Organico Bantry

Pregnancy massage, infant massage instruction, Lomi Lomi, sports massage and much more.

Noreen McCarthy is a very highly qualified and experienced massage therapist. I had heard very good things about her from friends who were her clients and I was very impressed when she came to ‘Babytalk’ (a Healthboard-run group that got parents of new babies together to learn and socialise). Noreen gave us a morning’s instruction on how to massage our babies, and her sensitivity and respect for the babies was very inspiring. She reminded us always to ask or inform our baby that we were going to give them some massage before we started, rather than just launching into it, and I though that was a good lesson to try to apply to other areas of interaction with Lucy, as so many times she must feel like she has no control over what is happening to her body!

From friends I have heard Noreen is very good for both pregnancy massage and for stronger deeper massage suitable for sporty people.

Find out more about the types of massage Noreen offers and how to contact her here.

I was sent a very interesting snippet of information recently from A.Vogel, a company who produce and research herbal remedies in a very ethical, safe and environmentally responsible way. Let me know what you think!

”Triple herbal combination: An effective alternative to benzodiazepines”

This is the title of a study into the effect of using a combination of valerian, hops and passiflora to help with sleep, whilst coming off benzodiazepenes.

Benzodiazepines are a group of sedative drugs and the patients taking part in this study had been taking them for an average of 6.8 months. They were coming off the drugs either due to their own request or their physician’s recommendation, or due to poor tolerability. The patients were given the herbal combination to see if it could counteract symptoms sometimes associated with the withdrawal phase from benzodiazepenes.

At the end of the 6-week treatment period, 68% of the patients thought that their sleep quality had improved. 74% indicated that they had more motivation and drive than at the beginning, and day time tiredness improved. At the end of the study, 64% of the patients said that they would continue with the herbal therapy, whilst 34% had improved sufficiently to discontinue therapy.

This information was supplied by A.Vogel.

Reference: Wähling C et al. Zeitschrift Phytotherapie 2009; 30: 69-72

This seems a bit out of date with the recent sunshine here in West Cork, but I wrote it in the depths of winter and forgot to post it (I think it’s called Baby Brain, a dangerous forgetful condition you can develop when you have a Young One…!) Anyway…

The short dark days of the early New Year leave many of us feeling a little blue – Why is that? Lack of direct sunlight and vitamin D deficiency is a significant factor in the development of SAD, or the ‘winter blues’. This month I’m focusing on Vitamin D. I have been taking vitamin D for a while as there has been so much recent research on the myriad of health benefits it offers, so I thought I’d provide some of the information I have gathered so you can see if you think it might be something that would benefit you. Read more…

Organico has a fantastic quality Colloidal Silver for sale at very reasonable prices. It is made by the supplier of Higher Nature but is far cheaper as we are buying it directly from the manufacturer.

Buy it now and we will ship it via An Post within Ireland. If you want us to ship to another country call us on +353 27 51391. If you are unhappy wiht the product return it unopened for a full refund (less P&P). Pay securely using Paypal (You don’t need a paypal account for this you can use your credit card). We have this product in stock so you should expect to have it in about 3 working days.

Colloidal Silver 100 mls - € 8.65 (plus €2.50 P&P)	Colloidal Silver 250 mls - €14.95 (plus €3.50 P&P)	Colloidal Silver 500mls - €24.95 (plus €4.50 P&P)

Colloidal Silver is used by many as an all-purpose antibiotic, anti-viral, anti-fungal. It is a medicine and should always be used with due caution. There is a lot of information about Colloidal Silver on the internet, some positive, some not; some true, some not. All we can testify to is our own experiece, of using for both humans and animals for many different ailments. We have never had a negative effect – except that it doesn’t cure everything! However, when used in the proper manner it is very effective for many bacterial/viral/fungal infections.

I alwasy used it alongside vitamin C as a boost when my body starts to complain that there is something up – in my case my glands start to swell and become painful. I always take it on the plane in a small spray bottle and spray my mouth regularly as the number of times I have gotten sick after a plane journed is crazy. I also use it to keep milk fresher on our boat because the fridge isn’t as good as it could be.

