An Update from Jo

Hard to believe we are into the 2nd half of the year already! We mentioned last month about how winter was a time to honour "being" over "doing". But for those who still like a little bit of learning to keep their minds stimulated while they rest their bodies, we have decided to hold a Saturday afternoon workshop series for the next few months.

I have been asked a few times lately to share some of my knowledge about using Bach flowers remedies for mental emotional support in everyday life. So this workshop will be held on Saturday 29th July at the shop from 3.15 to 4.45pm. The cost will be $15 and is limited to 12 people only. Your payment will secure your space so please reply to this email or contact us at admin@bethlehemhealth.co.nz for details on how to pay. 

Our cacao tasting instore last month was popular and so our late August workshop will be showcasing cacao and maca. Kelly from Seleno will share info about how these ancient plant medicines can support our health and wellbeing in a modern world. 

Then in September we will have the lovely Gilly Godward, an intuitive mentor and healer, lead us through a guided soul journey and a collective tapping (EFT) experience. Jo will also talk about some new homeopathic colour and chakra remedies. We will share more about this and the cacao and maca workshop closer to the time!

Lastly I just wanted to cover a couple of Homeobotanicals specific to pregnancy and breastfeeding. 

HB #10 (Emeta) Indications: The primary indication is for nausea and hyperemesis associated with pregnancy. It is particularly useful during the first trimester. But it can also be used for other situations that can result in nausea and vomiting such as travel sickness, systemic toxicity, drug-induced toxicity or vomiting from either a pathological or emotional cause. It can also be administered following chemotherapy to help reduce nausea commonly associated with this treatment. 

HB #15 (Lacta) Indications: Particularly indicated for mothers with infants that are slow to gain weight. The galactogenic herbs in this blend combine to initiate lactation, sustain and regulate milk production as well as enhance the nutritional quality of breast milk. It is suitable for women who commenced with normal milk flow post partum, then weeks (or months) later, milk flow is diminished or ceased.

As with all homeobotanials these can be blended with others in the range, and are safe to take alongside pharmaceutical medications. More information is available instore. 

Our Vision

At Bethlehem Health Shop, we support ethical suppliers and sell quality, researched products. We offer sincere advice from our team of caring, trained staff.

Thank you so much for supporting your locally owned Community Health Store.

• Spend $55 or more on Living Nature and get a FREE Day Cream (valued at $44)
• Buy any 2 x 200ml Elixirs from the Oku range and receive a FREE tube of Oku Protect 15 Tea Bags valued at $18.50
• NeoCell Super Collagen Range in Powder or Tablets - 10% off entire range
• Nordic Naturals Arctic Cod Liver Oil 90 and 180 softgels and Arctic + D 237ml liquid, all 10% off
• Gutsi range of Probiotics, Gut Food and Good Guts Repair caps - 15% off entire range
• Solgar Vitamin D Chewable 1000iu 100 tablets - was $27.90 now $22.90
• Solgar VM 2000 30 tablets - was $32.90 now $25.90
• Bees Brilliance Lip Rescue in Honey and Beeswax or Superfruity - was $12.90 now $9.90
• Absolute Essentials Purify Hand Sanitiser - 40% off now $9.54
• The Herb Farm Refining Decollatage Cream - 30% off now $20.90
• The Herb Farm Renewal Advance Facial Serum - 30% off now $39.80
• Natures Way Systemwell - 180's 10% and 90's 15% off
• Biotrace Fish Oil Omega 3 Plus - now $49.90 save $30

All of the above specials and offers are only valid while stocks last.

