Living With Nature’s Rhythms...one season at a time.
It’s really important to drink lots of water whilst your cleansing, as this is another way to help flush the toxins – that are on the move – out. Aim for 1 litre per 22kg of your body weight.
Avoid tap water, and also non filtered tank water. I use an alkaline filter at home and in my clinics.
Look for an filter than removes Heavy Metals, Toxins, Bacteria, Chlorine, Chloramnines and Fluoride (tested for the life of the filter), with essential calcium, magnesium, and trace minerals for perfect pH balance.
It’s a great habit to get into first thing in the morning before you do anything else. It feels a bit weird at first but you’ll quickly get used to it, plus once you see and feel the results – you’ll be a convert.
What: An ancient Ayurvedic natural remedy for improving health. It involves the use of pure oils to pull out toxins first thing in the morning.
Why: Detoxifies, whitens teeth, makes for clearer skin, improved energy. It helps to pull out damaging bacteria, fungus and other harmful organisms from your mouth, teeth, gums and throat that have accumulated overnight. If you eat or drink before oil pulling or brushing your teeth, you’re just going to swallow them down.
How: Use about 1tbsp coconut, sesame, olive, hemp, pumpkin seed or macadamia oil – some people like to use ghee but I’d rather not use animal products. Swish for at least 5 minutes (up to 20mins if you can manage that) then spit out into a paper bag, or in the garden.
For a more intense detox, add a drop of an essential oil like tea tree, peppermint, neem, clove, lemon or eucalyptus.
I usually make up a 100ml bottle of coconut, pumpkin seed and hemp oils then add a 2 drops each of one or all of the above oils. 5 drops in total. (If using coconut oil, put it in a wide mouth jar in the cooler months and use a spoon to get it out, as the coconut will solidify.)
The vinegar must be raw, non-pasteurized, apple cider vinegar. All other vinegars are acid forming.
Make a simple mixture of vinegar & (optional) raw honey. You can add some clean water if you like. Some people like to mix them together in the morning and drink it like this – a straight shot of vinegar and a shot of honey.
Or try this ancient formula – Mix 1 cup of the apple cider vinegar with ½ cup of honey (can use less or more honey, depending on your taste) and have 3 tablespoons spread out throughout the day. Or dilute it in more water or in tea – it won’t weaken its potency – and drink it all in one day.
This Elixir helps to oxygenate the cells, improve circulation, balance your pH, normalize thyroid function and metabolism, rid the body of lactic acid and calcium deposits, increase circulation, absorption, and assimilation of vitamins and minerals.
More on its virtues here, and a recipe to DIY at home – http://janellapurcell.com/how-to-make-apple-cider-vinegar/
Daikon contains the digestive enzymes amylase, diastase, and esterase, which can facilitate better digestion of complex carbohydrates, proteins and fats making them easier to absorb by increasing nutrient uptake in the gut. (This has the side effect of weight loss.) Consuming daikon also helps to prevent constipation.
It also helps to detoxify the kidneys by increasing urine production, helping to remove waste, water and toxins. It’ll aid the liver, lymphatic system and sweat glands also by filtering out toxins.
Like other members of the cruciferous family of veggies, daikon is a rich source of calcium, which is essential for bone and teeth health.
Toss it in your soups (it loves miso soup), pickle it, stir fry it or grate it and add to your summer salads.
You’ll find it in your supermarket these days, and also likely your local green grocer.
Are white rice and potatoes back on the menu? Your colon (large intestine) is one good way to eliminate toxins from your body. So you want to keep it healthy.
Butyrate is a short chain fatty acid (SCFA) that’s important for protecting the gut from inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
A healthy micro biome is critical to healthy levels of butyrate, as gut bugs make butyrate by fermenting certain types of fibre.
Particularly powerful is ‘resistant’ starch, (RS) found in seeds, legumes, whole grains, cold potatoes and cold white rice, unripe bananas, asparagus, globe artichokes and just about any vegetable.
(Of course the diet needs to be customized to the person, and not all forms of resistant starch will be indicated based on other factors such as glycemic index, the presence of bacteria in the small intestine (SIBO), and food sensitivities. #Buyrate
Veggie soup for 3 days, or one day a week ongoing. I start with veggie stock and add my #turmericpaste which contains turmeric, garlic, ginger, black pepper and coconut oil.
I then add coriander stems and leaves, #dulseflakes, and loads of veggies like kale, carrots, zucchini, celery, pumpkin. I sometimes add some #yeastflakes or Lifestreams ‘naturalBcomplex’ for a hit of vitamin B, then season with unrefined salt and cracked pepper.
I serve it with Made In Hemp seeds for protein, more fibre and #omega3and #applecidervinegar. You’ll love this soup and especially love how you’ll feel during and after your 1-3day cleanse.
Instead of skipping breakfast – especially if you’re wanting to lose a few kilos and boost your energy levels – a green smoothie with psyllium is ideal as you can get all your nutritional needs in one glass. And some…
Add psyllium husks to keep you feeling full for longer and to help remove toxins from your body via your bowel. And #spirulina, #wheatgrass and/or #chlorella – for their ability to detox and cleanse via your liver.
I use Lifestream‘s ‘Essential Greens+’, and ‘Bowel Biotics Fibre’ that includes psyllium husks and loads of pre and pro-biotics for great gut health.
