Botanica Health

Let’s first look at the things that lower immunity -
• too much screen time
• vegetable oils - think crisps, low fat spreads, biscuits
• poor nutritional support
• processed foods
• stress and anxiety
• not enough sleep
• not enough movement
• not enough sunlight
• loneliness
• antibiotics
• artificial sweeteners - think yoghurts, diluting juices, low fat products, crisps

SUPPORT THEIR IMMUNITY THROUGH -
• outdoor activities in the morning light
• limiting screen exposure
• starting the day with a cereal free breakfast - eggs, porridge, warm fruit and yoghurt, smoothie - protein, carbs and good fats
• make sure they consume healthy fats - butter and coconut oil
• early to bed, and early to rise, Is the way to be healthy, wealthy, and wise
• allow them to get dirty
• chuck away any sanitiser in the bin

Support them over winter with Elderberry, Vitamin C, Probiotics and consider Vitamin D, zinc, etc according to their needs.
There is a wonderful book called Nourishing Traditions for food guidance. There is a baby and child version.
We have some new beautiful children’s remedies. Will post in stories. 🩷♥️

Both placebo and nocebo effects can be potent.
Your thoughts can create your reality.
Nocebo - Consider the near fatal case of “Mr A”, reported by doctor Roy Reeves in 2007. Mr A was suffering from depression when he consumed a whole bottle of pills. Regretting his decision, Mr A rushed to ER, and promptly collapsed at reception. It looked serious; his blood pressure had plummeted, and he was hyperventilating; he was immediately given intravenous fluids. Yet blood tests could find no trace of the drug in his system. Four hours later, another doctor arrived to inform Reeves that the man had been in the placebo arm of a drugs trial; he had “overdosed” on sugar tablets. Upon hearing the news, the relieved Mr A soon recovered. - The contagious thought that could kill you - BBC Future
Placebo - A fascinating landmark study of placebo surgery for knee osteoarthritis
From the abstract: “In this controlled trial involving patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, the outcomes after arthroscopic lavage or arthroscopic debridement were no better than those after a placebo procedure..
Patients in the placebo group received skin incisions and underwent a simulated debridement without insertion of the arthroscope.“
RESULTS: At no point did either of the intervention groups report less pain or better function than the placebo group.
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa013259

Because you may not have the classic symptoms of acid reflux it may be tricky to diagnose.
Asthma is often one of the biggest misdiagnosis because silent reflux mimics asthma. It is useful to note that people with reflux will have trouble getting air IN during inspiration whereas those suffering from asthma have difficulty getting air OUT of the lungs.
Commonly with silent reflux the symptoms are worse in the morning after lying down all night. The sphincters at the top and bottom of the throat which are meant to be tightly controlled can stay open allowing acid to splash up into the throat resulting in these symptoms.
Conventional approach -
After diagnosis your GP will commonly prescribe Proton Pump Inhibitors. Unfortunately they don’t treat the root cause and may provide just short-term relief.
In most cases reflux is actually due to too low stomach acid and not high stomach acid as commonly reported. We need stomach acid to digest food. While an acid suppressing drug may provide short term relief it does not address the root issue and may in fact worsen the problem. As we age stomach acid (hydrochloric acid) declines. Symptoms of low stomach acid frequently occur several hours after eating and can include a desire to eat when not truly hungry, feeling dissatisfied after eating, a sense of fullness after meals, abdominal gas, constipation and diarrhoea.
Possible causes of silent reflux
Stress, a lack of digestive enzymes, LOW stomach acid and inflammatory foods like gluten can all be at the root of silent reflux and a serious look at these factors should be considered.
Recommendations to resolve silent reflux -
Make a slippery elm soothing drink three times daily. Or take a supplement.
Drink chamomile tea.
Chew DGL liquorice 20 minutes before each meal.
Avoid water with meals.
Consider HCL.
Consume bitter foods.
Reduce stress.
Consider a probiotic.
Be careful with gluten, tomatoes, oranges, tea and coffee.

