Susan Clark is a journalist reporting on natural health. She is the author of the What Really Works series of books and a weekly columnist with Grazia magazine.

I've been trying to get pregnant for a year now with no success. Is there something alternative I can try before going down the IVF route?

If you are already thinking about IVF then I assume you have undergone all the normal checks with your doctor and specialists and that this is their advice. In that case, the problem you face is that if you are trying to get pregnant we generally advise avoiding herbal remedies since we cannot be sure these remedies would be safe to take if you are successful.

Probably the single most important step you can take to maximise your chances of conception either conventionally or via fertility treatments is to consult a qualified homeopath who has a good track record of expertise in this field.

Homeopathy will not interfere with any medications you may be advised to take and poses no risk to your baby should you fall pregnant.

If you can travel to London then I recommend a consultation with Dr Neil Slade (PhD) who has had enormous success in helping couples with fertility problems not only to conceive but to take a baby safely to term. Contact his clinic on 020 8543 7948. An initial consultation is £60. Follow-ups are £50.

My doctor says I have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and has diagnosed anti-spasmodic medicine, but whenever I get stressed I feel sick and get bad tummy ache. What do you suggest?

Stress-related IBS is one of the more common chronic conditions that natural remedies really can help relieve. You should definitely be taking a good quality probiotic to maintain a healthy balance of the gut bacteria and I would also suggest you get into the habit of drinking a quarter glass of aloe vera juice in the morning and evening.

There are lots of remedies sold to help counter IBS but one of the latest theories is that a daily supplement of melatonin could also help. This is the hormone produced in the pineal gland that is best known for controlling the wake/sleep cycle and so is a supplement often used by frequent long-haul travellers to help counter sleep deprivation and jet lag and by people suffering from insomnia.

But melatonin is also produced in the gut and the new theory, currently under investigation, is that it may play a key role in regulating gut motility which would make it a useful remedy in managing IBS. Sufferers who have taken 3g at bedtime, as part of preliminary tests, have reported reduced gut spasms and abdominal pains.

The trouble is, melatonin is not sold over the counter in this country which means you either have to persuade your GP to prescribe it, take your chances by ordering over the internet or ask friends or family who may be visiting America, where it is sold without restrictions to bring it back for you.

My husband complains that his gums bleed quite badly when he cleans his teeth. He does visit the dental hygienist although not as often as he should. Is there anything he can use to stop this problem?

You may be astonished to learn that the single most prevalent disease on the planet is periodontal or gum disease and that, far from being a problem only associated with old age, an estimated 66 per cent of younger adults have some form of this condition.

Bleeding gums, especially after flossing, cleaning your teeth or eating hard food are a clear sign of gum disease, as are red or swollen gums, loose or separating teeth. And this is not a problem sufferers should ignore since periodontal infections can enter the bloodstream to create new infections.

In fact, researchers are now showing a link between gum infections and cardiovascular disease, low birth-weight babies, stroke, osteoporosis and diabetes. Worse than that, since this is a bacterial infection which passes through saliva, if a member of your family has gum disease, then you are at risk too because it is infectious and contagious. Tackle the problem using Dental Miracle, a herbal powder that you use dry on your toothbrush before cleaning your teeth to help promote healthy gums (£17.95 for a 9g pot that will last three months). Rinse after brushing teeth with gengigel mouth rinse (£7.99 for 150ml), and at the end of this routine apply gengigel gel (£6.49 for 20ml tube from Victoria Health 0800 413596; www.victoriahealth.com) to affected areas.

Gengigel is an excellent biological mouth and gum-care gel based on hyaluronic acid, a natural substance found in the connective tissues of the body which has been shown in clinical trials to stimulate the production of new, healthy tissue when applied to the gums.

My doctor has advised me to take a course of antidepressants but I am worried about the side-effects. I know St John's wort is good for this but is there anything else on the market?

If you want something brand new then you cannot get more pioneering than StressAssist; a supplement made by American company Futurebiotics which provides a therapeutic dose of L-theanine.

This is an amino acid that has been shown to stimulate alpha brainwaves - the same type of brain activity detected during meditation and relaxation.This formulation is so cutting edge it includes the Ayurvedic (Indian) mood-enhancing herb, ashwagandha, a European herb called rhodiola (which works in the same way as St John's wort to bolster levels of the brain's feelgood hormone, serotonin), plus a good dose of anti-stress B vitamins.

It costs £15.95 for 60 veggie capsules from US supplement specialist Victoria Health (as before).

· Before following any medical or dietary advice in this column, please consult your GP if you suffer from any health problems. Susan Clark's website is www.whatreallyworks.co.uk