Reviews written by Maff

After trying a number of other "natural" brands of toothpaste I found this one in the local health store chain (Holland & Barrett - UK). I initially hesitated in buying it because it cost considerably more than some other toothpastes. I am now very glad I went ahead and took that first tube home!

This aloe vera toothgel feels very gentle on the mouth and I have to agree with the manufacturer that it is very soothing. I have often spat out blood while brushing my teeth due to bleeding gums but the occurence of this has been much reduced over the 6 months I've been using this product. It also leaves my teeth feeling fresh and shiny. Other natural brands have left a strange feeling on my teeth when running my tongue over them that put me off them completely.

Again as the manufacturer states their toothgel does indeed leave teeth looking white - very impressive considering the product contains none of the usual whitening additives.

Those with acute sensitivities may find sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium benzoate in the formulation to be a problem but if not this is a great toothgel.

I have suffered badly from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) as part of my long battle with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Over the years I have found many things which have helped me maintain my mood during the winter months and avoid slipping into the dispair of deep depression. A few things that have helped have included waking up as early as possible and getting outdoors when I can to maximise my natural light exposure, high dose vitamin D3, and using a 10,000 lux lightbox.

These ioniser full spectrum light bulbs from Androv Medical have also contributed to my well-being during winter, and also I believe throughout the year. The bulbs are now available up to 32W which is equivalent to a 140-150W incandescent bulb. The bright white light really gives me a psychological boost, improving my mood, so I leave them on in my flat/apartment throughout the day during winter. Although studies show lightboxes with a rating of at least 2500lux are required to produce clinical benefits in SAD I find using these bulbs as well definitely helps as it fools me into thinking it is summer since the light is so natural looking.

The negative ions produced by the bulbs have been shown to have numerous health benefits, not least improving mood in SAD and depression. Recent research has also shown they also
improve immune function, boosting natural killer (NK) cell activity (Takahashi et al 2009). This could explain year round benefits from these bulbs given that low NK cell function has long been associated with CFS.

The bulbs are just like any regular compact fluorescent bulb in fitting and operation and of course last much longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. Given this and their much lower Wattages the extra initial cost is easily offset over their lifetime and you get to enjoy the health benefits and natural looking light!

As a chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) sufferer in which low cortisol, and dysfunctional adrenal glands in general, have been documented I undertook an adrenal stress index (ASI) test which confirmed I had low levels of cortisol, particularly in the morning when they should be their highest. This fit with my symptoms of not being able to get going in the morning. I frequently sleep until past 10am and don't really get going with my day until approaching midday.

A few years back I tried low dose hydrocortisone therapy taking 10-15mg in the mornings. At first I did notice a definiate improvement in my energy levels, particularly in the morning. I actually felt like getting up in the morning and tackling the business of the day and was much more able to do so.

I only maintained the therapy for a period of a month however as I started to notice signs of liver toxicity, something I have struggled with anyway (pale stools, abdominal pain, jaundice etc). This is not likely to affect a lot of other CFS sufferers as it was an existing problem for me...but worth mentioning as all steroids are liver toxic at higher dosages.

I do feel as well though that although initial benefits were impressive, they did start to wear of a bit, even after only a month. This would seem to confirm the results of the studies showing suppression of natural cortisol production. I'd therefore have to caution against the use of this treatment.

I used these throughout my apartment when I moved in 5 years ago, a time when I suffered very badly with MCS. I had to move just to be alone in a chemical-free environment and had to wear a carbon filter face mask whenever out in public or when I had company over.

After painting my place with Ecos wall paints I let it air out for a week and then moved in. I had no reactions at all from day one. There was also no strong smell as you usually expect with regular paints.

The Ecos paint was only slightly more expensive than a good quality regular paint and has stood up well after 5 years.

I'd highly recommend these paints to anyone suffering from multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) and I am sure they are likely to be a good option for those with asthma, sick building syndrome, and unexplained chronic illness as well.

Having struggled with chronic fatigue syndrome, imbalances in my own gut flora due to reduced immunity and antibiotic use, and severe mood disorders in the form of depression, seasonal affective disorder (S.A.D), and anxiety, I had pieced together the strong connection between gut and psychological health myself.

In Gut and Psychology Syndrome Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride does a great job of communicating often complex details of this relationship to the lay reader; the book looks at how digestive health can contribute to a host of learning and mood disorders from autism and ADHD to depression and schizophrenia.

The book is an excellent balance of background on the link between gut flora and psychology and advice on removing causes and restoring balance and health. An in-depth look at dietary changes and the use of supplements, particularly probiotics, to restore microbial balance in the gut is included and clearly presented.

I thoroughly recommend Dr. Campbell-McBride's work to anyone affected by (or caring for someone affected by) the conditions covered in the book. It may open up a whole new avenue of effective therapy for many. It certainly has for me!

I recently came across a substantial amount of research suggesting PS could lower production of cortisol produced after exercise or due to mental stress.

I suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome and my body clock is all over the place. I feel wired at night and am unable to get myself to bed at a reasonable hour and my sleep quality is poor. Adrenal stress index (ASI) test have suggested this may be because I am producing large amounts of cortisol at night when production should actually be its lowest.

