New to Naturopathy

Naturopathic medicine treats people by enhancing their innate vitality.  Let's identify the road-blocks preventing your body healing.  Naturopaths are trained to assess and enhance one's "Vital Force" from which all life arises. In Chinese medicine this is concept is called Qi and in Ayuvedic medicine it is called Prana.

When you see a naturopathic doctor they will initially gather a broad clinical picture of your health via a thorough work up.  Full details of your presenting complaint are gathered along with diet, lifestyle, work, home life, organ and system function, pre-existing conditions and medication use. 

An initial consultation can be up to 1hour and will include an array of functional testing.  For example Dr Tim  will perform, Urinalysis, Iridology, Bioresonance testing (Photon Resonant Treatment) Mineral status test and a Physical examination. This is the best way to gather a complete picture of an individuals health needs.  All testing is non-invasive.

Dr Tim will tell you he is speeding up the rate of body-repair in your body relative to rate of breakdown.

Only in this way can healing occur. 

A typical naturopathic prescrition will incorporate diet and lifestyle changes along with therapeutic grade supplements.  Things like herbs, nutrients and homoeopathics are always prescribed to alleviate symptoms and correct underlying imbalances. They match your individual needs which is something allopathic medicine cannot do.

What to Expect in a Natural Medicine Consultation

You will be given time to tell your story.  It's important that a full and detailed picture of your health concern is considered.  In the world of Holistic Natural Medicine we consider the events around the onset of an illness to be very important, especially in chronic disease.  It's amazing just how many patients recall a specific event be it physical, mental, emotional or environmental that arose just prior becoming unwell.  This is important because we are not machines held together with sinew and connective tissue as much as complex multifaceted beings that are affected by physical, emotional and environmental catalysts.  So when you come in for your session we offer you the space and time to share your story.

Most of my patients arrive as a last ditch effort to save their health.  They feel let down by conventional medicines inability to treat chronic disease and are seeking non-pharmaceutical ways to improve their health because the drugs don't work or because they cause more problems.   Somehow the patient has gotten lost in an array of disconnected appointments consulting physicians that only assess parts of themselves in isolation to one another and fail to see the individual nature of their illness.   Others just want to find out what is causing their anxiety or bloating or chronic pain and are open to look holistically to address their concern.  Many patients see me to find out if nutritional deficiency or food sensitivity or toxicity is the cause of their problems.  Some patients turn up not knowing what to expect.  They have just heard that a "natural" approach may help.

I use the initial consultation to gather as much information about the patient as possible and I do this in a range of ways.   I get the patient to detail the onset and progression of their complaints and tell me in what ways it affects their lives.  Next I ask them what outcomes they would like.  In complex cases I ask patients to prioritise their top three health goals. This allows us to work together on a common goal.  So now it's not a patient/doctor relationship so much as a patient/doctor team activity. The more trust there is the better the results.  It's as simple as that.

After I gather this information I run a range of clinical non-invasive tests to identify likely causes and drivers of their illness.  This includes but is not limited to, Urinalysis, Nutrient Deficiency, Dietary Deficiency, Absorption capacity, Food Sensitivity, Toxicity, Mineral Status check and Systems check.  This is the part where I ask like a zillion questions to understand where the imbalances may lie.  After this I perform a physical examination including assessment of Tongue, Iris, Vital signs, Nails and Abdominal palpation and auscultation.  I also make note of how the patient walked into the room to observe their movement and gait as well as the sound and timbre of voice.  In some cases I will make note of test results they may have brought in or suggest additional testing to gather more useful and targeted information.  It's really quite comprehensive and rather a lot to squeeze into an hour.  But it is important to be as observant and thorough as possible.

After I have gathered all this information I compile it in an easy to read handout for the patient.  I step out what is needed in order to become well, why they should change their diet, how herbal medicine can help, why some acupunture will integrate their body even more.  Almost everybody that comes in needs to get a water filter and move their mobile phone away from their bed head.  Mine is a thorough and detailed holistic overview of a patients health status at the time of consultation explaining how diet, lifestyle and environment are affecting their body' s capacity to heal. 

I always include a set of detailed instructions and suggestions on how best to adjust their diet and lifestyle to modulate their internal environment for the better.  It's amazing how many patients appreciate the thorough nature of this approach.  I will prescribe a course of therapeutic nutrients, minerals and herbal medicine as needed being very clear to let the patient know that I have studied pharmacology and am up to date on drug/herb/nutrient interactions. 

I adhere to the Hippocratic oath all physicians take, "do no harm".

Some cases require integrative care models to achieve better outcomes such as working in conjunction with an acupuncturist, massage therapist, counsellor and GP.  Patients love this level of care, detail and support.   In a lot of cases it's the missing link, putting together all the pieces of the puzzle and stepping back to take a look.

Why Probiotics may be the Last Thing You Need!

Building a Better Microbiome

The human microbiome (MB) is simply fantastic! It is made up from a combination of micro-organisms including, bacteria, fungi, viruses and protozoa that exist in and on the surfaces of your body. The majority of these organisms reside within your gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and weigh up to 2kg in a healthy adult.  Building a better microbiome will have a lasting and positive effect on your whole health.   Let me share with you some tips on why this is important and how you can achieve excellent results.

The Microbiome population in the adult gut weighs 2kg!

 Imagine your microbiome as a complex eco-system, like a beautiful rainforest, made up thousands of different species, both symbiotic,  pathogenic and opportunistic.  It is a dynamic environment, constantly influx, and involved in a complex array of biological functions including neurotransmission, immune modulation, nutrient production, hormone signalling and energy production to name just a few.

