GROW YOUR OWN ORGANIC NATURE CURES

The best way to ensure you and your family and friends only consume organic, untainted and nutrient-rich foods is to grow your own herbs, fruits and vegetables. This can be done in the smallest of plots or even on a balcony, roof garden or windowsill with a raised box or pots and other types of planters. Outside , fences, railings and walls can be utilised with canvas pocket planters, mounted boxes and hanging baskets etc. A very good way to grow food, especially for those less able, is to have raised beds built. These can easily be made from old pallets and can be two or three feet high to provide an easily accessed planter even for those that are wheelchair bound. If these beds are surrounded with gravel and sharp sand paths it will also deter garden pests like slugs and snails. Protect the wood used for planters using wood treatment made from natural linseed oil which has excellent preservative properties and water resistance and is harmless to wildlife and humans. PLANNING YOUR ORGANIC FOOD GARDEN When planning a garden it is important to add as many native plants as possible to support the local wildlife and beneficial insects and bees that will pollinate the herbs, fruits and vegetables you want to grow. Filling your outside space with alien species simply for their looks or colour is a sorry waste of valuable space that could feed native flora and fauna as well as your family and friends. Growing plants from seeds is very rewarding and, during the first year, seeds can be collected from home-grown plants and are therefore free. Always purchase organic seeds. The easiest edible plants to begin growing are bell peppers, chilli peppers, broad and runner beans, herbs, peas, strawberries, sunflowers and tomatoes. These can all be grown in  pots or other containers. In small spaces use a large container or pot with a cane tee pee to grow beans and peas along with sweet peas to help attract pollinating insects. Potatoes are a good first crop when growing directly in the soil as they will break up the soil and add nutrients future grown vegetables will require. What many consider as weeds are often very powerful medicinal plants, such as nettlesand dandelions. Grow them in a container to stop them spreading. See the Herbs and Spices page for more plants that can be used medicinally. Certain plants should be avoided in the home and garden, if there are animals or young children around, as they are poisonous. See Nature Cures For Pets. FEEDING THE PLANTS It is important to feed your plants once they are established to gain the most nutrients. These nutrients come out of complex organic matter as soil bacteria breaks it down and are then taken up by the plants. Chicken pellets: These have a high nitrogen content and are a good all round soil improver. Fresh chicken manure must only be added to a compost heap whilst the dried and heat treated pellets can be added to the soil around most fruits and vegetables especially  leafy crops like cabbage, celery, salad crops as well as courgettes, fruit bushes, potatoes, rhubarb and sweet corn. Fish blood and bone meal: Blood meal provides nitrogen and does not take long to break down. Fish meal provides nitrogen and phosphorus and potassium and bone meal provides mainly phosphorus with some nitrogen and calcium. It is a good all round fertiliser for fruit bushes and trees, herbs and vegetables and should be added to the soil early in the year before plants become vigorous with leaf growth. Manure: All types of animal, and even human faeces, are excellent soil improvers as the soil microbes break them down and release the nutrients which then feeds the plants. However, it is important to only use manure that comes from organically reared animals as the antibiotics and other chemicals used in farming can be absorbed by plants and then consumed by humans. Fresh manure must be rotted in a compost heap for twelve months before using on plants. Well rotted manure can be used to improve the soil before planting and as a mulch after plants are established. Seaweed and kelp: This is a very useful fertiliser for mulching plants with as it also deters aphids, slugs and snails as well as greatly improving the soils nutrients. It is always best to keep mulch away from direct contact with the stems of plants. Water: Rain water is always best to use for vegetation as it contains many of the nutrients they require so it is a good idea to install water butts on all available drainpipes. Installing an irrigation system is an economical way to water plants as it can work on a timer at night and a humidity sensor can control it and it can also be connected to water butts. This means that plants will always have all the water they need with no effort required. Drip feeds on the soil are best as spraying water loses much to evaporation and can burn the leaves of plants if done during hot sunshine. GARDEN PESTS A bird feeding station is important to attract birds as these will consume many garden pests such as caterpillars, slugs and snails. A pond is a valuable asset as it too will encourage the wild life that can help to control pests. Frogs, dragonflies, damsel flies, newts and toads will consume many of the unwanted garden pests encountered in a vegetable, fruit and herb garden. COMBINATION PLANTS FOR PEST CONTROL The following plants will protect against the aphids and other bugs that can attack the mentioned vegetables. BASIL: tomatoes CHIVES: sunflowers and tomatoes LEEKS: carrots MARIGOLDS: tomatoes MINT: broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, kale and tomatoes NASTURTIUMS: beans, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale and peas SPRING ONIONS: carrots ANTS, APHIDS, BLACK FLY, GREEN FLY, SPIDER MITES AND WHITE FLY Aphids can attack a wide variety of plants depending on their species. Many will thrive upon beans, cabbage, cucumber, melons, peas, potatoes, pumpkin, squash and tomatoes. Green aphids thrive on on roses, grey ones on brassicas, black ones on broad beans and white ones on box hedges. Ants protect aphids as they feed on the honeydew aphids produce so must also be removed. Control ants by trimming the lower parts of the plant so that they do not touch the ground and give ants easy access. The use of an organic aphid control pesticide, such as neem oil, will take care of the ants as well. Vinegar can help to remove the trails ants leave to use as a pathway to their feeding places. Dilute a tablespoon of vinegar with water in a sprayer and spray on to the pathways they use near to vegetables. Spider mites thrive upon asparagus, beans, melons, squash and other cucurbits, peas, tomatoes and strawberries, as well as several weed species. The same methods can be used to remove them as with aphids. Attracting the following beneficial insects to the garden is a natural way to kill aphids and spider mites. One ladybird will consume 5000 aphids during its year long lifetime.

