SHER THERAPY

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Naturopathy takes this principle and develops a workable science

Balance:
This is what we are all trying to attain every minute of each day, throughout our lives. We know instinctively that it's a good thing - so to the best of our individual abilities we strive for a balanced diet, a balanced lifestyle, a balanced perspective, a balanced skin.
The philosophy of naturopathic medicine is based upon three basic principles.

Practitioners believe that the body possesses the power to restore itself through its internal vitality and intelligence

First:
The first principle is that the body possesses the power to restore itself through its internal vitality and intelligence. This vital force is the foundation of naturopathic philosophy and all the naturopathic practitioner does is to create the most favourable conditions to stimulate and enhance this healing power of nature.

Second:
The second principle is that disease is a manifestation of the vital force applying itself to the removal of obstructions to the normal functioning of organs and tissues. The naturopathic practitioner always seeks to discover and remove the basic causes of disease whether they be: a) Chemical; i.e. an imbalance in the chemistry of the body fluids due to dietary deficiency or dietary excess, retention of waste products due to inefficient functioning of the lungs, kidneys and bowels, or poor circulation of body fluids; b) Mechanical; i.e. muscular tensions, strained ligaments, stiff joints, poor posture due to occupational factors, as well as spinal misalignments, leading to an interference in the functions of the nervous system and the musculo-skeletal system generally; c) Psychological; i.e. impaired function induced by stress, which may be due to worries and upsets in personal and domestic life and/or anxieties and pressures at work.

Third:
The third principle is that naturopathic medicine is a holistic approach to health. In other words, disease affects the whole person - body, mind and spirit, and not simply an isolated organ or system. Each person responds in unique ways to his or her environment, each has individual strengths, weaknesses and needs. Their body's reactions to the same stress may be very different depending on their level of health, inherited tendencies, previous medical history, etc. In treating the whole person the naturopathic practitioner searches for causes at many levels, and attempts to eliminate the fundamental causes of illness, not simply to remove symptoms.

The task of naturopathic practitioners is twofold. First, to educate their patients to take more responsibility for their health and to assist them to understand the fundamental laws of health relating to rest, exercise, nutrition and life-style.

Nutritional Therapy * NEW

Nutritional therapists believe that diet can ease a wide range of health problems as well as help to improve your vitality.

It's all in the eyes… and the cheeks and the mouth.

According to the principals of naturopathy and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), illness is a result of disharmony in the body, usually caused by a blockage in the chi, or life force. This can occur through factors such as poor diet, stress and a lack of exercise. It's thought that these then show physically in symptoms such as puffy eyes, bags, lines and wrinkles, which can reveal something about the state of your inner health.

Your eyes are a good indicator of the state of your liver

says Cornelis van Dalen, of the College of Naturopathic and Complementary Medicine. "Yellow eye-whites generally indicate a liver condition, sometimes jaundice or an accumulation of fat and mucus due to a high consumption of meat and dairy produce. Seek professional help to rule out jaundice. The best treatment for an accumulation of fat is a liver detox - consult a naturopath or herbalist - and a diet change. Try to adopt a wholegrain and vegetable diet, cutting out meat and dairy."

Puffiness and bags under the eyes can be related to the kidneys and a build up of toxins.

"If they have a yellow/fatty appearance, this could indicate an accumulation of mucus in the body, particularly the lower parts, so eliminate dairy foods and fatty meats," suggests Cornelis. "If they have a puffy, watery appearance, this may indicate the excess consumption of liquids and increased urination. Check your liquid intake, avoid alcohol and increase your intake of vegetables. If the condition is chronic or persistent, see a natural healthcare practitioner."

"Vertical lines between the eyebrows usually indicate a congested liver condition due to a poor-quality diet," says Cornelis. "They also indicate anger, which is the emotion associated with the liver. You need to check your lifestyle - seek peace through meditation and creative activities. Change to a vegetarian diet if you can, or cut down on meat, dairy, and eggs. Eat wholegrains and a wide variety of vegetables. You should also cut down on alcohol and sugar."

The location of spots can indicate problem areas within the body.

"Spots are a sign of heat in the system," says Here's Health's TCM expert Richard Blackwell. "They are also a sign of phlegm, which blocks the system." Spots on the forehead or nose indicate digestive problems, spots on the cheek can mean the problem is with the kidneys, while the chin can be hormonal in women, or an indication of constipation. Increase your fibre intake and drink plenty of water to flush out toxins. You may want to consider acupuncture, which can help correct the underlying causes.

The area under the eyes is a reflection of your kidneys.

Dark circles can be due to too many late nights so if you think this may be the primary reason, try getting some early nights and relaxing more. They can also be a result of ingesting too many toxins from excess alcohol and poor lifestyle so drink plenty of water to flush these out. "It can be due to excess salt," says Cornelis, so try cutting down for a while, as this would benefit your overall health.

"Skin colour and tone is an indicator of what is happening inside the body,"

says Cornelis. "A sallow complexion is very common in the UK and is generally due to excess dairy and fat consumption. It's an indicator of stagnancy in the body." Dry skin can mean a lack of essential fatty acids in the diet, so eat oily foods such as avocado and supplement with evening primrose oil.

"Brittle hair can indicate a blood deficiency and a lack of nourishing energy," says Richard Blackwell. "To help this, try to have regular meals, and include more fresh fruit in your diet. More protein can help-, so try to include meat in your diet or, if you are vegetarian, try aduki beans."