 These microbes occupy many locations on and in your body and many of the subgroups of microbes are unique to you and your social group.  Importantly, these populations can be greatly influenced by environmental factors like diet and lifestyle. 

Around 98% of the genes in your body belong to non-human microbes

You are literally a walking ecosystem!!

The prognosis of chronic health complaints is affected by the health of  your microbiome

  It's a hot topic right now and there is certainly a lot of information on the web as to how one should best ramp up the health of their gut microbes.  Probiotics are one such option and there are many fantastic strains that can be used to modulate your internal environment.  But often there are other things like finding the right diet to suit your needs, tweaking habits that improve digestive function such as meal times and thorough chewing and reducing consumption of things that can reduce beneficial microbe numbers such as alcohol, sugar and highly refined and processed food.

The scope of what one can achieve by tweaking one's diet is quite remarkable

Why all the fuss?

Our gut microbes produce metabolites that directly orchestrate biological functions within our body.  Appetite, Mood, Behaviour, Energy production, Inflammation and immune function appear to be the results of the chemical messages that our microbes produce.  Our microbial diversity is what makes us unique and allows our bodies to flourish, grow, repair and combat illness.  It's not so much the numbers of particular species that are important compared to the overall diversity. A well balanced plant-rich whole food diet will keep your microbes happy and when your microbes are happy it usually follows suit that you are too.  

At Eluvi Natural Medicine we  are focused on helping people repair damage that has been hindering their health

 There is significant evidence to suggest that our microbes influence emotional responses such as Anxiety, Depression and Stress Response.  Our MB affects neurotransmitter production of Dopamine, Serotonin, Adrenalin, Nor-Adrenalin, and GABA.  There is also evidence to suggest that microbes can affect the important tight junctions in our Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) which protect our brain from unwanted infection.   The gut really is the seat of all health.  

 Sadly though, our MB cops a significant amount of damage and stress from preventable and reversible factors.  A poor diet with lazy choices can adversely affect your good bugs.   For example, a low fibre diet will result in less food for the microbes that live in your large bowel and when they starve they are unable to produce an important contingent nutrient called Butyrate which plays a significant role in immune and inflammation regulation.   Many chronic illnesses can be improved by increasing Butyrate production which is facilitated partly by the microbes that inhabit your large bowel.

We have helped thousands of people repair their microbiome and restore their health and vitality using a systematic and evidence-based system of traditional, holistic natural medicine. eluvi.com.au

 Other lifestyle factors that affect your MB include sedentary behaviour and unnecessary medication, both natural and pharmaceutical.  This can result in your digestion becoming sluggish leading to over-fermentation and putrefaction ultimately giving rise to a state of Dysbiosis or germ overgrowth.  This type of functional damage will result in an internal shift in your biology that has the propensity to sustain biological and physiological functions that are not compatible with health.  There is evidence to suggest that this type of imbalance gives rise to opportunistic microbe populations, the ones we don't want to get out of hand to proliferate and dominate the internal landscape, shaping and influencing key system functions for the worse. 

Alterations in beneficial microbe populations have been linked to Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Allergic diseases and reduced Immunotolerance 

 Alterations in your MB may be contributing to a multitude of neurological and mood altering conditions, psychiatric symptoms, obesity, diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, allergy and food sensitivity as well as impaired immune function.  Looking after and building a better microbiome is highly beneficial for overall health.  Hippocrates was correct when he stated more than 2500 years ago  All Dis-ease Begins in the Gut!

 

Patients love that we are available for consultation and support when they undergo a microbiome restoration.  

We can show you how to build a better microbiome and tailor an individual diet to support your boy's needs.  Maybe you've made changes in the past to your diet or lifestyle that resulted in a positive effect. A month without the booze, quitting sugar, or increased your exercise.  How did you feel when you committed to changes that enhanced your wellbeing?  

You might be surprised to know that a few simple dietary changes is all it takes to make your microbes feel as if all their Christmases have come at once

Repair work is part of the key
when you work with a suitably qualified practitioner you can find your path back to wellness.  For example, when we undertake a microbiome restoration in our clinics we embark on a comprehensive fact finding mission to understand what external and internal influences are disrupting the balance of the individual.
 We assess for underlying inflammation, parasitic infestation, hormone imbalance, geopathic stress, immune dysregulation, and which organ systems are most imbalanced.  We need to determine to what extent nutrient deficiencies play a part.  There are complicated biochemical pathways to consider including cellular, hormonal, electrical and biochemical signalling.  Once this is determined we can then target the area that needs most work and focus on repairing damage to your microbiome.  Trust me, you can't google this. You simply need to consult someone who knows what they are doing.

Hoping your ailments will resolve by taking a probiotic without addressing the underlying cause/s is like tipping water into a bucket with holes and expecting the water not to run out!

Probiotics are the last thing you need!

 Your attention should be directed to move beyond simply re-inoculating the gut with probiotics.  This is an overly simplistic approach that often leaves people with very little to show by way of therapeutic effect.  Don't get me wrong, probiotics can be beneficial, we use them everyday in our clinical practice but it's vital that the correct strains are used, at a therapeutic dose to match individual needs and...at the right time in the course of treatment.   Simply buying a probiotic and presuming your health complaints will all dissolve into the ether is simply naive.

We have helped thousands of patients resolve their health concern with our expert knowledge and experience in human health, wellness and nutrition

Our clinic offers individualised and highly successful microbiome restoration programmes

that will help your body re-establish its natural state of balance.

If you’re suffering physical, mental / emotional, immunological or metabolic health concerns  taking an individual approach to repairing and rebalancing your microbiome will yield great rewards. We look forward to working with you.  