A pond creates a balanced habitat for wildlife in the garden.

• ASSASSIN BUG (Reduviidae)
• BIG EYED BUGS (Geocoris)
• DAMSEL BUG (Nabidae)
• DAMSELFLY (Zygoptera)
• DRAGONFLY (Anisoptera)
• ENCARSIA WASPS (Encyrtidae)
• GALL MIDGE (Aphidoletes aphidimyza)
• HOVERFLY (Syrphidae)
• LACEWING (Chrysopidae)
• LADYBIRD (Hippodamia convergens, Coccinellidae, ladybugs)
• MINUTE PIRATE BUG (Anthocoridae)
• PARASITIC WASPS (Trichogrammatidae)
• PRAYING MANTIS (Mantodea)
• SOLDIER BEETLE (Cantharidae, leatherwing)
• STINK BUGS (Pentatomidae)

Nearby plantings of the following will help to attract these beneficial insects to your garden, if left to flower, as many insect predators also consume pollen..

• CARAWAY
• CARROTS
• CELERY
• CORIANDER
• COW PARSLEY
• DANDELION
• DILL
• FENNEL
• GOLDEN MARGUERITE
• LOVAGE
• MINT
• PARSNIPS
• PARSLEY
• YARROW

Planting of the following plants that are attractive to aphids are good for organic aphid control. Growing these in a separate space from fruit and vegetables will lure aphids away.

• ASTER
• BEGONIAS
• CHRYSANTHEMUMS
• COSMOS
• DAHLIAS
• GERANIUMS
• HOLLYHOCKS
• LARKSPUR
• ROSES
• VERBENA
• ZINNIA

Chives, garlic and onions will also help to deter aphids as they do not like the odour.

Stinging nettles can be used as an aphid killer. Soak half a pound of nettles in a bucket of water for a week, before straining and using undiluted to control aphids.

Adding a very small amount of washing up liquid to a sprayer filled with water can be used to wash off aphids and other pests that attack some vegetables without contaminating the vegetables and fruits but should only be used very sparingly for vast outbreaks because it will also kill the beneficial insects. A few aphids will not cause too much damage and are part of the balance of a healthy vegetable garden. Rubbing them off with the fingers or plain water in a powerful sprayer is the often enough to keep them at bay.

