Bertie Horaks OPS Pics!

[Carl Wrbka]

Hi Bertie, thanks for clearing up that topic regarding the age / weight issue. 

[Rhona]

Thanks for that Bertie - as for the whole 'you are what you eat' thing - I too am a believer in that - but where a multiple of 'illnesses' are combined - as in one ailment triggers another and a domino effect occurs within the body - the diet for one could be poison for the next............Definitely agree with you that an individual should be treated as a unit and not as a symptom - but how do you treat a unit if it is so clogged up with synthetic chemicals, surely this would be an artificial starting point? Also should the starting point of the 'diet' be complete fasting - whereby the system is starved on all pollutants - and only fed on organic food stuff, as close to raw as possible and it's most natural state?
Sorry if I sound like I'm ganging up on you - I have a personal interest in what advise you have to give.

[Bertie Horak]

Rhona I can gather through your comments that you have done your research and show real interest. Well done! Once again you're so right in your argument about the domino effect.  Very often when there's a multitude of symptoms and affected body systems, we can start with a detox to help rid the body of all unwanted elements, poisons, parasites, etc. with herbs.  It is also dangerous to stimulate a week system with strong herbs.  One should then at first support, rather than stimulate.  For instance, stimulate a week, damaged liver, and you will actually kill it, causing bigger problems!
I do not in believe in complete fasting.  I believe that by eliminating the bad, and replacing with the good (like you said - as raw, organic and unprocessed as possible), your body will gather it's own integral strength to get rid of the toxins.
Very nice to chat to somebody who's been thinking! 
PS: I have slight problems with my wireless connection, and might take a while to reply.  But everybody, I will eventually come back to all posts where I've been involved.  LOVE THIS SITE!  CONGRATS GUYS!!!!

[Rhona]

Bertie - I could sit here all day, bending your ear and debating backwards and forwards on the whole topic of diet and alternative treatment; I'd keep probing you and re-arranging my questions, teasing out the answers you have to offer - but unfortunately I have a huge date this weekend and so have to log off.
I truley appreciate your comments and I will most definitely be back to pick your brain some more - But before I go - what is your opinion on wiping out entire food groups from a diet ie: dairy; wheat; red meat; whites ect ect or are you of the opinion that small amounts of everything are good for you? Also when one food group is good for one ailment but not for another - should you choose the lesser of two evils or ban it completely.............Take for example greens; your average run of the mill Brocolli or Cabbage - now we all now these veg's are good for us, they are high in calcium and iron as well as a whole range of other nutrients - BUT they are also counter productive to a person with an underactive thyroid - and so if a patient suffered from both low iron count and an underactive thyroid; would greens be on or off the list?

[Carl Wrbka]

Thats a good point Rhona. I suffer from low iron count as well as underactive thyroid. I've been on and off Eltroxin for the last year now and try to supplement my iron levels "artificially" with iron supplements. To be honest, I dont feel any different now as before I started with the medication.

Perhaps I should try getting rid of the extra iron intake and let my system go "cold turkey", so that it can kick start itself into normal operation again.

I normally have my iron levels checked every 52 days when I donate blood, and everytime I just just make the minimum level. The first reaction of the nurse doing the test is " Take iron supplements and eat more iron rich foods". I'm confused????????

[Diana Rudd (Boehme)]

I've been taking eltoxin for the past 15yrs.   Just thought I'd add that.

[Bertie Horak]

Will come back later tonite or tomorrow morning re Fe-deficiency and hypothyroidism. There are quite a few herbs that are safe and helpful in these cases.  No time now, going to Vincent Palotti hospital to visit friend's dad who had heart attack yesterday, then a show in Theatre on the Bay, then dinner at friends.  Chat later!!!

[Carl Wrbka]

OK, Bertie. Catch u later.


@ Diana. Have you tried the seaweed remedy? Apparently the zinc in seaweed is good for kickstarting a naughty thyroid. I've just completed a course of "kelp" extract from Vital. I'll let u know after my next test if it helped or not. Be warned though, those pills really stink and taste absolutely gross.

[Michael Alexander]

U low iron people, don't drink enough beer and eat enough steak..... damn, skinny folk... with all their health problems....   :emot19:

[Diana Rudd (Boehme)]

I had my thyroid removed,so am a bit weary to change medication. My daughter has low iron and takes Chel-a-fer,it works wonders for her,I can pick up immediately if she has not taken it.

