Blog – Page 2 – Integrative Health Education

Parasites and IBS

Written by Nichole on August 26, 2016. Posted in Blog, Gastrointestinal health, Parasitology. Leave a Comment

Naturopath Emma Lane spoke alongside other internationally-recognised experts at the CAM Summit this summer. The one-day conference saw Emma talk about her favourite topic – parasites.

The talk, Parasites Uncovered, was written to help practitioners understand some of the detrimental physical, mental and emotional effects that some parasites can create. During the session Emma Lane presented the latest research and theories that show how these pathogens can drive the common illnesses and diseases that practitioners face in their everyday practice. Amongst a number of illnesses Emma discussed the link between parasites and IBS – a common and often misdiagnosed problem.

Undiagnosed problem

Parasites are insidious because generally people are not aware of them and there is a misconception amongst doctors and the general public alike that parasites occur only in third world countries.

Additionally often doctors do not suspect and therefore do not recognise the symptoms of parasites. Inadequate testing procedures can often result in either an incorrect diagnosis or the infestation going undiagnosed.

The pathogenesis of parasites

Many parasites have the capacity to cause disease and may affect their hosts in various ways. These include:

• Altered metabolism

• Physiology

• Anatomy

• Reproductive success

• Behavioural changes

The pathology of a parasite infection can run the gamut from very mild to lethal. Frequently, the same immune mechanisms that are intended to protect us cause the symptoms observed during a parasitic infection. Pathology from the parasitic infection can be categorised as one of several general types:

o Interference with host nutrient acquisition

o Parasite-induced trauma to cells, tissues and organs

o Changes in host cell growth patterns

o Effects on host behaviour

o The host immune response to infection

And of course, many parasites induce pathology in more than one way.

Wellbeing factors

Many contributing factors affect the chances of picking up a parasite and also impact on the effects it can take on the body. These include:

o Poor or low wellbeing

o Poor lifestyle choices

o Inadequate or excessive poor nutrition

o Poor digestion

o Chronic stress

o Immune insufficiency

o International travel

o Medication use

o Influx of immigrants from endemic areas / armed force personnel

o Poor farming practices

o Poor personal hygiene

o Contamination of municipal water

o Poor vitality and health of pets

o Sex

Parasites and IBS

In 2013 the British Journal of Medical Practitioners showed that the prevalence of IBS is estimated in the UK to be 17% overall, with a prevalence of 11% among men and 23% among women.

It also showed that 33 to 90% of patients do not consult a physician and that a large proportion of patients who meet the IBS criteria are not diagnosed with IBS.

IBS is characterised by chronic abdominal pain, discomfort, bloating, and alteration of bowel habits in the absence of any known organic cause.

The question is, is it IBS or parasites?

Parasites or IBS?

Research suggests that parasitic organisms act as etiologic agents of gut inflammation and dysfunction. One study found blastocystis hominis to be present four times more frequently in IBS patients compared with control subjects. In addition, 80% of patients’ IBS symptoms were resolved when B. hominis was treated.

Other parasites identified by stool analysis that have been isolated from patients with clinical symptomology include Dientamoeba fragilis, Entamoeba spp, Endolimax nana, and Giardia lamblia.

Blastocystis Hominis

o Over 50% of IBS patients have B.hominis (ref 1, 2)

o B.hominis is the most prevalent parasite found in IBS-related studies (ref 3, 4, 5)

o The symptoms of B.hominis, D.fragilis and IBS are identical (ref 6)

o Both B.hominis and D.fragilis, or either parasite are found in up to 30% of people suffering from irritable bowel (ref 7, 8)

o D.fragilis is known to cause IBS-like symptoms (ref 9)

Many people infected with Blastocystis Hominis have no symptoms at all. The organism can be found in both well and sick people. (ref 10) Where symptoms are present they include:

o Abdominal pain

o Diarrhoea

o Constipation

o Gas

o Upset stomach or nausea

o Patients also report dizziness and fatigue, skin rashes, and joint pain, vomiting, fever, sleeplessness

When Blastocystis Hominis exists with other pathogens, it has been implicated in severe chronic conditions e.g. IBS, chronic fatigue and different forms of arthritis. (ref 11, 12, 13, 8)

Research on the clinical significance of Blastocystis hominis that appeared in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology examined 19,252 stool specimens from 12,136 patients. (ref 5)

A total of 3,070 intestinal parasites were seen in 2,889 patients. Blastocystis hominis was found in faecal material from 647 patients.

o A total of 132 cases were observed to be in association with other enteric pathogens

o 239 patients had symptoms, the most common being abdominal pain (87.9%), constipation (32.2%), diarrhoea (23.4%), alternating diarrhoea and constipation (14.5%), vomiting (12.5%), and fatigue (10.5%).

There have been several other studies which have shown the high number of Blastocystis-positive individuals in the IBS group compared to the control group with rates of 76%, 71%, and 49% with less than 20% in the control groups. (ref 3)

Gut Pathogens

Blastocystis and/or Dientamoeba are found in up to 30% of people suffering from irritable bowel. (ref 7, 8)

D. fragilis is known to cause IBS-like symptoms and has the propensity to cause chronic infections, but its diagnosis relies on microscopy of stained smears, which many laboratories do not perform, thereby leading to the misdiagnosis of Dientamoebiasis as IBS. (ref 9) Parasite Testing Inc. does carry out microscopy of stained smears an dis able to correctly diagnose D. fragilis.

I believe if Blastocystis and D.fragilis were correctly diagnosed around 50% of the IBS market would disappear.

Conclusions

Being mindful of symptoms that can relate to a parasite infection is vital to identifying what is behind a person’s health challenges. Awareness of parasites and common symptoms is the first step, but there are many common symptoms that can be misinterpreted.

Testing with a reliable and specialist laboratory to confirm or rule out parasites as a causative factor is essential.

The Parasitology Centre Inc. (PCI) is the most renowned and respected parasitology lab in the world.

PCI performs one of the most accurate, comprehensive stool analyses available and detects other non-parasitic structures that represent bio-indicators to physiological or pathological conditions.

Without testing, you are likely to miss vital pieces of information that can be contributing to the patients’ health and wellbeing challenges. Health practitioners can access these clinical tests via Parasite Testing Europe.

Don’t miss the chance to study with Emma Lane this year…only UK date and one USA date in 2016.

The World of Fungus, Parasites and Bacteria Level 1.

8th & 9th October – California

12th & 13th November – London

Study the many signs, symptoms and effects of common parasites and fungus. Learn Emma Lane’s unique approaches to effectively eradicating parasite and fungal infections, when and how to test and how to interpret the PCI Inc. test results.

The two-day course will explore how parasites and fungus can wreak havoc in the human body.

