Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre to Run Courses on Natural Therapies

Starting in November 2009, Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre will begin running a series of courses covering a range of Natural Therapies.

Courses include ‘the layman’s guide to natural therapies’, which has been a popular course for people who are interested in alternative medicine and it’s range of disciplines, but because they lack information, have not yet sought such treatments.

This course will look at the major natural medicine modalities and discuss:

• What they are
• How they work
• How natural medicine and orthodox medicine can complement each other
• How natural medicine can help maintain and regain good health
• Find out which therapy is best for your particular health issue
• How to find a qualified natural therapist
• What natural therapies can and cannot do
• And much more.

Not only has this course been of interest to the lay person, but many health professionals have also attended this course with a few to find out more and increase their level of understanding about natural medicine and it’s disciplines.

“We first conceived this course over 10 years ago, because we found that people from all walks of life were increasingly interested in what natural medicine could do for them”, said Susan.

“The aim was not to sell alternative medicine, but rather to provide information that is factual and provides a more complete picture of how an individual could use natural medicine to improve their health. What surprised us initially was the high level of interest expressed by orthodox medical practitioners and nurses”, said Susan Siegenthaler, who as formulated and taught this course now for many years.

Susan is a medical herbalist and Aromatherapist with over 25 years of experience in private practice and teaching. Together with her husband and business partner Danny, a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine, they’ve started their new clinic, Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre and are now offering this course free to anyone that wishes to find out more about natural medicine.

The course will be held over 4 weeks at: Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre. For more details please call (02) 5673 0784 or drop in at:

Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre
Shop 7/1147 Grose Vale Rd.,
Kurrajong Village, NSW 2758

Wildcrafted Cottage – Kurrajong Now Open

Wildcrafted Herbal Products Pty Ltd. has opened its first retail store, in Kurrajong Village, NSW, where its full range of natural skin care products is now available and on display.

Wildcrafted Cottage – Kurrajong, is the brand new retail outlet for Wildcrafted’s full range of skin, body and personal care products. “We wanted to make all our products available in one place so customers could come into our shop, sample the products, and ask questions directly from the people who make them,” said Danny Siegenthaler.

“So far our brand, Wildcrafted Herbal Products, has been primarily available via our website and to patients that come to our Clinic, but there was no specialised outlet where people could go to experience, smell, touch and try the products. Now with the opening of Wildcrafted Cottage, not only can people come and test our natural skin care products, but they can also sample our full range of personal care, hair care, Aromatherapy spa-blends and Therapeutic creams,” said Susan Siegenthaler.

The formulations of all the products throughout the entire range of Wildcrafted Herbal Products are based on the principles of herbal medicine. Susan, a renowned medical herbalist, formulated each of the products to maximise their safety and effectiveness.

Wildcrafted’s range of natural skin care products, as well as all the other products, only contain 100% natural and certified organic ingredients to ensure the highest quality, effectiveness and purity of every product.

“Over the last 25 years we’ve fine-tuned our formulations to be as safe and effective as possible”, said Susan. “My aim has always been not to just make another range of natural skin care products, but a range of products that are of therapeutic potency and effectiveness”, she said.

Wildcrafted Cottage opened its doors in October 2009 and is located in Kurrajong Village, northwest of Sydney in the lower Blue Mountains. Kurrajong is surrounded by natural bush land and is a picturesque, small Village, making it an ideal choice for the first of Wildcrafted’s retail stores.

The whole range including the latest line of anti-ageing products are now on display at Wildcrafted Cottage – Kurrajong.

Birth of Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre

Well, it’s finally happening. Wildcrafted Herbal Products has started the process of setting up a unique Natural Medicine Centre in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, Australia.

Our Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre blog will allow anyone who is interested to follow the construction and setting up of our first retail outlet.

But, Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre is so much more than just another retail outlet for our range of natural skin care products. It will also contain a fully staffed Natural Medicine Clinic that provides a full range of Alternative medicine and natural therapies ranging from Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine to Remedial massage, Aromatherapy and so much more.

Kurranjong Natural Medicine Centre will also be hosting free information seminars, workshops and classes including Tai Chi classes and many more to come.

The intention of the blog is for you to see each stage of the process from the empty shell of the current premises to the completed shop & clinic – which will hopefully be in mid- to late September 2009.

We hope you’ll find following the process interesting and I’m sure there will be some hilarious mishaps and misadventures before this project is complete…say tuned and have a giggle.

Natural Skin Care Products for Men: Why You should Make the Switch

Generally, men do not take especially good care of their skin. Mostly they shave their stubbles off in the morning, apply some aftershave and that’s just about it.

Some take it a step further and apply a moisturiser or toning gel after completing their shaving routine, but very few realise that taking good care of their skin is much more important than that.

You see, the integrity of the skin is vitally important to prevent harmful substances and micro-organisms from penetrating through the natural barrier of the skin. Few men realise that the integrity of the skin is compromised by shaving. Shaving removes the natural barrier function of the skin and allows potentially harmful ingredients and micro-organisms to pass through the skin, while nicks and cuts open the pathway into the blood stream.

Even when using an electric shaver, the skin is inflicted with microscopic nicks and cuts (they don’t have to bleed), which compromises the integrity of the skin. The process of shaving removes not only the protective acid mantel of the skin, but in addition, shaving removes several of the most superficial skin layers including some living skin cell layers and this renders the skin vulnerable.

