Dr Shaun Hutchinson, Homeopath

Yes there are numerous natural therapies that may be beneficial in the treatment of asthma. The use of these therapies would depend on the severity of your condition. It is advisable to always have your condition evaluated by a qualified and registered Homoeopath if you would prefer to try alternative therapies.

Correct homoeopathic treatment of asthma would be based on how often the attack occurs, how severe is the attack, are there any known triggers (such as anxiety, foods eaten, vapours inhaled, etc), what makes it better or worse, and are there any accompanying symptoms such as cyanosis, etc. Therefore each person would have a prescription individually chosen for them. As I do not have this information available I can recommend some medicines that are considered specific for the treatment of asthma: Arsenicum album, Cuprum metallicum, Kalium carbonicum, Lobelia inflata, Pulsatilla pratensis, Sambucus nigra, and Spongia tosta. These could be used individually or in combination in 6CH strength, 2-3 times daily. If you have an attack the medicine may be used every 5 minutes to allay the attack, however, I advise that you then have the medicine chosen for you by a homoeopath for this purpose.

Supplements that are useful for asthma are Quercitin, to be used as directed; Vitamin B6, 50-100mg daily; Vitamin B12 injections, administered once-twice weekly; and Vitamin C with bioflavonoids, 1000mg three times daily. Herbs that are beneficial are Dong quai, Ginkgo biloba, Lobelia and Scullcap; all to be used as directed. It would be advisable to also undergo blood testing to determine if there are allergies which could be triggering the asthma, if there are any foods or food additives, then these should be avoided. I would recommend the Alcat blood testing.

Heavy periods with clots may be normal in some women or as a consequence to cancer, inflammation of the cervix, polyps, adenomyosis, ovarian cysts, fibroids, dysfunctional uterine bleeding, endometriosis, thyroid disorders and other disorders. It is advised that if you are concerned about your symptoms, you should consult with your gynaecologist to be evaluated further.

True homoeopathic treatment of your symptoms would be based on what is the cause, where and when the pain occurs, what makes it better or worse, and are there any other symptoms accompanying the pain. The nature of your period will also be taken into consideration. Therefore each person would have a prescription individually chosen for them. As this information is not available and there are numerous causes for your condition, as well as numerous medicines indicated for its treatment, it is advisable to consult with a homoeopath to determine the best treatment for you.

Natural remedies that may be helpful in relieving your condition would be Vitamin E, 400 IU daily and Evening Primrose oil, 1500mg daily (to assist with hormone balance); Vitamin K, 200mcg daily (to assist with normal blood clotting); Vitamin C 1000mg, three times daily (to assist with healing); Iron, 22mg daily, and Vitamin B complex, 50mg of each daily (to prevent anaemia). Herbs that may be useful would be Chaste berry, Dong quai, Red raspberry and Red clover, all to be used as directed.

Water retention can have a variety of causes, some mild such as allergies, premenstrual syndrome and pregnancy; others more serious such as in kidney, liver or heart disease. If you are uncertain about your condition then consult your homoeopath/doctor.

True homoeopathic treatment of water retention would be based on what is the cause, where and when it occurs, what makes it better or worse, and are there any other symptoms accompanying the water retention. Therefore each person would have a prescription individually chosen for them. As this information is not available and there are numerous medicines indicated for the treatment of water retention it is advisable to consult with a homoeopath to determine the best treatment for you.

Supplements that may be helpful in relieving water retention would be Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine), 50mg three times daily; Whey protein isolate, 20g 2-3 times daily; and Silica, as directed. Herbs that may be helpful are Alfalfa, as directed; Corn Silk, as directed; Parsley, as directed; and Dandelion, as directed.

The wart on your leg is most likely a common wart. Warts are small bumps on the skin caused by human papilloma viruses. Warts may appear alone or in clusters. Usually warts appear on skin areas exposed to friction, trauma or abrasions. So it would be advisable to avoid bumping your wart. Warts can be contagious, and the virus can enter by breaks in the skin. Warts can spread if picked, trimmed or bitten.

True homoeopathic treatment of warts would be based on what the wart looks like, its size, colour, shape, where it is on the body, is there any pain or sensations, etc. Therefore each person would have a prescription individually chosen for them. As I do not have this information available I can recommend some medicines that are considered specific for the treatment of warts.

Thuja: the most specific wart medicine. Warts are large and grow rapidly, appearing on the face, hands and soles of the feet.
Causticum: for large, flat and sensitive warts usually appearing on the tips of the fingers, especially about the nails.
Medorrhinum: for warts on the thighs and hands.
Nitricum acidum: wide spread warts with splinter like pains that bleed easily appearing on the hands and face.

Other useful supplements that could help would be to apply colloidal silver cream to the wart three times daily until it disappears. You can also try applying tee tree oil, clove oil or wintergreen oil to the wart 2-3 times daily until the wart is gone. Try L-Cysteine at the dosage recommended on the bottle, it is an amino acid important in the treatment of warts. Zinc and vitamin C supplements can also help as they improve immunity to viruses.

I am glad to hear that you have found Valerian effective for your insomnia. I am also glad to hear you are concerned about the long term use of this herb. In fact it is not advised to use valerian for prolonged periods. Valerian should only be used for a period of 2-3 weeks at the most. This should help to reset your body’s clock, and get you back into the habit of normal sleep again. 

