Natural health

Q. In recent articles on fibromyalgia you mentioned the natural remedy sutherlandia frutescens (Filisa). However, two health stores have never heard of it. I also called the telephone number you gave for the fibromyalgia support group, but there was no answer. I’m at my wits’ end.

A. I’m sorry you were unable to find the remedy I recommended. Health stores have to be selective with what they stock given the huge range of natural remedies on the market.

The Little Herbal Company range, including filisa, is available online at www.littleherbal-international.co.nz) or call 00 44-1484-689807. You could also ask your local health stores to order it for you.

While the end result of fibromyalgia is inflammation in the connective tissues, this condition begins with inflammation in the gut. So, dietary changes will support the healing, and boost the effectiveness of filisa.

Inflammatory foods include, processed grains, and processed fats — the keyword in knowing which foods are your friend or foe with fibromyalgia is ‘processed’.

Fruits and vegetables, essential, healthy fats, fermented foods (e.g. sauerkraut, kimchi, tempeh, miso, kefir, kombucha), and plenty of pure water will minimise your symptoms and give your body a chance to begin healing. Some people report significant pain reduction after only a week of following a strict, anti-inflammatory diet protocol.

While meat can trigger inflammation, gluten and dairy are the two most important dietary exclusions during this healing phase.

Many people are able to slowly re-introduce these back into their diets, once their tissues have been repaired.

Non-dietary triggers are stress, lack of exercise, and shallow breathing. Of these three, stress is often the most difficult to control — we can easily resolve to exercise regularly and spend a little time each day deep-breathing — however, stress is typically a response to situations beyond our control. Fortunately, the deep breathing and exercises change how we respond when things get on top of us.

As for local support, the Cork Fibromyalgia Support Group meets twice yearly, in May and October. The chairperson is Rachel Abraham, who can be contacted at 085-156 7924.

* For other support groups in Ireland, visit www.fibroireland.comonline.

Q. My teenage son was home on holidays at Christmas. He is suffering badly with acne on his face and neck and is self-conscious about it. Can you suggest anything for it?

A. This can be a stressful condition to deal with, particularly during adolescence, because the symptoms are so visible.

Nutrient deficiencies, particularly the mineral zinc, food intolerances or sensitivities and bacterial imbalance have all been identified as culprits that cause acne.

Zinc therapy has been shown in studies to work as effectively as antibiotic treatment in helping acne sufferers.

Your son should try taking 30mg of zinc, three times daily for three to four months, then reducing this to 30mg, one to two times daily. Zinc citrate or zinc picolinate are the forms of this mineral most easily absorbed.

An elimination diet will identify whether or not there are any dietary triggers responsible for his acne, and to ensure that the gut bacteria are balanced, he should take a quality probiotic — in this case, I would suggest Three-Lac, or Five-Lac (www.hereshealth.ie; 021 4278101), both of which are formulated specifically to treat candida imbalance.