This vulnerability is not just limited to attack from micro-organisms either. Once the natural barrier of the skin has been compromised, molecules that would otherwise have been excluded are now able to penetrate the skin and enter into the deeper layers of the skin and potentially the bloodstream.

Natural skin care products for men that only contain safe, effective and 100% natural ingredients such as essential oils and herbal extracts will reduce this risk. Essential oils are known to have very powerful antiseptic effects, which help to keep micro-organisms from penetrating through the compromised skin and thus prevent infection and inflammation of the skin. Together with herbal extracts, these types of ingredients soothe, nourish and protect the skin and prevent bacteria and other micro-organisms, etc., from entering the deeper layers of the skin.

In addition, using only safe and natural ingredients insures that potentially toxic ingredients, commonly found in men’s skin care products, are not a threat – simply because they’re contained in the products.

One also has to be mindful of the fact that no matter what type of razor is used, a range of bacteria and other micro-organisms will always be present on the blade, even a brand new blade. It is therefore very easy to introduce these organisms into the bloodstream. In most cases, the body’s immune system will handle this quickly and effectively, but by adding dangerous chemicals, contained in most commercially available skincare and shaving products, into the equation the skin can be adversely affected.

We are seeing an increase in skin sensitivities being reported by men that on closer examination frequently turn out to be allergic reactions to ingredients in the skin care products they are using. We have seen that once they start using 100% natural skin care products and follow a systematic skin care approach, these sensitivities tend to become less and their skin generally becomes healthier.

Specifically formulated natural skin care products for men are not jet commonly available, however, it is worth the effort to identify such products in order to avoid causing unnecessary skin problems and potentially dangerous skin infections.

Danny Siegenthaler is a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine and together with his wife Susan, a medical herbalist and Aromatherapist, they have created Natural Skin Care Products by Wildcrafted Herbal Products to share their 40 years of combined expertise with you.

Take a look at their 100% natural skin care products for men.

© Wildcrafted Herbal Products 2009

Herbal medicine has been used for thousands of years to successfully treat disease – why are we still doubting its worth?

Herbs or medicinal plants have a very long history in treating disease and health disorders. In traditional Chinese medicine, for example, the written history of herbal medicine goes back over 2000 years and herbalists in the West have used medicinal plants equally long to treat that which ails us.

We are all familiar with the virtues of Garlic, Chamomile, Peppermint, Lavender, and other common herbs. Culturally, herbs have also been used in religious ceremonies and festivals for specific purposes. Take the burning of incense for example, it has been and is still used by many religions and cultures to ’set the mood’ so to speak.

Despite this modern medicine is still not acknowledging herbal medicine as a viable alternative – mind you it’s only been about 200 years ago that ‘modern medicine’ was in fact using nothing other than herbs to treat disease…

Why are pharmaceutical companies interested in medicinal plants?

Interest in medicinal herbs is on the rise again and the interest is primarily from the pharmaceutical industry, which is always looking for ‘new drugs’ and more effective substances to treat diseases, for which currently there may be no or very few drugs available.

Considering the very long traditional use of herbal medicines and the large body of evidence of their effectiveness, why is it that we are not generally encouraged to use traditional herbal medicine, instead of synthetic, incomplete copies of herbs, called drugs, considering the millions of dollars being spent looking for these seemingly elusive substances?

Herbs are considered treasures when it comes to ancient cultures and herbalists, and many so-called weeds are worth their weight in gold. Dandelion, Comfrey, Digitalis (Foxglove), the Poppy, Milk Thistle, Stinging nettle, and many others, have well-researched and established medicinal properties that have few if any rivals in the pharmaceutical industry. Many of them in fact, form the bases of pharmaceutical drugs used today.

Research into the medicinal properties of such herbs as the humble Dandelion is currently being undertaken by scientists at the Royal Botanical Gardens, in Kew, west London, believe it could be the source of a life-saving drug for cancer patients.

Early tests suggest that it could hold the key to warding off cancer, which kills tens of thousands of people every year.

Their work on the cancer-beating properties of the dandelion, which also has a history of being used to treat warts, is part of a much larger project to examine the natural medicinal properties of scores of British plants and flowers.

Professor Monique Simmonds, head of the Sustainable Uses of Plants Group at Kew, said: “We aren’t randomly screening plants for their potential medicinal properties, we are looking at plants which we know have a long history of being used to treat certain medical problems.”

“We will be examining them to find out what active compounds they contain which can treat the illness.”

Unfortunately, as is so often the case, this group of scientists appears to be looking for active ingredients, which can later be synthesized and then made into pharmaceutical drugs. This is not the way herbs are used traditionally and their functions inevitably change when the active ingredients are used in isolation. That’s like saying that the only important part of a car is the engine – nothing else needs to be included…

So, why is there this need for isolating the ‘active ingredients’?

As a scientist, I can understand the need for the scientific process of establishing the fact that a particular herb works on a particular disease, pathogen or what ever, and the need to know why and how it does so. But, and this is a BIG but, as a doctor of Chinese medicine I also understand the process of choosing and prescribing COMBINATIONS of herbs, which have a synergistic effect (they compliment each other) to treat not just the disease, but any underlying condition as well as the person with the disease – That’s a big difference and not one that is easily tested using standard scientific methodologies.

