If you are anything like me the first few days of lockdown were pretty hard. Intense really. The sudden ripping of life from the ordinary everyday routines; the events, gatherings and regular meetings planned for the remainder of the year rapidly cancelled; and the loss of our freedoms.

Here are some helpful thoughts and tips to surviving well that I have gleaned from my online friends around the world over the past few weeks. There’s probably heaps more but thought I would post these so you can have a think about them and if they help you it will have been worth it.

1. Have a daily routine. Make your bed. Apparently the most successful people in life have one thing in common; they always make their own bed – everyday. Do your dishes. Keep your spaces tidy and free from clutter. Vacuum. Give everything a good wipe down and spring clean.

2. If you are working from home treat it like the real job it is and set a space aside specifically for work if you have the extra space that is. But make sure to demarcate the private and the work part of your space so there is a difference. This helps with your productivity and mind-set. Dress for success. Guys have a shave, put on your best cologne. Go out there, even if it’s just your living room and kill the competition (not literally). Ladies wear makeup.

3. Relax. Take a long hot bath. Add in Epsom salts and your favourite essential oils if you have them.

Savour peace. Solitude. Sacredness. Love. Peace.

4. If you have children teach them these virtues. Show them new things, recipes, activities. Turn your kitchen into a science lab. I see that businesses like the Warehouse are now putting up online family home-based activities, find these online resources. Here is an activities page that my son set up for the business he works in: www.comac.co.nz/boredom-busters

If your children are doing schoolwork set the same time every day for this part of their life. Make them lunch as if they were going to school to avoid them hitting the pantry and fridge all day. Parents set the example here too (if you can!)

5. Stay in touch with loved ones. Use the phone (the old fashioned plug in the wall one – if you still have it). Or use texts, media platforms such as Skype, zoom or messenger. If you don’t know how to use these just ask someone to help you. Think of that person that you haven’t contacted for ages. Find their number and give them a call. Forgive. Who needs your forgiveness, or whom do you need to get right with? This could be a time of great healing for you and others.

A lot of my children are adults and live in far-flung places. Just before lockdown I started a group chat on messenger for us all to contribute and keep in touch. We have had huge laughs sharing the highs and lows of our lives in lockdown. I started a photo competition of us doing whacky or different things and my kids love it. I also included my parents who are somewhat isolated so they can see what the grandkids are up to.

Tell someone every day that you love them and they are loved

If you live with others an obligatory daily hug is important. If you live on your own hug yourself and keep reminding yourself that you are loved and you are going to be okay. A pet helps in such situations. Talk to your plants indoors and outdoors. I am told they listen. Talk to God or whoever is important to you in the spiritual realm. Cry. Let it out if you need to and don’t judge yourself for the way that you feel.

Do something positive and uplifting every day for yourself.

6. Play music. Dust off those old cd’s or get onto Spotify or whatever. If you play a musical instrument give it heaps! Read more. Spend less time on social media unless it is helpful to you but most of us find it a distraction or even disturbing as the information overload can be overwhelming.

7. Sleep more. Get regular sleep times and those 6-8 hours of sleep. If you feel like a daytime nap do it.

8. Eat well. Three regular meals. Plenty of the right nutrients, vegetables, fruits, carbs fats and protein in a good balance. Make eating a meal an act of pleasure, sacred and special. Eat slower. Chew your food well. Be thankful for it. Say grace if you were brought up doing that. Being thankful for your meal actually has been shown to increase digestibility. Drink plenty of water, but not cold drinks with your meals please as it hampers digestion.

9. Meditate. Pray. Read scriptures or self-help books or inspirational books. Anything that can help you to get out of head space and into your heart space. Get in touch with the divine. Get in touch with yourself, your inner thoughts and feelings. Ask yourself why you feel this way or that. Don’t be hard on yourself. Don’t criticise yourself and avoid criticising others. Remember we are all in this thing together. Be kind, First to yourself and to others.

10. Keep active. It’s okay to do those home projects if you have the materials at hand. It’s just as okay to rest and relax but try to get some activity in your day every day. Walk if you are allowed outside – to grassy areas or anywhere with trees or near nature. Feel the sun and breeze on your face. If you see others smile and say hi (2m distance). It can make a huge difference. If you can’t get outside, move! Watch an exercise programme on TV or online. Jog on the spot. Bounce. Move every limb and muscle. Feel your body. Do sit-ups, press ups or whatever you can safely and painlessly move (within your limits!) If you can, get on messenger video or zoom with a few friends or family and exercise together in your own bubble.

11. If finances are a problem or are going to be an issue, reach out and get help from the appropriate avenues. The government has subsidies set up for you. Don’t forget the government website on Covid19 has reliable information about this crisis and things you can do. If you need food but can’t get out again please reach out to someone – your family, friends, and neighbours. If you know your neighbours number, give them a call to see how they are getting on. Especially if you have elderly people in your street, look out for them. Just because we are in our bubbles does not mean we cannot care about others.

I hope these tips give you something to think about and to act upon. Keep safe and well in your bubbles and hopefully soon we shall be beyond these troubles.

At Health Solutions I strive very hard to be up to date with treatments and conditions and best practice. To keep upskilled I regularly attend Metagenics® seminars which occur three times a year and cover a wide range of topics. These seminars are hosted by a world-leader in Natural medicine and one of the main suppliers I deal with for nutritional products. The seminars are five hours face-to face. They always provide excellent material and support for practitioners which in turn means better service for my patient’s and better health outcomes. Recent topics have been: Modern Maladies – fatigue, stress, thyroid dysfunction, EMF pollution and sleep hygiene;  Allergy and reactivity; Clinical fatigue; Nutrigenomics; Microbiome latest research; Functional Psychiatry. The knowledge presented and research ensures that what I do in practice has a sound scientific basis.

