Blushing
I hope you can help as I have a problem which really is starting to ruin my life. Whenever I talk to people, I can’t help blushing. I am in my late thirties and cannot understand why. I’ve been having counselling to try and get to the bottom of it but haven’t found a solution yet and so am now dreading the Christmas party season.
Flushing or blushing, as you know, can be triggered by anxiety and embarrassment but it will also by exacerbated by alcohol, hot drinks and certain foods; especially yeast, cheese, chocolate and citrus fruits. Since you have already opted for counselling, you clearly believe your problem is psychological but it would still be worth checking with your doctor that there is no other underlying cause.
To manage the symptoms, you could adopt the same approach as people who have an inflammatory skin condition called rosacea where face flushing is again a major problem.
Many report a dramatic improvement when they take a combination of a form of vitamin C called Ester C with anti-inflammatory grape seed extract. If you weigh under 150lb, build up to 1,000mg of Ester C and 200mg of grape seed extract, three times a day. Over this weight, aim for 2,000mg of Ester C and 200mg of grape seed extract. (Be warned though, building up to the higher dose of vitamin C can cause temporary diarrhoea).
In the meantime, one of the new Australian Bush Remedy Combination flower essences will help you survive the upcoming party season. Confid combines Five Corners for lack of confidence and low self-esteem and Dog Rose to give you more courage to get out there and embrace life fully. It is safe to take with other medication and costs £7.95 for 30ml from Ancient Roots on 020 8421 9877. Take seven drops, under the tongue, when you wake and again when you go to bed.
*Revital (0800-252875) sells both Ester C and grape seed extract. You can buy Ester C in powder or tablet form. Country Life’s 1000mg tablets cost £8.95 for 50 capsules. The recommended brand for the grape seed is Source Natural’s Proanthodyn. 30 x 100mg tablets cost £24.95.