Author: Holistichealthcarewx

How Good Is Your Heart? Or are your Genes in your way?

Posted on by Holistichealthcarewx

By Dr Catherine W Dunne MSc. D., RGN, Reiki Master (RGMT), M.H.I.T: Master Acupressure, Practitioner of Reflexology, Aromatherapy, Deep Tissue/Myo-fascia Massages, Infrared Treatments, Vibrational Sound and Colour Therapist, Tissue Salt Advisor, Pendulum Healing Dowser, Chakra Practitioner , Tao Cosmic Healing Practitioner, Practitioner of Plant and Herb Medicine and Nurse.

Disclaimer: this article I have translated from German to English. In Germany and in USA, they are conducting research regarding best cholesterol lowering treatment, by focusing on Lipoprotein-a. Lipoprotein-a is the cause of fatty livers and the clogging up your coronary arteries. This research is still ongoing with very good outlook. The result is that we may only need a once per annum treatment. Sounds good to me, we’ll see.

Meanwhile, I stumbled across this German article and find it interesting enough to translate for you and share with you.

I hope you will enjoy the read.

Catherine.

Naturally lower Lipoprotein-a

Lipoprotein-a, a relative of cholesterol, is increasingly measured during medical examinations. The lipoprotein-a value is even more important than cholesterol levels when it comes to avoiding cardiovascular disease, they say. We explain how you can lower your lipoprotein-a naturally.

Author: Carina Rehberg

Specialist examination: Gert Dorschner

Current:14 August 2024

Naturally lower lipoprotein

Lipoprotein-A – often abbreviated to Lp(a) – is mainly formed in the liver and consists of 2 proteins, apoliprotein A and apolipoprotein B. It belongs to the blood lipids and is related to LDL cholesterol.

Lp(a) is intended to contribute to the development of Arteriosclerosis and have a prothrombotic effect, which means that it promotes thrombosis (blood clots). Therefore, an Lp(a) value that is as healthy as possible would be ideal. There are hardly any drugs that lower the Lp(a) value. We explain how you can naturally lower your Lp(a) level and thus also reduce your cardiovascular risk.

How lipoprotein-a damages the vessels

Lp(a) damages the vessels and promotes arteriosclerosis as follows ( 1 ):

  • Promotes inflammation
  • Penetrates the arterial wall, thus enlarging the lesions (injuries) of the vessel walls, which aggravates atherosclerosis
  • Attaches more strongly to the blood vessel walls than LDL cholesterol
  • Interferes with the formation of plasmin, an enzyme that would dissolve blood clots

Lipoprotein levels: Which ones are good, which ones are bad?

Lipoprotein-A levels should not exceed 25 – 30 mg/dl (for us in Ireland and UK this translates to 0.06-0.08mmol/L. Another example: if your total cholesterol is 6.4 mmol/L this converts to: 247.5mg/dl). If you have higher values (they can rise to 400 mg/dl (10.3 mmol/L) and more), then you assume a massively increased risk of cardiovascular disease, namely for :

  • coronary artery disease (blocked coronary arteries)
  • Stroke
  • peripheral arterial occlusive disease (intermittent claudication)
  • Aneurysm of the main aorta – An aneurysm is an abnormal bulge or ballooning in the wall of a blood vessel
  • Aortic valve calcification
  • Venous thromboembolism – Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a condition that occurs when a blood clot forms in a vein. VTE includes deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). DVT occurs when a blood clot forms in a deep vein, usually in the lower leg, thigh, or pelvis.

With values above 120 mg/dl (3.1mmol/L), the risk is said to increase 3.6-fold.

Are high Lp(a) values genetically determined?

The personal Lp(a) value is considered to be genetically determined and can neither ne influenced on in any direction – neither upwards nor downwards. So even if the Lp(a) level is too high, it is said that this is “predisposition”. It can therefore hardly be reduced by a change in diet or other lifestyle changes (sports, stress management, weight loss).

Nevertheless, it is precisely these measures that are important even in the case of an elevated Lp(a) value. This is because the cardiovascular risk is particularly increased if there is at least one other risk factor.

So even if your Lp(a) value cannot be influenced, you should do everything you can to avoid any other risk factors (no smoking, no obesity, no diabetes, no high blood pressure, relatively good cholesterol levels, plenty of exercise, healthy eating, etc.). (1).

What factors can increase the Lp(a) value?

Even though Lp(a) levels are considered to be genetically determined, there are some factors that can increase Lp(a) levels – namely some conditions, such as Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), kidney disease and a Diabetes mellitus (Type 2 Diabetes(1).

If the Lp(a) level is now elevated due to such a disease, it can of course also be lowered if the causative disease can be alleviated. In the links above you will find measures that help with hypothyroidism and measures that help with diabetes (you may want to set your search engine to translate those pages for you).

Medications that lower Lp(a) levels

There are hardly any drugs that can lower the Lp(a) level and even if they do, they often do not lower the level low enough to reduce the cardiovascular risk. PCSK9 inhibitors (PCSK9 inhibitors are a type of cholesterol-lowering drug. They reduce your levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, or “bad” cholesterol.), for example, are used to lower cholesterol, but can also lower lipoprotein-a somewhat, but only by 30 to 40 percent.

PCSK9 inhibitors include the active ingredients alirocumab (Praluent), evolocumab (Repatha) and inclisiran (Leqvio), which are injected subcutaneously for 14 days or monthly. The drugs are very new (maximum approval in 2015), so that side effects are not yet fully known.

Pain and redness often occur at the injection site. However, it can also cause upper respiratory tract infections, itching (pruritus), headaches, joint pain, nausea, aching arms or legs, and fatigue.

The drug AKCEA-APO(a)-L Rx (pelacarsen), which also has to be injected – and in a placebo-controlled study achieved an 80 percent reduction in lipoprotein when administered 20 mg weekly ( 2 ).

Cardiovascular patients or high-risk patients are often given statins to reduce cholesterol levels. However, there are conflicting results on the effect of statins on lipoprotein levels. In two studies from 2016 and 2017, lipoprotein levels even increased at the beginning of statin therapy (1).

In any case, it is important that you know that lowering Lp(a) levels does not necessarily reduce cardiovascular risk (as there are simply too many risk factors for this).

So, you can’t say that we are now lowering the lipoprotein-a value by all means and are then protected from cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, we always point out a holistic approach and advise against always concentrating only on certain values that you now absolutely want to influence.

Lowering lipoprotein – natural remedies

A 2019 study looked at whether natural remedies or supplements known to lower LDL cholesterol levels could also affect lipoprotein levels (1):

  • L-Carnitine
  • Coenzyme Q10
  • Red Rice Yeast
  • Pectin
  • Ginkgo Biloba
  • Linseed
  • Curcumin
  • Coffee
  • Vitamin D

A number of remedies actually had a correspondingly positive effect. Nevertheless, the reduction was not so great for any of the preparations that – if a really high level was present – harmless values could be achieved. It is possible that a more significant reduction in the values could be achieved by combining several natural remedies, but this has not (yet) been investigated to our knowledge.

In the following studies, it is repeatedly recommended to combine the aforementioned remedies with blood lipid-lowering drugs, which should of course be discussed with the doctor.

L‐Carnitin

 According to a 2016 meta-analysis, L-carnitine as a dietary supplement lowers lipoprotein by 13 to 29.3 percent (by an average of 9 mg/dl (0.2mmol/L)) with an intake of 1 to 4 g per day for 1 to 24 weeks (in people who previously had values above 30 mg/dl (0.8mmol/L)).

L-carnitine is produced in the organism from the amino acids lysine and methionine. The substance is particularly involved in the production of energy from fatty acids (which is important for the adult heart, for example) and is therefore also referred to as a fat burner in some places. It is possible that L-carnitine can inhibit the formation of lipoprotein-a in the liver.

Coenzyme Q10

According to a meta-analysis from 2016, coenzyme Q10 can also reduce lipoprotein somewhat – by 12.5 to over 30 percent (by up to 11 mg/dl (0.3mmol/L)) when taking 120 to 300 mg daily over a period of 4 to 12 weeks. For the analysis, 6 studies with a total of 409 patients were examined. All patients suffered from lipid metabolism disorders.

Q10 doses of less than 150 mg were able to reduce Lp(a) levels more significantly than doses above 150 mg. The higher the original values, the better the patients responded to Q10. Other blood lipid levels, such as LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol or triglycerides, were not affected by Q10 intake.

Since Q10 is also used in naturopathic medicine against Side effects of statins if you have to take statins, you can also combine it very well with them and achieve a double goal (fewer side effects and a decreasing Lp(a) level).

  • Here is a link to my article on CoQ10

Red Rice Yeast

In a randomized placebo-controlled trial from 2003, patients (with coronary artery disease) were given 1.2 g of red yeast rice per day for 6 weeks and experienced a 23 percent reduction in lipoprotein.

However, red yeast rice extract is not a blank slate, but basically contains nothing more than a natural statin (lovastatin) – and can therefore also have statin-like side effects. It is only less concentrated, therefore better tolerated, so it has a lower risk of side effects.

Statin-related side effects can be reduced by taking coenzyme Q10 – see the section on coenzyme Q10 – so if you want to try red yeast rice, it is best to take coenzyme Q10 as well.

Blood lipids are reduced by red yeast rice because it suppresses cholesterol formation – by inhibiting the so-called HMG‐CoA reductase. It is precisely through this mechanism of action that statins also act.

Pectin

Pectin is a soluble fiber that is abundant in apples or citrus peels. Because pectin has such good gelling abilities, it is also used to boil down jam.

As a dietary supplement, it has long been known to lower cholesterol – presumably because it promotes the breakdown of cholesterol in the liver, but also because it could inhibit the absorption of cholesterol and bile acids in the intestine. (If bile acid is not absorbed in the intestine, but is drained out with the stool, then the liver produces new bile acid from cholesterol, which then naturally leads to a decrease in cholesterol).

A study from 1999 examined whether pectin could also lower lipoprotein-a. In the placebo-controlled, double-blind study, patients (who suffered from high blood lipid levels) received 15 g of pectin daily (for 4 weeks), after which the level of lipoprotein decreased by up to 27 percent.

Ginkgo Biloba

Extracts from the leaves of Ginkgo biloba are usually used for dizziness, tinnitus or for Alzheimer’s prevention. The main effect of the plant is to promote blood circulation. However, it also has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiatherosclerotic properties. Antiatherosclerotic means counteracting vascular calcification.

In a first clinical study in 2006, for example, the administration of 120 mg of extract twice a day after 2 months was able to reduce lipoprotein by 23.4 percent or an average of 10.4 mg/dl (0.3mmol/L) – presumably due to the inhibitory effect on numerous pro-inflammatory messenger substances (cytokines).

In a 2007 study, ginkgo was even able to reduce atherosclerotic deposits in the blood vessels after 2 months in patients who were to receive a bypass. The same dose was used here as in the 2006 study – in the form of the special ginkgo extract EGb 761®, which is contained in numerous ready-to-use ginkgo preparations ( 4 ).

Linseed

Since fiber is generally considered to lower blood lipids and cholesterol, it should generally be part of a healthy diet for lipid metabolism disorders or an increased cardiovascular risk. Linseed consists of almost a quarter (23 percent) of fiber and is therefore particularly suitable here.

In addition, flaxseed contains certain plant substances with high health potential for the cardiovascular system, such as omega-3 fatty acids (cholesterol-lowering) and Lignans (blood lipid-lowering, antioxidant, anti-cancer in breast cancer and prostate cancer).

In a double-blind crossover study with postmenopausal women from 1998, however, flaxseed showed only a small reduction in lipoprotein levels. After six weeks of taking 38 g of flaxseed daily, the value had fallen by 7.4 percent and by an average of just under 2 mg/dl (0.1mmol/L) (1).

From 2008 comes another study (randomized, controlled, double-blind) in which the subjects were asked to eat 40 g of flaxseed per day for 10 weeks. The lipoprotein value decreased by an average of 14 percent compared to a group of patients who took wheat bran (1).

The reduction in the Lp(a) value is therefore rather small, but combined with the other positive effects of flaxseed on cardiovascular risk, it is quite relevant. For example, the small seeds have been able to slow down the progression of arteriosclerosis in various studies (1).

Curcumin

As curcumin, the active ingredient complex is used in Turmeric denoted. It has a positive effect on triglycerides and cholesterol levels, but also on lipoprotein levels. A 2014 randomized controlled trial found that taking 1g per day (for 8 weeks) increased lipoprotein levels in people with Metabolic Syndrome (Metabolic syndrome is a group of conditions that together raise your risk of coronary heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and other serious health problems.) by almost 10 percent (8 mg/dl (0.2 mmol/L)).

Curcumin has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, among other things, and can also reduce cardiovascular risk and support health through these mechanisms of action.

Coffee

Coffee consumption also influences blood lipid levels – due to at least two active ingredients: kahweol and cafestol. However, the content of these two substances in coffee depends on the method of preparation.

If the coffee is made with a paper filter, the active ingredients are apparently largely removed from the drink, so that it has no influence on cholesterol levels. Coffee prepared without filters, on the other hand, could increase LDL cholesterol levels.

In connection with lipoprotein-a, it seems that short-term coffee consumption reduced plasma lipoprotein levels, while regular coffee consumption is associated with higher levels.

Ginger

In a 2020 study, patients with atherosclerosis took capsules containing 1.6 g of ginger powder daily or capsules containing a placebo. After 8 weeks, two values that are elevated in atherosclerosis had dropped significantly – the value of lipoprotein-a and the hs-CRP value (an inflammatory marker that indicates the condition of the blood vessels and helps to assess the risk of heart attack) ( 5 ). In the 2019 paper (1), it was still said that ginger could not lower lipoprotein-a, which does not seem to be true in every case, so ginger can be very well integrated into an Lp(a)-lowering diet plan.

Vitamin D

In 2017, ( 3 ) was examined  how Lp(a) levels  are related to vitamin D levels (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1443950617300252). Participants were 348 patients who underwent coronary angiography (special X-ray examination of the coronary arteries after contrast agent administration). 212 showed coronary heart disease (calcification of the coronary arteries).

  • With Lp(a) ≧ 30mg/dl and vitamin D < 10 ng/ml, the risk  of coronary heart disease increased more than 4-fold
  • The risk was 1.79 times higher for Lp(a) < 30mg/dl and vitamin D < 10 ng/ml
  • The  risk was 1.7 timeshigher with Lp(a) ≧ 30mg/dl and vitamin D ≧ 10 ng/ml

In each case compared with patients who had an Lp(a) of less than 30mg/dl and a vitamin D level of more than 10 ng/ml.

The study thus shows that a higher vitamin D level can significantly reduce the cardiovascular risk with a high Lp(a) value! Read all about the correct dosage and Taking vitamin D.

This is also an example of the fact that naturopathic measures may not always be able to lower the lipoprotein level (or not strongly enough), but the cardiovascular risk associated with an increased lipoprotein level can be reduced.

These substances cannot lower lipoprotein

Some natural substances lower LDL cholesterol levels, but not – according to various studies – lipoprotein (1), e.g.

  • Berberine
  • Brazil nut flour
  • Garlic
  • Olive oil
  • Onions
  • Vitamin C
  • Soy protein and soy isoflavones

Of course, you can still incorporate these foods into your diet or – in the case of vitamin C – take them as a dietary supplement. After all, these are generally very healthy foods that have many beneficial properties and – even if they cannot specifically lower lipoprotein-a – still reduce the cardiovascular risk, and that’s what matters in the end.

Important note

This article was written on the basis of (at the time of publication) of current studies and reviewed by medical professionals, but may not be used for self-diagnosis or self-treatment, so it does not replace a visit to your doctor. Therefore, always discuss any measure (whether from this or another of our articles) with your doctor first.