Studies conclude that dishonesty is bad for your health.
Dr Carson worked in his practice in the United States and suffered from blinding, regular migraines. On self reflection he noticed when they came.
On the days he told ‘white lies’ to his patients, his wife and family. So what you might think. Isn’t a white lie ok?
Apparently not, and they can actually make you sick.
Studies show that telling lies increases blood pressure, raises cortisol, increases heart rate and recruits executive control areas of the brain.
The constant stress it creates in the body and mind to tell a lie and another lie causes physiological, detrimental changes in the brain and body.
Dishonest behaviour is bad for your health.
Lying, being selfish, cheating and engaging in infidelity is associated with negative outcomes.
Altruism, telling the truth, acting fairly and being generally other-orientated is linked to a suite of positive health outcomes including decreased cellular aging and longevity of life.
And guess what else. Innocent observers of dishonesty may experience similar negative psychological effects.
We all know when someone is fibbing.
We have a finely tuned biological system and even brief periods of dishonesty are enough to spike cortisol levels.
Studies show that telling the truth is our baseline cognitive state. Lying requires extra cognitive resources leading to increased mental strain and potential health issues.
Just tell the truth.
Deception comes at a cost.
Honesty is the best policy.
🙏
Buddha: ‘Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.”
“THE PHYSIOLOGY OF (DIS)HONESTY: DOES IT IMPACT HEALTH?” ScienceDirect

SINUSITIS - Acute sinusitis can last over two weeks even with the correct treatment. If it lasts longer then you are more likely to have bacterial sinusitis. Chronic sinusitis can at least 12 weeks.

Symptoms -
Sinus pain
Sinus headache
Runny or stuffy nose
Post-nasal drip
Pressure in face and eyes
Fever
Coughing
Tooth pain
Feeling tired

Solutions -
Horseradish, Black seed oil, Garlic, Echinacea, Plantain juice, Quercetin, Bromelain, pine needle tea, Vitamin C, Neti pot, Steam with 2 drops each of oregano oil and eucalyptus.

Boron is a mineral and trace element found in food (one of the best sources is prunes), water and the environment.
Boron can also be found in raisins, grapes, broccoli, carrots, milk and coffee.
There are some very interesting studies on cancer and other health issues regarding Borax. As you probably know Borax is used to whiten clothes. Boron is found in Borax. There has been lots of talk on Borax for some time.
“.. a strong inverse correlation between borax and various types of cancer, including prostate cancer, lung cancer, cervical cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma.” PubMed - Gene expression alterations of human liver cancer cells following borax exposure.
“Boron has become a crucial weapon in anticancer research due to its significant intervention in cell proliferation.” PubMed
In stories I will post our Metabolics Ionic Boron and also a very good osteo collagen which contains boron.
The benefits of boron go beyond bone health -
Wound healing
Hormone regulation
Cancer prevention and treatment
Anti-inflammatory
Anti-oxidant
Protects against toxicity
Helps magnesium absorption

A review has found that 3mg of Boron a day is effective at supporting bone health and maintaining bone mineral density and is safe and beneficial but it is well below the upper level of 10mg daily recommended by the European Food Safety Authority.

More awareness below -
🩷 Natural progesterone is linked to a decreased risk of breast cancer
🩷Mammograms - half of all women will experience at least one false positive over a decade of annual breast cancer screening
🩷Breasts carry deep emotional significance. It is common that breast cancer patient’s have experienced intense emotional stress. Often over a loved one.
🩷Balanced hormones and keeping thyroid health optimal is vital.
🩷Keeping lymph flowing freely is important - massage, movement, reducing bra wearing time.
🩷Aspirin - studies demonstrate that aspirin can block breast cancer growth, prevent spread and reprogrammed breast cancer cells back to normal healthy cells.
🩷Niacinamide (B3) may protect against breast cancer and recurrence and metastasis.
🩷 Bio-identical progesterone is protective against breast cancer
🩷Dopamjne has a therapeutic effect against cancer. Certain repurposed drugs that act on dopamine pathways may have inherent anti-cancer properties. Naturally dopamine can be increased by exercise, sleep, sunlight, meditation, music and foods rich in tyrosine, a precursor to dopamine - bananas, beef, eggs and green tea.
🩷 Cancerous tumours need a blood supply to grow and keep growing.
Angiogenesis - blood vessel formation. Tumour angiogenesis is the growth of new blood vessels that supply the tumour to help it grow.
But they don't start out with a blood supply.
Angiogenesis is the tipping point between a harmless cancer and a harmful one.
The following are anti-angiogenic herbs and foods with cancer-preventative properties -
Green tea
Strawberries
Cooked tomatoes
Raspberries
Oranges
Red grapes
Ginseng
Olive oil
Maitake mushroom
Liquorice
Parsley

At the moment of conception there is a zinc spark. Light is actually seen and tiny ‘fireworks’ that result are found to last for about 2 hours after fertilisation.
Life begins.
Precious Theodora sparked into life and just over 9 months later she arrived in the early hours of the 22nd of October.
She is our first grandchild and I didn’t think life could be any more beautiful and then she came.
I find myself looking closely at her beautiful eyelashes, her sweet mouth, her soft golden hair.
She is a miracle from God and in Greek Theodora means “God’s Gift.”
She feels just that.
Our daughter’s daughter. ♥️
Welcome to the world little one. You have wonderful parents and extended family and friends who adore you already.

