Sharon Ifield Naturopath

HONEYCOMB 🐝🐝🐝

If you love honey, you are in for a real treat with honeycomb. It’s loaded with all the flavour and benefits of raw honey and then some.

Honeycomb is made up of hexagonal wax cells made by bees, and each cell is full of raw honey. You can eat honeycomb, wax and all! After enjoying the burst of sweetness, some people prefer to chew the wax like gum and discard it, but there is no harm in swallowing it, either. In fact, the wax has some benefits of its own.

Eating honeycomb might seem foreign to some, but it’s been a part of the human diet for millennia. Honey has been found at an archaeological site in the country of Georgia dating back 5,500 years, and evidence of honey collection was spotted in an 8,000-year-old cave painting in Spain. Experts believe that our ancestors used honey as medicine and a source of nutrition.

There are a few benefits of eating this ancient snack, (raw honeycomb)
Raw Honeycomb Contains Essential Vitamins & Minerals

If you’re looking for a healthy alternative to sugar, look no further. Honeycomb is full of essential minerals including calcium, iron, magnesium, and zinc. It also contains vitamins C, B6, B12, A, E, and D. You won’t find that in white sugar and other processed sweeteners.
Nutrients are Sealed In Each Honeycomb Cell

After bees fill a cell in their hive with nectar and let it cure, they cap it with a thin layer of beeswax to protect it. When liquid honey is harvested, the cap is removed and the honey is extracted. In most cases, the honey is then heated or processed in some way, stripping it of nutrition and beneficial substances like pollen, propolis, and royal jelly. With honeycomb, you get the honey still capped in the cell, full of all that bee-made goodness 🐝
Honeycomb Supports Heart Health

Raw honey is a rich source of phenols and other antioxidant compounds that protect your body’s cells from damage, lower blood pressure and improve circulation. Several studies have proven that raw honey can lower “bad” cholesterol (LDL) and raise “good” cholesterol (HDL).
On top of raw honey’s benefits, you can even chew the beeswax to extract long-chain fatty acids and alcohols, which may also lower cholesterol levels.

Honeycomb Won’t Spike Your Blood Sugar

The glycemic index (GI) is a measuring tool that tells you how much certain foods will increase your blood sugar levels. The lower the GI, the less it will raise your blood sugar.
Where as table sugar, corn syrup, and other processed sweeteners have a GI of up to 110, honeycomb’s GI is only 33-55. This makes honeycomb a low-GI food suitable for people living with diabetes and the best sweetener for overall health.
Raw Honeycomb Has Liver Protecting Properties

Studies have found that raw honey protects the liver from damage from toxins, bile obstruction, and fatty liver disease.How exactly raw honey does a liver good is unknown, but scientists hypothesize that all those antioxidants are behind it.
Raw Honey Eases Cold & Allergy Symptoms

Raw honey is a natural cold remedy and a go-to for those with seasonal allergies. Part of the reason it brings relief is its anti-inflammatory properties, which calm inflammation in the lungs and respiratory tract. Honey has also proven to be as effective as an over-the-counter cough suppressant.

When it comes to scratchy throats, the secret to raw honey’s soothing powers lies in its humectant properties. Humectants are substances that attract and retain moisture. When you eat honey, it quite literally coats your throat and prevents it from drying out.
Raw Honeycomb Supports Immune Health

Believe it or not, consuming this sweet snack gives your immune system a boost. You can thank the antioxidant, antifungal, and antibacterial properties of honeycomb for this. Together, they reduce inflammation, prevent infection, and tag-team in all sorts of ways to prevent disease.
Honeycomb Is Good for Gut health

There’s a lot of talk about probiotics and gut health, but prebiotics are equally important. Prebiotics are compounds that feed your gut microbiome, improving the uptake of nutrients and helping you digest food. Raw honey happens to be a powerful prebiotic.