Warm Wishes as always,

Catherine (CWD)
21 December 2024, Ireland

The Chakra or Mind-Body-Spirit Connection

Posted on by Holistichealthcarewx

By Dr Catherine W Dunne MSc. D., RGN, Reiki Master (RGMT), M.H.I.T: Master Acupressure, Practitioner of Reflexology, Aromatherapy, Deep Tissue/Myo-fascia Massages, Infrared Treatments, Vibrational Sound and Colour Therapist, Tissue Salt Advisor, Pendulum Healing Dowser, Chakra Practitioner , Tao Cosmic Healing Practitioner, Practitioner of Plant and Herb Medicine.

Hello and thank you for coming back. Today’s blog started back in 2019. Yes! Imagine. I started this article, feeling guided and not knowing where it would take me. It didn’t take me far, as my conscious knowledge was still limited. Deep down, I had this Inner Knowing yet did not know how to connect the dots, until now, I think.

This blog might seem like a long read. That is only because I included some A&P for better understanding.

The Chakra or Mind Body Spirit Connection

Chakra is a yogic word from India and literally means a wheel, whereas other cultures have different names for the same part of our energy system; Dantien is the Taoist Chinese, the Hawaiian Huna refer to Auw centres and in the Cabala the name is The Tree of Life. All the cultures have mapped the same energy system.

A definition of Chakra is “a vortex of energy and emissions operated by hormone instigation and by the autonomic nervous system. The Chakras form the front line of the body’s homeostasis.” (Homeostasis: definition in biology is the ability or tendency of the body or a cell to seek and maintain a condition of equilibrium – a stable internal environment — as it deals with external changes). That makes the Chakras very important indeed. Their electrical function can be likened to transformers to feed the higher voltage energy fields of the aura into the sub-circuits of lower electro-magnetic energy of the meridian system. The Chakra and the meridian systems are therefore intrinsically linked in order to form a distribution network for the life force energy.

I read some time back of an experiment where two scientific investigators of vital life force were testing the theory that we need energy from outside of us in order to live. One of the men was connected to a heart/vital signs monitor and then his crown and heart chakras were covered with lead. The other scientist was so startled by how quickly his colleague’s vital life signs were diminishing they had to immediately stop the experiment because if it continued, he would die.

Every organ, tissue, gland and cell in the body depends on a regular and uninterrupted supply of this energy in order to carry out the process of sustaining life. If the energy flow is restricted, shielded or blocked it can eventually lead to illness or disease. By finding and correcting the imbalance of the whole system of energy, we help to restore the natural equilibrium and good health.

The laws governing Quantum Physics has demonstrated that everything in the Universe is made up of vibrational fields, including the human body.

Ancient Chinese and Indian medicines are both advocates of unblocking and releasing energy disturbances inside and outside the body in order to alleviate the symptoms of disease. The vital life-source energy systems of the chakras and meridians are barely acknowledged or used in western medicine; in western culture the emphasis is on the things that can be seen under the microscope.

Chakras, meridians, aura and other energies in the body are collectively known as subtle energies of human and animal bodies. They interact with, and depend upon, the energy from the Earth and the Universe. As the experiment above indicated, if that source is blocked, we die. Recharging these energies is also dependent on breathing, eating healthy foods and drinking pure water. There are seven main chakras (there are actually more, but they are not connected directly with the body’s vital systems, including the meridians) which are shown in the diagram, and they are numbered from the low to high on the body. The name of each is the associated part of the body where they are found:

7. Crown
6. Third eye or brow
5. Throat
4. Heart
3. Solar plexus
2. Sacral
1. Root or base

Our instincts are involved with the lower chakras, thoughts and feelings with the higher chakras. Up to 12 chakras can be activated in some people but the others are not the subject of this article. The chakras are typically depicted with an associated colour; colours in the light spectrum have a unique vibrational frequency and therefore so do the chakras.

Some people have the gift of being able to see the energy colours, such as the author and energy worker Donna Eden. Donna writes that the colours are unique to every person. In her book Energy Medicine, she describes the chakras as having seven layers each of which corresponds with areas of life. This concept starts at the top layer which is related to recent events that have yet to be integrated into the energy. Then through the events of early life reaching down to the seventh layer. The seventh layer can be concerned with other lives lived (by the soul) and of unfulfilled potential that is waiting for the right time to bloom from the wisdom of the soul. Our chakras, therefore, show our biography.

Our mental, emotional and physical health requires the Chakra energies to be clear and free-flowing. All manner of health problems can occur when the Chakras are out of balance. Examples include where head and heart are imbalanced it can lead to difficulties in relationships. The organs in the region of any Chakra will reflect an imbalance seen in the Chakra and vice-versa. The chakras can have various levels of activity. When the Chakras are described as “open,” they are considered to be healthy.
Ideally, all chakras would contribute to our well-being. Our instincts would work together with our feelings and thinking. However, this may not be the case. Some chakras are not open enough (being under-active), and to compensate, other chakras are over-active. The ideal state is where the chakras and their associated organs are balanced.

Meridians

There are 14 meridians in total. The meridian system is comprised of twelve principal meridians which are distribution paths for the energy in the body. There are also two centreline meridians, the central or conceptual and governing, act as vessels to store the energy inside the body. Given the characteristics of each meridian and the service they provide to the organs, we refer to them individually, but they are in fact a single system which is fully integrated with the chakras.
The meridians are powerful circuitry in the body that:

  1. Are high speed information channels for the organs to communicate with the external environment.
  2. Provide the energy for homeostasis and allow the transport of energy (chi/prana) to the organs.
  3. Have electrical properties and the acupressure points along them are mini torsion (twisting) fields which act as amplifying capacitors for the information travelling along the meridian.
  4. Acupressure points have an increased level of electrical charge and respond to touch, needles, light and sound vibrations or other stimulus.
  5. Transmit energy many times faster than the nervous system; the speed of transmission can be compared with the telephone network of copper versus fibre optic cabling.

The diagram shows an approximate view of the flow of energy through the meridians and references their associated organs. Notice that some are on the front of the body, such as stomach and liver, bladder is on the back whereas heart, small and large intestine are on the arms. They all have start and end points and where one finishes, another starts nearby.

Recent scientific discoveries are proving that this ancient, almost mythological, energy is very real. Its effects have been measured in the laboratory; it constitutes a fifth force which has been overlooked by Western physics. The scientific world has slowly started to acknowledge the wisdom of the ancient cultures and calls the meridian network the Primo Vascular system.
When the internal and external aspects of our lives become at odds with each other we become dissonant which is a lack of harmony or inflexibility. This could be for example, from stress at work causing dis-ease in the body due to the inability of energy to flow.

When you understand the traits and properties of each of

the main energy centres and how they interact with the body, you can begin to appreciate the energetic link to physical disorders and ailments. This includes how energy and other levels of your consciousness such as thoughts and feelings impact the body; an imbalance in a Chakra can manifest as dysfunction or disease within the body.

From the alternative energy medicine point of view, we consider dis-ease in the body a more appropriate description. Dis-ease can usually be identified and re-balanced.

Before we go any further, let me refresh your anatomy and physiology of our body:

Now you are up-to-date the our body’s systems.

Therapeutic Measures to Balance Chakras and Meridians

See Mel’s experience of her Biofield Viewer with Kinesiology treatment – written in her own words:
“As an experienced and qualified Kinesiologist I use a number of techniques to support homeostasis for a client, otherwise called a re-balance. Any re-balancing involves the elements of physical structure, nutrition, emotions in priority order, as well as the energy flow of Chakras and meridians. By connecting all these components balance can be restored.
With the addition of the Biofield Viewer (TM) technology as a therapeutic tool, both of us can see the energy of your Chakras, biofield and the inner most etheric layer in your biofield. This specialist real-time imaging system captures photographs which are translated into psychedelic images by sophisticated software and colour coding to show the detected subtle layers of electromagnetic activity around your body.
This is a highly effective way of locating energy which is not flowing or is being shielded for some past or present reason. Where this is the case, it is likely to be creating imbalances in the body’s finely tuned systems and organs. The Biofield Viewer is able to show Chakra energies. This is a substantial scientific discovery as the chakras are very significant in your overall health and well-being.

This visual reinforcement is very powerful for healing. It could be likened to a parent seeing the ultrasound scan of their unborn child; it makes it feel more real and is often easier to engage with the development of the baby for both mother and father; or in our case, for you to engage with the energies in your body.

The innermost layer of the biofield is known as the etheric layer. The Biofield Viewer in 3D mode makes this field visible making it possible to track even the smallest vents of bio-photons, which is a sign of impending issues. In this mode, images of the etheric field are dramatically shown in three dimensions. See image examples below.

The shades and strength of colours have meaning. Here is an example of a Biofield image and the interpretation of what it is showing; it provides analysis information to discuss with you and to use in the Kinesiology treatment that will follow.This next example below shows images of two men; the picture on the left shows a man in good health with greater prevalence of green and narrow bands which indicate a healthier landscape in the body. The man on the right has congested energy which is depicted by the pools of bright pinks.

The 3D images are dramatically different from both the biofield and Chakra images. In the following example, by viewing her 3D images we found that the client was ungrounded. Being ungrounded can cause disruption in the body’s electrical systems and make you feel unsettled.

The two images shown were taken less than five minutes apart.

Taking a set of images is a fast, easy and non-invasive process. Images taken before and a few days after your treatment will reveal the energy improvement that have been made.

Leaving a gap before taking the second set of images gives time for your energies to settle.“

                                    Are you still with me?

                                                                             I hear you brain ticking and thinking:
             Just how does all this connected with chakras, meridians and our body?

I will try to explain with more tables and pictures. Baring in mind that this knowledge isn’t brand-new, well it is kinda, for us in the Western Hemisphere it is. In the Eastern Hemisphere the yogic/Ayurveda of India and the Daoist/Taoist of China, both carry this knowledge for 6000+ years.  The Three Tan Tien.

They already discovered the Mind, Body and Spirit connection.
The Body part is our physical body.
The Spirit part are our chakras
The Mind part is our perception of the world around us, aka Biofield/Aura.

                                               Okay … I hear another question coming up:
                       And how exactly do Mind, Body and Spirit connect?

                                              M-E-R-I-D-I-A-N-S
That’s how.

Our Meridians are the “fiber optic” highspeed internet, connecting to our organs and Chakra. The Central/Conceptual and the Governing Meridians are the body’s main Highway/Motorway. These then branch off to dual-carriage ways, side roads, lanes and paths. Now visualise the dual-carriage ways connect to an organ; each organ connects to its neighbour via the side road. The lanes connect to our lymphatic, circulatory and nervous systems. The paths to our sensory systems and beyond … like to our auras, our biofield.

Chakras and Related Anatomy Summary

The following chart summarises the relationship between the Chakra, anatomical areas and the inner-self aspect with the related meridian.

I really hope you enjoyed this crash course into your human vessel and know what makes it tick.

Warm Wishes,

Catherine (CWD 19 September 2019 Ireland)
Revised 09 November 2024

Forgiveness and Gratitude Meditation

Posted on by Holistichealthcarewx

By Dr Catherine W Dunne MSc. D., RGN, Reiki Master (RGMT), M.H.I.T: Master Acupressure, Practitioner of Reflexology, Aromatherapy, Deep Tissue/Myo-fascia Massages, Infrared Treatments, Vibrational Sound and Colour Therapist, Tissue Salt Advisor, Pendulum Healing Dowser, Chakra Practitioner , Tao Cosmic Healing Practitioner, Practitioner of Plant and Herb Medicine.

Today I want to share my April 2020 article again. I feel some things have changed since, but only superficially. I sense a lot of resentment and anger still in people.

“There is a time when we should hear the certain calls
‘Cause the world it seems it’s right in this line
‘Cause there’s a chance for taking in needing our own lives
It seems we need nothing at all
I used to feel I should give away my heart
And it shows that fear of needing them
Then I read the headlines and it said they’re dying there
And it shows that we must heed instead”
Michael Jackson

The veil is rapidly thinning. I also feel the “last of the sleepers” are going to experience a rude awakening. They shall have questions and a great sense of feeling overwhelmed by the Truth.

Many Starseeds and Lightworkers have been preparing for this moment since the start of the infamous lockdown of 2020/21. We are now sitting patiently for this nefarious bubble burst. It is not going to be nice. And yet, united we have become so strong, as One, we shall defeat the poisons out there. As One we help those lost, unite with us. As One, we Heal the World, because WE ARE THE WORLD

“We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let’s start giving
There’s a chance we’re taking
We’re taking our own lives
It’s true we’ll make a brighter day
Just you and me“
Michael Jackson

17/04/2020

Hello and thank you for joining me here today.

My name is Catherine Dunne. I am a Nurse, Holistic Practitioner, Energy and Intuitive Healer, Spiritualist and Teacher. I am also the Author of the last two Reiki Attunements from the Reiki Grandmaster Series, called Forgiveness and Gratitude.

Thanks to the current “lockdown” I have found time to watch all those things, I normally struggle to watch. I’ve been watching OUT OF SHADOWS OFFICIAL (by the same name). I’ve also been watching Laura Eisenhower, Magenta Pixie, and Edge of Wonder, to name a few.

I am also a fan of Magenta Pixie, and I am sure, many of you are following her, too. Her books are a conversation with the “Nine”. Four days ago, she made this video Three Step Process to Stargate Ascension in Lockdown (Full Monadic Download)),which I ended up watching twice, as it stirred something within me.

Magenta speaks of Ho’oponopono, Fear, Emotional Integration, Declaration of Sovereignty and Forgiveness and Gratitude. The steps Magenta speaks of are:

THREE STEPS

STEP ONE

Understanding the dark plan – Feel the fear and integrate the Emotion(s)

STEP TWO

Declaration of Sovereignty ; laying down your boundaries

With step 3, you are turning around the negative effects from step 2, making them positive and so laying down a new contract to the universe.

STEP THREE

Forgiveness and Gratitude to be sent out to the Being of the Cosmic Universe.

Lets see, what this means:

  • Ignorance or “being ignorant” means Your response due to lack of knowledge/understanding. So, we learn of a virus, and it is highly contagious but fail to understand why so many people are dying.
  • Fear. To witness the spreading of and over many countries seemingly simultaneously … like a tsunami rolling in from the sea and you are helpless. Three Step Process to Stargate Ascension in Lockdown (Full Monadic Download)
  • Anger. You are ordered to stay at home. You are being told, you are not an “essential worker”. You are told, you cannot visit family and friends. A close person to you is dying. You are told to keep away. You witness, despite restrictions in place, how many are ignoring them, placing you and your loved ones at great risk, perhaps. Your Anger, because you are also running out of things to do: i.e. home painting and decorations, DIY projects and so forth leads you to become frustrated.
  • Frustration leads to Resentfulness, Desperation and Depression. Even paranoia.

All of those attributes are very negative. It also seems you cannot “run away” from this either. The “news” of increasing numbers of infected cases; increasing numbers of death by virus, is in your face all day long. You wake in the morning, turn on the radio you’re listening to it…. You turn on the TV and you are seeing it, you cannot buy the newspaper, so you resort to internet newspapers and those are usually just headline chasers, but you are now reading the words. There is no escaping it. Or is there? This constant bullying with slow drip fear feeding, eats away on our very substance, our essence, the person you were born to be. They, the Darkworkers are nearly having you where they want you to be, on your knees. This has to stop. This is emotional rape, I think. The human is a mammal and like all animals, we need social connectiveness.

“I used to feel, I should give away my heart
And it shows that we are needing in there
Then I read the headlines
And it said they’re dying there
And it showed that we was heeding a stand“
Michael Jackson

So STEP ONE

Understanding the dark plan – Feel the fear and integrate the Emotion(s). How do you integrate emotions? Feel them, meditate on them and release the negative energy. After this is done, you move on to

STEP TWO

Declaration of Sovereignty; laying down your boundaries. (For a better understanding best go to YouTube and watch Laura Eisenhower’s Message to the Dark Controllers).