• Recognise parasite signs and symptoms, growth cycles, how they are contracted and eradication options;

• Learn how to deal with parasitic and fungal pathogenic infections and imbalances;

• Learn how to restore wellbeing when parasite infections are diagnosed.

“Highly recommended for anyone in the health industry who’s serious about coaching his or her clients to health and wellness. You won’t be disappointed!” C.B.

BANT – 15 hours CPD.

BOOK NOW.

References

1 Yakoob J, Jafri W, Jafri N, et al. Irritable bowel syndrome: in search of an etiology: role of Blastocystis hominis. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2004 Apr;70(4):383-5. PMID: 15100450 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

2 Yakoob J, Jafri W, Jafri N, Islam M, and Asim Beg M. In vitro susceptibility of Blastocystis hominis isolated from patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Br J Biomed Sci. 2004;61(2):75-7. PMID: 15250669

BJMP 2013;6(1):a608

3 Roberts et al. Update on the pathogenic potential and treatment options for Blastocystis sp. Gut Pathog. 2014; 6:7

4 Baron S. Medical Microbiology 4th Edition. University of Texas Medical Branch. Galveston. ISBN: 0-9631172-1-1. 1996.

5 Qadri SM, al-Okaili GA, and al-Dayel F. Clinical significance of Blastocystis hominis. J Clin Microbiol. 1989 Nov;27(11):2407-9.

6 Windsor JJ. B. hominis and D. fragilis: Neglected human protozoa. The Biomedical Scientist. July 2007:524–527.

7 Yakoob J, Jafri W, Beg MA, et al. Blastocystis hominis and Dientamoeba fragilis in patients fulfilling irritable bowel syndrome criteria. Parasitol Res. 2010 Aug;107(3):679-84. doi: 10.1007/s00436-010-1918-7. Epub 2010 Jun 8.

8 Yakoob J, Jafri W, Jafri N, Islam M, and Asim Beg M. In vitro susceptibility of Blastocystis hominis isolated from patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Br J Biomed Sci. 2004;61(2):75-7. PMID: 15250669

9 Stark D, van Hal S, Marriott D, Ellis J, Harkness J. Irritable bowel syndrome: a review on the role of intestinal protozoa and the importance of their detection and diagnosis. Int J Parasitol. 2007 Jan;37(1):11-20. Epub 2006 Oct 12.

10 Grossman I, Weiss LM, Simon D, Tanowitz HB, Wittner M. Blastocystis hominis in hospital employees. Am J. Gastroenterology 1992 June;87(6):729-32.

11 Charles H. Zierdt. Blastocystis hominis – Past and Future. Clinical Micro. Reviews. Jan 1991, p. 61-79.

12 Stenzel DJ and Boreham PF. Blastocystis hominis revisited. Clinical Micro. Reviews. Oct. 1996, Vol. 9, No. 4. p. 563–584

13 Lee, et al., Trends in Intestinal Parasitology Part II – Commonly Reported Parasites and Therapeutics. Practical Gastroenterology Vol XV1 No 10.

Invoicing advice

Written by IHE on May 25, 2016. Posted in Blog, Client Management. Leave a Comment

Our Client Management guru Hannah Richards discusses invoicing in her latest blog.

It may sound easy and something you don’t feel you need any help with but your invoice says a lot more about you than you think!

Everything email you send, every letter you write tells the receiver about your ability to manage yourself and therefor your life. We all communicate depending on the level of stress we are under and if you are really busy, your emails probably don’t start with….Dear Graeme, thank you kindly for your email, ….. but rather a short, sharp answer to the question in hand with all accessory questions ignored. Sound familiar? We take this into account periodically but if the later style of communication is dominant you had better re think your communication skills.

Invoices are no exception. There is a protocol and etiquette to efficient invoicing. I find invoicing rather sexy! You are about to get paid for the work that you love, to spend however you want!

If figures get you going then you probably look forward to the last day of the month when you fire off your neatly organized, perfectly formed invoice so that the receiver can pay it immediately and that’s the key. If you send an invoice that looks the part then it gets paid on receipt. Here is what an employee is looking for!

Guidelines for writing an invoice:

1. A separate invoice document – Sounds obvious but I have received invoices in the body of emails, with only a fee and an account number!

2. Display your company name at the top centre of the page. If working as an independent contractor without a formal company, use your legal name.

3. Invoice reference and number
This is vital for the ease of payments. There needs to be a different number for each invoice.ie MTS001. If there is no reference then the invoice cannot be paid.

4. Type your company address below the name. This is essential if the payment will be mailed to you via the postal service. Even if you receive payment through another means, however, you should still include this basic contact information.

5. Include your telephone number. If working through a company, make it the company phone number. If working independently, include whichever phone number you use for business purposes.

6. Leave an email address. This is especially essential if getting paid via PayPal or any other means that relies on a valid email address. Use whatever address is linked to your payment account. If payment is not reliant upon email, include your company email address or the email address of your company’s accounting department.

7. List the due date. This date will vary depending on the agreement you have with your client, but most due dates are approximately 30 days after the invoice date. Make sure you specify that this is the due date.

8. Include your client’s details in the upper left hand corner, below your company’s contact information and across from you invoice number and dates. List the name of the company or individual whom you provided services to. Below the name, include the client company’s address, phone number, and email address.

It is worth keeping a record of your invoices in a folder on your computer and to have that folder backed up. It is also worth having any other documentation related to the contract or terms and conditions of the financial arrangement in that folder too. The more organized you are the more efficient you are! It may feel a bit old school but a printed version is always a good back up.

Choose the right software to help you prepare invoices. Basic spread sheet or word processing software is all you really need, but you may also opt for specialised invoicing software if you want to streamline the process. Most invoicing software includes templates to help you structure your document properly, and many come with features designed to keep your invoices organized. Xero is a good tool for your book keeping and accounting needs.

Hope that helps for all your invoicing needs. Remember you want to get paid so make it as easy as possible for the person paying you!

Gaining the most from your training

Written by IHE on May 24, 2016. Posted in Blog. Leave a Comment

Clients want to feel great and get the most out of their training. All too often we can be overly focused on what they do after training, and yes that’s important, but for the best results we need to take a 24/7 approach to fitness and wellbeing.

Emma Lane, naturopath and FitPro LIVE presenter shares her unique approach to optimising training response.

Whether you are working with a high-performance athlete or a regular client who just wants to look and feel their best, the approach for optimising training outcomes follows the same rules:

1. Correct hydration and mineral levels
2. Repair muscle and replace glycogen stores
3. Night-time repair
4. Manage stress and regulate hormones
5. Reduce or counterbalance inflammation
6. Support the immune system
7. Balance blood sugar levels
8. Optimise digestion

1 Correct hydration and mineral levels

Staying hydrated throughout the day is key. During and after training it is important to replace electrolytes and take in extra water to replace fluid lost through sweating during exercise, on a hot day or if you are using saunas etc.

