Just Ask Terry

Terry is happy to provide his opinion on diet and nutrition, supplements and lifestyle choices. This information is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to replace the advice of your physician and is not to be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Should you have any concerns please contact your physician directly.

Q. Dear Terry, “I am 62 and have just found out that I have an essential (or sometimes called familial) tremor in my arm and neck, which makes it very difficult to write and my head bobbles intermittently. I am a daily supplement user and read your column. Do you know of anything that can help me?” — Joan P., Dallas, TX

A. Dear Joan, I am sorry to hear of your struggles. Essential tremor, or ET, is a neurological disorder that causes hands, heads and voices, and sometimes legs and trunk to shake. In answer to your questions about using natural products, I would first ask you to discuss this with your healthcare practitioner. I think the best health outcomes are achieved when all those involved are in the loop and cooperating to achieve certain health outcomes.

If you aren’t already, my first recommendation would be to take a premium daily multivitamin. When choosing a formula, look for one that features B vitamins in their “active” forms [Vitamin B6 as pyridoxal-5-phosphate (P-5-P) or Vitamin B12 as methylcobalamin, for example], as well as minerals in the form of amino acid chelates. This allows the B vitamins and minerals to be transported directly into the cells of the body, so they can get to work right away.

The very best premium daily multivitamin and mineral formulas are taken more than once a day. Keep in mind that one tablet or capsule could not possibly fit the optimal amounts of vitamins and minerals needed to provide significant nutritional support. In addition, many nutrients are only active in the body for a short period of time and need to be replenished every 6 to 8 hours. Multiple daily doses ensure that your body is receiving optimal nutrient levels throughout the day. I recommend taking 2 tablets with each meal.

I believe you would also benefit greatly by taking a blend of nutrients including B vitamins, biotin, alpha lipoic acid, chromium, zinc, and boswellia, to help support nervous system function. Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) can boost levels of glutathione, one of the body’s natural antioxidants, which helps protect nerves from oxidative damage. Extremely effective as an antioxidant, zinc also helps to promote tissue healing. Again, when choosing a formula, look for one that features B vitamins in their “active” forms, as well as minerals in the form of amino acid chelates. This allows the B vitamins and minerals to be transported directly into the cells of the body, so they can get to work right away. I recommend taking 1 capsule of this formula three times daily. You can then reduce the dosage, when desired.

Healthy Regards!

Terry . . . Naturally