Health
Being well taken care of means a lot more than purely material gain, it means food for the heart and soul as well as for the body. Eventually those who do not get emotional and spiritual nourishment through meaningful endeavours can starve no matter how prosperous their bank accounts are. Joy is a function of the spirit, the soul and the body. There is a specific set of cells in the brain that are devoted to receiving input that convert to the emotion of joy. BE JOYFUL.
Text & Image: Rina Smit
managing sugar cravings, painful periods, uninvited cellulite, mood swings and unstable emotions.
Text: Joan van Rensburg Images: Michael Maherry
R eflections of Womanhood DEDICATED TO MY MOM, GERSHA BECKER, WHO AT 81 YEARS OF AGE IS STILL MY MENTOR AND MY BEST FRIEND.
Nowhere have I ever read a more beautiful description of a woman than in Proverbs 31. That whole chapter so aptly describes my own mother. Proverbs 31 says: ‘A wife of noble character, who can find? She is worth far more than rubies…she works with eager hands…she gets up while it is still dark, she provides food for her family…she sets about her work vigorously…her lamp does not go out at night… she extends her hand to the needy…she is clothed with strength and dignity…she speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue…she watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness…charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.’ A woman is the heart of the home. She also has so many other diverse roles in our society, which she fulfills today. She asserts herself as a woman in a man’s world, often having to be the financial provider or single mom, plays the role of nurse, mother, wife, lover, taxi, teacher, encourager, motivator, friend, counselor and so much more!
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In childhood she dresses up, tries on mom’s highheeled shoes and lipstick, plays with her dolls and is introduced to her femininity. Then puberty arrives and she embraces the first taste of young womanhood. She makes acquaintance with her newly developing breasts, which will in the future store one of her important hormones, namely estrogen. Her teens are a time of becoming comfortable with herself,
The hormone ESTROGEN, which forms part of a group of steroid compounds and functions as the primary female sex hormone now surges through her body, and women everywhere are told that it promises them eternal youth and beauty, it is the elixir of youth and forestalls ageing.
It was only in the early 1900’s that doctors came to realise that the ovaries produce two hormones, which later came to be named estrogen and progesterone. In 1960 the FDA approved the use of the first oral contraceptive pill, and young women became exposed to ‘the pill’, now even commonly prescribed for ‘skin problems’ in teenagers. She marries, gives birth to life, her children, the most precious gift of all, cradles them at her breast and watches them grow up so quickly…too quickly. Then she hits a season in her life, which she dreads, a MIDLIFE CRISIS. 1942 - ‘Premarin prescribes a HRT derived from pregnant mare’s urine for menopausal symptoms. Marilyn Monroe uses it, and all of a sudden it is touted as THE HORMONE that is prescribed for everything. It soon became one of the top drugs dispensed in the USA. What most postmenopausal women are never told is that secondary sources of estrogen are produced after menopause by the liver, adrenal glands, fat cells and breast tissue! So did God make a mistake when a woman goes through menopause and her estrogen levels taper off ? -NO -, is menopause a disease? -NO -, why then does it need to be ‘treated’ with HRT (hormone replacement therapy) when there are so many risks involved to a woman’s health, especially breast cancer? The prescription might soothe your symptoms for a time, but there is often a price to pay with side effects. By 1968 numerous side effects were being reported,
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On reflecting on the past, one can do so without any regrets, seeing everything as working together for good, lessons learnt on your journey, bringing you to where you are today, with more wisdom and the self-confidence to make better, wiser and informed choices. Because life is all about choices! For the first time now in many years, she can once again cherish and embrace her womanhood, she can reach out to others, touching the lives of those around her and making a difference. She can look forward to many more precious experiences and continue to fulfill the destiny to which she has been called. So choose life, become well versed in your two important hormones, estrogen and progesterone, so that you can make your own decisions based on education and information. True health is enjoyed when there is harmony between these two hormones. Nevertheless imbalances occur frequently amongst women today. Estrogen dominance has become common. This means that the woman is exposed to the hormone estrogen in so many different ways and it suppresses the function of her other important hormone, namely progesterone. This causes ‘endocrine disruption’, and the woman may experience gall stones, weight gain, thyroid and blood sugar problems, disrupted sleep patterns, anxiety, headaches, depression, irritability, loss of libido, infertility, fluid retention, thrombosis, ovarian and breast cysts and still much more. Bear in mind that the livestock industry vastly uses estrogens to fatten their animals; hence we take it in our animal and dairy products. Many chemicals, which we ingest and inhale, are also ‘endocrine disruptors’ and our delicate balance
