Q: I am anaemic (the fault of my bone marrow which doesn’t produce enough red blood cells), but my doctors say I can't have iron because there is already too much in my liver. Do you have any information that might help me?

Dr. Wright: Anaemia isn't always a result of iron deficiency. Your letter doesn't say whether you've had your serum iron, iron binding capacity (IBC), percentage iron saturation and serum ferritin measured, all of which would help make that judgment.

However, your letter does say that your anaemia is the result of faulty bone marrow, which does not produce enough red blood cells. This may or may not have anything to do with iron. So it's a good idea to have the tests mentioned above done. If iron isn't the problem, other nutrients necessary for building blood -- vitamin B12, folic acid, copper, manganese, and cobalt (to name a few) -- may be in short supply.

If you try those nutrients and are still having problems, there are two other frequently effective, safe, and natural stimulants to bone marrow function. One is the mineral lithium, and the other is a formula made up of substances called "shark alkylglycerols," which are found in shark liver oil.

As you've probably already guessed, this whole process can get complex. You can (and should) always contact a physician skilled in natural medicine for help with any testing or supplementing. To find such a physician in your area, contact the South African Society of Integrated Medicine, Lucia: (021) 887 5364, s.a.s.i.m@telkomsa.net