We've had a new addition to our family. Euan (Mr Hauraki) is either happy or sad in life, and if he's sad he tells us to sort it out. Rosemary will be posting a range of options and pictures from her last three months trialing reusable nappies and running a clean diet to keep him smiling.
May 26, 2007 in Health & Wellbeing | Permalink | Comments (1)
We provide complementary health and life care consultancy to individuals, families and organisations. Our active approach utilises new techniques in combination with proven traditional methods.
We work in the home, offer public clinics and provide environmental orientation programmes and consultancy in the outdoors.
We will be tomorrow what we are doing today
Our work is to support clients to take an active approach to
their lives, to engage in constructive activity.
We look to build on the resilience gained from life experience, to be safe, treat people as human beings and where possible provide life changing opportunities.
We also encourage self repair from injury through facilitated active responsibility and committed daily practice.
Rosemary Stewart is a registered Medical Herbalist (BSc(Hons)) and registered Watsu Practitioner. She has provided public clinics at the local family health centre and Watsu sessions at local hot pools.
Patrick Stewart is a Forest Ecologist and Outdoor Educator. He finds wildlife in the forest and works with not so wild groups of all ages.
December 29, 2005 in Services | Permalink | Comments (0)
Personal health consultancy
We specialise in Western European and Eastern medical herbal therapies which can be taken safely in combination with modern allopathic medicines. We find this very effective in dealing with long term chronic conditions.
Adjunct therapies
Watsu is a gentle form of body therapy performed in warm water (35°C) which facilitates a release of muscular tension and a state of deep relaxation. Bodywork and postural education to re-pattern movement resulting in improved function.
Ongoing life care facilitation through peer mentoring and review.
December 29, 2005 in Services | Permalink | Comments (0)
by Rosemary Stewart, Medical Herbalist, Coromandel.
Please note:
CALENDULA infusion – traditionally used for cleansing, detoxifying, antiseptic, healing and anti-inflammatory properties.
Examples of internal use – for acne, eczema, cyclical breast tenderness, gastritis, colitis.
Examples of external use – (as a wash or compress) for inflamed and angry skin, cuts, wounds, acne, rashes, fungal conditions, varicose veins.
CHAMOMILE infusion – traditionally used for relaxation - especially good for children – and as a digestive tonic.
Examples of internal use – for digestive problems, hay fever, insomnia, nervous tension, achey or tense muscles.
Examples of external use – (as a wash or compress) for sore itchy skin, eczema.
ELDERFLOWER infusion – traditionally used to clear mucous congestion, reduce fevers and reduce inflammation.
Examples of internal use – for colds, flu, rhinitis, sinusitis, tonsillitis, early stage fevers, hay fever, arthritis, candidiasis.
Examples of external use – (as an eyewash) for conjunctivitis.
MEADOWSWEET infusion – traditionally used for anti-inflammatory and antacid properties.
Examples of internal use – for arthritis, rheumatism, cystitis, diarrhoea (gentle enough for children), acid indigestion.
Examples of external use – (as a compress or in the bath) for painful joints.
NETTLE infusion – traditionally used for cleansing, detoxification, nourishment (nutrients include vitamin C, iron, calcium, potassium, silica) and to slow/stop bleeding (internal/external).
Examples of internal use – for eczema, arthritis, iron-deficiency anaemia, heavy menstrual bleeding, hay fever, itchy skin, also regulates breast milk production and provides nutrients during pregnancy*.
Examples of external use – (as a wash or compress) for bleeding cuts, nosebleeds.
OATS (GREEN or STRAW) decoction i.e. simmering required to extract the nutrients – traditionally used for relaxation and nourishment (nutrients include B vitamins, calcium) - soothes and feeds the skin, joints and nervous system.
Examples of internal use – for reduced vitality, exhaustion, stressed/over stretched nervous system, mild depression, insomnia, also convalescence after illness.
Examples of external use (as a wash or in the bath) – for itchy skin, eczema.
RASPBERRY LEAF infusion – traditionally used for improving tissue tone/quality and reducing muscle spasm.
Examples of internal use – for painful or heavy menstrual bleeding, diarrhoea, also promotes breast milk production, provides nutrients during pregnancy and tones uterine muscle to encourage easy labour*.
Examples of external use – (as an eyewash) for conjunctivitis, (as a mouthwash) for mouth ulcer, sore throat, tonsillitis.
THYME infusion – traditionally used to clear mucous congestion, relieve muscle spasms, for antiseptic properties and as a refreshing tonic.
Examples of internal use – for coughs (including whooping cough), catarrh, minor throat and chest infections, fungal infections, also convalescence after illness.