How? Verbalise or write down for yourself or to the public that you have never given permission to be broken like a wild horse. You’ve never given, nor will you give  permission to let Fear into your life. You do not Consent for the Darkworkers to take control over your life. Once you have this achieved you move to

STEP THREE

Forgiveness and Gratitude to be sent out to the Being of the Cosmic Universe.

“Now there’s a time when we must love at all
And it seems that life, it don’t make love at all
But everyday and I love you more and more
It’s she and I, didn’t do it better.”
Michael Jackson

“There’s a chance we’re taking
We’re taking our whole lives
It’s true, we’ll make a brighter day
Just you and me.”
Michael Jackson

2016/17 I studied Ho’oponopono. What is Ho’oponopono?

Ho‘oponopono, the Hawaiian forgiveness process, allows us to cut the aka connection. This means essentially clearing out preconceptions in how we view others. It helps create new connections and rejuvenate relationships with the help of Divinity. The word “forgive” means to wipe the slate clean, to pardon, to cancel a debt. When we wrong someone, we seek his or her forgiveness in order for the relationship to be restored. It is important to remember that forgiveness is not granted because a person deserves to be forgiven. Instead, it is an act of love, mercy, and grace.

FORGIVENESS

To quote Thomas Szasz:

“The stupid neither forgive nor forget; the naïve forgive and forget; the wise forgive but do not forget.”

To quote me from the RGM Series Level 19 = Dai Yōsha = Great Forgiveness

“Forgiving others comes later. First you must forgive yourself. This requires taking responsibility for your own learning process, and having the courage to sweat!”

To quote me from the RGM Series Level 20 = Dai Kansha = Great Appreciation = Gratitude

Online definition:

“Gratitude means thanks and appreciation. … Gratitude, which rhymes with “attitude,” comes from the Latin word gratus, which means “thankful, pleasing.” When you feel gratitude, you’re pleased by what someone did for you and, also pleased by the results. “

My definition:

“When we have learnt to practice Forgiveness, what follows, is a moment of nothingness, quietness and after a while of zero state, the Divine talks to you in form of inspiration. But before this can happen, we go through a phase of feeling lighter, elated, thankful. A weight has been lifted. Because you were able to let go, you have made room for something new, like hope, love, happiness, appreciation or gratitude to fill the void.”

(CWD 2017)

“We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let’s start giving
There’s a chance we’re taking
We’re taking our own lives
It’s true we’ll make a brighter day
Just you and me“
Michael Jackson

Meditation

The technique is similar, as the other symbols Dai.

It deals with just your upper body. It does not matter if you are sitting in the Lotus position or sitting on a chair.

Take 3 deep cleansing breaths, in through your nose and out hard, through your mouth and visualise a bright light from heaven which, enters in through your Crown Chakra and flows through the body, hands and feet until it is finally comes out again.

During this meditation, awareness rises that one is in contact with the Universal Life Energy and that we are in a lifetime of change, and that we should prepare for a new era. So let us start; and meditate for 15 minutes.

I love you. I’m sorry.
Please forgive me.
I thank you.                    

Warm Wishes

Catherine
(CWD) 8 November 2024, Ireland

The Forgotten Remedy

Posted on by Holistichealthcarewx

Case Samples and General Dosage and Therapy Recommendations

By Dr Catherine W Dunne MSc. D., RGN, Reiki Master (RGMT), M.H.I.T: Master Acupressure, Practitioner of Reflexology, Aromatherapy, Deep Tissue/Myo-fascia Massages, Infrared Treatments, Vibrational Sound and Colour Therapist, Tissue Salt Advisor, Pendulum Healing Dowser, Chakra Practitioner , Tao Cosmic Healing Practitioner, Practitioner of Plant and Herb Medicine.

For a brief overview of the type and duration of colloidal silver application, see the next explanations. Please note that these are exclusively valued experiences from my and other CAM practitioners and from clients.

A commonly asked question is about the correct strength of colloidal silver is to be used. Well, the answer can only be that there is no general valid answer. As with all remedies, the helpful dosage and duration of treatment depends decisively on the individual type and the severity of the disease.
Below I am going to share some case studies of conditions, severity, dosage, and duration of treatment. I am sure you will find them to be useful guides.

It is also important to point out, when working with natural remedies of any kind, these are not meant as “quick fixes.” A certain level of patience is required both by the therapist and the client.

*** DISCLAIMER: ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL FIRST IF CONCERNS ARISE. THE CASESTUDIES STATED BELOW IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY AND ARE NOT MEANT TO SUBSTITUTE YOUR MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS SCHOOL MEDICINE TREATMENT/RECOMMENDATIONS. ***

Colloidal Silver in the many instances, really can cure a disease or at least slow down the deterioration, and in doing so, speed up its healing. Most impressive is, how antibiotic-resistant conditions still show successful treatment results, using colloidal silver.

The following values apply to an adult with a body weight of 60-80kg. In the case of children, the amount is adjusted as a percentage of their body weight. For the dosage in children, but also in adults, you can use the rule of thumb 2ml per kg body weight.

Please always taken colloidal silver on an empty stomach and in sips. Avoid food or drinks for 20-30 minutes afterwards. Taking it on an empty stomach is of great importance, and by doing so, you will avoid unwanted side-effects. Plus, this will ensure colloidal silver is fully absorb in the upper parts of your small intestine and not arrive in your large intestine and killing off your healthy gut bacteria.
Please note: avoid drinking sparkling water 10 minutes before and after colloidal silver. Sparkling water has added mineral salts, which combined with colloidal silver can have severe consequences!

Examples of Dosage and Duration

Basic Therapy:

The recommendations for bacterial or viral infections: Colloidal Silver 25ppm, 100-150ml, three times daily, for three days. Then, continue mornings and evenings until the symptoms have eased.

Topical Therapy:

The recommendations for slow healing, or infected wounds with puss: soak a sterile gauze into colloidal silver 50ppm, apply to wound and bandage up. Depending on the wound, repeat this up to three times daily, using fresh gauze. Safe to keep on overnight. Also effective for wart treatments.

Eye/Ear Drops Therapy:

The recommendations are to use colloidal silver 25ppm in a bottle with dropper, and two to three times daily apply a few drops.

Preventative (i.e. flu seasons) Therapy:

The recommendations are to drink either every morning or every evening 100ml of colloidal silver 25ppm. Sip it, and on an empty stomach. For quicker absorption, hold in mouth for a few minutes, swishing it around your tongue, this allows the mucous membranes to absorb the silver water. Then swallow.

After a week or two, you should notice improvements, even with stubborn infections. If this is not the case, please consult your medical professional.

Always seek your Family Doctor when notifiable illnesses (i.e. measles, chickenpox are suspected.
You are a responsible adult; the decision to treat with antibiotics or colloidal silver lies in your hands.

So, let us look at some cases. I will list some common human conditions and some animal conditions.

Human

Conjunctivitis: Conjunctivitis is one of the most common infections of the eye, caused by bacteria or virus. But also, chemicals or foreign bodies can irritate and inflame the eye. Working in front of a monitor for 8+ hours a day, central heating and Air Cons will tire the eye and dry the eye. Allergies are another common factor. Symptoms of acute conjunctivitis are: red eye white, itchy, and gritty eyes, sometimes very sticky in the mornings. Photophobia (shy of light), swelling and twitching of the eyelids.

  • at 2-hourly intervals one drop of colloidal silver and one drop of homeopathic eye drops Eyebright Euphrasia drops. Plus, in the mornings drink 100ml colloidal silver 25ppm.
  • because I must spend many hours in front of the computer, I frequently suffer with dry, itchy eyes. I instill two drops of colloidal silver at the first sign of symptoms: usually dryness. That’s it. Gone.

Bronchial Asthma: Bronchial Asthma plays a huge roll in Industrial states, with 10% children and 5% adults being affected. We distinguish between Typical (allergic) Asthma and A-Typical (unknown source) Asthma. Most common allergens that trigger an asthma attack include: pollen, house dust, house mites, animal hairs, birds, smoke (chimney and/or cigarette), deodorant and hairsprays, chemicals including bleach, food… but also hormonal and weather changes, bacterial and viral infections.

  • Adults: asthma triggered by allergens, i.e. pollen – hay fever, for a brief period of time, take 100ml colloidal silver 25ppm, twice daily.

Influenza: Influenza, not the common cold you call flu. Propper influenza will have you “nailed” to the bed, unable to lift your head off the pillow and fever. Influenza is usually seasonal. Can be epidemic and affect the whole populus. Very contagious viral infection. Influenza will last for up to three weeks and if remains unresolved can lead to pneumonia. Most common influenza symptoms are: general muscular and joint aches and pains, sinus congestion, runny nose, headaches, aching eyes, chest pain, lacking energy, feeling deflated, excess tiredness, cough (dry or productive) and lack of appetite. Depending on your immune system status and on whether you have underlying other diseases, influenza can affect you harder than others.

  • for three days, three times a day, 100-150ml colloidal silver 25ppm, thereafter, twice daily till symptoms are improved. Colloidal silver in this case will prevent secondary infections like pneumonia.

Eczema: Eczema is a well-known and common skin condition: Acute phase: dry patches of skin, very itchy, can be red and inflamed. The skin can tear, swell, have erosions and be wet. In the more chronic phase, it can have similar appearance to psoriasis, skin will have cuts and tears and often get crusty, given the skin a very rough appearance. Eczema and Asthma are close cousins and so have similar triggers.

  • Colloidal silver 50ppm, soak gauze and topically apply to affected areas several times a day till symptoms is easing. Plus
  • Colloidal silver 25ppm, drink 100ml, twice daily … plus …
  • Cleanse your gut system of parasites.

Fibromyalgia: Still today, there is very little research on fibromyalgia, what is the trigger and how to treat it, but those of us affected by it will tell you all about their pain. Pain that predominantly is found around certain pressure points on muscles, connective tissue, and bones. And if this wasn’t enough, there are other chronic symptoms to “put up” with, such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Insomnia, Depression, stiff joints in the mornings, Brain fog and concentration lapses, numbness in the extremities, dizziness, disorientation, and the list goes on. With all of these symptoms going on simultaneously, the diagnosis is a difficult one to call.

Most affected by this disease are the age groups 20-55 years old, and 90% of these are women, usually starts in their early 30s – so pre-peri-menopausal.

  • Colloidal silver 25ppm, drink 100ml morning and evening for three days, then twice daily 100ml until symptoms improve.
  • Also recommended is SAM-e (S-Adenosylmethionine).
  • Supplementing with Pineapple and Papaya enzymes is also recommended; take on an empty stomach and drink plenty water with it.

Information found on Fibromyalgia Germany http://www.fibromyalgie-fms.de

In Ireland we have a support group Fibro Ireland with a huge library of information. https://fibroireland.com/

There are many more examples I could list, but I may mention in a future blog.

Animal

We cannot expect an animal to tell us what is wrong with them, nor can we expect them to gargle or willingly take colloidal silver from us, however, creative we must get.

Colloidal silver, as part of generalised preventative therapy, may be added to their food or water. Still, undiluted is still the best way to administer colloidal silver.

Animals too, may have skin conditions, and colloidal silver can be administered topically.

To give orally, best use a syringe (without the needle attached) and topically, soak a gauze in colloidal silver and dab, swab, wrap the area with it.

The rule of thumb: 2 ml colloidal silver 25ppm/kg body weight.

*** Disclaimer: Please consult with Vet if unsure or symptoms worsen. ***

Let me share some common problems.

Ear infection: Infection of the ear can have many origins. Please first consult with your Vet, to establish the cause of infection. Please never use cotton buds to clean the animal’s ear(s); this can cause more harm than good! Always use a clean cloth to wipe the ear.

  • Apply a few drops of colloidal silver 25ppm into affected ear for three times daily. In addition, give 2ml/kg colloidal silver orally until symptoms improve.

Tick bites: Like humans, animals too, can fall prey of Lyme (Borreliosis) disease. Birds too, not just your pet cat and/dog, if they spend a lot of time outdoors.

  • Bite wound: disinfect the site with colloidal silver 25ppm and as a preventative measure administer orally with syringe (without needle) 2ml/kg body weight, colloidal silver 25ppm once daily for three days.

Summer Eczema: Caused byBlack fly bites, found all around Europe also.

Black flies (buffalo gnats) are small dark flies that come out during early summer and late spring. These flies belong to the Simuliidae family and are called buffalo gnats because they have a humpback appearance. 

They suck blood as a necessary part of their reproduction process. The female black fly has to suck blood from an animal and human prey to complete the reproduction cycle. 

Typically, black flies bite domestic animals and mammals, including humans. Buffalo gnat bites can cause itchiness and pain for many days.

What Harm Can Buffalo Gnats Cause?

Black flies bite humans and animals, causing nuisance, pain, discomfort, or even livestock death. They often bite people around their necks and heads. 

If a massive swarm of black flies attack birds, they can kill them too. They can also enter the livestock’s ears and noses, clogging their respiratory tracts. Incidents of this happening in chickens have been reported, and the animals died of suffocation. 

When black flies bite, they also release saliva, which causes toxic shock syndrome, killing the animal. Some black fly species also carry serious diseases, such as leucocytozoonosis, a condition found in chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys. 

There are six species of black flies in North America that feed on humans. Some other species may be attracted to humans, too. Although they do not bite, they can enter the eyes, nose, mouth, and ears, causing a nuisance to people playing or working outside. 

A number of species of black flies are found around all of Europe, including Germany, Austria, France, UK and maybe Ireland.

The summer eczema predominantly is a genetic disposition but triggered by the bite of the black fly. Affected animals will tend to constantly rub against a surface to ease the itch.

  • Irrigate the affected skin area with colloidal silver 25ppm several times daily.
  • In addition, for three days, morning and evening 2ml/kg body weight of colloidal silver 25ppm, then 1ml once daily until symptoms have improved.

Wounds: Animals may receive many various types of wounds, ranging from scratch wounds, bite wounds, abrasions, horned animals hurting each other, like cows during a ranking fight, however a wound was caused, colloidal silver of most beneficial.

  • Cleanse wound with colloidal silver 25ppm several times daily or twice daily if using gauzes soaked in colloidal silver -as part of a dressing.
  • With large wounds, give orally 25ppm/kg, 2ml morning and evening for a total of three days.

Case story: a red setter had been mauled by a rottweiler and required 80 stiches. Despite oral antibiotics, the red setter developed gangrene, and the vet lost all hope. The dog’s owner at this point started treating his dog with colloidal silver, both the wound as well as orally. The red setter recovered well after a few days of treatment.

There are many more examples I could list, but I may mention in a future blog.

Plants

Growing plants, on has many factors to consider like soil, light, fertilising, frequency of re-potting and environment. But for some reasons, some plants unexpectedly die or become diseased. Like mammals, the plant world is also subjected to bacterial and viral and fungal infections.

Colloidal silver can be used to spray onto leaves and stems but not the flower/blossom itself and be added to the watering can.

  • The rule of thumb: Standard for spraying is colloidal silver 50ppm undiluted. You may also add same concentration, 200ml into 10L water for watering.
  • Spraying of foliage should occur at dawn before full exposure to sunlight. Best at Dawn and or Dusk.
  • Another benefit of using colloidal silver is that the fruit/vegetable can be consumed immediately after having been sprayed with colloidal silver. Again, this is based on possible viral/fungal/bacterial infections. You will still need to wash them if shop bought, as they are always sprayed with pesticides and other chemicals.

House and potted summer outdoor plants: Subjected to various bacterial infections, it is recommended to treat your plants with colloidal silver, to help booster their immune system (help fight/ward off bacterial/viral and fungal infections).

  • Plant parts diseased should be removed carefully so not to infect the whole plant.
  • Spray the whole plant with colloidal silver 50ppm once weekly and in addition, add colloidal silver 50ppm 200ml/10L water to their watering water.

Mildew – Real and False Mildew: Real Mildew can affect indoor and outdoor potted plants, fruit trees and vegetables. This type of fungi attacks plants no matter the weather condition – too dry or too damp/wet. Real Mildew (Oidium) is a real threat for Vineyards. Once affected, the whole crop can be lost.

