We are now long past the Autumn equinox and have headed into the time of year where in Traditional Chinese Medicine we call the Earth Element. 
The Earth element governs the organs of the Spleen, pancreas and stomach and lies in the Indian Summer, between our summer days and the wet and windy autumn that will head our way shortly. 
I sometimes call this part of Autumn Libra Autumn, it is usually sunny with blue skies and gorgeous colours in the trees. 

It won`t be long until that changes and we head into Scorpio Autumn where the leaves drop and things get decidedly a little more gloomy.  This phase of Autumn in traditional chinese medicine is known as the Metal elements and governs the Lungs and the large intestine. 

It is very common to develop respiratory infections at this time of year as the dampness sets in.  We can already see the grass is so much wetter in the mornings and the loveliest toadstools and mushrooms are thriving due to the damp conditions.  Whilst this is a necessary part of life and our ecosystems, it can cause havoc with an immune system that has dropped it`s defenses. 

I see people`s blood test results daily in clinic and one of the things that stands out is the amount of people who`s white blood cells have dropped low.  That is a red flag that their immune systems are less than ideal. 

I`ll be delivering a webinar on Wednesday the 19th of October at 7pm all about immunity, what causes it to drop and what you can do to strengthen it.  This webinar is free to my clients and is £5 for non-clients.  

You can book your place here:
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If you`d like to hear a little more, have a listen below.

I am excited to let you know that I am now offering nutrient injections from my clinic in Blidworth, Nottinghamshire.

The nutrient injections I am able to offer are:

• B12 injections
• Vitamin D injections
• Biotin Injections
• Vitamin C injections
• Glutathione injections.

I thought I would introduce these to you with a short video starting with B12 injections.  The video explains symptoms of low B12, reasons for low levels and about the injections.

B12 injections are £30 or £100 for a course of 4.

As many of you may know, hormones and fertility are my area of specialism.  I love working with fertility clients as so much can be done through naturopathy and nutritional therapy.

1 in 7 people are statistically going to present with infertility.  Out of that number, 30% will be female, 30% will be male only and 40% will be both parties.  

So why do we seem to always focus on the woman?  

In my clinic, I insist upon working with both parties to nurture fertility.  Both the male and female will get a full work up and be treated with the same importance.  

For some bizarre reason, male factor infertility still comes across as a bit taboo, hushed up and not really publicaly spoken about.  To me, when 70% of infertility involves the man somehow, this is a little strange, so let`s talk about it!

Take a listen...
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​The leaves are changing colour quickly at the moment and so is the weather.
It`s this time of year when we start to consider our immunity over the months ahead.

I just wanted to share some tips and tricks I do over these months to keep my family and myself as well as possible over the coming months. 

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is so important to our bodies.  It is needed for over 70 functions in the body, ranging from keeping collagen healthy to detoxifying our system.  Most animals can manufacture vitamin C in their bodies for this reason.  Humans once were able to make their own vitamin C but over time, humans and guinea pigs (strangely) lost this ability many years ago.  
It is available in fruits and vegetables but oxidises very quickly.  That means that once the fruit or vegetable has been picked, it starts to degrade in terms of it`s vitamin C content. 
Most of us know the value of Vitamin C in terms of keeping a healthy immune system, and you may have even heard about "mega- dosing" in serious illnesses, which appears to be effective.  Studies continue in this field.
All year round, I ensure that my family receives a minimum of 250Mg of vitamin C per day as a supplement.  The body can only uptake around 250Mg of Vitamin C in one go, so unless you buy a slow-release supplement with a higher dose than 250Mg, it will be wasted and eliminated in your urine.
You can not overdose on vitamin C as it is a water soluble vitamin.  Any excess that your body doesn`t need will just make it`s way to your urine.
During this time of year, I dial up the dosage of vitamin C for my family to between 500 and 1000 Mg.  I use slow release vitamin C to do this, or, dose throughout the day.
Vitamin C can make some people have looser stools than normal.  If this happens to you then you just need to lower the dose.