I have witnessed Colloidal Silver used to keep people whose immune system is very compromised safe from unwanted infections. It seemed highly effective, and there isn’t, according to the US FDA, any toxicity levels. For that purpose the water would be taken 2 to 3 times a day, roughly 1 teaspoon.

Colloidal silver has very little taste. It is essentially purified water that has had silver suspended in it through an elecrical process.

What the manufactures say: ‘Colloidal Silver is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral and a powerful anti-microbial catalyst. This does not mean that it will cure all manner of serious diseases. It is not a cure-all as some over-zealous advertisers have claimed. Whilst some users may find this product highly effective, high resistance to disease depends on good nutrition, proper hydration, emotional health, regular relaxation, excercise, hygiene and a balanced lifestyle’.

Look out for bandages from Boots impregnated with colloidal silver – but since they are so expensive buy yourself a little bottle and spray your cuts to keep them clean. It is also used for burns, to keep instruments clean in surgery, as a nasal spray for Sinusitis, and as an eye and ear spray. Other uses unclude a gargle and mouthwash.

Prices:

100 mls (Spray – ideal for plane journeys or to keep in a first aid box for minor cuts etc) €8.65

250 mls (good starting size for an individual) €14.95

500 mls (family sized or for someone who is treating something more long term) €24.95

If you can not come into the shop we can post colloidal silver, subject to postage costs . These rates are for within the Rep of Ireland using standard post. For overseas we would need to check current rates.

Our phone number is (027) 51391.

Hannah Dare

Digestive complaints are common and debilitating. We are bombarded with advertising for products that will help with bloating, acid, stomach aches but remember there are some very effective free remedies that will help your digestion.

1. Remember your mother’s advice – chew your food!
2. Leave time between meals for digestion.
3. Drink more water.

Read more…

It’s officially winter now and for most of us this means long hours in work, not much time spent in daylight let alone sunshine and lots of telly and indoor activities. I have chosen this month for focusing on Skincare, because when our skin is in good health we can deal with anything!

Surprisingly, our skin is the largest organ in our body. Somehow, because it is external we seem to think of it as impermeable. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth: it is estimated that the skin absorbs 60% of everything in the atmosphere, so we are very vulnerable to the numerous chemicals all around us. We can, however, control what we actually put onto our skin. When choosing skin care and cosmetic products a good rule of thumb is to ask “what is actually in this? Would I eat it?!’’ When you think about the number of products we use every day – shampoo, conditioner, soap, showergel, deodorant, cleanser, moisturiser, makeup, body lotion, perfume – it would be nice to know they were completely safe. Unfortunately, large cosmetics companies put ‘natural’ and even ‘organic’ on the front of their labels hoping we won’t notice all the chemicals on the back!

When we choose a range of skin care products for Organico we know that skincare is about more than just the surface and we take the health implications very seriously. Brands such as Dr Hauschka, Weleda, Trilogy and Burt’s Bees are the mainstay of our beauty products and although they each have different approaches to their formulation, they are all focused on safe and healthy beauty.

As well as healthy ingredients, truly natural products have a fantastically therapeutic effect on our skin. These companies combine the best of nature and science in preparations that are simple and fuss-free, beautiful to use and incredibly effective. For example, New Zealand comapnyTrilogy make multi-award winning skin creams using organic rosehip oil, which helps to build cell-membranes and to repair, hydrate and strengthen the skin. Trilogy Rosehip Oil is recommended for scars, dry skin, aging skin, and sun damaged skin – but I use it daily on my skin which is pretty ‘normal’ (I’m trying to keep it that way!). They also make Everything Balm, which can be used by everybody for everything! Face, lips, elbows…even babies’ bottoms, so it’s great for travel. Products like these might not taste nice but they are so pure they are actually edible!