Top with 1.5 cups of coconut water, and pineapple or paw paw for their ability to stimulate digestive enzymes and blend. You’re on your way to achieving great health from the inside out.
Besides increasing the release of toxins via the skin (our largest organ), there are so many other reasons why it’s a good idea to skin brush. Check out my link to learn more including how and when.
– Stimulates lymph glands (an elimination channel) allowing better drainage
– Exfoliates – thereby removing old dead skin cells
– Boosts circulation
– Assists the eliminative capacity of your body’s organs
– Rejuvenates your cells
– Strengthens your immune system
The ancient Greeks used it to cure everything from insomnia to gut problems. Native Americans called Aloe Vera the “Wand of the Heaven” due it many healing properties.
Aloe vera produces at least six natural antiseptics, which are able to kill mould, bacteria, funguses, and viruses. so it’s any wonder Aloe Vera is one of nature’s most gentle, yet potent, digestive healers.
If you’re suffering with digestive issues, including leaky gut, constipation or fructose malabsorption, add aloe to your diet. While it has multiple topical uses as well, I’m a huge fan of its ability to soothe and heal the gut lining, which has a big affect on our skin and overall health.
Check out more of its many medicinal uses here –http://janellapurcell.com/fm-digestion-try-an-aloe-smoothie/
You’ll find the best quality #aloevera by Lifestream, available from health food shops and pharmacies across NZ and OZ.
The incredible cleansing and detoxification capability of Chlorella is due to its especially high content of chlorophyll and its ‘cracked’ cell walls.
They have the uncanny ability to ‘grab onto’ an pull out unwanted materials and pollutants.
Chlorella is nature’s cleanser, detoxifier and deodoriser. It helps to cleanse and flush out stored waste and pollutants from the body.
I use Lifestream Chlorella – it’s is grown outdoors in world-renowned pristine sub-tropical coral reef islands with ads of sun.
Add 1 tsp to your chlorella powder to smoothie or a clean glass of water. Also available in capsules.
It’s that time of year when many of us are thinking maybe that week of Pina Colada’s and chips lounging around the pool may not have been the best idea. Guilt and fear have set in. But no need to panic, because there is a safe and easy way to get back to your pre-silly season weight and vitality, fast.
We’ve all heard about the importance of the liver’s role in detox, but what about the other 5 ways we can eliminate waste from our bodies? Yes the liver is our major organ of detox’ but if any of the other 5 channels are blocked or burdened then it will put extra stress on all of them. The weakest link in this case will cause problems for the other channels of elimination, making us feel like a wheelie bin after Xmas. We need to be constantly removing waste from our bodies via these 6 channels, so it’s important we keep them all functioning as efficiently as possible. And in fact it’s not that hard.
A lot more toxins are coming into our bodies and staying there these days. There’s an influx of them coming from medications including the Pill, painkillers and HRT, household cleaning products and cosmetics, also our food is pretty toxic unless it’s grown organically, and then there’s all the hidden toxins inside our homes in our mattress, couch, computers, carpets and kid’s toys’. This is causing a toxic overload in our bodies. By this I mean the amount of toxic chemicals we are exposed to, circulating in our bodies are outweighing the rate at which our 6 channels of elimination can remove/detox them. So, lets give them a hand.
Below are our 6 elimination channels, and some easy ways to help the exit of toxic build up from each channel. These toxic, free radicals contribute to oxidative stress that lead to a very unhappy body, and mind.
- Liver – Chlorella, spirulina, iron-rich foods, herbal medicine and tea including Dandelion Root, lemon water in the morning, Epsom salts, broccoli and green leafy veggies
- Skin – skin brushing, sweating, avoiding toxic body products
- Lungs – Deep breathing, exercise, hyperbaric oxygen chamber, time in nature, meditation herbal medicine and tea including ginger
- Bowel – Psyllium husks, digestive enzymes, fibre-rich foods, Aloe Vera herbal medicine like licorice and Chamomile, colonic irrigation, enemas, bentonite clay, Epsom salts
- Kidneys – A steady intake of clean water, herbal medicine and tea like celery, mediation
- Lymphatic system – Rebounding, exercise, skin brushing, massage, zen chi machine
I personally like starting my day with ritual, especially at this time of the year when we’re all trying to get back into some kind of routine, and lose those extra kilos that have found their way onto our bodies. A morning ritual sets me up for the day and helps me to remain mindful about my intentions for that day. If I rush out of the house in the morning then I’m a bit off all day, and so is my gut, and mood. Try to take a few minutes for yourself in the morning; it’s an investment in your future. It’ll be worth it.
- Oil Pulling – This will remove the toxins that have built up overnight, or at least brush your teeth before eating or drinking. You don’t want to wash those nasty bacteria down into your gut.
- Aloe Vera – Take 30 mgs on an empty tummy. Do this again before bed if you can. This is one of the best things you can do for gut issues. What Native Americans call the “Wand of the Heaven” is one of nature’s most gentle, yet potent, digestive healers. If you’re suffering from digestive disorders, including leaky gut or fructose malabsorption, add aloe to your diet.
- Lemon Water: Squeeze half a lemon in half a glass of warm water. This will help to alkaline your system. The lemon will give the liver a kick-start, and the warm water will stimulate digestion. You can also add some sliced or grated ginger or turmeric if you like. Or try adding Lifestream’s Honey + Ginger Syrup with manuka honey for extra health benefits.
