hello Heidi! I wrote you before and you've always be so nice answering me! I am 32 y-o from Italy, type 0, don't know if I am a nonnie or not (not yet!)

I recently suffered from stress and some sadness due to personal reasons plus my usual anxious condition, not high level but continuos. I didn't stick to the BTD! Or better, I go in and out! I sometimes wake up very tired and puffy, especially in my eyes and hand and I feel a little pain in my knees for the whole morning.

I think both conditions could be provoked by a wheat-products indulgence (ok, I'm human! I often have meeting at work with coffe-breaks and fast lunch in the hall: you can't put me in front of 4 trays covered with both salted and sweet very fresh delicious Italian pastries and believe I'm not going to "test" them!)

Now I developed a horrible thing in my toe big left nail: the nail became yellowish and thicker, with a white stain under it and finally it broke and it's now half detatched from the finger! The nail is still attached on its left side and it looks almost normal to a far sight (at least I don'tlook like a monster!), but I feel ssooooooooo worried about that!

They told me it could be a fungus and I read somewhere about using vinegar on it (vinegar?!?) or Tea Tree Oil or Grapefruit Seed Extract.

When I talked about this options to my doctor he just laughed and asked me why I am so reluctant about "proper" medicines! Ok, if you remember about me...I have been on antibiotics for cystitis for so many times in the past :°-( Apparently he can't understand my psychological refuse for taking oral medicaments! No way! I don't want pills anymore! He wants to give me oral anti-fungal.

My gut's little "animals" are just taking a rest from antibiotics! Your advise has always been very good for me, I would like you to help me again, please! Helly

Ciao, Helly! The way to treat toenail fungus is with plain white vinegar. Two drops at the base of the nail, each morning and each night before sleep.

Wash and dry your toes and feet carefully before applying the vinegar. Keep your toes as dry as possible ~ wear open-toed footwear, or very soft cotton socks, and go barefoot as much as possible.

It may take up to three months to see the difference, only because it takes a long time for nails to grow out, but you will see the improvements. Just keep up with the vinegar, morning and night, and keep those tooties aired! :-)

And now that I feel calmer, I would like to make a note to all readers here:

If ever your doctor LAUGHS at your concerns, FIRE HIM!! Right on the spot! Feel free to say that being a doctor means FIRST DO NO HARM, and that IF the research you find on your own to help your conditions (WHICH ACTUALLY WORKS BTW, unlike 90% of 'CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE' -- AND DOES NO HARM -- AND CHECK THE PRICE DIFFERENTIAL, "DOCTOR!") is HUMOROUS to him, and if DRUGS AND SURGERY, like ANTIBIOTICS for Fungus for heaven's sake is "CUTTING EDGE" in his book -- then he is STILL IN THE MIDDLE AGES and Maybe you'll be back in the NEXT millennium to see if he can FIGURE IT OUT BY THEN!!!! or you might smile, say thank you, and walk out. or whatever.

And that's my reasoned and balanced opinion. :-}

Thanks for writing, Helly!! :-D

Dear Heidi type O Neg (secretor status unknown) My first tentative try at the questions myself.

I've followed the diet via various books and website information for about 18 months and found a steady improvement on some of the health problems I was experiencing. I am 47: 5'2":approx 7.5 stone.(Rarely weigh myself)I'm of very small build and that stringy muscle type.

I have found that elimination of much sugar, wheat has made a big difference to joint pains and lethargy. The one thing I cannot make inroads on is the appalling allergy reaction I get on my hands. Had this all my adult life. Detergents, dusts, and any number of unknowns. The last year has been particularly bad with the episodes more frequent and intense. This despite taking preventive measures. I write now in a state of fatigue and exasperation after an awful night of the fiercest burning, prickling, heat and itching I've ever experienced. Do you have any suggestions?

I can supply more background but I'm not sure what's relevant or whether this question would be considered. Whatever the outcome I would comment that the column is an invaluable source of information and support. I have found it immeasurably helpful. Kind regards Christine

Welcome, Christine!! :-) I can make a couple of general suggestions to start with. Depending on what we find is actually causing this problem, you may need to proceed to more specific strategies to get rid of it.

First, it's critical to get adequate good fats daily -- and for an O neg, that also means the fat in grassfed meats. Lamb is a great healer in this regard, and I'd start by eating it daily for a week. Improvements should show within a few days. Also, add a tablespoon of linseed oil, extra-virgin olive oil, black currant seed oil, or walnut oil to your food each day.

Second, be sure to eat plenty (two servings daily) of dark green leaf vegetables such as kale, and take a magnesium supplement as well as a multi-mineral supp daily.

Finally, do the 'water thing:' 1/2 ounce of water per pound of bodyweight, daily, with a pinch of good sea salt and/or a squeeze of lemon in each liter. For you, that would be 52.5 oz., or approx. 1 1/2 liters. Divide the amount as you wish, and drink it first thing in the morning, between meals, and last thing at night.

Do these things for one week, and please write back to let me know if you've seen any change at all, or none. And do include some health history in that case, whatever you're comfortable sharing. If your condition is the result of heavy-metal overload, chemical poisoning, etc., we'll have a better idea at that time and we can push in that direction. Warmest wishes, Christine, and thank you for writing in, dear! :-D