Rachel Shackleton's blog

This winter we have all been facing a very tenacious flu that seems to leave most with a lingering cough that goes on for weeks. Sound familiar?

Enhancing the body’s natural defence system (immunity) plays a vital role in maintaining optimum health. We all know that prevention is better than cure. Taking a closer look at lifestyle and how we support our immune system at this time of year has to be a priority for you and your family. Ayurvedic medicine has some simple remedies that do just that.

Recently I was listening to the Chris Evans Breakfast show and the conversation was around love. Evans said words to the effect that love is unlike your bank account, when the money is gone its gone. Perhaps inflows credit your account, but it may not be in balance with the outflows. Love is not like this, every day we have a full account to use and give out to others, when all is used up, your account will once again be full the next day to give away freely as you want. How beautiful is that?

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris), the hardy Mediterranean herb that not only looks gorgeous when lining footpaths and flower beds, smells divine, but also has many health benefits in addition to being a wonderful herb for adding flavour to fish, stews, soups, casseroles, to breads, muffins, as well as flavouring olive oil. Beautifully versatile!

According to the National Sleep Foundation “more than 40 percent of adults experience daytime sleepiness severe enough to interfere with their daily activities at least a few days each month - with 20 percent reporting problem sleepiness a few days a week or more”.

Listening to a recent webinar with Dr Dugald Seely, N.D, M.Sc and integrative medicine doctor sparked my interest and broadened my understanding of the importance of exercising, but varying the type of exercise to build all round fitness.  Dr Seely, has been actively pursuing the growth and development of integrative medicine and pioneered an innovative model of cancer care and research through the creation of the Ottawa Integrative Cancer Centre, operating since in 2011. He reminded me of the importance of exercise in overall fitness and as part of treating a patient for cancer.