Natural Therapy Health & Spa Centre

15/04/2020

NATURAL HEALTH TIPS TO KEEP HEALTHY DURING THE COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
The World Health Organization's (WHO) Director-General shared five tips to look after your physical and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. The suggestions may not only protect your health in the long-term but could also help you fight COVID-19 if you become ill
In a media briefing held March 20, 2020, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus gave advice for individuals around the world who are "adjusting to a new reality" during various levels of quarantine imposed to slow the spread of coronavirus COVID-19.
"During this difficult time, it's important to continue looking after your physical and mental health. This will not only help you in the long-term, it will also help you fight COVID-19 if you get it," Ghebreyesus said, before offering five solid steps that virtually everyone can take to boost immunity and stay healthy not only during this pandemic but also after it ends.
1. Eat a Healthy and Nutritious Diet
This helps your immune system to function properly, Ghebreyesus noted. Indeed, whole foods are a powerful force to boost your immune function, including plenty of fruits and vegetables, which are rich in vitamins, antioxidants and other phytochemicals.
Flavonoids, for instance, found in berries and onions, among other produce, reduce the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections, while vitamin C, found in foods like broccoli and kiwi, exerts anti-viral immune responses as well as has antioxidant, immunomodulatory and anti-infectious effects. So load up on immune-boosting nutrients from foods, like vitamins A (sweet potatoes and carrots), C (citrus fruits and cruciferous veggies), D (eggs and mushrooms) and E (dark leafy greens), zinc (beef and pumpkin seeds) and selenium (Brazil nuts and sardines).
Fermented foods and beverages, such as yoghurt and kefir, are also beneficial. Consuming a probiotic drink has been found to reduce the incidence of influenza in children while eating yoghurt fermented with Lactobacillus and bulgaricus bacteria enhanced natural killer cell activity and reduced the risk of catching the common cold among the elderly.
Specific superfoods, like turmeric and its active ingredient curcumin, garlic and mushrooms, can further support your immune system. Other natural substances demonstrating viral inhibition include Echinacea purpurea, combined with other antiviral herbs such as cat’s claw, lemon balm, and pau d’arco, which have been clinical shown to be of benefit in opportunistic viral and bacterial infections. These herbs enhance the body’s defence mechanism by stimulating white blood cell and macrophage activity. Macrophages are like little ‘Pac Men’ that roam around the body, engulfing and destroying viral and bacterial organisms.
2. Limit Your Alcohol Consumption and Avoid Sugary Drinks
Excess alcohol consumption affects booth innate and adaptive immunity, leading to a significant weakening of your defences and heightening the risk of infections.
Avoiding not only sugary drinks but sugar in general will also benefit your immune function, while a high sugar intake is associated with an increased mortality risk from all causes.
3. Don't Smoke
"Smoking can increase your risk of developing severe disease if you become infected with COVID-19," according to Ghebreyesus.
Exercising at moderate intensity for five minutes can temporarily reduce your desire to smoke, while continued physical activity can help you to quit in the longer term, possibly by improving your mood and wellbeing.
4. Exercise
WHO recommends 30 minutes of physical activity a day for adults and one hour a day for children, so “go outside for a walk, a run or a ride, and keep a safe distance from others. If you can't leave the house, find an exercise video online, dance to music or walk up and down the stairs," Ghebreyesus said.
Exercise boosts your immune system in multiple ways, including causing white blood cells, which fight disease, to circulate more rapidly, allowing them to detect illnesses sooner. In addition to regular exercise, you'll also want to be sure you're not sitting too much. "If you're working at home, make sure you don't sit in the same position for long periods. Get up and take a 3-minute break every 30 minutes," Ghebreyesus advised.
5. Look After Your Mental Health
If you're feeling excessively stressed or anxious over COVID-19, the blow this stress has to your immune system may increase your risk of infection. So Ghebreyesus' advice to protect your mental health is wise:
"It's normal to feel stressed, confused and scared during a crisis. Talking to people you know and trust can help. Supporting other people in your community can help you as much as it does them.
Check in on neighbours, family and friends. Compassion is a medicine. Listen to music, read a book or play a game. And try not to read or watch too much news if it makes you anxious. Get your information from reliable sources once or twice a day."

These tips are especially pertinent during a pandemic, but remember that supporting your immune health is something that can be done year-round. The more you lead a healthy lifestyle, the better prepared your body will be -- on a physical, mental and emotional level -- to deal with external stressors or pathogens.
John Byrne ND; BHSc, is a Naturopath and Herbalist who runs a clinical practice at 19 Brews Hill, Navan. He can be contacted on 046-9060702 www.naturaltherapy.ie
https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19---20-march-2020

Welcome to Navan Natural Health & Spa Centre owned and run by John Byrne N.D., B.H.Sc., a renowned naturopath and author of the book ‘Getting Healthy Naturally’. John offers a number of therapies and treatments including : Naturopathy Consultations Food Allergy Testing Massage Therapy Seaweed Mu...