  • Both Real Mildew and False Mildew leave a white flour-like coating on the underside of the leaves. The difference between both: Real Mildew can be wiped off the affected plant. False Mildew is greyer and cannot be wiped off.
  • Example: Hydrangea affected by Real Mildew will present with white coloured under leaf sides, whilst their surface side yellow spots will be visible, that later turn red.
  • Example: False Mildew: indoor plants, wine stock, vegetables, salads, cucumbers, onions, cereal (wheat/barley/corn) and roses are most common plants to be attacked. Symptoms present as a none removable white/grey coasting on the underside of leaf, surface side present with white-yellow spots and new leaves curl up.
  • Remove all affected plant material, Spray with colloidal silver 50ppm once weekly. And to boost their resilience, water with colloidal silver 50ppm: add 200ml to 10L water. Water close to the soil without pouring over plant material. Do this monthly. Avoid fertilising.

Rose Rust:  Cold damp weather conditions aid towards the spreading of Rose Rust. This fungus causes bright yellow spots on the leaf upper surface side and a little later on the leaf underside and stem, little orange pustules are noticeable. In addition, from about mid-July dark spores can be seen. The leaves turn brown and fall off.

  • In the autumn remove all fallen leaves (do not add to your compost). Protect your roses from being too wet.
  • Water the pant close to the soil, do not water over the rose.
  • Plant parts diseased should be removed carefully so not to infect the whole plant. èSpray the whole plant with colloidal silver 50ppm once weekly and in addition, add colloidal silver 50ppm 200ml/10L water to their watering water.

While examples I could give are too many for this blog, I hope this was informative for you. Colloidal Silver, we must not forget, has been around long before penicillin was invented. Colloidal Silver was used as a surface disinfectant, skin disinfectant, wound healer, treatment for bad breath and body odour. It then drifted away from our conscious minds until maybe just around the turn of the Millennium. It was rediscovered and added in form of dressings. Hydro-colloid dressings with Ag. In recent years, even before covid, Colloidal Silver was re-living a come-back, and not for dressings. On mainland Europe, it has been used for a variety of this. During the Covid Lockdowns, when disinfectants became hard to get your hands on, those of us, who were manufacturing their colloidal silver, started to disinfect their workstations, and started to take it orally as a preventative and to cure oneself. Continental Europe is miles ahead of Ireland for Natural Medicines.

Antibiotic Resistance is rising. Mainly because of over prescribing when not required like for a viral infection. In the late 1990s, the pharmaceutical industry aggressively encouraged doctors to prescribe their promotion antibiotic. This trend continued until perhaps 2010. Antibiotics are meant for bacterial infections and not effective towards viral or fungal infections, but still, antibiotics were being prescribed. Now we have a generation of antibiotic resistance emerging.
Not good.
The industry is constantly working towards finding the next new antibiotic combo to best the resistance. Meanwhile, Nature is patiently waiting on you to discover her.

Thank you for having taken the time reading this Blog. I am really grateful that you are patient with me, as I try to find topics to write about. Thank you.

Another more science based blog on colloidal silver is found here:

https://holistichealthcarewx.health.blog/2024/10/27/what-is-colloidal-silver/

Warm Wishes,

Catherine
1st November 2024 Ireland

The Forgotten Remedy

What is Colloidal Silver?

Posted on by Holistichealthcarewx

Chemical-physical basics

By Dr Catherine W Dunne MSc. D., RGN, Reiki Master (RGMT), M.H.I.T: Master Acupressure, Practitioner of Reflexology, Aromatherapy, Deep Tissue/Myo-fascia Massages, Infrared Treatments, Vibrational Sound and Colour Therapist, Tissue Salt Advisor, Pendulum Healing Dowser, Chakra Practitioner , Tao Cosmic Healing Practitioner, Practitioner of Plant and Herb Medicine.

Anyone who wants to try out the effect of a remedy unknown to them first seeks to understand its underlying substance. They want to understand its properties and how it works. So, let’s start with the question: What is colloidal silver? The term colloid is little known. However, we deal with colloids on a daily basis. Yes, our lives are even based on colloidal systems. For a better understanding, let us first approach the explanation from the scientific side before turning to the practical meaning. Still, since colloid chemistry is an extremely extensive field, only the most important basics necessary for the understanding of colloidal silver shall be discussed here:

 A colloid is a system in which the smallest particles are extremely finely distributed. These particles consist of few atoms to a few thousand atoms and usually have a size of a few to 200 nanometers. One nanometer corresponds to one billionth of a meter. The proportions are illustrated in the following table. A human red blood cell, for example, has a diameter of 7.5 micrometers (= 7500 nanometers), i.e. it is almost forty times larger than such a giant colloid particle with a diameter of 200 nanometers. For a better understanding, some measurements are set in relation to each other below:

                                1 m                        1 meter
= 1000 mm= one thousand millimeters
= 1000000 μm= one million microns
= 1000000000 nm= one Billion Nanometers
= 10000000000 Å= ten billion Ångström
Object Size
Silver ion (Ag+ )0.115 nm (= 1.15 Ångström)
Silver atom0.175 nm (= 1.75 Angstrom)
Glucose molecule0.7 nm (= 7 Angstrom)
Colloidal Silver (ca. 15 Atome)1–5 nm (= 10–50 Ångström)
Virus20–300 nm (= 0,02–0,3 micrometers)
Bacteria200–80 000 nm (= 0,2–80 micrometers)
Red blood cell7 500 nm (= 7,5 micrometers)
Human Hair Diameter40 000–100 000 nm (= 40–100 micrometers)
Human Egg150 000 nm (= 150 micrometers)

Yet, colloidal silver produced with a generator is much smaller. It consists of only a few atoms and has a diameter of only about one to five nanometers. This colloidal silver is thus many times smaller than a red blood cell or a giant bacterium. Such a ratio is roughly equivalent to the difference in size between a cat and Mount Everest. Compared to the smallest bacteria, a particle of a silver colloid is still almost 2000 times smaller. This relationship is about as if an adult person were standing in front of the Grossglockner Mountain.

What are the benefits of Colloidal Silver?

Case notes of some experience with many diseases:

Therapeutic colloidal silver is a universal, almost side-effect-free remedy for the treatment of a wide range of diseases. Many publications have shown that it is effective against bacteria (e.g. staphylococci and streptococci), viruses and fungi (e.g. the yeast fungus Candida albicans). These pathogens are all killed within a few minutes by colloidal silver. Interestingly, the “useful” bacteria in the large intestine, which are important for the human organism, are usually spared, as colloidal silver is absorbed in the small intestine and at the latest, absorbed into the bloodstream or lymph. In some cases, however, it is also desirable for colloidal silver to act in the large intestine. Colloidal silver can also be used for diseases whose causes are not or not fully known.

In the meantime, the successful effect of colloidal silver has been described for a huge spectrum of diseases. It is effective for several hundred different clinical pictures. Especially at the beginning of the 20th century, its effectiveness was intensively studied by numerous well-known scientists, who published the results in renowned medical journals such as Lancet, Journal of the American Medical Association and British Medical Journal (i.e. Courtenay 1997). After a long break, interest in silver and colloidal silver had sharply declined. However, research has been very active again for several years.

In a wide variety of fields, the healing power of silver is once again being scientifically dealt with and the old findings and experiences are also being proven with new methods. Diseases for which experience with colloidal silver has been made include numerous complaints of the eyes, respiratory tract, skin, motor apparatus and nervous system.
Considering that a broad-spectrum antibiotic (against bacterial infections) or a broad-spectrum antifungal (against fungal infections) can only kill some of the pathogens and resistance can easily form, this is an enormous advantage. An antibiotic is only effective against a small number of different pathogens and never against viruses. In addition, the intake of colloidal silver is almost free of side effects, while chemical substances can usually have many and strong side effects.

A frequently asked question is whether colloidal silver is also effective against emerging pathogens, such as HIV (AIDS pathogen), H5N1 (bird flu virus) or SARS-CoV (coronavirus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome). Unfortunately, there are no studies on this yet, so one can only assume that colloidal silver also helps against these viruses. An overview of the wide range of applications of colloidal silver in humans, animals and plants can be found in a separate book (Pies and Reinelt 2010). In addition to descriptions of the clinical pictures, it also contains concrete information on the use of colloidal silver.
Of the numerous diseases listed in the literature that are or have been treated with colloidal silver, some are listed below as examples. Many users swear by the preventive effect of colloidal silver against colds and flu. For example, about a quarter of users take colloidal silver for respiratory diseases (Pies and Reinelt 2010). This was already known a century ago. Searle (1920) writes: “Colloidal silver has been shown to be useful in influenza, both for prevention and cure, by being used as a nasal spray, eye bath, or gargle.”
The principle of wound treatment with silver coatings or silver plasters, which has been rediscovered today, is based on the same idea as wound treatment with colloidal silver: In addition to silver sulfadiazine, which was introduced in 1968, silver ion-releasing wound dressings and dressings are mainly used today (Thomas and McCubbin 2003). In addition to anti-inflammatory, silver ions also promote the formation of new epithelial tissue and accelerate wound healing. In the early healing phase, more silver is absorbed by the wound tissue than later. This is obviously related to the fact that the healthy tissue (epithelium) is a partial barrier for the silver. So it has a double effect here, because protection against infections is of the utmost importance after a burn, for example. It is possible that colloidal silver supports the production of undifferentiated cells, which are necessary for the replacement of aged or damaged cells (see: Since when has colloidal silver been known?). This may happen by positively influencing controlled cell death (apoptosis) by silver ions.
Experimental studies have found that silver also stimulates the formation of special proteins, so-called metallothionein, in the epithelial cells (Landsdown 2002b). These proteins serve to detoxify the body from heavy metals such as cadmium and mercury and promote wound healing. Silver foil made of thinly rolled, sterile silver has been widely used for wound treatment since about 1900 (silver is the most elastic metal after gold and can be processed into 0.0027 millimeter thin sheets). This prevents excessive fluid loss and promotes new tissue formation. In the case of burns and scalds, however, it is also important to prevent infections with pathogens. Silver also makes an important contribution to this as a foil and in colloidal form. It was Dr. William Halstead (1852–1922), one of the fathers of modern surgery, who popularized silver foil for wound covering. This principle was used intensively until the Second World War, but then became a victim of the triumphal march of antibiotics. For some years now, the principle has been experiencing a renaissance in the form of silver-coated wound dressings and plasters (cf. silver dust and silver threads). Hydrocolloid dressings are available as medical devices for antimicrobial wet wound treatment.

The effect is based, among other things, on the release of silver ions into the wound. Lyme disease (erythema migrans disease) was first described in 1976 in the US town of Lyme. It is usually transmitted by ticks and caused by a bacterium, the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. In the course of the disease, cardiac and neurological symptoms as well as arthritis of the large joints can occur. Courtenay (1997) points out that patients who were treated in vain with various antibiotics for three years or more became symptom-free with three to four weeks of therapy with colloidal silver. The average time it takes to rid the body of the pathogen is three to nine months. However, a yeast infection (caused by Candida albicans) often complicates the therapy, which requires an extension of the duration of treatment, according to Courtenay. The Dresden physician Dr. Wilfried Krickau has also made very good healing successes with colloidal silver in the concomitant therapy of Lyme disease (Krickau 2005). As with antibiotic therapy, however, it must be borne in mind that a negative serological result does not necessarily mean the complete healing of Lyme disease.

*** Please never try to treat serious illnesses on your own but entrust yourself to an experienced doctor or alternative practitioner. ***

They can be triggered by different fungi and can be very disturbing. They are often associated with itching, redness or even painful skin cracks (rhagades). Fungal skin diseases often pose a major health and cosmetic problem for affected people at the same time. Conventional treatment often takes a long time, and relapses often occur.

Courtenay (1997) reports that the symptoms can be controlled within two to three days with local application with colloidal silver. But there are also stubborn cases that require more patience.

Psoriasis is a disease whose predisposition is inherited, and which is considered incurable. It is an extremely annoying illness that can also be psychologically stressful. Their outbreak can be triggered by various factors (including bacteria and viruses). The disease manifests itself through increased dandruff formation and occurs preferably on the elbows, knees, hairy head, palms and soles of the feet, as well as in body folds. However, the whole body can also be affected. Courtenay (1997) describes that normal skin grows back after just three weeks through the application of colloidal silver, but the therapy can also take three to eighteen months, depending on the previous treatment.
Patients regularly report good experiences with colloidal silver in psoriasis (Pies and Reinelt 2010).

However, the disease can break out again and again. Inflammation of the mouth is very common. They can affect the gums, tongue or cheeks and can have various causes. Sometimes they are very painful and disturbing and can even make it difficult to speak or eat. It is reported that those affected have recovered very quickly due to colloidal silver. After a short, low-dose application, most were able to eat again, and a complete regression of the infection was achieved after two to four days by taking colloidal silver four times a day.

Herpes simplex is caused by a virus and manifests itself through recurrent localized, grouped blisters. Depending on the diseased area of the body, we speak of herpes facialis (face), herpes labialis (lips), herpes nasalis (nose), herpes buccalis (cheeks) or genital herpes (genital organs). The symptoms are often triggered by stressful life situations of the infected person. The first signs of a new flare-up are itching and sensitivity to pain in the affected area. The annoying bubbles then form. According to Courtenay (1997), topical application (topical application) of colloidal silver can prevent blistering in half of the cases at the first symptoms. If they do occur, it is usually milder than without immediate treatment. Their regression is also positively influenced by colloidal silver. They disappear again in half the usual time.

Herpes zoster (shingles), another viral disease that can be very painful, is also described as a successful treatment with colloidal silver. Many people will wonder if colloidal silver can cure AIDS. The more severely a person is affected by a disease and the more hopeless its treatment is, the greater the hopes for every new drug and for every new treatment method. Especially in the case of HIV infections, new drugs and drug combinations have been able to achieve better and better success in recent years. In this way, the onset of AIDS can be significantly delayed and the treatment of concomitant diseases has also been improved enormously. Although AIDS has not yet become curable, the quality of life of those affected has been improved and their life expectancy has been greatly extended. Although it is described that the AIDS pathogen, the HI virus, just like other viruses, is killed with colloidal silver in vitro (in the test tube), a cure for AIDS has unfortunately not yet been achieved. In HIV-infected people, otherwise harmless germs cause so-called opportunistic diseases because of the weakened immune system. Therefore, colloidal silver should also be suitable as a natural agent for these people to support the immune system, especially since it is well tolerated. Many of these opportunistic diseases are caused by single-celled organisms (bacteria, fungi or viruses). These include, for example, cytomegaloviruses, herpes simplex viruses, candida, salmonella, mycobacterium, tubercle bacillus and toxoplasma. If you are interested in experiencing colloidal silver in AIDS, it is best to contact a regional support group. But the homepage of the AIDS Project Los Angeles (www.apla.org) also provides information on this. As part of the FDA’s call for statements regarding colloidal silver (book: Why all the fuss?) an interesting article by a doctor on the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (benign enlargement of the prostate) was also submitted.

He reports on a double-blind clinical study on 22 men aged 50 to 82 in whom he had treated nocturia (i.e. an increased urge to urinate at night). Patients reported getting up one to five times during the night. 15 patients (verum group) were treated with colloidal silver and seven with placebo (colored water). The dose was one teaspoon each of a finished product in the morning and in the evening over 19 to 23 days. Four patients from the verum group subsequently reported a decrease in going to the toilet at night from two to four times to only once. Five (as well as one from the placebo group) reported a general improvement in nocturia. Subsequently, all study participants took one teaspoon of colloidal silver per day for eight weeks.

