My 20-year-old daughter has irregular periods and quite bad acne. Her hair is also thinning. Antibiotics helped with the acne, but she no longer wishes to take them. She eats well but, like most students, occasionally drinks too much.
Her symptoms indicate that her hormone levels need balancing but low vitamin and mineral status, a diet high in toxins such as additives and sugar, stress and long-term use of antibiotics could all be contributing. Also ask your GP about polycystic ovary syndrome. I suggest a daily multivitamin and mineral, with good levels of iron, zinc, silica and B vitamins. Rio Health's Anti Acne formula contains a potent blend of herbs such as echinacea and chlorophyll to purify the blood and correct any glandular problem. Both from Rio Health, 01273 570987, riohealth.co.uk. Prolonged antibiotics lead to an imbalance of gut flora; rebalance with probiotics and to treat acne, reduce toxins and drink plenty of filtered water.
I've suffered from cold sores for years but they seem to be getting worse. I'm 43, in good health and have a balanced diet. Is there anything that would help?
Stress, excess sunlight or heat, or a weakened immune system can increase the likelihood of a cold sore. Acidophilus bacteria, found in live yogurt, fights the herpes virus, so have three cups a day. Avoid nuts, seeds, grains, pork, gelatine, chocolate and soya, and instead eat plenty of foods containing lysine, an amino acid that helps block the virus, such as brewer's yeast, fish, shellfish, turkey, chicken, eggs, beans, fruit and vegetables, particularly potatoes and avocado. Take 500-1,000mg lysine daily (by Solgar, £6.15 for 50 500mg tablets) and apply Super Lysine Plus cream (by Quantum, £3.85 for a 7g tube) at the first signs of a cold sore. Both from The Nutri Centre, 0800 587 2290.
· Emma Mitchell is a natural health therapist. Before following Emma's recommendations, you should consult your GP about any medical problems or special health conditions.
Send your questions to Wellbeing, Guardian Weekend, 119 Farringdon Road, London EC1R 3ER. Email: ask.emma@theguardian.com.
