Living With Nature’s Rhythms...one season at a time.
ALOE VERA – the ancient Greeks used it to cure everything from baldness to insomnia, to the Native Americans who called Aloe Vera the “Wand of the Heaven.”
Aloe vera produces at least six natural antiseptics, which are able to kill mould, bacteria, funguses, and viruses. In fact, the plant is so powerful that researchers and scientists are looking into its potential as an AIDS and cancer-fighter.
If you decide to take a commercially prepared aloe vera orally, be sure to get certified organic juice like Lifestreams.
If using it fresh – split a leaf down the middle and scrape out the flesh, avoiding the yellow part closest to the leaf.
Drink about 30mls twice a day on an empty tummy. It has almost no taste so this cleansing agent is easy to take.
Add this to your smoothies or just 1 tsp in half a glass of clean water daily. ‘Lifestream Chlorella is nature’s cleanser, detoxifier and deodoriser. It helps to cleanse and flush out stored waste and pollutants from the body.
Lifestream Chlorella contains the richest natural source of chlorophyll available. As such, it has powerful cleansing and detoxifying properties that make it an excellent blood tonic.
Lifestream Chlorella is grown outdoors in world-renowned pristine sub-tropical coral reef islands with pioneering technology for over 35 years. This is a pure, unspoiled and clean environment with very high natural sun levels.
We still know very little about the human micro biome, but we do know these 3 foods seem to help by increasing the beneficial bacteria.
1. FIBRE. Eat a wide variety of high-fiber plant foods every single day, including vegetables, fruits, beans, lentils, whole grains, nuts, and seeds.
2. PREBIOTIC FOODS include onions, garlic, leeks, shallots, asparagus, beets, cabbage, beans, lentils, organic soybeans, whole wheat, oats, and bananas.
3. FERMENTED FOODS. Yogurt with live and active cultures, kefir (a fermented yogurt drink), kombucha tea, unpasteurized organic miso and tempeh (fermented soybean cake), and fermented vegetables with live cultures such as pickles, sauerkraut, and kimchi (look for these in the refrigerated section of your health food store) grocery store – shelf-stable jars don’t contain live bacteria.
WATER. 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 AlkaWay filter at home and in my clinic.
‘@Alkaway purifies, ionizes, alkalizes and hydrogen-enriches your tap water, transforming it into a scientifically proven ‘superwater’ that supports your health…
These filters remove 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.’
Avoid doing this if your are chronically constipated or have Leaky Gut or SIBO.
What: Colonic irrigation is a procedure that removes waste material including toxins gathered in the bowel over time/years. It is also known as ‘colonic hydrotherapy’ – a method of hydrating and toning the large intestine. Many since Hippocrates believe that disease begins in the colon so having a healthy colon is critical to good health and wellbeing.
Why: I tend to do this at the beginning of a detox/cleanse, so I know many toxins are being removed before I start. Colonics are known to improve your digestion – specifically by reducing nausea, IBS symptoms, bloating, bad breath, constipation and diarrhea; help to remove parasites, strengthen immunity, improve your skin, stimulate weight loss (don’t do it for this reason please), reduce allergic reactions, help reduce symptoms of chronic fatigue, prevent infection, increases nutrient absorption, and potentially improve sleep and decrease headaches.
How: It’s really important to seek out an experienced practitioner. Asking a friend for a referral is probably the best way, but if this isn’t possible, then when you call the potential clinic be sure to state it is your first colonic, so would like to know exactly what the procedure involves, and the cost. I wouldn’t recommend having anymore than 6 treatments over a month, and it’s not a good idea to have them often, so probably do a course like this once a year, then perhaps one or two at the beginning of each season. That’s how I tend to do it anyway. The first couple of treatments probably aren’t going to be fun at all, but after the water has softened the faecal matter then the ‘release’ flows easier
DAY 4 – Soup and Smoothie. Breakfast smoothie has in it – 1.5 cups coconut milk, 3 Brazil nuts, 1 tbsp Made In Hemp seeds, 2 tsp Lifestreams Essential Greens +, .5 tsp of Natural B Complex, Vitamin C and Magnesium powder, 1 tsp maca powder and 1 tsp raw cacao. And a banana from the garden. It’s very yummy.
