Toenail and Foot Conditions Archives

Toenail Fungus - SEE THIS!

Question and Answer in The Sunday Times, 6th July 2003.

July 06, 2003

Health: Susan Clark: What's the alternative?



Q: I have had a fungal infection in my toenails for five years. In the past, I have used Loceryl to clear the infection, but it always comes back. What should I be doing to prevent this recurrence?
Name and address withheld

A: Fungal infections are always a sign of an impaired immune system, as the body’s natural defences are designed, when working optimally, to resist the organisms responsible for the infection.

The immune system is complex but clever. It can “remember” past infections and make antibodies to fight off organisms it has encountered before. But this is only part of the picture. With fungal infections, antibodies are irrelevant. What is more important is the production of T-lymphocytes (T-cells), a type of white blood cell that is responsible for cell-mediated immunity; that is, all those defence mechanisms not related to the production of antibodies.

To address this holistically, you have to take another step back and understand that the gland responsible for the production of fungus-fighting T-cells is the thymus, which means recurring fungal infections are a likely sign of a thymus that is working below par.

You can buy thymus extract supplements in health stores, but, as the active agents have been sourced from sheep, I would recommend using the immune-boosting Asian mushrooms maitake, reishi, cordyceps and shiitake, which will do the same thymus-supporting job. One of the best mushroom combination supplements on sale is New Chapter’s Host Defence which costs £28.99 from Victoria Health (0800 413596).

Treat your fungal infection topically with Kolorex, a cream made from horopito, an antifungal New Zealand herb that is also effective against thrush. It is available by mail order from the NutriCentre (0800 587 2290).

Q: I am concerned about the recent publicity regarding chromium, and would like to find an alternative way of regulating blood sugar levels. Any ideas?

Mrs V Horricks, by e-mail

A: Glucotrol is a combination formula specifically to regulate blood sugar levels. It is made by the American manufacturer Vitamin Research Group, a company that specialises in making supplements for doctors. It includes goat’s-rue, Galega officinalis, which is a botanical source of metformin, the prescription drug used for patients with Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes, as well as extract of bitter melon (Momordica charantia), a tropical fruit that can lower blood glucose without increasing the production of insulin. In clinical studies, bitter melon was shown to improve glucose tolerance in diabetics by almost 54%.

The formula also incorporates quercetin, a plant flavonoid that inhibits the action of an enzyme called aldose reductase, which would otherwise raise blood sugar levels by converting blood glucose into the simple sugar compound sorbitol.

Glucotrol is available by mail order (£24.95 for 120 capsules) from the NutriCentre (as above).

Q: I have hit my mid-forties, and I have piled on two stone in weight. I am desperate to shift it. Is there a natural supplement to dull my appetite, or a diet that really works?

Mr H Ward, Cumbria

A: Currently, the most talked-about (and controversial) natural supplement for suppressing the appetite is Hoodia gordonii, a cactus traditionally used by tribesmen of the Kalahari Desert to stave off hunger pangs during their hunting expeditions.

Scientists in Cambridge have isolated and patented the single plant molecule they believe is responsible for this action, and Pfizer, which paid £30m for the patent, is developing a slimming pill. However, bio-piracy issues over the exploitation of this plant remain unresolved.

While you can patent a molecule, you cannot patent a natural substance like a plant, so American supplement-makers have also been making slimming formulations that include hoodia. But if it is not coming from authorised suppliers in South Africa, then it is being harvested illegally. Furthermore, some of the American supplements that can be bought on the internet have been found to contain no hoodia whatsoever. You can, of course, ignore these issues, but if you prefer to take a moral stand, I suggest that you use an alternative and wait for the issues to be resolved.

Green tea, for example, has similar fat-burning properties to hoodia. In university trials carried out in Geneva, scientists found that taking green-tea extract over a period of 10 weeks prompted significant and dramatic weight loss. Green-tea supplements are widely available in independent health stores, or you can order Metasys Green Tea Extract (£24.95 for 120 capsules) from Victoria Health (0800 413596).

For more information on natural health and online chat about remedies (Mondays, 8pm), visit my website: www.whatreallyworks.co.uk

If you have any questions or tips, write to What’s the Alternative? Style, The Sunday Times, 1 Pennington Street, London E98 1ST. We can only provide replies to published letters

Before following any medical or dietary advice in this column, please consult your GP if you suffer from any health problems or special conditions, or are in doubt as to its suitability

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