Exposure to Toxic Smoke

I recently saw the article about the firefighters in the West Footscray factory fires, posted locally in WeFo. It really got me thinking about how sad it is that those who protect us in our community have had such exposure to toxic waste. They said they had literally breathed it in. It was unavoidable. They are now living with potentially un-diagnosed chronic conditions. I see people like this weekly in clinic. Often due to toxic exposure in their own homes and environments.

AGE ARTICLE - What Happen to us in West Footscray

The article really prompted me to think about when the fire first started… How did I react to protect my family?

The first thing I think about with toxic exposure is, remove to the offensive toxic item. Well in this situation the people needed to be removed. That didn’t happen. So If this is not possible or doesn’t happen, there is still a lot we can do to support our health.

The first thing I personally did was get started with some liver support. The liver is the main organ to detoxify the body of chemicals, medications and excess hormones among other thing. Anything really that we are exposed to, that the body doesn’t need in excess is, mainly detoxified by the liver. So we need to support this organ to do the amazing work it is capable of actually doing.

Herbs and supplements that can support the liver are…

A good quality B vitamin supplement - help with phase 2 detoxification and support the body to excrete them through other organs. They also support the nervous system in times of stress.

St Mary’s Thistle or Silymarin - is known for its liver support and detoxification qualities.

Vitamin C - is essential for your immune system which may be suffering post exposure and regrowth of new cells.

When taking anything it is important to ensure it doesn’t interact with your medications.

Detoxify the mind of all of the bad thinking about this is often ignored. In reality we cant always stop these exposures from happening. It is important to work through these feelings in a helpful way. My family and with many of my clients we use The Work of Byron Katie for this. You may benefit from speaking to a good friend, your psychologist or someone on a hotline. 131114 - Lifeline 1300 22 4636 - Beyond blue There are many people to choose from to talk to here: Health - Mental health help lines

I lived with an un-diagnosed chronic health condition for many years due to toxic exposure and trauma. So I can say from personal experience. There is hope! Now I live totally pain free after years of chronic pain.

There is hope and so much you can do. Please don't feel like this is impossible.

Christine x

Here are some articles about detoxification you may find helpful…

Which Detox Suits You

10 Cleansing Tips for the Holiday Season

The Number One Principle for Health and Why Self Care is So important

Good Sleep & How to Get it

Christine Carley is a bachelor qualified naturopath, with a focus on women’s health and wellness. She passionately supports her clients with, fertility and IVF optimisation, menopause and hormonal health as well as gut health. She spent most of her early clinical practice working with people with chronic and complex autoimmune condition, whilst working in a clinic with cardiologist, psychologists, podiatrist and allied health professionals. She loves assisting those stress, anxiety, fatigue and sleep. She is a passionate health ambassador who takes a holistic, person centred approach to the wellness model of health.

Book an appointment or free online discovery call here: LOVE THY HEALTH or call 0409027221

*National and International Telehealth available

The Number One Principle for Health & Why Self Care is So Important

Hello to you All,

I thought I would check in with you all today.   This was prompted by a client I saw who came to see me after thinking about it for a number of years.   I had been seeing his partner for a long time, but hadn't seen her for a year so I though she had gone on her merry way.    He had been struggling with chronic health conditions for more than 20 years and he came to see me for his gut health and general well being.   We had a really beautiful first consultation.  At the end when he was leaving, he turned around and said "I have got to say something.  I have been meaning to see you for years."   He had tears in his eyes...and I really stopped, listened and waited, as he couldn't quite get the words out.   He said:  "I have seen what you have done for my wife and today I feel like I have truly been heard.  I feel like I have had so many questions answered, that have been unanswered for such a long time.   I feel like I have been waiting for this for a long time".    In his own words, he gave me his deep gratitude and thanks.   He was paying me gratitude for the space he had been given.   He was also paying gratitude to himself for giving himself the space he obviously had been waiting to give for many years.  - I am not sure if he knows this yet.   

This is why I love, this work.  I love what I choose to do.