I would need to write a book to describe all the gorgeous lotions and potions we have in Organico. Instead I have asked our suppliers for samples and information and we have put together a number of free Beauty Bags (first come first served!) that you can come and collect from the shop and try them yourselves!

Organico News & Offers:
• Don’t forget our delicious handmade Christmas Cakes and Mince Pies – you can come in and taste both in the Café before you order (we also offer mince pies frozen so they can be cooked off at home at your convenience).
• We also have lots of Christmas goodies instore such as Booja Booja organic handmade chocolates, organic wines, Ports and Sparkling Cavas, chestnuts, Turkish Delight… all of which can be made into magnificent hampersfor fantastic tasty gifts!
• Weleda Shampoos and Conditioners are on offer 2 for the price of 1;
• Red, Orange and Green Organic Alpro Soyamilks are now €1.27 (RSP €1.86) or €14.99 for a case;
• 8th of December:10% off wines and Organic Wine Tasting with Mary Pawle
• Free Beauty Bags available from December 1st in Organico
Organico Shop will be open until 4pm on Christmas Eve and will re-open on Tuesday the 29th of December.

And finally – we would like to wish everyone a happy tasty Christmas and a healthy New Year!

Hi everyone,

We are all very aware of the need to keep our immune system in good working order at the moment. I have compiled a quick list of immune boosting foods and some natural remedies that might help keep you healthy or help fight a cold or viral infection if you are unlucky enough to contract one. Obviously you will consider if you need to go to the GP but here are some home remedies to try as well.

You might notice something here that you could easily add to your daily diet, or feel better about eating something that you already eat but didn’t realise how good it was! Please ask our staff if you need tips for cooking anything that is new to you. On www.organico.ie we have a lot of great soup recipes that use things like sweet potatoes and pumpkins if you would like to add them to your diets.

Good foods to help keep you healthy:

Manuka Honey (anti-bacterial) a teaspoon of number 10 taken every day
All the greens – organic broccoli, kale, watercress, nastursium leaves, pursalane, parsley …all good sources of vitamin C
Onions, garlic, leeks and chives are all immune-boosting and are good sources of vitamin C, potassium, selenium, and sulphur. Try to get local fresh leeks for maximum benefits.
Cider Vinegar (1 tbsp in warm water every morning – with manuka honey if you like) is very alkalising
Foods rich in calcium: carrots, turnips, celery, parsnips, figs, brazil nuts, pine nuts, almonds and pecans. Calcium helps strengthen the immune system.
Good quality juices are a very valuable source of vitamins and minerals, preferably fresh pressed or at least without sugar. If you don’t have a juicer try some of the better bottled ones:
Organic Blackcurrant Juice, Beetroot Juice, Blueberry juice, carrot juice or grapefruit – all diluted with water and drunk in regular small quantites.
Organic Chamomile or Elderflower tea with manuka honey is a good evening drink
Green Tea is full of anti-oxidents, but it does contain caffeine so don’t go overboard!
Carrageen moss made into a drink with water, lemon and honey – good source of minerals and very soothing
Echinacea Tea from Dr Stuart is also a good daily drink
Anything orange – sweet potato, carrots, pumpkins – all contain beta-caroteins
Shitake mushrooms added to soups or vegetable dishes (available dried) have been shown to boost red blood cell production
All probiotic yoghurts boost our digestive defences(a few spoonfuls of ‘live’ yoghurt with some fruit every day is great, but avoid the drinks as they contain lots of sugar)
Oats and barley contain beta-glucan, a type of fibre which has strong immune boosting actions in both humans and animals. So stick with your morning porridge! I have started adding cinnamon, sunflower seeds and manuka honey to mine on the advice of a friend. It tastes great and is even more nutritious.

Let me kow what you are currently doing to help boost your immune system!

Hi Everyone,

Sitting at home with nothing to do all day (except look after my lovely little 10 week old daughter!) I have put together a list of some of the good things we sell that might help fight off an infection. Of course, I am not a GP so please if you feel you should get checked out do; these are things to try when you want to prevent or treat everyday ailments. Most good healthfood shops will sell these or give us a call on 0035327 51391 and we’ll post you out whatever you need.

