Holistic General Practice
In my Holistic General Practice I attend to all the day-to-day routine and common health care issues we face in our daily life. In addition, I apply my special skills, training and expertise to dealing with complex metabolic problems, which are often not understood by conventional doctors.
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Nutrition in Medicine and Healing One of the common misconceptions in medical practice is the notion that the only effective way to treat the numerous health problems we face in our community is through prescription drugs. Although they are often appropriate and effective, these medications do have their limitations, which range from allergy, side effects and toxic effects, to inadequate symptom control. On the other hand, there is a growing body of evidence that, after a specific metabolic diagnosis has been made and nutritional imbalances identified, an appropriate holistic intervention can make a dramatic difference to the disease process, leading to symptom relief and thus diminution or even elimination of the need for prescription drugs. |
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Winter Coughs and Colds
During the winter months, many of us experience respiratory problems such as sinusitis, sore throats and chest infections. Although some of these are caused by bacteria and will respond to antibiotics, the vast majority are viral in origin and therefore unaffected by normal antibiotic treatment.
The best way to prevent these viral ills is to make sure we have good nutrition, including a wide range of fresh fruit and vegetables, and a regular source of healthy protein such as eggs, poultry and seafood. In addition, clinical trials have shown that certain major nutrients are closely linked with proper functioning of the immune system. These include Vitamins A, B-complex, E, C, Folic acid, Iron, Copper, Zinc, Magnesium and Coenzyme Q10.
Regular use of these nutrients improves our resistance to all manner of ailments. When an infection actually occurs, it may be necessary to increase the dose of these supplements especially the water-soluble vitamins such as C and B complex.
When a respiratory infection seems to hang on for more than 1 week, it suggests that our immune system is markedly depleted and in this situation it may well be beneficial to have a clinical assessment during which the essential missing vitamins and minerals can be given by injection or intra-venous infusion. This process not only introduces very high therapeutic doses of nutrients into our body but, as a bonus, most patients feel a dramatic increase in energy and well-being.
Vitamin D from the sun
The Magical Vitamin
Vitamin D is recognized as the sunshine vitamin, since the production of this vitamin in nature always appears to require the presence of some UV light. I still find it surprising to discover how many of my patients are deficient in this essential vitamin in spite of seemingly adequate sun exposure. I can only conclude that many of us have metabolic difficulties producing adequate quantities of this nutrient.
Vitamin D deficiency causes poor bone mineralization leading to rickets in children and osteoporosis and bone fractures in adults. In addition, Vitamin D deficiency also has other serious consequences on overall health and wellbeing.
There is published evidence indicating that Vitamin D is essential not only for our bones but also for increasing muscle strength, protection from heart disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension and many common deadly cancers, especially breast cancer. The most effective form of this vitamin is D3 (cholecalciferol).
Vitamin D is recognized as the sunshine vitamin, since the production of this vitamin in nature always appears to require the presence of some UV light. I still find it surprising to discover how many of my patients are deficient in this essential vitamin in spite of seemingly adequate sun exposure. I can only conclude that many of us have metabolic difficulties producing adequate quantities of this nutrient.
Vitamin D deficiency causes poor bone mineralization leading to rickets in children and osteoporosis and bone fractures in adults. In addition, Vitamin D deficiency also has other serious consequences on overall health and wellbeing.
There is published evidence indicating that Vitamin D is essential not only for our bones but also for increasing muscle strength, protection from heart disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension and many common deadly cancers, especially breast cancer. The most effective form of this vitamin is D3 (cholecalciferol).