Health Advice |
Common Ailments A-Z Dee Atkinson Experienced Medical Herbalist Dee Atkinson answers your questions regarding common health problems that we encounter on a daily basis in our shops and clinics. If you cannot find the information you need, and would like to speak to a qualified herbalist, please email advice@napiers.net. ^ TOPAcneI have spots on my back and want to get rid of them before my work's Christmas party. Is there something herbal that works? Dee says: You will need to tackle this with an internal remedy and some topical treatments. Use a soft back-brush on the area daily and use a mild antiseptic skin wash, such as a good tea tree essential oil-based product. Apply neat tea tree essential oil to spots twice a day. Use a traditional herbal blood purifier such as Sarsaparilla and Burdock Compound, which will boost your immune system and help to clear up the spots. Cut down on dairy products in your diet, and make sure that you are eating plenty of fruit and vegetables. A daily dose of Vitamin C 1000mg and Zinc 15mg will help the skin to heal. For stubborn cases visit your nearest herbalist. ^ TOPAcne RosaceaWhat could you suggest for acne rosacea? I have had this for the last three years, and it seems to get worse in the summer. I am going to my sons wedding in six weeks and would like to look my best. Dee says: There are a number of things that can make rosacea worse and they include both sunshine and stress, and it sounds as if you are experiencing both of those at the moment. To properly tackle rosacea you need to take a combination of herbs to support the immune system, support the liver and calm any inflammation. Six weeks is a very short space of time to try and clear up this problem. I would suggest consulting a herbalist to get a formula of herbs made up specifically for you. Contact the Herbal Advice Line or visit your nearest herbalist. ^ TOPBaby EczemaMy 5 month old baby boy has severe eczema. He is constantly itchy and scratches his face and body continually. He is always bleeding and his face weeps. I am using all the usual ointments and a hydrocortisone and have changed his formula milk to soya milk. Can you suggest anything else? Dee says: Make sure that he is eating absolutely no dairy products, which can be hidden as 'lactose, or milk solids' in some food. Avoid using any soap based bath products, and use mild detergents on his clothes. Try using only oats in the bath. Take some good old fashioned porridge oats and tie a few handfuls into the end of a nylon stocking. Soak this in boiling water and when it is cool enough, add it to the babies bath. The white milky substance that comes out of the oats eases itching and irritation. Use the Hydrocortisone as little as possible, as long term use can lead to skin thinning. Try mixing it with Infant Starflower Cream, this contains borage oil and chamomile and takes itch and irritation out of the skin. If none of this helps I would suggest contacting the Herbal Advice Line to find your nearest herbalist. ^ TOPCatarrhI had flu a few months ago and have been left with a chronic catarrh problems. I am coughing up a yellow phlegm and am having problems breathing through my nose. I keep getting choked up. Dee says: This is a particularly bad time of year for upper respiratory tract problems, made worse by central heating and indoor living. Cut dairy products out of your diet for a period of time, as they are very mucus producing and can make the problem worse. The best formula I know for treating catarrh problems is a Napiers formula from the 1860s. Napiers Plantain and Eyebright Compound, is an old fashioned nasal catarrh mix, containing a range of herbs to dry up mucus, calm inflamed sinus tissue and clear up any lingering infection. This mixture can be purchased from our Online Shop. ^ TOPCold SoresI am prone to getting cold sores and it is really getting me down. I always seem to get one whenever I have an important work presentation or social function. I understand they’re caused by a virus- is there any way I can cure myself of this virus to stop them occurring in the first place? The Herpes family of viruses is responsible for chickenpox, shingles and glandular fever, but it also causes outbreaks of blisters or sores known as herpes. Cold sores are the more common names for Herpes Simplx 1, which is where one gets the characteristic blisters forming on the lips and around the nose area. Cold sores are caused by a virus, and like all viruses they are often triggered by periods of stress. It is very common for people who are under stress to forget to eat properly, they often don’t get enough sleep and all this makes the chance of getting a cold sore more likely. There is often a slow build up of different situations and the final outcome will be a cold sore. It is a sign that the body is not coping well, and is under pressure. The virus that lies dormant in the nerve endings gets a chance to come out and flair up. Try to cut down on foods that acts as stimulants to the nervous system. Foods such as caffeine in coffee and soft drinks, chocolate, black pepper and chilli are all stimulants. Help you body to de stress by using essential oils in the bath, trying to get eight hours sleep, and generally looking after yourself. Minimise the stress to your liver and immune system by restricting intake of sugar (both refined and naturally occurring) and of oils and fats, especially deep fried foods. Foods that contain the amino acid arginine should be cut down. Arginine rich proteins are required for viral replication. Foods that