Healing Fungae

Mycotherapy (therapy using medicinal mushrooms) is becoming more and more popular in naturopathy. Using certain mushrooms has proven beneficial in treating numerous illnesses. They are commonly used to strengthen the immune system, to lower high blood pressure, to treat metabolic imbalances, to help with allergies or digestive problems, and in particular in the complementary treatment of cancer. Scientists in Germany have confirmed the healing and preventative properties of certain mushrooms. We all might have heard of Shiitake, Reishi, Champignons, Oyster Mushrooms and Mu-Err.
The somewhat weird-looking Cordyceps (cordyceps sinensis) which has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries, for example, has proven helpful in the treatment of Chronic Fatigue, depression, exhaustion, lack of libido and infertility. Also, it can help to lower blood pressure and "bad" cholesterol. There are no known side-effects (asthma sufferers please talk to their GP before taking Cordyceps as it has a relaxing effect on the muscles of the respiratory system).

(Cordyceps - picture from Wikipedia)

Another mushroom worth highlighting is Agaricus (agaricus blazei murril). Scientists called it the "Miracle Mushroom for cancer sufferers". It contains vitamins B6 and B12 as well the the highest level of beta-glucan among all medicinal mushrooms. Therefore, plus due to its content of certain substances which have proven beneficial in the treatment of some forms of cancer, it is widely used in alternative cancer therapy and to support the immune system. Further uses are for depression and burn-out. Furthermore, it helps the regeneration of bone marrow and the production of blood.  
 

(Agaricus - thanks to German website who posted the pic)

The Risk of "Light" Products

Switching from soft drinks containing sugar to drinks sweetened with aspartame can be a bad choice, especially for diabetes sufferers. The brain cannot differentiate between sugar and artificial sweeteners, and therefore activates the same mechanisms: increasing the blood sugar level, thereby causing the pancreas to secrete more insulin. The more "light" soft drinks we consume, the more insulin will be secreted. This can eventually lead to disaster. i.e. insulin resistance and ultimately to diabetes type II. What is worrying is that "light" drinks appear to be even more unhealthy than drinks containing sugar, as a recently published study by the French research institute for medicine INSERM reveals. The medical history data of more than 66,000 women were analysed by the scientists, with regard to their dietary habits. The result: The risk of developling diabetes in women who consumed half a litre of "light" soft drinks per week was increased by 15 per cent. In those who drank one and a half litres per week, the rate of increase was a whopping 59 per cent!

Simply Smile Away Stress

"Turn a smile into an exercise. Breathe in  and simply smile - your tension will disappear and you will feel considerably better," is the recommendation of Thich Nhat Hanh, the famous Vietnamese monk and life coach. A recent study carried out by psychologists confirms that his "mouth yoga" can indeed help to keep your calm in stress situations. "Tensing certain muscles to form a smile can be sufficient to lower the heart rate during and after a short-term stress situation," says Dr. N. Smetak, national chairman of registered cardiologists in Germany. His advice: Give it a try when you are caught in a traffic jam next time :)
(BIO magazine no. 1/2013)

"To Be Strong And Weak"

"To be strong and weak,
both need space,
both belong to you.

Who chooses to be only strong
will never experience
how uplifting it is
to be comforted by the closeness
of a friend,
to be held by reliable words.

Who chooses to be only weak
will never experience
how invigorating it is
to be carried by their own feet,
to find trust
in their own strength."

(A.S. Naegli - You Are Not Alone)

A New Mother's Testimonial

"I first heard of Monika Becker from my friend who had previously gone to Monika for the same reason; to help us get pregnant and keep the baby full term.  My first, a son was conceived the very first month we started trying to get pregnant, had a wonderful pregnancy and labour was perfect.  However, when I wanted to started trying for the second baby, about a year and a half later, it was a different story.  It took three years and three miscarriages (I would lose the baby in the 9^th or 10^th week), with lots of emotional, physical and marital stress, pain and difficulty.  That is why through speaking with my friend after my second miscarriage that she recommended me to Monika Becker. 