CARROT FLY

Carrots can be grown in a container that is more than two feet deep such as a plastic refuse bin as carrot flies cannot fly higher than two feet above the ground. Cut some holes in the bottom of the bin then add a layer of stones or broken pots for drainage. Then add sieved stone free soil and top with a good potting compost before sowing your organic carrot seeds. Grow some spring onions around the edges to provide even more protection.

SLUGS AND SNAILS

When disposing of snails it is pointless to simply throw them into your neighbours garden as they have a homing instinct and will return the next night. Never use salt to kill slugs and snails as this causes them great pain for some time before they die.

BEER TRAPS: Slugs and snails are attracted to beer so a small jar half filled with beer will trap and drown them so that they can be disposed of on the compost heap or a bird table.

COFFEE GROUNDS: These can be sprinkled around plants as a safe deterrent but do not use too often.

COPPER: Slugs and snails get electric shocks from copper so it is a useful tool to stop them getting near to your vegetables. Self-adhesive copper bands can be used around pots and planters.

DIATOMACEOUS EARTH AND SHARP SAND: Diatomaceous earth comes in the form of a chalky powder, and is the natural fossilised remains of diatoms, a type of hard-shelled algae. Both this powder and sharp sand make a good barrier to slugs and snails as they can not easily cross it if it is sprinkled around vegetables or planters and raised beds.

ELECTRIC FENCE: Small electric ribbons which run off a nine volt battery can be purchased and set up around vegetables. When a slug or snail comes in contact with the fence, it receives a mild static sensation that is undetectable to animals and humans. This does not kill the slug but causes it to look elsewhere for forage.

GRAPEFRUIT AND FLOWERPOT TRAPS: Place half a grapefruit skin or a flower pot upturned near to your vegetables with a small stone to raise one side. This will attract slugs and snails which can be disposed of the morning. The grapefruit scent attracts them so is often a better solution. A wide plank can be used in the same way as slugs and snails will use it for shelter during the day.

LAVA ROCK: Lava rock can be used as a barrier around plantings, but should be left mostly above soil level, otherwise dirt or vegetation soon forms a bridge for slugs to cross.

SEAWEED: Seaweed has the added benefit of adding nutrients to the soil if used as a mulch around vegetables. Pile it on 3″ to 4″ thick – when it dries it will shrink to just an inch or so deep. Seaweed is salty and slugs and snails avoid salt. Push the seaweed away from plant stems so it’s not in direct contact. During hot weather, seaweed will dry and become very rough which also deters the slugs.

WATERING SCHEDULE: If watering is only done in the early morning the soil dries out by the time snails and slugs become active at night. This can reduced slug and snail attacks by 80%.

Take Care with Skin Care!

We often hear about reducing our carbon footprint. How about reducing our chemical faceprint? J

It’s well-known that the skin, the largest organ of the body, easily absorbs whatever is applied to it. So, besides being diligent about what we put INTO our bodies to digest, we may enhance our wellbeing further by paying careful attention to what we put ON our bodies.

Let’s take a quick look at the bad guys first.

Many skin care products contain carcinogenic (associated with cancer) ingredients, and here’s a partial list:

Petrolatum
BHT
Titanium Dioxide
Triethanolamine (or TEA)
DMDM-Hydantoin – formaldeyde releaser
Polysorbate 80 and Cetareth 20 (associated with the carcinogenic 1,4-Dioxane)
Diazolidinyl Urea – formaldehyde releaser
Fragrances

Some items are associated with other conditions like dermatitis, nerve damage, hormone disruption:

Methlisothiazolinone
Phenoxyethanol
Propylene Glycol (a component of antifreeze, along with Butylene Glycol )
EDTA

See Sodium hydroxide in there? This is lye (drain cleaner).

Unfortunately, even some “natural” and “organic” brands of skin care products often contain 1,4-Dioxane, although this ingredient is not listed on the labels. There IS a way to get around that, however – simply look for ingredients containing ‘myreth,’ ‘oleth,’ ‘ laureth,’ ‘ceteareth,’ or any ‘eth’! Those are products to avoid.

