Innholdsfortegnelse for August/September 2025 i What Doctors Don't Tell You Australia/NZ

It’s difficult to age naturally these days, particularly if you’re female. At last count according to several surveys, more than 9 million Botox injections are administered globally, some 86 percent of them to women. Botox, or botulinum neurotoxin, to give it its formal name, is the most common nonsurgical procedure, but the big surprise is who gets it done—mostly women between ages 30 and 50. In fact, nearly half (4,417,000) of Botox injections went to that age group, and more than 2.2 million were injected into 18-to-30-year-olds. These days, the average age of someone opting for the procedure is 43 years. The youngest users have been primed on social media to use Botox preventively, believing that keeping foreheads smooth and crow’s feet at bay will prevent wrinkles from occurring later.…

If you think you might be or get pregnant, stay away from HRT to avoid harming the baby’s development. If you’ve had cancer, you’re generally advised against HRT. Women who’ve had strokes, heart attacks, blood clots, deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism are advised against HRT. New policies by groups like the North American Menopause Society also caution against starting HRT more than 10 years after the onset of menopause or after age 60. Women who do so face “greater absolute risks of coronary heart disease, stroke, veinous thromboembolism and dementia,” they warn.…

Some of the most common problems I’m consulted about are gastric. Patients especially seek help with symptoms of indigestion. Many of us have resorted to antacids at some point for heartburn (a burning sensation in the chest), nausea, bloating and other symptoms of indigestion. But when the symptoms become a regular occurrence, they require more than just a quick fix. And long-term use of over-the-counter antacids is not recommended. If you’ve been diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)—the term for repeated acid reflux, or stomach acid traveling up toward the throat and causing heartburn or a horrible taste in your mouth—you’ve likely been prescribed a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) like omeprazole. But these have been linked to serious side effects, including bone fractures, potentially fatal infections and even heart attacks.1…

Inflammation is the combination of redness, heat and swelling that occurs after the body suffers an injury or irritation of some kind. It’s the normal protective reaction of the immune system. It can be annoying and extremely painful, but it’s part of the body’s healing process and must be seen through to resolution. When resolution is reached, the body then produces anti-inflammatory chemicals to stop inflammation. This should result in a return to good function and health and end the inflammatory process. However, if the cause of acute inflammation is continuous, such as untreated infection, inflammatory food and drink, or continued exposure to allergens or toxins, it becomes a chronic process that continues far longer than it should. Chronic inflammation causes tissue damage, malfunction and eventually chronic disease. Simply using…

Dr Damien Downing, a specialist in allergy, environment and nutrition, is current president of the British Society for Ecological Medicine, on the editorial board of Orthomolecular Medicine News Service, Chief Medical Advisor of cancer charity Yes to Life (www.yestolife.org.uk), and author of numerous books including The Vitamin Cure for Allergies. Bruce Lipton, PhD, is an internationally recognized leader in bridging science and spirit. Stem cell biologist, bestselling author of The Biology of Belief and recipient of the 2009 Goi Peace Award, he has been a guest speaker on hundreds of TV and radio shows as well as a keynote presenter for national and international conferences. Dr Sarah Myhill has worked in the UK National Health Service and in private practice since 1981. Honorary Secretary of the British Society for Ecological…

Aromatherapy makes birth easier Aromatherapy can ease labor pains and even make the birth easier. Women who used aromatherapy that contained sweet orange oil (Citrus sinensis L) during labor reported “significantly reduced pain.” It also helped improve dilation during the first stages of labor, especially for women who were having their first child. And it reduced the women’s anxiety. Researchers from the Federal University of Sergipe in Brazil tested the oils on a group of 42 pregnant women. Half inhaled the actual oils, and the rest used a placebo of distilled water. Pain levels were recorded with a standard measure, and fetal heart rate was monitored. As well as reducing pain levels and anxiety, the aromatherapy oils reduced blood pressure and respiratory and heart rates. Explore (NY), 2025; 21(1): 103081…

