As the Eastern Boarder of Australia is on high alert for winds and dust storms, it is important to protect your health and your property. Here are a few pointers:
Health
1. Purchase face masks for the family (pharmacy, hard ware shop)
2. Don't plan things for the outdoors if you suffer with asthma or hayfever (Eg delay BBqs, have planned gatherings inside eg cafes, pubs, homes)
3. Carry ventolin puffers on you (and purchase one if you can't find yours)
Home
1. Pack everything possible up and drape other items with cover sheets if you have them
2. take clothes off the line
3. pull pool covers over swimming pools
4. pick up all lose items and bring inside
5. lock sheds
6. bring cars into undercover parking if possible
7. Close all the windows in the house
Good luck
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Female Hormone Disorder – The 21st Century Endemic
Female hormone disorder (FHD) is the new, and aptly named by the Health Queen, hormone phenomena that is seizing modern day woman.
The modern day lady is typically smart, educated, goal driven, committed in whole to their partner; their kids; their netball team and girlfriends. They are usually working 30 hours per week, exercising to some degree, drinking wine, consuming lots of love-giving-serotonin-promoting chocolate, and managing the household budget.
What a bucket load of stress!
What is changing….
Ladies have the following measurable changes in their blood tests or saliva tests:
1. Elevated estrogen
2. Elevated testosterone
3. Insulin and glucose intolerance (which is the crux of the whole FHD). Or impaired glucose intolerance (which currently affects 1 in 4 Australian adults)!
Ladies experience:
1. Excess abdominal fat, bulging layers like cream cascading over a waterfall
2. A hairy chin or moustache
3. Stressed facial expressions
4. Short breathing pattern (look at the lady side-on to see her chest rise, or watch the way they talk – garbled, frantic words, suppressed giggles because it takes up too much oxygen).
What the ladies are feeling:
1. Angry, irritable, revengeful, anxious and stressed
2. Embarrassment about their physical appearance
3. Annoyance and frustration about not being able to rationally control their binges, their decisions in general and their paralysis at taking pro-active control
4. Isolated
The simple 4 point answer (which is a very simplified , and a primate way to address the very complex, evolving being that I refer to as “Bridget”)
1. Relax, breathe, breathe, and then tell yourself “ in the big picture, it doesn’t matter”
2. Positively recall everything that works in your day – you wake up with your partner/husband/a clear head – you have someone somewhere that thinks of you last before you go to bed and that you have missed at least 2 new opportunities today due to unsolved baggage
3. That life should be easier
4. That your life choices are 100% in your hands. If you are stressed, it’s because you are buying into stress.
To have your say, and to be a part of understanding this phenomena go to .
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Midges
Midges can pose a delimma for some who people who suffer reactions from their bite.
Try some of the suggestions below. I have heard very good feedback from people using vitamin B1.
Midge facts
• Biting midges are not sandflies.
• They are not known to be vectors of any human disease in Australia.
• In overcast humid weather, they are known to bite all day and night.
• Only the female bites: she needs a blood meal to fertilise her eggs. They are known as pool feeders because they use their proboscis like a saw to create a tiny hole in the skin into which a pool of blood can flow. Saliva is injected into the pool to help the flow of blood. It is this saliva that causes the allergic reaction and itching.
• Remember that biting midge numbers increase around the time of the full and new moons; it is advisable not to plan outdoor functions that coincide with these times.
Useful tips
• a hot bath may provide temporary relief
• anti-itching creams or lotions (tea tree or lavender) can be effective
• it has been observed that Vitamin B1 (Thiamine Hydrochloride) taken
over a period of more than 30 days before exposure to midges, can reduce
the severity of some people’s reaction to bites (this is not true of everyone
and always consult your Gp, or the “ HEALTH QUEEN” before taking any vitamins)
How to protect yourself
• Anything you can do to reduce humidity, increase light and air movement will make your house and garden less attractive to midges. Midges hide underneath the leaves of the plants and shrubs in your garden.
• Closely mown lawns, sparse vegetation around your house and minimal surface water in the garden will decrease humidity, increase air movement so as to minimise the resting places for midges.
• Avoid gardening or watering in the afternoon and early morning.