After another four weeks, 16 participants (one had dropped out of the study) reported improvement, while five reported no progress. In this context, the successful treatment of night tripper (inflammation of the prostate as a result of gonorrhea) is also interesting. To do this, the physician James Mac Munn injected colloidal silver into the prostate through an endoscope (Mac Munn 1917). After the “anthrax letters” following the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001, the question immediately arose as to whether one could protect oneself against the anthrax pathogen with colloidal silver. In fact, it has been known since 1887 that silver is very effective against the anthrax pathogen (Bechhold 1919 and Dean 2001). This pathogen had been discovered eleven years earlier by the famous Robert Koch (1843–1910). Even though he is better known today for his work on tuberculosis, Koch owed his professional advancement to the discovery of the anthrax pathogen Bacillus antracis in 1876, because this was actually his first object of study. We owe his work not only the reduction of cholera and tuberculosis, but also that of the highly contagious anthrax. Even today, anthrax is widespread worldwide, especially in countries with little intensive animal disease control. Especially people who often come into contact with animals or animal carcasses (farmers, veterinarians, etc.) are potentially at risk of contracting anthrax. However, the “anthrax letters” at the end of 2001 clearly showed that danger also threatens from other sides, because the laboratories of the “civilized war industry” are not as safe as generally assumed, since the pathogens used at that time obviously came from such laboratories.

As a preventive measure, in connection with the “anthrax letters”, official bodies recommended the early administration of antibiotics to people at risk. However, it is warned not to do this on your own. If necessary, the medicines (penicillin for pulmonary and intestinal anthrax or ciprofloxacin or doxycycline for cutaneous anthrax) are available in sufficient quantities. Although there are no studies on whether colloidal silver can prevent infection with anthrax in humans or animals, since it kills the pathogen, it can be assumed that taking colloidal silver can at least support the body’s own defenses. If there is a concrete suspicion of infection with the anthrax pathogen, professional help must be sought in any case. At this point, it should be emphasized once again that colloidal silver does really amazing things in many cases, but it is not a miracle cure (Pies 2010). They can use it to fight many pathogens – also preventively – or support the cure of diseases.

***DISCLAIMER: The purpose of this article is to give more insight and education into the benefits of colloidal silver. By no means is this suggesting being “The Treatment” and, in the case of serious illnesses, professional medical advice must always be sought.***

Did you find this article of benefit? I hope you found this interesting. I am “diving” further into the ancient history of colloidal silver and gold and want to share my findings with you.
So stay tuned.

Warm Wishes as always,

Catherine (CWD)
27 October 2024, Ireland

Some Natural Remedies for Fibromyalgia Pain

Posted on by Holistichealthcarewx

By Dr Catherine W Dunne MSc (Hon), Reiki Master, Master Acupressure, Practitioner of Reflexology, Aromatherapy, Deep Tissue/Myo-fascia Massages, Infrared Treatments, Vibrational Sound and Colour Therapist, Tissue Salt Advisor, Pendulum Healing Dowser, Chakra Practitioner , Tao Cosmic Healing Practitioner, Practitioner of Plant and Herb Medicine and Nurse.

When you live with fibromyalgia, you face daily challenges that many others don’t. Chronic muscle pain, nonstop fatigue, unrefreshing sleep, numbness or tingling in the hands and feet, and depression are all issues that can divide your life into ‘good days’ and ‘bad days.’

Fibromyalgia affects approximately one in 50 people – mostly women. There is currently no cure and no one knows what causes it- yet. Therefore, finding the best fibromyalgia pain relief is an ongoing process.

In this blog, we’ll examine seven herbs that can provide relief for your symptoms, along with three natural treatments that can make a big difference in how you feel.

1. St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)

Natural Remedies for Fibromyalgia Pain - St John's Wort

While no studies have been done on the effect of St. John’s wort on fibromyalgia symptoms, it is often used to treat depression, which is commonly associated with fibromyalgia.

As a herbal therapy, it’s usually well-tolerated, although some people may experience an upset stomach or a skin rash.

According to this medically-reviewed article published on WebMD, an analysis of studies examining the effect of St. John’s wort on depression found that the herb was as safe and effective as selective SSRI antidepressants like Zoloft and Prozac. However, if you are currently taking antidepressants, speak to your healthcare practitioner, as mixing St. John’s wort with some medications may cause illness.

2. Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea)

Natural Remedies for Fibromyalgia Pain - Echinacea

Echinacea is often used to shorten the duration of the common cold and flu, and to reduce symptoms such as a sore throat, cough, and fever.

Herbalists also recommend echinacea to help the body fight infection.

Echinacea contains antioxidants such as flavonoids, cichoric acid, and rosmarinic acid, which may protect your body from the pain and stiffness associated with fibromyalgia. It can also activate chemicals in the body that reduce inflammation while strengthening your immune system.

3. Turmeric

Natural Remedies for Fibromyalgia Pain - Turmeric

Dried and ground turmeric roots have been used as a pain reliever and anti-inflammatory for centuries, particularly in India. More recently, turmeric’s active ingredient, curcumin, has been called the ‘herbal ibuprofen.’

One study found that curcumin was highly effective at reducing pain and swelling in arthritic joints. When taken as directed, it can deliver a similar benefit to those living with fibromyalgia, so if you already enjoy turmeric in your meals, here’s a good reason to keep indulging! Works best in combination of Black Pepper or Piperine.

4. Cayenne (Capsaicin)

Capsaicin has powerful pain-relieving properties when applied to the skin. It reduces the amount of substance P, a chemical that carries pain messages to the brain, in your body. When there is less substance P, the pain messages no longer reach the brain, and you feel relief.

https://www.mountsinai.org › herb

Cayenne Information | Mount Sinai – New York

What are the benefits of topically applying cayenne pepper?

Topical analgesic.

Studies show that applying 0.025% to 0.075% capsaicin cream topically may also aid in short-term pain relief. It eases pain from rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and psoriasis. It also relieves pain due to neuralgias. These include shingles and diabetic neuropathy.

https://www.urmc.rochester.edu › c…

Cayenne – Health Encyclopedia – University of Rochester Medical Center

5. Arnica (Arnica)

Arnica has been used for treating bruises, inflammations, and muscle pain since medieval times.

Today, many different topical remedies include it as a natural treatment for muscle pain, as these treatments tend to be well-tolerated and have few side effects.

Rubbing an arnica-based salve on sore joints and muscles can provide a measure of relief from the pain and stiffness associated with fibromyalgia and even improve joint function. Now available in the Apothecary!

Research has suggested that certain arnica gels work as well as ibuprofen in reducing hand pain associated with osteoarthritis.

6. Lavender (Lavandula)

Natural Remedies for Fibromyalgia Pain - Lavender

Lavender oil and flowers are both used to create natural remedies for insomnia, stress, and anxiety. Since fibromyalgia patients often suffer from all three, taking lavender as a tea, tincture, or topical treatment can make it easier to sleep at night. One study concluded that lavender essential oil improved the sleep quality of patients in intensive care units (ICUs) who had trouble sleeping.

When applied as an oil, lavender has an added benefit of helping to reduce pain and improve blood circulation, rubbing a massage oil over sore joints and muscles may give you the pain relief you need.

STOP. Handle with caution!

Lavender is so dangerous….
In doing some of the research, though, I just had to laugh…. Because according to a Google search,

Lavender can cause:

blurred vision
difficulty breathing
burning pain in the throat
burns to the eye
confusion
decreased level of consciousness
diarrhea (watery and bloody)
stomach pain
vomiting
rash
skin irritation
allergic reactions such as hives
OKAY….OKAY….STOP!

PPP-LEASE….

In case you’re wondering…..

Now that artificial intelligence is in charge, the information is pulled from a variety of articles and is in an “experimental” stage at this time.

If you didn’t know all of this, what on earth would you think when you read all of these things? The list reads like a Big Pharma advertisement (risk section), doesn’t it?

Good GRIEF!

It’s becoming more and more evident that the powers that be (PTB) are truly, TRULY trying to crush use of natural, good-for-you plants for health. It’s ridiculous to be afraid of lavender, one of the safest, broad-use and beautiful of the medicinal herbs.

I love Lavender. Don’t you?

7. Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa)

Natural Remedies for Fibromyalgia Pain - Blach Cohos

Black cohosh, which was first used by Native Americans for medicinal purposes, became a popular treatment for women’s health issues in the mid-1950s.

Today, black cohosh is often used to ease the symptoms of menopause, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), acne, and osteoporosis.

Black cohosh root contains several chemicals that work to reduce pain in the body, making it a viable treatment for fibromyalgia symptoms. These chemicals can also have a similar effect to serotonin, which boosts the mood and can help reduce feelings of depression.

8. Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum)

Natural Remedies for Fibromyalgia Pain - Milk Thistle

Milk thistle is a flowering plant that is frequently used to treat various health conditions, mainly liver problems like cirrhosis, hepatitis, and jaundice.

In addition, it may lower cholesterol levels and help people manage type 2 diabetes.

Many people have found that milk thistle is highly effective in the treatment of painful conditions like fibromyalgia. In addition, it helps strengthen the digestive tract and aids in the healing of irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, and Crohn’s disease.

Additional Natural Therapies

The soothing and healing effects of the above herbs can be sustained and even improved with natural therapies that also target the stiffness and soreness caused by fibromyalgia. They include but are not limited to exercise massage and acupuncture.

1. Exercise

Fibromyalgia patients might find exercising difficult at first, but building up gradually and persevering can be beneficial. Over time, your pain and discomfort may decrease as muscle strength increases.

Exercises like swimming, walking, and cycling, are likely to improve health and the quality of life for people with fibromyalgia. A physical therapist can help you put together a program that works for you.

2. Massage

Massage may provide chronic pain relief when received regularly. There are different types available to help you cope with fibromyalgia-related stiffness and discomfort:

  • Swedish massages use long strokes to target and relax the muscle’s superficial layers.
  • A deep tissue massage uses direct pressure and slow strokes to affect the deeper layers of your muscles and relieve chronic tension.
  • Myofascial release involves stretching and manipulating the connective tissues, making them more flexible and allowing you to move more freely.

Your massage therapist will work with you to determine the type of massage that will reduce your pain and improve your comfort the most.

3. Acupuncture/Acupressure

Acupuncture is part of traditional Chinese medicine, which treats a wide range of pain conditions. A core principle of traditional Chinese medicine is: “Where pain exists, Qi is blocked.” Qi (or Chi) is the name of the life force (energy) that permeates the human body. Practitioners believe that when your Qi is blocked, it can cause pain or illness

Acupuncture can relieve pain by facilitating a more efficient flow of Qi through the painful areas. During your treatment, which lasts anywhere from 20 to 45 minutes, the acupuncturist will insert several thin, sterilized needles in strategic locations to open up all of your Qi channels.

You may notice that your pain has improved following an acupuncture treatment session. It may have to do with the fact that acupuncture triggers endorphins, which are natural painkillers that can help decrease pain perception.

Conclusion

Managing uncomfortable fibromyalgia symptoms improves your quality of life. The remedies and treatments in this blog can all play an important role in controlling pain and depression and improving mobility. A consultation with your healthcare practitioner can result in a holistic treatment plan that improves your outlook and your wellbeing.

My fibromyalgia clients all love the Infrared Myofascial Massages and the Cayenne Balms. Some even go as hot as 350000 units heat on the Scoville chart.

Thank you for showing continued interests in my blogs.

Until next time,

Catherine

CWD 12 May 2024 Ireland

Intuitive Healing with ByoGen Chiryo

Posted on by Holistichealthcarewx

Or The Release of Non-beneficial Energy Using the Genetsu-Ho and Byosen Reikan Ho Technique

By Dr Catherine W Dunne MSc. D., RGN, Reiki Master (RGMT), M.H.I.T: Master Acupressure, Practitioner of Reflexology, Aromatherapy, Deep Tissue/Myo-fascia Massages, Infrared Treatments, Vibrational Sound and Colour Therapist, Tissue Salt Advisor, Pendulum Healing Dowser, Chakra Practitioner , Tao Cosmic Healing Practitioner, Practitioner of Plant and Herb Medicine.

“The secret method of inviting blessings, the spiritual medicine of many illnesses (Shôfuku no hihô, Manbyo no rei yaku)
Just for today(Kyo dake wa):

Don’t get angry (Okoru na)

Don’t worry (Shinpai su na)

Be grateful (Kansha shite)

Work diligently (Gyo wo hage me)

Be kind to others (Hito ni shinsetsu ni)

Mornings and evenings sit in the gassho position and repeat these
words out loud and in your heart (Asa you gassho shite kokoro ni nenji kuchi ni tonaeyo)

For the improvement of mind and body (Shin shin kaizen)

Usui Spiritual Healing Method (Usui Reiki Ryoho)
The founder, Mikao Usui (Chossô, Usui Mikao)“

In the world of holistic healing, Reiki has gained immense popularity for its ability to promote physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Central to the practice of Reiki is the concept of energy, and one powerful technique that helps Reiki practitioners tap into this energy is Byosen Reikan Ho scanning. Byosen Reikan Ho scanning is a method used to identify areas of imbalance and blocked energy within the body, allowing the practitioner to focus their healing intentions and facilitate the flow of energy to promote healing. In this blog, we will delve a little into the intricacies of Byosen Reikan Ho scanning in Reiki and explore how it can unlock the key to harnessing the healing potential of energy.

If Byosen Reikan Ho is the Body and Aura Scanning or Intuitive (psychic) Sensing of Imbalances, then Byogen Chiryo Ho is the Finding the Root of a Problem.

Understanding the Concept of Energy in Reiki Healing

Before we dive deeper into the world of Byosen Reikan Ho scanning, it is essential to understand the fundamental concept of energy in Reiki healing. Reiki practitioners believe that energy, also known as qi, ki or chi, flows through the body, nourishing and sustaining it. However, when this energy becomes stagnant or blocked, it can lead to physical, emotional, and mental ailments. Byosen Reikan Ho scanning aims to identify these areas of stagnation or blockages, allowing the practitioner to direct healing energy to those specific areas and restore balance; this also affects our Chakras.

In Reiki, energy is not limited to the physical body but extends beyond it. It encompasses the Aura, Chakras, and Meridians, which are vital components of the body’s energy system. Byosen Reikan Ho scanning helps the practitioner detect imbalances in these energy fields, providing valuable insights into the underlying causes of a person’s health issues. By gaining a deeper understanding of energy and its flow, Reiki practitioners can better facilitate the healing process and support their clients in achieving optimal well-being.
A Reiki Practitioner who has studied many varied Energy Healing modalities, will understand the Energy signatures of a healthy organ, a healthy body and so becomes more sensitive, more intuitive.

Let’s begin by teasing out a meaning of the words. Byosen Reikan Ho, a Japanese Reiki practice taught in Okuden Reiki Level II, is a phrase composed of five kanji:

病 Byo = illness, sickness

前 Sen = present, complete, uniform (there are other kanji for Sen, having meanings such as before, ahead, previous, future, precedence, gland)

靈 Rei = sacred, spirit, soul

感 Kan = impression, feeling, sensation, emotion

法 Ho = method, rule, model, system

A literal translation of the kanji would be ‘illness present sacred impression method.’ Since that translation doesn’t easily glide over the tongue, a simpler and more user friendly translation of Byosen Reikan Ho would be ‘method for sensing sacred impressions of an illness.’
Byosen is concerned with the ‘energetic sensation’ perceived at areas of dis-harmony or dis-ease.

Whenever there is a dis-ease, dis-harmony or dis-order in a person’s energetic makeup (whether or not the individual is aware of it) there will always be an accompanying ‘energetic sensation’, referred to as hibiki (‘resonance’) – providing one is aware of what to look for – and providing one has developed the necessary sensitivity skills to perceive it.

What does that actually mean?

Illness can be anything — a broken arm, stress, cancer, anger, attachments, ignorance, you name it. Impressions are what are known in Japanese as Hibiki, which means echo, reverberation, or sound. It is said that a seasoned practitioner can infer from the Hibiki the cause, current status, and amount of treatment required to heal the dis-ease. These impressions are sometimes referred to as intuition, which can be felt in your body, seen as a visual image, heard as a sound, or experienced in another kinaesthetic way. And, within the system of Reiki, the method is a hands-on method with the body.