- Breakfast: Instead of skipping breakfast altogether when you’re wanting to slim down and perk up a little, a smoothie is ideal as you can put all your nutritional needs in one glass. Include Lifestream’s Essential Greens+ (containing spirulina and chlorella) for it’s ability to detox and cleanse, its protein and iron levels and it’s good affect on the liver; and Lifestream’s Bowel Biotics Fibre that includes psyllium husks and loads of pre and pro-biotics for great gut health. Throw in some coconut water and pineapple for its ability to stimulate digestive enzymes, and you’re on your way to achieving great health from the inside out.
Janella Purcell 2016
I know most of us, after looking at our yellow urine, post taking a Vitamin B supplement – wonder if we’re absorbing any of it at all.
It’s a valid question.
Most supplements available in Australia today are made up of synthetic ingredients artificially created in a laboratory, and use only the isolated vitamin, and often in high doses. It looks good on the label but often our bodies can’t use these high doses so will often excrete them.
Vitamins are highly complex structures, not just an isolated ingredient. Nature has perfectly put together a complex structure of macro and micro-nutrients, co-factors and enzymes, coenzymes, antioxidants, trace elements, activators and many other as yet unknown or undiscovered factors – all working together beautifully to enable this vitamin to do its job in your body.
Nature has been perfecting itself for millions of years so why start messing with it now. Especially to go backwards and use synthetic ingredients, that we can’t use, and damage the earth.
By isolating one part of a vitamin, then synthesizing it into a supplement, is not going to do as much good as topping up your nutritional needs with a whole food supplements that our body recognizes and will use. Plus, you have the added bonus of adding it to our meals. (See my simple and yummy recipes on ways to do this.)
When you take a wholefood supplement you’re taking concentrated wholefoods. That’s it! No artificial colours, flavours, buffers, coatings, lactose, gluten and other nasty things. These are wholefoods that have been dehydrated and put in a bottle. (A BPA- free recyclable bottle that is.)
Lifestream’s Natural Vitamin B Complex is high quality, organic quinoa sprouts, and that’s it! Their Natural Vitamin C – acerola berries, that’s it. Spirulina is only spirulina, and Ultimate Veggies is veggies and herbs! And all very easy to absorb (bioavailable) – leaky gut or not.
Lifestream’s vegan, wholefood supplements are made of a combination of ethical, sustainable and natural elements that work together as opposed to one synthetic element operating in isolation. It just make sense to follow Mother Nature’s lead to eat food as close to the way is has been provided to us. So why not do the same with our supplements? I do, and so have many others over the past 30 years that Lifestream has made it possible for us to do so.
Janella Purcell
Over the past 60 years disruption to the gut’s microbiota has been linked to everything from gastrointestinal conditions such as IBS and obesity, allergies, immune deficiencies, fertility issues, allergies, auto- immune diseases and higher rates of autism, Multiple Schlerosis, and so much more. Something clearly has gone wrong, and it seems the wealthier of us are the most affected.
The parasites, bacteria and viruses that live in our guts (microbiome) need to be in balance; otherwise our health starts to suffer. And suffering it is. So what’s gone wrong?
95% of your SERATONIN – a happy hormone, is located in your gut. This is why we feel emotions in our guts as well as our brain. Now an even stronger reason for ‘Following Your Gut’.
So, by healing your gut you’ll be closer to healing your mind. Current research is suggesting that anxiety and depression are inflammatory conditions many times triggered or caused by poor gut health.
Sadly today’s farmed salmon is one of the most toxic foods in the world. The only safe salmon to eat is Wild Alaskan Salmon, as it’s not allowed to be farmed. Look for it in your heath food store, in a BPA-free tin or a glass jar. In Australia the only fresh salmon available to us is farmed, and definitely to be avoided! This is why –
– Farmed salmon is fed pellets made from ground fish and GMO soy, its flesh is naturally beige. So salmon farmers add dyes (the chemical used to colour the salmon is called astaxanthin) to their feed to change the fish’s colour from the inside.
– A number of dangerous pesticides are used in an effort to ward off disease-causing pests, one of which is known to have neurotoxic effects.
– Overall, farmed salmon is five times more toxic than any other food product tested. In animal feeding studies, mice fed farmed salmon grew obese, with thick layers of fat around their internal organs. They also developed diabetes.
– A theory gaining traction is that rising rates of obesity is related to the increasing number of toxins and pollutants we’re exposed to through our environment and food.
– The nutritional content is also wildly abnormal. Wild salmon contains about 5 to 7 percent fat, whereas the farmed variety can contain anywhere from 14.5 to 34 percent. Many toxins accumulate most readily in fat, which means even when raised in similarly contaminated conditions, farmed salmon will contain far more toxins than wild.
– Shockingly, research reveals that the most significant source of toxic exposure is not actually the pesticides or the antibiotics, but the dry pellet feed! Pollutants found in the fish feed include dioxins, PCBs, and a number of different drugs and chemicals.
Sourced from: Mercola.
‘Bowel Biotics Fibre’ is 100% natural, containing only fibre, prebiotics and probiotics. Lifestreams ‘BOWEL BIOTICS FIBRE’ IS THE MOST POPULAR NATURAL BOWEL FORMULA IN THE UK AND IS RECOMMENDED BY MANY GASTROENTEROLOGISTS, DOCTORS & NATURAL PRACTITIONERS IN THE UK.
