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 I have read that some painkillers such as aspirin and ibuprofen can make it harder to get pregnant. I have a recurrent back problem and have to use painkillers quite often. Is there a natural alternative that I could use as I want to start a family soon.
A I would suggest consulting a craniosacral therapist (craniosacral.co.uk or upledger.co.uk) to pinpoint and resolve the cause of your back problem, as pregnancy is likely to increase the pressure on any weak areas. In the meantime you could rub in gel containing an extract of Arnica.
Q My memory seems to be getting increasingly worse as I get older. I’m 48, female and otherwise healthy, but I am finding it a struggle to remember where I put my list of things to remember! It makes things difficult at work and I find it quite debilitating. Is there anything that I can do or is this just part of ageing?
A Women can experience memory problems or difficulty concentrating as they approach the menopause, as changing levels of oestrogen can affect the parts of the brain controlling learning and memory. Exactly how oestrogen affects these areas is not yet understood, but it is clear that shifts in oestrogen can cause the type of problems you outline.
You may find that taking Ginkgo biloba (traditionally known as the Memory Tree) will assist your memory – take the tincture for fastest effects. Ensure that you are taking plenty of Essential Fatty Acids in your diet (freshwater fish, seeds such as pumpkin and sunflower, nuts and green, leafy vegetables) and consider taking a supplement too. Minimise stress, as this has an extremely negative effect on memory when it is ongoing, and remember that caffeine and refined sugar cause stress reactions in the body.
Q I’m going through a stressful time at the moment, with a messy divorce and custody battle, and I have been taking various herbal teas to try to improve my sleep, but they aren’t working any more. When I don’t sleep, I find it hard to cope and even get irritated with my son. I don’t want to take drugs so what can I do?
A Herb teas are fine, especially if you’re using them in place of caffeine-containing drinks that would be adding to the strain on your nervous system. However, they are not
designed to be medicines and therefore they aren’t likely to work in situations where the symptoms are quite severe. Your nervous system has a great deal to cope with at the moment, and it isn’t at all surprising that sleep is a little illusive. Try taking a combination extract of Valerian and Hops about 30 minutes before you go to bed. It can help get you to sleep and stay asleep. If you wake up in the night, you can take another dose. It won’t leave you feeling groggy in the morning and isn’t addictive.
Q I have recently been diagnosed with PMS and am currently taking Wellwoman capsules, which contains Starflower and Evening Primrose Oil. I have been offered a mild anti-depressant as an alternative, but do not want to go this route if possible. I have been reading about the benefits of Agnus castus. Could I take this as well as the Wellwoman or do I need to take them alone? I am also very stressed out.
A You’ve put your finger on the key problem already – stress makes hormonal disruption far worse than it need be, as the stress hormones are made by the same organ as the sex hormones. Then, having PMS stresses you even more and it’s a vicious circle.
An extract of Agnus castus will help the PMS if it’s the most common sort – anxiety, irritability, anger, mood swings, breast tenderness, fluid retention, cramps, etc. I use the tincture for my patients as it works faster than tablets or capsules. I would also suggest that you swap from the Well-woman caps (once you’ve finished what you’ve got) to Magnesium OK, which is a one-a-day tablet containing magnesium and B vitamins (for your nervous system and to relax muscles that tend to cramp) as well as zinc for brain function and chromium for blood sugar levels. You can always take an Essential Fatty Acid supplement such as Udo’s Choice if you think that the oils are working for you; however, your symptoms are more likely to respond to Agnus castus and the vitamins and minerals mentioned above, in my experience.
I would also recommend that you ruthlessly cut caffeine out of your life, if you haven’t already. This includes decaffeinated coffee and tea, and all fizzy drinks/chocolate/red bull/etc. If you are really stressed then you can’t afford to have any caffeine-related products jangling up your system. Drink heaps of water (still rather than sparkling) and make sure that you eat regularly - a snack every three to four hours is good if you’re really on edge, as it ensures that your blood sugar doesn’t fall, which makes you more nervy. Don’t go for sugary foods but try lots of dried fruit instead - it gives longer energy and contains lots of excellent nutrients that feed your nervous system.
Ali endeavours 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 that is concerning you.
Bookmark and share this page.