Do you have a little medical problem that you’re too embarrassed to talk to your doctor about? Maybe you worry that your breath is bad or you pass gas in public? Here, natural solutions that work…
A high-fat diet, or a diet that’s high in processed foods, interferes with normal digestion and can cause a strong body odor. So can an overgrowth of fungus in the intestine. Fungus overgrowth can occur when antibiotics kill bacteria in the intestines. High sugar intake also can cause overgrowth.
Solutions: One teaspoon of liquid chlorophyll (available at health-food stores) taken orally once or twice daily with a meal. This plant pigment helps remove odor-causing toxins from the body. Milk thistle — 200 milligrams (mg) to 250 mg daily, taken orally — also is helpful because it promotes healthier digestion. Foods that are high in probiotics, such as live-culture yogurt, can help restore a healthier balance of bacteria in the intestine, as can a probiotic supplement. Probiotics help control fungi.
Flatulence
The average adult passes gas between eight and 15 times daily. Normally gas doesn’t smell, but it can be embarrassing when it does… and too much gas can cause pain and bloating.
Solutions: Ginger or chamomile. They improve intestinal motility, the ability of the colon to move stools out of the body at a normal rate. They also reduce the amount of gas that forms in the intestine. Drink one cup of chamomile or ginger tea after meals or whenever you feel gassy.
Also helpful: Dandelion (taraxacum) supplements, 250 mg to 500 mg three times daily, taken with meals. Dandelion increases the flow of bile from the liver to the intestines, which improves digestion and reduces gas.
Cold Sores
Caused by a herpes virus, cold sores can be unsightly and painful.
Solutions: L-lysine, 1,000 mg, taken three times daily between meals at the first sign of the tingling/burning that precedes an outbreak. It’s an amino acid that aids in tissue repair and can help cold sores heal more quickly.
Avoid foods that are high in the amino acid L-arginine, such as peanuts, almonds, whole wheat and chocolate. L-arginine makes it easier for the virus to thrive.
Also helpful: Apply lemon balm cream to the area four times daily at the first sign of an outbreak. One double-blind study found that people who did this had less discomfort and fewer blisters during outbreaks than those who used a placebo.
Constipation
It’s among the most common digestive complaints, yet many people are too embarrassed to discuss it with their doctors. This is unfortunate because it’s usually simple to treat.
Solutions: Try ground flaxseed (one to two tablespoons daily with eight ounces of water). It adds to your daily fiber intake and also breaks down in the intestine to form mucilage, a soothing gel that promotes more frequent and more comfortable bowel movements.
An ancient remedy called Triphala also stimulates digestion and promotes the passage of stools through the colon. Triphala, meaning “three fruits,” is made from the fruits of three trees (amalaki, bibhitaki and haritaki) that grow throughout India and the Middle East. Add one-half teaspoon of Triphala to one cup of warm water, and drink it once or twice a day after a meal. Use it daily if you have chronic constipation. Triphala is available online and at health-food stores.
Bad Breath
Persistent bad breath can indicate gum disease, a sinus infection or digestion problems… or it can be a sign of excessive toxins in the body. Bad breath that doesn’t clear up with natural remedies should be evaluated by a doctor.
Solutions: One teaspoon of chlorophyll taken orally after meals. It’s a traditional breath freshener that helps neutralize strong odors and remove toxins from the body. Supplements that contain chlorella, alfalfa and spirulina have similar effects.
Also helpful: A probiotic powder supplement that contains at least 4 billion organisms per dose. Mix it in water, swish it around your mouth and then swallow it. The beneficial organisms can prevent the buildup of odor-causing mouth bacteria. Taking probiotics also promotes the growth of beneficial intestinal bacteria that improve digestion and help improve breath — as well as reduce body odors.