1. Fibre (Psyllium husks)
Fibre is important in the diet to ensure that waste material is moved efficiently and regularly through the colon so that undigested matter is not left for long periods in the bowel.
2. Prebiotics (Inulin)
Substances that promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the colon are called prebiotics.
Inulins are naturally occurring oligosaccharides (several simple sugars linked together) that are resistant to digestion in the stomach and intestines but are metabolized in the colon by bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. Inulins are found in vegetables such as asparagus, leeks, onions, chicory roots and garlic. Inulins help to promote the growth and activity of beneficial bacteria while simultaneously helping to reduce the population of unfriendly bacteria in the colon.
The ability to digest inulin varies among the different types of microflora which may commonly inhabit the intestine. Several studies have shown how inulin added to a healthy balanced diet improves intestinal flora and enhances the Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria population. Other unfriendly species of bacteria including E. coli, Clostridia and Salmonella cannot utilize inulin.
3. Probiotics (Lactobacilli & Bifidobacteria)
Probiotics are live microbial organisms that populate the gut (such as Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria) and are beneficial to health.
‘Good’ and ‘Bad’ bacteria are continually competing with each other in the gut and it is now clearly recognised that long term bowel health and overall well-being can be supported by maintaining a favourable balance of friendly bacteria in the colon.
You’ll find Lifestream products at your health food store or pharmacy across Oz + NZ
JAMU is a Turmeric wonder drink from Indonesia. Your daily anti-inflammatory hit. 50-100ml/day. Here’s how you DIY at home. Check it out!
Also check out my Blog on Indonesian Herbal Medicine – http://janellapurcell.com/jamu-ancient-indonesian-art-herb…/
#Congee is a common breakfast dish in the East. There are many ways to eat congee, and just as many toppings to have with it. It is very soothing to the gut, so typically recommended when one is feeling run down, frail or depleted. You can use white rice (organic) if you like, and any organic stock.
Gomashio is a Japanese condiment made by grinding sesame seeds and sea salt together.
‘Congee With Shiitake and Gomashio’
Serves 2-4
Recipe from ‘Janella’s Wholefoods Kitchen’.
http://janellapurcell.com/recipe/congee-shiitake-gomashio-df-gf-v-vg/
Many people think that only women suffer from an iron deficiency, and usually only after menstruation, and that the only symptom of a deficiency is fatigue. It’s a big one but not the only one.
Iron is important for so many other reasons – liver detox, Oestrogen Dominance, proper digestion, immunity, growth and mental stability.
Iron is also important in transporting oxygen in the blood and in the muscles.
Here’s a pretty delicious way to get and keep healthy iron levels.
https://www.janellapurcell.com/cacao-week-healthy-nutella-raw-…/
Where to get you iron on a plant-based diet? Check out these levels below. It’s not about trying to get your daily intake of iron in one hit, from one meal. Just be mindful of eating these foods regularly, and keeping an eye on your levels to ensure your gut is absorbing enough. (I add powdered Dulse to almost everything I eat. You don’t notice it’s there.)
Leaky Gut (Intestinal Permeability) and other gut issues can interfere with iron absorption.
Food Per 100 g
Dulse, (sea vegetable) 50 mg
Spirulina 28.5mg
Clam, mussels, oysters 28mg
Liver 23mg
Dark Chocolate 17mg
Sesame seeds 14.6 mg
Amaranth 13 mg
Arame (Sea vegetable) 12 mg
Tahini 9 mg
Lima bean 7.8mg
Pistachios 7.3mg
Dried peaches 6.3mg
Chick peas 6.2 mg
Nuts 6.1mg
Lamb 6.0mg
Spinach and silver beet 3.6mg
Tofu 2.7mg
Beef 2–3 mg
Kale 1.5 mg
Pumpkin 0.8mg
Yummy, easy, iron- packed Janella-food below. https://www.janellapurcell.com/…/silver-beet-chickpeas-tahini-…/
(RDI) #SPIRULINA
Men 19 years+: 7 mg/day
Women 19-54 yo: 12–16 mg/day
Women 54 yo+: 5–7 mg/day
Pregnant: 22–36 mg/day
Children 1-11 yo: 6–8 mg/day
Children 12-18 yo: 10–13 mg/day
I use and recommend Lifestream spirulina as it has the highest amount of phycocyanin of any spirulina on the market, and by a long way. This means more iron available to you.
Ayurveda
The term Ayurveda – combining the Sanskrit words ayur (life) and veda (science or knowledge) is one of the oldest systems of medicine in the world. An holistic system of healing which evolved in India some 3000-5000 years ago, it is believed the medical knowledge was passed from the Gods to sages, and thence to human physicians.
Ayurvedic Medicine is based on the belief that health and wellness depend on a delicate balance between the mind, body, and spirit. The majority of India’s population uses Ayurvedic medicine exclusively or combined with conventional Western medicine.
According to Ayurveda Medicine, anything that affects your physical, spiritual, or emotional well-being can and will cause you to be out of balance with the universe. Examples of the type of things that can cause an imbalance are your genes, injuries, seasonal changes, food, age and emotions.
Key concepts of Ayurvedic medicine include universal interconnectedness among people, their health, and the universe, the body’s own individual constitution (prakriti), and life forces (dosha).
How your body works to keep you healthy and your unique physical and psychological characteristics combine to form your body’s constitution, or prakriti. Your prakriti is believed to stay the same for your entire life. However, how you digest food and eliminate waste can influence it.
