Name and address withheld

A. I am intrigued by the idea of using a mineral-rich clay (French or otherwise) topically to treat an internal infection. When you say you are using a poultice, I presume you are mixing the clay powder with warm water to make a paste that you then apply to the infected area.

There is, of course, a long tradition of using clays to improve the health of the skin and promote wellbeing. One of my best memories of travelling up the Amazon is of Bira, our Brazilian guide, leaping from the boat to smother himself in the mineral-rich grey clay he scooped by the handful from the water’s edge. However, I’m at a loss to explain how it might help an internal infection.

If your infection is related to a sexually transmitted disease, I would urge you to consult your GP, since both your fertility and the risk of passing it on to a partner need addressing. If you are interested in natural remedies that work as an adjunct to conventional treatment — to relieve, for example, a pelvic infection — then you should be taking a good-quality probiotic and the anti-inflammatory supplement bromelain. Both are widely available. Take as directed on the labels.

Q. Can you explain the difference between omega-3 and omega-6 oils. What exactly do they do and which are best?

P Lowden, Plymouth

A. Both omega-3 and omega-6 oils are essential fatty acids. What the word essential means, in this context, is that the body cannot make the fatty acids, but must obtain them from the diet.

Every area of the body needs fatty acids to make new cells. They are also critical for the transmission of nerve impulses and for healthy brain development and functioning. This is why it has been so widely reported recently that they are useful in treating conditions such as hyperactivity and attention-deficit disorder (ADD) in young children.

Fatty acids are composed of carbon molecules linked with hydrogen and oxygen atoms, but the molecular structure can vary, which is what makes the difference between the so-called saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. All fats are a mixture of these three types of fatty acid, but the one that predominates determines the overall classification.

Both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fats and, to add to the confusion, they are also known as alpha-linolenic acid and alpha-linoleic acid respectively. The omega-6 fats make up a third of the brain’s grey matter. While both play a similar role in key body functions, there are subtle differences. Omega-3 fats, for example, are more important in protecting against inflammation related to conditions such as arthritis.

Since you need both fats for a range of functions, from hormone production to brain power, the question is not really which one is best, but how to obtain them, while at the same time ensuring you boost your intake of the less available omega-3 fats.

Flax is an excellent source, and a teaspoonful of Barlean’s organic flax-oil liquid will take care of this. A 473ml bottle costs £16.99 from Healthy and Essential (0870 053 6000). To make sure you are getting plenty of omega-6 fats, eat more oily fish, nuts and seeds.

Q. My son is fast losing his hair with what looks like male-pattern baldness. He is taking several supplements, including zinc, silica, methylsulphonylmethane (MSM) and cod-liver oil, to slow down the process. Could he be taking too much, and what do you suggest?

A Platten, by e-mail

A. Androgenetic alopecia, or male-pattern baldness, is the most common form of hair loss, in both men and women. Over time, the hair follicles on the scalp get smaller, and the active growth phase of new hair reduces, resulting in an overall thinning and gradual loss.

Foodscience of Vermont’s Superior Hair works to redress the underlying hormonal imbalance that triggers this condition. It will also save your son money as it includes the MSM, zinc and essential fatty acids that he is currently taking.

Newer to the UK natural-health market is Nutrica’s Retane, which is applied topically to the scalp to improve the condition of the skin and hair. I recommend it because it includes the adaptogenic herb Tribulus terrestris, which works to rebalance levels of the male hormone testosterone, which is thought to trigger male-pattern baldness.

Superior Hair costs £19.95 for 90 veggie capsules from Victoria Health (0800 413596). Your son should take three capsules daily. Retane costs £19.95 for a 473ml spray, from the same supplier.

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