Sustain yourself
Health and herbal advice
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Barbara O’Neill is an Australian author who advocates for basic health principles to support our bodies, with a particular focus on optimum nutrition. She believes in providing the body with the exact conditions it needs in order to heal itself.
In September, she joined Positive Nights for a two-day series of seminars, in which she outlined her ‘SUSTAIN’ health principles. These are:
Sunshine – When our skin absorbs sunlight, the body produces vitamin D, a nutrient essential for strong bones, a robust immune system, and even mental clarity. It is vital to ensure that we get adequate daylight – and particularly important, during the Irish winter months, that we get at least 15 minutes of outdoor time each day.
Use of Water – Adequate hydration is another crucial health goal to bear in mind. Drinking enough water keeps your body hydrated, flushes out toxins, and supports digestion. Aim for eight to ten glasses per day.
Sleep – Take time to rest, because the body repairs and refreshes itself while we sleep. Getting eight hours’ sleep has long been proven to support our health and mental wellbeing.
Trust in Divine Power – Connect with a source of wisdom higher than yourself for guidance. Take some time to pray or meditate each day, as this will help you to cultivate a sense of inner peace.
Abstaining (from anything harmful) – This entails avoiding stimulants such as caffeine, cigarettes or alcohol.
Inhale (fresh air) – Barbara is a strong advocate of breathing deeply through the nose. In modern society, we often breathe shallowly, our chests tight and our bodies tense. When we take time to be mindful of our breath and inhale as much fresh air as possible, our nervous system responds by relaxing.
Nutrition – Consume a balanced diet free of pesticides and artificial chemicals.
Barbara’s book, ‘Self Heal by Design’, goes into each of these principles in depth. During our event with her, she said: “We have a body that can clear out waste very efficiently if it’s given the right conditions to do so: if we breathe through our noses, get enough sleep, drink enough water, avoid consuming stimulants.”
She also explained why herbs and herbal remedies can assist people with a range of health and nutritional concerns. Cayenne pepper, she said, “is a natural vasodilator, which means that it thins the blood – opens up the blood vessels throughout the body – and also strengthens the arterial walls. It is a remarkable herb, and an excellent choice for the heart”.
For anyone experiencing hormonal imbalances, which can lead to knock-on issues such as thyroid problems or unexplained weight gain, Barbara recommends applying wild yam cream to the skin. Wild yam cream can also be beneficial for women experiencing menopause, due to the presence of a component called diosgenin, which has the potential to help ease menopause symptoms.
She also spoke about how important it is that people find the health and nutritional support that works for them, given how overstretched the medical system is: “GPs now are so overworked, they only get a few minutes with each patient. How much are they going to find out in that time? The history of a patient tells you everything. We are what we are today because of what we’ve experienced in the past – symptoms are the body’s way of telling us where it needs support. Look at the body’s history and it will tell you what it needs.”