Remember: filtered or bottled mineral water is best. Take your body weight in kilogrammes and multiply by 0.033 to find out how many litres you need to drink every day.

Try: adding a pinch of Celtic sea salt to water. It contains the full spectrum of naturally occurring essential minerals and a small pinch in water won’t taste salty.

2 Repair muscle and replace glycogen stores

You need to repair tissue to get stronger and to create the best recovery you need good quality proteins and carbohydrates. According to an article in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (JISSN), you need to ingest 0.2 to 0.4 grammes of protein for each kilogramme of your body weight and around 0.8 grammes of carbohydrates per kilogramme of your body weight to replenish the glycogen stores.

Remember: post-training snacks should be taken no later than 30 minutes after the session as the body’s cells are most responsive to glycogen replenishment. Look to balance the right fats and carbohydrates with good quality protein. Always choose the highest quality possible, for example grass-fed meats and organic carbohydrates.

Try: branch chain amino acids like MR100% and Muscle Synthesis, they are easy to take and very beneficial pre and post workouts. Good quality gelatine, taken regularly through the day, gives a number of benefits. It has been shown to be anti-inflammatory and contains a wide spectrum of amino acids including glycine and arginine which are abundant in the skin and connective tissue and assist muscle and joint recovery.

3. Night-time repair

You’ve heard of beauty sleep but really we should be more focused on the impact sleep has on our physical and mental health. The body produces growth hormones when we sleep so it is essential for tissue repair when training.

Sleep ensures the regeneration of new tissue and cells. Getting the right quality and amount of sleep is essential for optimal healing.

Remember: the physical repair takes place between 10pm and 2am, whilst psychological repair happens between 2am and 6am.

Try: cut down on all caffeine products and do not consume any after 3pm. Caffeinated beverages and foods (coffee, tea, cola, chocolate) can cause difficulty falling asleep, awakenings during the night and a shallow sleep. Avoid alcohol, especially in the evening. Although alcohol can help some tense people fall asleep more easily, it also causes awakenings later in the night.

4. Manage stress and regulate hormones

Stress produces the hormone cortisol which causes breakdown of tissues and inflammation, which has a negative effect on training responses. If you are sympathetically dominated, in other words stuck in “fight or flight mode”, then this will affect your update of nutrients, however good they are. So your body will not get what it needs on a cellular level.

Remember: too much cortisol causes muscle loss, weakens the immune system, interferes with thyroid and growth hormones, and negatively impacts sleep, all of which promote weight gain.

Try: encouraging your clients to get enough “me time” in their day and take up practices that counterbalance stress and stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system.

5. Reduce or counter-balance inflammation

The stress response along with commercially prepared meats, hydrogenated and trans fats and fried foods all cause inflammation. Training damages tissue and therefore also creates inflammation. Inflammation is part of the body’s immune response. Initially it is beneficial when, for example, your shoulder sustains an injury and the tissues need care and protection. However, chronic inflammation can be very problematic, leading to more serious health issues.

In the short term inflammation will:
• Disrupt mineral balance
• Increase blood sugar
• Cause increased intestinal permeability
• Weaken the immune defences
• Interfere with the absorption of protein, which the cells and tissues need to function properly.

In the long term chronic inflammation will lead to more serious health issues.

Remember: sugar is highly inflammatory. This is because sugar raises insulin levels in the body that in turn triggers an immune response. Remind your clients that many healthy cereal bars and so-called sports drinks contain high levels of sugar. Fried foods are high in advanced glycation end products (AGEs) that are known to be inflammatory.

Try: adding more ginger, turmeric, onions, garlic and rosemary into your dishes and eat plenty of foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids like oily fish such as salmon, mackerel and sardines or flax seeds and walnuts. Supplementing with CoQ10 reduces inflammation and oxidative stress in the body, especially when combined with natural vitamin E.

6. Support the immune system

Exercise boosts the immune function until a certain level of exertion is reached and then it depletes immune function, making you vulnerable to illness. Hundreds of papers have been written about this and, put simply, the body sees intense exercise as a physical stressor.

Remember: cells in the gut secrete Cytokines, small protein molecules that modulate the immune system. A healthy digestive system will boost immune function.

Try: supplementing with a high quality mixed strain probiotic such as Custom Probiotics Adult CP1 capsules has been shown to strengthen innate immunity and assist in creating a balanced immune response.

7. Balance blood sugar levels

When blood sugar levels are imbalanced the cells slowly become resistant to the effects of insulin, therefore the body produces more and more to try and keep the blood sugar levels balanced.

The higher your insulin levels are the more resistant to insulin you become, and as the problem progresses the body starts to lose muscle, gain fat and become inflamed. Not only will it inhibit training recovery, but it also speeds up the disease and ageing process.

Remember: blood sugar imbalance is one of the contributing factors behind today’s most prevalent preventable diseases. We are facing a global diabetes and obesity epidemic and blood sugar balance is one of the factors behind this disease.

Try: eating on a regular basis and always balance the right fats and carbohydrates with good quality protein.

8. Optimise digestion

At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how you train and recover or what you eat if you are not digesting your food properly. Poor digestion means poor uptake of nutrients – however well you eat. Be aware of food intolerances which will have an impact on health and cause symptoms like bloating, discomfort, diarrhoea and aching muscles.

Remember: symptoms like indigestion or heartburn can sometimes means stomach acid is low and food is not being digested properly. Stress and age can impact on HCL acid levels in the stomach which can result in poor nutrient absorption.

Try: supplementing with digestive enzymes like Enzymedica Digest Gold. Encourage clients to eat slowly, chew their food properly and eat mindfully. All too often we eat on the run or at our desks which affects how we digest our food.

Do you want to be a part of this wellbeing evolution?
Come along to Integrative Health Education’s three-day Destination Wellbeing® – Health Evolution course. 21 hours CPD.

Digestion – The role it plays in nutrition and our emotional health

Written by IHE on April 7, 2016. Posted in Blog, Case study, Gastrointestinal health, Integrative Health Education. Leave a Comment

A practitioner’s personal story of attending Emma Lane’s Holistic Approaches to a Fully Functional Gut Course.

In recent years the health and fitness industry has truly embraced the importance of gut health. It’s now accepted that only through a well-functioning digestive system can long lasting results and a sense of true wellbeing and balance can be achieved.

As a holistic nutritionist I have come to this realisation too, not just through my work with clients, but also through my own healing journey which started four years ago and is still on-going. I can now say for sure that thanks to Emma Lane and her in-depth courses and professional support, I finally know where I am going – my journey has a destination and I have the right ‘education map’ to reach it.