I went to Monika soon after my second miscarriage in the beginning of 2011.  I was going once a week for an hour for about three months when I got pregnant.  I could not believe it happened so fast.  I prepared myself for it taking up to six months before I fell pregnant again.  Now the challenge was to keep the baby.  So until I reached the first trimester, every day and every week was journey of waiting, hoping, praying, trying to relax, thinking positive and coming to Monika for an hour of pure relaxation, luxury, pampering, and therapy (she is a great listener).   So while I got acupuncture I was also getting my feet massaged – reflexology, which made you forget completely about the needles she has just poked your body with, which must make you look like a pin cushion.  Plus she has soft relaxing music and incense going on in the background all setting the atmosphere of complete and utter peace, relaxation, harmony, rest and tranquillity. 

I continued going to Monika up to about the 20th week, once I was quite sure this baby was here to stay.  I did return to see her at 34 weeks and 36 weeks, because my baby was breached I was hoping Monika could do something to help her move head down and of course engage.  Unfortunately, it was not meant to be.  A planned caesarean was scheduled for me on Tuesday, 20 March.  However, my waters broke the night before and I had to have an emergency caesarean at the John Radcliffe Hospital.  My baby girl, Athena Conception, entered the world on Monday, 19^th March.  She is now 10 months, a beautiful, smiley, happy, strong, energetic and noisy baby girl.  We are all looking forward to her 1^st birthday, especially her big brother who adores her.  Thank you Monika for helping me achieve one of my life’s dream; to have at least two happy and healthy children – one boy and one girl. 

I am going to take Athena to see Monika, because since she was breach when born Athena’s ball and socket has not developed properly.  In the future, I will continue to seek Monika’s treatments for I truly believe in her; besides the fact that she is kind, gentle, companionate, and a lovely lady."

Thank you, lovely D. XXX

Debilitating Back Pain

A young man came into my practice yesterday. He could hardly walk. His mum had to bring him in as he couldn't drive either. He'd been signed off work as a handyman for almost two months because of "sciatica" by the doctors. He is on heavy pain killers and has seen a chiropractor, but the pain got gradually worse. Another client of mine recommended him to come and see me as I "had sorted him out".
Looking at the poor man when he came into reception I could see that he was all lop-sided which means that his pelvis was "imbalanced". This happens when the head of the thigh bone has jumped out of the hip socket and thus pushes the whole leg down and makes the leg appear longer than the other one.
This oblique pelvic position very often leads to a compression of the sciatic nerve and causes hellish pain.
First, I freed up the sciatic nerve by gently massaging the area where the nerve passes out of the spinal column and made sure that the iliac bones are in line, which already brought some relief.
As he still felt a little bit of discomfort, I inserted four acupuncture needles in the lower back, back of the knee, ankle area of the foot and base of the thumb.
After 20 minutes he was practically pain free and just felt a little tightness in the calf. He said that he hasn't felt that good for the past six months.
I asked him to do the "towel exercise" at home to strengthen the muscles in the lower back and the hip and to prevent the leg from "jumping out" of the hip socket.

I got a huge thumbs-up from his mum when she came to pick him up and saw him walking without pain  ...

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Vitamin D

It is no secret how important Vitamin D is for our health and well-being. This "sunshine vitamin" has not only a positive impact on our immune system and our bones, but can also be a valuable help for those who suffer from depression  (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/06/120625152358.htm).
Scientists have now come to the conclusion that Vitamin D might also help with the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Dr. med. Hans-Eckhard Langer at the Evangelisches Krankenhaus in Düsseldorf has tested blood samples from 641 patients who suffer from Rheumatoid Arthritis. The tests revealed that two thirds of the sufferers were severely deficient in Vitamin D. Specialists have concluded that Vitamin D should be given more significance in prevention and healing of inflammatory and rheumatic illnesses, such as Rheumatoid Arthritis.