By Gillian McKeith
© copyright McKeith Research Ltd 2007

As a practising holistic nutritionist I have been asked about almost everything. Over the next 8 weeks each fortnight I’m going to answer some of the most popular questions drawn from the online chats in the Gillian McKeith Club (www.gillianmckeithclub.com).

Face symptoms: Conjunctivitis, ear wax, circles under eyes and rosacea.


1. I keep on getting conjunctivitis. How can I protect my eyes?

Recurring conjunctivitis may indicate that the natural bacterial balance of your eyes has been compromised. This may be due to use of antibiotic eye drops or perhaps the use of make-up or make-up removers.

Avoid using anything unnatural on or near the eyes. Always keep your hands clean and avoid touching your eyes unnecessarily. Use natural shampoos, soaps and conditioners to avoid irritation from harsh chemicals used in some products. Make sure your towels and anything you use on or near your eyes is super clean. Boil wash any towels used while you have an infection to prevent re-infection. Use a different towel for your face from the rest of your body.


2. My ears are always full of wax. Is there anything I can do?

Wax in the ears should naturally clear itself. However, problems with ear wax often result from people poking around in their ears with cotton buds. This tends to compact the wax so that it can't come out as it would do naturally. If you poke around in your ears - stop!

Ear wax can also indicate an imbalance in your fatty acid status. Often there is an excess of saturated fats and a deficiency in omega 3 fats. Avoid saturated fats from fatty meats and dairy products. Replace these with omega 3 fats found in flax seeds, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds and walnuts. Use the cold pressed oils of these seeds in salad dressings.

3. I have circles under my eyes -- why and what is that? I do not smoke and never drink alcohol. I drink some coffee every day.

Given that the area under the eyes is often indicative of the health of the kidneys, I must urge you to eliminate the coffee and conventional tea right away. You must stop it today, end of story. Coffee and tea are diuretics that put strains on the kidneys and adrenal glands. You may get withdrawal symptoms at first (headaches, tired, etc.), but these symptoms normally tend to last only a couple of days.

Replace the coffee with my Barley and Chicory coffee alternatives or with 'dandelion coffee' (available from health food stores), or preferably pure dandelion tea, or herbal teas such as nettle or bilberry, still mineral water, lots of fresh vegetable juices as all of these beverages will hydrate and nourish the body. Please drink no less than eight glasses a day of water or healthy fluids (such as herbal teas and vegetable juices). Get on to my Organic Energy Powder to nourish your organs and digestive function.

4. I have suffered from rosacea for years. Are there any alternative remedies that might help?

Rosacea is not exactly acne although it appears like it. There is often an imbalance in the gut bacteria along with poor elimination via the bowel, hormonal imbalances, nutrient deficiencies, food intolerances, lack of stomach acid and/or digestive enzymes, poor fat metabolism and liver toxicity. The best thing you could do is to have a stool test to check for organisms and/bacteria imbalance as there is often a connection with this condition.

Sugar, refined carbohydrates, processed foods, spicy foods, alcohol, caffeine, salt and additives don't help. Avoiding wheat and dairy is often a good idea as these tend to be challenging to the body.

Eat a diet rich in fruit and vegetables especially kale, broccoli, seaweeds and cabbages as they are all helpful to the liver. Drink plenty of water and herbal teas such as nettle. This will help to nourish and cleanse the internal body.

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