Reference material and relevant links

Genome Medicine and your Microbiome

Control of Brain Development, Function, and Behavior by the Microbiome

Fungal Microbiota Dysbiosis in IBD

Reduced Immunotolerance and the Role of the Microbiome

Concepts of Chinese Medicine: Part 1. Holism

Holism in Chinese Medicine

NB: These notes are intended to convey key concepts that are part of Master of Chinese Medicine study I am undertaking at RMIT - Melbourne.  

Chinese Medicine (CM) is more than 2000 years old with a rich history of change and development within the many dynasty periods.  Central to CM is the concept of holism, how things function in relation to each other.  The practice of CM is largely based on observation, patterns of harmony and rhythm, in the natural order of the universe, within the seasons and within humans. 

Chinese Medicine is based on treating patterns of disharmony within the body.

Yin Yang Theory

Explains how things function in relation to each other and the universe.  How the parts of the whole fit together in harmony and balance.  Yin and Yang is about parts of a whole that are inseparable. They inter-consume each other in a dynamic manner. The seed of Yang is within Yin, and the seed of Yin is within Yang. 

Yin can be described as feminine (relative to masculine), shady, dark, quiet, introverted, interior, a state of resting, a downward movement.  The front of the body is more Yin relative to the back, which is more Yang.  Yang can be described as bright, expansive, hot, upward, expansion, stimulation. The back of the body is more Yang relative to the front.  

The aspect of relativity is an important concept to grasp when it comes to Yin Yang theory.  For example it can be said that Hot water is 'Yang' compared to cold water, which is 'Yin'.  However cold water is 'Yang' relative to ice-cold water.  The point is, the two are never static and in fact it is their dynamic flux and movement that gives them vitality.  It can be said that when Yin and Yang seperate life itself comes to an end.

  

Yin and Yang represents inter-connectedness of all life

4 Aspects of Yin Yang Relationship

1. Yin and Yang are never in a static 50/50 equal split, but rather move in a dynamic and constantly in a changing balance.
2. Yin and Yang are in opposition but they are inter-dependant, one cannot exist without the other. For example, there cannot be expansion without contraction, day without night and rest without exertion. 
3. Mutual consumption of Yin and Yang.  Balance is maintained by adjusting relative levels of Yin and Yang. If one is out of balance it will affect the other and as a result they will recompense to maintain balance.
4. The inter-transformation of Yin and Yang. This change happens are certain stages of development. For example, Summer changes into Winter, Day changes into night, happiness changes into unhappiness, movement changes into rest. 

4 States of Yin Yang Imbalance

1. Excess Yin - excess Yin induces a decrease of Yang
2. Excess Yang - excess of Yang induces a decrease of Yin
3. Deficiency of Yin - induces an apparent excess of Yang relative to the deficient Yin 
4. Deficiency of Yang - induces an apparent excess of Yin relative to the deficient Yang

                

                                         

Application of Yin Yang to Medicine

CM treatment is aimed to balance Yin and Yang. Illness in its physiological, pathological, diagnostic and treatment can be reduced to Yin Yang theory.  

• Tonify Yang
• Tonify Yin
• Eliminate Excess Yang
• Eliminate Excess Yin 

 

Building a Better Microbiome

 The human microbiome (MB) is simply fantastic! It is made up from a combination of micro-organisms including, bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoa etc that exist in and on the surfaces of your body. The majority of these organisms reside within your gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and weigh up to 2 kg.  Building a better microbiome will have a lasting and positive effect on your whole health.   Let me share with you some tips on why this is important and how you can achieve excellent results.

The Microbiome population in the adult gut weighs 2kg!

 Imagine your microbiome as a complex eco-system, like a beautiful rainforest, made up thousands of different species, both symbiotic and pathogenic.  It is a dynamic environment, constantly influx, and involved in a complex array of biological functions.  These microbes occupy many locations on and in your body and many of the subgroups of microbes are unique to you and your social group.  Importantly, these populations can be greatly influenced by environmental factors like diet and lifestyle. 

Around 98% of the genes in your body belong to non-human microbes

You are literally a walking ecosystem!!

Why all the fuss?

 Your MB is intimately linked to your brain function, immune system, gut function, involved in nutrient absorption and nutrient production such as vitamins, hormones, neurotransmitters, probiotics and contingent nutrients like butyrate.   Our microbial diversity is what makes us unique and allows our bodies to flourish, grow, repair and combat illness.  A well balanced plant-rich whole food diet will keep your microbes happy and when your microbes are happy it usually follows suit that you are too.  

At Eluvi Natural Medicine we  are focused on helping people repair damage that has been hindering their health

 There is significant evidence to suggest that our microbes influence emotional responses such as Anxiety, Depression and Stress Response.  Our MB affects neurotransmitter production of Dopamine, Serotonin, Adrenalin, Nor-Adrenalin, and GABA.  There is evidence to suggest that microbes can affect the important tight junctions in our Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) which protect our brain from unwanted infection.   

 Sadly though, our MB cops a significant amount of damage and stress from preventable and reversible factors.  A poor diet with lazy choices can adversely affect your good bugs.   For example, a low fibre diet will result in less food for the microbes that live in your large bowel and when they starve they are unable to produce an important contingent nutrient called Butyrate which plays a significant role in immune and inflammation regulation.   Many chronic illnesses can be improved by increasing Butyrate production which is facilitated partly by the microbes that inhabit your large bowel.