Last year I attended a two day workshop on Cancer therapeutics hosted by an ACNEM, an Australasian based educational institution specifically for general practitioners. This workshop was an invaluable resource for the latest in understanding cancer and advanced natural methods for supporting patients. I have been able to put this knowledge into practice.

I have also completed a number of online courses and webinars on a diverse range of topics related to clinical practice, these are usually between one and ten hours in length. There are a number of online “places” that offer courses and materials for practitioners to keep abreast of current trends and practices. Several of the suppliers of the products that I regularly prescribe in clinic also offer various webinars from time to time, and I try to attend as many as possible.  All of these courses comprise what is known as Continuing education (CPE) hours for my registration as a Naturopath.

Our annual Naturopathic conference is a highlight of the year and always delivers top speakers in their fields where I gain yet more learning, which can be translated into better clinical practice and better patient outcomes.

Last year I also completed a certificate in Adult education and teaching, as part of my First Aid Instructor qualification. And I completed three more papers in the Health Science degree which I am hoping to finish this year! So it has been a busy time.

What all of this learning and upskilling means for you as a patient is the promise to deliver the best natural healthcare for you.

Homeobotanical Therapy is a novel fusion of herbal medicine and low potency homeopathy, developed right here in New Zealand. Homeobotanicals are loved by practitioners and patients alike, and have seen tens of thousands of successful cases in the thirty plus years since these amazing remedies were introduced.

Homeobotanicals are glycerated herbal tinctures which have been homeopathically potentised. By blending the various Homeobotanical remedies in the range, a perfectly balanced treatment is possible for every patient.

The remedies come as a range of concentrated herbal complexes which are personally blended together to make a unique individualised prescription. The system simply integrates the key areas that need addressing in the individual: what we call a mix and match approach.

For example, you may be experiencing liver dysfunction, gut dysbiosis and yeast overgrowth. In this case, the Homeobotanical remedy would be (Liver),(Bowel) and (Candida/digestion). Simplicity itself! The remedy is taken as a few drops three times daily daily.

There are forty-four concentrates in the Homeobotanical range, covering everything from infection to lactation, asthma to insomnia, eyes to skin, cognition to cramping.

The main actions of Homeobotanicals are at a cellular level. First, they purify the system by opening up the body’s own natural drainage channels, then the components of the selected herbs enhance assimilation of nutrients to speed healing and boost energy levels. This combined action is suitable for both acute and chronic conditions. The healing response is gentle and safe, being suitable for people of all ages.

A feature of Homeobotanical Therapy is the beautiful synergy between the remedies and other modalities, in particular nutritional supplements (vitamins and mineral formulae), and homeopathy. The remedies initiate the entire healing response and may by used to boost the clinical results of body therapies, body/mind techniques and/or orthodox practice, as well as any of the natural health therapies.

Homeobotanical Therapy has always been a core therapy for me which means I prescribe it for almost every client who sees me, it forms the basis of my clinical management of my client’s health needs. These clever little remedies have always worked for my client’s and that is why, after 20 years experience I continue to use them. They are effective, economical and easy to use.
If you would like to know more go to Clinic , or to book an appointment to see me, give me a call or send an email to support@healthsolutions4u.co.nz

Welcome to Health Solutions4u

Get your health care questions answered!

Have you ever wanted to get helpful, real and friendly advice from someone who knows all about natural medicine and conventional medicine?

Have you got questions about your health? Do you have health care needs or problems that won’t go away? Do you know who to trust?

Here you will find help, understanding, expert and professional advice from a Naturopath with almost twenty years of experience.

Hi, my name is Andrew, I am a Naturopath. I offer natural therapies for your body, mind and soul. Almost 20 years knowledge and experience in natural medicine plus health science and nursing to degree level means I know a lot more and can support you a great deal better than many other healthcare providers. I have an advanced knowledge of bioelectronics, herbal medicines and several healing techniques. I believe in taking an innovative approach with all my clients.

A Naturopath cares for you in a holistic manner using herbs, nutritionals and other gentle techniques to restore health and wellbeing. The guiding philosophy is to use natural means to encourage good health. ‘Holistic’ means to consider all parts that make up the human being –body, mind, soul, spirit, culture.

I work together with you and help you to understand yourself better, understand your life story, resolve issues, have greater freedom from pain, heal faster, and become stronger and healthier.

Available for you are top quality researched nutritional products that fit your health needs. Along with herbal and Homeobotanical remedies individually prescribed just for you. Testing that includes eye- analysis, bio-energetic scanning and food sensitivities. For the body-mind I do Access Consciousness The Bars®, Bowen® therapy, joint mobilisation, and relaxation massage for whole body healing, sports, injury rehabilitation, aches and pains.

My specialties are in chronic fatigue, detoxification, conception care, anti-ageing and immune function, depression and trauma.

Check out the clinic page and other pages here.

Here’s a really useful page of Questionnaires for you… If you’ve always wondered if your liver or thyroid is up to speed, if you are gluten sensitive, or if you need to consider a detox, check out the questionnaire pages

For Skype or phone consultations please click here

If you are looking for my blog site which has heaps of interesting, informative, provocative ideas and articles check out andrewgowan.com here

Please add healthsolutions4u.co.nz as a favourite and come back often!

Thanks for visiting healthsolutions4u.co.nz!

Andrew