Kan and Hibiki

Before proceeding further, let’s look at this idea of an impression (kan) as an echo (hibiki).

What is an echo? The scientific definition states that an echo is simply a reflection of sound or electromagnetic waves on an obstructing surface. Bringing that definition into the Byosen Reikan Ho practice, when we are doing a hands-on method over our client’s body, our hands are the obstructing surface that enable us to experience the energetic waves of the client’s illness.

However, everything we experience is filtered through our personal interpretations of how the world works and what is important to us. 

These filters — which are defined by our society, where we grew up, what we learn from school, parents, our personal practice, etc.— are different from one person to another.


Allow me to explain the Byosen Reikan Ho levels:

A lesser known facet of Byosen Reikan Ho scanning is that it presents itself to the practitioner as different detectable levels; these levels are indicators of the degree of byosen present in physical and subtle bodies. Recognizing these levels during a Reiki treatment is a beneficial source of information.
 
These are presented here in order of increasing intensity. Most practitioners are familiar with the sensations but may not be aware of their significance during treatment.
 

  • Heat (the first level of sensation intensity) – The heat level is higher than normal during a Reiki treatment. This level indicates a certain accumulation of toxins.
     
  • Strong heat (second level) – The heat experienced by the practitioner may become uncomfortable and the palms may begin to sweat. This indicates a higher concentration of toxins.
     
  • Tingling (third level) – This can be experienced as a “needle” sensation or a buzzing sensation in the hands. It can also manifest as numbness or a “pull” sensation. This level indicates a more severe level of toxic accumulation.
     
  • Throbbing, cold (fourth level) – The practitioner may experience this level as a throbbing sensation in the hands, which may also become uncomfortable. The manifestation of the cold, as well as the strong pulsations, indicate that the affected part contains a substantial accumulation of toxic energy, probably due to an infection or an unresolved problem for a long time.
     
  • Pain (fifth level) – This refers to the pain felt in the hands and sometimes in other areas of the practitioner. The pain may be limited to the fingertips or fingers. However, it can also occur in the whole hand, wrist and arm up to the shoulder. This is, of course, the most severe level of byosen. When the practitioner feels pain, it is necessary to maintain the position of the hand and channel Reiki until the pain disappears, which indicates a decrease in byosen. The presence of pain is an energy signal and does not pose a threat to the practitioner’s health. However, if this sensation occurs, you can shake your hands two or three times. In my practice, I have experienced the sensation of pain sometimes during a treatment and I am always grateful for this unmistakable signal.

Dai Yōsha and Dai Kansha

Dai  = The Great

Yōsha  = Forgiveness

Kansha = Appreciation/Gratitude

“When we have learnt to practice Forgiveness, what follows, is a moment of nothingness, quietness and after a while of zero state, the Divine talks to you in form of inspiration. But before this can happen, we go through a phase of feeling lighter, elated, thankful. A weight has been lifted. Because you were able to let go, you have made room for something new, like hope, love, happiness, appreciation or gratitude to fill the void.” (Catherine W Dunne, Ireland  2016)

A few weeks ago, a gentleman rings to make an appointment. His wife had shared a blog I had written: Mixed Emotions . He felt inspired but didn’t know what type of treatment he actually wanted.

To continue with this story, let’s call him Christian. He is aged late 50s, early 60s. A few years back he had been involved in a multi car traffic accident, his car was written off, so were two other cars. Many badly injured, Christian was very lucky. His shock made him leave his mangled car and try to help others. Fact was, he should have not been physically able to do any of the First Aid.
The driver who caused this accident was unharmed. His passenger, his brother though, spent the rest of his years in hospital care. The damage to his body was irreversible. The driver was elderly, and with his brother, had just been to visit their terminally ill sister.
Christian is left with fused vertebras in his neck. So his range of movement in his neck is limited.

Christian was not sure why he came, just knew, after having read Mixed Emotions, that he had to. We chatted about this accident and how he felt then and today. Whilst chatting, I scanned his body. I started with assessing his Chakras. All fine, except his Heart Chakra: stopped. Then body brushing – Byosen Reikan Ho: Heaviness, imbalance and a buzzing sensation over his lungs.

TCM:

He has mild COPD, but this is not what I was sensing. Lungs: Familial. Did something happen in his childhood? Denied.
We continue discussing all possibilities and I kept returning to this accident.

During my scanning and continued assessing, we were talking about Christian’s emotions after this car accident. What surfaced was his inability to control his anger-outbursts. As years went on, the anger and frustration grew within him.

Had Christian forgiven the driver?

“Yeah! Absolutely! Sure, … his sister was terminal, … and … his brother is permanently crushed and hospitalised as a result from this accident … his mind was not on the road …. His mind was occupied with his terminal sister… ”.

And still. I was drawn to this accident.

Suddenly, it was I who became overwhelmed, emotionally overwhelmed. Tearful, crying. I was still applying Healing. But there was a sense of Gratitude Dai Kansha, coming through. An energy. Not Christian’s.

Christian laid there, seeing my emotional outburst, and was confused.

Then I understood: The Driver. He was attached to Christian. He wanted to find a way to ask Christian for Dai Yōsha. Forgiveness.

With Byogen Chiryo Ho, Byosen Reikan Ho and focused energy healing – Reiki – Vibrational Therapy – Pendulum Therapy, we allowed the healing to come through. Christian immediately felt ‘lighter’. He hadn’t realised that what he was feeling in his body, the heaviness, the dreariness, his anger outbursts … had its root cause at the time of the accident. 12 years earlier.

Later that day, I received a WhatsApp message: “My wife says: I got that Spark is back in my Eyes….. Thank you for this healing journey. Thank you. I feel so much lighter.”

If this is your first blog of mine that you are reading, here is who I am:

Dr Catherine W Dunne MSc. D. (Hon), RGN, Reiki Master (RGMT), M.H.I.T: Master Acupressure, Practitioner of Reflexology, Aromatherapy, Deep Tissue/Myo-fascia Massages, Infrared Treatments, Vibrational Sound and Colour Therapist, Tissue Salt Advisor, Pendulum Healing Dowser, Chakra Practitioner , Tao Cosmic Healing Practitioner, Practitioner of Plant and Herb Medicine and Nurse.

Thank you for spending time with me. I am not a frequent blogger. But when I have a case that has me thinking about for days, then it’s time to share my experiences with you.

Until we meet again.

Just for today I shall count my Blessings

Warm Wishes

Catherine (CWD 28 May 2024, Ireland)

Cancer Treatment and the Holistic View

Posted on by Holistichealthcarewx

Most definitions of cancer broadly conform to the current NCI definition: “Cancer is a disease in which some of the body’s cells grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body.” 

By Dr Catherine W Dunne MSc. D. (Hon), Reiki Master (RGMT), M.H.I.T: Master Acupressure, Practitioner of Reflexology, Aromatherapy, Deep Tissue/Myo-fascia Massages, Infrared Treatments, Vibrational Sound and Colour Therapist, Tissue Salt Advisor, Pendulum Healing Dowser, Chakra Practitioner , Tao Cosmic Healing Practitioner, Practitioner of Plant and Herb Medicine and Nurse.

These definitions tend to describe what cancer “looks like” or “does” but do not describe what cancer “is” or “has become.” 

Hi, and welcome to my today’s post. My intention is not to discuss the treatments for cancer. My intention is to discuss the “side-effects”; how the diagnosis and treatments affect the person, and why it is important to offer holistic approaches during those times.

I have a client who has breast cancer.
The diagnosis, as expected, was a shock to the “system”-self and family and friends. Once the diagnosis and type was confirmed, everything has been and still is happening very fast.
The more I think about this, the more I conclude, that because from time of diagnosis to treatment is a highspeed roller-coaster-ride, it is actually good that this happens so fast. If you are given too much time to think and dwell on the idea of having cancer, too many boxes filled with questions, cans of worms, are opened … and time is of the essence … how long would it be, before you’d make the decision this is “good” for you? Would it be too late?

She is a very optimistic person. With a Pharmaceutical background, she was aware of the chemical side-effects. But she decided to embrace it and face it full on. She started to look for holistic practitioners near her, having studied all the profiles, she was amazed to find someone less than 6 minutes up the road from her, and someone who is a practicing Medical Professional. This is Ireland.

From hereon in, I shall refer to her as Yvonne. I am protecting her identity.

Yvonne rings me one day asking for a Reiki session. I gave her an appointment. The following week we met for the first time. Yvonne explained her journey to me; how Breast Check had a cancellation and had rung her, asking if she was free that afternoon to attend … her planned appointment wasn’t due for another 5-6 weeks. This is October 2023. She works close by and agreed to go.

Yvonne is very spiritual. But more so secretively. She had a hunger to learn something along the holistic paths, not quite sure what though. Work is taxying. Very demanding. No longer satisfying. Yvonne had already looked into meditations, started reading up on the powers and benefits of crystals, before the call from Breast Check came, offering her a cancellation appointment.

Butterfly

Yvonne started her first chemo treatment at the start of December and had another before Christmas. Yvonne’s first visit to me was some time in November. She had done “her homework” in regards to Reiki and knew what to expect. The first 30 minutes we just talked about the diagnosis itself, how she felt about it, and her family … still sinking in … but determined not to allow cancer to get the better of her. I introduced myself to her, given her my background history. I explained that while Reiki is Energy Healing, with all the various types of Energy Healing under my belt, today it is difficult for me, JUST to do Reiki – in the traditional sense, I mean. I also explained that the terms “Healer” and “Therapist” when it comes to these type of therapeutic treatments have never sat well with me, and that I haven’t come across a term I like. And if you, the reader, are a Reiki Practitioner, you know we are not Healers, but Conductors.
I explained I will start off today’s session as a typical Reiki session, but as I also do ByoSen, if I pick up something, I will give that part of the body my 100% attention. Was she happy with this?
This first session was not long after the biopsy and was awaiting it’s result. Still sore.

My hands are very sensitive. I knew why she was here and knew what to expect in the chest area. I felt the cancer in her breast. I felt it large and strong (how big in size it actually was, I couldn’t tell you, but it’s EGO was large and strong!) What I hadn’t expected was the energy around her ovaries. Dark and hungry, is how I would describe this energy. Made me feel sick in my stomach. (Downside of being an Empath).
I explained to Yvonne what I was picking up and that I did not believe the cancer to be in the ovaries, but the breast cancer is on the Mama gland pathway and so connected to the ovaries – energetically for now. I also explained, that for that session, I wanted to remove this energy from the ovaries and “retract” it and confine it only to the breast. But, this was Friday and next Friday was surgery and I wanted her back on Tuesday before that surgery. I felt this cancer to be strong minded and if not curtailed, would get a run … Yvonne agreed to return on Tuesday.

Just to give you an idea, the energy over her ovaries was palpable 3 feet above her abdomen. 3 feet up. I forced it down and away from her ovaries with great effort.
Just as we were finishing up, something caught my attention. I looked around to see what it was … and there on the window was a butterfly, flying up and down the window inside the treatment room. I was surprised to see on and said out loud:” wow, there is a butterfly … ” and Yvonne, laid there, smiling at me and said: “I thought I had heard wings flapping … this is amazing! Too amazing to be a coincidence“. The question mark on my face must have been visible to her. Yvonne went on to explain, that earlier in 2023 a close friend of hers had died. A butterfly was with the coffin all the time. This friend was a great believer in butterflies.

Excerpt of the meaning of Butterflies in the spiritual sense:

Butterflies represent transformation, rebirth, freedom, and hope in different cultures and traditions.
In many cultures also, butterflies symbolize the soul’s journey after death and the process of spiritual evolution.

When she returned on Tuesday, Yvonne told me she had told her friends about the butterfly and they couldn’t believe it either. Remember, it’s winter.
Yvonne made herself comfortable on the treatment couch. I examined her and the energy was back over the ovaries, weak, but back.
What happened next was a first for me. Yvonne felt it, I felt it and struggled at first with it.
I managed to capture the cancer’s energetic body and forced it back on itself. I managed to “crack” this cancer’s large EGO. I felt sick to my stomach, heaving, but carried on. I was now down on my knees, holding on to this energy … no way on God’s given Earth was I letting go. AA Michael and Raphael were there and the Butterfly. The room flooded with an electric blue and I knew I was doing good. I was doing right. It felt like 30 minutes, and when all was completed, 1.5 hours had passed. This “big headed, ego driven” cancer now was no larger than a walnut.
In 3 days she was having surgery. Mastectomy was last resort, if cancer, as per CT scan, really was that big.
I texted Yvonne before Christmas, how did the surgery go?
“All went well. All good. Surgeon surprised at size … was much much small that expected!”
Brill! Merry Christmas, and I’ll see ya in January. C.


Chemotherapy

Eight rounds of Chemo, followed by 15 radiotherapies! Good Lord! That’s a lot of toxin the liver has to work through.
Next week is round 6.
Hair is starting to thin out after round two. Still in relatively good form and eager to learn all things to do with Complementary therapies.
Round 3. Noticed the tiredness setting in. Yvonne informs me that she has great support from families and friends.
Round 4. Viral infection. Cancelled.
Round 4. Looking to get wig made, doing a lot of meditation, son is keeping her busy with school. She is actually taking the cancer now as a “sign” that she had to spend more time with son and help with school.
Round 5. First Triple treatment. Was told will cause pins & needles to hands and feet, including numbness. If unable to send text messages, to report back. Needless to say, the whole worlds is texting her…. lol. Me too and offered her a wellness treatment on me.
Round 6: next week.

For today, Easter Saturday, I gifted her a Wellness Session. A full body massage including facial, but at her request, left out head massage. 2 hours. Reflexology Hand and Foot massage. Lymphatic Drainage. Acupressure on sciatica. Aromatherapeutic back, neck and shoulder massage. Facial with massage. And all with homemade balms and creams and infused oils.
Yvonne arrived and I seen her struggle. Her body clearly was aching all over. Hoovering hurts her. Gets triggered when asked “how ye doing?” “is there anything I can do for ye?“
Feeling very peri-menopausal. Hot flushes and then freezing cold. Moody. Forgetfulness. And now numbness in left foot. Pins & needles in toes and fingers.
All the while she’s explaining her woes to me, I see a fragile person in front of me, who is putting on a brave face. And she only today “copped” the notion of what it means to be an Empath. Today came as a blessing to her. Today came at the right time for her. “How did you know I needed this?” …
2 hours later, she felt light like a feather. Her posture was straight and positive.

When Yvonne starts her radiotherapy, it’s Monday to Friday with weekends off for 3 weeks. This is in June.
I won’t be able to give her face to face support, but will, between now and June, set up something for her, to draw on … and then there is always Distant healing, right?

Here in Ireland, Reiki in hospital setting is fit only for End Of Life … why? That is beyond me. Anybody going through cancer deserves better.
Why can I not sit with her for those 3 hours of Chemo and offer Reiki and Reflexology? I may not even end up giving 3 hours to her, I may share myself to those in the same room as her. Reflexology, Foot and hand massage goes a long way, when you are feeling low, mood wise.
You do not need to be an Empath to feel/see what’s needed. Look into your heart and see what you would like to have, when more or less living in “lockdown” scenarios during chemo~ and radiotherapy. Think about it: 8 sessions Chemo at fortnightly basis, pause, then 15 sessions Radiotherapy, Monday to Friday x 3 weeks.

Two more things I wish to highlight:
1) today I let the butterfly out and sat it on a dandelion.
2) I am not charging her.


Catherine
CWD 30 March 2024/Ireland


CoEnzyme Q10: Everybody is talking about it

Posted on by Holistichealthcarewx

By Dr Catherine W Dunne MSc. D., RGN, Reiki Master (RGMT), M.H.I.T: Master Acupressure, Practitioner of Reflexology, Aromatherapy, Deep Tissue/Myo-fascia Massages, Infrared Treatments, Vibrational Sound and Colour Therapist, Tissue Salt Advisor, Pendulum Healing Dowser, Chakra Practitioner , Tao Cosmic Healing Practitioner, Practitioner of Plant and Herb Medicine.

