Athletes Foot (16 Dec '07)

Dear Kim, How can I prevent and get rid of athletes foot? Thanks, Chris

Hi Chris, Athletes foot is a fungal infection that thrives in warm and damp environments. It is one of the most common fungal infections of the skin. The fungi live of dead skin cells and seem to particularly like the area between the toes. Symptoms may include inflammation, burning, itching, scaling, cracking and blistering. Not fun, but don’t worry, there is lots that you can do to get rid of it!

The first thing I would recommend is to fill a small bucket with water and then add about 20 drops of pure tea tree oil (available locally). Place your feet in the bucket and let them soak for about 15min. This can be repeated several times per day. After soaking your feet, dry them thoroughly and then dab a few drops of undiluted tea tree oil directly on the affected area. Tea tree is a very powerful anti-fungal.

It is very important to keep your feet dry, so always make sure to dry between your toes carefully after bathing. After you’ve used the towel it should be washed. If you wear socks, then cotton socks are the best. Make sure to change your socks daily. Wear well-ventilated shoes such as sandals, leather shoes or tennis shoes (sneakers) that have holes allowing your feet to breathe. Do not wear shoes made with rubber or vinyl material. Try not to wear the same shoes every day and try to change wet shoes immediately.

You can also try cutting garlic into tiny pieces (or in slivers wrapped in gauze) and wear them in your shoes for a few days. Garlic is a great antifungal that can also be taken internally. Remember, raw garlic is better than cooked.

With regards to your diet, it is very important that you avoid sugary and processed foods (such as sodas, alcohol, cakes, pastries, white bread, breakfast meal, etc.) as these foods tend to feed fungal infections. Instead, make sure to eat lots of vegetables, pulses and wholegrains.

The advice that I’ve given above is great for the occasional fungal infection. If however you find that you constantly have a fungal infection, particularly if it is accompanied with bloating and lethargy, then it’s worth checking with a health practitioner whether you have a more extensive fungal infection in your body.

Oily Skin (23 Dec '07)

Dear Kim, I suffer from oily skin. What can I do to stop this? Appreciate your help. Marsha

Hi Marsha, Your skin naturally produces a substance called sebum. Some people however produce an excess which usually causes very oily skin. This excess oil can in turn clog pores and cause blemishes. Although oily skin can certainly be hereditary, it is also affected by your diet and hormone balance.

With regards to your diet, reduce the amount of fat, especially from meat and dairy products. Fried foods and heat processed vegetable oils (like those commonly sold in supermarkets) should also be avoided (extra virgin olive oil is fine). These fats can interfere with your body’s processing of the fatty acid omega 3, essential for healthy skin. Omega 3 is found in linseeds (also known as flax), pumpkin seeds, walnuts and oily fish. You can also supplement directly with fish oil (one teaspoon per day) or linseed oil (one tablespoon per day). Be sure never to heat these oils and always keep them in the fridge.

It is also very important that you reduce sugary foods such as sweets, chocolates, biscuits, and sugar in drinks such as tea, coffee and soft drinks. In addition, limit your intake of alcoholic beverages. Make sure to instead drink plenty of clean water, at least 2 litres per day, as this will keep your skin well hydrated and help flush out toxins. If you want healthy skin, do not smoke. Smoking promotes enlargement of the pores and impairs the overall health of the skin.

Caring for oily skin does not mean trying to dry the skin out. Despite having excess oil, skin may still lack moisture. Likewise, people with oily skin are often tempted to overclean their skin, but this only stimulates more oil production. So don’t wash your skin more than twice a day, and avoid harsh scrubs, soaps and cleansers. Also avoid cleansers and lotions that contain alcohol. The best is to use hot water when washing your face as hot water helps to dissolve skin oil better than lukewarm or cold water. You may also want to try using a clay or mud mask as these help pull out toxins and impurities from the skin. Natural, chemical-free moisturisers are always to be preferred.

Another great tip is to make a facial sauna using lemon grass and rose buds. Simmer 2 -4 tablespoons of dried or fresh herb in about 1.5 liters of water. When the pot is steaming, remove it from the cooker and place it on a table. Sit with your face at a comfortable distance over the steam for fifteen minutes. If you wish, you can place a towel over your head in order to trap the steam. Afterwards, splash your face with cold water and allow your skin to air dry or pat it dry with a towel. This can be done two to three times per week.