Quick Combinations for treatment for colds or flues:
• Immune +, Kyolic Garlic 600, Echinacea
• Esther C, Elderberry Capsules,, Vitamin D3
• Sambucol, Food State Vitamin C, Echinacea

Prevention: (take daily)
• Echinacea & vitamin C
• Immune +
For those who are very vulnerable/exposed, add:
• Colloidal Silver, Vitamin D3, Kyolic 600

Anti-virals
Elderberry capsules (Solgar) or Sambucol (Elderberry extract)
Immune + (vitamin C, Black Elderberry, Blackcurrant and Zinc; Higher Nature)
Colloidal Silver or Citricidal Tablets, drops, capsules
Kyolic Garlic (600 or 1000), Vitamin D3 from Solgar
 

Immune Boosters
Echinacea Tincture and Tincture tablets (A.Vogel)
Vitamin C (Esther C from Solgar, Food State Vitamin C from Higher Nature, Quest Time Release C1000, A.Vogel Nature C)
Olive Leaf Extract, Kyolic Garlic from Quest
Probiotics (Udo’s, Higher Nature, Quest)
Zinc (Higher Nature Food State)
A good multi-vitamin (see Higher Nature, Solgar, or Salus Haus Epresat)

Cough syrups, lozenges & throat sprays
ZinC from Sona
Echinacea throat spray from A.Vogel, Naturalife Throat Spray
Citricidal Throat Spray , Citritidal lozenges
Manuka Honey lozenges
Drosulina or Santasapina Syrups (A.Vogel)
Molkosan – as a gargle
Ivy-Thyme from A.Vogel

Sinus
Apart from the immune boosting remedies mentioned above, try inhaling Po Ho Oil from A.Vogel (they offer a great inhaler that makes taking it even easier)
Heel make some good homeopathic combinations for sinuses, sprays and drops

Hand sanitizers
Burt’s Bees spray or Silver water spray or Citricidal drops added to hand wash

Remedies for children
Junior Echinacea from A.Vogel
Kindervital – good as a preventative, and to speed up recovery
Nature C from A.Vogel (check minimum age?)
Children’s multivitamins – Solgar do very good ones that taste good too.

Supplements for pregnancy

 
Apart from eating well, many women take some supplements for pregnancy because it is a time when there is a huge nutritional demand on your body. The baby is gets first call on nutrients so you might need more than you can get from food alone.
I take Solgar’s Pre-Natal Nutrients – a very good all-rounder which you can start when you are planning a baby and carry through until you stop breast feeding (it contains the folic acid you need). Another really good choice is Higher Nature’s Mum-2-Be. Both contain the Folic Acid you need for pre-conception and for the early stages of pregnancy. Along with this, I take fish oils for Omega – needed for brain development, helping prevent complications including premature birth, and helping prevent post-natal depression. It also keeps your skin and hair looking good! I take the Eskimo-3 capsules because I’m a wimp and don’t like the texture of the oil.
On the advice of Patrick Holford, I also take extra zinc, magnesium, B6, calcium and occasionally some iron. I have put in a sample of each of the Floradix iron drinks – one has yeast (great for energy) and the other does not (great if you get thrush, bloating, or have candida over-growth). I sometimes also take Spatone Iron Sachets because they are great when you are on the move.
Patrick recommends zinc and B6 for regulating hormones, thus helping to prevent post-natal depression; the calcium and magnesium are necessary for baby’s bones and for preventing mum’s leg cramps.
Another supplement to consider is vitamin D during the winter months especially if you work inside, as most of us do. In ‘Northern’ countries doctors routinely prescribe vitamin D; they don’t here but I wonder if they should. It helps with calcium absorption and bone health as well as mood swings. I would at the least take a calcium supplement with vitamin D in it (Solgar do a good one).