Using anecdotal evidence, which after all has a history of thousands of years, seems to escape my esteemed colleagues all together. Rather than trying to isolate the active ingredient(s), why not test these herbs, utilizing the knowledge of professional herbalists, on patients in vivo, using the myriad of technology available to researchers and medical diagnosticians to see how and why these herbs work in living, breathing patients, rather than in a test tube or on laboratory rats and mice (which, by the way, are not humans and have a different, although some what similar, physiology to us…).

I suspect, that among the reasons for not following the above procedure is that the pharmaceutical companies are not really interested in the effects of the medicinal plants as a whole, but rather in whether they can isolate a therapeutic substance which can then be manufactured cheaply and marketed as a new drug – and of course that’s where the money is…

The problem with this approach is however, that medicinal plants like Comfrey, Dandelion and other herbs usually contain hundreds if not thousands of chemical compounds that interact, yet many of which are not yet understood and cannot be manufactured. This is why the manufactured drugs, based on so-called active ingredients, often do not work or produce side effects.

Aspirin is a classic case in point. Salicylic acid is the active ingredient in Aspirin tablets, and was first isolated from the bark of the White Willow tree. It is a relatively simple compound to make synthetically, however, Aspirin is known for its ability to cause stomach irritation and in some cases ulceration of the stomach wall.

On the other hand, the herbal extract from the bark of the White Willow tree generally does not cause stomach irritation due to other, so called ‘non-active ingredients’ contained in the bark, which function to protect the lining of the stomach thereby preventing ulceration of the stomach wall.

Ask yourself, which would I choose – Side effects, or no site effects? – It’s a very simple answer. Isn’t it?

So why then are herbal medicines not used more commonly and why do we have pharmaceutical impostors stuffed down our throats? The answer is, that there’s little or no money in herbs for the pharmaceutical companies. They, the herbs, have already been invented, they grow easily, they multiply readily and for the most part, they’re freely available.

Further more, correctly prescribed and formulated herbal compounds generally resolve the health problem of the patient over a period of time, leaving no requirement to keep taking the preparation – that means no repeat sales… no ongoing prescriptions… no ongoing problem.

Pharmaceuticals on the other hand primarily aim to relieve symptoms – that means: ongoing consultations, ongoing sales, ongoing health problems – which do you think is a more profitable proposition…?

Don’t get me wrong, this is not to say that all drugs are impostors or that none of the pharmaceutical drugs cure diseases or maladies – they do and some are life-preserving preparations and are without doubt invaluable. However, herbal extracts can be similarly effective, but are not promoted and are highly under-utilized.

The daily news are full of ‘discoveries’ of herbs found to be a possible cure of this or that, as in the example of Dandelion and its possible anti-cancer properties. The point is, that these herbs need to be investigated in the correct way. They are not just ‘an active ingredient’. They mostly have hundreds of complex chemical ingredients and taking one or two in isolation is not what makes medicinal plants work. In addition, rarely are herbal extracts prescribed by herbalists as singles (a preparation which utilizes only one herbal extract or powder). Usually herbalists mix a variety of medicinal plants to make a mixture, which addresses more than just the major symptoms.

In Chinese medicine for example there is a strict order of hierarchy in any herbal prescription, which requires considerable depth of knowledge and experience on the physicians part. The fact that the primary or principle herb has active ingredients, which has a specific physiological effect, does not mean the other herbs are not necessary in the preparation. This is a fact seemingly ignored by the pharmaceutical industry in its need to manufacture new drugs that can control disease.

Knowing that medicinal plants are so effective, that these plants potentially hold the key to many diseases, are inexpensive and have proven their worth time and time again, over millennia, why is it that herbal medicine is still not in the forefront of medical treatments? Why is it, that only 200 years ago, medical practitioners were using herbs to treat disease, but now claim ‘they do nothing’ or ‘they are dangerous’?

If indeed these medicinal herbs ‘do nothing’, they how can they be dangerous? Alternatively, if they are ‘dangerous’, they must do something…

You see, about 200 years ago, what we refer to today as pharmaceutical companies evolved. This caused a split in the medical fraternity. Some went along with the development of pharmacy, others stayed with the traditional forms (herbal medicine) of treating disease. Unfortunately, the pharmacy approach won and that is why today pharmaceutical companies have such a strong hold on the prescription of medicines.

Barbara Griggs in her book Green Pharmacy, has detailed the historical development in great depth and with much understanding of the development and processes which lead to today’s medical system in the West and I can highly recommend reading it. – It’s great food for thought, if nothing else.

© Wildcrafted Herbal Products 2009

Can Science Really Validate Alternative Medicine

This is a really good and valid question. The short answer, in my opinion, is no. Scientists cannot test the effectiveness of alternative medicine adequately. Why? Because western science works within a strict paradigm that is at best difficult to apply to a range of aspects in alternative medicine.

Let’s start with what should easily be verifiable by western science. The effect of a specific herb should be readily testable and should provide consistent results. Problem is, the tests often get very different results and do not agree about a specific herbs’ effectiveness. Why? This is where it gets a bit more complicated.

Firstly, in order to test a particular herb for it’s medicinal properties and effectiveness, the scientists must use the correct species of herbs. This is simple to achieve, however, there are major differences in the same species, depending on how and where it is grown, the time of day and year it is harvested and the condition of the soil the herb was grown in, not to mention the different processing methods that can be used.

Let’s look at an example that is very typical. Echinacea is a herb that most people have heard of and where science provides at best confusing information and results.