Another remedy you may want to try is mixing equal parts of lemon juice and water together, Pat the mixture on your face and allow it to dry, then rinse with warm water. Follow with a cold water rinse. This can be done on a daily basis.

How can I get rid of Warts? (23 Dec '07)

Hello Kim, Kindly help me understand what warts are, how they come and how you get rid of them. Are they HIV related? Good Day! Mutale

Dear Mutale, Warts are small growths on the skin caused by a virus (human papilloma viruses). There are three main types of warts: common, plantar and genital warts. Common warts can be found anywhere on the body. Typically they do not cause pain or itching. They are however, extremely contagious and can easily spread if they are picked, trimmed, bitten or touched.

Plantar warts occur on the soles of the feet and the undersides of the toes. They are usually tender to the touch and may bleed if the surface is trimmed. Plantar warts do not tend to spread to other parts of the body.

Genital warts are soft, moist growths found in and around the genital area. They are highly contagious. Because the warts do not usually appear until 3 months or more after an individual has become infected, the virus can be spread before the carrier is even aware that he or she has them. If you suspect that you may have genital warts then see your doctor promptly.

If you repeatedly keep getting warts (any of the types), then your immune system may be slightly weakened. Nutrient deficiency is one of the most common causes of low immune function. Indeed, any single nutrient deficiency can profoundly impair the immune system. That’s why it is so important to make sure you eat lots of fresh vegetables, pulses and wholegrains that are all packed with vitamins, minerals and other essentials! Don’t eat processed foods in which all the goodness of the food has been refined out of it. In addition, sugar (and sugar containing foods) as well as alcohol have been shown to be detrimental to the immune system and should hence be avoided as much as possible.

To really give your immune system a boost, supplement with superfoods such as wheat grass, barley grass, moringa or chlorella. These superfoods are usually sold in powders that you mix with water or juice. A good dose is about 3 teaspoons per day. (available from Jubilee Crossroads/Kabulonga, Link Pharmacy, The Farmers Market, Natures Thyme, MyAfya, etc.).

You asked whether HIV and warts were related. They are not related, except of course in that HIV may start to compromise the immune system which then makes it easier for other bacteria and viruses to take hold.

To remove common warts, crush a garlic clove and apply the garlic directly on the wart, avoiding the surrounding skin. Cover it with a bandage and leave it in place for 24hrs. Blisters should then form, and the wart should fall of in about a week. Another method is to apply a paste made from castor oil and baking soda to the wart. Put the mixture on each night and cover it with a bandage. This usually removes the wart in 3-6 weeks. Tea tree oil can also be used directly on the wart due to its strong viral properties (available in many pharmacies as well as SPAR).

Help, I have head sores! (6 Jan '08)

Dear Kim, I have a problem which I want you to help me with. I have been having sores in my head which produce pus and at times blood ever since I was a boy but I am 32 years now. I have tried to visit various Doctors and all they have told me is that it is a bacterial infection. I have done HIV tests several times and I am still negative. Please help me seek immediate remedial to this problem. I am tired and I don't know what to do now. A.B.S

Hi A.B.S., Yes, it does sound like you have ongoing bacterial infections on your head. The puss is a result of the battles your immune system is fighting with the bacteria (puss is basically dead immune cells and bacteria). I will recommend a few natural remedies that you can apply directly to the sores in order to help clear the infection. Although some of them may sound very simple and perhaps a bit insignificant, I do urge you to try as I’ve seem remarkable results from applying these remedies.

As always though, even though we may treat the infected sores and kill the bacteria, we have to ask why are you getting these sores in the first place? My first question would be if you can remember any event (or perhaps ask your parents/relatives) if anything happened to you when you were a boy just before you started getting the sores. For instance, was it soon after you received vaccinations, or perhaps you were treated with some medications? There must have been some circumstance or event that compromised your immune system. Even being slightly undernourished (and I mean with regards to nutrients rather than calories), can severely restrict immune function and wound healing. Therefore part of what you need to do is pay attention to what you are eating as this will determine your overall nutritional status. Make sure that you eat lots of vegetables, pulses (lentils, beans) nuts, seeds, and fruit. Cut out processed foods, sodas, white bread, alcohol and everything with sugar as these foods rob your body of nutrients. Don’t overeat. To really give your body a boost, you can also use natural superfoods like Moringa, Barley Grass or Wheat Grass (sold in powdered forms, mix with water or juice). Vitamin C is also a very important nutrient for the immune system and will help decrease susceptibility to infection. It can be found in green peppers, lemons and oranges, but you can also supplement directly (min. 2000mg per day).