Every person is made of a combination of five basic elements found in the universe – space, air, fire, water an earth. Using these concepts, Ayurvedic physicians prescribe personalized treatments, including compounds of herbs, and lifestyle recommendations such as dietary changes and the correct exercise for the patient.
Personalized treatments are recommended to –
- Restore balance
- Improve spiritual healing
- Boost your immunity
- Reduce symptoms
The treatments used to do this may include –
- Aromatherapy
- Breathing exercises
- Dietary changes
- Herbs, vitamins, minerals, and metals
- Plant-based oils and spices
- Lifestyle changes
- Meditation
The 3 Doshas
Different elements combine in the human body to form three life forces or energies, called Doshas. Ayurvedic medicine believes a balance of the doshas results in health, while an imbalance results in disease. They control how your body works, and each person should modulate their behavior or environment to increase or decrease the doshas and maintain their natural state.
Everyone inherits a unique mix of the three doshas, however one dosha is usually more dominant. Each Dosha controls a different bodily function and the balance of your doshas will determine your health. The 3 Doshas are called Vata, Pitta and Kapha.
Vata Dosha
Vata (space and air) types are said to be thin and bony with restless minds and thought to be the most powerful of all three doshas. They tend to have a light build, naturally creative, sensitive, preferring warm, humid climates and have dry skin.
-
- Vata controls very basic body functions, and also controls your mind, breathing, blood flow, heart function and the ability to get rid of body waste through the intestines.
- If Vata Dosha is your main life force, you are more likely to develop –
-
- – Anxiety
- – Asthma
- – Heart disease
- – Disorders of the nervous system
- – Rheumatoid arthritis
- – Skin problems
– Constipation
– Dehydration
– Anxiety
– Craving warmth
– Frequent viral infection
– Weight loss
– Disturbed sleep
What disrupts Vata –
- – Eating dried fruit
- – Eating too soon after a previous meal
- – Fear
- – Grief
– Staying up too late
What helps to balance Vata?
– Boiled or steamed starchy vegetables (moderate broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini and leafy vegetables)
– Ripe fruits
– Warm milk (moderate dairy)
– Soupy grains: rice, wheat
– Mild spices: cumin, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, fennel, coriander, salt, cloves, mustard, black pepper
– Tea: chamomile, fennel, ginger, licorice, lemon
– Nourishing soups, casseroles and dahls are great for balancing Vata, particular during winter.
Pitta Dosha
The pitta dosha (fire and water) types have a medium, muscular build with muscular limbs and an alert mind. They are productive, hard working and irritable. They prefer cold climates and tend to have fair skin. Pitta controls digestion, the ability to break down foods (metabolism), and certain hormones linked to appetite.
If Pitta Dosha is your main life force, you are more likely to develop –
- – Anger and negative emotions
- – Crohn’s disease
- – Heart disease
- – Heartburn a few hours after eating
- – High blood pressure
- – Infections
– Diarrhoea
– Over-heating, profuse sweating
– Colourful, violent dreams
– Excessive hunger
– Frequent bacterial infections
– Heartburn
What disrupts Pitta?
– Eating sour foods
-
- – Eating spicy foods
- – Fatigue
- – Spending too much time in the sun
- What helps to balance Pitta?
- – Boiled, steamed, raw vegetables
- – Sweet fruits
– Moderate amounts of dairy
– Soupy grains: rice, wheat, barley, oats
– Mild, cooling spices: coriander, cardamom, cloves, turmeric, cumin, curry leaves, mint
– Tea: fennel, chamomile, peppermint, spearmint, licoric, red clover
Kapha Dosha
The kapha dosha (water and earth). Kapha types have heavy, broad frames, are strong and stable with long limbs. They tend to be calm and patient, methodical, and easy-going, preferring warm, dry climates. Their skin tends to be oily. Kapha also controls muscle growth, weight, and immunity.
If Kapha Dosha is your main life force, you are more likely to develop –
– Asthma and other breathing disorders
- – Obesity
- – Sluggish bowels
- – Procrastination
- – Craving warmth, spicy foods
- – Frequent candida
- – Water retention
- – Weight gain
– Excessive sleep
What disrupts Kapha?
-
- – Daytime sleeping
- – Eating after your stomach is full
- – Eating or drinking items that have too much salt or water
- – Eating too many sweet foods
- – Greed
- What helps to balance Kapha?
– Boiled, steamed, raw vegetables
– Ripe fruits (except banana)
– Fat-free buttermilk (other dairy reduced)
– Grains: corn, millet, rye, oats, barley, wheatbran
– Strong spices: pepper, paprika, salt, garlic, basil, cloves, allspice, fennel, mustard, turmeric, cumin, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, coriander, black pepper
– Honey instead of sugar
– Tea: cinnamon, fenugreek, peppermint, raspberry
Winter = Vata/Kapha Time
Ayurveda divides the year not into seasons – spring, summer, fall, and winter, but according to the most prevalent Dosha during each period.
We have just gone through the Vata seasons of autumn and early winter, with Kapha making its presence known in the latter part of winter. Kapha season lasts from the second half of winter through until spring.
If you’re feeling sluggish, fatigued, and depressed, are gaining weight, suffering with allergic symptoms or water retention, these are signs that your Kapha dosha is out of whack and needs adjusting.
