Q: I’ve recently had a bad cold sore, accompanied by a fever, swollen glands and general fatigue. It cleared up after about a week but it was horrible and I want to know what I can do to prevent it happening again?

A: Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus, which is often caught in childhood. After the first attack many people never have another or are only affected occasionally, but some do have recurring bouts of cold sores. Attacks typically become less severe with time as the immune system builds up resistance, but the virus can be reactivated when you feel stressed or run down. Over exercising, sun burn, lack of sleep or extreme temperatures can also contribute.

To avoid another attack you need to suppress the virus as much as possible. Foods high in the amino acid arginine encourage herpes to reoccur, while those high in lysine help limit the virus. So reduce your intake of arginine rich foods, such as chocolate, nuts and gluten grains like wheat. Sadly, berries also have a high ratio of arginine to lysine so eat these in moderation too. Don’t cut them out altogether as, like nuts and grains, they are nutritional superstars – just don’t go overboard when you eat them. Oily fish, soya, live yogurt, goat’s milk, papaya, mango, apricots and cheese are all good choices as they have a high ratio of lysine to argine. You can also take lysine to help prevent cold sores recurring. Use 500mg twice a day and overtime you may be able to decrease it to just once a day to keep attacks at bay (if you can’t find lysine locally then go to the Resources Page).

It’s also important to build up your immunity. Avoid refined sugar, which lowers immunity. Caffeine and alcohol undermine liver function by limiting its ability to deal with the by-products of this virus, so cut down or cut these out. A daily vitamin B complex will help boost immunity, as will additional 15mg zinc supplements and 1000mg vitamin C with bioflavonoid supplements. The herb echinacea can help bolster your immune system too. Available in tincture and capsule form and as a tea, echinacea has been found to possess powerful antiviral and immune-boosting properties.

Take steps to reduce stress. After an infection, the virus can remain dormant and be reactivated when your immune system is sluggish, or when you are under physical or emotional stress. Yoga is an incredibly powerful way of helping your body learn how to relax and rid your mind of anxious thoughts.

And finally, too much exposure to the sun increases your risk of developing a cold sore. Don’t worry, that doesn’t mean you need to hide indoors during the summer months, instead simply apply sun block to your lips and face before prolonged exposure to the sun to help prevent an outbreak.

Q: For the past two years I suffered from agonisingly heavy periods. My doctor has suggested a hysterectomy, should I go ahead with it?

A: A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure in which a woman’s womb and sometimes her ovaries are removed. Every year thousands of women undergo hysterectomies and the most common cause for this is heavy periods, but in my opinion the too-frequent removal of a fundamental part of a woman’s body is nothing short of scandalous. Of course, there are times when this surgery is necessary, e.g. cancer, but with other problems it is better to see whether there are other ways of managing the problem.

 

Doctors are trained to offer their patients solutions and a hysterectomy is an immediate solution to the problem of heavy periods, whereas less invasive treatments may take longer to be effective. It may well turn out that you do need a hysterectomy for legitimate medical reasons, but before you make this big decision I strongly urge you to investigate other options. The only time I feel a hysterectomy should be an option is if you have cancer and your life is at stake. In all other instances (including heavy periods, and fibroids – another common reason for a hysterectomy) ask yourself the following questions before you consider a hysterectomy:

• Do I really need this procedure?
• Are the symptoms affecting the quality of my life to the extent that I can’t do the things I want to do?
• Have I tried all the alternative medical treatments?
• Have I tried the natural approach?
• Am I planning to start a family or to have more children?
• Am I ready to deal with the symptoms of sudden early menopause?

A hysterectomy is not an easy option. It’s major surgery that requires a lengthy stay in hospital, incisions, general anaesthesia and painful days and weeks after. It can also trigger sudden and unexpected physical, sexual and psychological changes; and if the ovaries are also removed a woman will have to deal overnight with the symptoms of early menopause. Not to mention the irreversible fact that she will no longer be able to have children. And, even if you do not have your ovaries removed, a hysterectomy may still cause a woman to have an early menopause. Many women just want to have the surgery but they don’t take into account the hot flushes, vaginal dryness, mood swings, forgetfulness, headaches, muscle and joint pain and other symptoms of menopause that may result. Women who undergo hysterectomy can also experience urinary incontinence, as well as deepening of the voice and weight gain. All these physical changes are the result of declining oestrogen levels.

 

About 20 per cent of hysterectomies are for heavy bleeding, but in my opinion a hysterectomy should never be considered as a treatment for this condition as natural therapies can be highly effective – as can a less invasive procedure called endometrial ablation, in which the lining of the womb is removed but the womb is left intact.

 

In next month’s issue there’s a feature on natural ways to treat heavy periods so be sure to read that. In the meantime avoid coffee and alcohol, which can increase menstrual flow, and make sure you eat plenty of hormone-balancing phytoestrogens (found in soya, legumes and wholegrains) and essential fatty acids (found in oily fish, nuts and flaxseeds), which increase the amount of beneficial prostaglandins that can reduce blood flow. You also need to cut down on red meat and dairy produce because a diet rich in saturated fat can encourage the production of excess oestrogen, which increases menstrual flow.

 

Remember, a hysterectomy is often an overkill solution to problems that have other viable treatment options; so if your doctor has recommended it to you and you don’t feel right about it, ask what your alternatives are and if need be get a second, third or even a fourth opinion. Take all the time you need to make the decision. In the great majority of cases, especially when heavy periods are the case, there is no rush.

Q: My hair and nails are very dry and brittle and snap easily. Could an alternative remedy help?

A: You can think of your hair and nails as a barometer which can reflect the condition of your health in general. So if your hair and nails are under par, it’s possible that your diet, lifestyle and stress levels could do with some attention. Get a check up with your doctor as it can also be a sign of underactive thyroid. Essential fatty acids (found in oily fish, nuts and flaxseeds) play a part in keeping hair and nails strong and healthy, so boost your intake. Keep your iron levels up by eating plenty of greens, pulses and dried fruit. Snacking on nuts and seeds helps maintain high levels of fatty acids, zinc and protein – all important for healthy hair and nails – and you may also want to take a vitamin B complex supplement. Brittle nails can suggest a calcium or vitamin A deficiency, so try to eat at least six portions of fruit and vegetables a day. The herbs burdock and horsetail can help to condition and enhance nail and hair growth.