FW: WDDTY e-News Broadcast - 13 September 2005

[Guest guest]

WHAT DOCTORS DON’T TELL YOU - E-NEWS BROADCAST No. 189 - 13 September 2005

CONTENTS

Your thoughts and suggestions on:

Meniere’s disease

Haemorrhoids and rhinitis

Fingernail ridges

Urinary tract infections

Gastritis

And your further thoughts on:

Scar tissue

Head lice

Dupuytren’s contracture

Myeloma and chemotherapy

Readers' health queries:

Granuloma annulare

Bursitis

Dental cavities

Disrupted sleep

Peripheral neuropathy

Sensitive teeth

Excess head perspiration

Your thoughts and suggestions on. . .

Meniere’s disease: This is characterised by dizziness, vertigo, ear

pressure, tinnitus and low frequency hearing loss. A woman inquires for her

friend, who has suffered with this disease for almost 6 years, and the

attacks are becoming more frequent. She has been told there is no cure, but

is searching for a better way to manage the disease. Does anyone have

suggestions? Try gingko biloba, Pycnogenol, or grape seed extract. Also make

sure you aren't taking any medication that could exacerbate the situation.

Watch your diet and steer clear of any white flour, white sugar, or other

foods with a high glycaemic index. They would also contribute to the

condition. And eat foods with a longer sustained generation of energy, like

whole grain pasta or brown rice. Avoid MSG (often found in Chinese food, but

also in many canned soups). One woman found that eliminating dairy –

minimising mucous production – reduced the severity of symptoms. When she

feels that the condition is acting up, she avoids situations where she might

get excited, nervous, stressed, etc., and has plenty of early nights. It all

sounds very boring, she says, but it needn't be; it’s a good time to do all

the little things that one doesn't normally have time for. Hopi ear candles

are recommended to help with dizziness and inner ear problems. Gentle

massage of the neck and shoulders with strong alcohol mixed with any cooking

oil may also help. Apply the mix and rub both sides of the spine gently.

Massage the area with the side of your thumbs beside the spine, in an inward

rotation starting at the base of the hair and finishing at the middle of the

back. Then ask the person to drop their neck down and slowly bring it back

as far as is comfortable; do this about 4 times. Change to massage the top

of the shoulders while the head turns comfortably left and right 4 times.

Then ask them to raise one hand and swing it hard downward without stopping

it deliberately behind their back, doing this 3 times with both arms; the

worst arm might benefit from holding a tin of beans as extra weight. The

first swing may hurt a little but afterwards there should be no pain.

Alternatively, a craniosacral therapist, osteopath or chiropractic

neurologist can do wonders for sufferers. One woman who was diagnosed in

1992 -and has been plagued by frequent nausea, vomiting and dizziness -said

that her symptoms have decreased significantly since she’s been seeing a

chiropractic neurologist trained by the Carrick Institute.

Haemorrhoids and rhinitis: A reader’s sister, in her forties, has recently

been suffering from piles. She also has chronic rhinitis (dust, strong

perfumes and some chemicals make her sneeze immediately), and the

combination of the two is making her depressed. It might be a coincidence,

but the two problems first occurred around the same time. A consultant has

suggested a CAT scan, a strong dose of antibiotics and steroid treatment for

6 weeks, which she thinks is too heavy-handed. Could the conditions be

related? What alternative treatments will help? Haemorrhoids can be aided by

taking gingko or butcher's broom (herbs). She should use aloe vera and witch

hazel as external skin soothers (which she may want to apply with baby wipes

or similar towelettes). Sitz baths or regular baths in lukewarm (not too

hot) water are definitely helpful. When sitting, she should use a soft

cushion - one with gel inside, or a wedge cut out for the spine is even

better. Moderate exercise is helpful, and advise her to keep " that area " as

clean and dry as possible (she may even want to use a hair dryer on the cool

setting for drying). She can also detoxify with NDF+ if appropriate, at her

own tolerance, to a level of 60 drops/day. In the interim, she can use

commercially available herbal suppositories made with cocoa butter. For the

next 6 months or so, she’ll want to adhere to a macrobiotic diet, and

supplement this with fresh flax seed (both morning and evening). With

rhinitis, she has many healthful choices. Supplements like quercetin (found

in apples and onions) and bee pollen can help. A neti pot to clean out the

nasal area is also a good idea; she should use something mild like salt

water. Stinging nettle is another helpful supplement. And get her a good

HEPA filter, which she can easily replace when needed. For depression she

should increase her intake of Omega-3 oils, and try St. 's Wort (with

this, limit her sun exposure and check if it causes any nerve tingling).