13/03/2020

NATURAL HEALTH STRATAGIES TO COMBAT THE COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
While the world, at present, appears to be in an accelerating tailspin around the covid-19 coronavirus outbreak, with very little if any hope provided through conventional medical approaches, the reality is that there are natural alternatives that have already been, and continue to be worth investigating.
Contrary to what most mainstream media would have you assume, coronaviruses aren't uncharted territory. In fact, human coronaviruses are responsible for 15-30% of common colds each year. More severe cases of coronavirus infections were observed during outbreaks of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome (MERS), two coronavirus infections that led to pneumonia in some individuals who were infected.
The good news is that there have been a number of studies performed over the years on natural substances, which are relatively easy to access, are exceptionally affordable, have thousands of years of history among many cultures of safe use, and include culinary spices that may support your immunity while nourishing you deeply in these stressful times.
Some examples of natural substances which have been studied for coronavirus infections include:
• Green and Black Tea
• Cinnamon
• Resveratrol (found in the skin of red grapes)
• Garlic
Interestingly, we already know that drinking green and black tea has hundreds of evidence-based potential health benefits, including slashing MRSA infection risk in half. Garlic, of course, has many other potentially life-saving applications, and as the research goes, garlic has immensely powerful anti-infective properties, experimentally confirmed to kill the following:
1. Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
2. Thrush (Fungal overgrowth in oral cavity)
3. Cytomegalavirus Infections
4. Helicobacter Pylori infection (causes gastric ulcers)
5. Candida (Yeast) infection
6. Viral Infections: Herpes Simplex 1 and 2, Parainfluenza virus type3 and human rhinovirus type 2.
These natural substances demonstrating viral inhibition of SARS-coronavirus are also likely to be effective against the covid-19 coronavirus, considering the two are closely related and share the same angiotensin-converting enzyme II-mediated infection. In other words, SARS-coronavirus and the covid-19 coronavirus are both structurally and mechanistically similar and can be targeted by the same substances.
Other naturally-occurring herbal and whole food-derived substances with proven coronavirus-inhibiting properties are discussed below:
• Liquorice root. Liquorice root has been used for thousands of years for lung infections with similar symptoms as viral infections. Glycyrrhizin, an active constituent of liquorice roots, has been shown to exhibit potent inhibitory activity against SARS-coronavirus replication. A 2008 study from the UK's Luton & Dunstable Hospital NHS Foundation Trust tested liquorice root extracts against a number of viruses, including HIV and SARS. They found that the extract broke down the viral envelope and also boosted immune activity.
• Echinacea purpurea, combined with other antiviral herbs such as cat’s claw, lemon balm, and pau d’arco have been clinical shown to be of benefit in opportunistic viral and bacterial infections. These herbs enhance the body’s defence mechanism by stimulating white blood cell and macrophage activity. Macrophages are like little ‘Pac Men’ that roam around the body, engulfing and destroying viral and bacterial organisms.
• Flavonoids. The activity of coronavirus proteases is a key factor in coronaviruses' ability to propagate in cells. Flavonoids (found in colourful fruits and vegetables), however, directly inhibit coronavirus protease activity, resulting in decreased virus propagation.
• Vitamin C is perhaps the most common nutrient associated with immunity and studies have shown it to have some very powerful effects. Vitamin C appears to be so effective that the Chinese government and medical authorities are using it to treat coronavirus infected patients, and in early reports, saving lives? Research indicates that vitamin C increases the activity of specific infection fighting white blood cells. It has also been observed that white blood cell movement, and their bacteria destroying abilities, are stimulated by the presence of vitamin C. At my clinic I can actually observe the level of activity (or lack thereof) of a client’s white blood cells via a ‘Live Blood Analysis’ examination, and thereby get a good indication of their immune status.
• Zinc may be the most critical mineral for immunity. Low levels of zinc have been associated with low levels of ‘natural killer’ cell activity, abnormally low antibody response and weaker immune response.
• Load up on immune-boosting nutrients from foods, like vitamins A (sweet potatoes and carrots), C (citrus fruits and cruciferous veggies), D (eggs and mushrooms) and E (dark leafy greens), zinc (beef and pumpkin seeds) and selenium (Brazil nuts and sardines).
• Ditch the junk food. Refined carbohydrates -- like added sugar and refined grains -- and highly refined vegetable oils (like soybean, canola, corn, cottonseed, safflower and sunflower oils) contribute to persistent, unhealthy inflammation and impair the body’s natural immune response.
• Get your gut in order. Did you know that 70% of your immune system in your digestive tract? It’s true. And as you may know, the #1 priority of your immune system is DEFENSE. And one of the most effective ways to rapidly and robustly support your gut health -- and immune system -- is with PROBIOTICS. (But only if you use the RIGHT kind.)
All that said, it is important to remember that finding specific “magic bullets” for specific conditions, is the whack-a-mole approach that isn’t necessarily going to address the root-cause reasons why some people become sick after exposure, and many more don’t. We must remember that immune status determines susceptibility to infection, and just like exposure does not equate to infection, nor does vaccination equate to bona fide immunity.
Nothing -- even natural interventions -- is going to guarantee complete protection. That said, immune supportive foods and lifestyle practices are going to have a generally protective effect that is also going to increase your baseline happiness, resilience, and sense of well-being.
John Byrne ND; BHSc, is a Naturopath and Herbalist who runs a clinical practice at 19 Brews Hill, Navan. He can be contacted on 046-9060702

20/03/2019

26/07/2016

Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria

I have suffered for the last two years from "Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria".
This condition causes your skin to become covered with horrible red itchy
hives. I have had Several tests to determine what has caused this terrible
rash but doctors are unable to diagnose its source. I visited John Byrne on
my sister in law's advice and I can honestly say I was not disappointed.
Six weeks after taking his personally prepared concoction slowly but surely
my hives disappeared. I am a new person now and my skin is lovely and
clear!! Thanks John for all your help.

Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria sufferer - Meath

Thanks for the nice testimonial and glad I could help.
John B.

18/04/2016

New website launched hope you like it

Welcome to Navan Natural Health & Spa Centre owned and run by John Byrne N.D., B.H.Sc., a renowned naturopath and author of the book ‘Getting Healthy Naturally’. John offers a number of therapies and treatments including : Naturopathy Consultations Food Allergy Testing Massage Therapy Seaweed Mud Wr…