What I wanted to talk about before I got into that story today is committing to your health and how to do that.  What I realised, also took me a long time and many years to realise.  It was my own commitment to my own health and my mental health that would be the turning point for me on my own journey.  

So Here is the Number One Principle for Health

You might need a pen.  This is a tip, an idea, a seed that I am planting.  I wasn't ready for it for a long time.

This is the talk I have with many of my clients.

Principle number one

Principle number one Is committing to making your health, your number one priority.  This means believing that you are a valuable person.   This also means (and this includes mums', dads' and animal lovers), this means you are the most important person in your life.   Because without putting on our oxygen mask in the plane, we cant help anyone else.   When we do put on our oxygen mask on first in the plane, it is a trickle down effect.   We sit at the top of the pyramid in our world and below that are our first most important people, below that are our other important people and so on.... and below that is then being able to help a whole lot of other people, beings and animals.

This is truly how I feel in my heart much deeper now that I have my own health in a place where I can truly say, I feel the most vital and energetic that I have ever been.  When I was in the deepest illness called fibromyalgia for many years, I didn't have the ability to help others.  Now I feel I do.

I still hold and practice principle number one.    If my health and well being is the most important, then I am able to help other people.  I get more clarity on this if ever I get sick or I go on holidays and I take care of my self.

How Do I Do this?

The way to do this is to have an open mind.  It can be a really different way of thinking for some people, to put themselves first when they continually put their children, their puppies or their parents first.  They put this on hold or that on hold, because I cant do this.  I hear it a lot.  I hear from my older clients who are in their 60s say, "I cant do anything for my health until I have mum or dad sorted out.".  There is always going to be an excuse.

So if you are open minded and are willing to explore the cause of your dis-ease.  You need to be willing to put yourself at the top.

I had to share this with you after my beautiful restorative yoga class at Dharma Circle, which I highly recommend if you are willing.  This is when I get clarity.  To make time for yourself, sometimes you need to get the old stuff out of the way and bring in the new concepts and ideas and allocate 'you' time.  Time for your well being.  Especially if your excuse is "I don't have time because"  ...you can map your week out on a timetable.  Allocate work time and play time.  Especially for those Virgos who like to map things out.

Self care for you may look like....

Meditation & Yoga

Walking in nature

A little country hike

Dancing or dancing classes

Running

Self development workshops

A Health Retreat

Walking with your face in the sun

A massage

Deep breathing techniques

Weekends away

A regular holiday

True healing happens when you learn to listen to the messages of your body and you put your health, your mind and prioritise your time first.

I wanted to share this with you today because we are all worthy and special human beings.

If you have any words of wisdom or questions to share.  Please pop them on this thread.  We can all benefit from your innate wisdom too.

Enjoy the sunshine.

Love Chris x

Here is a wonderful morning meditation from Abraham Hicks - CLICK HERE

Christine Carley is a bachelor qualified naturopath, with a focus on women’s health and wellness. She passionately supports her clients with, fertility and IVF optimisation, menopause and hormonal health as well as gut health. She spent most of her early clinical practice working with people with chronic and complex autoimmune condition, whilst working in a clinic with cardiologist, psychologists, podiatrist and allied health professionals. She loves assisting those stress, anxiety, fatigue and sleep. She is a passionate health ambassador who takes a holistic, person centred approach to the wellness model of health.

Book an appointment or free online discovery call here: LOVE THY HEALTH or call 0409027221

*National and International Telehealth available

For more on her retreats and holistic wellness program touch here:

FACEBOOK or INSTAGRAM

or call (61+) 0409027221

Good Sleep & How to Get it

Our busy lives mean that we are constantly on the go. We juggle many tasks and responsibilities, and strive to be as productive as possible. Does this sound like you?

It is estimated that around 50% of adults experience occasional insomnia, with approximately 10% of adults suffering from chronic insomnia.

In an age where being busy has become trendy, the importance of sleep is often forgotten. We all know that we need to sleep, but it pays to stop and consider the quality of your sleep as well as the quantity.

