Q. My daughter has the human papilloma virus (HPV). I know that it is associated with cervical cancer, as well as urinary tract infection, but she was told she would get better without treatment. Could you clarify the situation for me?
A. There are different types of human papilloma virus, which attack different areas of skin and mucus surfaces. About 25 percent of the population suffer from common warts (verruca vulgaris) on the skin, or 'plantar' HPV verrucas on the soles of the feet. Anal and genital warts are the most common sexually transmitted disease. The incubation period for HPV is usually three to four months (but it can be shorter or up to one year) after contact with an infected person. In men, HPV warts can be found on the penis. In women, the warts first appear on the labia and spread to the vulva, parts of the cervix. The complications of warts include itching and bleeding. Sometimes they become infected by bacteria, leading to the formation of pus. Large warts may cause an obstruction during sex or childbirth. In the uterine cervix, HPV may lie dormant, causing no symptoms, and then become active, leading to a discharge and vaginal irritation.
Vaginal and cervical HPV is commonly discovered during pap smear tests. More than 90 percent of cervical cancers contain DNA belong to high-risk HPV strains, but the ones that have been isolated in warts differ from those that cause cervical cancer. Since your daughter's doctor advises that no treatment is needed, he/she is obviously not too worried at the moment. However, as innocuous viruses can mutate or pave the way for cancer-producing viruses to invade, I advise natural therapies to improve the immune system so that it can fight off the virus.
Nutrition
The body functions best when it had optimum nutrition. Avoid coffee, alcohol, rich curries and canned products, which weaken immunity and hinder the healing process, yeast, which produces gas and brews alcohol, which leads to candidiasis, a fungal infection that weakens the immune system; sugar/sugar products, which feed the candida; citrus or sour foods, which cause digestive problems by increasing stomach acid.
Certain foodstuffs hep energise the body, such as organic chicken soup with garlic, cinnamon and turmeric; freshly juiced carrots, apples, celery and ginger; fresh pomegranate juice, freshly squeezed grape juice, fresh vegetables and fruit and a high protein diet with chicken and fish in two meals each day.
Supplements
* Take Zinc, 15 mg daily, for two months, to boost the immune system.
* Take BioEnergy, one tablet twice daily for three months; this helps energy production.
* Take ½ tsp kolonji oil with 1tsp manuka honey, twice daily for two months to boost energy.
*Marigold therapy, as practised by Dr Khan at the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital has been successfully used for HPV.
Stress Management
Practise yoga regularly. To find a qualified teacher locally, go to http://www.iyengaryoga.org.uk. You will find details of the salute to the sun sequence, the corpse pose and breathing exercise in my book Therapeutic yoga. Do the cleaning breath and retention breathing.
Massage
Neck and shoulder massage relieves stress and improves blood circulation to the brain. Massage deeply into the nape of the neck and up the muscles on either side. You will find more details of how to do this on my Lifestyle Programme DVD.
Natural Therapies
Homoeopathy is very beneficial for HPV, as is acupuncture. To find qualified practitioners, contact the Faculty of Homeopathy, tel: 0870 444 3950, and the British Acupuncture Council, tel 020 8735 0400.