Now, Echinacea has 2 major species that are commonly used by medical herbalists. The first is Echinacea purpurea, the second is E. angustifolia. Now, these two species of Echinacea have different actions, and depending on the parts of the plant that are included in the herbal extract, these functions will vary again.

Let’s just stick to Echinacea purpurea and look at the many different extracts that are used in the market place.

The single best quality of this herbal extract comes from Switzerland and is made by a company called Bioforce AG. No, I’m not in anyway affiliated with this company, nor are they paying me for including their product or company name in this article or elsewhere.

As a herbalist, I’ve used many different preparations of Echinacea purpurea from different companies and have found that the best results come from the herbal extract of Echinacea purpurea produced by this company.

But why is that, what makes their Echinacea extract so much more effective? The first reason is the way they grow the herb. Firstly, they grow it in organically prepared fields, which are surrounded by buffer zones that keep any leaching into the primary fields from occurring.

Secondly, their crops are grown in rich mountain soil above 1800 meters. This appears to have a major influence on the properties and their concentrations in this herb. Thirdly, once the herb is ready to be harvested, the herbs are processed in their fresh, living state within 24 hours of being harvested. That means the plants are still alive and viable, with all their active and non-active constituents still intact.

The product is a green plant extract full of the goodies that make up this herb.

Alternatively, you can purchase Echinacea purpurea that has not been grown in organically prepared soil, that has not been grown above 1800 meters and is grown on much poorer, non-organically prepared soil. The plant is not processed within 24 hours of harvesting but instead is processed as a dried herb. Despite these major differences, they are of course still the same species and therefore treated as if they were the same. While preparations from such plants are generally standardised to meet minimum therapeutic quantities of the active ingredients as set by the British Pharmacopoeia, these preparations widely vary in other, so called non-active ingredients.

Even blind Freddy can tell you that the extract resulting from the two differently grown plants is going to be different and will have difference in their therapeutic effectiveness.

Herein lies the first problem for scientists. They are not really testing the same herb and therefore will get confusing results. They may be testing the same species, Echinacea purpurea, but not the same quality of the herbal extract. Unfortunately, they are probably not even aware of the fact that there are differences in plant constituents depending on where the plants have been grown and the methods used to make the extract.

This, just by the way, is also a problem for the herbalists that use Echinacea purpurea to treat their patients. While it’s easy to establish whether an extract is a green plant extract or not, it is often difficult to find out where the plants used to make the extract have been grown, etc. In our clinic we have often found one brand to work much better than another, despite the standardised active ingredients.

Now, if the scientists are looking for the chemicals that make up the extract (plant) to identify which of the chemicals are responsible for the range of therapeutic applications, they will find widely different concentrations and different ratios of ingredients depending on the origin of the plant/s. If they are not aware that this is (a) possible, and (b) provides different therapeutic results, then of course their results will not agree with other studies that have used plants from a different region.

The second problem scientists face (possibly unknowingly) is that the strict paradigm of science is not designed to accommodate the paradigms of alternative medicine. For example, what western medical science refers to as the Liver is totally different to that of traditional Chinese medicine. For example you would be very hard pressed to find an orthodox medical doctor that would consider the Eyes to be part of the Liver, however, a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine will very much consider the Eyes as part of the Liver.

These two differing paradigms are not easily merged. Let me give you an example. An individual that presents with consistently red eyes, a reddish face and short temper is highly likely to be diagnosed in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as having heat in the Liver (no, not the eyes, the liver). Now an orthodox medical practitioner may diagnose this as an allergy or a range of other problems, but is unlikely to diagnose a Liver disease.

I’m not saying either of the two approaches is right or wrong, what I’m trying to point out here is that the two paradigms are vastly different and are therefore difficult to unite under a single, testable paradigm that easily accommodates both philosophies.

This then makes it very difficult for western scientists to adequately validate alternative medicine and its therapeutic methods, if the paradigm under which they operate is vastly different.

In conclusion, unless we are testing the same thing in the same way, there is a very strong chance of obtaining different, non-conclusive, results. This is one of the major reasons that orthodox medical science is more often than not critical of alternative medicine, herbs, and other aspects.

Unless we can unite the paradigms so that every time a particular plant species is tested for its therapeutic actions and effects and the extracts are identical in all aspects, there will never be any agreement over the effectiveness of herbs.

Similarly, if we can’t find a suitable common denominator that can adequately unite differing paradigms, then any resulting tests are unlikely to be conclusive or shed insight into the effectiveness of alternative medicine.

Danny Siegenthaler is a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine and together with his wife Susan, a medical herbalist and Aromatherapist, they have created Natural Skin Care Products by Wildcrafted Herbal Products to share their 40 years of combined expertise with you.

Subscribe to their Natural Skin Care Newsletter and receive a free eBook providing hints & tips on how to look after your skin

© Wildcrafted Herbal Products 2009

Treating Acne Scars & Stretch Marks Naturally

Treating Acne Scarring and Stretch Marks Naturally

There are many reasons for why we can end up with a scar on our bodies; post-acne scarring; cuts or other injuries may all result in scar tissue formation. Unfortunately, frequently scars end up being a permanent mark on the landscape of our skin and in particular facial scars resulting from acne can be particularly bothersome.

Treating scarring naturally is not as difficult or complicated as it might seem. There are several essential- and carrier-oils, as well as herbal extracts that come to our rescue. But first, let’s look at how scarring develops and what changes take place in the various skin layers.