We’ve been eating mushrooms for thousands of years. They’re full of antioxidants and a rich source of vitamin D, making them an essential ingredient during the long winter days. Most of us eat button mushrooms, the most common variety found in supermarkets. But there’s more to mushrooms than buttons, and their health-giving properties are being harnessed by functional and nutritional medicine, which encourages the use of mushroom supplements and even coffees. One type, psilocybin mushrooms—better known as magic mushrooms—is being used in microdoses to ease depression and anxiety. When it comes to mushrooms, you can’t go far wrong, as all have some health benefit, from balancing blood sugar levels to supporting the immune system and boosting energy. Here are the top seven medicinal mushrooms, according to Real Mushrooms (realmushrooms.com). Lion’s…

A healthy microbiome is vital to a healthy menopause. Here are some ways to look after yours. Foods to include in your diet • Polyphenol-rich foods such as berries, dark chocolate, raw nuts and red wine • Probiotic foods like kefir and kombucha, sauerkraut and kimchi, and yogurt • Prebiotic foods such as chia, flax and hemp seeds • Phytoestrogenic foods such as broccoli, kale, carrots, oranges, parsley, green tea, sweet potatoes, artichokes and legumes (peas, beans and peanuts) Chemicals to cut from your diet Some chemicals added to foods destroy the good bacteria: • Monosodium glutamate • Trans fats (partially hydrogenated oils, often vegetable oils) • High-fructose corn syrup • Artificial sweeteners • Sodium nitrite…

Jane’s story “Jane,” age 71, suffered debilitating, “life-altering,” costly back pain starting at age 29. Over the course of 11 years, the Southern California native saw many traditional doctors and received many different diagnoses, including, spondylolisthesis, a bulging disc, a pinched nerve, a herniated disc, different forms of arthritis including gout, even endometriosis. In addition to allopathic doctors and physical therapists, she also saw alternative medical practitioners including acupuncturists, herbalists, chiropractors, masseuses and a biofeedback specialist. “The message I kept hearing from my doctors and other health practitioners was that I needed to learn to live with this back pain and that it was likely to just get worse with age,” she says. Then, in 1994, after her most recent neurologist advised she be placed in a body cast for…

Remember that old question ‘Can you pinch an inch?’ I’m way beyond that!” That’ s what Darlene said to me during her consultation for my weight loss program. “I never used to have belly fat. What happened?” she asked. Darlene’s story is so familiar to me, and so is the frustration she was feeling. She had tried so many things to lose the stubborn fat that had been slowly but steadily accumulating, especially around her midsection. She had been on and off diets for years, but nothing seemed to help. She told me she was almost ready to give up. I’m so glad she found me when she did. Too many women do eventually give up, resigning themselves to life with a body that they don’t love. But it doesn’t…

Astragalus root extract Its main bioactive components, cycloastragenol and astragaloside IV, are telomerase activators. Studies show it promotes general telomere health and helps to lengthen telomeres.1 Ashwagandha An Ayurvedic supplement, ashwagandha is believed to stimulate telomere activity by up to 45 percent.2 It’s also an adaptogen (substance that aids in dealing with stress, fatigue and anxiety) fostering general health. Berberine Berberine is being explored in anti-aging medicine because it retards cellular senescence caused by telomere shortening in mice and helps to regulate telomerase in cancer cells.3 Coenzyme Q10 CoQ10 is a powerful antioxidant that supports mitochondrial function and the generation of cellular energy in the form of ATP. It’s thought to interact with telomerase to help maintain telomere length, and studies show that, especially when combined with selenium supplementation, it…

A COX-2 inhibitor is a type of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that targets cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), an enzyme involved in inflammatory reactions. Many herbs have the ability to inhibit COX-2, without the side effects of the drugs. These are some of them: Japanese knotweed Polygonum cuspidatum Goldenseal Hydrastis canadensis Ginger Zingiber officinale Feverfew Tanacetum parthenium Oregano Origanum vulgare Barberry Berberis vulgaris Rosemary Salvia rosmarinus Turmeric Curcuma longa Oregon grape Mahonia aquifolium Holy basil Ocimum sanctum Baikal skullcap Scutellaria baicalensis Hops Humulus lupulus REFERENCES 1 Thomas M. Newmark and Paul Schulick, Beyond Aspirin: Nature’s Answer to Arthritis, Cancer and Alzheimer’s Disease (Kalindi Press, 2000).…

