Great for stress relief and relaxation,  Tuesday, 30 October 2007 I am lucky in that my mum is a reflexologist so I have had easy access to treatment over the years. I have to admit I was initially very sceptical and didn't expect any benefit.

I soon changed my mind however, after only a single hour long treatment. The sense of relaxation I experienced was really profound. As a result of suffering from CFS I have problems with stress, depression and sleep. During reflexology treatment all of these are improved. My body and mind both feel more relaxed and free from stress than they do at any other time. To be honest it is really a struggle to stay awake during a reflexology session! My mum tells me that this is common with all of her clients.

In support of the theory that reflexologists can locate problem areas in the body by feeling tension and sore areas in the feet, I have to say that certain areas of my feet do feel very sore when pressure is applied. I have not injured my feet in these areas and do not notice pain or soreness there at any other time so perhaps there is something in it.

After having a reflexology treatment I find I can sleep more soundly for a few days. Unfortunately I have had no long-term benefits from the treatments. I haven't had any sustained increase in energy or improvement in mood. However, during the treatment and for a few days after the benefits are unmistakable.

I would certainly recommend reflexology to anyone suffering from stress, depression, insomnia, nervous exhaustion etc. If you can afford to visit a reflexologist every week then the benefits may well be maintained. It is worth a trial just to experience the deep level of relaxation that can be achieved.

 A powerful energy booster,  Friday, 26 October 2007 I have found panax ginseng to be a very powerful herb with many benefits. As a sufferer of both CFS and depression I found this herb to be beneficial for both conditions, boosting both energy and mood.

I felt more energy on a sustained basis and the benefits increased the longer I took the herb. Panax ginseng also significantly brightened my mood, which combined with the increased energy allowed me to greatly increase my daily activities.

As well as CFS and depression I also have trouble with allergies and chemical sensitivities and panax ginseng noticeably reduced the severity of symptoms triggered by chemicals and other allergens, and the frequency with which symptoms occured.

The only reservation I have about using panax ginseng is that it can sometimes be TOO stimulating which can interfere with sleep. If this occurs you may need to adjust the amount you are taking or the frequency with which you take it. If you can get the dose right this herb is a great help.

I used a capsule form but you can get the herb in numerous other forms from every good health store. Another slight downside is that some of the premium brands can be very expensive but shop around and you will find a good compromise between quality and price.

 Amazing benefits but use with caution,  Friday, 19 October 2007 I used DHEA a few years ago for a period of about 4 months at a dosage of 25mg every morning. I later reduced this to 25mg every other day and then 12.5mg every other day.

After testing borderline low for DHEA on an Adrenal Stress Index (ASI) test I began taking DHEA supplements. To say the initial results were good is a major understatement. I suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, chemical sensitivities, insomnia, and hypoglycemia, amongst other things. After only a week the DHEA seemed to have improved ALL of these problems significantly. I had more energy, felt happier and more relaxed, was experiencing the most refreshing sleep for 10 years, my blood sugar was a lot more stable, and reactions to chemicals were a lot less severe.

Basically, I just felt better. A lot better!

Unfortunately, much to my despair, there were quite serious side-effects. I have poor liver function at the best of times and after a few weeks I began to notice symptoms consistent with hepatitis....abdominal pain, pale stools that are painful to pass, muscle aches, yellowing of the skin etc. I had experienced the same when taking an antibiotic previously so knew the signs. It soon became clear that the DHEA was to blame so I had to drop the dose and then discontinue completely.

I did notice that the many benefits remained on the lower dosages so perhaps I started much too high.

I must add that I already knew my liver was susceptible to problems so if your liver is relatively healthy you will most likely not experience this problem. I personally did not personally note any other side-effects after 4 months such as the sex hormone related effects that are often reported.

From my experience I would say that DHEA could be a VERY helpful treatment for people with similar health concerns to myself but clearly it must be used with caution. Get your DHEA levels tested (and your liver if you have concerns) and start treatment under the care of a knowledgeable doctor. Once on DHEA keep a lookout for any undesirable changes and discuss them with your doctor.

 Caused no problems for a multiple chemical sensiti,  Thursday, 18 October 2007 Seventh Generation produces a huge range of household products designed to be kind to your health and the environment. Their range really is impressive with alternatives to every traditional household chemical product.

This 'Free & Clear' laundry detergent is just that, free of any fragrances and petrochemicals. It is made solely from plant based ingredients, the main cleaning agents being corn and coconut based soaps, soda ash, and borax. The lack of any petrochemicals means this detergent is a lot kinder to the environment once the waste water is pumped out of your washing machine.

As the product contains no fragrances and other volatile petrochemicals such as formaldehyde and ethanol (common in other cleaning products) it caused no problems for me as a chemically sensitive individual. When dried outdoors on the washing line clothes still smell fresh without the need for artificial fragrances.