To keep the sores clean I would use Tee Tree oil as this natural remedy is highly antibacterial. Depending on how big the sores are, either apply directly using a cotton bud, or mix a few drops in some water which is then used for washing the sores. I also recommend making a garlic poultice. This is done very easily by crushing some fresh garlic (you can mix it with some raw honey to create a paste), placing it on the sores and then applying a bandage over it to keep it in place. If you have sensitive skin, then place the garlic between two clean cloths rather than directly on the skin. This can be done in the evening and left overnight. Crushed fresh moringa leaves used as a poultice are also great for wound healing.

To further help the skin heal I recommend any of the following supplements – MSM, Fish Oil and Silica. Please feel free to email me if you have trouble finding these supplements.

Are My Fingernails Normal? (27 Jan '08)

Dear Kim, I have had vertical ridges on my fingernails for a long time. Recently these have also started appearing on my toenails. What causes these ridges? Appreciate your help. John

Hi John, Vertical ridges on your nails is probably because you are low (have a deficiency) in B Vitamins. Although many foods contain B Vitamins, these are often lost through refining and processing. To give you an idea of how much is actually lost, lets take a closer look at Nshima, and compare lightly milled “Rollermeal” with its highly refined counterpart “Breakfastmeal”. Due to its high refinement, Breakfastmeal has lost on average 78% of its B Vitamins, while Rollermeal loses only about 13%. This is a massive difference, and essentially means that you would have to eat 4 portions of Nshima made with Breakfastmeal to get the same amount of nutrients (B Vitamins) present in one portion of Rollermeal!

B Vitamins tend also to be lost (or used up by the body) when we are under a lot of pressure and stress. Therefore, if you are experiencing a lot of stress, either in the work place or at home, it is particularly important that you pay attention to what you are eating to ensure that your body is getting all the nutrients that it needs. Alcohol also tends to deplete the body of B Vitamins, as does a diet that is high in sugary foods.

Foods that are high in B Vitamins include wholegrains (rollermeal, brown rice, oats, whole grain brown bread, etc), lentils and most vegetables (especially broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and tomatoes). You can also supplement with Brewers Yeast or B-Complex tablets (50mg per day).

Fungal Infection on my Private Parts! (3 Feb '08)

Hi, I have had this problem for the past four months now. I have some tiny pimples around my man hood. I went to the hospital then they told me it’s Candida. I have taken a lot of drugs but these pimples and the itching do not go away. All the test I have carried show that it’s not other STDs but a fungal infection. Is there medicine for Candida because I have been given a lot of drugs but to no avail. Please help. Joel from LSK

Hi Joel, Candida is a natural organism (yeast that sometimes turns into a fungus) that lives in harmony in most people’s bodies. Most of the time Candida does not cause any problems whatsoever. However, the trouble starts when Candida starts to increase in numbers, hence overpopulating and overwhelming the body. This can happen due to several reasons.

Firstly, Candida is kept in check by our immune systems, so if our immune system is low, then it will be easier for Candida to increase its numbers. Immune system can be low due to dietary factors, remember even if you are just deficient in a single nutrient, it can have a detrimental effect on the immune system. Therefore make sure to pay attention and put a bit of effort into the food you consume. If you struggle with getting enough vegetables in your diet, then consider supplementing with a super food such as Moringa, Wheat grass or Barley grass. There is also a great product called “Green Power”, which is a natural complete multivitamin-mineral supplement (Available Jubilee, Link, The Farmers Market, Mary’s Herbal Clinic, Natures Thyme, etc.). Take 2-3 teaspoons per day, mixed in some juice or water. It does not have any interactions with other medications and is safe for both young and old people to use.