• Increase air movement in the house by using electric fans
• Spraying residual (surface) insecticide on your flyscreens will help deter midges from entering your home.
• Burning mosquito coils inside can also reduce numbers.
• Most insect repellents are effective against midges and should be used whenever you are outside the house, alternatively an equal part mixture of baby oil, Dettol and Eucalyptus oil is useful.
• Long sleeve shorts and long trousers made of closely woven materials give good protection; when gardening, a hat and gloves are also a big help.
Natural Organic insecticides
If you are reluctant to use chemicals in your garden, organic insecticides can be made up and applied. These will be capable of killing the adult midges, however repeated applications may be necessary.
Some useful organic insecticide formulations are:
Garlic spray : 85 grams unpeeled garlic, two (2) tablespoons mineral oil, 600 millilitres water and seven (7) grams of soap dissolved in solution. Mix solution and place in trigger sprayer.
Derris spray: 120 grams soap in 4.5 litres of water solution. Mix in 60 grams of derris powder (from garden suppliers) and mix an additional 4.5 litres of water. Dilute entire mixture in 12 litres of water and place in trigger sprayer.
Outdoor repellents: Gardening or hosting a barbecue? Parrafin oil or perfumed lamp oil can be mixed with either Citronella or Lavender oil and burned in 'Polynesian' bamboo lamp burners placed upwind of your activity.
Ref: http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/t_standard.aspx?PID=61
Try some of the suggestions below. I have heard very good feedback from people using vitamin B1.
Midge facts
• Biting midges are not sandflies.
• They are not known to be vectors of any human disease in Australia.
• In overcast humid weather, they are known to bite all day and night.
• Only the female bites: she needs a blood meal to fertilise her eggs. They are known as pool feeders because they use their proboscis like a saw to create a tiny hole in the skin into which a pool of blood can flow. Saliva is injected into the pool to help the flow of blood. It is this saliva that causes the allergic reaction and itching.
• Remember that biting midge numbers increase around the time of the full and new moons; it is advisable not to plan outdoor functions that coincide with these times.
Useful tips
• a hot bath may provide temporary relief
• anti-itching creams or lotions (tea tree or lavender) can be effective
• it has been observed that Vitamin B1 (Thiamine Hydrochloride) taken
over a period of more than 30 days before exposure to midges, can reduce
the severity of some people’s reaction to bites (this is not true of everyone
and always consult your Gp, or the “ HEALTH QUEEN” before taking any vitamins)
How to protect yourself
• Anything you can do to reduce humidity, increase light and air movement will make your house and garden less attractive to midges. Midges hide underneath the leaves of the plants and shrubs in your garden.
• Closely mown lawns, sparse vegetation around your house and minimal surface water in the garden will decrease humidity, increase air movement so as to minimise the resting places for midges.
• Avoid gardening or watering in the afternoon and early morning.
• Increase air movement in the house by using electric fans
• Spraying residual (surface) insecticide on your flyscreens will help deter midges from entering your home.
• Burning mosquito coils inside can also reduce numbers.
• Most insect repellents are effective against midges and should be used whenever you are outside the house, alternatively an equal part mixture of baby oil, Dettol and Eucalyptus oil is useful.
• Long sleeve shorts and long trousers made of closely woven materials give good protection; when gardening, a hat and gloves are also a big help.
Natural Organic insecticides
If you are reluctant to use chemicals in your garden, organic insecticides can be made up and applied. These will be capable of killing the adult midges, however repeated applications may be necessary.
Some useful organic insecticide formulations are:
Garlic spray : 85 grams unpeeled garlic, two (2) tablespoons mineral oil, 600 millilitres water and seven (7) grams of soap dissolved in solution. Mix solution and place in trigger sprayer.
Derris spray: 120 grams soap in 4.5 litres of water solution. Mix in 60 grams of derris powder (from garden suppliers) and mix an additional 4.5 litres of water. Dilute entire mixture in 12 litres of water and place in trigger sprayer.
Outdoor repellents: Gardening or hosting a barbecue? Parrafin oil or perfumed lamp oil can be mixed with either Citronella or Lavender oil and burned in 'Polynesian' bamboo lamp burners placed upwind of your activity.
Ref: http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/t_standard.aspx?PID=61
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