Sleep is not just about resting. It is during sleep when your body excretes growth hormone and melatonin levels rise – this leads to tissue regeneration and antioxidant activity respectively. When you are asleep, your body resets its metabolism, regenerates bone and connective tissue, regenerates your liver, breaks down fat stores, and supports blood sugar regulation. A lack of sleep causes an imbalance of cortisol levels and even alters your appetite hormones, meaning that you are more likely to overeat during the day.

Not getting enough quality sleep, therefore, is associated with many conditions including diabetes and obesity, imbalanced cholesterol and triglycerides, increased cardiovascular risk, accelerated ageing, poor concentration and memory, lowered immune function, stress, irritability, anxiety, depression and low mood.

There is good news though, as fortunately there’s a lot that can be done in terms of lifestyle to support good sleep.

What can you do?

·      In the evening, dim the lights and stop using screens (computers, tablets mobiles) at least 30mins to one hour before bedtime – this is very important as blue light stops your body producing melatonin.  Read a non-electronic paper book or novel – something relaxing or journaling.

·      Include good quality protein in each meal – this helps your body produce neurotransmitters to support good mood and good sleep

·      Avoid alcohol if you experience sleep problems

·      Magnesium and potassium rice foods can help relax the body – A little avocado or organic yoghurt.

·      Don’t eat a too close to bedtime – finish your last meal of the day by 2 hours before bedtime to give your digestive system a rest

·      Avoid coffee and other caffeinated drinks after lunchtime

·      Have a cup of herbal tea after dinner – for example chamomile, lemon balm or passionflower

·      Go to bed and rise around the same time each day – this ensures your body gets into a rhythm and you may not even need an alarm clock to wake you in the mornings

·      Move your body daily – exercise is as important for good sleep as it is for overall health

·      Make sure you are exposed to sunlight during the day – this supports your circadian rhythms and helps you produce the ‘happy hormone’ serotonin, which is then converted to the ‘sleep hormone’ melatonin

·      Wind down before going to bed – you may like to have a bath or read a good book

·      Make sure your bedroom is dark and not too hot

·      Write down any worries in a journal before going to bed, so that you can put them out of your mind

·      Have a relaxing lavender essential oil bath 1 hour before bed

·      Make sure you have a comfortable supportive bed.

How can a naturopath help?

Naturopaths are well equipped to support your sleep. They can:

-       Identify any underlying causes of poor sleep – this can include health conditions, medications, stress & lifestyle factors etc

-       Prescribe an appropriate magnesium

-       Prescribe a tailored liquid herbal remedy to ease restlessness, anxiety etc and promote good sleep

-       Prescribe homeopathic melatonin if indicated

-       Advise you on what further foods to eat to support good sleep

If you have trouble falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, or wake unrefreshed, get in touch to find out more about how I can help you.

Wishing you good rest and sweet dreams!

Christine

Naturopath BHlthSc. (Nat) NHAA ECNH

If you are struggling with sleep difficulties, please call me I’m happy to help you.

If you would like to read more about natural ways to reduce insomnia - you can goto Snoozy Monk

Christine Carley is a bachelor qualified naturopath, with a focus on women’s health and wellness. She passionately supports her clients with, fertility and IVF optimisation, menopause and hormonal health as well as gut health. She spent most of her early clinical practice working with people with chronic and complex autoimmune condition, whilst working in a clinic with cardiologist, psychologists, podiatrist and allied health professionals. She loves assisting those stress, anxiety, fatigue and sleep. She is a passionate health ambassador who takes a holistic, person centred approach to the wellness model of health.

Book an appointment or free online discovery call here: LOVE THY HEALTH or call 0409027221

*National and International Telehealth available

For more on her retreats and holistic wellness program touch here:

FACEBOOK or INSTAGRAM

or call (61+) 0409027221

Click to make a booking:

Western Health Collective, West Footscray 9687 5670

Love Thy Health, West Footscray  0409 027 221

This article provides general information and is not intended to constitute advice.  All care is taken to ensure information is accurate and relevant.  Please see your practitioner for personalised health treatments and advice.