Do you know of a cure for wind?

I am 65, on one cholesterol tablet a day, and I am passing wind most of the time, no matter what I eat.

>>Herbal cures for wind include peppermint, spearmint, fennel, catnip, celery seed, and ginger. These are all common kitchen items and can be made into a tea (using all or some of the aforementioned herbs), which you can sweeten with honey — although you mustn’t add milk.

Just add a teaspoon of herb/herbal combination to each cup of boiling water and steep for three to five minutes.

I am also going to mention an unusual herbal remedy that has fantastic results in relieving flatulence — although it is not a kitchen item. Wild yam root (Dioscorea villosa), more commonly associated with hormonal balance, works quickly dissipate pockets of gas from the system.

Wild Yam is available as a dried herb from some health stores, or contact a herbalist to purchase this dried root as a singular herb.

You only use a teaspoon of the herb to each cup of boiling water, and steep for three to five minutes.

While some medications can cause wind, and it is likely that this is the case here, a few tips can help minimise the possibility of flatulence — specifically, taking small mouthfuls, chewing as thoroughly as possible, and not drinking liquids at the same time as you are eating your meals — this can cause air to become trapped in the gastro-intestinal tract.

* I was on HRT for 20 years. I stopped it eight years ago, at the age of 65. I got the Changease and wheatgerm oil capsules you have recommended. On the label, it says to take no more than one wheatgerm capsule a day, but you suggested taking six a day. What should I do?

>>Most wheatgerm capsules are 1,100mg, and contain10IU (international units) of vitamin E. The recommended daily dosage for vitamin E is between 30-200IUs. Some brands have more vitamin E than this per capsule, and lower-dosage capsules contain a third of this amount.

It is surprising for a wheatgerm supplement to state a dosage of only one capsule per day, unless it has a highly concentrated extract.

Taking six standard capsules daily (2 x 1,100mg capsules, three times per day) only equates to 60IU of vitamin E, which is low.

For those who prefer taking the oil in liquid cold-pressed form, I recommend a tablespoon (15ml), three times daily — this equates to 90-150IU (depending on the product) of vitamin E per day.

The Changease formulation, from the US-based Dr Christopher range, has a recommended, minimum dosage of two capsules, three times daily.

Dr Christopher suggest that women could double, or even triple, this dosage. The minimum dosage of six capsules daily is effective in treating menopausal issues, and other hormonal-balance issues at all ages.

The difference between women taking the herbal combination alone, and those taking it with the wheatgerm oil, is impressive. While the herbs in the formulation provide a good foundation for hormonal balance and correction, the wheatgerm oil is essential in chemically converting the precursors into the necessary hormones.

Changease, which contains the herbs black cohosh, sarsaparilla, ginseng, liquorice, false unicorn, holy thistle, and squaw vine, is available online from www.vitalerbs.com, and wheatgerm oil should be available as a cold-pressed oil, or in capsules from health food stores and some supermarkets.