Things you can do to maintain a healthy balance in the cooler months, no matter what your Dosha.
- Eat on foods that are light, dry, and warm.
- Include 2 tbsp. of raw honey per day. Preferably from a local source.
- Sip warm liquids throughout the day. This keeps your core optimally functioning and aids in digestion.
- Drink 2-3 cups of hot ginger tea per day. It stimulates digestion.
- Eat your largest meal at lunchtime.
- Eat a small dinner portion and ideally let your body digest for 3 hours before bedtime.
Wetness and heaviness define the Kapha season, along with the cold in the earlier part of the season. You will be influenced by Kapha’s nature at this time of year no matter what your Dosha.
This winter try not to indulge in too much heavy, high carb’ foods. Be mindful of moving your body daily by doing something you like – be it dancing, walking, cycling, yoga, Qi Gong. Stay warm by rugging up (in natural fibres) and frequently sipping on warm herbal teas. Try and avoid cold, damp environments for any prolonged period of time, and remember that soon winter will pass and spring (Kapha) will be upon us once again, beginning yet another cycle of growth.
Janella Purcell 2016
Insulin is a hormone that controls how the food you eat is changed into energy, or stored as fat for later use.
Women with PCOS don’t respond normally to insulin. Resistance to insulin increases the body’s insulin levels which affects normal ovulation by preventing the body from ovulating or limiting the maturation process of the released egg.
As a result it is very difficult to manage a healthy weight and cravings are a big problem for those with #InsulinResistance and PCOS -around 10-20% of women of child bearing age.
Over time, insulin resistance can lead to type 2 diabetes, so insulin levels must be managed by managing stress, diet, exercise, herbal medicine and supplements.
- Magnolia – traditionally used for the treatment of anxiety and depression, however latest research, confirms it is also great for heart health, arthritis and promotes insulin sensitivity and is anti‑obesity.
- Licorice- It supports healthy insulin levels and liver health for hormonal balance support.
- Gymnema – This herb has a “sugar blocking” action on taste buds and the small intestine. It works by stimulating the regeneration of pancreatic cells that produce insulin, which aids in more insulin production.
CHASTE TREE (vitex agnus cactus) to balance you hormones and nourish your ovaries. Women with PCOS have more of the male hormone ‘androgen’ than estrogens. Estrogens are also called ‘female hormones’.
Higher than normal androgen levels in women can prevent the ovaries from releasing an egg (ovulation) during each menstrual cycle, and can cause extra hair growth and acne, two signs of PCOS.
You’ll find chaste tree in tabs or liquid herbal extract at your health food store.
As weight loss seems near impossible when you’re living with PCOS, CINNAMON could be of help. Over the last 10 years it has been used to aid women with insulin resistance associated with PCOS and those with type 2 diabetes.
One study suggests cinnamon may also reduce insulin resistance by slowing the movement of food from the stomach to the small intestine. This slows the breakdown of carbohydrates, which is important for people with diabetes and women with PCOS. This keeps us full longer.
Have 1 tsp organic cinnamon powder each day. Put it in your coffee, Bliss Balls, smoothie, desserts, chai – or you get the herbal extract or tablets for your naturopath of health food store.
Around 1 in 10 women of child bearing age suffer with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. That’s a lot right?
The symptoms are awful – irregular or absent periods, infertility, weight gain, insulin resistance, facial hair, baldness, acne, skin tags , dark skin around the creases of your neck, breast and groin, and mood issues like depression and anxiety.
It’s a distracting set of symptoms and ones you don’t need to suffer with.
Echinacea, Manuka, Cat’s Claw, Olive Leaf, Holy Basil, Reishi, Corydalis, Andrographis, Astragalus, Ginseng.
Look for a practitioner-only liquid, powder or tablet from your health food store, Naturopath or Herbalist. Or the dried herb to make teas from your health food or specialty tea store.
I use Optimal Rx Pty Ltd in my clinics.
Historically, people used cultured or fermented foods to support their intestinal and overall health, way before the invention of the probiotic supplement. Yoghurt, quark, sauerkraut, kim chi, kombucha and miso paste are good sources of natural, healthy bacteria.
Considering around 80% of our immune system is in our digestive tract, its pretty important we keep it heathy.
One of the best and least expensive ways to get healthy bacteria through your diet is to make your own kefir using raw cow’s or goat’s milk, or even coconut water.
Add some kefir granules – available from your health food store or on line – in some raw milk, which you leave at room temperature over night. This kefir will have loads more active bacteria than you can possibly purchase in any probiotics supplement.
Note* Avoid Fermented Foods if you have digestive trouble. Reduce the bad bacteria first through diet and supplements, then add in slowly. Possibly starting with a tsp of the liquid only, with meals.
GUBINGE is the Nyul Nyul language name for the Kimberley version of the Kakadu Plum. It is wild-harvested from the Dampier Peninsula just north of Broome and is the highest natural source of vitamin C on the planet. And less flight miles than superfoods from the Amazon is a definite bonus
Add it to your smoothies, yoghurt, chocolate, energy bars, Bliss Balls, ice cream. Look for #gubinge in your health food store.
REISHI MUSHROOMS. These incredible fungi have been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years. The most common uses are as an immune booster, anti-allergic, cancer, diabetes, fatigue, but so much more.
It’s also used for issues with the endocrine (hormonal) system, so it’s a pretty handy fungi to have on your side during this times of oestrogen dominance and low testosterone.