• Braveface Range for Adults: LiveCalm Caps, CoolHead Day Spray, HeadRest Night Drops
• Braveface for Juniors (6-18 years): Good Mood Chews, Stay Cool Spray and Let's Dream Drops
• Gutsi Gut Food Capsules and Gutsi Good Guts Capsules
• Weleda Mums Stretchmark Body Butter 150ml
• Herbal Remedy Hand Rolled Incense Sticks - in 6 fragrances
• Herbal Remedy Loose Tea Range - Detox, Destress, Digestion, Immunity, Memory, Sleep and Weight Tea 100g
• A new selection of Fashy Hot Water Bottles
• Hope's Relief Itchy Dry Skin 125g
• Made From All Natural Vitamin C Gummies for Kids - 60's
• Kingfisher Charcoal Toothpaste 100ml
• Bare Organics Beetroot Powder, Irish Sea Moss Powder, and Wheat Grass Powder 227g
• Bare Organics Superfood Coffee 283g - Cardio Care, Daily Defense, Energising and Focus

Note: New products will be added to our website as soon as we can. If you want to purchase these online before we get a chance to do this, please call us to order over the phone instead.

Cardio Care Coffee with Superfoods 

BENEFITS: Digestive health, cardiovascular support, antioxidants. Ingredients have been known to support heart health (already within a normal range) 

FLAVOUR PROFILE: Rich coffee flavour with a twist of Cinnamon and a Hint of Cacao. Medium Roast. 

BareOrganics Cardio Care Coffee with Superfoods contains a blend of organic coffee ground from Arabica beans for superior quality and taste, along with natural, organic ingredients to support overall heart health. This ground coffee is infused with heart-friendly cacao, cinnamon, turmeric, and ginger. Probiotics boost the impact of these ingredients by supporting digestive health.  

Ingredients: Organic Nicaragua Arabica Coffee, Organic Cinnamon Powder, Organic Cacao, Organic Turmeric Powder, Organic Raw Fermented Cacao Powder, Bacillus Coagulans (probiotics), Organic Ginger Powder, Organic Clove Powder 

Energy Support Coffee with Superfoods 

BENEFITS: Digestive health, healthy energy

FLAVOUR PROFILE: Medium Roast blend with a round, smooth and slightly nutty finish. 

BareOrganics Energy Coffee blend contains medium roast coffee ground from Arabica beans for superior quality and taste, fortified with whole organic nutrients maca, guarana, cordyceps mushrooms and schisandra, to support healthy energy all throughout the day.  Probiotics boost the impact of these handpicked nutrients by supporting digestion in every sip.  

Ingredients: Organic Nicaragua Arabica Coffee, Organic Cordyceps Mushroom Extract Powder, Organic Guarana P.E., Organic Schisandra, Bacillus Coagulans‡, Organic Maca Root Powder. 

Focus Support Coffee with Superfoods 

BENEFITS: Unique adaptogen benefits, digestive health, healthy focus and concentration support.  Mushrooms ingredients have been known to support healthy focus and increase mental energy 

FLAVOUR PROFILE: Medium Roast blend with a delicate earthy brew and a nutty aroma. 

BareOrganics Focus Coffee blend contains low acid, medium roast coffee that has been ground from Arabica beans for superior quality and taste. This blend is fortified with whole organic nutrients to keep you sharp and focused throughout the day. Each bag of coffee is infused with mind-boosting ginseng, ashwagandha, cinnamon, nutmeg and lion's mane mushrooms. Probiotics boost the impact of these handpicked nutrients by supporting digestion with every sip.  

Ingredients: Organic Nicaragua Arabica Coffee, Organic Lion's Mane Powder, Organic Cinnamon Powder, Organic Ashwagandha Powder, Organic Gingko, Bacillus Coagulans, Organic Nutmeg Powder, Organic Black Pepper. 

This month we have a bottle of Naturopharm EarMed and Colimed Relief to give away.

NaturoPharm Earmed supports ear health and assists with middle ear function, balance, discomfort and noise disturbance. The Oral Spray contains Homoeopathic potencies of Belladonna, Cocculus, Mercurius Sol, Petroleum, Pulsatilla all in a 30c potency. It is an alcohol free spray, made with purified water and vegetable glycerine. It is often used for children but can also be used for adults.