Vitamin A and B vitamins are also important for gut health, which you will find in honeycomb, along with trace amounts of fibre.
Raw Honeycomb also Promotes Better Sleep

Here’s a great reason to melt a piece of honeycomb in your cup of chamomile or Passionflower:
Many people report better sleep after eating raw honey. This is likely due to a chemical reaction from the sugar, which leads to a spike in the production of melatonin, the sleep hormone. And since honeycomb has a low glycemic index, it won’t cause a sugar high that prevents you from sleeping.
Honeycomb is Unadulterated

Honey is one of the most fraudulent foods in the world. Heating and blending are two common ways liquid honey is adulterated (tampered with), both of which reduce nutritional value and natural properties. Raw honey and organic honey are no exceptions.The only way to bypass the fraud is to choose honeycomb, cut straight from the hive.

ABOUT ME : 😀 🌿

My interest in Naturopathic Medicine began as a child with exposure to Homeopathy, Raw healthy foods, Western and Chinese herbs and acupuncture from my parents. Whom have also given me my passion of nature. And the ideal healing of nature and the ability of the human body to heal itself. Plant based medicine encompasses this reinstating balance and harmony to the body. I was blessed to grow
up in Dural surrounded by bushland and was able to regularly bushwalk and connect with nature.
Naturopathic Medicine is my passion and treat each patient as an individual with compassion and empathy. And offer individually prescribed herbal tinctures, practitioner only supplements, iridology, homeopathics and Bach/Australian bush flower essences along with nutritional advice and holistic counselling.
Studied at Newcastle University and the Hunter Academy of Complimentary Medicine where I
graduated (Naturopathy and Western Herbal Medicine). I stay with the latest research and
Naturopathic treatments by continually updating my skills through on-going education, seminars, conferences and webinars.
As I have with my son born December 2000; I would love to share my love and respect of nature and guide you to follow a lifestyle that restores and maintains optimal vitality and health; and reconnect with the natural energy of nature.
Essences from nature have been used for thousands of years to bring about emotional balance by the Australian Aborigines and the Ancient Egyptians and were very popular in the middle ages. Australian plants have real beauty and strength. Metaphysically, Australia has always had a very wise, old energy.
Good health is the result of emotional, spiritual and mental harmony.

Look what I discovered in my backyard this afternoon. I honestly didn't see them till now 😍
My mother, brother Luke and his wife Danielle grew heaps of these at Lambs Valley and provided the berries to Northern NSW and South East Qld. We learnt the Lilly Pilly was used by the native aborigines for its anti-bacterial properties. In addition, it also had great healing components present in it. Rich in vitamin C, it has good astringent properties that improve the firmness of the skin which in turn helps your skin look radiant and youthful.
The Lilly Pilly berries are definitely great for the skin!
As I mentioned, they are high in vitamin C and fruit acids. They are anti-aging and an anti-inflammatory. They also Promote skin cell rejuvenation and improve collagen production as well as Provide protection against the adverse effects of UVB radiation.
Will definitely be eating these 💜

PREPARE YOUR BODY FOR COLD and FLU SEASON

With the cold and flu season on its way, it's the perfect time to start a tonic to help the body through.

Herbs such as astragalus, ginseng and medicinal mushrooms (eg. Sh*take,.reshi etc) just to name a few would be ideal to start pre-winter as they are known traditionally for strengthening the immune system activity plus helping the body cope with stress and general energy and vitality.
I along with my son and Jack Russell dog have the Teelixir Mushroom immunity regularly and have the products shown and tissue Salts on hand if needed.

It's always best to have on hand a cold & flu antiviral formula for those times when people are sneezing and coughing around you. At the first sign of symptoms, boost your immune system with a stimulating formula containing such herbs as echinacea, andrograhis, olive and garlic. These are known for their antiviral, anti-infective, fever relieving properties and will help the body fight the infection and help reduce severity and duration. This will give your body the best chance to recover swiftly and will deal with excess mucus.