Hold off on the antibiotics and steroids; if she needs a natural antibiotic,

use grapefruit seed or olive leaf extract. Honey is another good one. And if

all these are not enough, maybe her employer can be convinced to get a HEPA

filter, or adopt a policy to limit fragrance usage (in a gentle,

non-coercive way of course). One woman countered her rhinitis by

transferring from cow to goat's milk; it comes back any time she’s on

holiday and eats cow products. Goat's milk, cheese, butter and cream are

available from Sainsbury's and Waitrose - and soy milk is fine for most

cooking as long as she gets an unflavoured one.

Fingernail ridges: This woman has ridges on her fingernails, running from

the tip to the cuticle. She takes vitamins, minerals and other supplements.

It isn’t a huge problem, but she often wonders what causes this – could it

be a symptom of something else? Is there something amiss in her diet? A

woman wrote in to say her husband had this for many years, spreading from

his thumbs to his index finger. After seeing various doctors and having

samples taken to check for fungal infections, it was finally diagnosed as a

yeast infection and he was prescribed Daktarin cream. What happens is that

the cuticle usually comes away from the nail and allows water to enter, a

lovely breeding ground for various bugs. The cream takes at least 3 months

to counter this. It’s a good idea to cut down on yeast intake and try other

anti-yeast herbal treatments; her husband had always found that beer and

wine made him very ill after only a couple of glasses. Other readers

hypothesise that vertical ridges can be caused by poor nutrient absorption,

but also could be a sign of a tendency to develop arthritis. Still more say

it often indicates deficiency in magnesium, digestive problems - such as gas

bloating and flatulence - and hypothyroidism. Try some healthy organic or

natural gelatine, or horsetail (which contains silica) is another option.

Maybe some sunshine and hand exercises might have some benefit, and make

sure you aren't wearing any overly restrictive gloves.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs): A 24-year-old woman has recurrent UTIs (one

approximately every 4 weeks). Prophylactic antibiotics and cranberry juice

have not helped. Dip testing of her urine always shows leucocytes. What

advice can readers offer? This condition responds well to propolis tincture,

an effective natural antibiotic, anti-inflammatory and immune system

enhancer in the treatment of cystitis and candida. Make sure you get enough

potassium. Sugar plays a role, so this must be avoided. Also avoid white

wine, prescription antibiotics and nitrates (have your drinking water tested

for these) and take a good acidophilus supplement. A strict macrobiotic diet

is recommended – including lots of greens – but avoid starchy foods like

brown rice. Dump the " refined " and processed foods in favour of more whole

raw " living " foods. Other than water to flush the area, drink only

unsweetened cranberry juice (Lamberts produce a powder to be diluted in

water) or try eating the whole cranberries, since many juices are laden with

unnecessary sugar. Garlic is a good natural antibiotic – either raw or in a

high-dose tablet/capsule - so there's another option. Hot baths can help

with the pain and witch hazel can be applied when particularly sore.

Lavender essential oil and tea tree essential oil are soothing in baths.

Always wash the genital area carefully prior to sex, insisting your partner

is also very clean beforehand. In addition, it’s important to always urinate

within 10 minutes following intercourse. This acts as a sort of flush for

any bacteria that may have been introduced to the area. UTIs can be

associated with the spermicidal gel on many condoms. This can be a

persistent problem for some women and may necessitate a change in the type

of condom used or even a rethink of contraceptive measures.

Gastritis: A 30-year-old man has recently been diagnosed with gastritis, or

stomach inflammation. He’s never had stomach problems before and the antacid

he’s been prescribed (Lanzoprazil) takes 48 hours to kick in. What else can

he do to manage this condition? With gastritis, chamomile is a great stomach

soother. Peppermint tea is good as well. Slippery elm may also have

benefits, and make sure you are getting enough digestive enzymes. Try this

recipe for a slippery elm smoothie: blend 2 cups low fat organic soy milk,

soft fruit (in season), and 2 teaspoons slippery elm powder. Drink 2-3 times

daily to help heal the gastric mucosa. But sometimes it's just as simple as

eating a papaya with your other foods (as some natives do). Remember, many

of the pharmaceuticals designed to reduce acid are just reducing your

ability to digest foods. So if you take them, the food may pass down

undigested, potentially causing pneumonia down the road. Ginger is another

helpful herb for stomach problems, and glutamine is a supplement that may be

of assistance. Deglycyrrhizinated Liquorice Root Extract (DGL) was also

suggested, as were herbal tinctures containing chamomile, liquorice,

marshmallow, Echinacea and goldenseal.