It protects against breast cancer and fibrocystic breast disease, it has blood thinning properties, it acts as a natural anti-depressant, it helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels, protects against heart disease and thrombosis, supports thyroid function, hot flushes and weight gain and is especially helpful with infertility! As a young child the seed was planted in my own life to take an interest in nutrition and health. I saw my mom suffer through many illnesses and operations; despite medical expertise and prayer she was never well. Today we can trace back many of her problems to the HRT she used for so many years. Yet she suffered in silence and never complained. She continued to play an active role in nursing others, holding prayer meetings and bible studies, and was always serving others. Today I honour her will to endure, I treasure the moments we have shared, I see in her the love of God, I celebrate the years God has spared her, for she is worthy of praise, always leading the way by exercising the fruit of the Spirit in all she does, guiding us spiritually, radiating an inner peace, beauty and strength that comes from her close walk with the Lord. She surely is the Proverbs 31 woman! She still continues to illuminate the world of those around her and has been my source of inspiration to continue to reach out and make a difference in others’ lives. In closing I’d like to quote from something I found years ago by George Napheys: ‘The physical life of a woman; advice to the maiden, wife and mother.’ “The evening of her day approaches, and if she has observed the precepts of wisdom, she may look forward to a long and placid period of rest, blessed with health, honoured and loved with a purer flame than any which she has inspired in the bloom of youth and beauty.” RM Contact Joan van Rensburg is a nutritional and lifestyle coach with a practice at the Eastleigh Medical Centre in Pretoria. Drawing from a wealth of experience she has assisted numerous individuals and families on the road to better health. She may be contacted at: joan.partner@gmail.com or Tel: +27 12 998 0025 or +27 72267 8160 e8 ssu
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Menopause impacts much more than just the physical; it also affects the psychological and emotional aspects of a woman’s life. If she has cared for herself well, addressing good nutrition and correct supplementation she will be able to journey through this season in her life with very little discomfort. This midlife journey can symbolize NEW BEGINNINGS, a new season in a women’s life. We can savour it.
Consider my mother, whom I weaned off Premarin at 70 years of age, after she had been on it for 30 years! She supplements with whole food supplements and uses natural progesterone and it has made a remarkable difference to her health. Some of the benefits of natural progesterone are:
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Menopause can occur anytime between the age of 45 and 55. This is often the time when until now ‘alone time’ has been non-existent, she has nurtured and cared for everyone, often at the expense of neglecting herself. Now the kids grow up, leave home, the nest is empty, and for a while depression and anxiety can set in.
is thrown out. For this reason we should make wiser choices, choosing hormone free dairy and animal products, filter our water and avoid chemical exposure as much as possible. We can consume more fresh natural whole foods, lots of essential fatty acids (especially Omega 3) and consider supplementing with natural progesterone.
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including heart disease and strokes and in the 1980’s breast cancer surfaced. Today, many women still ignorantly continue to use HRT for many years, not considering the risks involved. Is it because we have never learned to trust our bodies’ own intuitive wisdom, educate ourselves, grow in knowledge and discernment, so that we may take accountability and responsibility for our own health?
life in the art of Medicine. After consulting thousands of women regarding breast and general health issues, he is convinced that women find it difficult to make the right decisions due to a lack of information. Part of his mission is therefore, to educate and inform women about health issues and the right choices to be made. He does this by giving presentations, talks and writing articles whenever the opportunity arises. This booklet also intends to do exactly that, especially for the 20,000 patients on his records.
Text: Dr. Alwyn Carstens Images: Michael Maherry
Beauty and The Breast Dr Alwyn Carstens is a physician
Contact Eastleigh Breast Care Centre to order your copy of the book today, or feel free to purchase this wonderful book as an ebook online at, www.beauty-and-the-breast.co.za RM
He started his career as Family Practitioner (GP) in 1975. While in GP practice, he obtained his Masters in Family Medicine (M.Prax.Med) at the University of Pretoria Medical School and the equivalent ( M.F.G.P.) from the College of Medicine of S.A.
Contact:
with special interest in Women’s Health and specifically Breast Health. He practices as a diagnostic Radiologist at The Eastleigh Breast Care Centre in Pretoria. Over 1000 women with breast cancer attend the centre for treatment or follow up.
From 1986, after qualifying as Diagnostic Radiologist, M.Med.Rad(D) (Pret) he practiced as a General diagnostic Radiologist for the next 10 years.
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Dr. Alwyn Carsten’s amazing new publication on breast care health is now available to the public and a must-have for every woman.
