Q. I know you have written a lot about adult acne before, but I am a student and cannot afford expensive products. That said, my skin is ruining my social life and I don’t want to keep using heavy-duty antibiotic creams. Can you help?
P Duthie, Glasgow
A. You won’t have to spend a fortune to clear your skin, but you will need to treat it from the inside out at the same time as using a topical antibacterial cream to tackle any outbreaks.
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Tejaswini is an excellent ayurvedic (Indian) formulation combining 10 herbs to help “purify” the blood and clear circulating toxins, which contribute to skin complaints. One of these herbs is triphala, which is probably the best natural remedy for clearing the toxins from the gut that have been linked with acne disorders in adults and teenagers.
For the outside, you need ActivClear, another natural formulation, which includes antibacterial tea-tree oil and zinc, which is crucial for healthy skin and immune function. Tea-tree oil has an antibacterial action five times stronger than any household detergent, but is still gentle enough to use on the skin. These two remedies will not only work together to clear outbreaks rapidly, but will help to tackle the underlying causes, including hormone imbalances.
Tejaswini costs £9.99 for 30 capsules. Although the packet tells you to take one to three capsules a day with milk, it is effective taken with water. Nutrica’s ActivClear cream costs £7.95 for 15g; use morning and night as part of your skincare routine. It smells strongly of tea-tree oil, but this is well worth tolerating for the impact it has on troubled skin. Both are available from Victoria Health (0800 413596).
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Q. There is well-documented history of cardiovascular disease, especially thrombosis, in my husband’s family. He is in his forties and in good health now, but I am concerned that he should be taking something to help him avoid a stroke or heart attack in later life. What do you suggest?
K Harkin, by e-mail
A. In the 1980s, Japanese researchers investigating the blood-clot-busting properties of more than 200 natural agents found that a fermented food called natto demonstrated the strongest thrombocytic activity by far.
Natto is made by adding the spores of Bacillus natto to boiled soya beans. Because of its texture and taste, the resulting food is often described as vegetable cheese. What makes it so effective in protecting against cardiovascular blockages is the presence of an enzyme, now known as nattokinase, that can not only help prevent the formation of life-threatening blood clots, but dissolve fibrous clots that have already formed.
Research has shown that 100g of natto has exactly the same clot-preventing action as a therapeutic dose of the anticoagulant prescription drug urokinase. Even better, while an injection of the latter remains effective for up to 20 minutes, nattokinase remains active for up to eight hours, and it has no recorded side effects.
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Allergy Research Group’s Natto Kinase supplement is available by mail order from Revital (0800 252875); 90 capsules cost £34.95.
For prevention, take two capsules a day. If you are already taking anticoagulant medication, do not switch to this supplement without proper medical advice, monitoring and supervision.
Q. My daughter (aged 9) has just been diagnosed as suffering from asthma. I searched your website and have now ordered the Australian remedy Oralmat to help. I am also taking her to see a homeopath. Is there anything else I should do?
Name and address withheld
A. According to newly released research, a technique that is better known for offering relief from musculoskeletal problems may also have a role to play in helping asthma sufferers, young and old, to manage their condition.
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A research programme carried out last year by UK practitioners of the Bowen technique (see my website, address below, for an account of what this is and how it works, and visit www.thebowentechnique.com for referrals in your area) found that 83% of the asthma patients participating in the year-long study experienced a reduction in both the frequency and severity of asthma attacks. And more than three-quarters of those sufferers studied were also able to use less medication once they started having regular Bowen technique treatments.
Taking your daughter to see a qualified homeopath is an excellent first step, but do also consider this technique, which appears to get better results the longer you stick with it.
To learn more about childhood asthma, visit www.relieve-childhood-asthma.com.
For more information on natural health, visit my website: www.whatreallyworks.co.uk
If you have any questions or tips, write to What’s the Alternative? Style, The Sunday Times, 1 Pennington Street, London E98 1ST. We can only provide replies to published letters.
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Before following any medical or dietary advice in this column, please consult your GP if you suffer from any health problems or special conditions, or are in doubt as to its suitability.