Soup for lunch and dinner – lots of roasted veggies tossed in za’artar (oregano and sesame seeds), olive oil and Celtic salt, boiled beetroot and kohlrabi, raw parsley, baby kale, broccoli, garlic and ginger, organic smoked tofu, my #turmeric paste and #seaweed – blended. I garnished it with apple cider vinegar and cayenne pepper. Most ingredients from my generous garden.
Any wonder I feel like Tinkerbell?
If you can find one near you – it’s worth it. One of the best way of eliminating toxins and reducing fat is via sweat. And how nice to be horizontal whilst doing so.
What: Infrared saunas help your body release a number of toxins, including heavy metals like mercury and lead, and environmental chemicals.
Why:
Detoxing – Infrared waves matches the frequency of the water in our cells, causing toxins to be released into the blood stream and excreted through sweat.
Skin Purification – Infrared sauna technology can help purify your skin by eliminating toxins from your pores and increasing circulation, resulting in healthier skin.
Immune support – Increase in body temperature, which boosts the production of infection-fighting white blood cells.
Weight loss – Infrared therapy helps eliminate excess moisture, salt and subcutaneous fat from the body.
How: It uses up energy to burn fat because at 43oC fat becomes water soluble and can be dissolved and disposed of by sweating. Increased blood circulation caused by sweating stimulates the sweat glands, releasing built up toxins and waste. If you were new to infrared saunas, I would recommend starting out with 4-minute sessions at 70-80oC, and slowly working your way up to 15 to 30minute sessions.
CLEANSE YOUR BODY with 8 home made vitamin water recipes. For all the blends start with 10 cups of clean water and a jug. Mix in the fruit then leave in the fridge overnight before serving. Up to you if you want to strain them or not before drinking.
1. Lemon + Cucumber + Basil
1 cucumber and a lemon, thinly sliced + 1/3 cup each of finely sliced, fresh basil leaf + mint leaves.
2. Strawberry + Lime + Mint.
6 strawberries and 1 lime, thinly sliced + 12 fresh mint leaves, finely chopped.
3. Fennel + Orange
In a tea cup pour 1 cup boiling water onto 1/2 tsp dried and crushed fennel seeds. Let it steep for 5-10 minutes, then allow to cool then strain. Now put the juice from one lemon in your 10 cups of water with a small thinly sliced orange + 12 fresh mint leaves, chopped + the fennel seeds infusion.
4. Blackberry + Sage
1 cup of blackberries (or blueberries) that have been very slightly crushed + 3-4 sage leaves.
5. Watermelon + Rosemary
1 cup of watermelon cut into cubes + 2 rosemary stems.
6. Pineapple + Mint + Lemon
1 cup of pineapple cut into cubes + 12 fresh mint leaves finely chopped and the juice from one lemon.
7. Apple + Cinnamon
1 cup of apple cut into cubes + 2 cinnamon sticks + 2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon.
8. Ginger Tea
Make a tea by pouring 2 cups of boiling water onto 1 tsp freshly grated ginger. Allow it to cool slightly then mix it with the 10 cups of water + raw honey/rice syrup or maple syrup to taste.
Juice only today. Vegetable juice with beetroot, and its green tops and stalks, celery, ginger, carrot, lemon, kale and parsley is a bit of a winner when it comes to cleansing. I have a BioChef Atlas Slow Juicer that I kinda love. I juice about 2 litres and generally get though about 1 litre or so a day.
I do gentle exercise on the ‘juice only’ days, so it’s ‘restorative yoga’ for me tonight, as it was on Monday.
Tomorrow will be soup and smoothie again, and more intense exercise. That’ll be a brisk 30 minute walk. I live in the Byron Hinterland remember so my street is pretty steep.
Feeling gooooood.
Seaweeds are a excellent thing to add to your meals. Packed with omega 3, protein, calcium, magnesium and iodine – plus they have the ability to remove toxic heavy metals from ur body such as mercury, lead and cadmium.
Be sure to buy a brand that sources them from the clean waters in NZ or Alaska. You’ll find these types in health food stores.
