Alternative Health

Q. I SUFFER from UIP, which as you may know, is a chronic disease of the lungs. I was diagnosed with this condition 2 years ago and I turned 60 last September. I experience shortness of breath after exercise. I have cut dairy products out of my diet and I have also started taking supplements such as Polynesian Noni Juice and OxyMax to help with my condition. I was hoping you might be able to tell me of some other remedies which could help counter my symptoms. Also, could you suggest where I could purchase blackcurrant oil.

A. It truly warms my heart to read a letter where, faced with a serious and complex diagnosis, you have immediately realised how important nutrition and activity are to healing the body. Usual Interstitial Pneumonitis (UIP) currently has researchers and specialists alike at a loss when it comes to finding a solution or treatment.

At this point in time conventional treatments haven’t shown to be any improvement on no treatment at all. This isn’t to say that you can’t use treatments (conventional or

alternative) to support your lung health and slow or stop the progress of UIP. It is important to liaise with your doctor/specialist to keep track of your oxygen levels, breathlessness, lung function, blood results, and periodic chest scans.

NAC (N-acetyl-cysteine) is frequently recommended to reduce lung inflammation and support conventional medication therapy (such as prednisolone and azothioprine). NAC reduces the side effects of azothioprine and may prevent exacerbation or progression of your condition.

Produced naturally in the body, NAC is one of the precursors to the most important cellular antioxidant, glutathione. Basically, it works to prevent liver damage, maintain healthy lung function, and enhance the immune system.

The Noni juice and OxyMax are a great start, and I think that blackcurrant is a fantastic addition to this line of treatment since it will provide the necessary immune support with a focus on respiratory wellbeing. Rather than using blackcurrant oil, I would suggest that you try Immune +, by Higher Nature. Immune + contains vitamin C and zinc, along with blackcurrant extract, bilberry extract, and black elderberry extract — all of which are rich in anthocyanidins (bioflavanoids which suppress cell growth associated with stomach, colon, lung, and breast cancer, and prevent blood clots).

Immune + by Higher Nature is available from Here’s Health (www.hereshealth.ie; 021-4278101), where 90 tablets cost 13.20. Take 2 tablets, three times daily, with meals. NAC by Solgar (25.78 for 60 x 600mg capsules) is also available from Here’s Health. Take one capsule, three times daily.

Q. I have been very unwell (pancreatitis, oesophageal spasms, pleurisy, severe urticaria, Clostridium difficile, among others) and mildly depressed (life traumas) for over three years, on a number of medications. In January I noticed my weight had spiralled alarmingly, apparently attributable to hypothyroidism. I then began a dramatic change in lifestyle, exercising daily, weaning myself off antidepressants and Nexium, while eating a vegan diet with no added salt or oil, no wheat, dairy, or alcohol. Over an eight-week period I regained my positivity and motivation, and lost 35lbs. I have since modified my diet to include oily fish and the occasional serving of wheat and dairy, while I lose the remaining 40lbs over the next 5 months (2lbs weekly now). What bothers me is that, while I have measurably increased my basal metabolic rate by 700% (from a very, very low starting point), my BMR is still only 70% of “normal,” a fact that means I have to work awfully hard to lose weight. What can I do to improve my BMR? Why doesn’t the thyroxine improve it? I remember in the past, you’ve referred people to a doctor in Dublin who specialises in thyroid problems. Can I have his details, please? Ideally, I would like to see myself off the medication in the future as it strikes me that my hypothyroidism was probably caused by an unhealthy lifestyle and diet, factors I am now confident I have put behind me.

A. Your progress so far is simply amazing! It is wonderful to see such a significant change in such a short period of time.

I think your achievements so far — weaning yourself off medications, turning your emotional and mental wellbeing around, changing your diet and lifestyle (and sticking to it!), losing an impressive amount of weight, and getting your BMR much closer to a normal level — are outstanding. To do all of this while you are also dealing with an underactive thyroid is almost unheard of.

This is the perfect time to stop and look at how far you have come, rather than worrying about how far you still have to go. Pat yourself on the back for taking charge of your health despite a daunting number of challenges!

Thyroxine is one of those medications that does require reassessment and dosage adjustments according to your current situation — this is usually done once or twice each year. The doctor I have mentioned previously with regard to thyroid health is Dr Patrick Magovern, who is the most highly recommended thyroid doctor in Ireland, and he utilises a combination of conventional and alternative therapies, including nutrition, acupuncture, homeopathy, and testing for food intolerances. He has a clinic in Dublin, (3 Drummartin Road, Goatstown), and can be contacted by phone [phone]) or fax [phone]).

It would be well worth your while to contact Dr Magovern.