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Questions and Answers Segment
Your questions answered
every 2 weeks. If you have a question for Dr Elstein,
click here.
QUESTION 1:
I suffered from idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
in 1999 during pregnancy.
My platelets went down to 5000. Then I used
deltacortrol, danazol, steroids and also platelet
transfusions. Now
I have Hepatitis-C along with this disorder.
My platelets improve with steroids but decreased
to 5000 again after steroids stoppage.
. Please advice me the proper treatment of both
diseases by any treatment type.
Answer:
The treatment you are receiving for ITP
sounds totally correct and appropriate and I don’t
think that I would be able to improve on this. There are
a few studies which link ITP with coeliac disease, a
disorder characterised by an allergy to gluten found in
wheat, rye, oats and barley, which is diagnosed by means
of blood tests and a bowel biopsy.
This disease is actually referred to in the
‘What’s New’ section of this update.
However there is no good evidence that avoiding
gluten improves ITP status. As for managing Hepatitis C aside from the conventional
treatment suggested by your doctor a review in the
Journal of Hepatology March 2004 indicated that
significant improvements in virological and/or
biochemical response were seen in trials of vitamin E,
thymic extract, zinc, traditional Chinese medicine,
Glycyrrhiza glabra which is a liquorice extract and
oxymatrine. Natural
remedies such as alpha-lipoic acid, lactoferrin and the
herb st mary’s thistle might also be helpful.
The website www.vrp.com
also has useful information if you go to the library
section and insert Hepatitis C into the search facility.
Stay tuned to this site as I’m currently
writing a book, which will include management strategies
for dealing with Hepatitis C.
QUESTION 2: Given the
anti-testosterone effect of the herb Tribulus terrestris
in women, could this be used for PCOS? Or would the
increased FSH just cause more follicles to be produced?
Answer:
You’re right it might just lead to stimulation
of follicle growth and is certainly not a documented
treatment for polycystic ovarian syndrome.
A better option would be to address insulin
resistance, which in some women is the underlying cause
of this problem. Insulin
resistance can be identified by means of blood tests,
which point to an elevated insulin level in which case
exercise, dietary strategies and natural remedies that
improve insulin function such as chromium and vanadium
or alternately medications like Metformin might lead to
tangible improvements
QUESTION 3: I just found out I’m pregnant
and want to take supplements to improve my child’s
brain development like choline. I want a smart child. What
should I take?
Answer: There
isn’t a lot of scientific data which indicate that
nutrient supplementation during pregnancy improves the
development of your child.
However there are some good books on this topic
including one by American expert Leo Galland entitled
‘Superimmunity for kids’ ISBN: 0-440-50679-4 who
suggests that fish oil, magnesium, folic acid and a
number of other nutrients would be beneficial. This book is highly recommended.
QUESTION
4: I am a 23 year-old living in Texas. I have a
very dry skin, which is aggravated by the dry weather
condition here. I
am using L’Oreal Dermo Expertise anti wrinkle cream
with spf 15 in the daytime.
Is it safe for me to use this anti wrinkle cream
at such a young age?
Answer: I’m
not familiar with this product but it doesn’t sound
like it would be a problem.
Adequate hydration and the consumption of lots of
fruit, vegetables and essential fatty acids found in
small fish such as sardines and flaxseed oil would also
improve the status of your skin.
Exposing your face to the sun would be the
biggest inducer of wrinkles and I’m not sure that any
cream is a substitute for covering up.
QUESTION 5: I
came across this product thru the net "Maximum
Result a HGH complex" is a natural product, high
pharmaceutical grade and also has a liver extract for a
healthy liver function. Are you familiar with the product and do you recommend it?
The web site is: www.hgh-info-buyer-guide.net
Answer: I’m
very wary of these products and I’m not convinced they
do much good. You
have to consume substantial quantities of amino acids to
boost growth hormone production and while this is not
impossible a lot of these products simply don’t
contain sufficient protein to generate any significant
benefits. I’m not familiar with this specific product
but I would suggest that you proceed with caution.
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