P Cocker, by e-mail

A. The supplement that might help is methylsulphonylmethane (MSM), a form of organic sulphur found in all living organisms.

About half the sulphur in the body is concentrated in the muscles, skin and bones, but it is also an important constituent of keratin, the fibrous protein that occurs in the outer layers of hair, skin and nails. MSM was originally marketed as a supplement to help maintain healthy joints, but so many users reported an improvement in the condition of their hair, skin and nails, that it is now often taken for this purpose.

Sulphur occurs in fresh fruit, cow’s milk, vegetables, seafood and meat, but it is a fragile mineral that is easily destroyed by cooking and food-processing techniques. MSM is widely available in good health-food stores; as your daughter is 11, the safe dose for her is three-quarters of the adult dose.

Q. My toddler son has a dairy allergy and I am having trouble finding a dairy-free probiotic for him. His doctors have prescribed antibiotics, so it’s important that I find supplements I can give him to keep his digestive and immune systems strong. I have searched the health-food shops and internet without success. Can you help? I am also worried about how he will react to taking tablets that taste unpleasant.

J Richardson, London

A. Food Science of Vermont has formulated a dairy-free probiotic called Mega-Probiotic-ND, which combines eight species of micro-organisms from non-dairy sources with fructooligosaccharides. These are plant sugars that selectively feed up the so-called “good” gut bacteria to help rebalance the gut flora, making this a clever two-in-one pre- and probiotic. The therapeutic dose for a young child is one tablet a day. While the active agents are contained in a soft-gel capsule, the way around this for toddlers is to break open the capsule and dissolve the powder contents into a liquid.

As you are seeking to boost for your son’s immune system, I suggest you dissolve the probiotic in Sambucol For Kids, a liquid extract made from immune-boosting black elderberry, propolis and vitamin C. Not only does it work, it tastes good, too. Dissolve 1 tsp of the tincture in half a glass of warm water and add the contents of the probiotic capsule. If you want to sweeten it, add 1 tsp of manuka honey.

Both supplements are available from Victoria Health (0800 413596). Mega- Probiotic-ND costs £15.95 for 60 veggie capsules. Sambucol costs £8.25 for a 120ml bottle. Stick to this regimen for as long as your child is taking antibiotics.

Q. I have suffered from recurrent thrush since the birth of my second child four years ago. I have been tested for diabetes, which has been ruled out, but swabs show that I do have a yeast infection. I am looking for a safe remedy that does not have side effects.

A. Ryan, by e-mail

A. I am going to recommend two remedies that you can safely use together to try not only to eliminate your infection but also to prevent recurrences.

The first is Tanalbit, a nutritional supplement new to the UK market, which contains condensed plant tannins, the chemicals that lend plants their flavour and colour. The role of the plant tannins in Tanalbit is to help rid the digestive tract of the organisms responsible for this infection. Unlike other thrush remedies, which work by destroying the candida bacteria, the active agents in this supplement stop the candida bacteria from multiplying and flush them out. The problem with remedies that destroy the candida bacteria is that this can lead to side effects, including skin eruptions.

As you are embarking on a flush-out, you need to follow a strict regimen of nine capsules a day. You should see a clear improvement within two weeks, but if your condition is chronic, you may need to continue for up to eight weeks.

This does make Tanalbit an expensive option. However, if the recurrent infections have been making life difficult, it will be worth the cost and effort to eliminate it once and for all.

The second remedy that I would recommend is called Topida. This is a topical antifungal spray, from the popular Salcura range of colloidal skin treatments, which you can apply externally to soothe irritated skin and affected areas. Both remedies are available by mail order exclusively from Victoria Health, as before. Tanalbit, which is made by Intensive Nutrition Inc, costs £19.95 for 60 capsules; Topida costs £9.99 for a 50ml spray.

For more information on natural health, visit my website: www.whatreallyworks.co.uk

If you have any questions or tips, write to What’s the Alternative? Style, The Sunday Times, 1 Pennington Street, London E98 1ST. We can only provide replies to published letters.

Before following any medical or dietary advice in this column, please consult your GP if you suffer from any health problems or special conditions, or are in doubt as to its suitability

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