LET WHAT DOCTORS ANSWER YOUR HEALTH WORRIES

Did you know that the 15 years of research of What Doctors Don't Tell You is

just a phone call away? We offer a special telephone enquiry service for

anyone with a health worry. It's called Searcher, and part of the service is

a full printout of our research. To find out more, click on this link:

http://www.wddty.co.uk/shop/searcher.asp

Your further thoughts on. . .

Scar tissue: For the past decade, this woman has been suffering from scar

tissue in the abdominal area. She has already had two surgeries to remove

scar tissue, which, needless to say, have only caused further scar tissue.

She suffers a lot of pain from the scarring. Does anyone have any

suggestions for her? Mosqueta Oil, from a wild south American rose, is

rich in EFA (essential fatty acids) - it has been used a lot with premature

ageing and burn scars. Try applying it twice daily. The homeopathic remedy

Bellis perennis is excellent for abdominal wounds/surgery and will heal the

resultant scar tissue, as Staphysagria will heal incised wounds. Another

very good one is Thiosinaminum-rhodallin (oil of mustard seed), which

dissolves scar tissue. Take in a low potency such as 30x daily until

improvement (order from Ainsworths or Helios homeopathic pharmacies). For

internal scarring, craniosacral therapy could be considered, as it releases

internal tensions and stresses to 'release' the tissue and relieve the

symptoms. Abdominal stretch marks and sagging have been successfully treated

using a product called Roll-Cit from Environ, which includes vitamins A and

C. Alternatively, the old Edgar Cayce remedy for scar removal is massage

with warmed olive oil and tincture of myrrh - ideally with camphorated oil.

Head lice: A woman writes in to say that her 7-year-old son has head lice;

as his hair is very short, it’s easy to comb through. She’s also treating

herself, however, and she’s got very thick, shoulder-length hair. It’s hard

to get the nit comb through all the hair. What’s out there that works?

First of all, buy some cheap vinegar and vegetable oil - a big bottle of

each. Then douse the hair with the vinegar, paying attention to the areas at

the back of the neck and ears. Leave for a while and then use a nit comb.

The vinegar dissolves the glue by which the nits cling to the hair. This

glue is very strong so washing won't get rid of it. If you don't get rid of

the nits you will always have head lice. When you have done that, pour the

cheap vegetable oil over your hair. Use all the oil you have. Repeat using

the drained-off oil. This drowns the lice. Leave the oil on your hair for as

long as you can. It's a messy business, especially for long hair, but it

works and it is free from chemical poisons. Another parent found that the

following worked very well: Shampoo the hair with tea tree shampoo, then do

a second shampooing with tea tree shampoo to which you have added 15 drops

of tea tree oil. Comb through the hair with the shampoo still in, and leave

on for a further 10 minutes before rinsing. Repeat this procedure every

second night for a week, while at the same time changing pillowcases making

sure everyone else in the house is free of lice. Aloe vera rubbed into the

scalp also works, as does frequent application of olive oil, lavender

essential oil and tea tree oil. For a homeopathic remedy, try Staphysagria.

Dupuytren’s contracture: A 53-year-old musician was recently diagnosed with

Dupuytren’s contracture, an abnormal thickening of tough tissue in the palm

and fingers that causes the fingers to curl. It is affecting the little

finger on his left hand. He also has Peyronie’s disease, a hard lump or scar

tissue that forms on the penis. The two conditions are often related. Can

anyone recommend natural treatments for these conditions? Try a homeopathic

dose of Causticum in a 6c or 30c potency. One woman reports that neo magnets

placed on her husband's hand at night has eased his hand out considerably –

it is not straight yet, but it’s certainly lots better.