I add them to almost everything and my thyroid thanks me. (Avoid eating seaweeds too often if u have an over active thyroid btw.)
An incredible anti inflammatory agent, liver tonic and estrogen balancer.
I dug up about 2 cups of turmeric root from the garden and gave it a good scrub before popping it in the blender with black peppercorns (to help the turmeric do its thing) and dulse flakes (seaweed) for an extra hit of goodness. Namely omega 3, iodine, calcium, and seaweeds loves to remove heavy metals from our bodies.
I covered the turmeric with Australian extra virgin olive oil and whizzzzzzed away until I had a paste.
This will last me around 6 months in the fridge. Add it to anything savoury – soups, stir fry, casseroles, lather it all over your protein before baking or pan frying, or add some to your hummus
Lunch is going to be this very delicious soup I made by blending together leftover baked veggies – pumpkin, carrots, mushrooms, zucchini, onion and garlic – with Made In Hemp seeds, coriander stems, organic firm tofu, turmeric paste with dulse flakes (see next post) and veggie stock. This doesn’t feel hard at all. Not when I’m eating such yummy food, packed to the brim with nutrient- dense flavourful food.
No doubt after a week of mushy food I’ll be craving some crunch though.
Breakfast today was this delicious smoothie made from coconut milk (anti fungal and weight loss), acai (Vit C), cinnamon (to balance blood sugar), mango (yum and Vit C), Made In Hemp seeds (omega 3 and protein), leafy greens from garden (calcium, magnesium and liver health) and Lifestream powders – ‘B complex’, magnesium, Essential Greens + including pea protein.
I’m still not hungry – 4 hrs later – even after a 90 minute yoga class.
Ideally do this daily for a few minutes, but it’s ok to do it 3-5 times a week. And sometimes I do it in the shower, especially if I’m short on time. You’ll find a brush with soft, natural bristles in your health food store and some pharmacies.
What: Using a soft bristle brush with natural fibres, brush dry skin for a few minutes before you get in the shower.
Why: it reduces cellulite, tighten skin, improves blood flow, stimulates lymph glands (an elimination channel) allowing better drainage, exfoliates – thereby removing old dead skin cells, boosts circulation, increases the release of toxins via the skin, promotes tighter and smoother skin and encourages new cell renewal. Helps release fatty deposits under your skin’s surface. Assists the eliminative capacity of your body’s organs. Rejuvenates your cells. Strengthens your immune system. Increases muscle tone. Improves skin texture. Helps prevent premature ageing.
How: Use a natural fibre brush on dry skin and use circular motions, always towards the heart. Start on the soles of your feet moving upwards. Don’t brush too hard, before showering. For cellulite, stay on the area for a few minutes.
Detox’ begins in the colon, then the liver, and then the other organs, then our blood and skin.
Everything that has been gathered up by the liver and by your cholesterol is dumped into the colon and most of it is expelled through your bowel movements (ideally). If it stays too long in the colon (more than 24 hrs after eating), it is then reabsorbed contributing to a toxic, acidic system.
A good cleansing program should always begin by removing the waste in your colon, the last portion of your food processing chain. If you attempt to clean your liver, blood, or lymph system without first addressing a waste- filled bowel, the toxins will only get recycled back into your body. BENTONITE CLAY are one way to clean the colon.
BENTONITE CLAY
What: This clay has been used for thousands of years around the world as an important healing and detoxification substance
Why: Contemporary science proves bentonite clay’s ability to gather and eliminate bacteria, fungus, mycotoxins, enterotoxins, pollutants/ contaminants and heavy metals. It works in air, water, soil and body environments to naturally cleanse. It’s used for both internal and external detoxification
How: A healing drink, foot soak, face mask, toothpaste or bath.