Another thing that can severely deplete your immune power is stress and worry. In previous articles I’ve talked extensively about the importance of relaxation, taking time out for yourself, exercising, prayer and meditation. Getting enough sleep, at least 8 hrs per night, is also very important to keep your immune system strong.

Candida feeds of sugar, so in order to combat it you need to eliminate all foods that contain sugar. Always check the ingredients list of products to see if they contain sugar. The higher up on the ingredients list, the more sugar the product contains. Obvious sources of sugar are pastries, cakes, sweets, ice-cream and soft drinks. However, sometimes it may not always be that obvious, for instance peanut butter and ketchup often contain lots of sugar. Also avoid all processed foods like white bread, breakfast meal, crackers and breakfast cereals (e.g. rice puffs, cornflakes, etc), as these are converted very quickly into sugar in your body. It is also crucial to avoid all alcohol – beer, spirits and wine. Alcohol is like liquid sugar and your Candida will love it!

Always check whether you have taken antibiotics lately as it is very common to get Candida infections after a course of antibiotics. The reason is because the antibiotics kill off all the bacteria in your body, even the good ones that protect you from Candida overgrowth. It is very important to always repopulate with good bacteria (friendly flora) after you have taken antibiotics. This can be done with a probiotic supplement (which you can buy from the chemist – just make sure to get a really strong and good quality one!) or you can make and drink sour water (1/2 cup twice per day).

To make sour water you can use any grain – millet, sorghum rice or barley. It is best to use sprouted grain. The following recipe is for millet: Wash the millet. Soak 1 cup millet in 3 cups water (clean boiled and filtered water). Cover tightly and leave for 2-3 days. Strain the water from the millet. Store the sour water in a cool place or in the fridge. The sour water is ready to drink when it starts to form bubbles. The warmer the weather, the sooner it will be ready. Sour water has a strong smell. For a better taste and smell, mix it with lemon or spiced tea. Do not heat the sour water. If the sour water makes you feel nauseous, drink it with food. Make the second batch from the same grain as the first batch, add more filtered boiled water, cover and leave it to soak for one day. You can make a third batch from the same grain. After the third batch throw away the grain and start again from fresh.

What causes Urticaria? (9 Mar '08)

Hi Kim, Thank you for introduction such a column in the Sunday Post. I have been having this problem or urticaria for too long, precisely 10 years. When it started I used to take piriton and the itching would go, but the problem is that it reoccurs when ever it is hot, cold, or rainy. I don’t know what to do, please help. MM

Hi MM, Urticaria, also known as hives, is an allergic reaction in the skin characterised by white or pink welts or large bumps surrounded with redness. Urticaria is actually quite a common condition: it is estimated that 15-20% of the general population has it at some time. Urticaria can be produced as a result of reactions to various physical conditions, in your case heat, cold and rain. However, it is important to note that these environmental conditions are not the true cause of your urticaria. For various reasons you body has become very sensitive and as a result your skin reacts to things that normally would not cause any problems.

Actually, in adults the leading underlying cause of urticaria are drug reactions. Although many drugs have been shown to produce urticaria, the two most common ones are penicillin (antibiotics) and aspirin. Please note that you don’t necessarily have to have taken penicillin as a medication for it to have affected you. Penecillin and related contaminants can exist undetected in foods. Indeed, urticaria has even been traced to penicillin in milk, soft drinks and frozen dinners.

Food allergies also tend to play a part in urticaria. Although any food can be the causative agent, the most common offenders are milk, fish, meat, eggs, beans and nuts. If you suspect a food allergy, you may want to try an elimination diet. This is a diet where you remove all suspected offending foods for two weeks and then slowly reintroduce one food every 4 days to see whether there is a reaction. Often when there are problems with food allergy, the digestive system also tends to need a bit of extra support. Therefore, it is important that you avoid things that weaken it, e.g. alcohol, NSAID (non-steroidal-anti-inflammatory drugs) and sugar.

Many food additives have also been shown to increase inflammatory compounds in the body and result in urticaria. This is particularly true in children (but also plays a part in adults). Food additives include colorants, flavourings (incl. artificial sweeteners), preservatives, emulsifiers and stabilisers. The importance of controlling food additives is well demonstrated in a recent study of 64 patients with urticaria. Within two weeks on an additive-free diet, 73% of the patients had a significant reduction in their symptoms. To avoid additives, you need to avoid ALL processed and packaged foods.