A healthy gut and liver are essential for thyroid function. But we will start with the gut.
Interactions between the gut microbiota and thyroid function are so intricate it has been termed the gut-thyroid axis. In fact one report showed that a gut-focused clinical care model improved thyroid function, reduced thyroid medication dose and improved symptoms originally thought to be from thyroid dysfunction. PubMed
* When there is gut inflammation, bacterial overgrowth and poor digestion there will be a ripple effect on thyroid function.
* This is why diet, allergies, intolerances, stress, SIBO, H.pylori and other pathogens should be addressed.
* The gut microbiota influences the availability of essential micronutrients for the thyroid gland like selenium and zinc which are needed for converting T4 to T3.
* Studies suggest that the gut plays a major role as a reservoir for thyroid hormones, especially T3.
* Probiotics show a beneficial effect on thyroid hormones and thyroid function in general.
* Hashimoto’s and Graves Disease are the most common autoimmune thyroid disease and often occur with Coeliac Disease and non-coeliac wheat sensitives.
* Intestinal pathogens have been found in higher rates in those with thyroid conditions.
* H.pylori has been linked to Hashimoto’s.
* Scientific research shows a strong correlation between SIBO, hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s.
* Lower thyroid function slows digestive transit.
* Dieting, under eating and over exercise will affect the thyroid.
* Not consuming enough calories, carbohydrates or protein can negatively effect thyroid function.
* Adequate calories from a balanced diet of carbs, protein and fat are essential and should be adequate for daily expenditure.
* But the thyroid also influences the digestive system.
* Thyroid hormones impact digestive motility.
* Patients with hypothyroidism often suffer from reflux and may have trouble swallowing.
* Thyroid disorders have also been associated with autoimmune gastritis and oesophageal compression.
* Addressing gut health can help regulate and regain balance of the thyroid-gut axis.

Mexican artist Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) is remembered for her self-portraits, pain and passion.
She began painting at the age of 18 when a serious bus accident left her in a body cast to heal her spine and pelvis.
After this physical trauma Frida suffered severe, widespread pain and profound fatigue.
According to Martinez-Lavin et al., Arthritis Rheum., 2000, 43:708, Frida suffered from post-traumatic fibromyalgia. This can explain her chronic, severe, widespread pain accompanied by profound fatigue. It also explains the lack of response to diverse forms of treatment. But perhaps at the time it was little understood.
Fibromyalgia is a stress related disorder and a sympathetically-maintained neuropathic pain syndrome.
A BrainImmune publication states - “Furthermore, many FM patients appear to have created their own “lifestyle stress” by physically or mentally overexerting themselves, being too perfectionist or over-committed at work, or engaging in disproportionate self-sacrificing behavior.”
The plant Rhodiola rosea is a resilient plant that thrives in tough climates. It was first noted by Dioscorides 77 CE which marked Rhodiola’s grand entry into written history and medical literature. Thirty years after Frida’s death in the 1980s, Rhodiola Rosea, the ‘golden root’, became a global sensation. Heres why -
* Prevents or treats immune depletion due to over work or excessive physical training, chemotherapy or radiation therapy
* Relieves muscle stiffness and spasms
* It is a nervous system tonic and anti-depressant
* Enhances alertness, reduces fatigue, improves memory
* Decreases symptoms of Parkinson’s disease
* Helps balance blood sugar levels
* Has substantial benefits for the heart - arrhythmias, helps prevent stress-induced heart damage and improves heart muscle strength
The Vikings used it to enhance mental and physical endurance.
Perhaps Rhodiola could have provided Frida some relief. If only she had know.
“They thought I was a Surrealist, but I wasn’t. I never painted dreams. I painted my own reality.”
Frida Kahlo

“I have decided to find myself a home in the mountains, somewhere high up where one learns to live peacefully in the cold and the silence. It’s said that in such a place certain revelations may be discovered. That what the spirit reaches for may be eventually felt, if not exactly understood. Slowly, no doubt. I’m not talking about a vacation. Of course at the same time I mean to stay exactly where I am. Are you following me?”
Mary Oliver