are rich in the amino acid lysine will help to cut down the bodies absorption of arginine and will help to reduce the chances of getting a cold sores. Foods to avoid include all nuts, bacon, chocolate, refined sugars and all sugar rich foods, sesame and sunflower seeds and yeast extract. Lysine rich foods that you should include in your diet are Mung beans, cheddar cheese, most fish, dairy products, eggs, potatoes and most fruit and vegetables. Apples, carrots, cucumber and yoghurt are thought to be especially useful. To really knock this on the head you should take some dietary supplements and herbs. I would prescribe Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Zinc, B Complex and L lysine. L lysine can be taken at 500mg 2-4 times a day. Herbs to support your immune system and adaptogens to help the body manage stress are important. Echinacea, Lemon balm, Baptisia and Reishi mushrooms will all give immune support. While liquorice, and ginseng will act as adaptogens. Liquorice is also anti viral and has been should to inhibits the growth of the herpes virus. At the first sign of an outbreak (itching stinging, tingling or redness) begin taking Echinacea tincture. You can go up to 2mls every ½ hour during at attack. Lavender essential oil can be applied directly to the sore. I would strongly recommend that you consult a practitioner to help you manage the repeat attacks. It is often difficult to be objective about your diet and there are a lot of different angels to look at here. ^ TOPDigestiveI have acid reflux and take Omeprazole 20mg. I have been on this for 3 years and still wake up in the morning early with an acid taste and burning in my throat. I have my bed propped up and I don't eat after 6 o'clock. I avoid citrus fruit and coffee and only drink alcohol once a month. I suffer every morning and often have swollen glands. Dee says: When I am treating reflux problems I ask all my patients to keep diet diaries, so that I can get an idea of how often they are eating, and exactly what they are including in their diet. It is important to try to eat small amounts of food regularly, having something to eat every two hours. As well as avoiding the citrus fruit, cut out tomatoes, pork and shellfish as they can increase acid production. One of the best herbs to use is Slippery Elm powder, which can be taken three or four times daily. This herb is thick and gel-like, and works by coating the throat and the stomach. This allows healing to take place, whilst protecting the tissue from the acid. Combinations of herbs including meadowsweet, marigold, golden seal and chamomile will all help to reduce acid production. This is a complex problem to tackle and I would suggest that you consult a medical herbalist. Contact the Herbal Advice Line or visit your nearest herbalist. ^ TOPEczemaMy daughter suffers badly from eczema. If she wears ordinary make up her skin breaks out into a terrible mess. Could you suggest anything that would help? Dee says: Many brands of make up have a whole range of chemicals in them that can cause skin irritation. Many make ups contain lanolin for example and this can be a trigger point. Unfortunately it is impossible to cure your daughters sensitivity completely. She will always have to avoid these brands of make up. What can be done is to try to improve her skin and to cut down the number of times it flares up. She will need to totally avoid every thing that she knows that causes skin irritation and try to find as many of the trigger points as possible. Some times certain foods in the diet can cause the skin to flare up, especially foods with E numbers, colourings and preservatives. Highly coloured sweets, drinks and cakes are all foods that should be avoided. Suggest to your daughter that she takes two cups of Chamomile tea each day, as this has an anti-inflammatory action and will help to cut down the body's response to allergy. Infant Starflower Cream, made from Borage oil and Chamomile oil, is very soothing and calming on the skin and is available from any Napiers store or through our Online Shop. I have suffered from eczema since childhood and am concerned because I have used steroid creams for the last 10 years. Recently it has flared up and I can't work out why. Are there any natural alternatives to steroid creams and is there anything I am eating, drinking or coming into contact that could be making it worse? Dee says: Eczema affects one in five children and one in twelve adults in the UK. Patients often try the whole range of treatments available and then find themselves back to square one. Eczema is an inflammation of the skin and can vary in degree from small patches of dry irritated skin to the whole of the body being affected. Skin can be fine one day and then break out the next, often with no obvious sign of what is causing the problem. Standard treatment involves the use of emollients and steroid-based creams, together with an assortment of bathing products. Unfortunately, these only help while they are being used regularly, and often the problems flares up when their use is discontinued. Long term use of steroid creams can also lead to thinning and premature aging of the skin, so many eczema sufferers look for alternative treatments. As eczema can often be caused or worsened by contact with certain substances, it's important to be very careful about what is put onto the skin. Scented soaps, foam baths, body lotions, fabric conditioners and washing powders can all cause reactions, as can other detergents such as washing up liquid. Other substances such as rubber, latex