You’ll find the powder in your health food store, and the herbal tincture there too – and most likely lots of reishi supplements.
You’ll find the powder in your health food store, and the herbal tincture there too – and most likely lots of reishi supplements.
I use this powerful mushroom a lot in my clinic, with spectacular results. I’ll post again on it today. It’s something you”ll want to now about.
Try this immune boosting warm mylk that will also balance your blood, will help reduce anxiety and cramps, increase your energy, and balance your hormones.
I might just go and make myself a cup now.
1 cup Almond milk, (or your choice)
1 tsp Reishi powder
1/4 tsp Cinnamon
2 tsp Cacao powder
1 tsp Maca powder
1/2 tsp Vanilla essence or powder
1 tbsp Coconut oil
A pinch Clove, ground (optional)
1 tsp maple syrup
We are only 1 of 2 mammals that don’t make Vitamin C, so its essential we get enough from your food.
This is practically impossible when your stress hormones are going nuts 24/7! Vitamin C stays in your body only for about 2 hours so you need to take it 2-3 times a day for the best results.
I use Lifestream Natural Vitamin C powder.
Vitamin C is an important antioxidant. It is needed for a healthy immune function. It also keeps our skin skin supple and elastic thanks to its role in collagen production, and supporting wound healing and circulation.
Extra Vitamin C will be needed in times of stress, and in treating allergies like eczema, asthma, sinusitis, dermatitis and hives. RDI is 75mg per day.
Lifestreams‘Natural Vitamin C Powder’ from certified organic #acerola berry extract, is a food source of vitamin C and therefore contains the vitamin itself, as well as enzymes, coenzymes, antioxidants, trace mineral, activators, rutin, bioflavonoids, mineral co-factors and other components as it does in nature.
Per 100 grams –
Acerola Berries – 1,700mg (huge)
Raw green tomatoes – 23.4 milligrams
Orange tomatoes – 16 milligrams
Yellow tomatoes – 9 milligrams
Sun-dried tomatoes – 39.2 milligrams
Crushed, canned tomatoes – 9.2
Tomato juice – 18.3 milligrams
You’ll find Lifestream in your health food store and some good pharmacies.
Interested in finding out more about our food production? The Worm is Turning is a must see. (I own the DVD and have watched it a few times now.)
“We’re eating World War 2’s leftovers!” For the past 70 years chemical agriculture has been waging war on life.
This is the story of how corporate agribusiness is taking over the world’s food production revealed through historical archival footage, and shows how this system is destroying people’s health, economies and the ecology of the world.
Filmed on location in India, USA, Thailand, Indonesia and Australia The Worm is Turning shows through amazing examples of ecological farming that in fact small ecological farms are more productive, they can feed more people better, and at the same time restore the environment. e c o l o g i c a l f a r m i n g is THE REAL REVOLUTION.’
Check this film out. Afterwards you’ll want to be buying organic or at least spray free if you’re not already.
BPA is an industrial chemical that has been used to make certain plastics and resins since the 1960s.
This carcinogen is linked to infertility, developmental delays and diabetes. BPA is used in the lining of canned food and other food packaging like coffee tins and plastic containers.
You may not realise this but it’s also used in making cash register receipts. My Gawd!
Suggestion- Use BPA-free products. Manufacturers are creating more and more BPA-free products. Look for products labeled as BPA-free.
PHTHALATES are chemicals commonly added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability and longevity.
Phthalate chemicals appear in PVC plastic, toys, nail polish, plastic wrap and fake fragrances.
These chemicals are linked to early puberty in girls and other reproductive problems. Early puberty goes on to raise a women’s risk of breast cancer later on in life.
A 2003 study published in Environmental Health Perspectives suggests that environmental levels of phthalates are associated with altered DNA integrity in human sperm. This is among it’s many other detrimental health effects.
Phthalates are widely used in the manufacture of a wide range of cosmetics and packaged food. And guess where they end up – in us and the environment of course.
Foods like milk, butter and meats are commonly packaged or stored in plastics containing this dangerous toxin – so diet seems to be the place where we’re being the most exposed to this horrible toxin.
These toxins are airborne, which means we can absorbed them via the air, and our skin too – not just via our food. Yup. Bad! (Think your computer, cushions, and your couch – also nail polish, medication, plastic bottles… See below for a longer list)
‘Researchers agree that something had to be done about this dangerous chemical toxin. In 2010, the market was still dominated by high-phthalate plasticizers; however, due to current legal provisions and growing environmental awareness and perceptions, producers are increasingly forced to use non-phthalate plasticizers. It’s up to us, the consumers, to search out phthalate-free products and avoid using foods and goods that contain this serious toxin.’ Joseph Mercola.
Our indoor environment is usually more toxic than outdoors, and higher temperatures result in higher concentrations of phthalates in the air. (See my posts on indoor plants and air ionisers for way to clean up your home.)
Where Are Phthalates? (Where aren’t they, more to the point.)
– children’s toys, paint, printing inks and coatings, clay, pharmaceuticals, food products, and textiles.
– perfumes, eye shadow, moisturizer, deodorant, nail polish, liquid soap, shampoo, conditioner and hair spray.
– detergents, shower curtains, vinyl upholstery, carpeting, wire coatings, adhesives, floor tiles, food containers and wrappers.