Whole body wellbeing
When I first qualified as a nutritionist I was taught to only look at the physical aspects of the body and to prescribe a variety of supplements and diet plans to treat these aspects. I was taught to always test and look at the body only on a symptoms basis. That approach worked well for a while until my clients hit either a plateau or attained only average wellbeing – the feeling of true wellbeing was not yet there. I personally tried a bodybuilding competition prep regime with that same mentality. I learnt that the body doesn’t function in isolation and we need to look at it as a WHOLE and always start with the gut – that is where we break down, digest and absorb food and also, as I later discovered, our emotions and experiences can also be affected.

Unique approach
This personal quest to find my own healing led me to Emma Lane’s Integrative Health Education courses. I has been advised to visit her but never looked further until one day I accidentally bumped into her during the CAMExpo 2014. I knew then that this was life speaking to me to take action and learn from her. Emma’s unique approach addresses the whole body and the individual inside. I haven’t yet found anyone else who teaches so well how to look at health from all sides – physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

Fully functional gut
I started my training with Integrative Health Education with the Holistic Approaches to a Fully Functional Gut course in October last year. I already knew a great deal of information on how the GI tract functions and what nutrients it needs so I wondered what else could it be there to learn. I can now say – a lot more.

Emma took us on an in-depth tour of every organ and its structure, function and place in the body. She explained the most common illnesses and recommend appropriate approaches and treatments. I was highly impressed by her recommendations as they were based on her 20+ years of experience of not just learning and researching but also seeing results with clients. She gave us detailed guidelines that we can feel confident to use too.

Gut health and emotions
My favourite part was when the course showed its true uniqueness by linking gut health to emotional wellbeing. Emma revealed how each organ is connected to particular emotions so if for example, we suffer from anxiety it is likely that the stomach will also be affected and visa versa if we have issues with HCL, for example, anxiety might arise too. This holistic approach was eye-opening for me as Emma gave us additional tools on how we can work with clients on the emotional side too for long-lasting results. The brief look at this particular area gave me the interest to learn more, and I have since attended Emma’s 1-day course specifically on organs and emotions – Messages from Within.

The course environment was very engaging and the class was small enough to allow better learning and time for discussions. Other practitioners also commented further on the unique knowledge about vitamin B12 absorption for example – one of the key nutrients for solving fatigue.

Emma revealed that in order to have good absorption of nutrients such as minerals, B vitamins etc., we need good HCL (hydrochloric acid) production in the stomach, along with good saliva secretion stimulated by a good cephalic response before eating. Taking a supplement is not enough. It is about how you eat (relaxed and not in a rush), what you eat (good quality protein, fats and carbs that match your lifestyle and biochemical needs). We also examined the importance of how good the digestive system is in breaking down protein and keeping you safe from parasites, bad bacteria or fungal overgrowth.

We also looked further into the role of good bacteria and how studies showed that it now played an important role in cancer prevention, genetic material formation, arthritis and many more health conditions.

Wellbeing platform comes first

Emma’s overall advice to everyone was to always create a solid WELLBEING PLATFORM to support the body while also addressing the drivers that led to the symptoms to start with.
No cleansing of pathogens can happen if the body is not strong enough mentally and physically. The same applies to weight-loss too as losing fat is also the body’s way of losing toxins that are stored in the fat tissues so if the liver is not well-supported the process might cause more harm to the individual.

As a practitioner, I can’t recommend the course enough as it gave me many eye-opening details that allow me to finally connect the dots when treating clients and look at them from a place of wholeness. I feel truly grateful to have access to Emma’s years of knowledge and experience that are all collected in my course manual – a great reference book when working with clients.

Invest for yourself and your clients
I admire greatly Emma’s way of teaching as her engaging approach makes the course a great learning process and her advice to treat everyone as an individual resonates with my philosophy as a practitioner too.

I wish Emma and the rest of the team a great year and if anyone is willing to take their health and that of their clients to a state of true wellbeing and wholeness, do sign-up for Emma’s next Holistic Approaches to a Fully Functional Gut Course. It is an investment worth making for both yourself and for your clients. As the saying goes ‘When you invest in yourself, the world invests in you too.’

Maya Petrova, Holistic Nutritionist & NLP Practitioner,
www.healthandbalance.org

Through the looking glass

Written by IHE on February 10, 2016. Posted in Blog. Leave a Comment

Your eyes are such an important part of your everyday life. Without them, life would be a lot more difficult. This means that it is important to do whatever you can to protect your eyes. There are ailments that you may be able to prevent or to stave off as long as possible through the use of diet and supplements as well as through avoiding certain activities. However, diet seems to have some of the best results in keeping your eyes and this is one of the easiest things that you can do in order to help your eye health.

Why does eye health start to falter? One of the more common of reasons for eye health to start failing in age. As you age, the actual structures on the inside of the eyes. This decline typically begins around the age of 40 and above. Often times this is an extremely normal process that will gradually happen. There are some very serious diseases and conditions that can occur as you get older including cataracts, macular degeneration, and glaucoma. If you notice any sudden changes in your eyesight, you should see a doctor right away to help prevent further damage. Another extremely common cause of eye problems today is because of the technologies that we use. Staring at a computer, tablet, or smartphone screen too much can cause problems like eyestrain, dry eyes, trouble when it comes to focusing at a distance, and blurry vision.

There are some things that you can do to help to protect your eyes as long as possible. First of all, eating a healthy diet can help your eyes. There are nutrients that are so important here, including omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins C and E, zinc, and lutein. These nutrients can help you to fight against age-related problems with your vision. In order to get these nutrients in your diet, you need to eat a balanced diet. This includes eating oily fish like tuna or salmon, leafy greens, citrus fruits, and things like eggs and nuts. Sometimes you may need to add in supplements to help aid your diet so that you can get these incredibly important nutrients in your system. Adding supplements like Maxi Focus and Eye Protector can help give your diet the boost that you need to help keep your eyes in healthy shape. Everyone needs a little help, and these can give you that help.

You are able to fight any potential age related eye problems through healthy eating and being cautious around your technology screens. While it is not entirely avoidable, you can give your eyes a fighting chance against conditions like macular degeneration and cataracts. Diet is not just everything, as often times people do not get enough nutrients. This is why you need to realize the shortcomings in your diet and look into supplements that will fill in those blanks that your diet leaves behind. These are essential in this important fight to keep your vision in good repair.

Insights into Organics and Wellbeing

Written by IHE on February 10, 2016. Posted in Blog. Leave a Comment

The term “organic” refers to the way agricultural products are grown and processed. Specific requirements must be met and maintained in order for products to be labelled as “organic.”

