Adjunct treatments for anemia, asthma and cancer

Some medical conditions and their treatments can really knock the stuffing out of you. If you have anemia, asthma or cancer, here are a few suggestions for how to feel a little better – just check with your doctor first.

Being anemic means having too little hemoglobin, the iron-containing blood pigment that conveys oxygen around your body. However, you should take iron supplements only if your doctor has tested you and confirmed that you have low iron levels.

• Boost your iron intake by eating lean red meat, whole grains (such as fortified breakfast cereals), legumes (including kidney beans, baked beans and lentils) and leafy green vegetables, such as spinach and Brussels sprouts.
• Foods rich in vitamin C improve iron absorption, so eat iron-rich foods with vegetables such as red capsicum and broccoli, or drink orange juice with meals.
• Try taking spirulina tablets, which you can find at health food shops. They are rich in iron, minerals and trace elements.
• Avoid drinking tea or coffee with meals as they reduce your body's ability to absorb iron.

These natural remedies may be able to alleviate the symptoms of asthma when taken along with conventional treatment. However, never stop taking asthma medication without consulting your doctor.

• Take vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant. It may help to reduce the severity of an attack by slowing the cells' release of histamine. It also helps if you are on cortisone medication, which may deplete vitamin C from the adrenal glands.
• Drink licorice tea, which is traditionally used to loosen congestion. Warning: High doses of licorice can raise blood pressure in some people.

Gentle natural remedies taken in conjunction with conventional medical treatment for cancer can help alleviate unpleasant side effects and boost your immune system. However, never take supplements without consulting your doctor first.

• Take antioxidants. Evidence suggests that cancer may be related to damaging, destructive molecules called free radicals. Certain nutrients – including beta-carotene; vitamins A, C and E; and the minerals zinc and selenium – appear to help counter free radical activity and may therefore reduce the risk of some cancers.
• To help counter nausea caused by chemotherapy, try acupuncture treatment.
• A daily glass of diluted aloe vera juice can help protect your gut and guard against digestive upsets, such as the nausea related to chemotherapy treatment.
• Mix a good-quality vitamin E cream with a little aloe vera gel and apply it to areas of the skin that have been exposed to radiotherapy. Use before and after each treatment, subject to medical advice.
• To help digestive problems and reduce reflux, sip a mixture of 5 millilitres (1 teaspoon) each of slippery elm powder and acidophilus powder in a glass of warm water.
• Ensuring your diet is low in fat can reduce the severity of diarrhea, which is a possible side effect of conventional treatment. Temporarily reducing your intake of vegetable fibre – such as skins and seeds – may also help to counter diarrhea.
• To improve your appetite and digestion, take 2 millilitres (1/2 teaspoon) of Swedish bitters, a mixture of bitter herbs, in a little warm water before eating.
• Ginseng helps to increase energy and stamina and may therefore be a useful adjunct to stressful cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

With these natural treatments, you may be able to ease your discomfort caused by anemia, asthma and cancer. But remember: always talk to your doctor before trying a new treatment.