A Complex Kleenex Rx
For the past 20 years I've suffered from chronic sinus congestion. Eight years of allergy shots did almost nothing for me, so I take a decongestant every day. If I skip even a day, though, I feel awful. It worries me that I'm so dependent on medicine, but I work full time and have two teenaged children, so I don't have time to feel ill. Can you help me?
Chronic sinusitis, or sinus inflammation, is very common, and it's important to determine whether it is due to allergies, infection, or both. Infection often reveals itself through a mildly elevated white blood cell count and tenderness in the sinus. An X-ray will confirm that the sinusitis is due to an infection; if that's the problem, a month or more of antibiotic treatment may be required for a long-standing case.
If your congestion is due to allergies, shots won't help unless you reduce exposure to the triggering allergen. For instance, if you are allergic to molds and are exposed to them daily, the allergy shot will only compound your problem. This is true of pollens, dust mites, and foods as well. It would be a good idea to get tested for allergies to all of these triggers, and then to eliminate them from your daily life as much as possible.
Molds can be a powerful trigger of chronic sinus problems, so I recommend that you test your home for them. One patient of mine, a 42-year-old writer, had a house in upstate New York surrounded by woods. As soon as he moved in, his sinus congestion worsened, and he became dependent on medicine, just like you. The house was damp and turned out to have a leaky, moldy roof. His condition improved once he fixed the roof and bought a dehumidifier.
Vitamin C and the herb stinging nettle may also improve your condition. Both are natural antihistamines that help prevent allergic reactions. Vitamin C is a powerful immune booster as well, which is a benefit if your congestion stems from an infection.
Easing Arthritis Naturally
I'm 38 years old and experiencing joint pain in my hands and thumbs, which is especially worrisome because I work as a massage therapist. My doctor says I have the early signs of arthritis and he recommends physical therapy and Mortin. Are there any natural approaches I should consider?
Natural remedies can be very effective against joint pain. First of all, there is a documented connection between rheumatoid arthritis—an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks its own joints—and low levels of vitamin E and beta carotene. These nutrients, moreover, are crucial in the fight against free radical damage, which is also implicated in arthritis. You can have your vitamin levels checked to see if they are low.
Another exciting supplement, glucosamine sulfate, seems to be very effective against arthritis—particularly osteoarthritis, a wearing down of the cartilage that can occur with age. This supplement is a cartilage extract that seems to reverse inflammation and to stimulate and rebuild damaged cartilage in the joints. Generally I prescribe three doses daily of 500 milligrams each. I have seen it work in nearly two thirds of my arthritic patients.
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