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Increase your outdoor physical activity during winter months and surround your,. with
friends, family members or co-workers to avoid isolation.
Limit stimulants such as alcohol, nicotine and caffeine.
Supplements

5-Hydroxy tryptophan (5HTP) People who suffer from SAD or depression have loNN
serotonin levels. Serotonin is the 'feel good' neurotransmitter chemical in the brain. To hely
boost serotonin levels, I suggest a course of 5HTP, which is derived from the African plant
Grifironia simplicifolia. 5HTP is a serotonin precursor and is often recommended as low serotonin levels may contribute to depression and are also linked with SAD.Take 150mg-300mg
daily.
Immunity There is also a link between SAD sufferers and a weakened immune system.
Immune disorders including colds and flus, chronic fatigue syndrome and bacterial infections, such as sinusitis and bronchitis, further complicate depression. Taking herbs, vitamins
and minerals may help boost your immune system. These include Garlic (400mg daily).
Echinacea (1200mg-6g daily), Vitamin C (1500mg daily), Zinc (45mg) and Olive Leaf
extract (1g-2g daily). Most sufferers show signs of a weakened immune system during winter, making them more vulnerable to infections and other illnesses.
Herbs

St John's Wort For mild depression, anxiety and nervousness. Take 2g-5g of dried herb
daily.
Nerve tonics Jamaican Dogwood (2g-4g of dried root bark up to 3 times daily),
Californian Poppy (900mg daily), Skullcap (750mg 3-5 times daily) and Passionflower (
4g-8g daily) are useful for anxiety associated with depression and may also help relax muscles that are tight and knotty from nervous tension.

Seborrhoeic Dermatitis
Seborrhoeic dermatitis is a disorder of the sebaceous (oil secreting) glands which creates scaly patches of skin. It often appears on the scalp, chest and face, but can appear
on other parts of the body as well. It is often mistaken for dandruff as the scalp can
beome greasy and flaky. Seborrhoeic dermatitis can be triggered by trauma, illness,
hormonal imbalances and improper carbohydrate and sugar consumption. Deficiencies of vitamins, essential fatty acids and selenium have also been linked.
Causes

The cause is not known; however, nutritional deficiencies may be associated with the
cause (i.e. biotin and vitamin A).
Yeast Pityrosporum ovale may be a cause, and heredity and climate also play a role.
Adult seborrhoea is often exacerbated by stress and anxiety.
Other triggers may include psoriasis, Parkinson's disease, acne rosacea and AIDS.
Infrequent shampooing, allergy to hair products, excessively oily skin or high-sugar or
refined carbohydrate diets may also contribute to seborrhoeic dermatitis.
Food allergies.
Signs and symptoms

Skin can often become itchy.

Seborrhoeic skin may be yellowish and greasy, or dry and flaky.

Seborrhoeic Dermatitis 259

Smallish lumps that are slightly pink from itching and irritation may appear.
The lumps can form together as irritated patchy skin.
Common in infancy as cradle cap, or can occur at middle age.

Naturopathic recommendations
Lifestyle hints
Identify food allergies and sensitivities, see page 164 for details.
Dry skin thoroughly after bathing or showering.
Nutrition

Eliminate dairy products, fried foods, sugar and flour. If avoiding dairy, substitute with
calcium fortified soy or take supplements if choosing rice milk varieties.
Do not eat raw egg whites as this inhibits biotin absorption.
Consume low-glycaemic index (GI) foods. The GI is a method of classifying foods
according to their potential to increase blood sugar levels. Eating high-GI foods results
in higher and more rapid increases in blood glucose levels compared to eating low-GI
foods. Switch from a high sugar and refined carbohydrate intake to a low-fat, complex
carbohydrate, low-GI diet to reduce insulin resistance. High saturated fat and sugar
intake consumption is linked to seborrhoeic dermatitis.
Eat more of the following low-GI foods:
Breads Multigrain, wholemeal or whole grain, sour dough and rye. Avoid light white
breads, cookies, cakes and crackers.
Cereals and grains Wholemeal grains, basmati rice, long grain rice, rice bran, bulgur
wheat, buckwheat, corn (avoid cornflakes and puffed corn), oats, oat bran, muesli (
unsweetened and untoasted) and pearl barley.
Other Beans, legumes, tofu (and soy products), nuts, seeds, pasta and noodles (avoid corn
and rice pasta), vegetables (avoid potatoes), fresh fruits, skim milk, yoghurt and soy milk.
Avoid saturated fats, especially altered unnatural fat derivatives in margarines and shortenings as they can aggravate inflammation.Avoid or cut down on cheeses, butter, animal
fats (e.g. from pork and beef), coconut cream, and trans fatty acids, including fried foods.
Restrict alcohol, tobacco use and salt intake. If needed only use unbleached Celtic sea
salt (see your health shop).