For example, make your strong companion through winter –
Herbs of Gold Cold & Flu Strike:-.
The comprehensive blend of herbs and nutrients starts with high-strength andrographis, a plant that grows in South Asia, to relieve symptoms of common colds and flu. It stimulates the immune system and might help to prevent influenza viruses from binding to cells in the body. The supplement also contains echinacea, vitamin C and zinc to support immune system health. Echinacea is a herb widely used in alternative medicine, it is known to possibly be effective in aiding and treating the common cold, ear infections and more. Zinc affects the body’s ability to make immune cells and produce antibodies that are essential for the immune response. Vitamin C is famous for it’s incredibly powerful antioxidant properties which support the immune system by protecting cells throughout the body from free radicals.
Andrographis:- relieves mild symptoms.
Traditionally relieves mild fever and cold symptoms. Also known to relieve the symptoms of sore throats and mild upper respiratory tract infections, including coughs. Elderberry, another Western herbal medicine, has been added to relieve symptoms of common colds and flu, including mild fever. When winter comes, make sure you have this supplement to aid your healthy diet through flu season.

Tissue Salts are another to have on hand:-
Ferr phos:-
First stage of infections, heat, inflammation and fever.

Nat Mur:-
For watery colds, running nose and watery eye symptoms.

Kali Mur:-
Known as the glandular tonic. Ideal for sore throats, catarrhal infections, particularly associated with thick mucus congestion.

PEPITAS (Pumpkin Seeds):-

I love to eat pepitas all year round. On their own, sprinkled on my fruit salads, veges, salads, pasta etc.

Not only are they full of minerals (they are a great source of zinc), they are also high in disease-fighting antioxidants.
Always beneficial to eat a handful of pumpkin seeds every day.

1. Pumpkin seeds are a good source of zinc:-

Even the World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized that pumpkin seeds are an excellent way to boost your intake of zinc.

Zinc is needed to support the function of hundreds of enzymes, to boost your immune system (particularly during cold and flu season), and to help maintain sexual function.

To get the most zinc out of your pumpkin seeds, try eating them with the shell on. This is because zinc tends to concentrate in the endosperm envelope.

This tiny layer separates the seed from the shell; and it is very difficult to remove it intact if you are going to eat the seeds by themselves. The shells contain a little more fibre than the seeds, but the extra chewing should be worth it in terms of your health.

2. Get a dose of antioxidants without worrying about adding even more vegetables to your diet.

Alright, for the ones who complain about having to eat vegetables, pumpkin seeds can be an alternative way to boost your intake of health-protecting antioxidants. Pumpkin seeds contain an amazing variety of antioxidants that many other foods simply don’t have.

3. Great source of vitamin E:-

Pumpkin seeds are high in vitamin E. In fact, pumpkin seeds contain just about every form of vitamin E that you can think of: alpha-tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol, alpha-tocomonoenol, gamma-tocomonoenol and gamma-tocopheral.

Why do you need so many different forms of vitamin E? Because some are more readily absorbed by the body, which ups your chances of benefiting from the consumption of this antioxidant vitamin.

4. Up your intake of phenols:-

Phenols found in pumpkin seeds include caffeic, vanillic, syringic acid, coumaric, ferulic and sinapic. Phenols help protect your cells against damage.

5. Key minerals:-

Pumpkin seeds are very high in phosphorus, manganese, tryptophan, and magnesium. Phosphorus is important for healthy bone formation, good digestion, protein synthesis, hormonal balance, and nutrient absorption.

Manganese is needed for proper metabolic activity, bone metabolism, normal functioning of your thyroid, and calcium absorption.

Tryptophan is needed for balancing mood and boosting mental function.
And finally, magnesium is important for just about everything (transmission of nerve impulses, body temperature regulation, energy production and detoxification, to name just a few!).

6. Prostate care:-

Pumpkin seed oil has been shown in numerous clinical trials to have a beneficial effect in the treatment of BPH. The fatty acids and plant sterols in pumpkin seeds are thought to improve the function of the urethra and bladder.

Sleep Well, Awake Refreshed 😃

If you are deprived of sleep, you’ll find it hard to function throughout the day – your energy levels will slump, you won’t be able to concentrate, and you’ll feel grumpy and moody.

If this continues, you could risk the health of your immune system, putting you at risk of infections and diseases. The good news is that there’s plenty you can do to help you get a good night’s sleep.