Examples of external use – (added to the bath) for tiredness, achey joints and muscles, chronic coughs and congestion, (as a wash or compress) for fungal infections.
VERVAIN infusion – traditionally used to relieve tension and stress, and as a digestive tonic – DO NOT use during pregnancy.
Examples of internal use – for post viral fatigue, minor depression, nervous exhaustion after long term stress, migraines connected to the menstrual cycle, pre menstrual tension, also convalescence after illness and increases breast milk production.
YARROW infusion – traditionally used to slow/stop bleeding (internal/external), reduce fever, as a digestive tonic and urinary antiseptic.
Examples of internal use – for weak digestion, heavy menstrual bleeding, colds, flu, hay fever, urinary infections, varicose veins, early stage fevers.
Examples for external use – (as a wash) for cleansing wounds, (as a compress) varicose veins.
* check dose/timing with a medical herbalist
** see Resources for link to NZAMH website to find your local herbalist.
December 29, 2005 in Health & Wellbeing | Permalink | Comments (1)
What is Herbal Medicine and other Frequently Asked Questions
by Rosemary Stewart, Medical Herbalist, Coromandel.
Q. What is herbal medicine?
A. Herbal medicine is the use of
plant remedies in the prevention and treatment of disease. It is the
oldest known form of medicine. Herbal medicine in this country is now
classed as an "alternative" or "complementary" discipline but worldwide
it is still the most widely practised form of medicine with over 80% of
the world's population relying on herbs for health.
A. Plants have a particular affinity for certain organs or systems of the body and are used to 'feed' and restore health to those parts which have become weakened. As the body is strengthened so is its power and ability to fight off disease and when balance and harmony are restored, health will be regained.
The therapeutic activity of a
plant is due to its complex chemical nature with different parts of the
plant providing certain therapeutic effects.
Q. Is herbal medicine backed by science?
A. Herbal medicine is increasingly
being validated by scientific investigation. Modern science seeks to
understand the active chemistry of medicinal herbs, and to confirm
their safety and efficacy by clinical trials.
Q. What are the differences between herbs and pharmaceutical drugs?
A. Many of the pharmaceutical drugs currently used are based on individual chemicals (known as constituents) from plants, and even today when scientists are seeking new 'cures' for disease it is to the plant world that they turn. They find, extract and then synthesise in the laboratory a single active constituent from the plant (the active constituent is the part of the plant that has a therapeutic value), this can then be manufactured on a large scale. For example aspirin was derived from White Willow Bark (Salix alba) and the heart medication digoxin from foxglove (Digitalis purpurea).
Herbal drugs, however, are extracts from a part of the whole plant (e.g. leaves, roots, berries etc.) and contain hundreds, perhaps thousands of plant constituents.
Herbalists believe that the active
constituents are balanced within the plant and are made more (or less)
powerful by the numerous other constituents present.
Q. Can herbs and pharmaceutical drugs be taken at the same time?
A. Under professional guidance
yes. Qualified herbalists are aware of the potential for interactions
between herbs and pharmaceutical drugs and can work with the
prescribing doctor with the patient's consent.
Q. What can herbal medicine treat?
A. Herbal medicine can treat almost any condition that a patient might take to their doctor. Herbal medicine offers a safe, gentle and effective approach to health care and serves to promote health as a positive state. It is suitable for all from the very young to the very old. Qualified herbalists know when a condition is best seen by a doctor or another therapist.
December 29, 2005 in Health & Wellbeing | Permalink | Comments (0)
By Rosemary Stewart, Medical Herbalist, Tiki House, Coromandel.
Headaches are medically classified in several different ways – migraine, cluster, tension, neuralgic etc. This is useful but may not help resolve the problem. Treating headaches can be a tricky business.Herbal medicine looks at the whole person and considers headaches to be the result of a deficiency or an excess condition.
Deficiency – results in intermittent episodes of headaches possibly with dizziness and impaired vision, worsened by emotional swings suchas anxiety or anger. Other symptoms can be nausea and vommitting.
Excess – results in headaches of acute onset with intense and persistent pain, often worsened by wind, cold or heat. Other symptoms can be blocked sinuses or poor digestion.
Other considerations are the location of the headache and the time of day the headache starts and also when it peaks. Additionally some headaches are worst pre mestrually and others are related to stress or food.
A supervised herbal medicine treatment can help you to get to the source of the problem, dealing with the deficiency by building up, the excess by clearing out and the pain with herbal anagesics.
December 29, 2005 in Health & Wellbeing | Permalink | Comments (0)
