I have a bunion and every month my big toe becomes so inflamed and painful I can hardly walk; at night I get shooting pains

Bunions are caused by bone enlargement, so it is tricky to deal with them successfully without surgery. Talk to your doctor about surgery and whether gout, arthritis or an infection may be contributing to your discomfort.

In the meantime, apply arnica gel (by Bioforce, 01294 277344) three times a day, once before bed, which should reduce pain and inflammation. Applying a cold pack to the bunion will also bring immediate relief. Resting the foot and wearing properly fitting shoes with a wide toe area will help to prevent irritation of the bunion. Dairy foods, alcohol and red meat may exacerbate symptoms. Try supplements such as turmeric, bromelain and devil's claw internally. Turmeric has been shown to be effective in the relief of acute inflammation in the joints. Bromelain (from Nature's Best, 01892 552117), an enzyme extracted from fresh pineapple, has been found to ease pain and swelling. Devil's claw (from Bioforce, as before) will address the inflammation but it may take weeks for the full benefit to manifest itself. Also, try Profoot's Soft Gel Toe Spreader (020-8492 1600, profoot.co.uk), which relieves pain by correctly aligning big and second toes.

I am a 66-year-old woman, fit and active. Over the past few months I have developed a problem with body odour. My skin as well as underarms are affected; antiperspirants and deodorants seem to make it worse. My urine also has a strange smell

Body odour is attributed to numerous factors including overactivity of the sweat glands, hormonal fluctuations and metabolic disorders such as diabetes. A change in odour of the urine may indicate an underlying medical condition, so first consult your GP to rule this out. Plenty of water and a combination of magnesium, zinc and a highstrength B-complex (from Nature's Best, as before) may be helpful, since these nutrients seem to help rid the body of the waste substances that give rise to unpleasant odours. Homeopathy has many remedies to address this problem (the Society of Homeopaths, 01604 817890, homeopathy-soh.org).

· 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 (ask.emma@theguardian.com).