So if you are having trouble sleeping due to a busy mind and unable to switch off, you need my herbal Sleep Mix 🌿

Kunzea cream:-
Tasmania's best kept secret:-

Available at Health Essentials Maitland 😃

Kunzea Pain Relief Cream is an anti-inflammatory cream that contains natural active ingredients that quickly penetrates through the skin to the area of pain or discomfort.

Due to the efficient ability of this natural cream to absorb, Kunzea Pain Relief Cream is what we recommend to customers with mild chronic conditions, particularly joint-related. It may help to temporarily relieve mild joint inflammation and swelling associated with mild arthritis.

This beautiful, natural formulation has the dual benefit of also being a very effective full-body moisturiser. It will help nourish the skin and maintain the body in good condition.

All Zea products are formulated with natural, therapeutic-quality, cruelty-free ingredients.

Uses:-

Kunzea Pain Relief Cream has been listed for the following therapeutic indications:-

* Relieve muscular aches and pains
* Relieve pain associated with mild osteoarthritis
* Temporarily relieve joint inflammation and swelling associated with mild arthritis
* Improve joint mobility in mild arthritis

In addition, Kunzea Pain Relief Cream can also be used as an "inflammation-fighting" moisturiser. It will help nourish the skin and maintain the body in good condition.

Directions:-

Apply a few grams to the affected area 3 to 4 times daily, or as required. Rub gently in a circular motion until evenly spread and absorbed. May be used in conjunction with Zea Relief Concentrated Massage Oil or Kunzea Bath Salts.

Active Ingredients:-

Kunzea ambigua essential oil (100mg/g)

Australian Kunzea Oil is derived from the Kunzea ambigua plant that flourishes in the pristine wilderness of North-East Tasmania. It has a naturally clean, fresh and invigorating aroma.

It is the organic composition of Kunzea Oil that makes it so unique. A high content of several important C15 compounds gives Kunzea ambigua its therapeutic uses and benefits.

Full Ingredients List:-

Purified water, Tasmanian Kunzea ambigua essential oil, sorbitan olivate (naturally derived from olive oil), macadamia nut oil, theobroma oil (cocoa butter), shea butter, caprylic/capric/stearic triglyceride (naturally derived emollient), glycerol (glycerin), cetostearyl alcohol (naturally-derived emollient), coconut oil, glyceryl caprylate (naturally-derived emollient), xanthan gum (naturally-derived), p-anisic acid (naturally-derived preservative), rose oil (rosehip oil), d-alpha-tocopherol (Vitamin E)

Ingredient Spotlight - Macadamia 🌿
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​Macadamia, (genus Macadamia), genus of four species of evergreen trees belonging to the family Proteaceae known for their richly flavoured edible seeds. The trees originated in the coastal rainforests and scrubs of what is now Queensland in northeastern Australia and are grown commercially in a number of subtropical areas.
​
​Macadamia oil contains nurturing and restoring properties that make it a perfect carrier oil for our Kunzea Cream. Oils extracted from macadamia contain omega 7 (specific for skin) or palmitoleic acid, which is beneficial for wound healing, scratches and burns 🌿

Cautions:-

Contains tree nuts.
For external use only.
Avoid contact with eyes.
Patch test before use.
Keep out of reach of children.
If symptoms persist, discontinue use and talk to your health profession

Just a reminder. When tested outside our bodies it is proved to be High in Calciium but cows milk is for calves (baby cows). We are unable to absorb this calcium in our bodies here is an article by Joel Fuhrman, M.D to explain 😀

There are so many myths about milk, but here are the facts:
1. milk is not the best source of calcium for your bones and teeth—vegetable calcium is. The calcium in kale is 50 percent absorbable, which is a high fractional absorption for calcium; by comparison, that figure is only 30 percent for cow’s milk.
2. Countries with the highest consumption of dairy have the highest incidence of osteoporosis. These countries include the US, UK and most of Western Europe.
3. Dairy consumption is linked to cancer risk. Part of the mechanism is that diary consumption elevates the body’s level of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). There are ample studies linking high IGF-1 levels to increased cancer risk.