What Really Works: The Insider’s Guide to Complementary Health

Glucosamine is the substance many sufferers now swear by, but while it can bring relief it does not work for everyone. It takes several months to kick in, (which makes prescription anti-inflammatory drugs a more appealing rapid solution to the pain) and is still a long way from being that miracle cure. It is a natural constituent of cartilage and has been shown to stimulate the production of connective tissue, prompting claims that it will not only halt the progress of the disease but also reverse it by re-building lost cartilage. Sadly, the body’s own levels of glucosamine decrease with age.

What has now been proven is that glucosamine works best when taken in conjunction with chondroitin, a substance which attracts more fluid into the spaces around the joints to lubricate them. Early results of trials in Germany show it is also very effective when taken with collagen, an essential protein which is crucial for building bone. There are now new supplements on the market which combine all three active ingredients.

Daily doses of vitamin D (400iu) and high doses of vitamin E (2500iu) have also been shown in various studies to slow down the disease and reduce the symptoms of arthritis. (Do not take high doses of vitamin E if you have heart problems.) So have daily doses of borage oil, which contains a joint-protecting substance called Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA). One trial showed that those taking the equivalent of 2.4g daily, alongside their regular arthritis drugs, were six times more likely to report a significant improvement in joint pain and swelling than those in a control group. In the second six months of the year-long study, 50% of those taking high doses of GLA reported a 50% reduction in pain and stiffness. Unfortunately, borage oil also contains uresic acid, so long-term use is ill-advised.

Another fatty acid, found in small quantities in foods such as nuts, vegetables and butter, is Cetyl Myristoleate (CM). There are no double-blind clinical trials investigating it’s usefulness in the treatment of arthritis, but researchers are excited by the discovery that Swiss albino mice, which are born with unusually high levels of this fatty acid, never get arthritis and seem to be protected even when exposed to factors which cause the condition in other breeds. Of course, what works for mice may not work for men.

Organic sulphur, or Methyl Sulphonyl Methane (MSM), is also crucial to healthy connective tissue. It is found in every cell in the body and plays a key role in the production of amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein. Although available in a wide range of foods, including plants, meat, eggs, poultry and dairy, it can be destroyed by heat and food processing – so to relieve the pain and inflammation of arthritis, try taking it in supplement form.

Digestive health plays a role in relieving the symptoms of arthritis, too. Researchers admit they have no idea why this should be the case, but a deficiency of the so-called ‘friendl’y bacteria, which aid digestion in the gut has now been linked with a worsening of symptoms. To remedy this, you need to take a good probiotic supplement such as Lactobacillus acidophilus.

Foods that Can Help

An Indian take-away is not an obvious health food, but a curry can actually help alleviate joint problems. This is because it’s spices, which usually include turmeric, cardamom, cinnamon, garlic, ginger, coriander and cumin, all have an anti-inflammatory action in the body.

Chillies are another fiery food, which can help. They contain a chemical called capsaicin, which lowers levels of another chemical called substance P, normally used to send pain signals around the body. Capsaicin also triggers the release of the body’s own pain-relieving endorphins, which work in the same way as morphine.

Anchovies contain omega-3 fatty acids, which also modulate the metabolism of prostaglandin. Too much of the latter, which plays a part in inflammatory conditions, can make the symptoms worse. Foods that may exacerbate your symptoms and which should, therefore, be reduced, include the nightshade family. This means cutting down on tomatoes, potatoes and aubergines.

Asthma

There are lots of excellent books devoted solely to this subject, but with an alarming increase the number of adult asthma cases and with growing evidence that asthma drugs themselves can exacerbate the problem by interfering with normal lung functioning (making them more sensitive to the allergens that trigger an attack), it more than merits a mention. Also, read Allergy (page 84), which describes a technique called Enzyme Potentiate Desensitisation (EPD) that has achieved excellent results with all allergy-induced conditions, including asthma.

To identify the allergens that trigger your asthma, you need to examine emotional, environmental and hereditary factors. The most common one, of course, is housedust and the housedust mites that live in furniture and bedding. Mould spores and animal detritus are a problem, or it may be DIY chemicals and other household or workplace irritants that are to blame.

