Tag: herbal

Back to School during Covid19

Back to school during a worldwide pandemic?

Who would have thought that in the year 2020 we would be fighting a pandemic that has turned most of our lives upside down? Certainly not me. There is a “new normal” that each of us need to adapt to, in order for us to survive. I have put together a summary of what exactly we may be dealing with, especially as a parent who needs to send children back to school in this time of uncertainty.

What is COVID-19?

The COVID-19 virus is a new virus linked to the same family of viruses as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and some types of common cold. There are many symptoms to look out for, although the “main” symptoms may include fever, cough, and shortness of breath.

How does COVID-19 spread?

The virus is transmitted through direct contact with respiratory droplets of an infected person (generated through coughing and sneezing). Individuals can also be infected from touching surfaces contaminated with the virus and touching their face (e.g., eyes, nose, and mouth). The COVID-19 virus may survive on surfaces for several hours, but simple disinfectants can kill it.

Following basic principles can help keep students, teachers, and staff safe at school and help stop the spread of this disease. Recommendations for healthy schools are:

  • Sick students, teachers and other staff should not come to school
  • Schools should enforce regular hand washing with safe water and soap, hand sanitizer or chlorine solution and, at a minimum, daily disinfection and cleaning of school surfaces
  • Schools should promote social distancing (a term applied to certain actions that are taken to slow down the spread of a highly contagious disease, including limiting large groups of people coming together)
  • Ensure adequate, clean and separate toilets for girls and boys
  • Increase air flow and ventilation where climate allows (open windows, use air conditioning where available, etc.)

As a parent it is normal to worry about the well-being of your child. As a parent, we should try not to place our own anxieties onto our children.

Educational psychologist Avika Daya shares advice on the best way to deal with the fears and support your child:

“As learners return to school they may be dealing with COVID-19 related anxiety, academic stress, the many feelings associated with being at home for so long as well as the normal stressors associated with growing up.” She says it is important to acknowledge the fears.

 “Stressing about the situation won’t change the outcome. What is in their control is how much time and effort they put into their studies and the hygiene measures they put into place, in their personal capacity  (washing hands, not touching others, changing their clothes when they get home, and so on),” she says.

She says these feelings of anxiety may be expressed in several ways.

“Children may express this anxiety in a number of ways such as anger, stomach pains, and bad moods and so on.

It’s important for schools to reopen as soon as they can while keeping families safe. Doing well in school is tied to a student’s long-term health and wellbeing. Falling behind can affect how well a student does going forward.

Returning to school probably won’t mean returning to normal – at least for a while. But schools can start now to put plans in place so they can open their doors again while taking steps to keep students, staff, and families safe.​

Immune system support:

Here are a few safe supplements that will support your child’s immune whilst returning to school;

  • Vitamin D3
  •  Zinc
  • Probiotics
  • Omega3
  • Vitamin C

Cognitive Decline

Wow, maintaining a blog is much, much harder than I anticipated!

I’ve been meaning to write this post for whole month now but life just got in the way.

At the beginning of last month I attended a seminar on cognitive decline which literally blew my mind! It’s not often that you are inspired by specialists who take the time to share so much of their knowledge.

The main focus was on Alzheimer ’s disease, nutrition, functional medicine, reversal of symptoms and collaborative care.

In the past, the patient-doctor relationship was very much commanding that the patient follow these rules and take this medicine because as a doctor I know what is best for you etc.

Now, there is an awakening that is happening amongst the medical profession.

Empowering versus dictating.

The creating of self-awareness where we are shifting the focus and allowing the patient to be in charge of their own destiny. What is your patient’s purpose in life, what are their health goals? How can you assist in improving their quality of life? Get to know you patient. It’s important to know which type of patient has the disease than what disease the patient has.

What is Alzheimer’s disease?

The mono-therapeutic  approach does not work anymore. There are essentially four key elements that need to be in place for ANY type of transformation to occur, diet, lifestyle, sleep and nutrition.

Collaborative care, what does it mean? Ever heard the term, it takes a village? Well yes, in these cases that’s exactly what the plan should be.  Try to get as many people involved in trying to nurse this person back to health. We cannot place the burden on one person alone ( caring for a person with alzheimer’s increases the risk of getting alzheimers). Get the family involved, neighbours, doctors, dietician etc.

Below is a list of advice, vitamins, herbs and supplements that play an important role in mental health:

  • Following a ketogenic diet
  • Methyl B12
  • Curcumin
  • Bacopa
  • Ashwaganda
  • Vitamin D
  • Pre/probiotics
  • Magnesium trianate
  • Omega 3 (DHA)
  • CoQ10
  • Coconut oil
  • 5HTP
  • Resvirotrol
  • And last but not least, Exercise!

 

It is obviously impossible to take every single supplement that could benefit but us, but the objective should be to make small but permanent lifestyle changes that lead to healing.

Wishing you the best of health,

Dr Hansa

 

 

Hello 2017

OK I must admit, I’ve been quite bad at this blogging idea. Kids can keep you extremely busy!

So here’s my first blog for 2017…. I’ll make this short and sweet.

SCHOOL!

At the beginning of every year, most families are preparing to send their kids off to school…playschool, preschool, primary school, high school…when does it end!?

With that, comes the mingling of many, many, mannnyyy germs that your precious ones will encounter. We need to prepare them, prep their tiny developing immune systems in order for them to ward off all these infections.

The bare essentials :

  1. ECHINACEA : Immune booster of note, especially the practitioner range that is safe for the whole family. Take every day as a preventative and double up during acute infections.
  2. OLIVE LEAF : The same as above with the added power of being anti-parasitic, so if you’re suspecting a worm infestation this would be your go-to tincture!

Now that that’s out of the way, let’s talk brain power! Especially during exam time but also a good all year rounder type of herb is BACOPA . A good tincture to assist with poor memory, anxiety and lack of concentration. Bacopa is also noted for its usage in ADHD (clinically proven trials!). So if you feel that your child needs the extra help, please give this herb a try!

Wishing you all the best of health for this year! (I think my next article should be about how to deal with the stress of being a parent!)

Dr Fatima Hansa