His interest in Breast Radiology and breast disease was ignited while working in New Zealand in a Breast Care Centre. Upon return, he started his own Breast Care Centre in Pretoria, The Eastleigh Breast Care Centre. Together with a specialist team his mission is to provide First World breast cancer treatment and to empower women to take part in decision making. He has now spent 35 years of his
Tel: +27 12 993 0512 Fax: +27 12 993 5188 Email: info@breastcare.co.za Accounts: accounts@breastcare.co.za Dr Alwyn Carstens: drcarstens@breastcare.co.za Beauty and the Breast book: book@breastcare.co.za
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God’s
Text:Herman Uys Images: Morguefile.com
Pharmacy
All people are capable of handling a certain amount of stress, although it seems as if some can just carry on and on. Others collapse without warning. You get environmental stress, caused by air pollution, high noise levels, household problems, area temperatures, etc.
Mental stress is caused by relationship problems, problems at work, and these circumstances physically effect your body. Stress caused certain hormones to be released into the bloodstream, and this accelerates your heart rate. Your lungs absorb more oxygen to give your muscles more strength, your digestion slows down and you sweat more. Treatment: Get to a counsellor as quickly as possible, open up your heart, and get rid of those problems. Get your life clean with God, and deal with injustices being done.
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STRESS
Physical stress can be caused by illness, injury and a wrong diet.
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that there is no sickness, disease or condition we experience on earth, that is allowed to exist on our planet, without our Creator already having provided an effective antidote and/or medicine for, in the form of plants, fruit or veggies, created for us earth dwellers, to be healthy and well - we simply might not know about it.
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I am personally convinced
Part 5
Physical aids: a handful of pumpkin seed, which are rich in zinc, iron and calcium. Herbs that nourish and stabilize your central nervous system are: basil, lavender, chamomile and raw oats. Ginseng root lifts your spirit when you’re down or tired, and relaxes you when you are stressed. It also boosts your immune system. Make sure you’re getting sufficient veggies, such as cabbage, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, onions, beetroot, celery and carrots. FENNEL This seed is an antiseptic. Chewing it keeps the breath fresh. Add 2 teaspoons of crushed seed to a cup of boiling water and allow to stand for 10 minutes and then swallow to de-poison the body after a dog bite, snake bite or insect bite. Fennel tincture in juice, aids weight loss. Fennel tea is good for babies with cramps and diarrhoea. Fennel has been used over ages for suppressing of appetite during fasting. GERANIUM A good cure for diarrhoea. Geranium oil relieves PMS. It treats water retention, eczema, dermatitis and dry skin. It releases tension, helps you sleep, and relax, and also aid digestion. Camphor leaf geranium can be used to clear up coughs, fight chest and other chest ailments. Steam with the tincture. LAVENDER Drip lavender oil onto a little cushion, and put this in your bed. You’ll sleep like a baby. Lavender tea relieves exhaustion and anxiety. If coupled with grape vinegar, lavender leaves bring relief to aching legs. Add lavender oil to your bathwater and apply to your sore feet. Lavender leaves make an excellent marinade for meat tenderiser. Wrap up the meat in the leaves and leave in the fridge over night. LEMON VERBENA Lemon Verbena herbal tea has a calming effect on the entire nervous system, and heals bronchial and nasal congestion. It also relieves stomach cramps and nausea. Drink the tincture after meals. Boil 4-8 leaves in a cup of boiling water and add a drop of honey. MINT
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Centuries ago, mint was used to treat dog and snake bites, stab wounds, mouth and gum infections, digestive problems and skin ailments. Relieve indigestion by chewing on a mint leaf or two. It’s a good alkaline or anti-acid. Steam with mint tincture to relieve colds and flu. Peppermint tea relieves colds and flu. Drink the same tea, cold, for flatulence and hiccups. Rub fresh mint leaves into the skin, to keep mosquitoes at bay.
MUSTARD Mustard treats flatulence, loss of appetite, colds and flu, mucus membrane infection, and chest and bladder ailments. Make a paste of mustard seeds, and leaves to treat rheumatism, sprained limbs, and chilblained hands and feet. Add mustard to hot water, and have a foot bath to aid blood circulation, and relieve tiredness. Mustard will stop vomiting. Mustard lifts the resistance levels. Chewing on mustard leaves, cures a sore throat, and stops a runny nose. Mustard is a natural anti-depressant. Add a tablespoon of mustard seed to half a cub of warm water, allow to brew for fifteen minutes and drink 3 x per day. Herman Uys Rev. Herman Uys is the founder of Koinonia Ministries, and moves nationally, as well as abroad, as public and conference speaker. He is the author of the book: God’s Pharmacy RM
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