Vitamin C in foods are all your fruits, berries and vegetables.  The more you can eat, the better​

Zinc

Zinc is the master mineral for immunity.  Zinc is also necessary for healthy hormone function, tissue integrity (healthy tissues) , brain health and so much more.
I make sure that my family have 20 - 30Mg of Zinc as an adult dose and up to 15Mg for children up to 14 (after that they are classed as adults in the world of supplementation) 
There are different quality zinc formulas.  Zinc has to be attached to another compound in order to be transported into the cell efficiently.  The most bioavailable forms are Zinc picolinate, Zinc bisglycinate or Zinc citrate.  
Some important information regarding Zinc - ALWAYS take zinc on a full stomach after a meal containing protein and carbohydrates.  If you take zinc on an empty stomach or with a very light meal, it can cause nausea and vomiting.
Zinc can be taken preventatively and is also great for keeping to hand if anyone comes down with an illness.  In the case of treating an illness then be sure to take a natural compound called Quercetin along with your Zinc.  It will help transport the Zinc right into the part of the cell needed to kill off viruses.

Zinc is available in food sources such as shellfish, meat, poultry and liver.  These are the main sources.  The vegetarian sources that contain zinc have very little so again, it is best to supplement if vegetarian or vegan.  Vegan sources are quorn, peas, tofu, chickpeas, oats, brown rice, quinoa, buckwheat, pine nuts and pumpkin seeds.
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​Probiotics

Our microbiome is one of the most fascinating areas of the human body.  Do you know that we have more bacteria than we do cells in our body!?!  
The microbiota is something that really fuels my fire... It is a topic that I am passionate about.  

Did you know that scientists are currently working on using specific strains of bacteria to target specific illnesses such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease?  I guarantee that one day, bacteria will save the world!  

You can read more information about your microbiome here
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In terms of your immunity, taking a good, broad strain probiotic can really help you out.  70-80% of our immune system stems from our gut.  If our gut health is out of balance then this will knock your immune system function for six.

Clinical trials have also proven that a daily probiotic for children is actually more effective at preventing the flu than the flu vaccine.  It is also known to prevent gastric illnesses such as the dreaded Norovirus - lovingly known to all parents as "the sick bug".

Immunity complexes

If you can make sure your diet is well-balanced with the foods mentioned here, you will be off to a flying start in terms of boosting your immunity.  

Remember that sugar, depresses our immune systems.  One teaspoon of sugar will depress your immune system for 1 hour.  Think  twice about that sugar in your coffee before you go out and about where coughs and colds are likely to be!

There are some great immune complexes that you can get that combine the nutrients I`ve mentioned into one handy capsule.
One of my favourite complexes is Bionutri`s elderberry complex. ​

Please be advised that babies and infants have different requirements in their dosing and you must seek advice regarding this.  Elderly people and those with compromised immune systems should also always seek advice before supplementing with the nutrients mentioned.  
If you are on medications then these should also be checked with a health professional.


Health and happiness as always,

Eve x
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For those who want a shorter version…

🌱Gather your berries and de-stalk
🌱Weigh your berries
🌱 Whatever weight your berries are, add half that amount In Water
🌱Simmer gently for 20 minutes
🌱cool and strain
🌱measure liquid in ml
🌱whatever the ml of liquid, half that and add that amount in grams of sugar
🌱simmer gently for 20 minutes with the juice of 2 lemons, grated ginger and a cinnamon stick
🌱strain, cool and bottle


Health and Happiness,

Eve x 

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This is a question that I get asked a lot!
I thought that I would take a moment to share what is usual and what is unusual where periods are concerned.

Many of us think that suffering during menstruation is normal... it`s not. It`s common, but it isn`t how it should be.

​So what is a "normal" period?

Well - there`s no such thing as "normal" as we are all so different, but here are some features of what it should and should`t be like...

1. Most peoples cycles (the time it takes between from day 1 of your period until your next one) is usually between 26 - 34 days during your reproductive years. 28 day cycles are not the most common length. Teenages will commonly have cycles from 24 - 38 days and peri-menopause brings cycles of varying lengths - 24 days to missing periods is common.

2. It`s normal for your cycle length to vary by as much as 6 or 7 days from month to month.

3. A period should last anywhere between 3 - 7 days. Any shorter or longer than this is a symptom of something going on hormonally.

4.Usually the heaviest day of your period is day 2. On your heaviest day, you shouldn`t need any more than 6 pads or tampons per day. If you do, then this is classed as a a heavy period and a sign of an imbalanced.

5. 25 - 80ml of blood loss is normal, that`s between 5 regular tampons for your whole period - 16 regular tampons, or 8 super tampons. If you bleed less or more than this over your whole period, you have an imbalance in your hormones.