Take a look at the video clip, it shows the step-by-step process of how an injury (or for that matter a severe acne lesion) produces a scar.

Foods for Your Skin

The skin’s functions are many, as we have discussed in other, previous articles, and it’s health is not just dependant upon good quality natural skin care products, although they do help considerably.

This article on natural skin care looks at the various foods, vitamins, minerals and micro-nutrients that positively affect your skin. In addition we’ll look at specific nutrients for specific skin types, as it stands to reason, that oily skin would benefit from some foods, while dry, irritated and sensitive skin would suite other foods.

Before looking at individual food, lets consider some overall factors, which we should consider in our diet.

• First and foremost, water. It is essential that we consume 8-10 glasses (250ml) of water per day, more if we exercise or are physically active.
• Secondly, regardless of what foods we eat, we should have a minimum of 15 different vegetables, fruits and nuts in our diet (in total that is).
• Thirdly, we should eat our biggest meal early in the day and the smallest meal late. Most people do not do this and actually have it the other way around. Think of it from this point of view – at what stage of the day do you have most of your activity in front of you – well, that’s the time to eat the biggest meal.

If you want your skin to look attractive and healthy there are several rules you must follow. The most important is cleansing with natural and reviving substances, because a clean skin is bound to look healthier. Since constant washing removes most natural oils and moisture, and even the acid mantel covering, you must consciously replace these oils, moisture and acids to re-establish the skin’s protective covering.

Your diet should be high in proteins, which can be found in lean meat, fish, and poultry as well as in nuts, beans, milk and eggs. Raw vegetables and fruit of all kinds are essential. Several glasses of water (this is much underestimated in it’s importance) each day are essential to flush the system clear of toxins. Below is a list of important nutrients, their benefits to the skin and the foods in which they are found. This list is by no means exhaustive, however it does provide a good starting point for utilising food as part of your skin care regime.

The primary skin types are Oily, Normal and Dry. There are other skin types such as sensitive, mature or a combination there of. However, there is usually a dominant, primary skin type.

Nutrients that benefit your skin and the foods that contain them

Beta-carotene (provitamin A)
Anti-oxidants, neutralise free radicals. Sweet Potato, Carrot, Kale, Mango, Turnip, Greens Spinach, raw; Papaya, Red Bell Pepper, Apricot, Cantaloupe, Fat Free Milk, Romaine, Eggs, Whole Milk, Raw Tomato, Broccoli, Green Bell Pepper, Orange, Parsley.

Vitamin A
Anti-oxidant; Vitamin A is essential for healthy hair and eyes. It is also important in the prevention and clearing of infections of the skin. Vitamin A counteracts dry skin, dandruff and wrinkle formation. It is needed for healthy blood circulation which gives a glow to the skin. Helps maintain smooth, soft disease-free skin; helps protect the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, throat lungs, which helps reduce our susceptibility to infections; protects against air pollutants and contaminants; helps improve eye sight and counteracts night-blindness; aids in bone and teeth formation; improves skin elasticity, moisture content and suppleness; and helps reverse the signs of photo-aging.

Vitamin A deficiency can lead to eruptions or dry, coarse, wrinkled skin; dull and dry hair or dandruff; ridging or peeling fingernails; pimples or acne and visual fatigue.

Meat, Chicken Liver, Cod Liver Oil, Cheese.

Vitamin E
Anti-oxidant; Vitamin E helps form muscles and tissues to prevent wrinkles and premature aging of the skin due to oxidation. It helps prevent dry, dull skin, age spots, falling hair and dandruff. It improves circulation and healing of scars. Research has shown that large doses of vitamin E double healthy cell reproduction to slow the aging process and forestall premature wrinkling.

Vitamin E supplies oxygen to the blood which is then carried to the heart and other organs, thus alleviating fatigue. It aids in bringing nourishment to cells; strengthens the capillary walls preventing the red blood cells from destructive poisons (free radicals); prevents and dissolves blood clots. Avocados, Carrots. Cheese: especially Parmesan, Cheddar; Chickpeas, Egg yolk, Green leafy vegetables, Legumes, Margarine, Meats/poultry/fish, Nuts and nut oils, Oatmeal, Olives, Parsnips, Red peppers, Seeds, Soy products and soya beans, Sweet corn, Sweet potatoes, Tomatoes Watercress, Wheat germ.

Vitamin C
Anti-oxidant; Vitamin C, in conjunction with protein, is necessary for the production of collagen – the glue that holds us and our skin together and circumvents sags or wrinkles. It regulates sebaceous glands to keep skin from drying out; helps prevent facial lines, wrinkles and spider veins.

Vitamin C is essential for the health of the hair, eyes and teeth, resistance to infection, healing of wounds and firm skin tissues.

Vitamin C is believed to aid skin cells in repairing and reproducing themselves. It is also thought to stimulate production of collagen, enhancing skin smoothness and elasticity. This vitamin is excellent for skin showing signs of aging.

Acerola cherry, Kiwifruit, Green peppers, Citrus fruits and juices, Ctrawberries, Tomatoes, Broccoli, Turnips, Green and other leafy vegetables, Sweet and white potatoes, and Cantaloupe.

Other excellent sources include papaya, mango, watermelon, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, winter squash, red peppers, raspberries, blueberries, cranberries, and pineapples.