Organic crops must be grown in safe soil with no modifications. There can be no use of pesticides, GMOs or petroleum- or sewage sludge-based fertilizers.
Any actual livestock must be able to access the outdoors and must be fed organic feed. They are not allowed to be given antibiotics, growth hormones, or any animal-by-products.

Organic foods have a multitude of benefits. It has been shown that organic foods have more antioxidants than non-organic food. They also seem to be more receptive to people with allergies to certain foods, chemicals or preservatives. The symptoms found in non-organic food seem to decrease or even disappear all together when eating organic foods.

Organic foods also contain fewer pesticides. Chemicals used by farmers such as fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides are harmful to the body, but helpful when growing mass amounts of produce. Unfortunately these chemicals tend to stay on the foods that are produced and sold in stores.

Organic farming is better for the environment. The practices used by organic farmers help reduce various types of pollution, including air, water and soil. They also conserve more water, increase the fertility of the surrounding soil, reduce soil erosion, and even use less energy. It is also beneficial for local wildlife. Without the wide use of harmful chemicals, the area is much more suitable for nearby animals and birds, as well as people who work at the farm or live nearby.

On the flip side, when eating non-organic and processed foods, there are many detriments to your health.

The majority of processed foods contain high amounts of sugar or high fructose corn syrup. This can lead to insulin resistance, increased cholesterol levels and fat accumulation in the liver. These symptoms can end up leading to fatal conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity and cancer.

Worse than just the high amounts of sugar are all the added artificial ingredients. Ingredients used to make colours brighter, smells more flavourful and to make the food last longer. Things that all sound great, but they come with a cost. At this point, you’re not eating food anymore, you’re eating mostly chemicals.

When you’re not eating real food and you’re just eating chemicals, your food is very low in nutrients. The food may taste delicious, but it’s not doing anything healthy for your body. Some foods have synthetic vitamins and minerals added to compensate for what was lost during processing. These are not equal to the nutrients you would get in whole foods however.

Real foods contain thousands of trace nutrients, rather than just a few “designer” nutrients added in through guilt.

The more processed foods you eat, the less vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and trace nutrients you receive per meal.

So while organic foods may be a slight bit more expensive, it’s well worth it in the long run. You’re getting good, healthy food made by nature with no added chemicals. Eating processed foods are a good way to get a large number of medical conditions, or even just to shorten your life. All just to save a few pounds.

Personally, I’d rather be healthy than have an extra few pounds in my pocket. But that’s just my opinion!

Conquering CAM

Written by IHE on October 2, 2015. Posted in Blog, Camexpo. Leave a Comment

Camexpo is the UK’s leading professional complementary, natural and integrative health event. Hundreds of therapists, health practitioners and exercise professionals attend the two-day exhibition and it’s a ‘must-do’ event in the calendar.

Meet, greet, talk…repeat

This weekend proved to be a great success for both the Integrative Health Education and Parasite Testing Europe teams. Nothing beats talking to other practitioners. As much as we all love to engage via our blogs, social media channels and email, we get a great buzz from talking health with our amazing colleagues from across the industry.

And boy did we talk! Over two busy days at Olympia we chatted to over 300 practitioners, therapists and students. Manual therapists, exercise professionals, rehab specialists, nutritionists, naturopaths and energy healers; they all came to our stands to learn more.

Talking bugs

Over on the Parasite Testing Europe stand it was bug-tastic. Lots of practitioners had questions for Emma, Nicki and Graeme and we discussed symptoms, testing and of course how FREEDOM CLEANSE RESTORE can help patients recover.

Integrate your knowledge

As always we were blown away by people’s thirst for knowledge. Luckily we had the 2016 Integrative Health Education course calendar ready in time for the show. We’ve got some fantastic new courses launching, including:

Facial Tells of Dis-Ease – Building on Emma Lane’s Tells Of The ‘Dis-Eased Body’, this unique course examines how our face is a mirror for our personality and reveals what can be learnt about the health, temperament and life of a client from facial ‘tells’. It was fascinating watching Emma demonstrate her amazing knowledge, talking to practitioners about the ‘tells’ she could see and what they reveal about our health.

Di you know that the liver holds on to anger and this can manifest as physical symptoms if it is not addressed? The Emotions From Within one-day course addresses the connections between the physical and emotional aspects of wellbeing. Emma will explore how emotions are stored in the organs and the long-term health implications.

Build Your Profile with PR and Social Media – will help to take your career to the next level. This course explores the many ways that practitioners can develop a credible and interesting profile. From your online presence to tips on networking, this half-day workshop will give practitioners lots of practical ideas to implement straight away.

Content Strategy and Online Writing Masterclass is a half-day workshop that will help health practitioners and anyone working in the wellbeing and fitness sector to plan, create and curate their own online content. An essential course for anyone in today’s industry.

In print

We were all very proud to see Emma’s feature on parasites in the October issue of CAM Magazine, which was handed out at the show. The piece is the first in a series of articles we have planned for the magazine and we were thrilled to see Emma’s expertise shared in this way.

Spreading the word

A second highlight was Emma’s talk on Saturday afternoon in the Demo Theatre. The talk, Break Down the Barriers to Your Patient’s Health – Parasites, Fungi and Bacteria, examined how parasites can affect the organs and central nervous system. Testing protocols from Parasite Testing Europe were also introduced and lots of practitioners came back to the stands to find out more after the talk.

As anyone who has taken one of Emma’s courses will appreciate, the talk was very well received. The room was packed, with more practitioners squeezed in at the back and gathering around the outside of the speaker zone.

And relax….

On Saturday night the team headed out for Thai food and tequila (that’s how we roll) but wisely everyone was in bed early to put in a full day on the Sunday!

Day two…

The second show day included a meeting with Simon Martin, editor of CAM Magazine, to talk about Emma and the IHE writing more articles for the magazine. Look out for the November and December issues for more insight on parasites from Emma. We are all really grateful to CAM Magazine for their support in helping to spread the word about the wonderful world of parasites, fungus and bacteria.

Camexpo is always a brilliant way to connect with our industry. We made many new friends and look forward to working with new people as we head towards the end of 2015.

We’ll be back next year for more. See you at 2016 Camexpo!

In the news

Written by IHE on September 2, 2015. Posted in Blog, Integrative Health Education. Leave a Comment

Since launching last year, Integrative Health Education has appeared in various health publications like CAM Magazine and Holistic Therapist Magazine.

Our educators, including Hannah Richards, Debbie Grayson, Graeme Jones and of course Emma Lane, have contributed to a wide range of health articles over the 12 months.

From the effects of stress to energy healing, gut health and parasites, we’re keen to share our knowledge with other practitioners and we’ve got several publications to thank for their support.