We have helped hundreds of people repair their microbiome and restore their health and vitality using a systematic and evidence-based system of traditional, holistic natural medicine. eluvi.com.au

 Other lifestyle factors that affect your MB include sedentary behaviour and unnecessary medication, both natural and pharmaceutical.  This can result in your digestion becoming sluggish leading to over-fermentation and putrefaction ultimately giving rise to a state of Dysbiosis or germ overgrowth.  This type of functional damage will result in an internal shift in your biology that has the propensity to sustain biological and physiological functions that are not compatible with health.  There is evidence to suggest that this type of imbalance gives rise to opportunistic microbe populations, the ones we don't want to get out of hand to proliferate and dominate the internal landscape, shaping and influencing key system functions for the worse. 

Alterations in beneficial microbe populations have been linked to Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Allergic diseases and reduced Immunotolerance 

 Alterations in your MB may be contributing to a multitude of neurological and mood altering conditions, psychiatric symptoms, obesity, diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, allergy and food sensitivity as well as impaired immune function.  Looking after and building a better microbiome is highly beneficial for overall health.  Hippocrates was correct when he stated more than 2500 years ago  All Dis-ease Begins in the Gut!

 

Patients love knowing that we are available for consultation and support when they undergo a microbiome restoration.  

We can show you how to build a better microbiome and tailor an individual diet to support your boy's needs.  Maybe you've made changes in the past to your diet or lifestyle that resulted in a positive effect. A month without the booze, quitting sugar, or increased your exercise.  How did you feel when you committed to changes that enhanced your wellbeing?  

You might be surprised to know that a few simple dietary changes is all it takes to make your microbes feel as if all their Christmases have come at once

Repair work is part of the key
when you work with a suitably qualified practitioner you can find your path back to wellness.  For example, when we undertake a microbiome restoration in our clinics we embark on a comprehensive fact finding mission to understand what external and internal influences are disrupting the balance of the individual.
 We assess for underlying inflammation, parasitic infestation, hormone imbalance, geopathic stress, immune dysregulation, and which organ systems are most imbalanced.  We need to determine to what extent nutrient deficiencies play a part.  There are complicated biochemical pathways to consider including cellular, hormonal, electrical and biochemical signalling.  Once this is determined we can then target the area that needs most work and focus on repairing damage to your microbiome.  Trust me, you can't google this. You simply need to consult someone who knows what they are doing.

Hoping your ailments will resolve by taking a probiotic without addressing the underlying cause/s is like tipping water into a bucket with holes and expecting the water not to run out!

Probiotics are the last thing you need!

 Your attention should be directed to move beyond simply re-inoculating the gut with probiotics.  This is an overly simplistic approach that often leaves people with very little to show by way of therapeutic effect.  Don't get me wrong, probiotics can be beneficial, we use them everyday in our clinical practice but it's vital that the correct strains are used, at a therapeutic dose to match individual needs and...at the right time in the course of treatment.   Simply buying a probiotic and presuming your health complaints will all dissolve into the ether is simply naive.

We have helped thousands of patients resolve their health concern with our expert knowledge and experience in human health, wellness and nutrition

Our clinic offers individualised and highly successful microbiome restoration programmes

that will help your body re-establish its natural state of balance.

If you’re suffering physical, mental / emotional, immunological or metabolic health concerns  taking 

an individual approach to repairing and rebalancing your microbiome will yield great rewards. We look forward to working with you.  

Reference material and relevant links

Genome Medicine and your Microbiome

Control of Brain Development, Function, and Behavior by the Microbiome

Fungal Microbiota Dysbiosis in IBD

Reduced Immunotolerance and the Role of the Microbiome

Hydration is key to resolving eczema

Could Dehydration Be Affecting Your Health?
A typical adult will have about 45 Litres of water in their body distributed in muscle, fat tissue, bones and teeth. Water has multiple functions in the body and is vital in key metabolic functions. Commonly though, many people may be poorly hydrated which can affect their health and wellbeing. Many health complaints will be stubborn to improve if hydration is low and critical functions such as wound healing and immunity may be compromised.


Being well hydrated will benefit your digestion, allow your brain to think faster and help your skin glow like you’re on the cover of glossy magazine. Water helps your body perform thousands of metabolic processes every hour, orchestrating a fascinating and complex array of chemical, hormonal and neurological messages, all silent and truly magical. Cells that are well hydrated communicate clearly and quickly with each other, activate enzyme pathways, uptake nutrients and remove wastes effectively.

In short, your entire body loves being bathed in nutrient-rich fluid. Sluggish bowel problems, skin conditions andevenfatiguecanbegreatlyimprovedbyensuringhydrationisoptimal. Recently a gentleman consulting me for nutritional help suffering hypertension saw a noticeable drop in his blood pressure after we diagnosed and treated his dehydration.
Despite this,poor hydration is often missed in many health assessments. So how do youk now if you are poorly hydrated? 

To check your hydration pinch the skin on your sternum and then let it go. The more slowly it springs back into place the lower your hydration. Regular sweating will reduce total body stores of water and every cup of coffee takes two cups of water out of your body. Diets high in alcoho land salt will also be prone to poor hydration. In some people the urge for constant snacking is a misdirected cue that your body needs more water. It’s important to be aware of these factors.
So, how much should you be drinking?

 In warm months and for adults who do moderate exercise then between 2.0lt and 3lt per day may be needed. Inthecoolermonthswhensoupsandstewsareonthemenu anywhere between 1.5lt - 2lts per day may suffice. Children, depending on age and activity levels need between 1⁄4 and 3⁄4 of adult portions. It is also worth considering that excess hydration can occur and lead to depletion of minerals in the body. If you have been suffering poor hydration then it may benefit asking your health provider about mineral repletion which can help you rehydrate your body quickly.