If acidity strikes in the middle of the night (I got this in the early stages a lot) try eating some live natural yoghurt before you go to sleep and keep snacks, such as nuts or ginger biscuits, by the bed. Frutin (sold in Organico and many good Health Food Shops) is a natural anti-acid supplement that is safe for use during pregnancy and gives quick relief.
For nausea I found the Sea Bands (from O’Sullivans Pharmacy in Bantry and many good Pharmacies) very helpful, as well as Nux Vom 6 a homeopathic for nausea, and B6 and Magnesium are both recommended to help reduce ‘morning’ sickness. A hot drink made with fresh ginger helps – you can add a little honey to taste. Alternatively, you can get ginger in capsules or tincture if you don’t feel like the tea. I also kept a bottle of peppermint oil handy to use like the smelling salts of old – it clears the head and settles the stomach. Eating calming foods like rice, yoghurt, bananas, toast, crackers (I really liked oat cakes) as well as nuts, dried fruit, and soups. Nairns make some really good ginger biscuits – I was known to munch them in the middle of the night even!
For constipation eat lots of fibre (Linwoods flaxseed can be added to cereal or yoghuty for added fibre and omega oils), drink lots, take weekly yoga classes and if necessary see an osteopath! Also it might be caused by Iron in tablet form – check with your doctor if you are on one. The iron in the 2 multi-vitamins I have suggested should not cause constipation.

Skin and hair
For strechmarks I have used Trilogy Body Oil which contains rosehip oil which is amazing for treating scars, stretchmarks and generally to give your skin a treat!
For sore feet, legs, shoulders etc I use Arnica Gel from A.Vogel which can be very soothing. I also invested in a pair of Fit Flops (very bouncy sandles available in many sport’s shops and some pharmacies and shoe shops) which I have worn every day since I bought them 2 months ago – and they eased my feet a lot.
 There is alsoVenegel by A.Vogel which can sooth veins considerable – though taking care of your back seems to be the best way of taking care of your veins – or so my osteopath tells me!
For dry or flaky scalps (this condition seems to affect several girls I know who are pregnant and many who are not!) I am trying a combination of internal and external treatments – Eskimo oil internally and Dead Sea Mineral products by Dead Sea Magic externally. They do a good shampoo and a fantastic Scalp Mud which I put directly on my scalp and leave for a few minutes before running it through my hair like a conditioner and washing out.
I used a skin brush a lot during the first 5 months as I was very itchy – I think it is the skin stretching – and as I said, lots of oil.

Books
Patrick Holford’s ‘Optimum Nutrition for Pregnancy’ is fantastic resource for diet and supplement tips. We sell it if you would likt to have a browse through.
I also found ‘Birth and Beyond’ by Dr. Yehudi Gordon very helpful – it is a huge book which covers everything from a very balanced perspective – he is a medical doctor but one with a very holistic outlook. I bought it on Amazon for about €15.
‘Birthing From Within’ is also amazing from an emotional perspective – there are instructors trained in this technique in West Cork who can help you to address the fear that surrounds birth for many women.

Teas
Raspberry Leaf Tea is recommended from about week 30 to tone the uterus (comes in loose leaf or capsules). Goldenrod tea is very good to keep the urinary system healthy and prevent infections. Rooibosh is a good substitute for regular tea (no caffeine) and Traidcraft Decaffeinated coffee tastes great.

Some Local Resounces:
Betty O’Toole for Shiatsu Massage and Pregnancy Yoga 087 7972059
Jessie Field for Pregnancy Yoga (and hopefully for mum and baby yoga in the autumn!) 086 0766608
Liz Ewing – for nutrition, general health and stress management 028 30895
Christine Meadows – nutritionist 027 51615
Catherine O’Sullivan Homeopath Bantry 027 52689
James Heggarty Homeopath Bantry 027 50501
Kieran English Osteopaths 028 38638
Florence Vion 023 8834748 Osteopath Clonakilty
Home Birth Association of Ireland http://www.homebirth.ie/

If you are pregnant, I hope you are feeling well and are delighted and healthy. This is an extended version of an article I put in the Grapevine in July 2009; it includes all the bits I had to edit due to space shortage. I hope it is useful. I have divided the article into 3 parts for the blog.