Vitamin B-complex
B vitamins are vital for clear, luminous skin, youthful looks and for delaying greying of hair. They are essential for healthy skin, hair, and eyes. Studies show that 40 percent of dermatitis sufferers lack B vitamins. B vitamins also counteract stress, which has adverse effects on one’s appearance.

Vit. B-complex is a complex of several important vitamins including B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B6 (pyridoxine), B12 (cobalamin). Vitamin B1 is needed for nerve signal transmission. Vitamin B2 is needed for the metabolism of amino acids. Vitamin B6 is necessary for the production of many enzymes and chemical messengers (eg, neurotransmitters). Vitamin B12 is needed for red blood cell production and DNA synthesis.

Whole grain cereals, wheat, Pulses, Nuts, Green leafy vegetables, Molasses, Meat, Liver, Brewer’s yeast.

Vitamin D
Vitamin D is essential for healthy teeth, bones and nails as well as for the assimilation of calcium and phosphorus. It promotes healthy eyes, skin and teeth.

It is a vitamin found in foods such as fish, oysters, and dairy products. Also, there are enzymes in our skin that make vitamin D when the skin is exposed to sunlight. Sun exposure.

Milk, Beef liver, Salmon, Tuna, Butter, Sprouted seeds.

Protein
Proteins are required for the structure, function, and regulation of the body’s cells, tissues, and organs, and each protein has unique functions.

Avocados, Brewer’s yeast, Dried legumes, Nuts, Sesame seeds, Sunflower seeds, Whole grain cereals.

Other Protein foods (these help to equalise the balance between new and dying cells) Fish, Meats, Poultry. Eggs, Dairy products, Vegetable proteins, Pulses, Wheat germ.

Calcium
Calcium and Phosphorus work together for healthy teeth, hair, nails and bones. Calcium helps clear blemished skin and revitalizes lifeless, tired-looking skin.

Calcium is essential for a variety of bodily functions, such as neurotransmission, muscle contraction, and proper heart function.

Milk products, Whole wheat, Leafy vegetables, Salmon, Sardines, Shellfish, Soybeans, Sunflower seeds, Walnuts, Oranges, Lemons.

Phosphorus
A mineral vital to energy production; helps build bone and form cell membranes and genetic material.

Dairy products, Egg yolks, Fish, Poultry, Meats, Grains, Cereals, Nuts, Fruit juices, Milk.

Chromium
Chromium improves circulation for healthy skin and hair.

Chromium plays a role in glucose metabolism and is considered essential in trace amounts in nutrition.

Brewer’s yeast, Cheese, Corn oil, Liver, Clams, Meat, Whole grains.

Iodine
Iodine promotes healthy hair, nails, skin, and teeth. It is an element that is necessary for the body to make thyroid hormone. It is found in shellfish and iodized salt.

Iodized salt, Kelp, Onions, Seafood, Vegetable oils.

Iron Iron is essential for healthy nails, skin color, and hair growth.

Egg yolks, Blackstrap molasses, Dark leafy greens, Dried fruits and legumes, Lean meat, Liver, Whole wheat.

Magnesium
Magnesium is required to prevent skin disorders. A mineral used by the body to help maintain muscles, nerves, and bones. It is also used in energy metabolism and protein synthesis.

Almonds, Apples, Apricots, Bananas, Bran, Corn, Dairy products, Figs, Grapefruit and Lemons, Meats, Raw leafy greens, Soy beans.

Manganese
Manganese helps to maintain healthy hair. This micronutrient activates one or more enzymes in fatty acid synthesis; it also activates the enzymes responsible for DNA and RNA production. Closely associated with copper and zinc.

Bananas, Beets, Bran, Coffee, Egg yolks, Leafy greens, Legumes, Nuts, Pineapple, Tea, Whole grains.

Selenium
Maintains skin elasticity. It helps prevent and correct dandruff. Selenium is an essential trace mineral. Selenium activates an antioxidant enzyme called glutathione peroxidase, which may help protect the body from cancer.

Asparagus, Bran, Broccoli, Chicken, Egg yolks, Milk, Onions, Red meat, Seafood, Tomatoes, Whole grains.

Sulphur
Helps maintain healthy hair, nails, and skin. It also prevents dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis.

An important mineral component of vitamin B1 and of several essential amino acids. Sulphur is particularly necessary for the body’s production of collagen, which helps to form connective tissue. Sulfur is also a component of keratin, the chief ingredient in hair, skin, and nails. By controlling bacteria and exfoliating the skin, sulphur is a popular acne treatment. Sulfur is thought to dissolve the top layer of dry, dead cells and slow down oil-gland activity.

Bran, Brussels sprouts, Cabbage, Cheese, Clams, Eggs Fish, Mushrooms, Nuts, Peas and beans, Wheat germ.

Zinc
Zinc aids in the formation of collagen. It helps prevent wrinkles, dry skin and stretch marks, and promotes blemish healing. Zinc prevents hair loss, and brittle or spotted nails. Without enough zinc a deficiency of Vitamin A can occur even though the intake of that vitamin appears adequate.

It is a mineral that is vital to many biological functions such as immune resistance, wound healing, digestion, reproduction, physical growth, diabetes control, taste and smell. More than 300 enzymes in the human body require zinc for proper functioning.

Brewer’s yeast, Eggs, Lean red meat, Seafood, Legumes, Mushrooms, Non-fat dry milk, Pumpkin and sunflower seeds, Shellfish (oysters), Spinach, Whole grains.