By Tim Howden
Paediatric & Family Naturopath 

Why Digestion is Vital for Your Child to be Healthy

Why digestion is Vital for your child to be healthy.

The digestive system is perhaps the most important organ system of the body.  I would like to share with you why this system is so important and what you can do to ensure your children have a strong and robust digestive system.  A healthy functioning gut is vital to your children growing healthy and remaining healthy throughout their whole lives.  

Lets face it, being a modern day parent can be pretty tough at times especially if our children don’t seem to be thriving as they should.  A healthy child will make your job as a parent that much easier, especially if you can see how they are thriving.  Let me share with you why your child's digestive system is so important.

Key facts about your child’s digestive system

• It contains more than 500 million nerve cells and more brain cells than the brain itself!
• Helps regulate nervous system function and equilibrium.
• Contains over 85% of the body’s immune cells.
• Has the highest cellular turnover rate in the body - which means it is highly influenced.
• Manufactures key vitamins and nutrients for the body to use

The digestive system is the central hub to the way your child's brain functions, how their immune system manages threats and their overall nutritional status.

“All Disease begins in the Gut”        -     Hippocrates (2500 years ago)

Here are a few tips that can you use to ensure this system is healthy in your child.

1. Ensure their diet is free from synthetic, highly refined pseudo-foods.  If your grandmother wouldn’t recognise it as food then don’t feed it to your kids.
2. Ensure there is natural diversity within the diet.  I tell children in my consulting room that they’re body needs to eat a minimum of 15 different types of food each day.  These must be all colours of the rainbow.
3. Give your child a minimum of 3 serves of protein per day.  Use varied types including, lean meats, fish, nuts, eggs, legumes, beans & tofu.  Protein will support a robust appetite and ensure lean muscle development.
4. Use fermented foods in the family diet. These act as pre-biotics which are fuel for your body own flora.  Examples include, Whole Yoghurt, Sauerkraut, Kim Chi, Kafir and Tempeh.
5. Consult a qualified naturopath to help resolve any ongoing digestive complaints or concerns that may be related to the function of this system.  Naturopathic medicine has excellent tools to support optimal function of the digestive system.

So there you have it a brief outline on why your child’s digestive system is vital to your child's whole health.  Have questions? Then why not gives us a call so we can help.

Tim Howden ND BHSc MNHAA

Paediatric Naturopath

Food as Medicine

Navigating your way through the supermarket

As a parent I often feel overwhelmed in the supermarket.  It's a busy place that can be confusing, noisy and confronting.  Our choices are often influenced by clever marketing ploys that try to sell us products we may not need and with children this is amplified with them vying for lollies and other questionable items.  So what do we do and how can we arm ourselves with tools to make the supermarket trip as productive and trouble-free as possible?  Here are some tips to help you make healthy choices for your whole family.

Get focused  

Be clear on your objective.  If this is to buy healthy nutritious food then you need to know what to include and what to avoid.  Being clear on this will work in your favour and you'll feel great about providing good quality foods that contribute to good health.  

What Foods Does your Family Really Need?

A variety is the answer, real, living foods.  We can refer to these as "whole foods" which are foods that are as close to their natural state as possible with minimal processing.  But that doesn't quite fit the bill since many people don't know what oats or buckwheat look like.  So let's keep it simple.  If your grandmother wouldn't recognise it as food then don't buy and don't eat it.  I realize there are exceptions but for all intents and purposes I'd like to keep this article simple and straight forward. Especially if dad is doing the shopping, since he'll want to get in a out as quick as possible with maximum efficiency.  

Your family needs a wide range of healthy fats, complex carbohydrates (includes grains), protein, fermented foods and good quality water.  That's it...it's not rocket science.  Here is a little diagram to outline these groups along with a list of healthy options. 

Healthy Fats

Butter, Coconut oil, Olive oil, Flax seed oil, 

Avoid

Canola, Crisco, Vegetable oil, margarine, peanut oil and everything else that is not written above.

These oils to avoid form trans-isomers in the body which are pro-carcinogenic.  All cells in the body require a healthy fatty bi-layer to generate possitive messages in and out of the cells. Degenerative diseases and auto-immune conditions are partly a result of poor quality fats.  

Complex Carbohydrates

Fruits, vegetables, rice, oats, barley

Keep breads and pasta to a minimum.  1- 2 serves per week.  More than this can result in body acidosis and inflammation.  

Protein

Lean meats (Non-deli) Fish

Tofu, Tempeh, Lentils, Chickpeas

Beans (mung, butterbeans etc)

Nuts, Seeds, Yoghurt, Eggs, Quinoa

Avoid

Caged hens, all deli-meats which form carcinogens and are excessive in sodium and preservatives, large predatory fish (Shark, Flake, Marlin) as they have elevated levels of methyl mercury, 

Fermented Foods

Miso, Soy sauce (Organic please), Kim Chi, Sauerkraut, Apple cider vinegar, yoghurts (Plain full cream natural tub set).

Water

Spring water is ideal otherwise get yourself a quality water filter to remove unwanted heavy metals, flouride, pesticide residues and chlorine.  These things do not contribute to health.  In my practice I find that around 20% of my patients are poor absorbers of water.  For these people I suggest using herbal teas or adding a few drops of lemon juice (from a lemon) to the water.

Meal plan  

Its best not to arrive at the supermarket without knowing what you want.  And if you want your kids to eat more variey encourage them to prepare meals, get involved with cooking and express the types of things they's like to eat.  This way they feel in control, responsible and generally cool about eating. Meal planning also works well for professional parents who don't want to feed their family TV dinner.s  Pre-cooking, freezing, slow cooking and getting other family members involved can help make it easier to prepare healthy delicious meals. 