If acute use 2 sprays per dose orally at 15 minute intervals for up to 6 doses then 3 times a day as required. In chronic cases use 2 sprays per dose orally 3 times a day as required. 

The oral spray is to be used in the mouth. Do not spray into the ear.  If there is discharge from the ear seek medical advice immediately. 

NaturoPharm Colimed Relief supports normal digestive function and aids stomach comfort in babies. Colimed Relief is available in a convenient oral spray and can be used by all ages, during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.  It is available in a natural glycerine base and is alcohol free.   

In acute cases use 2 sprays per dose orally at 15-minute intervals for up to 6 doses then 3 times a day as required.   For chronic cases use 2 sprays per dose orally 3 times a day as required.  Colimed Relief contains homoeopathic potencies of Bryonia, Carbo Veg, Colocynthis and Magnesium Phos. 

Castor Oil packs or wraps have gained popularity recently with posts having been on Instagram, Tik Tok and YouTube, so we thought this month we would write an article about it. 

Castor oil packs have been used as a natural remedy to promote healing, improve circulation and reduce inflammation for thousands of years. In fact, the use of applying castor oil to the body topically can be traced back to medical textbooks in Egypt as early as 1550 B.C. and is now regarded by naturopaths around the world as a very effective tool for liver detox. 

Castor Oil Packs work by stimulating your lymph and liver function by increasing your lymphocyte count, which then allows the body to speed up the process of removing toxins from your tissues.  The essential fatty acids, in particular the ricinoleic acid that castor oil contains, encourages movement of chemical energy within the body, resulting in a detoxifying effect. Castor oil also contains all the colours of the spectrum and colour & light are crucial to energy production and movement within the body. 

It has been reported that castor oil packing has many benefits to health.  Some of the health benefits include: more effective elimination of waste, reduction of nausea, pain relief, improved digestion, reduced inflammation, increased relaxation, and immune enhancing benefits.  For a comprehensive list of benefits see Mary Kate Gowdy's blog attached below.  

Castor oil packs shouldn’t be used in pregnancy as you do not want to create a cleanse when someone is pregnant. Not to used if you are lactating or menstruating either. If you have sensitive skin it would be advisable to do a patch test before commencing. 

You should also make sure that you are moving your bowels well when doing castor oil packs to ensure that whatever you are shifting is actually exiting the body.  For that very reason it is often advised to do them together with enemas. They can also be used on other parts of the body but you must ensure you pack your liver at the same time and, as mentioned above, that you are using something to ensure that waste leaves the body. 

Castor Oil Packs are basically a super cleanse for your body. As they support and encourage your body’s natural ability to detox and heal itself. 

How to Do A Castor Oil Pack for Liver Detox 

Use a high-quality Castor Oil (organic, cold-pressed, 100% hexane free) stored in glass bottles. Get an unbleached and dye-free wool or cotton flannel (or an old towel/flannel shirt that has been washed in a toxin-free detergent many times as a last resort). 

Take your castor oil packing material and fold into several layers. 

Drizzle the castor oil over the cloth – it needs to be wet (but not dripping) – you can aid this process by rubbing the cloth together on itself to spread the castor oil around more thoroughly. 

Place the castor oil pack over the liver (located on the right side, underneath the right side of the rib cage)

Cover with plastic to prevent leakage, place a hot water bottle or heated wheat bag (put an old towel or pillowcase between/around the heating pad for protection from the oil even a trash bag or saran wrap as a last resort)  over the top of that area to warm the oil – this assists its uptake by the liver via the skin.  Then place a big old sheet or towel over it and fasten securely.  Wear some old clothes over the top as it is very greasy and will probably stain your clothes / bed sheets and is very difficult to get out of fabric. 

Because it can create a lot of elimination it is wise to start by packing for just 15 minutes 3 consecutive days in a week.  Find a comfortable place to relax preferably with your legs elevated comfortably and don't forget to protect the area you lie or sit from the oil. 