What is the fuss about this?

CoQ10 deficiency is thought to be linked with conditions such as diabetes, cancer, fibromyalgia, heart disease and cognitive decline. One of the top benefits of CoQ10 include having cholesterol-lowering effects, sustaining natural energy, improving heart and brain health, slowing signs of skin aging, and fighting some forms of cancer.

By Dr Catherine W Dunne MSc. D. (Hon), RGN, Reiki Master (RGMT), M.H.I.T: Master Acupressure, Practitioner of Reflexology, Aromatherapy, Deep Tissue/Myo-fascia Massages, Infrared Treatments, Vibrational Sound and Colour Therapist, Tissue Salt Advisor, Pendulum Healing Dowser, Chakra Practitioner , Tao Cosmic Healing Practitioner, Practitioner of Plant and Herb Medicine and Nurse.

Coenzyme Q10 (COQ10) is an essential element for many daily functions. In fact, it’s required by every single cell in the body.

As an antioxidant that protects cells from the effects of aging, CoQ10 has been used in medical practices for decades, especially for treating heart problems.

Although we create some of our own coenzyme Q10, there are still advantages to consuming more, and lack of CoQ10 is associated with damaging effects of oxidative stress. CoQ10 deficiency is thought to be linked with conditions such as diabetes, cancer, fibromyalgia, heart disease and cognitive decline.

Is CoQ10 for you? Let’s find out.

What Is CoQ10?

The name may not sound very natural, but coenzyme Q10 is in fact an essential nutrient that works like an antioxidant in the body. In its active form, it’s called ubiquinone or ubiquinol. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a compound that helps generate energy in your cells. It’s produced naturally by the body and can also be obtained from certain foods and supplements. CoQ10 plays a crucial role in producing energy, protecting cells from damage, and supporting overall health.

Coenzyme Q10 is present in the human body in the highest levels in the heart, liver, kidneys and pancreas. It’s stored in the mitochondria of your cells, often called the cells’ “powerhouse,” which is why it’s involved in energy production.

What is CoQ10 good for? It’s used for important functions such as supplying cells with energy, transporting electrons and regulating blood pressure levels.

As a “coenzyme,” CoQ10 also helps other enzymes work properly. The reason it’s not considered a “vitamin” is because all animals, including humans, can make small amounts of coenzymes on their own, even without the help of food.

How CoQ10 Works

  • To sustain enough energy to perform bodily functions, inside our cells tiny organelles called mitochondria take fat and other nutrients and turn them into useable sources of energy. This conversion process requires the presence of CoQ10.
  • Coenzyme Q10 is not only necessary for producing cellular energy, but also for defending cells from damage caused by harmful free radicals.
  • Coenzyme Q10 can exist in three different oxidation states, and the ability in some forms to accept and donate electrons is a critical feature in its biochemical functions that cancel out free radical damage.
  • As a powerful antioxidant, Coenzyme Q10 can increase absorption of other essential nutrients. It’s been shown that it helps recycle vitamin C and vitamin E, further maximizing their effects.

While humans make some CoQ10, CoQ10 supplements are also available in various forms — including capsules, tablets and by IV.

Should I Take a CoQ10 Supplement?

Who needs to take CoQ10? CoQ10 production naturally declines as we age past about 40 years old — just when we need our cells to help defend us most. This means older adults and those looking to age gracefully may wish to supplement with it.

Research suggests that natural synthesis of CoQ10, plus dietary intake, appears to provide sufficient amounts to help prevent a CoQ10 deficiency in healthy people — however, we produce less CoQ10 in older age, and people with certain health conditions, such as heart disease, also seem to make less.

Coenzyme Q10 Deficiency

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a vital nutrient that plays a key role in energy production within cells. A deficiency in CoQ10 can lead to various health issues, such as fatigue, muscle weakness, and even heart problems. It’s essential for the proper functioning of organs and overall cellular health. To address a CoQ10 deficiency, individuals can consider dietary supplements and consuming foods rich in CoQ10, such as oily fish, organ meats, and nuts. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any supplementation regimen.

Some contributing factors to CoQ10 deficiency/low levels, besides aging and genetic defects, are believed to include:

  • Having chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cancer and congestive heart failure
  • High levels of oxidative stress
  • Nutritional deficiencies in B vitamins
  • Mitochondrial diseases
  • Taking statin drugs

Rarely, a person may suffer from “primary coenzyme Q10 deficiency,” which is a genetic defect that stops the body from properly synthesizing this compound. For these individuals, supplementing with CoQ10 is typically needed to help reverse brain- and muscle-related symptoms.

Benefits

1. Sustains Natural Energy

CoQ10 plays a role in “mitochondrial ATP synthesis,” which is the conversion of raw energy from foods (carbohydrates and fats) into the form of energy that our cells use, called adenosine triphosphate (ATP).

This conversion process requires the presence of coenzyme Q in the inner mitochondrial membrane. One of its roles is to accept electrons during fatty acid and glucose metabolism and then transfer them to electron acceptors.

The process of making ATP is crucial to every cell in the human body and also allows messages to be sent between cells. To maintain energy (down to the cellular level), ATP synthesis is vital, and it needs CoQ10 to do its job.

CoQ10 may even reduce fatigue related to exercise. Three separate double-blind, placebo-controlled studies in humans have shown improvements in exercise-related fatigue when supplemented with CoQ10 (at dosages between 100–300 milligrams per day).

2. Reduces Free Radical Damage

As both a water- and fat-soluble antioxidant, CoQ10 has been found to inhibit lipid peroxidation, which occurs when cell membranes and low-density lipoproteins are exposed to oxidizing conditions that enter from outside the body.

In fact, when LDL is oxidized, CoQ10 is one of the first antioxidants used to help offset the effects. Within mitochondria, coenzyme Q10 has been found to protect membrane proteins and DNA from the oxidative damage that accompanies lipid peroxidation and neutralize free radicals directly that contribute to nearly all age-related diseases (heart disease, cancer, diabetes, neurological disease, etc.).

One way this might be especially effective is found in a research study that discovered CoQ10 may help protect from some oxidative stress caused by insulin resistance and related to diabetes. Results are mixed on its effects on blood sugar, however.

3. Can Improve Heart Health and Offset Effects of Statin Drugs

Although experts feel that additional well-controlled clinical trials are still needed to prove its effects, CoQ10 has strong potential for prevention and treatment of heart ailments. It does this due its ability to improve cellular bioenergetics, acting as an antioxidant and boosting free radical-scavenging abilities.

What we do know is that CoQ10 supplementation may be useful for those taking statins and for people with high cholesterol. That’s because of its cholesterol-lowering effects.

Coenzyme Q10 may help reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and total cholesterol levels in some populations, including people with diabetes.

It may also lower side effects that statin medications can often cause, including fatigue. Statins are used to reduce an enzyme in the liver that not only decreases the production of cholesterol, but also further lowers the natural production of CoQ10.

It’s possible that CoQ10 can interact with lipid-lowering medications that inhibit the activity of HMG-CoA reductase, a critical enzyme in both cholesterol and coenzyme Q10 biosynthesis. A supplement of CoQ10 is often recommended to restore natural levels to their optimum marks and counter the effects of statin drugs, including muscle pain.

However, some evidence conflicts — as some reviews have found evidence is lacking to officially recommend CoQ10 supplementation for patients with statins.

This isn’t the only way CoQ10 can support the heart and circulatory system, though. CoQ10 can improve circulation — and it may be able to increase blood flow and improve exercise performance and capacity for people who have suffered heart failure.

Does CoQ10 lower blood pressure? Study results have been mixed overall. According to the National Institutes of Health, “The small amount of evidence currently available suggests that CoQ10 probably doesn’t have a meaningful effect on blood pressure.”

4. Slows Down Effects of Aging (Including Skin Changes)

Mitochondrial ATP synthesis is an important function for maintaining a fast metabolism, strength of muscles, strong bones, youthful skin and healthy tissue, and abnormal mitochondrial can cause issues.

Although supplementing with CoQ10 has not been shown to increase the life span of animals that have been tested with it, researchers believe it can slow down the age-related increase in DNA damage that naturally affects us all. Possible anti-aging benefits of consuming more CoQ10 include:

  • Protection of the heart against stress-related aging.
  • Protection of skeletal muscle genetic structure to keep those muscles strong, minimizing bone and joint injury risk.
  • Improved fertility during your 40s by the reversal of egg degradation and increased production of ATP.
  • Increased activity of antioxidants catalase and glutathione to protect cell membranes throughout the body from free radical damage.
  • Reduced UV skin damage and signs of skin aging, such as wrinkles and loss of elasticity (when applied as topical cream and/or taken as a supplement). One randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study found that 150 mg/day of CoQ10 limited deterioration of viscoelasticity, improved smoothness and reduced some visible signs of aging when taken for 12 weeks.

5. May Help Protect Against Cancer

Within cells, CoQ10 helps transport proteins across membranes and separate certain digestive enzymes from the rest of the cell, which helps maintain optimal pH. It’s believed that diseases develop more easily in environments that have to work harder to maintain proper pH levels.

This, in addition to its major antioxidant capacity, may be one reason that cancer risk may be reduced among people with higher CoQ10 levels. Here are other reasons:

  • Increasing impact of chemotherapy drugs and protect from side effects: Supplementing with CoQ10 during cancer treatment may help increase the cancer-killing potential of these medications (like doxorubicin and daunorubicin). There is also evidence that CoQ10 can protect the heart from DNA damage that can sometimes occur from high doses of chemotherapy medications.
  • May slow or reverse spread of breast cancer: A 2017 article published in Future Oncology states: “Medical approaches are available for treatment of BC… A promising candidate is coenzyme Q10 which is an antioxidant that can target the mechanisms of BC tumor progression.” That’s not all. A 1994 study followed 32 breast cancer patients (ranging from 32–81 years old) classified as “high-risk,” due to the way their cancer had spread to lymph nodes. Each patient was given nutritional antioxidants, essential fatty acids and 90 mg per day of CoQ10. Not only did no patients die over the study period of 18 months, but no patient worsened during this period, all reported quality of life improvements and six patients went into partial remission. Two of the patients in partial remission were then given more coenzyme Q10 (300 mg each day), both of whom went into totally remission, showing complete absences of previous tumors and tumor tissue (one after two months, the other after three months).
  • Could help prevent colon cancer: One research study discovered CoQ10 significantly lowered oxidative stress in the colon that leads to colon cancer.
  • Might play a role in the prevention of cervical cancer: Low levels of CoQ10 are seen in patients with cervical cancer, although it’s not clear why.
  • May improve survival rate in end-stage cancers: A pilot study over nine years followed 41 patients with various primary cancers that had advanced to stage four and were given CoQ10 supplements plus an additional antioxidant mixture. Of the patients followed, the median time of survival was 17 months, five months longer than expected overall. In total, 76 percent of the patients survived longer than expected on average, with little to no side effects noted from the treatment.

6. May Protect Cognitive Health

In those with cognitive impairments, such as Parkinson’s disease, increased oxidative stress in a part of the brain called the substantia nigra is thought to contribute to symptoms.

CoQ10 has been shown to offset decreases in activity of mitochondrial electron transport chains that affect nerve channels and brain function, and studies show that people with cognitive disorders tend to have reduced levels of CoQ10 in their blood.

One randomized, placebo-controlled trial that evaluated the efficacy of 300, 600 or 1,200 mg a day given to 80 people with early Parkinson’s disease found that supplementation was well-tolerated and associated with slower deterioration of cognitive functions compared to the placebo. That being said, not every study has found coenzyme Q10 to be effective over placebo.

Some preliminary studies have found positive outcomes in lab and research studies, and a few small human clinical trials, for CoQ10 to treat cognitive decline seen in other neurological diseases, including progressive supranuclear palsy, Huntington’s disease, amytrophic lateral sclerosis and Friedreich’s ataxia.

Regarding the most well-known neurodegenerative disease, Alzheimer’s disease, there have been little to no human trials conducted using CoQ10. However, research studies have found modestly positive results, making coenzyme Q10 a possible addition to an Alzheimer’s diet and supplementation plan.

7. Could Improve Male Infertility

It’s possible CoQ10 can help improve fertility issues in men. In clinical trials, supplementation with coenzyme Q10 significantly:

8. Helps Treat Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

Multiple clinical trials and case reports have found that CoQ10 may be a powerful natural method of treating fibromyalgia symptoms. In adults, the dosage was typically 300 milligrams per day, while one study on juvenile fibromyalgia focused on a 100 milligram dose.

Improvements included:

COQ10 Foods

Coenzyme Q10 is found naturally in our diets from foods, including fish, liver, kidney and the germs of whole grain.

The richest natural sources of dietary coenzyme Q10 are meat, poultry and fish, but vegetarian options, such as beans, nuts, some vegetables, eggs and dairy products, are also helpful for increasing your intake.

Some of the best foods for supplying CoQ10 include:

  • Grass-fed beef
  • Herring
  • Free-range chicken
  • Rainbow trout
  • Sesame seeds
  • Pistachio nuts
  • Broccoli
  • Cauliflower
  • Oranges
  • Strawberries
  • Cage-free eggs
  • Sardines
  • Mackerel
  • Organ meats, like giblets and liver

Currently, there is no specific dietary intake recommendation for CoQ10 established from the Institute of Medicine or other agencies.

Because it’s a fat-soluble antioxidant, it’s most easily absorbed when consumed with a small amount of healthy fats (just like vitamins E and A).

Although it can be obtained from certain foods, foods tend to only supply low doses, which is exactly why many experts recommend supplementing if you’re older or have a condition that may benefit from CoQ10 supplementation.

Symptoms of deficiency have not been widely reported or studied in much detail in the general population. It’s estimated that the average person’s diet contributes around 25 percent of total CoQ10.

The best way to obtain enough is to eat a varied, nutrient-dense diet – plus to consider supplementing if it makes sense for your individual situation.

COQ10 Supplements and Dosage

COQ10 is found in such low quantities in most foods that even a healthy diet might be an impractical way to meet the daily recommended dosages. Taking a daily, high-quality CoQ10 supplement in capsule form (which helps with easier absorption into the bloodstream) can close the bridge between this gap.

Dosage sizes of CoQ10 dietary supplements range anywhere from 50–1,200 mg per day. Most supplements fall in the 100–200 mg range.

Depending on the condition a person is attempting to treat, the CoQ10 dosage recommendations can range from 90 mg up to 1,200 mg. This larger dose has typically been used only to study the neurological benefits of CoQ10 — most successful studies use between 100–300 mg.

In Canada CoQ10 100mg is prescribed together with a low dose statin.
In Germany you are started on CoQ10 100 or 200mg, depending on your total cholesterol, Triglicerides, and LDL (bad fat) and family history of heart disease and /or strokes, and maybe later a low dose of statin is then added. Rosuvastatin Patient Information Leafelt (PIL) recommends CoQ10 to be taken with it.

What’s important, and makes a big difference in terms of the benefits you’ll get from taking CoQ10 supplements, is that the concentration is actually equal to the amount listed. Some products use fillers or enhancers and may even supply less of a dosage than the manufacturer claims.

Look for products with reviews, certifications ensuring the listed dosage is correct and as minimal preservatives or fillers as possible, along with supplements that possess the right CoQ10 concentrations.

When should you take CoQ10, morning or night? While it can be taken any time that is most convenient, it’s best to take CoQ10 with a meal containing fat, since it’s fat-soluble. If you take a CoQ10 dosage that exceeds 100 mg per day, it’s best to split doses into two or three smaller servings, which will help with absorption.

There’s some evidence that taking CoQ10 at night may help with the body’s ability to use it, so a good option is taking it with dinner. However, some people report having difficulty falling asleep if they take CoQ10 close to bedtime, so this comes down to individual preference.

