Posted in Cancer

If you are a patient at MIOG, the word inflammation will not be new to you. Whether we are talking about an anti-inflammatory diet, anti-inflammatory herbs (hello curumin!) and nutrients, or pro-inflammatory foods. But what is inflammation and why is it so important? What is inflammation? In very basic terms, inflammation is the immune system's response to an irritant. Ever had red eyes and irritation from hayfever, or hives form a food allergy? Whether an allergen, a cut or splinter,...

What is Fibre? Fibre is the part of plant-based foods that mostly pass through your digestive system, without breaking down or being digested. Did you know that there are 2 types of fibre: Soluble and Insoluble. Most plants contain both soluble and insoluble fibre, but in different amounts. Soluble fibre Soluble fibre dissolves in water and forms more of a gel like consistency, creating a soothing effect on your digestion as it coats your gut lining, and it also binds to toxins linger...

Medicinal Mushrooms - A Crash Course If you are patient at MIOG, you may have been prescribed medicinal mushrooms in some form or another.  Whether they are mixed up in your liquid herb mix, given in a powdered supplement, a tablet or capsule, or maybe they have been prescribed in your food as medicine plan. Some way or another, we generally try to get more mushrooms in to you. But why?   What are medicinal mushrooms? Medicinal mushrooms have been used for hundreds of year...

Hello, my name is Kate Caine. I've been a patient at MIOG as part of my treatment for breast cancer. In my regular world, I am an Osteopath with my own practice here in Melbourne. I have also been a Medical Scientist and Lecturer to student Osteopaths and Massage Therapists. I've been used to making a diagnosis for my patients and guiding their recoveries but recently, I've had to sit on the other side of the desk and receive a diagnosis myself. And then listen to others...

The traditional notion of resting your body to overcome cancer treatment related fatigue has been debunked a long while ago now. Instead the research is heavily supportive of exercise and movement. Research shows that moving your body during and after cancer treatment can help with: Improved mood Improved physical function Improved strength and muscle mass Improved quality of life Improved cardiovascular fitness Improved fatigue And most importantly reduce the...

If you have ever come in for a consultation here at MIOG, you will have heard our Naturopaths and Nutritionists talk about Brassicas. This humble family of vegetables is of particular interest in the Integrative Oncology world, as they contain valuable little plant compounds that have an incredible benefit for health. "Brassicas are also known as Cruciferous Vegetables, as they grow in the shape of a cross. Turn over a cauliflower or brussel sprout and have a look at the leaf formati...