INPRACTICE ~ Nutritional Therapy Case Studies

PERSONAL DETAILS

name | Celestine von Moltke

from | Battersea, London
age | 34
occupation | Mother

BACKGROUND
Celestine von Moltke, 34, first came to see
me last August. She complained of low
energy levels, which she said had been the
case for many years. However, her fatigue
had worsened since a bout of glandular
fever when she was 28. In addition to the
tiredness, Celestine explained she was
highly susceptible to colds and fell ill
frequently, resorting to regular courses of
antibiotics.
Another problem was her persistent
eczema, which she had had since childhood.
After having her son at age 33 these
symptoms appeared to exacerbate.
Celestine had always been relatively
lightweight, something that friends and
family continually nagged her about.
However, as I discovered, any mention of
putting on a few pounds was met with
stern resistance. Despite being on the light
side, her menstrual cycle remained regular.

INVESTIGATION
With a little more questioning, the full
extent of Celestine's fatigue emerged. She
needed more than eight hours sleep at
night, which was difficult to obtain with a
young child to care for. She felt drowsy
during the day, noticed a marked feeling of
weakness if she did not eat for a few hours,
and found it difficult to concentrate. Every
day Celestine took a midday nap, even
though she went to bed at 9 pm.
Celestines cognitive function had declined
with her energy. She could no longer
concentrate properly and her short-term
memory was sometimes shockingly bad. On
the digestive front, she experienced bloating
and discomfort and had difficulty digesting

Antony Haynes reports on a case of long-term fatigue

and compromised immunity that responded favourably to
nutritional intervention

fatty foods. However, due to her vulnerability to infections, it was her immune system
that was of most concern to me.
In terms of diet, Celestine avoided dairy
products and ate mainly rye instead of
wheat. She had been told in the past that
wheat and milk could aggravate her eczema
and she had found this advice to be
accurate. The foods she did eat were
wholesome, based on whole grains and
fresh vegetables, but her intake of good
quality protein was low at only once or
twice a week. Upon closer analysis, it was
evident that she did not eat sufficient
calories to sustain her energy output, but at
the same time, she lacked appetite, despite
often being around food while cooking for
her son. This was an important obstacle to
overcome.

RECOMMENDATIONS
As a priority, I recommended Celestine eat
more protein in the form of eggs, fish and
organic poultry. Protein is vital for the
immune system and is required for adrenal
health and blood sugar balance. Regular
meals were also advised in order to help
sustain energy. Sugar was the only item on
the avoid list. I declined from asking
Celestine to increase her food intake in case
she reacted against such advice for fear of
gaining weight. This is the type of instance
where the client may benefit tremendously
from some sort of counselling to help
overcome issues relating to food and
weight, but at the same time, may reject all
nutritional advice at just such a suggestion.
Along with the dietary recommendations I
prescribed a supplement programme
consisting of five remedies. The first was a
multiple nutrient formula containing
vitamins, minerals and glandular extracts to
support general health. Glandular extracts
are produced from animal glands and
contain peptides that help enhance the
function of the specific gland in question. In
my experience, these extracts are more
effective than herbs at supporting glands
when their output is low, which is virtually
the only time I use them.

The other remedies that I prescribed

included Lactobacillus GG - a wellresearched probiotic - in order to improve
digestion; a combination of mushroom
extracts (Cordyceps sinensis, Ganoderma
lucidum, Lentinula edodes, Grifola frondosa,
Tremella fuciformis and Coriolus versicolour)
for immune support; vitamin C in a
buffered, non-acidic form for further
support of the immune system; and a fish
oil product containing pre-formed EPA and
DHA as nourishment for the skin.

CASE RESULTS & CONCLUSION

After the initial consultation, Celestine
came back to see me eight weeks later. She
had followed the nutritional programme as
directed and experienced a significant
improvement in energy within three to four
days. This effect continued for four weeks
and was maintained, even when she
stopped taking the supplement regime.
Celestine commented that the energy she
felt was greater than at any time in her life,
so much so that she no longer needed a
midday nap and had even begun to
exercise. Celestines digestive problems also
improved as did her immunity.
The use of high quality immune-supportive
supplements can be of the utmost
importance, especially when there is limited
scope for dietary intervention. Celestine
may not have made all of the necessary
dietary changes at first if she had been
asked, but she is now much more receptive
to them due to the success of a programme
which suited her well. Her increased
receptiveness includes the weight issue,
which she is now more open to discussing
in terms of her immune health.

Antony Haynes has

been in practice for ten
years and is director of
The Nutrition Clinic
Ltd in London. He can
be contacted on

01626 364 722.

OPTIMUM NUTRITION | SPRING 2004 | 73