Clay Drink
Mix together 1 tbsp of liquid Bentonite Clay and 1 tbsp whole psyllium husks (not powdered), and then add a bit of pure water to make a paste. Fill the glass up with water and stir then drink quickly before it turns into glugg. Chase with another glass of water. Do this for a few days to 6 months before you start to cleanse. Drink on an empty stomach. Don’t eat for one hour before taking the drink and one hour after drinking it. This is very important! The bentonite clay needs to absorb toxins and the psyllium husks need to scrub out the corners of your intestines all by themselves. Food will interrupt their work. You must drink lots of clean warm water while doing this bowel cleanse – to ensure that you don’t get constipated. Remember that warm water stimulates peristalsis (the bowels) and cold water doesn’t. Drink at least 2 litres of clean, warm water a day.
Foot Soak
This simple DIY detoxifying foot soak combines the benefits of bentonite clay, epsom salt, apple cider vinegar and essential oils for a nice detox & stress relief. Fill a large bowl with warm water and add 1 cup epsom salt, 2 tbsp clay, 1 cup apple cider vinegar and a few drops of an essential oil like rosemary, lemon, or really any 100% pure oil you have. Soak your feet for 10-15 minutes, rinse and lightly scrub with a pumice stone or course washer, then rinse again. Say hello to soft, clean feet and goodbye a whole lot of toxins and rough, old skin. If you’ve got time, give yourself a pedicure after as your feet and nails will be nice and soft.
Face Mask
Mix together1 tbsp bentonite clay, 1 tbsp coconut oil and enough lemon juice to make a wet paste. Adding 1 tsp raw honey – as an anti-bacterial agent – is optional. After cleansing your face and neck apply the mask in a thin and even layer. I like to use a fan brush to help do this. Leave it on for bout 15 minutes until it dries. If you want to leave it on longer then pat your face with a damp washer to wet your mask. If it gets too hard and dry it can start to pull moisture out of your face. Wash off with warm water then tone and moisturize to finish.
Toothpaste
2 tbsp bentonite clay
2-4 tbsp clean (filtered or boiled water that has cooled)
4 drops tea tree oil
5 drops liquid stevia
10-15 drops peppermint essential oil
Small pinch of sea or Himalayan salt
Method –
Combine 2 tbsp of water with clay in a non-metal bowl and mix well using a wooden spoon. (The clay should never come in contact with any metals.) Add tea tree oil, stevia and 10 drops of peppermint essential oils. Mix well.
Add pinch of salt, mix well and taste. Add additional stevia, peppermint essential oils (one drop at a time), and water (2 tsp at a time) to taste and texture.
The flavors will meld together over time, so wait 48 hours before checking and adjusting the flavour.
Store toothpaste in a glass jar with a lid.
The toothpaste will dry out over time if left uncovered. To rehydrate, simply add a little water
Variation –
To make lemon toothpaste, reduce tea tree oil to 2 drops, and substitute lemon essential oil for peppermint essential oil.
To make orange toothpaste, do the same this as above but use orange essential.
Bath
½ cup bentonite clay
½ cup Epsom salts
A few drops of sssential oils
Place them all in the bath under the running tap. Emerge and stay there for at least 15-20 minutes. I have been known not to get out for hours…and hours.
Happy 2016 everyone. Time to ‘Cleanse’. This week I’m doing 2 (non-consecutive) days of veggie juice, and 2 days of vegan smoothies and blended soups. Nothing too crazy.
Today I’ve used what I had in the fridge, plus I add Lifestream powders of ‘B Complex’, magnesium, ‘Essential Greens +’ some maca powder for energy and hormone balance.
Stay tuned for more posts on cleansing! 🙂
Detox’ begins in the colon, then the liver, and then the other organs, then our blood and skin.
Everything that has been gathered up by the liver and by your cholesterol is dumped into the colon and most of it is expelled through your bowel movements (ideally). If it stays too long in the colon (more than 24 hrs after eating), it is then reabsorbed contributing to a toxic, acidic system.
A good cleansing program should always begin by removing the waste in your colon, the last portion of your food processing chain. If you attempt to clean your liver, blood, or lymph system without first addressing a waste- filled bowel, the toxins will only get recycled back into your body. Epsom Salts are one way to clean the colon.
EPSOM SALTS
What: Magnesium sulfate is an inorganic salt (chemical compound) containing magnesium, sulfur and oxygen. Commonly called Epsom salt, taking its name from a bitter saline spring in Epsom in Surrey, England, where the salt was produced from the springs that arise where the porous chalk of the North Downs meets non-porous London clay
Why: An effective laxative, which draws water into the bowels, helping to ease constipation and bloating. Other ways to use it below.