Positive Health Online has worked with Integrative Health Education from the beginning and has shared several of Emma’s articles. Bowel Baddies and Emma’s writing on parasites have proven to be popular features. There’s more to come on this site so do make sure you check out the articles in the coming months.

CAM Magazine is the industry’s most read title and Integrative Health Education has had more than five articles or news pieces published this year. The editor Simon Martin is particularly interested in Emma’s vast knowledge of parasites, fungus and bacteria.

Most recently CAM Magazine shared a report on Integrative Health Education’s Understanding Parasites seminar, presented by Dr Amin in conjunction with PCI Europe. The title also included another article on Morgellons. Known as Neuro-cutaneous Syndrome (NCS), this is a new neurological and dermatological disorder caused by incompatible dental materials.

NCS is characterised by pinprick sensations that are easily misdiagnosed as symptoms of a parasite infection. When tested, no parasites are found, leading to a diagnosis of ‘delusional parasitosis’. However the real cause of the symptoms is metal and sealant toxins which can lead to opportunistic infections from bacteria.

Emma has also been asked to write a series of articles for CAM Magazine. The first, a piece on parasites, fungus and bacteria, will be out in the magazine in time for CAM Expo. Three articles in total are planned so don’t forget to get your copy every month!

Just as our name suggests, Integrative Health Education offers practitioners the opportunity to integrate their health knowledge and employ a range of methodologies to give their clients the best possible health outcomes. Sharing our knowledge is at the heart of what we do. So it’s no surprise that Emma has contributed to Nutrition I-Mag – the online publication for nutrition students. January saw Emma share her thoughts on detox and you can read the article here.

Our blogs have also been spotted by Holistic Therapist Magazine. They’ve featured a number of articles by Emma, including Tongues Tell Tales and The Energy Trinity. Keep your eye on their website because there are more blogs due out next month!

Also in October…listen to Emma’s podcasts for the Digestion Detective. Tune in from the first week of October to learn more about parasites, fungus and bacteria.

Want to learn how to raise your profile in the media? Integrative Health Education’s PR trainer, Nichole Sweetsur, is on hand to help. Why not post your PR questions for her on the Integrative Health Education Facebook page?

Are you ready for the bug boom?

Written by IHE on July 23, 2015. Posted in Blog, Parasitology. Leave a Comment

Last month saw Dr Omar Amin, a world-renowned parasitologist, founder of the Parasitology Center Inc, Arizona (PCI) and author of over 180 articles and books on human and animal parasites, visit London.

Dr Amin presented a two-day seminar, Understanding Parasites, on behalf of Parasite Testing Europe (PCI Europe) and in collaboration with Integrative Health Education. The event was attended by nutritionists, doctors, naturopaths, colon hydrotherapists and physiologists.

Dr Amin’s seminar started with an introduction to the world of parasites, the procedures at PCI and the common misdiagnoses and mistreatments encountered by practitioners.

According to PCI test results parasites are proliferating, with 32% of the American and European populations being infected. Dr Amin’s estimates, however, are closer to 50%, meaning that one in two of the general population has a parasitic infection that could result in wide-ranging symptoms and a variety of health consequences. Practitioners learnt that not all tests deliver reliable results and that analysis by experienced lab technicians is key.

Most practitioners recognise that parasitic infections disrupt digestion, causing IBS and colitis symptoms such as diarrhoea, cramps, bloating, flatulence, nutrient malabsorption and headaches. However, Dr Amin emphasised that skin problems, such as dermatitis, are also common due to the toxic allergenic nature of the parasite’s metabolic byproducts. Fatigue and insomnia often occur as some parasites are active at night.

The presented cases demonstrated that infections do not only occur in third world areas as is commonly perceived. People travelling to popular holiday destinations such as Mexico, Thailand and Turkey were at higher risk, especially if exposed to contaminated water, unwashed produce, uncooked meat or skin contact with insects. Everywhere, though, danger is present if there is poor hygiene, contact with contaminated pets, or even barefoot walking. Therefore, Dr Amin advised to always use appropriate tests if digestive symptoms or skin disorders manifest and especially if patients have a history of travel, often eat out or handle food.

The first day finished with an analytical review of patients’ sample tests, provided by PCI Europe (parasitetesting.co.uk) which performs the most accurate, comprehensive parasite, fungus and bacteria stool analyses in Europe. Dr Amin follows a strict control as he has seen other lab results showing misdiagnosed parasite infections, either from misinterpretation or unfamiliarity with parasite types. The importance of sample analysis by lab technicians specially trained in identifying parasites from all seven continents was emphasised.

He showed how undigested plant tissues could be mistaken for parasites, such as tomato skins for tapeworms. His knowledge also helped him create The Freedom Cleanse Restore regime – an anti-parasitic, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal botanical remedy that defends and cleanses the body of toxins and pathogens while promoting regularity and tissue repair.

The second day started with a view of PCI patients who over the years had gastrointestinal symptoms but after testing were free of parasite infection. These cases were explained by pathogenic bacteria being present in the gastrointestinal system, such as E. coli, Klebsiella, Proteus, Enterobacter, Candida and H. pylori, amongst others. Dr Amin found Klebsiella to be the most common in the UK, leading to diarrhoea, cystitis, pneumonia and prostatitis. Often transmitted in hospitals among low-immunity patients, Klebsiella was linked with autoimmune diseases such as Ankylosing Spondylitis and Myasthenia Gravis.

Dr Amin noted its antibiotics resistance – common among other bacteria, which is why PCI’s tests show bacterial sensitivity and resistance for treatment purposes. The link between Candida and autistic children was also covered with a warning that in the presence of mercury fillings, Candida shouldn’t be treated as it metabolises the heavy metal.
Dental materials exposure was then introduced by analysing Morgellons (Neuro-cutaneous Syndrome; NCS) – a new neurological and dermatological disorder caused by incompatible dental materials. It is characterised by neurological (pin-prick) sensations similar to those caused by parasites, pain, anxiety, depleted energy, memory loss and itchy cutaneous lesion and is often misdiagnosed as ‘delusional parasitosis’.

Dr Amin presented over 20 cases, showing components in the calcium materials, along with zinc oxide and titanium, amongst others, as sources of the symptoms. He advised practitioners to thoroughly examine patients’ dental history and photograph skin symptoms which they can compare to PCI’s case histories and use the Morgellons assessment questionnaire on the PCI website. A new NCS test is also available to European practitioners via PCI Europe.

The event finished with a question-and-answer session with Dr Amin which will soon be available on PCI Europe and Integrative Health Education’s social media channels. Due to the huge interest in the information, there will be a film of the seminar available to purchase after 20th July. Practitioners can now pre-order via Integrative Health Education.