Now, how about the good guys? In other words, what can we use? This will be your question when you’ve gone through the labels of so many skin care products. Are there really any totally pure products that will improve my “chemical faceprint”?

Not many, but some!

Our Number One recommendation is an online company that makes wonderful body balm from ONLY grass-fed beef tallow, olive oil, and pure essential oils. Check out the link for yourself at http://www.vintagetradition.com

It is easy to make your own facial moisturizer from a combo of almond, avocado, olive, and sesame oils, with a little lavender or other essential oil for fragrance. (Call us for the recipe proportions) As with the Vintage Tradition products, a little goes a long way, so you seldom have to bother with replenishing your supply.

As second best, there are a few companies who don’t use parabens and certain other no-no’s listed above. When you shop, check the ingredients carefully, and choose the one with the fewest ‘bad guys.’ Some of these companies are Alba Botanical, Avalon, (not Avon!) and Aubrey. There may be others.

All the best in your quest! Any feedback you have for us is welcomed. Call us at (562)861-3896

Health Benefits of Kiwi

NUTRITION KIT FOR KIDS

 

It is every parent’s dream to have strong, healthy children who grow up into strong, healthy adults. Given the sad truth that our fast-paced culture of “instant everything” is combined with continual toxic bombardment, is this goal attainable? Normally, YES! – with your investment of time and “know-how.”
So, parents and grandparents, are YOU prepared for the next school year?
It’s really pretty simple.

The biggest tool in the kit, of course, is to eat (and serve!) a whole foods diet, and eliminate as much as possible the processed convenience food products.

This fundamental step also takes the most work, because it requires diligent supervision of what is eaten – by yourselves as well as by your children. You will need to commit to buying whole food groceries and then cooking and serving them – each week. You’ll become an expert at reading and quickly analyzing the “Ingredients” list of any product before purchasing. You will strategize a plan for making lunches for school and work, rather than relying upon others to feed you non-nutritive meals during the day.

After that, the rest is easy!

Have a good source of pure, filtered drinking water, and encourage lots of water drinking, preferably between meals
Engage in a do-able and sustainable exercise program – individually or as a family
Keep a few basic tools in the form of whole food supplements on hand, as follows:

Cataplex B tablets: The whole B complex nutritionally supports the body in maintaining good brain health. Unfortunately, the standard American diet is low in these nutrients. Physical problems like chronic exhaustion or hyperactivity, and emotional difficulties with anxiety, anger, nervousness, or fears may be indicators that more B complex nutrition is needed.

Calcium Lactate (tablets or powder): Everyone requires a good supply of bioavailable calcium in their daily intake. “Growing pains,” joint and muscle aches, chronic colds and ear infections, trouble concentrating – these all may indicate that bioavailable calcium is needed. Most calcium supplements require 12 digestive steps in order to be metabolized. Calcium Lactate takes ONE step, as it is made from fermented vegetables instead of inedible substances like coral or rocks. Pasteurized dairy products contain calcium that is bound into a much less digestible form, therefore difficult to fully absorb – therefore we suggest supplementing with this excellent product.

Congaplex capsules: This is a combo supplement that supports the body’s work with its immune function. Great to have on hand to help you get through the cold season.

There’s your basic nutrition tool kit!

To have a more customized program for your child (or yourself), come in for a nutrition appointment with Susana. Many of our patients consider this a back-to-school essential! Our bodies are as individual as our faces, and have their own specific needs and challenges.

For appointments, please give us a call at (562) 861-3896

Our Patients SPEAK!

“…I am so pleased to find a substitute from regular meds. I have always reacted to drugs and found little help. Now Im off allergy meds and shots, and I feel so much better. I’ve also lost weight.” -Nancy G.

“…I love my experience here! Ive seen many medical doctors that couldnt help me!… ” -Martina B.

“…I enjoy every visit. I am always heard out and attended to, and have learned a lot about what to eat and what not to eat. Thank you for taking care of me & my girls! – Michelle Z.

“…I just want to say Thank You for all your help. Many times through the years I have not been the perfect patient. However,I know that my health today is in result of your care, work, and love. You all are the best!” – M.R.