How:
Hangover- A great way to expel toxins caused by the breakdown of alcohol in the body. Dissolve 1 tsp in water and drink. You can also dissolve 1 cup in a bath and soak
Foot Scrub- Dissolve about 1 tbsp in some eater to make a paste. Get rid of dead skin to allow toxins to be eliminated easier
Weight Loss: It’ll help to reduce a sluggish bowel thereby promoting a flatter tummy, reducing skin puffiness and cellulite
Greasy Hair: Dissolve about 3-6 tbsp (depending o the length of your hair) in about 1/2 cup of your natural shampoo. Work it into the roots whilst your hair is still dry. Rinse it out with apple cider vinegar
Face Scrub: use 2 tbsp. coconut oil, 1 tsp epsom salts, 2 drops each of pure essential oils like lavender, orange or rose.
Eat it however you can – raw, cooked, in capsules, as a tincture, in tahini dressing and hummus – anything that takes your fancy.
Garlic is a proven anti fungus, proving effective against pathogens like Candida. Research has clearly shown that garlic has anti-candidal activity, inhibiting both the growth and function of Candida Albans.
In addition to its use as an antifungal, garlic can support your immune system, reduce cholesterol, and help control blood sugar levels.
As always, it is better to take two or three antifungals at once to prevent the Candida from adapting, so you can use garlic in addition to other natural antifungals like #coconut and #oregano oil.
Although a natural remedy, concentrated garlic can still interact with other medicines, so talk to your health care practitioner if your on prescription medication. Garlic has a blood-thinning property that can be very useful, but can also be dangerous to sufferers of hemophilia or platelet disorders, as well as pregnant women, the on blood-thinning medication, or patients about to undergo surgery.
This tastes just like the meat- based spag’ bol’. Use mashed (or blitz it) tempeh instead of beef/lamb. My recipe is in my latest book Janella’s SuperNatural Foods.
Probiotic foods can in many cases, effectively kill the candida in your system. Kimchi and sauerkraut are good additions to your diet as well as unsweetened cranberry juice, as it creates an acidic environment that makes it difficult for candida to thrive.
Cultured dairy like like goat’s milk kefir, or coconut or water kefir will be great also. Miso paste is wonderful for the gut, as is tempeh – and wheatgrass will help to balance the gut flora.
Fermented vegetables contain microflora that helps to protect the gastro intestinal tract (GIT). Including them in your diet can also help improve your immune system, making your body stronger against an overgrowth of candida.
Start slowly as some people have strong reactions to fermented foods in the beginning.
Cortisol output by your adrenal glands is one of the most reliable indicators of your adrenal function, and levels of this main adrenal hormone rise and fall in a daily pattern. A single blood test won’t be accurate enough, you need the whole picture over a day.
The Cortisol/DHEAS Saliva Test measures the levels of the stress hormones DHEAS and cortisol in your saliva, and provides an evaluation of how cortisol levels differ throughout the day.
Saliva tests are reliable indicators of the levels of all steroid hormones – cortisol, DHEAS and all sex steroids – in your body.
The test involves spitting into a test tube 4 times a day – 8am, noon, 4pm and 8pm.
Both you and your health practitioner will receive copies of the results, usually within 2 weeks.
Talk to your health care professional about your symptoms and ask if this test would be useful for you. Unfortunately many physicians are still unaware of the validity, reliability and value of saliva hormone tests.
Supplements to Nourish the Adrenal Glands. If you’re suffering from adrenal fatigue (or been trying to figure out what the hell’s wrong with your health) you may already be drowning in a mish mash of supplements. This is probably because you are attempting to relieve some of the seemingly unrelated symptoms and find some normalcy again.
I use the Lifestream powders of the below vitamins so I can put them all into one shot with my adrenal herbs – twice a day. Easy!