Omega 3
An essential fatty acid. Omega 3 may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and myocardial infarction by lowering triglyceride levels and blood pressure and preventing the formation of life-threatening thrombi.

Oily Fish eg: Salmon, Flax seeds, walnuts, and Canola oil.

Omega 6
An essential fatty acid (should be combined in equal portions with Omega 3’s). Cereals, Eggs, Poultry, Most vegetable oils, Whole-grain breads, Baked goods, and margarine.

Foods and natural skin care products that benefit specific skin types

Dry, sensitive & mature Drink more Water and consume foods high in vitamin A, B-complex, D and E; Fish such as Salmon & Tuna; Wheat germ, Almond and Linseed; use Safflower, Sunflower and Sesame oils in your cooking; Wildcrafted Herbal Products that are useful in Dry, Sensitive & Mature Skin Types: Skin Care System for dry, mature & sensitive skin; Red Earth Medicine Facial Clay.

Normal Maintain a well balanced diet. Wildcrafted Herbal Products that are useful a Normal Skin Type: Skin Care System for normal skin; Yellow Earth Medicine Facial Clay.

Oily Drink more Water and avoid ritch and fried foods; Include more greens and fruits; drink Yarrow Tea; add Cucumber, parsley, Cabbage, Tomato to your cooking.

Wildcrafted Herbal Products that are useful for Oily Skin Types: Skin Care System for oily skin; Green Earth Medicine Facial Clay.

Now that you know which foods will help you in supporting your skin and in aiding you to balance your particular skin type or skin types, the next thing you need to implement is a daily and weekly skin care regime to promote the health and vitality of your skin.

About the Author:

Danny Siegenthaler is a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine and together with his wife Susan, a medical herbalist and Aromatherapist, they have created Natural Skin Care Products by Wildcrafted Herbal Products to share their 40 years of combined expertise with you

Join our Natural Skin Care Newsletter – it’s fun, free and Informative and you receive a free eBook on natural skin care

© Wildcrafted Herbal Products Pty Ltd., 2009

An Introduction To Herbal Medicine

The History of Herbal Medicine?

Medicinal plants have been used for medicinal purposes long before recorded history. For example, ancient Chinese and Egyptian papyrus writings describe medicinal plant uses. Indigenous cultures (e.g., African and Native American) used herbs in their healing rituals, while others developed traditional medical systems (e.g., Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine) in which herbal therapies were used systematically. Scientists found that people is different parts of the globe tended to use the same or similar plants for the same purposes (UMM).

In the early 19th century, when methods of chemical analysis first became available, scientists began extracting and modifying the active ingredients from plants. Later, chemists began making their own version of plant compounds, beginning the transition from raw herbs to synthetic pharmaceuticals. Over time, the use of herbal medicines declined in favour of pharmaceuticals.

Herbal Medicine Today

Recently, the World Health Organization estimated that 80% of people worldwide rely on herbal medicines for some aspect of their primary healthcare. In the last twenty years in the United States, increasing public dissatisfaction with the cost, efficacy and potential of side-effect of prescription medications, combined with an interest in returning to natural or organic remedies, has led to an increase in the use of herbal medicines. In countries such as Germany and Switzerland, roughly 600 to 700 plant-based medicines are available are prescribed by approximately 70% of physicians.

How do Herbs Work?

For most herbs, used in herbal medicine, the specific ingredient that causes a therapeutic effect is not known. Whole herbs contain many ingredients, and it is likely that they work synergistically to produce the therapeutic effects. Many factors affect how effective an herb will be. For example, the type of environment (climate, bugs, soil quality, altitude, etc.) in which a plant grew will affect its constituents. In addition, how and when it was harvested and processed will also influence the quality of the resulting herbal extract.

How are herbs used?

For the reasons described in the previous section, herbalists prefer using plant extracts from the whole herb or various parts such as roots, flowers, seeds, etc., rather than extracting single active ingredients from them. Herbal extracts have many components and are usually too complex to manufacture synthetically by the pharmaceutical industry.

These components contained in medicinal herbs work together to produce therapeutic effects, while at the same time moderating potential side-effects often associated with pharmaceutical preparations. Several herbs are often used together to enhance effectiveness and synergistic actions and to reduce toxicity.

Are Herbal Medicines Safe?

In a study by the World Health Organization on the use of herbal medicine, about 80% of the world’s population still rely on herbal medicine to treat certain ailments and about 74% of the pharmaceutical drugs we use today contain at least one botanical element.

For instance, Chinese Herbal Medicine’s uses Ephedra, which contains ephedrine in the treatment of some respiratory conditions. Ephedrine remains an active ingredient in many pharmaceutical drugs being prescribed to relieve asthma symptoms.

Herbal medicine is defined by three schools of thought: Ayurvedic Herbalism, Traditional Chinese Herbalism and Western Herbal Medicine. While both Ayurvedic and Chinese herbal medicine have moved on to advanced forms, western herbal medicine remains a part of folk treatments. Herbal medicine is, first and foremost, holistic. It aims to address not just a particular symptom, but also to help the whole body rejuvenate strengthen itself.

Research

Research into herbal medicine is growing and evidence of efficacy is growing at a rapid rate. Universities such as the University of Meryland Medical Centre, are publishing good quality, researched information on herbal medicine, herbs and other aspects of alternative medicine.

