Excitement is running pretty high at my natural therapies clinic. I recently won the I Love Herbs Competition.
The Herbal Extracts Company of Australia, which provides the highest quality practitioner-only herbal medicines, ran this inaugural competition to uncover herbal treatment protocols that have remarkable outcomes.
Although most people recognise that herbs are beneficial for many conditions, it’s clinical evidence that’s the key to a successful natural therapies practice.
This national competition attracted more than 100 entries. I was awarded the highest honours for a tonic I developed to treat a client with Crohn’s Disease, a Iifelong gastrointestinal disorder that causes inflammation of the bowel.
My 58-year- old client had been under the care of specialists for four years and they had removed 15 centimetres of his bowel. In 2016, after a colonoscopy, the specialists advised him to consider surgery to remove most of his bowel due to chronic inflammation and a high risk of developing colon cancer. To make matters worse, his liver was functioning poorly due to his condition.
Disillusioned, he sought the services of a naturopath for severe inflammation and diarrhoea. I began prescribing herbal medicines to this client in July 2016.
In late March 2017, blood tests showed that my client’s C-reactive protein (CRP), which is used to identify the presence of inflammation, measured nine.
His alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level was 40 and his alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level was 168. These levels are used to determine liver function.
His gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) measured 135. This is an enzyme found primarily in the liver and commonly appears in small amounts in the blood. When the liver is damaged, or the flow of bile is blocked, the amount of GGT increases.
The reference range is as follows:
- CRP – 0-5
- ALT – less than 40
- ALP – 30-110
- GGT – less than 62
On 6 April, I prescribed this formula:
40mL x Glossy Privet (Ligustrum lucidum)
60mL x Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)
20mL x Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
25mL x Bupleurum (Bupleurum falcatum)
35mL x Turmeric (Curcuma longa)
20mL x Schizandra (Schisandra chinensis)
5mLs TDS after meals (morning, afternoon and after dinner)
In May, blood tests revealed that my client’s CRP had come down to five. His ALT had dropped to 17, his ALP was down to 106 and his GGT had more than halved to 64.
All levels dropped dramatically. The clinical evidence reveals that since consulting a naturopath, his inflammation and other symptoms had improved significantly. My client declared: “Never have my results ever been in the normal range!”
I presented these noteworthy outcomes as part of the competition.
Naturopath’s inflammation tonic opens Golden Door
When the Herbal Extracts consultant phoned me to announce the news, I was absolutely ecstatic. I was jumping up and down and crying at the same time! My husband was actually alarmed – I was making such a commotion.
I work with herbs frequently and I’m just so passionate about herbs and the benefits they can bring to people’s lives. Pure, living, raw substances packed with nature’s phytochemicals and nutrients. They can be best described as nature’s medicinal elixir.
This competition provided the opportunity for me to ponder and realise the powerful resources we have available at our hands to dispense. I feel so honoured to win the competition.
I’m over the moon with my prize – a two-night healthy lifestyle weekend program for two people at the Golden Door Health Retreat & Spa Elysia in the Hunter Valley.
We’ll be spending two nights in a luxury villa and eating fresh, seasonal, nutritious meals. We’ll have the opportunity to participate in activities such as Tai Chi Qi Gong at sunrise, guided
walks, deep water running in the heated pool, as well as group fitness, relaxation and mind-body classes. A guest speaker on the Saturday night is sure to inspire us.
We’ll have access to the spa facilities including steam room, spa bath and relaxation lounges. And, this is very exciting, the choice of one luxurious spa treatment! I have plenty on my wish list – perhaps a Balancing Mud Moor Bath or a Firming Algae Body Wrap? Or maybe a Divine Detox Facial? Choosing one from the extensive range will be my only dilemma!
Experiencing inflammation? See a naturopath today
If you live with an inflammatory disorder or another debilitating autoimmune condition, don’t suffer in silence. Discover new options with naturopathic treatments. To find out more about how you can ease your symptoms, contact Kathy Penev at Healthwise Natural Therapies.