FW: WDDTY e-News Broadcast - 30 May 2006

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WHAT DOCTORS DON'T TELL YOU READERS' BROADCAST - E-news broadcast. 261 -

30 May 2006

News content

Cold sores

Anxiety attacks

Excessive perspiration

Fibroids

Your further thoughts on:

Arthritis/ cartilage and bone problems

Receding gums and bone loss

Group B streptococcus

Incontinence

Stretch marks

Pemphigus

Readers' health queries:

Viral attack

White tongue

Early menopause

Skin cancer

Your thoughts and suggestions on. . .

Cold sores: A reader writes on behalf of a 41-year old friend who suffers

from constant cold sores on her lips and nose. Last year she followed a

homeopathic remedy that helped her for many months. However, now she does

not have access to the same doctor and the sores have returned. They are

worse during her periods. She is now on antibiotics but this has not helped

so far. She also tried Moxa sticks to no effect. Have readers any good

ideas – especially for an instant effect? She claims to eat well but doesn’

t take any supplements.

Several readers extol the virtues of the amino acid L-lysine for cold sores.

Lyn takes two 500 g tablets three times a day whenever she feels the first

tingles of a cold sore forming. When the sore starts improving she reduces

the dose to two tablets twice a day, and then to one tablet twice a day.

Once all symptoms have gone, she continues with one L-lysine tablet daily

for about a week. Lyn also suggests avoiding chocolate, as, in her

experience, this appears to aggravate cold sores. This may be due to the

high arginine (another amino acid) content, she says. agrees,

pointing out that beans, lentils and nuts are also rich in arginine and

should therefore be avoided. Apparently, the herpes virus uses arginine to

grow and replicate while lysine inhibits the virus's ability to replicate

itself.

Topical application of lysine may also be effective. One reader recommends

a lysine lip salve.

Larry used to suffer from cold sores and found out they were caused by too

much salt intake and too little water intake. So adjust your diet and drink

as much water as possible, he advises. Vitamin C, B5 and zinc may also

help.

According to Kim, the best thing for cold sores is aloe vera. However, it

must be the real plant that you use and not an aloe vera product: “Just snap

off a bit of leaf and squeeze a bit of the gel on the cold sore. It works

like a miracle!”

Another suggestion is to use a propolis stick. Apparently, scores of these

are sold due to their great reputation for clearing up cold sores quickly.

Have a look on the web for stockists.

Regular contributor Sue says cold sores needn’t be a problem at all. Sue

has never had a full-blown cold sore because the minute she starts to feel

an itch or tingling around the mouth, she slaps on some Vicks VapoRub. She

admits the taste is horrible, but the remedy has worked for both her and her

partner for years. Make sure you apply the ointment liberally, as often as

you remember, she says.

Other suggested topical agents include tea tree oil, essential oil of

, Olive Leaf Extract, geranium oil, and a combination of H2O2 (3 per

cent) and niaouli oil. Putting an ice cube on your lip when you get the

first tingle may also work.

Finally, a couple of readers recommend Virulite, a battery operated device

that uses “invisible light treatment” to eliminate cold sores. According to

the manufacturers, it’s clinically proven to be more effective than cold

sore creams. Judge for yourself by visiting the website:

http://www.vcs.eu.com.

Anxiety attacks: Can any readers advise this woman’s 51-year-old friend from

South Africa? She suffers from severe anxiety attacks and has been taking

Fluoxetine (650 mg) and Limictin (350 mg), daily for years. She feels she

can’t do without them but her friend is worried about potential side

effects. Are there any natural remedies out there?

Psychotherapist Tony explains that anxiety or panic attacks are a natural,

psychological, emotional reaction to a feared stimulus, which are formed and

stored as a neural pattern in the brain. “When the stimulus, or something

like the stimulus, is repeated, further pattern matches layer upon each

other with the effect that the anxiety reaction gets worse. The problem is

that these patterns are stuck in the emotional brain, and no matter how

logically they are explained and rationalised, they can remain stuck.” The

natural solution, he says, lies in disassociating the emotion from the stuck

memory, and this can be done effectively and quickly by techniques used in

the trance state, or hypnosis. Medication simply suppresses the anxiety,

and does not cure it. For more advice and information see

www.whostressed.co.uk.