Warning

Always keep in mind that herbal medicines are medicines and, therefore, need to be regarded with as much care as pharmaceutical drugs. Some people have the misconception that because herbal medicines are natural, they are 100% safe. This is not so. Always consult a fully qualified, experienced medical herbalist to have your health problems assessed and treated.

The Australian Traditional Medicine Society provides a list of qualified herbal medicine practitioners for hundreds of locations across Australia. You can easily find a qualified herbalist or Chinese medicine practitioner in your area.

Danny Siegenthaler is a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine and together with his wife Susan, a medical herbalist and Aromatherapist, they have created Natural Skin Care Products by Wildcrafted Herbal Products to share their 40 years of combined expertise with you.

Subscribe to their Natural Skin Care Newsletter and receive a free eBook providing hints & tips on how to look after your skin

© Wildcrafted Herbal Products 2009

Related Articles

Herbal medicine has been used for thousands of years to treat disease – why are we still doubting its worth?

Interest in medicinal herbs is on the rise again and the interest is primarily from the pharmaceutical industry, will is always looking for ‘new drugs’…

Are Herbs Weeds or Treasures?

Herbs or medicinal plants are often considered weeds – usually because they grow in undesirable places.

Proactive Medicine

Proactive medicine is simply another term for preventative medicine. Proactive medicine aims to prevent diseases and various health problems from occurring before they manifest.

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.): a powerful herb growing in many gardens

Thyme is one of the most well known culinary herbs and is commonly grown in herb gardens. It is a small perennial plant native to Europe and Asia, but has been adopted the World over. Thyme is an aromatic shrub with a gnarled woody stem that grows to 30 cm tall. Its leaves are opposite and green-gray in colour. It is a member of the Laminaceae (Labiatae) family. It’s essential oil is extracted from the leaves and flowering tops by steam distillation.

Thyme is known by many names including: Thyme, common thyme, garden thyme, common garden thyme, mother of thyme, and others.

Constituents:

The essential oils of thyme are grouped into three main types: thyme oil, which contains 42 to 60% phenols and is mainly thymol; origanum oil, which contains 63 to 74% phenols and is mainly carvacrol; and lemon thyme oil, which contains citral. Essential oils are extracted by steam distillation. Thyme oil has thymol, terpinen-4-ol, carvacrol, p-cymene, -pinene, camphene, -pinene, myrcene, 1,8-cineole, -terpinene, d-linalool and other compounds. Thyme oil is divided into two types, a red, unrectified oil and a white, rectified oil. The essential oil content of the dried plant material is between 2 to 5%.

Traditional Applications in Herbal Medicine:

In herbal medicine, herbalists traditionally consider Thyme as an anti-microbial, anthelmintic (expels parasitic worms (helminths) from the body), antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, carminative, emmenagogue (herbs which stimulate blood flow in the pelvic area and uterus; some stimulate menstruation), expectorant, resolvent (promotes the resolving and removing of abnormal growths, such as a tumour, swelling , etc.), rubefacient (agent which reddens skin, dilates the vessels, and increases blood supply locally), sedative, stimulant, and tonic. It is one of the herbs that has a large number of therapeutic properties and has both internal and external applications.

Thyme has been used as a folk medicine against asthma, arteriosclerosis, colic, bronchitis, coughs, diarrhoea, and rheumatism and is used to promote perspiration. With its high content of volatile oil, Thyme makes a good carminative for use in dyspepsia and sluggish digestion. This oil is also a strong antiseptic, therefore, it is used externally as a lotion for infected wounds, and internally for respiratory and digestive infections. It may be of use as a gargle in laryngitis and tonsillitis, easing sore throats and soothing irritable coughs. It is thus an excellent cough remedy, producing expectoration and reducing unnecessary spasm. It may be used in bronchitis, whooping cough and asthma.

As a gentle astringent it has found use in childhood diarrhoea and bed wetting.

Combinations: For asthmatic problems it will combine well with Lobelia and Ephedra, adding its anti-microbial effect. For whooping cough use it with Wild Cherry and Sundew.

Other indications include:

• Oil contains the antibacterial chemical thymol.
• Useful for all types of cough.
• For asthma (steam inhalation), chronic asthma, nervous cough, dry cough, hacking cough, whooping cough, infection of lung or bronchial tubes, and bronchitic asthma.
• Used for intestinal infections, intestinal worms, fungal growths, thrush and mouth fungi (mouthwash and gargle), wound cleanser, scrophulous skin condtions (lotion), liver diseases, indigestion, and as a skin disinfectant (washing wounds before dressing).
• The tea is used for colds, nervous conditions, colic, and headache
• The steam is inhaled from the infusion for congestion; often combined with marjoram and chamomile.
• Oil used in liniments for muscle pain.
• Used to combat itchiness.

Danny Siegenthaler is a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine and together with his wife Susan, a medical herbalist and Aromatherapist, they have created Natural Skin Care Products by Wildcrafted Herbal Products to share their 40 years of combined expertise with you.

Subscribe to their Natural Skin Care Newsletter and receive a free eBook providing hints & tips on how to look after your skin

© Wildcrafted Herbal Products 2009

References

1. Grieve, M. (1977). A Modern Herbal, Peregrine Books, England.
2. Purdue University (hort): www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/med-aro/factsheets/THYME.html Last accessed, 10/06/2009.
3. Stuart, M. (1979). The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism. Orbis Publishing Limited, London.
4. Valnet, J. (1992). The Practice of Aromatherapy. The C.W. Daniel Company Ltd., Essex, England.