Risks and Side Effects

What are the risks of taking CoQ10? Although it’s considered to be very safe overall and has been used in the medical field for many years, CoQ10 side effects may still affect some people.

Potential CoQ10 side effects can include:

  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Heartburn
  • Upper abdominal pain
  • Loss of appetite
  • Headaches
  • Insomnia
  • Rashes
  • Fatigue
  • Dizziness
  • Light sensitivity
  • Irritability

Always read the dosage labels on your coenzyme Q10 supplements, and stick to them unless instructed otherwise by your health care professional.

Who should not take CoQ10? If you’re pregnant or breast-feeding, it’s probably best not to take CoQ10 supplements, since it’s not clear whether or not they’re safe in these cases.

Coenzyme Q10 supplements can decrease the anticoagulant efficacy of statins like warfarin and other common cholesterol-lowering medications (such as those known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor statins). Talk to your doctor about being monitored if you take these medications.

Your Take Away:

  • CoQ10 is a natural substance found in the body and certain foods that helps fight oxidative stress and prevent tissue damage.
  • What is CoQ10 good for? The top benefits of CoQ10 include having cholesterol-lowering effects, sustaining natural energy, improving heart and brain health, slowing signs of skin aging, and fighting some forms of cancer.
  • Coenzyme Q10 is produced by the body naturally and also found in small amounts in some foods. CoQ10 foods include meat, fish, nuts, seeds, veggies and eggs. However, our ability to produce and use it decreases significantly with age.
  • CoQ10 dietary supplement dosages range between 30—1,200 mg/daily, and the typically recommended dosage is between 100–200 mg each day for most conditions.
  • CoQ10 side effects can potentially include digestive issues, fatigue, mood swings and fatigue, among others.

Thank you for showing continued interest.

I hope you feel inspired. Look after your liver, and it will keep you healthy.

Catherine
CWD 17 March 2024/Ireland

Why do a Liver Detox?

Posted on by Holistichealthcarewx

By Dr Catherine W Dunne MSc. D. (Hon), RGN, Reiki Master (RGMT), M.H.I.T: Master Acupressure, Practitioner of Reflexology, Aromatherapy, Deep Tissue/Myo-fascia Massages, Infrared Treatments, Vibrational Sound and Colour Therapist, Tissue Salt Advisor, Pendulum Healing Dowser, Chakra Practitioner , Tao Cosmic Healing Practitioner, Practitioner of Plant and Herb Medicine and Nurse.

Cleansing and detoxing the liver and colon helps clear pesticides, medications, heavy metals, and the remnants of cancer therapy out of your system, resulting in a healthy liver.

“No Rest For The Wicked”

Did you know, the liver is one of the hardest-working organs in the body. It works tirelessly to detoxify our blood, produce the bile needed to digest fat, break down hormones, and store essential vitamins, minerals, and iron.

What are the main types of minerals? The human body requires 13 different types of minerals to maintain overall health, including:

  • Potassium
  • calcium
  • zinc
  • iron
  • magnesium
  •  and others

We need these nutrients for purposes including muscular movement, nerve signalling, cardiovascular functions, growth, development and more.

What Are Minerals?

A mineral is defined as “a solid inorganic substance of natural occurrence.” In other words, a mineral has the following characteristics:

  • Found in nature but not made by humans
  • Has never been alive
  • Solid and not liquid like water or gaseous like air
  • Has a definite chemical composition, as each type is made of a particular mix of chemical elements
  • Has an ordered atomic arrangement, which is why minerals can appear as crystals

Although we need both, minerals in our diets are a bit different than vitamins because vitamins are made by plants or animals, while minerals come from soil and water. Minerals make their way into the foods we eat by being absorbed by plants and animals, which we then eat.

With exposure to environmental toxins, toxic body care products and processed foods, most people are in desperate need of a serious detox. When liver function is not optimal, we cannot digest our food properly, especially fats. That’s why it’s so important to avoid fatty liver and follow a liver cleanse diet to remove toxins from the body.

What Is the Liver?

What is the liver, and why is it considered one of the hardest working organs in the body?

The liver, the largest internal organ in the human body, is a digestive organ that sits on the upper right side of the belly. What does the liver look like? It’s described as being “meaty” due to its reddish-brown colour. If you were to touch your liver, it would feel rubbery and semi-firm.

The liver is always communicating with other digestive organs, receiving information about the level of available nutrients or the presence of threats like prescription medications, heavy metals, or toxic substances. As the main organ involved in detoxification, it’s the liver that recognizes toxic substances and converts them into harmless material that can be released. As described in the World Journal of Hepatology in a 2017 article, “Beyond the metabolic functions, the liver recently has been defined as an organ of immune system (IS) … The liver keeps a delicate balance between hepatic screening of pathogenic antigens and immune tolerance to self-antigens.”

The liver is said to be of the “wood element” and is crucial for the transformation of food into energy, or qi, according to Chinese medicine. Since it’s associated with wood qi, the liver is characterized by “upward momentum and the innate desire to be straight.” A healthy liver results in better blood flow upward and outward, throughout our vessels, veins, and capillaries, which transport oxygen and nutrients to our cells.

What can improve liver function do for your health? A well taken care of liver can help bring you:

  • Increased energy levels
  • Clearer skin
  • More regular menstrual cycle with reduced PMS
  • Freedom from sinus pain
  • Fewer infections and stronger immunity
  • Less digestive complaints and more regularity
  • Fresher breath and oral health
  • A positive mood and sharper mind

The main functions of the liver include:

  • Filtering blood coming from the digestive tract … It’s involved in storing blood, making blood clotting possible and breaking down damaged blood cells so they can be eliminated.
  • Producing bile
  • Dissecting and converting nutrients available in foods once they reach the digestive system … For example, the liver helps metabolise proteins by changing amino acids so they can be used for energy or used to make carbohydrates or fats.
  • Helping to spread nutrients throughout the body via the bloodstream and keeping the amount of nutrients in the blood supply at optimal levels
  • Eliminating toxic waste that’s left behind once foods/substances are broken down
  • Breaking down and removing excess hormones
  • Storing certain vitamins and minerals for when they’re needed
  • Managing the conversion of fats from your diet and manufacturing triglycerides and cholesterol
  • Taking the carbohydrates you consume and turning them into glucose, a form of energy, to be stored for later use

The liver also interacts with other organs like the gallbladder, stomach, and spleen, since it receives digested particles or toxins and decides what to do with them: circulate them around through the blood or eliminate them before they can cause damage.

Something that makes the liver unique and amazing is that it has the ability to regenerate after it’s become damaged; in fact, it’s capable of doing this more than any other organ in the body.

What Is the Liver’s Job?

Some of the essential functions are: Follow this natural liver cleanse diet to help boost your health and vitality. You’re sure to feel better after this liver detox.

  • Processing nutrients absorbed by the intestines, so they are more efficiently absorbed
  • Regulating blood composition to balance protein, fat, and sugar
  • Destroying old red blood cells
  • Producing essential chemicals to help blood clot properly
  • Breaking down and metabolizing alcohol and medications
  • Producing essential proteins and cholesterol
  • Removing toxins from the bloodstream, including bilirubin, ammonia, and others
  • Storing of minerals like iron and vitamin A

Follow this natural liver cleanse diet to …

… help boost your health and vitality. You’re sure to feel better after this liver detox.

1. Remove Toxic Foods from Your Diet

If you are eating a diet high in processed foods, you are putting the health of your liver at risk because these foods basically work against liver health. Hydrogenated oils, refined sugar, convenience foods and lunch meats are notoriously toxic to your system.

Hydrogenated oils, also known as “trans fats,” have higher levels of saturated fat. The chemical structure of the oil itself has been altered to increase shelf life.

Consumption of trans fats dramatically increases the risk for heart disease. In addition, it is believed that trans fats cause problems with the immune system and can lead to inflammation throughout the body.

Added nitrates and nitrites, commonly found in convenience foods, fast foods, and lunch meats, have been linked to serious health conditions. These chemicals are used to preserve foods to make them last longer, inhibit bacteria growth and preserve colour.

Replace these foods immediately with liver-friendly healthy choices. Healthy foods taste great, and with a bit of creativity, you can create healthful meals for your family that will support liver health.

Roast your own organic chicken breast and turkey breast to replace deli meats for quick lunches and after-school snacks. Replace chips and other processed snacks with fresh fruit, carrot sticks, nuts, and homemade granola bars.

2. Drink Raw Vegetable Juice

It can be nearly impossible to eat all of the raw vegetables you need to make your liver cleanse effective. However, by juicing a variety of raw vegetables, you can easily get the four to five servings of fresh, organic vegetables you need. Even vegetables that aren’t your favourites can be disguised and enjoyed in a fresh vegetable juice!

With impaired liver function, a juice cleanse has the added benefit of making the vegetables easier to digest and more readily available for absorption.

Vegetables ideal for liver cleanses include cabbage, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts. While that combination may not sound very enjoyable, you can add other vegetables that you enjoy to the mix, including carrots, cucumber, beets, and greens.

All of these vegetables help reduce acid levels in the body, helping create a more friendly pH balance. Experiment with your favourite flavour combinations. You can add fresh herbs, including parsley, mint, and others, to make the juices more enjoyable.

To improve liver health, try this Orange Carrot Ginger Juice (see at end of article). Research suggests that fresh, organic carrots are essential to any liver cleanse. In the liver, beta-carotene is converted into vitamin A to help flush out the toxins in the body while reducing fat in the liver.

The high fibre content helps support a healthy digestive tract, hastening the elimination of toxins in your body. The ginger root helps soothe the digestive tract, reduce intestinal gas, and has strong anti-inflammatory compounds. The fresh oranges in this recipe not only add tangy sweetness, but also add significant vitamin C, additional vitamin A and vitamin B6.

3. Load Up on Potassium-Rich Foods

Are you getting the recommended 4,700 milligrams per day of potassium? Chances are, you aren’t.

Potassium-rich foods help lower systolic blood pressure, reduce cholesterol, and support a healthy cardiovascular system, in addition to helping cleanse your liver. If you have been tempted to take potassium supplements, instead add these healthful foods to your diet:

Sweet Potatoes

Surprisingly, it is not the banana that is the richest in potassium. It is the sweet potato. A single medium sweet potato contains more than 500 milligrams of potassium, not to mention the high fibre and beta-carotene content.

A sweet potato is rich with vitamins B6, C and D, along with magnesium and iron. While naturally sweet, the sugars actually are slowly released into the bloodstream through the liver, without causing a spike in blood sugar.

Tomato Sauces

Potassium — and the other beneficial nutrients in tomatoes — is significantly concentrated as a sauce, puree or as a paste. When selecting tomato sauce, paste or puree, be sure to choose those made only from organic tomatoes.

To make your own concentrated tomato sauce, slice organic tomatoes in half, and roast face down in the oven for 30 minutes at 425 degrees F, until the skin has shrivelled. Remove from the oven and let cool.

Slide the skins off, and gently crush in your food processor or blender. Strain to remove seeds if you desire. Pour into a Dutch oven, and let simmer until thick, one to two hours.

Beet Greens and Spinach

Rich in antioxidants, beet greens are loaded with potassium. Add beets and beet greens to your fresh vegetable juice recipe; finely chop and add raw to salads; or sauté lightly, like other greens.

Beets also naturally cleanse the gallbladder and improve bile flow.

Fresh organic spinach is easily added to your diet, and it’s a good source of potassium.

Beans

White beans, kidney beans and lima beans are all rich in potassium, protein, and fibre. Swap out garbanzo beans for one of these potassium-rich beans in your favourite hummus recipe. Enjoy it with carrot sticks and celery sticks.

Blackstrap Molasses

In addition to potassium, blackstrap molasses is rich with iron, calcium, manganese, and copper.

Incorporate blackstrap molasses into your diet by replacing other natural sweeteners with it. You can use it to create barbecue sauces and to top oatmeal or quinoa porridge in the mornings. Two teaspoons added to coffee intensifies the richness of the coffee, while lowering the acidic taste.

Bananas

And finally, add a banana to your favourite smoothie. Bananas assist in digestion and help release toxins and heavy metals from the body — all of which are essential during a liver cleanse.

Please note: If you have high levels of potassium in your kidneys, foods rich in potassium should be consumed moderately.

4. Coffee Enemas

Coffee enemas help with constipation, reduce fatigue and aid in liver detoxification.

An enema targets the lower portion of your large intestine and can be done at home, unlike colonics, which include the entire bowel and are performed outside the home by a professional.

During the enema, organic coffee is retained in your bowel, allowing the fluid to enter the liver through the intestinal wall.

This has a stimulating effect that increases bile flow, helping jump-start both your gallbladder and your liver. This sparks the production of the chemical glutathione, a strong cleansing compound that helps release the buildup of toxins in your system.

Flushing the toxins out during liver cleanses is critical so they don’t build up and are moved quickly out of your system.

Combine two tablespoons of organic ground coffee with three cups of filtered or distilled water in a pot and bring to a boil. Simmer gently for 15 minutes and allow to cool. Strain the mixture through cheesecloth and use in your enema kit.

Try to retain the mixture for 10–15 minutes, and then release.

If you’ve experienced complications from using enemas in the past, it’s best to talk to a doctor before trying to perform a coffee enema on your own. The first time you try a coffee enema, it’s a good idea to do so under supervision or with guidance of a medical professional, although some people feel comfortable jumping right into the process. Coffee enemas aren’t usually recommended for pregnant women or children since they can be sensitive to the effects of caffeine.

5. Take Liver Support Supplements

Milk Thistle

Milk thistle is considered the “king” of detoxifying herbs, making it ideal for a liver cleanse. Milk thistle helps eliminate the buildup of heavy metals, prescription medications, environmental pollutants, and alcohol in the liver.

In addition, it helps reduce the negative effects on the liver after chemotherapy and radiation. Research indicates that the active ingredient silymarin helps strengthen the cell walls in the liver, while supporting healthy regeneration.

Milk thistle can be taken as a supplement or as a liver-cleansing detox tea.

Dandelion Root

Most homeowners hate the dandelion, as it populates yards every spring, but this flower and its roots are actually packed with vitamins and minerals.

Dandelion root has a natural diuretic effect, allowing your liver to eliminate toxins more quickly. It also helps strengthen the immune system, balance blood sugar levels, relieve heartburn and soothe digestive upset.

Burdock root is another option in the same plant family as dandelions that can help detox your system by cleansing the blood, therefore helping support liver function. Like milk thistle, both dandelion root and burdock root can be taken in both supplement form and/or as a detox tea.

Turmeric

Turmeric supports healthy liver tissue and liver metabolism.

Currently, researchers are studying turmeric for a variety of health benefits for diseases and conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, depression, osteoarthritis, breast health, prostate health, and chronic pain.

Combination Liver Support Supplement

You can also purchase a liver support supplement that combines many of these key botanicals, such as milk thistle seed, dandelion root, beet root and bupleurum root to help detoxify the liver, assist in healthy liver function, and also work as an anti-inflammatory.

6. Eat Real Liver or Take Liver Tablets

Liver from young, healthy, grass-fed cattle or chicken liver is rich with vitamins A and B, folic acid, choline, iron, copper, zinc, chromium, and CoQ10. Liver is one of the most nutrient-dense foods we can eat and unsurprisingly an organ-nourishing food.

If you can’t stomach eating liver, you can take beef liver pills. Seek a supplement that guarantees no hormones, pesticides or antibiotics are used in the feeding and care of the cattle.

Orange Carrot Ginger Juice Recipe

One of the best things you can do for your health is to juice! Juicing is an easy way to get a heap of fresh veggies (and fruits) into your diet in one easy shot. 

Takes 5 minutes, Serves 2

INGREDIENTS:

  • 6 carrots
  • 1 orange
  • 1 knob ginger
  • 1 cucumber

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Add all ingredients to vegetable/fruit juicer, gently stir juice and consume immediately.

I hope you feel inspired. Look after your liver, and it will keep you healthy.

Catherine
CWD 17 March 2024/Ireland