We are delighted to have John McLane, a certified Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP), working with us. For more details visit his website at rolfing-se.com. John offers a discount for an initial SE sessions at Botanica Health.
The Somatic Experiencing® (SE) method is a body-oriented approach to healing trauma and other stress disorders. The SE approach releases traumatic shock and restores connection, which is key to transforming trauma. It offers a framework to assess where a person is “stuck” in the fight, flight, freeze or fawn responses and provides clinical tools to resolve these fixated physiological states.
Trauma may begin as acute stress from a perceived life-threat or as the end product of cumulative stress which can seriously impair a person’s ability to function with resilience and ease. Trauma may result from a wide variety of stressors such as accidents, invasive medical procedures,sexual or physical assault, emotional abuse, neglect, war, racial discrimination, oppression, natural disasters, loss, birth trauma, or the stress of ongoing fear, conflict, and childhood trauma/chronic shaming.
SE therapy focuses on healing trauma by addressing and re-negotiating the physical sensations that arise in the body during traumatic experiences. Traumatic experiences can cause a dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system, which can lead to a range of trauma symptoms, including: anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),heart palpitations, breathing problems, dizziness, hypervigilance, hyperactivity, panic attacks, phobias, intrusive memories, shame, anger, insomnia, nightmares, headaches, migraines,neck/back problems, muscle weakness, fibromyalgia, myofasical pain, digestive issues,immune problems,addictive behaviour,avoidance behaviour, attachment difficulties in nurturing, bonding or committing to/receiving from others.
Through SE therapy, individuals are able to access their own built-in immunity to trauma, allowing the highly aroused survival energies to be safely and gradually discharged. When these energies are discharged, people frequently experience a dramatic reduction in or disappearance of their traumatic symptoms.

Loss and sadness comes in so many forms; the loss of a loved one, a relationship, a home, health, a job, a friendship, connections and community.
But it also comes like a thief in the night, with no apparent cause, leaving you floundering and wounded, wondering why.
Time has taught me that in all states of mind where I am challenged, instead of pushing feelings down they must be embraced and acknowledged.
Whatever this feeling is, it is valid.
I see feelings and emotions like a meandering river. Sometimes they cling on to a bend for a few days or longer, sometimes passing through with ease, and sometimes damming up.
We are not damaged, or useless or weak or something to be fixed. And we will once again feel joy. It is liberating to know that the voice in your head that says you are this or that, is not the essence of who you really are.
With this comes freedom and a crack of light can emerge which in time will enable you to shine once more.
“Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books that are now written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.”
― Rainer Maria Rilke
When I read the quote above in Rilke’s book I saw the beauty in what he was writing. It is so moving. He states that we need to discern the value of these fragile periods and sit with them. There is such personal growth in truly knowing ourselves.
The great romantic poet John Keat’s suffered periodic savage bouts of depression which incapacitated him. His hands would become like lead, unable to lift his pen to write. Such is the physical impact of depression.
He said that one thing brought him relief.
“There is a comfort in throwing oneself on the charity of ones friends — ’tis like the albatross sleeping on its wings — ”
♥️❤️♥️

Study after study shows the efficacy of taking magnesium. It is not only life changing but can be literally life saving.
A few points -
⭐️The most commonly used test to check magnesium status is the total serum magnesium concentration, but this laboratory marker has limited clinical benefit as it does not accurately reflect intracellular or total magnesium status. In other words less than one percent of total magnesium is found in the serum. In fact this test is pretty useless. An individual may be profoundly deficient and be told they are fine. A red blood cell test is better as red blood cells contain a higher concentration of magnesium.
⭐️Medications that reduce magnesium levels: Omeprazole and other PPI’s, antacids, antibiotics, antihistamines, antivirals, blood pressure drugs, diuretics, anti-epileptic medications, inhaled corticosteroids, oestrogens (HRT and birth control pill), immunosuppressants, non steroidal aromatase inhibitors for breast cancer (anastrozole).
⭐️Other factors that can cause deficiency: poor food choices, processed foods, bowel diseases, vitamin D deficiency, laxative use, diarrhoea, diabetes, excessive sweating, pregnancy, stress.
⭐️signs of deficiency: asthma, cramp, headaches, poor bone health, diabetes, palpitations, restless legs, depression, poor sleep, cardiac arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, PMT, hot flushes, ADHD, fatigue, anxiety.
Our soil quality is poor leading to less nutrient dense food. Stress is prevalent lower stores further. Sometimes magnesium can make all the difference.