Some fresh herbs, such as dandelion, gotu kola and hawthorn leaves, can simply be eaten in a salad or added to a green smoothie. But you can also take herbs as a tea or infusion (made by steeping dried herbs in boiling water), decoction (made by simmering the harder plant parts, like seeds and roots), tincture (liquid extract) or powder. See my previous article in the November 2024 issue of WDDTY for more information about these and how to make them at home. You can also make an herbal balm or ointment for topical use by following these instructions: 1 Add 10 percent by weight of beeswax to any base oil (such as olive oil), or any infused oil (such as calendula in olive oil) and heat gently until the…

A 37-year-old woman came to see me with eczema, for which she had been prescribed a steroid cream. She was also having night sweats but had no signs of early menopause. She had experienced eczema as a child, but it had disappeared until three years previously and was now very hot and itchy, all over her body, and quite severe. She had a history of cystitis and had experienced it four times in the last year, each time taking antibiotics for five days. Her sleep was poor because of the itching and heat. She also had a history of tonsillitis and recurring ear infections as a child, for which she had taken a lot of antibiotics. Testing showed she was intolerant to dairy but also to high-salicylate foods. Alongside a…

Early warning signs and symptoms don’t typically occur in thyroid cancer cases. Per the Mayo Clinic, as the disease progresses, however, people may experience the following: • A lump or nodule that is palpable through the skin on the neck • A sense that close-fitting shirt collars feel too tight • Voice changes, including increased hoarseness • Trouble swallowing • Swollen lymph nodes in the neck and/or pain in the neck and throat Consider seeing a doctor if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms. Early detection is always preferable. REFERENCE Mayo Clinic, “Thyroid Cancer,” Jan 5, 2024, mayoclinic.org…

Yes, reader, I’m a moral coward. I know I should be plunging into cold-water therapy with a happy heart, but somehow I just can’t. Turn the shower to freezing for 30 seconds at the end? Not so likely. Sit in an ice bath for 10 minutes? Do me a favor. Dive into a freezing ocean on Christmas Day (or any day, come to that)? Leave it out. And there’s no escape. I was talking at a health conference last autumn, and who should turn up there but Wim Hof’s identical twin brother, Andre? He even decided to sit next to me the first evening for dinner because he thought I looked “interesting”—i.e., morally compromised. For those who don’t know, Wim Hof is a maniac. Google him, and you’ll see photographs…

Dark chocolate reduces diabetes risk Eating a portion of dark chocolate every day can reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes. You’ll be around 20 percent less likely to develop the condition if you eat five portions every week, researchers from Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health have found. They looked at the health benefits of dark chocolate in a group of 18,862 people who had been monitored for up to 25 years. Those who ate at least five portions of any chocolate every week were 10 percent less likely to develop diabetes, but the 4,771 people who were eating only dark chocolate enjoyed the real benefits. Their risk halved again, to 21 percent. The risk fell by a further 3 percent for every additional square of dark chocolate…

Most of the so-called conspiracy theories that were voiced during the recent Covid-19 pandemic were correct, a US congressional committee has ruled after a two-year investigation into the country’s response to the outbreak. Yes, the virus did leak from a Wuhan laboratory, and the gain-of-function research was funded by US agencies; yes, social distancing and mask-wearing were pointless, and lockdowns did more harm than good. Yes, the Biden administration engaged in active censorship to stop any alternative voices from being heard, and, yes, the vaccines were rushed while adverse reactions were downplayed. Other countries, including the UK, followed America’s lead and engaged in most of the same strategies that have been condemned by the House of Representatives’ Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic. After holding 25 hearings and meetings, which…

Black cohosh Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa or Actaea racemosa) has been used for centuries in traditional Native American medicine and folk medicine. Studies have found it may help with conception in women who have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)1 and is as useful as drugs against uterine fibroids.2 A 2023 review found it may reduce menopausal symptoms overall and hot flashes specifically.3 Dosage: 20–40 mg twice daily Cautions: Avoid when pregnant or breastfeeding. Buy from a reputable source and don’t confuse it with white or blue cohosh. If you develop symptoms of liver toxicity (dark urine, yellow skin or abdominal pain), discontinue immediately and contact a doctor.4 Red clover Red clover, a flowering legume rich in phytoestrogens called isoflavones, has also been used traditionally to reduce menopausal hot flashes and has…