Supplements
Zinc The importance of Zinc for skin health is well recognised as it can improve and
increase skin healing and health within 12 weeks. Take up to 45mg of Zinc amino acid
chelate daily. Non-oily zinc cream is also known to be beneficial.
Selenium and Chromium Assist with healing of the skin.Take 200mcg of Selenium and
300mcg of Chromium daily and combine with a Vitamin B complex.
Flax oil and Evening Primrose oil These plant seeds supply Omega 6 oil (Linoleic acid)
which is often deficient in the sebum and this may contribute to the disruption of healthy
sebum secretion. Take 1 Tbsp of Flax oil (or 10 1000mg capsules) and 3000mg of Evening
Primrose oil daily. Another way to include Flax oil in your diet is to mix 1 Tbsp-2 Tbsp of
Flaxseed oil daily with the juice of1/2-1 lemon, salt and pepper for a delicious salad
dressing. Vitamin B complex Contains Biotin which has been shown to be deficient in
seborrhoeic dermatitis. Take a high potency Vitamin B complex as directed and aim for
levels of 50mg of Biotin daily.
Vitamin A Has been shown to be deficient in seborrhoeic dermatitis sufferers. It can
increase healing of the skin and may reduce scarring. Take 5000IU-10,000IU daily.

Acidophilus Helps to repopulate gut with 'good' bacteria and lessen bowel toxicity. Take
1-2 capsules daily that contain 1 billion of both Bifidus and Lactobacillus acidophilus strains.

Herbs
Detox Complete a gentle detox herbal programme and a parasite-cleansing programme to
balance the internal body organs and prepare for a healthy start. Detox herbs should
include Burdock (2g-6g of dried root daily) Cleavers (2g-4g daily) and Red Clover (2g-4g
daily) to help cleanse the blood and clear the lymphatics. Dandelion (3g-5g of dried root
daily) and Milk Thistle (9glOg of seed daily) enhance bile flow and detoxify the liver.
Aloe Vera juice To aid proper digestion of food take 20m1-50m1 with each meal.
Sarsaparilla A specific herb for treating skin conditions. Take lg-4g daily.
Herbal rinses and scrubs
An infusion of Chamomile, Thyme and Rosemary as a skin rinse may be beneficiaL
Steep a handful of these herbs in a pot with just-boiled water for 20 minutes and then
strain out the herbs. Add a pinch of Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C powder obtained from the
chemist) to the rinse and dissolve. After shampooing and rinsing hair, use this as a secondary rinse carefully avoiding the eyes.
Use a skin scrub to loosen dead skin from the scalp, but avoid raw patches to allow healing
to take place.

Shingles

1"

Herpes zoster (shingles) is believed to come from the reactivation of the varicella (
chicken pox) virus lying dormant in cells of a dorsal root ganglion (section of nerve)
. Chicken pox can occur at any age, but it's most common in children from 2-8
years old. Therefore shingles in adults may result from the herpes virus waiting to
strike from childhood onward. This infection may become active in adult years in
the form of shingles, sores or blisters and localised pain along the course of the
sensory nerves. The shingles lesions are often preceded by three days of fever and
burning or irritation of the skin. Herpes zoster symptoms are more likely to occur
in people whose immune systems are suppressed.
Without treatment, viruses can be immortal. Many orthodox treatments are symptomatic but cannot penetrate the viral host's cell. Getting rid of symptoms related to
the viral infection doesn't mean that the virus is eliminated.The virus can remain dormant and break out again when the host's immunity becomes compromised. Once a
viral disease has invaded, the well-being of the host remains in danger of breaking
down again.
Signs and symptoms
Pain and tingling may precede (by several days) the re-emergence of the virus into the
skin.
It then produces characteristic vesicles (blisters), papules (a small solid elevation of the
skin) or bulbous lesions throughout the skin.
Secondary infection increases discomfort, and in an elderly person, intractable post-herpetic neuralgia may follow an attack of the shingles.
Small ulcers sometimes appear on the face in association with cranial nerve involvement.
Trigeminal nerve disease can lead to infection of the eye.
Warning: Patients with shingles may be infectious. The virus can be spread from fresh skin