According to Tricia, a brilliant drug-free solution for anxiety attacks is

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). It’s like acupuncture, but instead of

using needles it works by stimulating well-established energy meridian

points on the body by tapping them with your fingertips. There’s lots of

free information on the Internet, she says.

Homeopath Jane has successfully treated anxiety/panic attacks with Aconite.

A high potency such as 200c or 1M is wonderful, she says.

Alternatively, you could try a heavy metal detox, as recommended by a

chiropractor and kinesiologist. “Removing the mercury from the brain

enables normal brain chemistry to resume and significantly reduces anxiety.”

The other way, he says, is to correct imbalances at the top of the neck and

remove tension from the nervous system.

Many of his patients report increased happiness, better sleep and less

anxiety with this method.

One reader writes in to say you have good cause to be worried about the side

effects of the meds. He’s not heard of Limictin, but knows that Fluoxetine

is more commonly known as Prozac, whose side effects include sexual

dysfunction, nervousness, insomnia and ironically, anxiety! Also, the common

dosage is 20 to 60 mg, he says. Taking 650 mg cannot be justified under any

circumstances.

He advises your friend to resolve the causes of the attacks rather than

treat the symptoms. This can be done by seeing a holistic hypnotherapist.

She should then be able to wean herself off the drugs.

, however, reckons that anyone suffering from anxiety attacks can

address the problem on their own. She suffered terribly from anxiety

attacks for years, until she realised the attacks were not to be feared, but

to be welcomed: “What I discovered was that they had first started when I

had, out of pride, betrayed my true self, pretending that a situation I was

in was absolutely fine, when in fact it wasn’t. My attacks came as a result

of me lying to myself. Now, if ever I get a little flutter of an imminent

attack, I stop whatever I am doing and search for the lie that I am about to

live/say/feel and there is always one there, hiding. The moment I get out of

denial and into recognising the truth, the attack dissolves – every time.”

Perhaps your friend should take a look at her life and assess whether there

are any areas in which she is not being true to herself, suggests.

Another approach is to make a few simple changes to your lifestyle.

Anne-Marie, who has suffered from panic attacks for the past year, now makes

sure she finds the time to relax and tries not to get too stressed out. She

notes that a person’s thought patterns play a key role in panic attacks, so

she tries not to worry about things. She’s also taken up Tai Chi, which is

supposedly good for breathing difficulties that come with anxiety attacks,

and is supplementing with B vitamins and essential fatty acids – prescribed

by her nutritionist. In addition, she’s started Cognitive Behavioural

Therapy through her GP. These small changes have helped her immensely.

Excessive perspiration: This woman sweats profusely even after light

exercise and she is desperate for a solution before the warm weather hits.

She’s tried PitRok spray deodorant, along with many others, but none have

helped. She thinks she’s had the problem since giving birth nearly six

years ago, which suggests hormone involvement. She’s fed up with this

embarrassing problem. Can anyone help?

Several readers believe that excessive sweating may indicate thyroid

problems. Kim says that the thyroid gland is the body’s thermostat and it

is not uncommon for problems to occur after giving birth. Diane recommends

you consult a herbalist, while Elaine suggests drinking sage tea to regulate

sweating. Applying 2-4 drops of sage essential oil (diluted with massage

oil or olive oil) under the arms daily may also help.

Finally, Shirley would not be without her Mitchum antiperspirant.

Fibroids: This reader would appreciate any suggestions for relieving

fibroids. She’s had these in the base of her stomach area for the past few

years, despite following a very healthy diet and never drinking alcohol or

coffee. The fibroids did diminish for a while but are enlarging again.

They interfere severely with digestion, creating constipation, and when this

happens she cannot pull in her tummy. This in turn is causing a curvature

of her spine, and overall it’s making her depressed. Her energy is

depleting and she is constantly bloated and stiff. In addition, she cannot

lose weight. Do readers have any suggestions?

According to a trainee naturopathic nutritionist, fibroids are “the liver's

way of safely dumping toxins, by containing them in one tissue mass in one

place.” She recommends a liver detox along with several gallbladder flushes

and coffee enemas. A good nutritionist will be able to advise, she says.