Make a list  

When you work from a list it does two things.  It saves you money because you are not buying items that you don't need and two it keeps you focused and not distracted by the advertising flashing and sounding itself around the super market.  You can stay in the zone and not be controlled by the advertising company's desire to sell you what you don't need. Simple, but effective. 

Use a chemical maze code breaker

This is one of the best apps you can use if you are a health conscious shopper.  It enables you to decipher the numbered codes on the ingredient pannels.  This is important since some number additive are safe for human health while others are linked to cancers, behavioural and neuro-developmental health concerns, allergic reactions and other serious health problems.  When you use this App you can make the decision on whether you are confortable letting your family consume certain additives.

Choose your shopping time wisely

Depending on where you live and your work schedule some times to shop may be more hectic than others.  If you can consider shopping after 8pm at night, it's quieter and more easy to get in and out, plus parking is usually better.  Alternately, early in the morning around 6:30am - 7am is similar.

Its best to avoid shopping around 5pm or when your or the kids are hungry.  This leads to tension, congestion in the shop and an increased tendency to buy poor quality snacks.

Finally

Enjoy seeing how healthy your selections are compared to other trolleys at the registers. Be discrete about this but be proud to know that 100% of everything in your trolley is healthy to eat.  Once you master the art of shopping this way it will become second nature and more importantly your are influencing your children by positive reinforcement.  

All the very best and happy eating.

Dr Tim

What to Do When your Children Don't Heal

Isn't it frustrating that no matter what you do your kids can't seem to shift that cold, sniffle or digestive complaint.  Do you get fed up with being told "they'll grow out of it" or, "now they're at daycare you have to expect them to get sick frequently".  It's hardly reassuring is it.

I'd like to challenge this notion and go against the grain for a minute.  I'd like to suggest that it doesn't have to be this way and that it is "un-natural" for your kids to pick up every little sniffle that's going around.  Now is a great time to take control of your child's health is now and I'd like to offer up some humble tips that can really help your family enjoy the well-spring of health and wellness.

Stop taking antibiotics and using paracetamol for every minor infection or rise in temperature!  I did say I was going against the grain but there is some merit in my suggestion.  The CDC in the USA have undergone a study that suggests that 30-50% of prescribed antibiotics are not indicated http://www.cdc.gov/getsmart/healthcare/  Certainly there is a time and place for judicious use of strong medication but this should be only used when it meets the correct criteria.  Make no mistake in antibiotic overuse which is been reported quite openly now contributes toward unwanted side effects that weakens your child's immune response.  These medications destroy beneficial gut flora, contribute to germ overgrowth in the small bowel and inhibit nutrient uptake from the diet.  They have been linked to developing chronic and systemic inflammatory diseases and in the case of tetracycline's have been discovered to increase the chances of developing Chrohn's disease in later life. This is serious stuff folks and if you want your kids to be healthy I strongly advice using other safer alternatives first and  medications judiciously with caution. 

Ask your doctor tough questions, after all, you are a paying customer and should get your monies worth.  Here are some examples.

1. Do we really need these medications? ie. antibiotics don't work for viral infections and the majority of ear infections in children are viral.
2. Is there an alternative we can use, is there something more natural or through the diet I can do to help my child become well?
3. Why isn't my child getting better?
4. What is likely to happen if I do nothing and let my child to rest?

I understand it can be fearful to break a well trodden path but I want to encourage you to take another perspective. After all the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different outcomes.  If what you're doing isn't allowing your children to thrive with vitality then its time to try something else.   

Use food as Medicine and let your medicine be your food.

We already know from my previous piece that the human microbiome (HMB) can change for the worse in as little as 24 hours after a diet that is laden with salt, sugar, refined carbs and god knows what other toxic additives.  

It can take up to 3 years for your child's digestive system to function like that of an adult.  Up until that time they are incredibly sensitive when it comes to food and it's interaction in the gut.  This is why it's vital to provide your child with a diet that is predominantly whole foods.  "Eat food, not too much, mostly plants" - Michael Pollan.  Remembering that up to 80% of immune function is related to gut function may also inspire you to choose foods instead of synthethics in the diet.  If your Grandmother wouldn't recognise it, don't eat it.

Your Child's ability to thrive and grow is directly related to their digestive system.  Their ability to fight infection, maintain ideal weight and run on a full tank of nutrients is directly related to how their body is able to digest food, extract nutrient and remove excess waste.  A good diet rich in seasonal fruits and vegetables, varied protein sources and quality oils and fats will give your child the best start.  Diet has the power to swich on or off genes that code for diseases like cancer.  A healthy wholefood diet helps regulate mood, improves concentration, contributes to good quality sleep and support a healthy immune system.  

Consider Alternative Medicines.  

Herbal medicine has been around for thousands of years and has a rich tradition of countering illness while supporting vitality at the same time.  When professionally prescribed and matched to meet the individuals needs, herbal formulas can help your child resolve an array of health complaints without compromising other facets of their health.  Good quality products are unadulterated and tested to ensure quality and purity as well as been prepared without toxic or questionable additives.  Now think about that notion for a second and ask yourself, how many pharmaceutical medications can say the same for?  

Check for nutrient deficiencies. 