In terms of cleaning ability, I'd say this product is among the best of the "natural" brands I have tried. I would have to concede that it's not quite up there with some of the high strength synthetic detergents but the trade off for the health and environmental benefits is very small. Seventh Generation have now added enzymes to this product so cleaning power is now likely to be even better.

 Comprehensive look at thyroid AND adrenal issues,  Tuesday, 16 October 2007 Low thyroid function is often suggested as a contributing factor in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia. This is a controversial area however as most mainstream doctors refuse to acknowledge the role of the thyroid in these conditions. The confusion is mostly a result of the standard thyroid blood tests which a growing number of doctors feel are inadequate and don't show a problem even when the patient is showing all the symptoms of low thyroid function and may respond to a trial of treatment.

Dr. Burrant-Peatfield became disenchanted with general practice in the UK as he found he was unable to help a growing number of patients by following standard practices. He went into private practice and began to specialize in diagnosing and treating thyroid and adrenal problems. This is the second edition of his comprehensive guide to these problems.

This is a great book for anybody suffering from CFS or fibromyalgia, as well as those suffering from unexplained tiredness, stress and depressed mood. The book covers the thyroid in detail, discussing the various thyroid hormones, the nutrients needed for their production, and the symptoms of thyroid hormone deficiency. Dr. Durrant-Peatfield then explains the issues surrounding testing in detail, educating the reader about how to make sure they get the correct testing from their doctor. The final section looks at holistic treatment of thyroid problems.

The book also looks at deficiency of adrenal hormones such as DHEA and cortisol and how adrenal dysfunction is connected to dysfunction of the thyroid. The book explains that these two glands work as a team so when things go wrong attention needs to be paid to both in order for the patient to be treated successfully.

This is a fantastic book that I would highly recommend to anyone who thinks their health problems are related to the thyroid (and adrenal glands). Armed with this reference you will be able to request the appropriate testing and take effective action to improve your health.

 The best night's sleep I have had in many years!,  Thursday, 11 October 2007 was contacted by a member of the medical staff at LifeWave towards the end of 2006 after they had come across The Environmental Illness Resource in a web search. After visiting the LifeWave web site and reading various bits and pieces on the web I was skeptical of the claims, but intrigued. Suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome and environmental illness has taught me not to rule anything out that might just help me to feel better. With this in mind I decided to give the LifeWave patches a go, despite the high cost, and have since tried a number of different patches.

The Rest Quiet patches claim to induce a restful night's sleep followed by a day of increased energy. Getting straight to the point I have to say this is exactly what I got! Placing one of the patches on my temple I climbed into bed and awaited the results.

On waking the next day it was readily apparent that the patch had had a positive effect. I don't recall waking during the night at all, which is common for me, and I definitely felt more rested than usual. I generally wake feeling groggy and anxious and it takes 30 minutes to an hour for me to get going. After using the Rest Quiet patch I felt relaxed and happy and certainly had more energy than usual. As a result of having a better night's sleep I also felt better throughout the next day and was able to be more productive.

I continued to use the patch daily and the results were the same every night. In fact, my quality of sleep continued to gradually improve the more I used the patch. I have tried many sleep aids in the past, many have helped me get off to sleep but none has come close to giving me such a restful night's sleep as the LifeWave Rest Quiet patch.

Concerned with the price which is a little high for someone on low income, I contacted the company and they suggested I only use half a patch per night. This is easy to do as the paper backing protecting the adhesive surface is split in half. Removing only one half allows you to reuse the patch the next night. I found that using the patch this way still produced much improved sleep and made the price of the patches much more affordable.

I didn't experience any side-effects at all with this patch and continue to use it every night. I know like me, many people will find the cost a little high at first glance but it really is worth it. There is nothing more important to how you feel than a good night's sleep and the LifeWave Rest Quiet patch is the clear winner in achieving this in my experience.

 Amazing - Did what it said it would!,  Thursday, 11 October 2007 I was contacted by a member of the medical staff at LifeWave towards the end of 2006 after they had come across The Environmental Illness Resource in a web search. After visiting the LifeWave web site and reading various bits and pieces on the web I was skeptical of the claims, but intrigued. Suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome and environmental illness has taught me not to rule anything out that might just help me to feel better. With this in mind I decided to give the LifeWave patches a go, despite the high cost, and have since tried a number of different patches.

The Energy Enchancer patches come in the form of 2 small patches of different colours, one to be applied to the left side of the body and one to the right. The patches can be placed in a handful of strategic locations depending on the activities that the users engages in. There are different prescribed locations for long distance running and weightlifting for example. The patches come with a glossy booklet explaining all of this with handy diagrams.