What to take –
1. Vitamin C by Lifestream
Your body uses vitamin C to produce cortisol. When vitamin C is all used up, the body panics, in a sense, and paradoxically tries to create more cortisol to calm the situation. The adrenal glands then get stuck in a cycle of exhaustion due to creating something for which they don’t have the ingredients.
You’ll need to high dose this. See my earlier post on Vit C.
2. Magnesium by Lifestream
A lack of magnesium leads to more stress on the body and, again, overworks the adrenal glands.
3. Sea salt is loaded with nutrients and minerals that your adrenal glands desperately need. Sodium is crucial to the functioning of the adrenals. It’s also alkalising. Take 1 teaspoon of sea salt in a glass of water each morning. Make sure you purchase unrefined salt such as Celtic or Himalayan.
4. Withania
Ashawaganda somnifera is an adaptogenic herb, meaning that it basically adapts to your body’s need and circumstances. Ask for it in your health food store.
5. Vitamin B Complex by Lifestream
B vitamins are also produced by your adrenal glands. Vitamins B5 and B12 in particular are often lacking in adrenal fatigue patients.
Recovery from AF IS possible, given the proper nutrients, as well as abundant rest and a positive attitude.
Exhausted all the time? This could be why.
Herbs to help with AF- Very effective adrenal herbs are Rhodiola, Holy Basil (Tulsi), Withania, and Siberian Ginseng (if not too wired). Rehmannia is also wonderful as is Licorce (if high blood pressure not present).
Ask in your health food store about the best brands or talk to your Naturopath or Herbalist.
Vitamn C is really important here. Studies have shown that when your adrenal glands release cortisol (a stress hormone), your Vitamin c levels drop dramatically.
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.
This is a time for supplementation, and you can dose Vitamin C pretty high in this case. I recommend the powder as I find it much easier to take a lot of it, (rather than swallow a thousand tablets). Or in more chorine cases – infusions. I recommend 2 a week for a month. (Warning – pricey.)
Lifestream powder – start low on 500mg a few times a day, and keep going until you reach 5g twice a day, or until you start to get cramps in your abdomen. This means your own individual needs have been met.
(Excerpt form my first book ‘Elixir: How To Use Food As Medicine’.)
‘Once thought to affect only women over 30 years of age who hadn’t had children, we now know endometriosis can occur in women of any age at any time after the onset of menstruation.
It is thought to affect about 10 to 20 per cent of all women, but this estimate is likely to be higher. Women most affected may have menstrual cycles that are regularly shorter than 27 days. It also seems to be genetic—mums are likely to pass it on.
Affected women were once advised to ‘have a baby’ or ‘a hysterectomy’. Both suggestions to a young girl seem ludicrous to me. I was diagnosed with endometriosis at the age of 18, but I am certain I had it from the time of my first menses. (I’m sure my mother and paternal aunty had it too, but in those days they didn’t have a name for it.
Some women with endometriosis may be symptom-free but others experience a range of symptoms, including:
• pain in the uterus, lower back and pelvis
• pain before and during menstruation
• painful intercourse• breakthrough bleeding
• bleeding with intercourse
• intermittent pain throughout the cycle
• large clots during menstruation
• nausea, vomiting and/or constipation during menstruation
• infertility
• mood swings and/or depression
• iron deficiency due to a heavy flow.
Herbs to take
• dang gui is often taken alone in the East for menstrual difficulties (in the West we use Angelica archangelica as a substitute)
• Vitex agnus-castus (chaste tree) is important here, as it will regulate your cycle and balance your hormones
• Ginkgo biloba increases and stimulates circulation to the reproductive organs; it will also help with scar tissue
• turmeric is a good anti-inflammatory, liver tonic and oestrogenic
• calendula helps to keep lymphatics in good order, which seems to be a problem with endo• golden seal is good for reducing inflammation in mucous membranes
• chen pi (mandarin peel) is great for improving digestion and reducing ‘damp’ conditions
• St John’s wort is a good antidepressant and anti-inflammatory; it also helps with related sciatica’
Endo’ is a debiltating, complex and very painful condition that greatly affects your fertility (and weight and mental state). You’ll need a (invasive and expensive) laparoscopy to be properly diagnosed, but thats not always necessary or advisable. See, an experienced Naturopath to treat Endo’ using herbs, supplements, diet and lifestyle changes.
