Highwood Highlights No. 14. May 2008
Physical health: Osteoporosis - an anecdotal report of a natural way to increase bone mineral density. A 43 year old volunteer with established osteoporosis did the following for just over one year: Took plain calcium carbonate with an average intake of about 1gram/day, took organic spirulina powder at an average dose of one dessertspoon per day, rubbed a good quality comfry cream on their lower spine once or twice a day, took about 400iu of vitamin D per day and did regular exercise. At the end of the 14 month period their bone mineral density in their spine and hip had increased as measured by the "Gold Standard" Dexa Scan.
Mental Health: Is there such a thing as "Hormonal Horrors"? Certainly, as all who have experienced them will freely admit! There are a number of common hormonal disturbances that can effect our mental health. These include pre-menstrual tension, menopause, andropause, adrenal exhaustion, hypo and hyperthyroidism and cortisol dominance. It is also known that prostate and breast cancers are related to hormonal problems. Environmental pollutants such as dioxin (which is released when plastics are burned) can interfere with hormonal functions and it is thought that some of these pollutants may be responsible for hormonal irregularities in our systems. Pre-menstrual tension is often the result of eostrogen dominance which means that there is too much eostrogen in relation to progesterone. Thus, one method of treatment is to use supplemental bio-identical progesterone cream. Such cream can also be very useful for menopausal symptoms and is much to be preferred over eostrogen supplementation in most ladies. By the way, I am not generally in favour of using wild yam creams for these conditions since the natural steroid in wild yam (diosgenin) is not necessarily going to be converted by the body into progesterone. In fact it may possibly be converted into Cortisone, DHEA, Testosterone, Progesterone, or Estrogens (it is used in the pharmaceutical industry as a raw material for all of these natural hormones). So wild yam cream is a bit of a "shot in the dark" and I prefer a pharmaceutical grade, properly prepared cream were you can get more precise dosing (such as "Pro-feme" cream).
Spiritual Health:"If there is a God, why do innocent children suffer?" This question has bothered many and still bothers many. The main issue in trying to answer this question is the fact that people who are suffering are not really interested in, or convinced by, listening to logic or theological explanations. If my daughter has been murdered or my entire family has been killed, I am not likely to be comforted by being told that there is a war going on between Satan and Christ or that I am being refined by God's mysterious providence or even by the idea that God has taken them away to prevent them from suffering more in the future. Such explanations do not meet my deepest emotional and mental needs. They do little to ease the pain. What is more likely to help is the feeling that others understand and empathise with my pain. I also will need some kind of reassurance that God is truly still in charge and that, therefore, some day I can be granted the understanding that I cannot experience now. The Old Testament book of Job deals with human suffering in this way. Job is given no explanation of why he suffered, but he is reassured that God is still in charge and can be trusted. Elsewhere in the Bible, and especially in the New Testament, we have an expansion of the themes presented in the book of Job. It is made clear that God, the Most Innocent, is the One who has suffered and who is suffering the most. And, as such, He is able to sympathise with all who suffer. "Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted." Heb. 2:17-18.
Social Health: Too much weight is an important social issue. It effects not only what activities we can participate in, but also our confidence and self-image. One way NOT to try and lose weight is trying a very low carbohydrate diet. The following is quoted from the Australian Doctor Magazine, 31/03/06: "The risks of very-low-carbohydrate diets have been exposed after a patient developed life-threatening ketoacidosis a month after starting the Atkins diet. The 40-year old US woman, with a BMI of 42, lost 9kg by eating meat, cheese and salads, supplemented by several Atkins-branded vitamins and other supplements. However, she was hospitalised after developing dyspnoea, and laboratory tests revealed ketonuria and metabolic acidosis." Other causes of the ketoacidosis were ruled out. It was her diet.
Highwood Testimonial:
The following is a testimonial from Mark that we have on file for public release: "Upon arrival I was very anxious and din not know what to expect. The program helped me to fully understand how important physical, mental and spiritual [matters are] to one's everyday well-being. I have managed to get off my high blood pressure medicine and I have managed to loose 4kg of weight."
Highwood Events: Soon you will receive another email advising of two major events. First, in the Social Health area we have a youth camp in mid June. Second, in the Spiritual Health area we have what may well be a world first: A full three month Righteousness by Faith course with a special focus on the revival that took place following the 1888 messages of Pr. Jones and Waggoner.
Next Month: "What is your family's 'Social Health Quotient'?"
Highwood Highlights is a brief and simple message sent out monthly by Highwood Health Centre, www.naturalhealthretreat.com.au www.highwoodcollege.org (03 5963 7011). To subscribe send an email to highwood@australis.net with "subscribe" in the subject line. To unsubscribe, send an email with "unsubscribe". Please send other email correspondence for Dr. Bird to birddavid777@yahoo.com as the Highwood newsletter email address is checked infrequently.