Lastly and briefly I would like to point out that your bodies physiology is inherently dependant on nutrients to keep it working smoothly.  An illness that is slow to respond is almost always a sign of poor nutrient status which should be professionally assessed. A body with nutrient deficiencies cannot function optimally and will begin to show signs and symptoms of disease or illness.  For example, your body is unable to repair itself without enough zinc.  Without B12 you are like to develop a mental health condition that is that turns you into a psychotic nightmare and a deficiency of essential fatty acids will result in dry skin conditions.  Be picky with whom you choose to check your nutrient status.  You want them to understand the biochemistry of your body as well as the form and nutrient combinations that should be used to correct deficiencies.   The devil is in the detail and it's the detail that has the answers.

The Human Microbiome

The Human Microbiome (HMB) comprises all the microbes that live in and on our bodies.  A healthy microbiome will help your child resolve their eczema and contribute to overall health and wellbeing. The Microbiome comprises of Bacteria, Viruses, Funghi and Protozoa and outnumbers human cells 10:1 That makes us more microbe than human!

Some of you may find these facts a little uncomfortable knowing that we have trillions of microbes crawling in, out and all around us but in actual fact this microbe population is vital for human health and wellness.

Our vitality and wellness is intimately connected to a healthy functioning Microbiome

The Human Microbiome plays a vital role in your boby's ability to self regulate and stay healthy.  It's significance is so great that some researchers refer to as a new human organ.  Regardless of this the Microbiome is a truly impressive entity whose role in human health is only just beginning to be understood.

Endocrine signalling, nutrient production, detoxification, immune response and weight regulation are influenced by this wonderous ecosystem. For example, early studies sugges that the Microbiome associated with the gastrointestinal tract can determine whether we are lean or overweight.

Mouse studies have demonstrated that taking the gut flora from obese mice and placing it into sterile counterparts results in the newly transplanted mice becoming overweight.  And guess what happens when gut flora from lean mice is placed into sterile counterparts?  They develop leanness.  Bear in mind that both groups of mice are fed the same diets and yet the same studies show that obese rodents tend to extract more calories from their diet while the lean counterparts extract more nutrients.  This would suggest that it is the Microbiome that is responsible for either nutrient absorption or energy extraction. What we are seeing is that the lean mice get more bang for their buck without putting on additional weight.  The studies reveal that the change in Microflora iresults in either leanness or obesity.

All disease begins in the gut - Hippocrates

The HMB also appears to play a significant role in immune function and maturation. The body's immune function depends on healthy functioning metabolic and physiological pathways such as blood protein levels, T-Cell numbers and vitamin status.  But more than that the overall environment or body eco-system is fundamental in our ability to resolve infections and bounce back from illness. We have seen that antibiotic resistance is on the rise because of overuse which results in damage to the body's gut flora population which weakens gut-based immune function. Similarly obsessing about keeping ourselves and our home clean to the point of sterility reduces beneficial populations of microbiota living in, on and around us.  The rates of atopic illness is much less in populations who live around animals and livestock.  The take home message: we seem to develop more disease resistance with the more exposure to naturally occurring microbiota species.

The disease is nothing and the environment everything - Louis pasteur  

Encouraging a healthy microbiome will make you more resistance to illness and the prey of superbugs. It will also help you regulate your weight better and reduce inflammation.  Here are a five easy tips on how to promote a healthy microbiome.

5 easy tips to promote a healthy microbiome

1. Natural Birth
2. Eat Clean
3. Live Dirty
4. Use Medications Judiciously
5. Look after your Digestion

A Natural Birth is one of the most important events in a child's life.  Coming through the birth canal exposure the child to a plethora of beneficial microbiota which it swallows.  These beneficial bacterial, viruses, funghi and protozoa will initiate immune defences priming the baby against attack and promoting the colonisation of beneficial bacterial such as lactobacillus species.  Unfortunately up to 40% of some populations in the developed world are encouraged to elect or are prematurely given a c-section birth.  This bypasses the all important vaginal canal which is not ideal and these babies develop not surprisingly high numbers of hospital bugs such as strep and staph. 

Eating clean with a diet of organic foods is essential for being healthy.  The modern western diet is energy rich and high in calories and refined carbohydrates.  These contribute to an acid-rich body prone to pain, inflammation and imbalance of the HMB.  Many foods are highly processed with a range of questionable additives some of which are known carcinogens. Much of the food in the west is then packed in plastics that are high in endocrine disrupting chemicals.  I like what Michael Pollan has to say, "Eat food. Not too much.  Mostly plants."  Choosing whole foods that are seasonal and fresh is equally important and avoiding foods that act as posions in the body is also ideal.  A whole food is one that has minimal processing and resembles its natural form. So, potato crisps, confectionary packaged breads and cakes, margarines and soft drinks are not whole foods.  Stick with foods that your great grandmother would recognise and you can't go too wrong.  You'll also find that eating wholefoods is cheaper that buy processed counterparts.  Oh and if buying 100% organic stretches the budget choose conventional foods from the"Clean 15 list" and avoid or buy organic foods from the"Dirty Dozen". 

Live dirty Our daily habits see us spending more time indoors performing activities that render us inactive which leads to blood stagnation, poor circulation low Vitamin D status and poor eyesight.  Our circadian rhythms (24 hour organ body clock) are disturbed by the constancy of 24hr life, hi impact electro-magnetic fields and social media dependancy. These habits leads to fatigue and mood altering conditions such as depression and anxiety.  We are also less exposed to being in contact with nature and therefore have literally become out of touch.  A healthy Micro biome thrives on contact with dirt, soil, fresh air and clean water.  So get out side, feel the sun on your skin, swim in a lake, make that veggie garden and buy the dog you've always wanted.  These things feel good to do because they are good to do and they contribute to a health microbiome.  