TRIBULUS terrestris benefits both male and female fertility. Tribulus has been used as a traditional fertility herb for years, in both Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda. Including its many virtues – it has shown to be effective in increasing sexual desire in both men and women.
– Increase in sex hormone production in both men and women.
– Increase in serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol in women.
– Increase in luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone in men.
– Improvement in sexual desire in both men and women.
– Overall fertility tonic for the male and female reproductive systems.
– May help to normalize ovulation in women
– Increase in sperm count, motility, and health.
– Decrease in the effects of antisperm antibodies.
– May aid the male body in producing DHEA to treat erectile dysfunction.
– Protective to liver health; raises glutathione (strong antioxidant) levels which are important to cellular health and immunity.
Ask for it in your health food store.
PCOS – Polycistic Ovarian Syndrome is characterized by high androgen (testosterone) levels, causing –
– Irregular menstrual cycle, or no cycle
– Hair loss
– Acne
– Weight gain
– Excess hair growth in all the wrong places
– Blood sugar issues
Helpful Foods and Herbs
- Omega 3 foods ike flax, hemp, chia, sustainably-caught deafood (not tuna due to high mercury levels ands not farmed salmon)
- Spearmint Tea: A study was conducted in Turkey where women with PCOS were advised to drink 2 cups of spearmint tea per day for a month. Androgen levels were significantly lower after a month.
- Saw Palmetto: You may benefit from taking an herb named as Saw Palmetto to help both testosterone levels.
- Fenugreek: This spice promotes glucose metabolism that in turn helps regulate the hormones in your body.
- Licorice: (the real stuff, not the sugary lollie) This root promotes ovulation and inhibits an enzyme required for the production of testosterone.
- Tulsi (Holy Basil) It has anti androgenic properties that also help in managing insulin levels. Just chew upon 8-12 leaves a day, or ask at your health food store.
- Vitex (Chaste Tree) see earlier post.
Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus castus) is a shrub native to Greece and Italy whose berries have been used in herbal medicine for centuries. It is considered one of the most popular herbs in Europe and other Western nations for the support of female reproductive imbalances.
Recent clinical research and traditional use of Vitex have shown its amazing ability to help balance fertility hormones. Chaste Tree does not contain hormones, but it has a supportive and gentle action on the body. This is one of the most useful fertility herbs available to us.
Chaste Tree has a supporting and regulating effect upon the pituitary gland, known as the “master gland”. It controls many bodily functions like sending chemical signals to the ovaries, telling them how much hormones to make. This communication is known as the hormonal feedback loop.
– Vitex is one of the best fertility herbs available to us when it comes to balancing hormones and regulating the menstrual cycle.
– It helps the body to increase its own production of luteinizing hormone (LH) – promoting ovulation to occur – which in turns boosts progesterone levels during the luteal phase.
– Endometriosis: Used to treat mild endometriosis and prevent it from advancing.
– Miscarriage: If miscarriages are due to low progesterone, ChasteTree may help.
– Lack of menstruation (amenorrhea) or a heavy period: Chaste Tree will help regulate your cycle regulate, usually before 6 months.
– Uterine cysts: Chaste Tree (Vitex) has been found to be helpful at reducing cysts that are growing within the smooth muscle layer of the uterus.
– Contraceptive pill: It regulates your period after being on the contraceptive pill. After discontinuing estrogen-containing birth control pills, Chaste Tree taken for several months has been shown to help stabilize the cycle and induce ovulation more quickly.
How To Use Chase Tree – It may start working within 10 days, but full benefits may not be experienced until 6 months or longer.
I suggest it to be taken once a day in the morning on an empty stomach, half an hour before breakfast if possible. (Not essential though.) Vitex should be used all month long without a break.
Ask for it in your health food store – as alwasy a practioner-only brand is going to best.
Dong Quai (Angelica sinensis) is one of the most powerful female fertility tonic herbs. Used since at least the first century, Dong Quai tonifies and strengthens the uterus by regulating hormonal control, improving uterine tone, and improving the timing of the menstrual cycle.
