Over indulgence
Every year I eat too much during the festive season’ and
every year I suffer for it. Besides cutting back on my wife’s
wonderful family spreads, is there anything that might help me to
ease the digestion of all that rich food?
Mr T. Dawber, Gillingham
Obviously if you ate rich food daily throughout the year your
general health would suffer, but we all indulge a little in times
of celebration and can pay for it afterwards with indigestion and
bloating. Herbs known as carminatives’ such as peppermint or
chamomile can help and may be taken as teas or in capsules.
Bloating indicates that digestion, particularly liver function is
sluggish. Herbs which may help include milk thistle, which is
protective of liver cells, and artichoke leaf, which increases bile
secretion and has been shown to reduce bloating and symptoms of
irritable bowel in clinical studies.
Can’t shake a cough
I’ve had a nasty chesty cough that has persisted since the
start of December and I can’t seem to shift it. Is there
anything I could take to boost my immunity or help fight it
off?
Mr A. Arne, Grimsby
If a cold goes onto the chest’ it is indicative that all
is not well with your nutrition. I would recommend that you take a
multivitamin every day and omega 3 fish oil capsules (two or three
capsules a day) and some extra vitamin C. These will help to boost
the immune system. If the phlegm persists, then I recommend that
you consult a herbal practitioner who will be able to prescribe an
expectorant herbal mix containing herbs such as thyme to clear your
airways. A persistent chesty cough will sap your energy and needs
to be tackled head on. To find a herbalist in your area, visit
www.phytotherapists.org or
www.nimh.org.uk.
PMT
I dread the start of every month as I get terrible PMT. I am
always really tired and miserable and extremely irritable. I have
been told that there are some supplements that can help to ease the
symptoms but I’m not sure where to begin.
Mrs A. Hewitt, Harlow
There is now substantial evidence that PMT is related to a low
body status of calcium and vitamin D. You need three portions of
dairy products a day to reach your daily calcium target and many
women fail to achieve this. Supplementing with calcium would be the
answer, but I would always recommend that you take calcium with
magnesium in a balanced formula, as the two work together in the
body and the combination is more potent in combating PMT. Apart
from calcium, I suggest that you take the herb agnus-castus in
addition until your health returns to normal.
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