Dr Libby’s Summer Dahl

Artemis Kids ViroGone offers your first line of defence against back-to-school bugs.

You don’t have to wait until winter to enjoy this lovely light dhal. I always encourage my patients with digestive complaints to consider incorporating more slow-cooked foods like this. It can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 1 month. Serves 4 / 15min prep time + 25min cooking time

1 cup split mung dhal or red lentils

2 teaspoons extra virgin coconut oil

1 tablespoon grated fresh red turmeric or

1 teaspoon ground turmeric

1 tablespoon grated ginger

1 teaspoon fennel seeds

1 cinnamon stick

1 brown onion, chopped

1 litre water

300 grams broccoli, chopped into small florets

2 zucchini, grated

50 grams baby spinach leaves

1 tablespoon freshly squeezed

lemon juice

1 tablespoon ghee sea salt

2 tablespoons coriander leaves

Place the dhal or lentils, coconut oil, turmeric, ginger, fennel seeds, cinnamon stick, onion and water in a pan. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes.

Add the broccoli and zucchini and cook for 10 minutes, or until the dhal is very soft and creamy and most of the water has been absorbed. Remove from the heat and discard the cinnamon stick. Stir in the spinach, lemon juice and ghee, then cover and stand for 5 minutes, or until the spinach has wilted. Season to taste with salt. Serve topped with coriander.

Recently I was contacted by a mum seeking some natural support for her toddler, who had succumbed to the inevitable preschool germs. All parents know how upsetting and exhausting it is dealing with an unwell child, especially when the sufferer has limited ways of communicating their discomfort. An unhappy, poorly little person can unsettle the whole family.

Unfortunately, ills and chills are an unavoidable part of growing up, and they serve an important purpose, challenging the immune system and strengthening the child’s defence mechanisms, which leads to a healthier childhood overall.

However, while these immune challenges are unavoidable, that doesn’t mean there is nothing you can do. Supporting your child’s immune system can be a good insurance when the inevitable happens.

With the new school term just around the corner, it’s a good time to think about how you can support your child’s health to both support their defences, and to support recovery if they do succumb. Here are some tips:

• Make sure they are getting enough sleep, as sleep deprivation lowers the immune system’s defences.

• Get them outside to exercise; exposure to the sun is important for Vitamin D.

• Reinforce handwashing until it is an ingrained habit.

• Provide a wide variety of foods to ensure they have the right nutrients to heal.

• Support your child’s defence and healing processes with traditional plant therapy so they are more resilient, and bounce back quickly. Herbs that aid Health scientist Dr Sandra Clair is one of New Zealand’s most highly qualified registered medical herbalists, a medical anthropologist (M.A.) and the founder of traditional plant remedies company Artemis. your child’s natural defences include echinacea, thyme and elderflower. Echinacea is an extensively researched and utilised plant remedy for immune system support, and it is very well tolerated. It not only supports the immune system, but also acts in a variety of ways to support recovery. Thyme is rich in antioxidants and antiseptics. These act as the plant’s natural defence system, helping it to survive in the harshest conditions. These same constituents make thyme an ally for our bodies, supporting respiratory tract health in little ones.

Elder used to be known as “the medicine chest of the country people”, testament to its wide use. Elderflower is particularly useful for supporting the body to expel excess mucus.

The combined supportive power of these three herbs saw Artemis ViroGone named the winner of the Immune category in the Good Best of Natural Awards 2020, and Artemis Kids ViroGone has proved a hit with parents. As with all Artemis children’s products, Kids ViroGone is formulated for the specific needs of children, with safety and efficacy paramount. It also tastes great, is free from artificial colours, flavours, sweeteners and preservatives, and, with the option of a convenient spray format, is easy to administer, even to the littlies.

As you wave your child good-bye on the first day of the term, you can feel confident that the combination of good sleep and hygiene habits, ample nutrients and targeted plant power will be supporting a strong defence system in the battle against the bugs!