Ask Ali
Alison Cullen is a Nutritional Therapist with a special interest in Phytotherapy.
Ali will endeavour to give the best advice based on the information provided. However, it is always advisable to have a face-to-face consultation with a doctor or health care practitioner to obtain a diagnosis of any health matter which is concerning you.
Q After reading the recent Healthy Way piece, I have been taking Saw Palmetto because I had urinary symptoms which the doctor told me was BPH, and it has been good – I no longer have to get up in the night many times. I want to take it as a maintenance programme but I’m not sure what dose to take. Would one capsule a week be enough?
A Good to know that Saw Palmetto have proved effective for you. As a maintenance programme, take one capsule each day. Once a week would not give you effective amounts.
Q Can you tell me if there is anything that will help with my libido? I am a 32-year-old healthy female, and have just got engaged, so I shouldn’t have any problems, but I do! I have quite a lot of stress to deal with, so I wondered if that was a factor?
A There are many things that can contribute to low libido, including poor diet, hormonal contraceptives, fatigue, thyroid disturbances and stress. If one of these factors, such as stress or fatigue, is present, it is best to work on resolving it first rather than taking libido-boosting supplements and ignoring the root cause of the problem. I suggest that you take a vitamin B complex and a magnesium supplement, to feed and support your nervous system, and a complex containing Passiflora to calm your nerves. A month or so of reducing your stress levels should see your libido starting to improve. These supplements are suitable to take long term if the source of the stress is unavoidable.
Q I am prone to kidney stones. Can you suggest anything to help prevent another episode of this painful malady?
A Drink plenty of water on a daily basis and avoid tea and coffee. Go easy on your salt intake, as this will spare your kidneys. Take a supplement of magnesium regularly (I like Salus Haus Magnesium liquid) and use Solidago tincture for two months to cleanse and tone your kidneys and remove potential gravel.
We regret that it is not possible for us to print answers to all the letters Ali receives. Remember that back issues of Healthy Way articles and Ask Ali are available on this website.
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