Health & Herbal News Magazine

The Christmas issue (Volume 18 - Issue 6, 2008)
Fresh New Look!

Editorial...

Here we go head-long into the “silly season”. This time of year means many things to many people, summer, BBQs, presents, holidays, celebrating the birth of Christ, friends and family and new beginnings to name but a few. Whatever this time of year means to you, I hope it is filled with love, laughter and lashings of good health.

They say a change is as good as a rest. Well, here’s hoping that the new Government blows a fresh change through our failing, multi billion dollar health system and with it abandons once and for all the disastrous and bureaucratic proposed trans Tasman therapeutic products agency.

Whilst Labour were like a dog with a bone about the proposed ANZTPA Bill, many citizens and natural health industry members believed it was one of the worst things that could happen to health in this country. National leader John Keys promised the abandonment of the ANZTPA Bill and a fair hearing to the industry proposal for a pioneering, equitable and separate (not managed by the drug regulators) natural health product regulation agency. The Natural Health Products Bill is ready, so we wait to see what National think of it and the people they have been charged with governing – we can only hope they care enough to look towards adopting strategies that will ensure a healthier future, rather than spending more money for nothing on a health system in turmoil.

A friend of mine shared a quote with me recently, he said:

“You can’t direct the wind, but you can adjust your sails”.

It’s a pertinent sentiment for this point in our nation’s and indeed the world’s history. We’ve all started doing our bit for the health and wellbeing of the environment, but we also need to change our thinking about our own health. Many think of health as the absence of disease, yet it should be so much more – how about having boundless energy, a clear mind and sharp memory and looking and feeling 50 on your 80th birthday. Many think of the health system as being responsible for treating disease – what about disease prevention, by that I mean real disease prevention, not pretending to care whilst allowing thousands to die as a result of asking the health system for help.

Read on to find out how to get in shape, protect yourself from the ravages of overindulging these holidays and helping direct your state of health down the path of disease prevention and optimum wellbeing.

Be well, be healthy and enjoy