Practitioners can also register for trade test prices with PCI Europe (parasitetesting.co.uk) while those looking to take their CPD further can join the IHE’s most popular courses – Holistic Approaches to a Fully Functional Gut and The World of Parasites, Fungus and Bacteria (BANT accredited) in October and November, both taught by Emma Lane – a leading expert in digestive health who specialises in pathogens. Early bookings are recommended!

A postcard from Arizona

Written by IHE on June 30, 2015. Posted in Blog, Parasitology. Leave a Comment

As well as founding Integrative Health Education, Emma Lane is also the Director of Parasite Testing Europe (PCI Europe). PCI Europe is the exclusive European distributor for the parasite, fungus and bacteria tests produced and analysed by the Parasitology Centre Inc., one of the world’s leading parasite testing centres.

PCI Europe gives health practitioners in the UK and Europe access to a comprehensive range of PCI tests. PCI can detect up to 80% more parasites, fungus and bacteria than standard lab tests because their lab technicians are specialists, trained to detect and diagnose parasites from all seven continents.

At a recent week-long visit to Arizona, Emma was privileged to spend a lot of time with the PCI team and she also went to the Nogales Laboratory in Mexico where the bacteria test are prepared and analysed.

Time in the lab

Emma watched PCI’s highly qualified lab technicians at work, preparing samples for analysis. PCI retains samples which are particularly unusual or interesting for reference and Emma spent many hours, alongside Dr Amin, looking at a varied selection of these bacterial, fungal and parasitic samples. This kind of research helps to ensure she is one of the most informed naturopaths in the UK.

Groundbreaking research

Emma also spent a lot of time with Dr Omar Amin to discuss his Morgellons research and the toxicity disorder Neuro-cutaneous Syndrome (NCS) which presents similar symptoms to some parasitic infections. Dr Amin has been working with NCS patients for over 15 years and has published many articles about his research in scientific publications. This groundbreaking approach has gained attention from the medical profession all over the world and PCI Europe is very proud to be associated with Dr Amin and his research.

Mexico!

The second part of Emma’s visit was spent in Mexico where the Nogales laboratory is located. Here she spent more time talking to the lab technicians, who are all experts in their field. PCI employs specialists to prepare and analyse the test samples and because of this they are able to diagnose many more infections than other, less specialised labs can.

Meet the team

Emma met several key people including Dr Jesus Jimenez Salazar, the Nogales Laboratory Director and owner. He analyses and diagnoses all swab cultures and H. pylori tests for PCI.

Emma also met Edna Nohemi Arvizu, the Clinical Manager, known as Mimi. Mimi manages the operations of the lab and she also processes specimens and performs technical procedures.

Back in Arizona Emma spent time with Ron Mann, who is a clinical and research microbiologist. Ron is a top veteran parasitologist with over 40 years’ experience in clinical and bench top parasitology and microbiology.

This trip was also an opportunity for Emma to spend more time with Karim Amin, the Managing Director of PCI. Karim studied diagnostic microbiology under the tutelage of Dr Omar Amin for 13 years and he plays an essential role in the business. Karim oversees the organisation’s day-to-day business operations and is also responsible for global business development. It’s safe to say that nothing happens in PCI without Karim being involved!

Scott Mason, who is PCI’s Office Manager, is also another important person in the PCI organisation. He has been with the company for over four years and as well as assisting Dr Amin, he is in constant contact with patients and doctors and he oversees the running of the laboratory.

Emma was also very interested to meet Ben Smith, a PCI Laboratory Assistant and specimen processor. He receives and processes specimens for Dr Amin to analyse, inputs patient data and ensures patients receive the correct tests and their FREEDOM CLEANSE RESTORE remedy.

Expert Q&A

Emma also filmed a Q&A session with Dr Amin and the parasitology professor answered questions sent in from practitioners who have taken the Integrative Health Education World Of Parasites, Fungus & Bacteria course or who are already using the PCI tests in their practices. The resulting films and Q&As will be available for review very soon.

Time out

It wasn’t all work for Emma though. The Arizona laboratory is on the edge of the Sonoran Desert and, guided by Dr Amin, Emma was able to explore the area. Here she found Giant Saguaro cacti, some over 2000 years old and still contain bullet holes from the Civil War in the 1860s. The Giant Saguaro cacti, the largest in the world, can grow to over 50ft in height and are unique to this area.

Dr Amin proved himself once again to be a generous host and Emma enjoyed some memorable meals and of course there was a little time for shopping too. Emma bought some great tequila…well, when in Mexico….!

Want to learn more about parasites from a world-leading expert and have the opportunity to have your questions answered by Dr Amin?

Exclusive seminars from world-leading parasitology professor
Dr Amin will be discussing the world of parasites in more detail at the Understanding Parasites seminar series, hosted exclusively by PCI Europe and Integrative Health Education.

Understanding Parasites
4th – 5th July 2015
Honourable Artillery Company, London
Two day ticket: £125
Single day ticket: £80
www.integrativehealth.co.uk
email courses@integrativehealth.co.uk or call +44 (0) 1924 242 851

Navigating the Medication Minefield

Written by IHE on June 30, 2015. Posted in Blog, Pharmacology. Leave a Comment

Many of us will have worked clients who want to improve their health and wellbeing and who also take a number of prescribed medications. We often have a clear idea of what supplements may be beneficial but how confident are you in checking that these supplements are safe to recommend?

Consider the following questions:

What is the definition of an interaction?

An interaction is a reaction that can occur when two or more substances are combined. These reactions can include increases or decreases in effect, or increased need for specific nutrients.

Sometimes a client’s symptoms are a side effect of their medication and this is often overlooked by their GP. For example, Simvastatin depletes the nutrient CoQ10 causing muscle pains and fatigue. Supplementing with COQ10 can reduce this in many clients.

How do I know how serious an interaction is?

The severity of an interaction is based on a number of factors including:

1. What the drug is used for;
2. How it is metabolised by the body;
3. How wide is its dosage range and where the prescribed dosage falls in this range;
4. What are the effects of the interaction on the body as a whole?

An example of this would be folic acid and Pregabalin. Pregabalin reduces levels of folic acid leading to deficiency but interacts with Pregabalin increasing frequency of seizures in epileptics. However most Pregabalin is prescribed for pain and this is therefore not a concern and folic acid can be taken safely.

What can I do if my protocol interacts?

You need to look at the nature of the interaction and consider this alongside the aims of your protocol. Ask yourself: what is the aim of the protocol and what benefits will it offer? Can you work with the patient’s GP to come up with a plan to monitor and adjust medication alongside the protocol or is this not an option? Can you achieve the same effect through food as this will sometimes avoid the interaction? Communicating with GPs can sometimes seem scary but at the end of the day if you can explain yourself clearly they will often listen to what you have to say.