Try to eat between 400 and 600 milligrams daily prior to conception and then 800 milligrams after you get the good news.
ASPARAGUS is an effective promoter for both male and female fertility. It has a very high amount of Vitamin C which improves sperm health by decreasing free radicals. This results in enhancement of both quality and quantity of super sperm.
Aside from being great to boost libido – thanks to the high content of zinc – oysters are super important for conception. A woman’s menstrual cycle can be irregular and the production of good eggs slower, plus it’s essential for super sperm health.
Per Serving Size (100 grams)
Oysters 16-182 mg
Dark Chocolate 9.6 mg
Pumpkin Seeds 7.81 mg
Mushrooms 7.66 mg
Flax seeds 5 mg
Egg yolk 4.93 mg
Kidney beans 2.79 mg
Another source of zinc is from pepitas.
During pregnancy, and childhood, the body needs more zinc for proper development and growth.
Zinc is a mighty important mineral, so the fact that over 80% of Australians are deficient in this mineral (the figure is higher for men), is a reason for concern.
Men (11mg). women (8mg), pregnant women (11mg), breastfeeding women (12mg)
ROASTED PEPITAS (Recipe)
2 cups raw pepitas
2 tsp olive oil
1 tsp sea salt
Or for ‘Spicy Pepitas’ add 1 tsp cayenne pepper; for ‘Sweet and Salty Pepitas’ add 1 tbsp coconut palm sugar; and for ‘Pumpkin Pie Spice Roasted Pepitas’ (below) –
1 cup raw pepitas
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon sea salt
Preheat oven to 170oC. Line an oven tray with baking paper. In a bowl, mix all the ingredients together. Spread the pepitas onto the baking paper and bake for about 10-15 minutes, shaking the pepitas half way through. Cool, then store in a glass jar in the pantry. They should stay fresh a week or two. Use them as a snack or add to roast veggies, salads, to garnish soups, cracked and curry or sprinkle in your wraps.
A perfect food to help boost fertility – it includes legumes, garlic, olive oil, green leafy veggies and goats’ feta if you like.
Serves 4
INGREDIENTS:
1 tbsp olive oil
1 red onion, sliced
2 garlic cloves, crushed (optional)
500g passata (or 2 BPA-free cans crushed tomatoes and 1 tbsp tomato paste)
2 BPA-free cans navy or butter beans, rinsed and drained
1 tbsp fresh oregano leaves or 1 tsp dried
Sea salt to taste
1-2 tbls Panela/rapadura or coconut sugar
1 tbsp Dijon Mustard
1 big handful of rocket
1 cup goat’s feta, crumbled roughly
METHOD
Saute the onion in a cast iron pan with olive oil and garlic. Once the onion has softened add the beans, passata, mustard, oregano and salt. Bake in the oven on high. Once it’s almost cooked, add the feta and put back in the oven to allow the feta to soften a little.
Serve with a handful of rocket.
‘Tabouli with Brown Lentils and Quinoa’ with ‘Kale Hummus’. Purrrrfect foods for fertility, or anytime really.
Recipe http://janellapurcell.com/
Full Fat Dairy products- Removing the fat can affect the balance of sex hormones and in turn, negatively affect fertility. You don’t eat dairy? No problem of course.
Raspberry Leaf Tea- It increases fertility in both men and women, balances hormones, eases morning sickness, prevents miscarriage, strengthens the uterus and prevents hemorrhage after birth. Drink a cup a day.
Legumes and Lentils- Refined carbs like white bread, pasta and rice, refined cereals and other sugary foods can disrupt reproductive hormones. Add foods like beans, veggies and wholemeal or grain bread to your diet to promote regular ovulation. The also help to keep insulin levels even that could otherwise disrupt reproduction
Avocado- The good oils in this fruit are very beneficial when it comes to making a baby.
Omega 3 Oils increase blood flow to reproductive organs and regulate hormones. Wild salmon by GoodFish, flax seeds/meal/oil, Made In Hemp seeds, chia and seaweeds and walnuts are also good sources of omega-3 fatty acids.
MACA to the rescue yet again. Look for it in your health food store or on line. Start slowly.
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.