“…Nutrition Response Testing is the only way to go! Healing vs. cover-up.” – C.B.

HPF – Happy Patient Feedback!

 

This person drove past our clinic frequently for 10 years. When he recently saw the new sign on our door, he decided to check us out. Here are his words:

“I came in feeling desperate about my health. I felt better after the first visit, and better each week thereafter. I wasn’t sure this type of treatment would work, but I am sure now!”

Great decision to walk into Thropay Health Center!

We don’t “cure” anyone – but we support your body’s inborn ability to heal and maintain itself.

The old saying, “Prevention is better than cure” is never more applicable than with cancer. Since the statistics of breast cancer are so high (potentially one in three women), we’ll look at some preventive ideas for breast care that should assist your body in its hard work.
[To our male readers: Please don’t stop reading! Most of these suggestions are helpful for YOU, too – plus, you can pass them on to a special lady in your life.]

These tips are based upon information from an article in Medscape, May 6, 2015.

– stay off synthetic hormones, and use bioidentical hormones only when totally necessary

– quit smoking (if you do) and begin exercising. Exercise reduces the risk of B.C. by 35%.

– get all highly processed/refined fats out of your life – such as “vegetable oils,” spreads, margarine, shortenings, and store-bought salad dressings. Replace with butter, extra-virgin olive oil, or high-lignan flax oil. For cooking, use coconut or avocado oil

– eat plenty of organic vegetables and fruits daily – be sure to frequently include kale, beets, greens, carrots, Brussels sprouts, and broccoli

– use chlorine filters for drinking, cooking, and showering water

– drink no or little alcohol, and avoid Tylenol – your liver is frontline for cancer prevention

– be out in the sun and take an unrefined cod liver oil supplement – get lots of vitamin D

– ladies – wear a bra for less than 12 hours daily – cuts your risk of B.C. in half!

– if B.C. is in your family, come and be evaluated by Susana to see what further steps you can personally take to assist your body in maintaining good health

Your feedback is valuable to us! Respond to this email, or call us at (562) 861-3896.

 

 

Analyze your ANS

 

There is no end to the wonders that are built into the human body. We are “pre-programmed” to survive – no matter what! Even against the most frightening or discouraging odds, our bodies cling to life.

In order to achieve this major goal, we have each been given an incredible system for managing and healing injuries and for maintaining the function of all the basic systems that spell L-I-F-E to the body.

This amazing master/director is called the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS).

The ANS is composed of three branches:

1) Enteric – sometimes called the “gut brain,” because it manages every aspect of digestion

2) Para-sympathetic – responsible for repair, restoration, relaxation, and maintenance

3) Sympathetic – the “fight-or-flight” branch that goes into gear when you need an immediate rush of energy to handle a sudden emergency. It will direct blood and energy to the heart, lungs, and muscles to help you run from danger, for example.

Normally, and for good health, the para-sympathetic and enteric branches dominate the sympathetic branch. They continually support the brain and central nervous network, plus the digestive system. Digestion is basically inhibited by the interruption of the sympathetic function, but that is always intended to be temporary. The other two branches resume “business as usual” when the emergency is over.

When dominance between the para-sympathetic and sympathetic branches is too frequently reversed, our health suffers.

Therein lies one reason for the many health problems in this fast-paced culture. The continual stresses we encounter every day trigger the constant activation of the sympathetic system at a low level. This subjugates and impedes the important action of the parasympathetic and enteric systems. Several undesirable things can happen in this situation of imbalance:

– poor food choices are often made to manage the stress, such as caffeine, alcohol, sugar and so-called comfort foods

– enzyme production and activity can decrease

– over-production of cortisol in the brain, which affects digestion

– gut bacterial balance may be thrown off

– immune system response can be affected by the digestive woes

Each item on that list means trouble!

There is plenty of help, however. Many of you receive periodic Heart Rate Analysis tests, which reveal the ANS balance/imbalance in YOUR body Dietary counseling, whole food supplements and herbs can all make a big difference in helping your body get back on track.

