been the leading alternative treatment method used by physicians in Europe, (2) most conventional physicians and scientists have expressed skepticism about its efficacy due to the extremely small doses of medicines used."
Read the rest of Dana Ullman's excellent article from the Huffington Post at:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dana-ullman/luc-montagnier-homeopathy-taken-seriously_b_814619.html

Adaptogens - Plant Medicine Superstars!

Many plant medicines have extensive and well-rounded effects, but the true all-rounders are a group of plants called adaptogens. These wonder-plants are able to help the body and mind adapt to changing circumstances (hence the name!) and are superb for helping with stress and all its mental and physical effects.

If you only pack one natural medicine for your holiday it better be .....

URTICA - The Stinging Nettle. This is the perfect plant for sunburn, heat rash and bites and stings.
If you have ever had an encounter with a stinging nettle, you will know all about the stinging, burning, itching red-and-white eruptions that it can cause. This makes it the perfect homeopathic medicine for similar problems. I use neat Urtica tincture on bites and stings, and for burns, scalds, sunburn, heat rash, hives or other itching eruptions, it can be diluted 50:50 with water, or you can mix 10 drops per teaspoon of Aloe gel. Apply liberally. It really is the most magical treatment for minor burns - keep a bottle in your kitchen or near the braai.

8-Day Healing Bush - a little bush with big powers!

Lobostemon fruticosus is an amazing indigenous plant belonging to the Borage and Comfrey family. It is a common little shrub in the Cape Floristic Region, with tough hairy leaves and flowers that range from pink through purples to blues, often on the same bush and in the same flower at the same time.
Chew some fresh leaf and you will see why it is also called 'Pleisterbos' - a gummy mass will quickly form!

Tips for Spring

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Spring, when the new growth starts to appear on trees and other plants, is said the be the Wood time of the year, i.e. Spring is governed by the Wood Element (as opposed to Fire, Earth, Metal and Water). Each Element is also linked to a major organ system and in TCM this is the Liver and Gallbladder. Spring is therefore one of the best times to address Liver issues and to ensure that your liver and gallbladder is in optimal health. Now is the time to address this and also to assist the shift in metabolism from the quiet, slow winter mode to the more expansive and active summer mode.