There are other factors that have also been shown to play a part in causing urticaria. For instance chronic candidiasis (yeast infection) and indeed psychological factors like stress.

In treating urticaria it is vital that the true underlying causative factors are identified and eliminated. As noted above, allergy to foods, food additives and drugs, as well as stress are common causes of urticaria. I also recommend that you supplement with relatively high doses of vitamin C, as it helps lower certain inflammatory agents in the body (e.g. histamine). Take 1 gram two to three times per day. Another great natural agent that has been shown to reduce allergic/inflammatory mediators is quercitin. Take 200mg twenty minutes before each meal. Furthermore, vitamin B12 has also been reported to be of value in the treatment of acute and chronic urticaria. Take 1000mcg per day.

Boils on the head! (30 Mar '08)

Dear Kim,Thanks for the wonderful health tips. I have a two year old daughter. Her problem is that whenever I plait her hair she develops boils. When she was one year old, she even had a very big boil near her neck and had to go through an operation. Is there anything wrong with her head? Or maybe she has an infection? Are there any hair oils that she should apply to her skin? Worried parent, Praticia

Hi Praticia, I can understand your concern. But there is no cause for alarm and there is nothing wrong with your child’s head. A boil is a round puss-filled nodule on the skin. Usually it is a hair follicle (the small “hole” from where the hair grows), that becomes infected with a bacteria. This is why boils tend to occur on the more hairy parts of the body, especially those that are exposed to friction, pressure, or moisture, such as the neck, scalp, armpits, and buttocks. When you are plaiting your daughter’s hair, you are of course applying both pressure and friction. In addition, if you use any petroleum based oil, e.g. baby oil, then it can plug the hair follicles which further increases the risk of boil formation. Therefore, I would recommend that you stop braiding your daughters hair, and under no circumstance use petroleum based oils and creams on her hair. If you want to use oil, then use either olive oil, grape seed oil, or indeed coconut oil (my favourite!).

Usually boils will resolve within one to two weeks. However, since in your daughter’s case, they are reoccurring, this may indicate that her immune system is a bit low. It’s of course the immune system’s job to fight off any bacteria, and if it is not functioning properly, then it will not be able to perform its job efficiently. It is therefore important that you help support your daughter’s immune system. The first thing is to make sure she is eating healthy foods. She should not be eating any sugar, cakes, ice creams, or sodas, as these will suppress her immune system. Make sure she gets plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits in her diet, and avoid all processed foods such as bread, biscuits breakfast cereals and other packaged foods. Try to include small amounts of garlic and ginger in her food as these will help kill the bacteria and support the immune system. Another important thing is to make sure that your daughter gets enough sleep. 

Was your daughter breast fed? Studies show that breastfed babies tend to have higher immune functions than those that were bottled fed. There are many reasons for this, but one of the most noticeable is that the mothers milk helps populate the baby’s gut with good bacteria, which is essential for proper immune function. This will not have occurred if the baby was bottled fed. Alternatively, if your child has taken any antibiotics recently (or in the past), they will have killed all the good bacteria, hence compromising the immune system. If this is the case, it is essential to repopulate with the good bacteria, also known as probiotics. These can be bought in most chemists. Alternatively you can make and drink sour water (as outlined in a previous article) which will also help restore the good bacteria.

Please remember that boils are highly contagious. Keep the skin clean, and maintain good hygiene practice with always washing your hands. Tell your daughter not to touch the boil as she may spread it elsewhere on her body (or indeed to another person). Apply undiluted Tea Tree Oil several times a day as this is a wonderful natural antiseptic. Onion poultices are also good for boils. What you do is cut an onion and wrap in a piece of clean cloth, then place the cloth on the boil (don’t place the onion directly on the boil). Another thing you can do to help draw out the infection, is to mix a bit of powdered charcoal with some water to make a paste and then apply this paste directly on the boil.

Remember, in order to be rid of the boils for good, it is important to treat the underlying condition. In this case, it may indeed be a weakened immune system. Hence, although the topical solutions mentioned above are great, make sure you strengthen your daughter’s immune system.

Good Luck!