Several readers suggest Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for this

condition. Get in touch with the Register of Chinese Herbalists (RCHM) if

you are interested. Acupuncture is another treatment that might be worth

looking into. Contact the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC).

Other natural suggestions include Scenar Therapy, a form of bio-energy

medicine, and Maya Abdominal Massage (see http://arvigomassage.com/).

However, one fibroid sufferer tried several non-invasive alternative

therapies (Chinese medicine, homeopathy, acupuncture) to no avail.

She decided to go for surgery and found a fantastic gynaecologist in New

York with a very positive attitude. His name is Dr. West – the author of

The Hysterectomy Hoax (Next Decade Inc, 2002). He removed every single

fibroid (18 in total) from her uterus without any problems. “Any other

surgeon would have removed my womb”, she says. “I have my life back, have

remained intact as a woman, and feel fantastic!”

Your further thoughts on…

Arthritis/ cartilage and bone problems: First up is a 47-year-old female who

’s always been active, supple and healthy…until now. She’s suddenly begun

to suffer with painful cartilage and bone problems. Collagen/glucosamine

supplements have been recommended to her, but as a strictly organic food

eater, she doesn’t like the idea of these being derived from possibly

dubious bovine and marine sources. Are there any alternatives out there and

what do vegetarian arthritics swear by?

One reader has been a tournament tennis player for over 60 years. In 1991

he was told he had a pre-arthritic condition and that he would be on an

anti-inflammatory for the rest of his life. He was advised not to play

tennis, cycle, run, or do most forms of exercise. He wasn’t keen on his

doctor’s recommendations so he took matters into his own hands. He

increased his intake of alfalfa (Shaklee’s), along with calcium and

magnesium, and has since won the state championship in the 60+ doubles and

was placed third in the National Intersectional Championships. A very

encouraging story!

Jane has found a combination of acupuncture, Chinese herbs and Chondrocare

by Nutri (glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM & nutrients) has worked really well.

But also check with your doctor about whether it would be possible to have

Hyalgan injections (sodium hyaluronate), she advises. These can be injected

into the knee joint to 'buoy up' the cartilage and cushion the space in the

joint. Apparently, it’s a treatment that has been used since the mid-90's

with some success and few side effects. However, it is derived from chicken

combs.

Simone proposes the Bowen Technique for musculo-skeletal problems, while

Joan praises Bioflow magnetic devices.

For a veggie form of glucosamine, try Health Perception. This helped one

reader’s mother, who suffers from arthritis and spondylitis. She takes 1500

mg a day in two doses.

Other suggestions include OsteoTrace and MSM.

Receding gums and bone loss: This woman has successfully treated advanced

gum disease with goldenseal, Echinacea, calendula and myrrh. However, she

is trying to reverse bone loss and gum recession. Her dentist says her

condition is irreversible and she should have her teeth extracted. But she’

s read that hyaluronic acid, in a product called 'Gengigel', causes

connective tissue, especially the gums, to re-grow. Is it safe and does

anyone have any other suggestions?

One thing you could try is Tooth Soap. After using this fluoride free

product, Carol found her gums stopped bleeding and her teeth felt like they’

d been professionally cleaned. Neem toothpaste is another suggestion. On

the other hand, you could simply try chewing gum. Alan claims his gum

problems were solved this way. But avoid the sugar free types, he says, as

these are usually loaded with sweeteners.

Regarding Gengigel, Ann is slightly concerned that the product may contain

colouring. She uses Syno-Vital, which is 0.3 per cent hyaluronic acid.

Group B streptococcus: A reader who is currently 18 weeks pregnant with her

forth baby has been told (after having a vaginal swab taken at 14 weeks)

that she has group B streptococcus (GBS), a type of infection that causes

life-threatening infections in newborn babies. She’s been informed that the

only medical way to avoid her child getting this is to have intravenous (IV)

antibiotics throughout labour for a minimum of four hours. They may also

want to give IV antibiotics directly to the baby after the birth. The woman

is very concerned about the possible side effects of this and would welcome

any recommendations for safe, alternative methods of eliminating GBS.