Stop unnecessary medications.  Studies are now showing that up to 50% of prescribed medications do not meet the indicated criteria.  Most ear infections in children are viral and yet physicians still administer antibiotics that will be ineffective.  NSAID's are being sold to parents at alarming rates and are given to children who cannot sleep or have a tiny shift in their body temperature.  And proton pump inhibitors like nexium are being given unnecessarily to babies with minor reflux.  This is troubling news for parents who wonder why their kids seem to get sick all the time, have chronic cough, rash and develop sensitivities to otherwise natural foods.  Not only do these medications alter the microbiome for the worse they are implicated in the development of auto-immune conditions, leaky gut syndrome and can predispose to Inflammatory Bowel disease later in life.  Become the parent who asks the doctor, "is this really necessary", "can I wait", "How about resting", "what alternatives can you suggest".  If you fail to get an engaging answer then find yourself another health provider, because if your family physician truly has your best interest at heart then then will happily engage in such a conversation.  

Relaxation allows the body to change the tone of the autonomic nervous system. It will switch your physiology into Parasympathetic Mode which allows your blood to flow more freely improving circulation, nutrient delivery and waste removal.  Relaxing will improve your digestion and allow you to absorb more nutrients from the food you eat.  It slows down heart rate and reduces build up of unhealthy plaque on your artery walls and will make your eyes sparkly.  You will think more clearly and sleep much better making your immune system more vigilant at removing foreign invaders.  Deep relaxation also gives you insight into yourself at a deeper level.  Taking the time to learn and cultivate practices like Yoga, Tai Chi and Qi Gong will allow you to become more aware of your inter-connectedness to everything around you.  Practice long enough and you can develop self-mastery.  In addition it will make you more attractive not only to others but also in the eyes of yourself which means your glass will be half full not half empty.  In the words of John Lennon - Love is all you need".

In my clinic I have noticed that the patients who recover the fastest and with the best long-term results have a health microbiome.  They recognise the importance of treating their whole body with care and respect and can appreciate the sacred balanced of internal and external health.  They embody the 5 principals above and take responsibility for their own health recognising a connection between themselves and the outside world.  These are the patients that get to the maintenance phase the fastest. And the one's that want a magic pill struggle to regain their health, require ongoing supplements and medication with varying degrees of success.    

                                                          

FAQs for Baby Eczema

What can I expect from a consultation?

Our consultation process considers your child's "Whole Health". We take a detailed history to establish what is the cause of your child's condition. Physical, Psychological, Emotional, Historical. We will consider the role of Epigenetics, Family history, Birth story, Baby and childhood milestones, other illnesses, diet and lifestyle as well as comprehensive body system review.  We want to understand the progression of your child's condition and whether there are other health concerns that run concomitant.  We will review blood work done by your GP and may order other functional testing to be performed.  We will explore the role of environment and look to find links between where your child spends time and how this may affect their health. The process is thorough and comprehensive but will produce effective results.

What to expect by way of medicines

• We do not prescribe cortisone but rather, effective alternatives that will not harm your baby.
• We herbal and nutritional medicines to help improve symptoms while also addressing the causes.
• We help you make dietary and lifestyle changes that will support your child's condition to improve. 
• The aim is to re-establish or encourage a state of homeostasis (physiological balance)

What is Eczema?
Eczema is an inflammatory condition that affects the skin and can be red, itchy and either dry or wet in nature.  It can be quite uncomfortable and stems from multiple causes which must be assessed thoroughly. Eczema has an association with asthma and allergy and if poorly managed can result in a trio of the three, known as the Atopic march.

How is a Holistic approach different from Conventional medicine?

We take time..................to consider..............and listen..............to your story. There are many aspects of being healthy, getting well and achieving lasting good health. Holistic natural medicine is not a prescription pad practice. It considers how diet and lifestyle as well as attitude play a role in a healthy body and mind.  We consider the role that family and home environments play as well as other important environments such as school and daycare settings. Our medicines are nature derived and many have been tested in clinical trials to be effective.  All are safe to use and will support your child to thrive and be well.  Most importantly, our approach considers your child specific physiological tendencies, we make these appraisals during consultation via examination but also using functional pathology testing if necessary.

What if my children don't like the herbal or other natural medicine?

In our practice in Melbourne and Healesville http://www.eluvi.com.au/ we use an array of herbs, supplements and homoeopathics to help babies and young children.  Very rarely do we experience children that cannot take the remedies. We have many tricks up our sleeve to help with this so that results come fast. This help parents feel confident and relaxed which in itself improves compliance.

How long will it take to achieve results?

Results can be difficult to determine but we do our best to give parents a clear prognosis.  When parents are committed to an integrated holistic approach improvement comes quickly.   For example we have had babies covered head to toe in eczema who have experienced 80% improvement in several weeks, without cortisone! When parents take on board the recommendations and make the necessary changes to diet and lifestyle factors and take all the prescribed medicines success is imminent.

By Tim Howden ND BHSc MNHAA
Current research indicates that babies exposed to significant inter-utero stress are likely to have a lowered ability to cope with stress as well as a higher chance of inflammatory diseases later in life.  Many situations can lead to an increase in pre-natal stress hormones in the mother.  For example, a partner being made redundant, moving house, going through a break-up, the death of a loved, fleeing a war torn country as a refugee.  The list can be endless but what is important, is that if the mother experiences significant stress during her pregnancy this is passed onto her baby.



We know that prolonged stress alters Gut function and compromises immunity as well as mental emotional wellbeing.  This is known as the Gut-Brain Axis.

In real terms this may explain the tremendous rise in Depression, Anxiety, Diabetes and Neuro-Immunological conditions like ADD/ADHD and Autistic Spectrum Disorders.