I have been taking 300mg of phosphatidylserine every day around 8pm for a month now and found it to be a great help from day one. Within an hour I felt myself winding down and the need for sleep approaching. Basically I felt how I should at that time of day - something I haven't felt in a long long time. I feel my sleep quality has also improved as I am waking feeling more refreshed.

I've not noticed any other benefits from taking PS such as cognitive improvements or improved exercise capacity.

PS is not a miracle cure by any means but it has definitely helped improve my sleep problems which I know will affect many others with ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, depression, and many other illnesses.

Although providing the saliva samples throughout the day is a bit inconvenient (and it is often hard to even produce the required amount of saliva) it is worth it to understand how your adrenal glands are functioning.I have had two ASI tests and the results for cortisol in particular have correlated exactly with my symptoms.

Cortisol levels are supposed to be highest in the morning to give us the drive and energy to get going. They are then supposed to decline gradually throughout the day, reeaching their lowest level at night to allow sound sleep.

My results show that my cortisol levels are low in the morning, which explains my inability to wake up and get going until late morning (10:30-11:00). They then rise and peak around 12-1 and this is when I am feeling a lot better and am my most productive. My cortisol then falls and reaches a low at 4pm when I experience a corresponding period of drowsiness and it is a real struggle to carry on being active. My results then indicate my cortisol shoots up at night which explains why I find it hard to relax in the evening and don't go to bed until late. My sleep is also of very poor quality.

I should explain that I have suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome for 18 years from the age of 12 and these results are typical of an ME/CFS patient.

The results have been very helpful to me and I have found licorice is effective at boosting my low morning cortisol while phosphatidylserine blunts my high night time levels and allows me to sleep better. The results also showed generally low DHEA and I have found DHEA supplementation to be very useful at improving my stress resistance, mood, and general feelings of well-being.

I'd recommend this test to anyone suffering from chronic stress and associated symptoms as well as those suffering from ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and unexplained chronic illness.

I bought this book to review for the site after having read a glowing recommendation on a blog which had some good content.

I have to say overall I am very disappointed with Gut Reaction. The emphasis on getting back to basics by urging readers to chew food properly and eat in a relaxed environment, amongst other things, is commendable. As is the fact the author prefers not to rely on nutritional supplements.

However, everything is covered very quickly and in very little detail. The role of digestion and diet in health is given a brief summary before tips such as those for improving eating habits are described. The author then provides tailored dietary plans for a host of illnesses with little discussion of rationale before skimming over nutrients, nutritional supplements and a few other topics at the end of the book.

The credibility of some of the recommendations is also questionable, particularly with regard to pH balancing. It is said that drinking lemon and olive oil "counteract[s] acidity in the stomach, making the system more alkaline, and clears undigested food particles." For starters lemon juice itself is acidic and only has an alkalizing effect on the body once it is absorbed and metabolised. Secondly, I'm unsure why anyone would want to counteract acidity in the stomach - it is acidic for a reason which is because it needs to be to properly digest protein. Partially digested proteins increase the risk of food allergy and intolerance, as well as small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).

This aside, the bulk of the tips for healthy eating habits are useful and the lay reader new to the subject of nutrition may find this book a good read. For those looking for something a little more in depth and scientifically sound I would recommend Digestive Wellness by Lipski or Optimum Digestion by Nichols and Faass (eds).

The intestinal permeability test is so easy to perform at home and is relatively inexpensive (I paid about £40/$65) that I'd recommend anyone with unexplained chronic health problems does one, whether they have digestive symptoms or not.

The number of conditions that researchers are linking to increased intestinal permeability/leaky gut syndrome is increasing all the time. Studies are currently underway to determine its role in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and it has already been linked to Crohn's disease, autoimmune diseases including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroiditis, and may be associated with asthma as well as food allergy and intolerance, and allergies in general.

This test may also alert patients and health care providers to the presence of malabsorptive conditions including celiac disease.

It is becoming increasingly apparent that the health of the entire body depends on the health of the GI tract. This simple and inexpensive test gives a good picture of how well the GI tract is doing its job of absorbing nutrients while acting as a barrier against toxins, allergens, and microorganisms.

A good initial screen of gut health. If results show malabsorption or leaky gut syndrome further testing (usually more expensive) can help to determine the cause and appropriate treatment.

This test really helped to confirm my suspicions that poor gut health was behind the worsening of my health problems which include chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), allergies, multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and chronic liver toxicity.

As someone who has suffered from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) for many years I have tried bright light therapy with various light boxes, a lot of anti-depressant medications, and even more nutrients and herbs in an effort to maintain my mood in winter. Bright light therapy was mildly effective but the best treatment I had found was simply waking with the sun and getting outside in the sun's rays as often as possible.

That was until I discovered high dose vitamin D. This year I tried taking vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) concentrate in doses of 25,000+ iu per week. My response to this treatment was rapid and substantial. It may be hard for other SAD sufferers who are deep in despair to believe, but after only a few hours of the first dose I felt in my mind like it was summer. My mood improved hugely, everything seemed brighter, and I found myself enjoying things again.

The only downside for me was that I found I was overly stimulated at night which made it difficult to sleep. However, this happens with any stimulating substance I take due to adrenal fatigue so may not be a problem for others. If it is just try adjusting the dose downwards.

I went through my doctor to get the vitamin D3 concentrate as it is not widely available. It is a good idea to work with a healthcare professional when using such high doses anyway despite vitamin D's apparent lack of toxicity.