One reader, a PhD candidate from the University of Newcastle, explains that

one of the most important factors in an overgrowth of bugs such as Strep B

is gut health. Gut health is notoriously affected during pregnancy,

particularly in the West with diets high in processed foods and sugar. She

suggests you reduce your sugar intake and start taking probiotics,

particularly the Lactobacillus Bifidus and Bulgaricus strains, and keep that

up until well after delivery. Apparently, the probiotics facilitate the

necessary increase in production of IgA, the antibody that keeps bugs like

Strep B at an acceptable level. This she’s learnt from direct personal

experience. She also points out that Strep B has become a huge problem,

precisely because of the overuse of antibiotics. One IV drug to watch out

for is Gentamicin, which is severely ototoxic, meaning that there is a very

real risk of it destroying your hearing and balance – perhaps even that of

the baby.

A midwife and complementary therapist suggests bathing once or twice a week

with 1-2 drops of lavender, bergamot, chamomile or geranium essential oils

added to the water. The essential oils will help maintain protection against

bacteria on the skin, she claims.

There is some thought that lavender could be unsafe during pregnancy,

especially if there has been a threat of miscarriage, but this midwife has

not found this to be the case.

Incontinence: A reader is in search of natural cures for incontinence as it’

s really getting her down. Can anyone out there help?

If a person is perimenopausal, or menopausal, says , the fluctuating

hormones can cause incontinence or make stress incontinence worse. If this

is the case, check that anything you are taking for hot flushes etc. (herbs

or hormones) is not making it worse. Black cohosh will exacerbate the

problem, as will oestrogen, she warns.

Stretch marks: A reader’s 13-year-old daughter has a large number of very

conspicuous purple stretch marks on her body (breasts, hips, thighs, behind

the knees) and is becoming increasingly distressed and self-conscious about

them. Her GP was surprised at their number and colour and carried out some

blood tests, none of which indicated any systemic problems. She’s tried

various creams to no avail. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to deal

with stretch marks, or does she just have to wait several years until they

fade?

Sally reckons this young girl may have Hypermobility Syndrome, where the

collagen fibres in the body are very elastic. “If she has very flexible

joints, faints readily, and has a high pain threshold, she may well have the

condition.” It is very under recognised and can cause problems if not known

about and understood, says Sally.

Still, most readers agree that stretch marks are a natural part of growing

up. Two products that may improve their appearance are Bio-Oil and Scar

Zone – applied topically.

Pemphigus: This reader’s godson has contracted pemphigus, an autoimmune

disease that causes the skin to blister. He’s had it for about a year and

has been treated with steroids, which helped but have had unpleasant side

effects. He’s trying to do without the medication but the symptoms have

increased greatly and he’s covered in awful lesions that are painful and

itchy. He’s embarked on a treatment with herbs but so far with very little

improvement. Can readers offer any suggestions?

From the Traditional Chinese Medicine point of view, most skin conditions

relate to the bowel, the lungs and to the Metal element, explains Collette.

If there are too many trapped toxins in the bowel it will manifest in skin

disorders, so she suggests a herbal bowel cleanse or a consultation with a

colonic irrigation specialist. From a homeopathic point of view, she’s

found that Silica greatly relieves blistering, itchy, sore skin. Urine

therapy is another option.

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. . .

Viral attack: This reader’s friend has recently had a “viral attack”, which

has left him with absolutely no sense of taste or smell. He has read on the

Internet that if this lasts for more than two weeks, 30 per cent of people

never regain these two senses. Is this true? What can be done to help?

White tongue: This man has a white tongue and is not able to get rid of it.

Whenever it looks as if it might be improving, the whiteness builds up again

after about a week. Does anyone know what could be causing this problem and

what can be done about it?

Early menopause: This woman’s friend has a 25-year-old daughter who has gone

into early menopause. Can anyone offer any advice?

Skin cancer: This reader requests help for a friend’s mother with basal cell

carcinoma (a form of skin cancer) of the head. She’s been prescribed

Imiquimod cream (Aldara) but has become very ill since taking it. She

experienced nausea, lethargy, depression and very painful headaches. She’s

now been advised by the hospital to stop using it (after three weeks of

daily use). Does anyone know if there are any long-term side effects? Are

there any natural approaches that can help?

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 to

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