and nickel are found in many common household items and can lead to skin reactions. Sensitivity to certain food groups can make eczema worse. Colourings and additives, especially those found in fizzy drinks, crisps, ready meals and sweets are well known to cause reactions in sensitive people. Clinical practice has shown that cutting out dairy products and wheat can have dramatic results. Both Evening Primrose and Borage oil capsules can help to ease the inflammation and irritation. Creams containing these oils can also help, such as http://shop.napiers.net/product_info.php?products_id=165 and Infant Starflower Cream, which also contain chickweed to reduce itch and chamomile to heal and soothe the skin. Chamomile, Nettle and Plantain are herbs that can be combined and taken as a herbal tea such as Chamomile Tea Blend. They are used by herbalists for their anti-inflammatory, anti-itch and strengthening action on the skin as part of a treatment for eczema. For a totally individual treatment, visit a qualified herbalist who will help you to track down anything that exacerbates your eczema and will formulate a personalised treatment plan. See also Baby Eczema... ^ TOPGoutMy husband has gout in his left foot around the toe area. This happened very suddenly and he has been on medication for it for about five months. If he stops the medicine the problem seems to flair up again. He doesn't want to take medicine for the rest of his life and we were wondering if there was anything else he could take. Dee says: Gout is caused by an excess of uric acid, which builds up around joints and can cause extreme pain with the affected joint often ending up swollen and red. When it is at an acute phase there is not much that herbs can do, but once that phase has been brought under control, herbs can be used to prevent further out breaks. One of the best herbs to use is Nettle. This helps the body to get rid of uric acid and is has mild anti inflammatory actions. There are also certain foods that need to be avoided, acid foods such as citrus fruit, pork, coffee and shellfish. If you cut these foods out of your diet and regularly drink Nettle tea, you will help keep the gout under control. ^ TOPInsomniaCould you suggest something to help me sleep? Work is very stressful, and my mother isn't very well. I don't want to take anything that is addictive. I am 54 year old and I take HRT. Dee says: Hopefully your stress is going to be short term and your natural sleep pattern will start to resume once this period is over. One of the products that I use all the time in clinic is Passiflora Capsules. Passiflora is a herb that helps the body to and mind relax enough to allow the natural sleep process to take place. It isn't a herb that will knock you out, you won't sleep through an alarm clock or a phone with it and there is no sleepy feeling the next day. It is also not addictive. Try taking one tablet at 6pm and two. before bed for a few nights. Try and avoid coffee and caffine drinks during the day, and try using lavender essential oil in a bath to help yourself unwind. Napiers Passiflora capsules are available from any of our stores or through our Online Shop. ^ TOPMenopauseI am 48 years old and have started having the occasional hot flush at night and my periods are irregular. My GP has done a blood test and says that I am peri menopausal. I would like to try something natural, and want to know what works. Dee says: I have found that by using a combination of Sage and Black Cohosh tinctures I can control most of my peri menopausal patients symptoms. Sage is a herb that has been used for centuries to control hot flushes and sweating. It works on the thermostatic centre, helping to control temperature fluctuations. Black Cohosh is often talked about as a Natural Hormone Replacement, and is one of the most well-researched of the herbal remedies. The Kupperman Menopause Index is a way of measuring menopausal symptoms. Symptoms measured include hot flushes, outbreaks of sweat, disturbed sleep and depression. In one trail Black Cohosh was compared to oestrogen and a placebo over a twelve week period. Using the Kupperman Index there was a significant improvement with Black Cohosh compared with the other two treatments. As you are still having periods Vitex agnus castus, available in tablet or tincture form, will have a balancing action on the hormones and may help you to have regular periods for a bit longer. Herbs are very successfull in treating menopause symptoms, but it is always best to consult a qualified herbalist who will make a formula up specifically for you. Contact the Herbal Advice Line who will help you find your nearest herbalist. ^ TOPMigraineWhat would you recommend for migraines? I have suffered from migraines for the past four years. I can have 2 or 3 a month that last for 6 to 10 hours. Other months I don't have any. I have no idea what triggers them off. They are eased by a nights sleep and by putting a hot water bottle at the back of my neck. Dee says: Traditionally Feverfew has been used to treat migraine, a feverfew leaf was eaten daily between two slices of bread. Feverfew relaxes muscle spasm and especially spasm around blood vessels. If a headache or migraine is relieved by heat, then it is very possible that feverfew will help. Feverfew is available in tablet form, you would need to take a tablet everyday as a preventative. Try using the tablets on a daily basis. With migraines it is usually a combination of factors that triggers them off. You might be under stress, which your body can cope with, but then