You may also need to re-examine what is on your dinner plate. Many studies now indicate that food allergies are just as likely as environmental pollutants to trigger asthma in children and in adults. When researchers compared asthma rates among children living on the unpolluted Scottish Isle of Skye, for example, with those living in the Scottish town of Aberdeen, they found the incidence rate on the relatively unpolluted island much higher (17%) than in Aberdeen or when compared to the national average (11%).

Anaphylaxis is the extreme allergic and sometimes fatal reaction to an allergen. New figures show that this type of reaction triggered by food is on the increase, and that a big part of this reaction is usually an asthmatic attack. In Barcelona, for instance, doctors were astonished to find certains days of the week becoming asthma ‘epidemic’ days. The hospitals would be crowded out with sufferers, who had both a rapid onset of symptoms and a rapid recovery rate. It was then discovered that these epidemic days coincided with the offloading of soya-bean products at the docks. The solution was simple: Special filters were attached to the dockside silos and the asthma epidemic days ended.

In another clinical study of asthmatic children, those given 1,000mg of vitamin C each day for two weeks had less than a quarter as many asthmatic attacks as those given a placebo. For adults, the recommended dosage is increased to 2g a day and raised to 4–7g during a reaction. (At this high dosage, diarrhoea is a likely side-effect.) Vitamin B

particularly via intramuscular shots, has been shown to reduce asthmatic symptoms dramatically. In one study of 85 patients, all sufferers benefited from a l,000mcg dose of B

at weekly intervals. The younger the patient, the better the response, with 83% of children under the age of 10 showing marked improvement.

The figures for childhood asthma have doubled in recent years (in some regions, as many as one in four children will now be asthmatic), and while we now know much more about the mechanism of asthma, nobody seems any closer to a cure. Homeopathic immunotherapy has produced excellent clinical results in the treatment of asthma in children. In a French study of 182 children aged between 2 and 8, for example, the homoeopathic remedy Poumon histamine was shown to reduce the number of severe asthma attacks. This would always be my starting point in tackling the problem of asthma in young children, since children (and animals) respond exceptionally well to homoeopathy, which is also completely safe.

Bad Breath

If your dentist cannot find an explanation for persistent bad breath, then you need to turn your attention to your diet and digestive process. Pockets of infection in the gums are an obvious dental cause of halitosis, but many holistic practitioners will also investigate the possibility of abnormal fermentation of food in the gut. This will be exacerbated by dairy products, so cut these out of your diet for a week and see if your breath improves.

You may also need to take an anti-Candida (Thrush) approach to eating, which means eliminating all refined carbohydrates, sugars and yeast-based products too. If you have taken antibiotics in the past, these may have disturbed the balance of the so-called good bacteria in the gut, which aid the digestive process and prevent the fermentation of undigested food particles. To rebuild these, take a good quality probiotic (see page 171), which will contain millions of replacement live bacteria, plus a supplement called Fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS), which will provide food for these organisms and help cleanse the bowel.

A digestive enzyme may also prove beneficial – take one at the end of each meal. The friendly bacteria in the digestive tract flourish in a more alkaline environment. Help create this by taking one eighth of a teaspoon of pure sodium bicarbonate 20 minutes after eating.

The high chlorophyll content of parsley makes it a natural breath freshener. In ancient Rome, people would chew parsley to disguise the smell of alcohol on their breath. Chlorophyll converts carbon dioxide to oxygen in the body and helps lubricate the digestive tract, especially the various valves which, when working optimally, prevent gases and toxins from backing up the tract. The Greeks preferred to chew on Anise seeds, which taste of liquorice. You may prefer the taste of fennel seeds. A simple decoction (see page 76) made up of 2 lavender flowers, 2 sage leaves and myrrh resin will also alleviate symptoms. Gargle with this mixture three times a day. Aloe Vera is also an excellent colon cleanser and will help prevent an accumulation of toxins. Buy a brand that is high in mucopolysaccharides, the active ingredient. If the label does not give you this information, ask your healthfood retailer or contact the manufacturer direct.

Bloating

The bitter-tasting herb, gentian, not only aids digestion by stimulating increased salivary flow and gastric juices, but also reduces bloating. It is one of the best stomach tonics in natural medicine and also helps strengthen the pancreas and the spleen. Either take it as an organic tincture or make your own fast-acting herbal tea by brewing half a teaspoon of powdered gentian root with half a cup (125ml) of boiling water for 5 minutes. Strain the mixture and drink 30 minutes before eating. If the taste is too unpalatable, sweeten with a little honey or organic maple syrup.