Could you suggest a preparation that will fade liver spots on my hands? The commercial products I have tried have had little effect.
Liver spots are the result of a build-up of waste in the body known as lipofuscin accumulation and are an external sign of extensive free radical damage. Sun exposure, poor diet, lack of exercise and poor liver function all contribute to the problem.
To increase protection against free radical damage, take vitamins A, C and E, and minerals selenium and zinc. Try Bioace (40 tablets, £7.30, one twice a day) by the Naturopathic Health and Beauty Company (020-8842 3956); apply its Antioxidant Vitamin E skin cream (£4.57/50g) to hands to prevent further damage. Avoid caffeine, fried or processed foods, rancid oils, sugar and tobacco, and keep out of the sun. Consider a fast and liver-cleanse, but only with further advice.
I am 54, have osteoporosis (and some arthritis) and have had reactions to all the treatments I've been prescribed. I have taken supplements for years (including glucosamine and cod-liver oil) and have recently bought a rebounder for exercise. Any advice?
Strong bones need calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc and vitamin C, while vitamin D and boron help the absorption of calcium. HRT was thought to help combat osteoporosis because oestrogen stops the loss of old bone; but progesterone has now been found to be four times as effective in increasing bone density, since it encourages the building of new bone. Ask your GP to prescribe progesterone cream.
Too much protein in the diet produces acid, which the body tries to neutralise with sodium and calcium. Calcium is robbed from the bones, leading to osteoporosis. So adopt a low-protein diet while avoiding tea, coffee, alcohol, chocolate, too much fibre or laxatives. Take a bone-building supplement such as Osteofood by Higher Nature (90 tablets, £8.90, three a day, 01435 882880) and add a tablespoon of mixed seeds to your daily diet.
Weight-bearing exercise is important. The rebounder is a good idea, as is yoga, because different postures require you to bear weight on different parts of the body, not just the legs, thereby strengthening a range of bones. Brisk walking, aerobics, weight-training and tennis are also good.
Please can you suggest a cure for a problem that is driving me crazy? I have two lines at each side of my mouth that keep splitting. My doctor gave me hydrocortisone and Canesten, but neither has worked. Sometimes the splits look as if they have gone, but should I yawn or open my mouth particularly wide, they split again.
Your problem is called angular stomatitis and is due to a deficiency in B vitamins, especially riboflavin (B2) and pyridoxine (B6), and essential fatty acids. Take Vitamin B50 Complex (60 tablets, £6.50, one a day) and High-Potency Fish Oil (60 capsules, £7.95, three a day), both by Nature's Best (01892 552117). Eat lots of vegetables, especially potatoes, meat, milk and cereals fortified with B vitamins.
It is a problem that would respond well to homeopathic treatment. Silica is a remedy for skin, hair, nails and bones, and is recommended for sores at the corners of the mouth, so take potency 6C, three times a day for two weeks. If they don't get better, try visiting a homeopath (Society of Homeopaths, 01604 621400).
· Emma Mitchell is a natural health therapist. Her recommendations are to be followed in conjunction with advice from your own healthcare provider. Send your questions to Wellbeing, Guardian Weekend, 119 Farringdon Road, London EC1R 3ER. Email: askemma@theguardian.com