[Carl Wrbka]

Thanks, I'll give it a try. Can I get it without bribing the pharmacist?

[Diana Rudd (Boehme)]

Yes you can Carl.

[DUNJA WRBKA]

Well I need to add that I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's decease a year ago, suffer from high blood pressure and am insulin resistant.  I spent 10 days at a detox retreat in Spain last year (www.detox-international.com) 10 days of juices, suppliments, broths, yoga, meditation, acupuncture, colon cleanses.  I came back feeling like a million bucks and a few Kg's lighter.  Have given up smoking for a year and a bit now and generally eat a 90% organic diet and have a cup of coffee perhaps 1 a week. I have also changed my skin care range and shampoo/conditioner as well as toothpaste to 100% natural. I got rid of my microwave and we now warm up the conventional way in a stainless pot and have gotten rid of the aluminium ones.  I am also very facinated and intriqued by natural medicines but generally do not discuss the topic in public.  It tends to become very similar to a religious topic when discussed with NON believers.

[Bev Coates (Now Walker)]

Dr Berite for president i say.......

my daughter katie has chroans disease so any help with dietiatry tips for her....or alternative medicines to try would be a help is anyone else out there suffers with this......

also i suffer with aneamia......ive had every test going includin the thiroid test...last week actually.....but my lack of iron is from my bad diet...im sure of it......i love all the foods that conatin iron...really dark greens...even liver....but because no one else likes this stuff....i dont cook it...and because i dont eat much to start with .............my diet is terrible.... its my own fault.....and i dont realize how....shit i am feeling....untill i suddenly remeber to take a course of iron....and it works wonders.............. hoolahoop1

[Bertie Horak]

Hi all!  First of all, nice to chat to great group of friends.  Secondly, PLEASE dont see this as medical advice, rather as a discussion.  I can get in big trouble - I havn't seen you as patients OR examined you and made the diagnosis.

Carl, Diana, Rhona, Dunja - It's good to carry on with your thyroid hormone replacement therapy if you're taking any- without it you can't do anything with the Zn supplements.  I believe leafy greens in moderation is ok, in addition it gives you folic acid (which is important for absorbing many minerals and vitamins).  I do have another form of "leafy green" that is very helpful - Urtica (stinging nettle) - a tea from the leaves contain huge amounts of minerals, especially Iron and Calcium (more than milk!). Another source of Zn is all your nuts and seeds, especially pumpkin seeds (not every day, 1-2x a week). 
Dunja, Hashimoto is an auto-immune disease, and like with you, Diabetes Type I often accompanies it.  Unfortunately not enough space and time to go into detail.  As Phytotherapists we would therefore firstly treat you for auto-immune problems, then secondary for the thyroid, and other symptoms like dry skin, etc. Important to look after your heart and vasculature (higher risk of Atherosclerosis) with some of the herbs I mentioned in previous post.  They lifestyle changes you made are great, well done!

For all of you, Brewer's yeast is good supplement with full Vit B complex and minerals, including chromium for diabetes (the vital one is ok). Michael here's one for you (now you can say: "I told you so!") - another herb used for the nervous system is hops (Humulus lupulus), but NO Mike, that doesn't mean you can just drink more beer for medicinal value!!!!

Regarding seaweed (Fucus vesicularis) - yes it has been used extensively for hypothyroidism. Just make sure you have the right stuff.  Don't go chew on a piece of bamboo you pulled from the sea close to Koeberg!!!

Bev, Crohn's disease is an inflammatory condition of the bowel. Great care should be given to her diet.  What is her age?  Generally, we would concentrate on reducing inflammation, getting the biota (gut flora) in balance, and looking after the diet.  Once again, a consultation is imperative, for we would treat different people differently for the same condition - we look at the "bigger picture", for instance, she might be a generally nervous person which would aggrevate condition.  However, generally the next might be helpful.  Chamomile (Matricaria) tea - good for gut flora and mild sedative, Slippery Elm bark powder (Ulmus) usually given in yoghurt, Oats (Avena), and some demulcents to soothe the gut mucosa in tincture form - Echinacea (Purple cone flower), Althea (Marshmallow plant), etc.

I think that's it for now.  Mike's going to kick me off the site for writing books in the forum!!!!
Have a great Sunday, I have to go buy cat food.  It HAS TO BE fancy feast tins, and it HAS TO BE the gourmet feast or the three kids (photo's in "pets forum") look at me with faces that ask: "Don't you love us anymore???"