Our second new Botanica blend.
Not only did we want a beautiful blend of two scientifically supported and time tested remedies, we wanted it to brighten your day with an affirmation so that every time you pick the bottle up there are words - be calm - to soothe and relax.
Use the code becalm10 at checkout for 10% off if you feel this could really support you at this time.
Whether you feel anxious, full of worry, feel troubled and unable to sleep, have exams or a task to complete that requires clear thinking and calmness, this could be just what you need.

The link to the product is in the bio above.

L-theanine
☀️ L-theanine significantly increases activity in the alpha frequency band which indicates that it relaxes the mind without inducing drowsiness.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18296328/

☀️Findings of animal and human research support that taking l-theanine on a regular basis improves cognitive performance, attention, sleep quality, and may enhance mood, and reduce symptoms of OCD, panic disorder, and bipolar disorder. L-theanine also has important general health benefits including reduction of the risk of cardiovascular disease and fighting obesity.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/integrative-mental-health-care/201908/l-theanine-different-mental-health-problems
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26192072/

Lemon balm
☀️Pilot trial of Melissa officinalis L. leaf extract in the treatment of volunteers suffering from mild-to-moderate anxiety disorders and sleep disturbances
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22207903/

☀️ Given its consolidated use, M. officinalis has also been experimented with clinical settings, demonstrating interesting properties against different human diseases, such as anxiety, sleeping difficulties, palpitation, hypertension, depression, dementia, infantile colic, bruxism, metabolic problems, Alzheimer’s disease, and sexual disorders.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35730441/

Although some studies show positive effects of having it, they may be outweighed by negative outcomes -
🍁 In healthy subjects there was a 65% increase within 14 days of having it of non-flu acute respiratory illness. The most common non-flu pathogens found were rhinovirus, enterovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, and coronaviruses.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24483149/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7115556/
🍁 There are over 200 different viruses that produce the same symptoms as flu. This is important because the shot only targets 3 or 4 strains.
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/vaccine-selection.htmhttps://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD001269.pub5/pdf/CDSR/CD001269/rel0005/CD001269/CD001269.pdf
🍁 More than 85% of acute respiratory illnesses are not the flu!
🍁 It doesn’t reduce demand on hospitals.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32120383/
🍁 It doesn’t prevent the spread of flu.
https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD001269.pub4/full
🍁 Data from 2014-2018 found a 65% failure rate.
https://www.cdc.gov/flu-vaccines-work/php/effectiveness-studies/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccines-work/effectiveness-studies.htm
🍁 Death from the flu is rare in children without high-risk conditions. Between 2000 and 2003, each year kids age 18 and younger had about 1 in 1.26 million or 0.00008% chance of dying from the flu.
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5306a1.htm
🍁 It doesn’t reduce deaths from flu and pneumonia.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15710788/
🍁Repeated doses may increase risk of failure.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3693492/
And let’s not forget garlic, ginger, sage, oregano, cinnamon, star anise, astragalus, vitamin c, chaga, reishi, zinc, vitamin d, lemon balm and humming ….. more on this later ♥️❤️♥️

She found the light. Have a lovely weekend all.
Thanks as always for your faith in us and supporting us in all the ways you do. I love our interactions, conversations, back and forth thoughts and feelings and views. And it doesn’t matter if we always agree or not. It’s good to ponder over things that perhaps we haven’t considered. I’m grateful for it all.
If the sun doesn’t shine this weekend find light in the things that cheer your heart ~ a pleasant walk, time with a friend, kind words and deeds, nature and gratitude.
“Walking, much like singing, steadies the mind. When we place one foot in front of the other, we can feel the body lean and sway as we move forward.
The first steps may be slow, but gradually we find our gait. Though we may require effort to break our inertia, our willingness to move is soon requited.
At first, we notice the mind doing the walking. Then the body soon takes over, and with that, our thoughts are free to flow.”
~Stephen Levine

In 1947, Dr Nikolai Lazarev defined an adaptogen as an agent that allows the body to counter adverse physical, chemical, or biological stressors by raising nonspecific resistance toward such stress, thus allowing the organism to “adapt” to the stressful circumstances.
Other adaptogens are -
Amla
Ashwagandha
Astragalus
Cordyceps
Eleutherococcus (Siberian ginseng)
Holy basil
Liquorice
Reishi
Shatavari
Shilajit
Schisandra
If Rhodiola sounds like the one for you I have added to the list in Linktr.ee in bio above.
Caution: avoid in bipolar or mania