We’re here to help! Call us for an appointment at (562) 861-3896

Good To Know…

Oversee your Omega-3’s

As we’ve all heard, our bodies require Omega-3 fatty acids for good health. Fortunately, these are bio-available from several well-known foods – but they often occur in small amounts. That means we need to focus on getting enough Omega-3’s by regularly consuming as many of these foods as possible.

For those who are concerned about the Omega 3-Omega 6 ratio, some of these listed foods do contain both types. However, it makes sense to me that natural foods that are organically grown (or from grass-fed animals) are not a health hazard. Omega-6 fats from artificial, refined food products cause the damage.

Here are some Omega-3-containing foods to consciously, regularly add to your intake:

Wild-caught oily fish, such as salmon
Flaxseeds (freshly ground) and flaxseed oil
Walnuts
Chia seeds, Pumpkin seeds
Green leafy vegetables, including kale, spinach, parsley, mint
Broccoli
Cabbage
Brussels sprouts
Eggs from pastured chickens
Grass-fed cattle meats
Raw milk and raw cheese from grass-fed cows
Microalgae

Dr. Russell Blaylock tells us that Omega-3 fatty acids bring quite a number of health benefits. There are other contributing factors to good health, as well, but this is a great start. Here is a partial list:.

Aid in the prevention of preeclampsia ( sudden hypertension during pregnancy), premature births, depression, autoimmune diseases, arrhythmia, cardiovascular disease

Modulate anger, anxiety, fear, bipolar disorder

Protect the brain – of babies, children, and adults

As you pursue the goal of optimum health, please remember to include a variety of these Essential Fatty Acids (EFFs) foods in your daily diet.

Call us anytime at (562) 861-3896

CALLING FOR CALCIUM

In the past few years, we’ve been hearing a lot about calcium and the important role it plays in the human diet.   Sometimes, though, calcium is demonized because of negative symptoms that can appear in those who take calcium supplements.

So, where is the truth in this seeming paradox?   

It’s pretty simple, actually.  What our bodies require is calcium in a form that it can USE to meet its many demands for this essential mineral.  That usable form is called “calcium bicarbonate.”  The “bi” part of the word helps us remember that this calcium is already bioavailable for the body’s use.

On the other hand, there are plenty of calcium supplements out there that are in the “calcium carbonate” form.  This means the calcium they contain is NOT readily available for the body.  In fact, it takes twelve biochemical steps for the body to break it down, and by that time, only a small portion of the calcium is useful.

Knowing that contrast, you can understand why there is this dichotomy about calcium supplements out there. 

Calcium carbonate supplements are often made from coral or chalky rocks.  Who would  choose to chew on coral or a chunk of rock, even if we had the teeth for it? These are not foods, and therefore not good sources of calcium.  Much of the calcium from these supplements ends up either excreted in the urine or deposited in various ways.  Arterial plaque build-up, kidney stones, cataracts, bone spurs – these all consist of calcium that has not been utilized by the body. 

Calcium Lactate, by contrast, is in calcium bicarbonate form, made from fermented vegetables (actual foods!).  The fermentation process acts as a type of pre-digestion, so the calcium is readily usable by the body – in a one-step process.  This means that the much lower number of milligrams per tablet in Calcium Lactate will do a better job than the high-mg.12-step calcium carbonate supplements.

Growing pains, muscle cramps (and angina, because the heart is a muscle), hyperactivity, osteoporosis, and low immunity all point to calcium deficiency.   And, as you know, the typical western diet does not supply nearly enough of it. 

The result is that most of us require calcium supplements in order to re-stock the body with what it has been missing for years.  Of course, the other half of the equation is to eat a NON-typical diet – one that contains plenty of usable calcium. 

Great dietary sources include raw milk (not pasteurized) and raw cheese, almonds and Brazil nuts, sesame and flax seeds, kale, broccoli, spinach and other leafy greens.

Standard Process has been making Calcium Lactate supplements for 65+ years.  They are one of our most popular products, and very reasonably priced.   Call us anytime so we can have your supply ready for you. 

(562)861-3896