you eat a food that you are mildly sensitive to and at the same time have a poor nights sleep. This combination can trigger a migraine. Try and avoid all foods that are known to trigger migraines such as cheese, chocolate, red wine and coffee. Organic Feverfew tincture is available from our Online Shop. ^ TOPMolluscumA few month ago my 10 year old daughter developed a recurrent rash. Initially we thought it was chicken pox, with raised blister heads. They die down and look like small hard warts. The doctor said it is a viral infection called Molluscum. He said there was no treatment, but that burning them off was the only treatment. He said that was extremely painful and didn't recommend it. He said she would grow out of them. As you can imagine my daughter is very embarrassed at school. Is there anything you can recommend to help the itchiness and the hard wart like marks? Dee says: This problem is surprisingly common amongst children, often coming up on legs and torso and being hidden under clothes. Molluscom contagiosium is very contagious and can easily spread through out the family. Make sure your daughter is using her own towel. We treat many molluscum patients in our Parent and Child Clinics, with good results. We use herbs to boost the child immune system and help them to overcome the virus. Echinacea is very effective here, and also topically a herbal wart mixture that helps to dry up the lesions and tackle the problem from the outside, helping to prevent the lesions spreading. In some cases I would use old fashioned blood purifiers to support the liver and help to clear the system. I have never had a patient who has had to have the warts burnt off, and I would strongly recommend a visit to a herbalist. Contact the Herbal Advice Line or visit your nearest herbalist. ^ TOPPilesI have been using medication for haemorrhoids for years and the problem seems to come and go. Is there any way that I could get rid of them permanently, with out having surgery? Dee says: Haemorrhoid are caused by ballooning of blood vessels in the rectal area, and once this has occurred it is very difficult to get the tissues to shrink. They are aggravated by certain foods such as coffee, alcohol and hot spices, and made worse if you become constipated or highly stressed. To allow for healing to take place you need to let the situation calm down for a while, try to avoid any of the foods that make it worse and drink plenty of water to make sure that you don't become constipated. Horse chestnut tincture is one of the best products to strengthen the veins. This is a long term approach to the problem, but will help you to avoid surgery. It is important to keep the treatment up even when the symptoms have subsided, I would usually expect to continue treatment for 6 months. Horse chestnut tincture is widely available from herbalists and health food stores, or you can buy it in our Online Shop. ^ TOPPost-viral fatigueMy eleven year old daughter has been diagnosed as having post-viral fatigue. She first got ill in September last year, and was finally diagnosed in June. Her consultant recommended that she lead a very paced life and gradually build up her time at school. This has been almost impossible as the school doesn't seem to understand the situation. She is only managing three days a week at school and the rest of the time lies on the sofa. Sometimes she can't even read or watch TV. Dee says: Eleven years old is very young to suffer from post-viral problems. It is more usual for teenagers, and often as a result of having glandular fever. There are herbs that can be used to gently support the immune system and help with recovery. Withania is a good supportive herb to take in tincture form to help with recovery from viruses. Try and keep your daughter off junk food, avoid food colourings, additives and caffeine-based canned drinks. Try again to talk to the school. Have a clear plan written out of how long she can be at school and when she needs to rest. Take some information on post-viral fatigue with you, and keep everyone as informed as possible about her situation.I would also suggest contacting the Herbal Advice Line or visiting your nearest herbalist. ^ TOPPsoriasisI have Psoriasis in my scalp, which has been getting very bad recently. I am taking a water tablet and a small aspirin every day and am worried about taking any more medicine. I use Poly Tar shampoo and have even tried putting olive oil through my hair. Dee says: This is a bad time of year for psoriasis, the lack of sun light and the dry atmosphere with central heating combined with any extra stress that is around at Christmas can all make skin problems worse. In the past herbalists used to give people remedies to help them their bodies change the seasons. As Autumn went into winter, herbs were used to support this change, bolstering the immune system and helping the liver. I have found that using herbs such as Dandelion, Nettle and Clivers in winter time can help to prevent skin problems getting worse. These herbs can be bought individually and mixed together to make a tea, which you should drink three cups of daily. To help put some of the moisture back in the scalp, start taking Evening Primrose Oil capsules at 1000mg per day. This will also help with the itch. I use an old fashioned scalp lotion that contains Marigold, Raspberry Leaf and Wild Indigo called No 2 lotion, it can be applied daily to the scalp and brushed through. It is non greasy, and very soothing to an irritated and flaky scalp. You can buy it from any Napiers shop or in our Online Shop. |