Myeloma and chemotherapy: A woman has been diagnosed with myeloma and is

still waiting for skeletal x-ray and bone marrow test results. Can anyone

recommend anything to help counteract the side effects of chemotherapy

(which she is starting soon) and to help boost her immune system? According

to one homeopath, the most needed homeopathic remedies for chemotherapy

patients are Cadmium sulphuricum, Nux vomica and Suphur. In case of severe

vomiting, Ipecacuanha is called for. Reiki can be useful as well; doubters

are instructed to read the book “NHS Healer.” A reflexologist has also had

success treating chemotherapy patients. In one case, a patient did not have

any infections during the months of his treatment due to the resulting boost

to his immune system. The reflexology also helped to reduce the feelings of

nausea and to increase energy levels. The relaxation experienced during the

treatment sessions played an important part in helping the client cope with

the stress associated with his diagnosis and treatment. Finally, there was

some good research done in a Belfast hospital a few years ago using

acupuncture (and electro-acupuncture) on some points on the arm with

positive results.

WDDTY READERS' HEALTH QUERIES: Write in to WDDTY at e-news@... with

any health queries you may have, whether it's ways to tackle a nasty ingrown

toenail or alternative therapies to help children with attention deficit

disorder. We'll post them on Readers' Broadcast, inviting helpful hints,

suggestions and comments from other readers, and then write up their

responses the following week. Remember, a problem shared is a problem

halved. Note: Due to the sizeable influx of queries we get each week, it may

not always be possible to post your question in the next Reader's Broadcast.

However, it will emerge through the backlog at some point and we will try to

post them in a future edition. So please be patient and keep an eye out!

Readers' health queries. . .

Granuloma annulare: A woman has suffered from this non-itching rash for 10

years. It is on her stomach, hips, legs and the insides of her arms. She has

been prescribed Betnovate cream (a corticosteroid), which is not helping.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Bursitis: A 35-year-old woman has had bursitis of the elbow for two or three

years now. Over that period, her elbows slowly became inflamed and painful,

probably as a result of the strenuous exercise she was doing. Unfortunately

there doesn’t seem to be much help with this problem. She has tried soothing

the area with ice and currently takes cod liver oil, green-lipped mussel

extract and Glucosamine Hydrochloride, but it seems to take a lot of rest to

clear the condition. Can readers offer further advice?

Dental cavities: A man is concerned about his 8-year-old son’s cavities. He

limits his son’s intake of sweets and has successfully encouraged drinking

water as opposed to juices and sodas. His dentist, however, says that the

boy’s problems are a direct result of his refusal to use fluoride

toothpaste. She even said that if he continues to refuse his son fluoride

toothpaste, the necessary fillings will not be covered by the NHS treatment

scheme. He has relented slightly agreed to use the tooth mousse - which is

meant to re-mineralise the tooth - but which also contains saccharin (and

who knows what else)! His homeopath says there aren’t any remedies to

replace actual work on the teeth. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Disrupted sleep: This man doesn’t find it hard to get to sleep, but

invariably wakes up at least once every night. Though he can get back to

sleep, he feels he doesn’t get a deep and restful sleep, even if he has an

unusual 6- or 7-hour stretch. He has a busy mind, and busy and tiring

dreams. He is looking for a way to turn his mind off so as to allow deep

sleep. Can readers offer suggestions?

Peripheral neuropathy: A man has suffered from this condition in his toes

and feet - characterised by tingling and numbness, burning, throbbing, and

shooting pain – for some months now. What can he do to combat this?

Sensitive teeth: Can anyone suggest a natural, chemical-free remedy for

sensitive teeth?

Excess head perspiration: A woman suffers from excess head perspiration. She

keeps her hair very short but it drips down her forehead, the sides of her

face, behind her ears and down the back of her neck. She feels exhausted,

possibly because of the loss of body fluids. What can she do about this?

GIVE YOUR FELLOW READERS A HELPING HAND: If you have tips or suggestions

that you think may be useful for any of the readers' health queries, send

them to us by simply clicking on the " reply " option of your browser (as you

would when replying to a normal email).

mailto:e-news@...

[Guest guest]

I want to thank you for forwarding these all the time and I have finally

taken the time to subscribe for myself! I had over 1488 saved messages as I

cannot file them and I deleted ALL last night except these emails and the

Green Guide and Randall's newsletters. I am hoping one day to be able to

file these (if I ever get my Outlook Express back).

Laurie