– pharmaceutical pills and nutritional supplements; they’re also in gelling agents, film formers, stabilizers, dispersants, lubricants, binders, emulsifying agents and suspending agents. Adhesives and glues, agricultural adjuvants, building materials, personal-care products, modern electronics, and medical applications such as catheters and blood transfusion devices also contain phthalates. Even most sunscreen is toxic, containing phthalates and more.
CINNAMON. Try adding it to your morning coffee for prolonged energy. #Cinnamon helps to keep blood sugar levels stable, and in doing so will also help to stabilize your energy levels, preventing a sugar spike then crash into fatigue.
Coffee is working on your adrenal glands to give you more energy, and the cinnamon is helping you to use the food you eat as energy.
You could get really fancy and have a cinnamon mocha in the AM. Coffee, cacao, cinnamon. Now there’s an idea!
Boost Your Energy & Metabolism. These little seeds have even more benefit the we first thought.
Add them to your cakes, smoothies, desserts, muffins, use to replace an egg, or simply add to lots of water for better digestive and health health and so much more.
Herbal medicine Australia
Healing naturally. The power of herbal medicine and food as support.
In today’s busy and often over-medicated world, many Australians are going back to wellness basics. They are embracing herbal medicine, natural foods, and traditional healing practices to support their physical and emotional balance. This shift towards natural living is not just a trend. It is a choice to care for the body in a sustainable, empowering, and nourishing way.
What is Herbal Medicine?
This involves using plants and plant extracts to support health and treat illness. It is one of the oldest ways to heal. It has roots in many traditional systems. These include Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, as well as Indigenous Australian bush remedies. In recent years, in Australia, it has grown in popularity. This is due to its gentle and effective approach. It focuses on treating the whole person, not just the symptoms.
Herbs like ashwagandha, turmeric, sage, and chasteberry are often used for many health problems. They can help reduce stress, support hormone balance, and improve digestion and immunity. These natural remedies work well with the body. They have fewer side effects than synthetic options and support long-term health.
Food as Medicine
Alongside herbs, food plays a central role in natural healing. Using whole, organic, and seasonal ingredients helps lower the body’s toxic load. It also supports gut health and helps every system work well. Through natural cooking, we can fuel ourselves with life-giving nutrients that support energy, clarity, emotional stability, and physical resilience.
Author and naturopath Janella Purcell is a leading voice in this space. She provides recipes, advice, and tips on how food and herbs can help with many problems. These include everyday tiredness and more serious issues like hormonal imbalance and skin problems. Her philosophy is simple: eat real food, live consciously, and treat your body with kindness.
Janella’s approach combines Herbal medicine with naturopathy and wholefood nutrition, making it accessible and practical for everyday Australians. Her blog has educational posts about real-life issues. These include natural remedies for menopause, food intolerances, and emotional wellbeing. It offers a complete guide for living well.
Superfoods and Their Impact
Superfoods are nutrient-rich foods that offer exceptional health benefits. These include everyday favourites like blueberries, kale, chia seeds, turmeric, and spirulina. No food is a magic cure, but adding superfoods to your meals can have a strong positive effect.
They are known to reduce inflammation and improve gut health. They can help balance hormones and support clearer skin. This makes them a great option for those seeking natural and gentle acne solutions.
For people with sensitive skin or skin conditions like eczema, a clean, wholefood diet can help. This is where working with a naturopath eczema specialist, such as Janella, can be particularly beneficial. Using natural treatments, soothing herbs, and dietary changes, eczema sufferers often see dramatic improvements without relying on steroid creams or antibiotics.
Supporting Women Naturally
Hormonal health is another area where it shines—especially during menopause. Many women experience hot flashes, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and mood swings. Many women are now looking for natural remedies for menopause instead of hormone replacement therapy. Some of these remedies include herbs like black cohosh and red clover, as well as adaptogens like maca.
These herbs, along with healthy superfoods and calming practices like meditation and yoga, help women feel safe and supported. They can move through this stage of life with confidence and ease.
Janella writes about these changes in this Resources page. She shares tools and tips to help manage menopause naturally, without fear or confusion. Her advice combines evidence-based Herbal medicine with lifestyle guidance that reflects decades of clinical practice.
Emotional and Mental Wellbeing
It’s not just the body that benefits from natural foods and Herbal medicine—the mind does too. Chronic stress, anxiety, and burnout are at an all-time high. Eating poorly, skipping meals, or relying on processed foods can spike cortisol, affect sleep, and contribute to emotional instability.
Natural foods, superfoods, and Herbal medicine can help regulate stress hormones and nourish the nervous system. Herbs such as lemon balm, passionflower, and rhodiola are known to calm the mind. They are often suggested for people who want to boost their mood and mental clarity without using drugs.
This is part of the holistic approach Janella champions so well—caring for the whole person, body and soul.
The journey to wellness doesn’t have to be complex. By embracing Herbal medicine, natural cooking, and incorporating superfoods, we begin to shift from managing symptoms to truly healing. Whether you’re looking for natural remedies for menopause, gentle acne solutions natural, or support for chronic conditions like eczema, there’s power in returning to nature.
Through her compassionate voice and rich resource of information Janella offers Australians a path to vibrant, holistic health. It reminds us that we can find what we need to feel better in simple places. We can feel stronger, calmer, and clearer. Often, this can be found in our gardens, kitchens, and the wisdom of our ancestors.
Let food be your medicine, and let your healing begin naturally.