What resources are available?

There are many sources of information aimed at varying levels of knowledge from layperson to medical professional. Some sources are more reputable than others and some just have the most basic of information. Examples include manufacturer data sheets to specific reference books and websites.

Do you want to learn more?

Debbie Grayson’s course, Basic Pharmacology and Drug Nutrient Interactions, is aimed at practitioners at all levels who recommend supplements to clients.

The aim of this unique one-day workshop is to understand more about which supplements are safe to use with prescribed medication and how drugs interact with the body.

This course is recognised by the British Association for Applied Nutrition and Nutritional Therapy (BANT) and provides 7 hours CPD towards therapists’ annual accreditation and certification is provided.

Debbie has over 20 years experience working as a pharmacist and is just coming to the end of a diploma in naturopathic nutrition. She aims to share her extensive knowledge through practical examples to ensure all participants increase their confidence in safely recommending supplements to complex clients.

Book now

Upcoming courses:

Testimonial
‘I have attended Debbie’s drug interaction course and it was a real revelation. As a health practitioner you will come across clients who are taking different medications on a regular basis. How to proceed here can be really tricky and you need to know exactly what you can safely do to help them and where you get into dangerous territory. This course has really opened my eyes and now I know exactly where to find the crucial information and what to do with it. I am so glad I went and I highly recommend this course to anybody who is working in the health industry.’

Stefanie Thomas – CHEK Practitioner II, HLC II, CMTA, PN Nutrition Coach, Fitness Instructor, ICF ACC

Parasite Q&A with Dr Amin

Written by IHE on June 22, 2015. Posted in Blog, Parasitology. 1 Comment

Emma Lane recently visited Parasitology Centre Incorporated in Arizona, USA to spend time with world-renown parasitologist, Dr Amin. She was able to review the testing process in more detail and meet with the lab’s highly trained and specialised lab technicians.

Emma also asked Dr Amin a number of questions about parasites which had been sent in from practitioners who have attended Emma’s World of Parasites, Fungus & Bacteria training course or via the PCI Europe website.

Q: Is it common to get nausea while taking Freedom Cleanse Restore and should you stop using it if you experience that symptom?

Dr Amin: Any symptom like nausea or related symptoms can occur depending on what other issues are going on, aside from the patient’s parasite issue.

So you need to examine what is happening systemically with the person that is taking the Freedom Cleanse Restore remedy to decide what else is going, but the remedy itself does not cause nausea.

Q: What foods, if any, does Dr Amin recommend avoiding whilst doing the cleanse?

Dr Amin: Instead of listing what to avoid, I’d like to say something about what is recommended. We have found in our experience that the Mediterranean diet is the best thing to follow with the remedy

Many of the herbs used in the remedy come from the Mediterranean area and there is no limit on the length of time used. This makes Freedom Cleanse, Restore very unique and many of the ingredients used are not found in other remedies that are available on the market today.

Q: I would like to know if it’s true that 90% of the world’s population has a parasite and / or fungal infection.

Dr Amin: I would not be surprised if there were some pockets in the world populations which are heavily exposed to parasite infections that could show 90% infection rates.

One result suggest that at least 32% of populations in United States and Europe, in cross-sectional studies, are infected with parasites but those are only the ones who get to be tested. There are many people that have parasites who do not get to be tested. Our estimates are closer to 50%, on average, one in two people will have a parasite, some will have a serious pathological impact, and some will have minor impact.

Q: Do you believe parasite infections are due to poor diet and lifestyle factors and are these factors the leading cause for most chronic diseases?

Dr Amin: Parasite infection is a by-product of the relationship between the parasite, the host and the environment. If a patient is susceptible, perhaps because of fatigue or chronic issues outside the parasite issue, they will be more susceptible to contract a parasite infection or it can be more readily established. If a patient is more immune competent and does not have those deleterious factors they will be much more resistant to the same parasite infection at the same dose.

Q: I’d like details on what pathological amounts of bacteria are, compared with normal levels, how these are determined and whether it is possible to find out the degree of pathology.

Dr Amin: The answer is simple as there is no such thing as pathological amounts because in some cases just very small amounts of certain bacteria can cause a serious infection and in some other cases it takes a large amount of organisms to cause similar symptoms from another infection.

The important thing is to be able to define what infections there are and that is what the sensitivity test results are based on.

Every species has its own dose that is sufficient to cause a serious infection and do not forget that in the parasite / human relationship it mostly also depends on the patient’s susceptibility. Some people will be susceptible to small doses and others are very resilient to larger doses so the factor of the host resilience and susceptibility is more important. You cannot ignore the host factors.

Q: Any details on Klebsiella bacteria and its association with inflammatory disorders?

Dr Amin: Well all bacterial infections will cause inflammatory disorders because basically when you have an acute infection it’s going to cause inflammation. The inflammation is a by-product of the white blood cells rushing to the infection site, this will cause a collection of body fluids and blood which will cause inflammation. Most chronic diseases are diseases of an inflammatory nature.

Q: I’d love to know more about treating babies who can’t swallow pills or struggle to take bitter tasting tonics.

Dr Amin: Babies should not be treated with anything, because that is well beyond our call of duty. The younger the child is, the faster the metabolic rate is, the faster to accumulate or metabolise remedies that could be too strong for them.

So as a rule the Freedom Cleanse Restore is not recommend for children less than 4 years old and if they are above 4 years old and of good girth they can take the remedy in smaller doses and also with an increased amount of time between doses. This must be taken on a case-by-case basis but generally you want to avoid giving any remedy, herbal or antibiotic, to any child under 4 years old.

Q: Do parasites travel across the placenta during pregnancy?

Dr Amin: Some parasites do and that can cause congenital problems and some parasites don’t. It varies and depends on what parasite we are talking about.

Q: I’d like to hear Dr Amin’s opinion on the emergence of these bio-frequency machines that claim to detect parasite infections.

Dr Amin: I have seen a few different bio-frequency machines and none of them impressed me, because the frequency picked up by the machines can be tagged to anything, even physical abnormalities, dysfunctions by the organ systems or toxicity issues but they are not biologically tagged to specific species even if this is claimed, so I cannot trust them.

Want to learn more about parasites from a world-leading expert and have the opportunity to have your questions answered by Dr Amin?

Exclusive seminars from world-leading parasitology professor
Dr Amin will be discussing the world of parasites in more detail at the Understanding Parasites seminar series, hosted exclusively by PCI Europe and Integrative Health Education.

Understanding Parasites
4th – 5th July 2015
Honourable Artillery Company, London
Two day ticket: £125
Single day ticket: £80
www.integrativehealth.co.uk
email courses@integrativehealth.co.uk or call +44 (0) 1924 242 851