The patches themselves are the size of an average coin and compose of clear plastic with a central area containing the magic ingredients. It must be stressed that nothing actually enters the body from the patches, they supposedly work on similar principals to acupuncture, using the body's energy system; "Software for the Body" as the marketing goes. It is suggested that the Energy Enhancer patch stimulates production of carnitine in the body. Carnitine is an amino acid that transports fatty acids into the mitochondria where they are utilized in energy production.

No matter how they work, I can report from my personal experience that they DO work, and very effectively. After applying the Energy Enhancer patches for the first time I quickly began to feel highly energized. I felt more energetic physically and a lot brighter mentally. This was maintained for the 12 hours I wore the patches and for some time afterwards. Skeptics may suggest this was just placebo effect but I would have to say the effect was far too powerful for that and was repeated on subsequent times that I wore the patches.

There are only 2 drawbacks to the Energy Enhancer I would mention. First, they did end up keeping me awake at night as I was TOO energized. This may well be just me as I tend to have the same experience with anything that has an energizing/stimulant effect. The major drawback is that the Energy Enhancer (and all LifeWave patches) cost so much. I have no doubt the Energy Enhancer works but for me it is not the only health product I would buy every month so the cost is a little prohibitive.

In conclusion, I would definitely recommend that any body suffering from fatigue should give LifeWave Energy Enhancer patches a try, as well as those who want increased performance in sports. You really have to try them for yourself to appreciate what they can do!

 A bit disappointing,  Wednesday, 03 October 2007 I really wanted to like this toothpaste as I do admire Tom's of Maine as a company. They have done a lot to bring products based on natural ingredients into the mainstream.

I can't really fault this toothpaste for it's cleaning ability. It wasn't particularly great at making my teeth really shiny and white but there is a baking soda version available which no doubt produces better results in this area.

The main problem I had with this product is the strange feeling it left after use. Rather than leaving my teeth feeling smooth and polished they felt rather rough and the sensation I got when running my tongue over them was very odd. I don't know if other people would notice this but it really put me off using it. This is not something I have experienced with other toothpastes.

Another concern I have is that Tom's of Maine seem intent on adding fluoride to almost all of their toothpastes. Far from being a "wonder additive" that protects teeth it has been implicated in causing excessive calcification of various body tissues, inhibiting important enzymes, and contributing to a number of cancers (Detoxify or Die, Rogers). I'd advise people to do a little research into fluoride before using fluoridated toothpaste or drinking fluoridated water.

Prices are also a little higher than other brands but not excessively so.

I was left feeling disappointed with this toothpaste when I tried it and have since found much better alternatives that also use natural ingredients...and no fluoride.

 The perfect solution for the chemically sensitive,  Tuesday, 02 October 2007 When I first became chemically sensitive it was easy to drop some of those products that aren't essentials but you really can't do without deodorant can you?

At first I simply had to go without as all of the deodorants in the supermarket were the usual chemical-laden aerosol sprays. Luckily I soon discovered mineral salt deoderants and have used this Crystal Spray Body Deodorant on and off for 2 years now.

It really is perfect for the chemically sensitive as it contains no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at all. Instead of using powerful chemical fragrances to mask body odour, this product simply uses natural mineral salts dissolved in water.The mineral salts absorb an odours very effectively even when doing physical activity or on very hot days.

The only downside is that this product, because it is basically a solution of mineral salts, tends to drip if you put too much on. The fact is you don't actually need to apply that much anyway, just a couple of sprays under each arm is enough. It also lasts much longer than regular deodorants as a result.

For anyone suffering from chemical sensitivities or otherwise seeking a more natural, chemical-free deodorant, you can't go wrong with this!

 Well worth a try for those suffering from fatigue,  Friday, 28 September 2007 I've tried both l-carnitine and acetyl-l-carnitine and noticed definite effects from both. Having tried both at a dose of 500mg twice daily I found both gave a strong energy boost. Unfortunately, rather than a smooth boost in energy that would have enabled me to maintain activity throughout the day it all seemed to come in one big lump rather like a stimulant. As a result, at the end of the day I was actually left exhausted and also had trouble sleeping due to the overstimulation. In this respect I found that the acetyl version was stronger, perhaps due to increasing acetylcholine levels.

I should explain that I have experienced this overstimulation from a lot of supplements that others have found very helpful. This is more than likely due to my low DHEA levels which fail to provide a balance to the stimulant effects of various "energy boosting" supplements.

I did find that carnitine supplements were very beneficial for my liver function which would be expected due to their anti-oxidant properties and ability to improve fatty acid metabolism within the liver.

From my experience carnitine is a very powerful supplement that may well benefit those suffering from fatigue related illnesses. I would recommend a trial but suggest starting at low doses and building up to see how you react to it.