Just because a herb is natural, it does not imply that it is entirely safe. There are some herbs that can kill you if taken at a certain dosage, yet will have a therapeutic effect at the correct dosage. Herbs should be used respectfully for limited periods of time to correct a problem and then discontinued once the problem is gone. If the problem is only relieved while taking the herb, then it is not the correct herb for your problem.

If you are looking for a more long term solution, then you would have to address the cause of your insomnia. As I do not have this information you will have to address this on your own. If you are looking for something to take for a prolonged period to treat your insomnia, I would recommend the following: Calcium and magnesium (in a food based supplement) to be taken after your evening meal; Vitamin B complex, as directed, to be taken in the morning; plus extra Vitamin B5, 50-200mg daily; and Inositol, 100mg, at bedtime; and Tryptophan, use as directed. Avoid tobacco, alcohol, caffeine; and foods containing tyramine to close to bedtime, such as bacon, cheese, chocolate, eggplant, ham, potatoes, sugar, spinach and tomatoes. Exercise regularly in the late afternoon or early evening, which should help make your body tired.

If your problem persists then consult your Homoeopath or Doctor to find a more permanent solution.

Tooth decay is mostly due to poor nutrition and poor oral hygiene. In particular, people who consume large quantities of refined carbohydrates are more likely to have a problem with tooth decay. Some people have unusually acidic saliva and are also more prone to cavities. Certain medications, such as some antibiotics and epilepsy medication can also affect the health of teeth, especially in children.

To keep the saliva from becoming too acidic, one should eat plenty of raw fruit and vegetables. Avoid carbonated drinks as they are high in phosphorous which promote the loss of calcium from the tooth enamel. One should also not use chewable vitamin C supplements, as the acidic nature of vitamin C can erode tooth enamel.

If one has developed a cavity, and has to have a filling, avoid the amalgam type as it contains 50% mercury, which is a toxic heavy metal. It would be best to have ceramic based filling which is non toxic. Many dentist recommend fluoride treatments to prevent cavities. However, studies suggest that fluoride accumulates in the body and possibly may cause cancer and other illnesses, but as yet the results are inconclusive. If concerned, one may consider switching to fluoride free toothpaste.

To prevent cavities one should brush teeth after eating and floss between teeth. Also rinse the mouth with colloidal silver (a natural antibacterial agent) after brushing. Take a well absorbed and assimilated form of Calcium and Magnesium with vitamin D to maintain strong healthy teeth. One could also use Calc phos and Calc fluor tissue salts to help maintain healthy teeth.

To keep teeth white and shiny, and to help remove nicotine and coffee stains, there is a natural tooth whitening toothpaste from Nature Fresh, called “Tooth Polish”.

Based on the symptoms you describe it sounds as if you are suffering from restless legs syndrome. It is a relatively common condition usually affecting people older than 50 years. The cause is unknown, but usually there may be a family history of the condition in 1/3 patients.

True homoeopathic treatment of restless legs syndrome would be based on what symptoms  and sensations the person has, what makes it better or worse, and are there any other symptoms accompanying the condition. Therefore each person would have a prescription individually chosen for them. As this information is not available I can recommend a few homoeopathic medicines considered specific for the treatment of the condition. They are Arsenicum album, Kalium carbonicum, Lycopodium clavatum and Natrum muriaticum. These can be used individually or in combination. It as advisable to try 6CH strength 2-3 times daily until symptoms improve, thereafter take as needed.Supplements that may be helpful in relieving the condition would be 500-1000mg a day of L-Phenylalanine (not to be taken if you are on an MAO inhibitor, have high blood pressure, have liver cirrhosis, or PKU); GABA 500-1000mg taken at bed time; and a Calcium and Magnesium preparation taken at bed time. Herbs that may be helpful are Rhodiola and Sceletium, to be used as directed.

True homoeopathic treatment of acid reflux (or heartburn) would be based on what is the cause, when it occurs, what makes it better or worse, what foods aggravate the situation and are there any other symptoms accompanying the condition. Therefore each person would have a prescription individually chosen for them. As this information is not available I can recommend a few homoeopathic medicines considered specific for the treatment of reflux. They are Carbo vegetabalis, Lycopodium clavatum, Magnesia carbonica, Nux vomica and Pulsatilla pratensis. These can be used individually or in combination, in 6CH strength, 2-3 times daily as needed.

Supplements that may be helpful in relieving acid reflux would be Aloe juice concentrate (not to be used if diabetic), one dose three times daily before meals; Papaya tablets, one tablet with every meal; Bromelain, one tablet with every meal. Herbs that may be helpful are Fennel (not to be used if pregnant), Ginger (perfect for pregnancy related reflux); Marshmallow root (not to be used if using diabetic medicine); and Slippery Elm, to all be used as directed.

Other recommendations would be to drink a large glass of water at the first signs of reflux. Eat your food slowly and chew it properly, so as not to stress the stomach. During your meals, you can sip a mixture of 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water. Eat fresh papaya and/or pineapple to aid your digestion; chew a few of the papaya seeds as well. Wait at least 3 hours after your meals before lying down. Do not eat carbonated beverages, fats, fried or processed foods, sugar, or highly seasoned or spicy foods.