New research is pointing toward ways we might be able to increase the brain’s sensitivity to leptin. For example, a study found that inhibiting an enzyme known as HDAC6 helped to decrease leptin resistance and body weight in obese mice within a matter of weeks. The change also improved metabolism, liver health and glucose tolerance. While we don’t yet know how these results will translate to humans, it’s another great indication of just how central leptin is to weight management. REFERENCES Nat Metab, 2022; 4: 44–59 Cell Metab, 2024; 36(4): P857–76…

Independent of the effects of normal cell division, both the long and the short of telomere health is that it’s influenced by genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors. Generally speaking, women usually have longer telomeres than men.1 And, on average, Black and Hispanic people tend to have shorter telomeres than White people.2 There’s even a heritable condition, short telomere syndrome, in which short telomeres affect stem cell division in bone marrow, the skin, and the lining of the lungs and digestive tract. This leads to bone marrow failure and immune system deficiency as well as to lung, liver and GI issues. Those aren’t factors we can control, but the ones below are. Factors that shorten telomeres Obesity is related to telomere damage.3 Oxidative stress is an imbalanced condition that results when…

Chronic inflammation crops up in almost every person most alternative therapists see. It’s thought to be the underlying cause of most chronic conditions today, including allergies, arthritis, autoimmune conditions, cancer, heart disease, inflammatory bowel disease, inflammatory skin conditions like eczema, neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, and osteoporosis. As a naturopathic herbalist with over two decades of practice, I’ve found that ignoring the name of a condition or disease and considering the state of inflammation and where it’s manifesting can be a useful way of understanding the problem. My holistic treatment approach includes looking at the potential root causes of the inflammation and addressing them with diet, supplements and lifestyle changes. I also recommend a range of herbs to help my patients heal inflammation. It appears that most, or maybe all, herbs…

A 50-year-old man came to see me soon after being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and reluctantly starting medication. Swollen and painful hands were one of his worst symptoms. He’d been prescribed prednisolone, a corticosteroid, and methotrexate, an immunosuppressant. These are both very strong medications that suppress the inflammatory process and can have serious side effects. He knew he needed them in the short term but wanted to find help so he could come off them eventually. He was also taking acetaminophen (paracetamol) for pain. Leading up to this had been a long period of stress, together with a lack of care for himself and a poor diet. Muscle testing showed dairy intolerance, but as all autoimmune conditions benefit from avoiding gluten, I put him on a dairy- and gluten-free anti-inflammatory…

Chronic inflammation can result from many and varied causes, like these: A poor diet with regular consumption of sugar, refined carbohydrates and trans fatty acids (mostly found in processed food) and low in vegetables, fruit and unprocessed grains, pulses, nuts and seeds. Metabolic diseases such as insulin resistance and diabetes. Chronic low-grade infection by parasites, viruses, bacteria or fungi in which either the immune system or medical intervention has failed to eliminate the pathogen completely. Repeated episodes of acute inflammation due to any cause. Autoimmune disease (when the immune system constantly tries to attack body tissues) as a result of chronic inflammation. Common examples are multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Irritants in the body that the immune system can’t remove or neutralize. These might be foods to which there is…

We live in unprecedented times. Statistically, one in every two people will receive a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime, and this scourge of a disease is being diagnosed in younger and younger people every day. Several factors influence these skyrocketing cases. Our surroundings and lifestyle choices are major contributors. Compared to 50 years ago, the environment has completely changed: Our air, water, soil, and food supply are polluted with toxins, chemicals, and pesticides. Our stress levels are at an all-time high. Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) generated by our phones, computers, Wi-Fi devices, power lines, microwaves and other appliances wreak havoc on our bodies daily. Most clothing is manufactured with toxic chemicals. In general, people sit more and exercise less, and diets filled with empty carbohydrates, added sugars, harmful seed oils and…