I have been trying all kinds of things to stay healthy during my pregnancy, so I have decided to share some of it before it’s too late (apparently when the baby comes I won’t have much time for writing!). For the first 3 months I was tired – the huge changes taking place mean most of us need more rest than usual and may feel drained. Lots of rest is essential at this point – your body needs time to focus on the work going on inside. For me, this was not the time to go out, go on holiday or do anything that was not strictly necessary! I also felt pretty nauseas, so my husband did all the cooking – I couldn’t even face washing-up without feeling awful! Handy that! Since then though I have felt great – so everything must be working!
I have found pregnancy yoga invaluable. I go to 2 classes a week, one in Bantry with Jessie Field and one near Durrus with Betty O’Toole (who also offers wonderful pregnancy massage!). I have also had regular cranial osteopathy to keep everything in balance and prevent back and hip problems, varicose veins and odema. I would strongly reccommend finding local practitioners in your area early on in your pregnancy so that they get to know you and your body and you get the best care possible.

Healthy Eating
Pregnancy is a great time to get your diet in order. Plenty of fibre, fresh fruit and veg, complex carbs and protein are all essential to keep you and baby strong and healthy. Lunch in our Café keeps me pretty well fed! If you eat at home then check out our website for good recipes.
I found that my eating patterns changed a lot over the first 7 months (I still have 2 months to go!). Right at the start I was pretty hungry even though I was feeling sick; and I kept on eating ‘for 2’ for a while. But it evened out – I haven’t eaten so much over the last 3 months and my weight has stabilised. Between 2 doctor’s visit s I didn’t put on any weight, whereas up till then I had been a bit over the average weight gain. So don’t panic if you feelo hungry at the start – just try not to eat chips!

Regarding a healthy diet during pregnancy and breast feeding, the World Health Organisation says:
‘’A healthy diet is one that is based mainly on plant foods. Therefore it is
important to eat lots of vegetables, fruits, bread, potatoes, pasta,
cereals, beans and lentils accompanied by only relatively small amounts
of: low fat milk, cheeses, kefir and yogurts; fish, lean red meats, and
poultry. Whenever possible try to get locally grown vegetables and
fruits, especially when they are in season. These can be less
expensive, more nutrient dense, fresh and safe from contamination.’’

I craved fruits at the start of my pregnancy – sounds good but it was hard in January to find nice fruit! Not very seasonal I know. I ended up going to Marks and Spencer’s! It’s great to eat lots of grains like brown rice, quinoa and breads made from nutritious grains like spelt so you are getting all the trace elements that are missing from white rice, flours and pastas. Lentil soups are fantastic – fibre, protein, and filling too. Lots of fruit and veg of course. As much as possible avoid fried foods, and though you need protein I think red meat is best kept to once or twice a week as it can be hard to digest. Good quality eggs are a good protein source.
If you have unusual cravings check out what the food you crave supplies – you might be lacking some mineral (some people talk about craving liver for example so possibly they need iron).
Though fish is very healthy some fish is very high in mercury and other heavy metals and should be eaten in moderation. Tuna is one to be especially careful of – because they are near the top of the food chain they eat many smaller fish and their mercury levels can be very high. We sell a tuna that is better – it is fished in clean waters – but I would personally avoid the ones in deli counters.
I find taking Epresat from Salus Haus very helpful because it is a great top-up if you go through a period of not eating well.
With regard to drinks, it is advised no to drink tea or coffee containing caffeine with you meals as this inhibits iron absorption. Lots of water is really the best thing you can drink while pregnant and breastfeeding – 6-8 glasses per day at least. Alcohol should really be avoided during the first 3 months and after that only a glass or even half a glass or wine very rarely – it can cross the placenta barrier and cause all manner of problems for the baby! Just enjoy the hangover-free mornings and let your partner enjoy you being the driver!