6. Menstrual fluid should be mostly liquid, with very small clots, if any.

7. Mild, occasional cramps are normal. These should disappear with ibuprofen. If you are still in pain whilst taking ibuprofen then this is excessive and is a sign of an imbalance. Debilitating pain is NEVER normal. Normal cramps don`t disrupt your day or cause time off work.

8. It`s normal for breasts to feel fuller, but painful breasts, cysts or fibrous lumps are a sign your hormones need balancing.

9. You shouldn`t get headaches.

10. Mild mood shifts are normal the week before your period. These should not be extreme or disrupt your life. If you are suffering from excessive PMT or PMDD then your hormones are in need of a balance.


If you think that you are suffering with some of the symptoms that suggest that your hormones are a little imbalanced, and would like to do something about it then get in touch and see how I can help. 

As an NFPTA registered teacher of the fertility awareness method, I will show you how to use this reliable method of natural contraception to gain a new understanding of your body so that you can have body literacy like never before.


Learn the fascinating side of sex - ed that you were never taught at school to really get to grips with your menstrual cycle and the wisdom that it can reveal to you.


This online course has 6 lessons over 12 weeks.


This course will cover everything you need to know to begin charting, from the anatomy of both the male and female body to the hormonal dance that is performed each month.


The sympto-thermal method of fertility awareness is as effective at preventing pregnancy as the birth control pill.
The human reproduction study found that this method, when followed correctly has a rate of >99% efficacy as a contraception.


Using the fertility awareness method is easy once you know how. It avoids synthetic hormones and the disruption they can cause to wellness, and doesn`t require invasive surgery for you or your partner.


The fertility awareness method is your answer if you are struggling with your current contraception and are looking for a gentle and reliable alternative. It will also give you a greater understanding your body`s amazing rhythms.




This course will be in a small group ( no more than 6) on Zoom and will stretch over 12 weeks. This allows me to work with you over your first 3 cycles. We will meet at 7pm (London time) each lesson as follows:


Week 1 - ~ 2hours - 8/9/21
Week 2 - ~2 hours - 15/9/21
Week 3 - ~2 hours - 22/9/21
Week 4 - ~1 hour - 29/9/21
Week 8 - ~1 hour - 27/10/21
Week 12 - ~1 hour - 24/11/21


IMPORTANT


If you have recently had a baby and are in your postpartum stage, or are in your peri-menopause years where cycles are becoming less regular, the fertility awareness method is available to you, but this course is not for you. or in the case of postpartum care, wait until your cycles become regular again before purchasing the course. You can contact me for an individual lesson tailored to your unique life stage.




Requirements


You will need to buy a good quality digital thermometer that has two decimal places. This means that there should be two numbers after the decimal - eg 36.56 degrees.


You should also know that this course is written by a UK instructor and so all temperatures are written in Centigrade, not Fahrenheit.


You need to be available for all the dates set.

Stage 1

During this stage you may start to notice small changes to your cycles and even to your mood and energy levels.  Your breasts may get more tender and you may get a few headaches or start to suffer with disruptions to your sleep.  You may notice weight being layed in places you previously didn`t have to worry about, or it difficult to lose weight.
Your menstrual cycles may shorten slightly, but only by a few days.  During this time, you may have less progesterone than before but an increase in oestrogen.  This can cause heavier periods and more pain than you previously had.  

Stage 2

It is during this stage that you might start to encounter hot flashes and night sweats.  This is because you still have the lower progestorone and fluctuating oestrogen as before, but now your oestrogen is dropping lower than previously.  During this time, you will notice more variation in your cycle length.  Cycles could vary each month as much as 7 days or slightly more.  You may still have many of the symptoms from stage 1

Stage 3

You will begin to skip periods during this phase, so a 60 day cycle or more is normal.  Night sweats and hot flashes can get pretty intense during this phase as oestrogen continues to drop very low in between peaks.  The peaks mean that you may still have to deal with some heavy periods but your breast pain may start to ease.

Stage 4

This is the stage that starts with your final period.  You are in this stage for 12 months after having your final period.  After that.... congratulations! You will graduate to a freer and more liberating stage of your life, known as menopause.

During this time your body has got to get  used to having continued lower oestrogen.  It might be a little bumpy to start with but it will ease up and iron out as you move through this part of your life.  If you get a sudden and unexpected period within these 12 months, you have to start counting again.  Be careful with whichever method of contraception you use during this time.  Unexpected and unplanned pregnancies can occur.


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