The next week you can increase this to 30 minutes if you are reacting ok, 45 minutes the week after, and so on in 15 minute intervals until you are up to 1 ½ hours for 3 consecutive days a week. 

Because they are very calming they should ideally be used in the evenings, but this is not essential – whatever fits your lifestyle. 

When time is up, gently remove the heating pad and flannel and rub in the excess castor oil if going to sleep. If moving on with your day, wear an old shirt or wipe the excess castor oil off with warm water (can use soap or baking soda for better cleanup). Authors of various referenced articles recommend that a castor oil pack treatment would be followed by a water enema the next morning if possible to ensure that whatever is being released is being fully exited from the body.  Walter Last recommends taking 1 tablespoon of olive oil after a treatment before bed to induce the gallbladder to empty. 

The oil-soaked flannel can be stored in a glass container with a lid, and kept in the fridge between uses. and reused for 30-40 times (i.e. around 2-3 months) before the cloth needs to be discarded and a new pack made – if you keep it longer the oil may start to go rancid.   

Make sure to wash towels/clothes used during your castor oil pack session separately. Never put your actual castor oil pack through the wash.  

Ref: This article is made up with excerpts from the following sites: 

https://www.healthybe.co.uk/castor-oil-pack

Mary Kate Gowdy, MS, CNS, LD  https://www.purelyrootednutrition.com/post/the-magic-of-castor-oil-packs 

For further reading on Castor Oil Packs  

 -Heal Yourself by Walter Last 

 - The Oil that Heals by William A McGarey 

Decadent Chocolate & Black Bean Protein Brownie

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180° and line an 8X8 baking tray with baking paper
2. Place beans in food processor or high-power blender and pulse; add coconut oil/almond butter, eggs, maple syrup, and vanilla and pulse to mix together.
3. Add in Mitchells Chocolate BB Protein Powder, cacao, baking powder, and salt and pulse to combine. Remove blade from food processor and stir in chocolate chips by hand.
4. Pour batter into baking tray, using a spatula to smooth and even it out.
5. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until edges have hardened. Allow AT LEAST 20 minutes for brownies to cool before cutting and removing from pan.

Enjoy!

Nutritional Insights from the Mitchells Nutrition team

Often times people reach for sweets as a ‘pick-me-up’ or in response to emotional discomfort. Well, if its chocolate you’re reaching for, your body might just be reaching for the benefits of Pure Cacao. Unfortunately though, most chocolate products are more sugar than anything else AND contain cocoa rather than raw cacao. As a result you might get a little lift from the sugar, followed quickly by a crash, and overtime dysregulated blood sugars creating a vicious cycle. Cacao however, is packed full of nourishing goodies, one of those being a good dose of magnesium. Magnesium is needed for over 300 enzymatic reactions going on within the body, everyday and many of us are deficient. Think regulating the nervous system, proper energy production, regular bowel motions, contraction and relaxation of muscles, and so on! Cacao’s nutrient, mineral and phytochemical profile is the perfect addition to minimise flatness and fatigue and promote feelings of wellbeing, happiness, and contentment.

Black beans are a nutritionally dense dietary staple and hiding them in this brownie is a great way to dose up. They offer another 16g of protein to this recipe, as well as fibre, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. 

This recipe is refined sugar free, using only a little pure maple syrup and the monk fruit (Luo Han Kuo fruit) from the Bone Broth Protein Powder for its sweetness. Monk fruit is said to be up to 200 times sweeter than sugar and this unique sweetness is a result of a natural compound, mogrosides. With no refined sugar and plenty of protein, you can expect all the deliciousness without the blood sugar dysregulation!  

Between the 1/2 cup of Bone Broth Protein Powder, 2 eggs, and 1 can of black beans, this recipe contains approximately 127g of protein! We cut it up into about 12 squares, making for about 10g protein per serve!