ALSOBYJOEANDTERESAGRAEDON

ThePeople’sPharmacy-2(Avon,1980)

JoeGraedon’sTheNewPeople’sPharmacy:DrugBreakthroughsofthe‘80s(Bantam,1985)

ThePeople’sPharmacy,TotallyNewandRevised(St.Martin’sPress,1985)

50+:TheGraedons’People’sPharmacyforOlderAdults(Bantam,1988)

Graedons’ Best Medicine: From Herbal Remedies to High-Tech RxBreakthroughs(Bantam,1991)

TheAspirinHandbook:AUser’sGuidetotheBreakthroughDrugofthe‘90s(Bantam,1993)withTomFerguson,M.D.

The People’s Guide to Deadly Drug Interactions: How to Protect Yourselffrom Life-Threatening Drug/Drug, Drug/Food, Drug/Vitamin Combinations(St.Martin’sPress,1995)

The People’s Pharmacy, Completely New and Revised (St. Martin’s Press,1996,1998)

Dangerous Drug Interactions: How to Protect Yourself from HarmfulDrug/Drug, Drug/Food, Drug/Vitamin Combinations (St. Martin’s Press,1999)

ThePeople’sPharmacyGuide toHomeandHerbalRemedies (St.Martin’sPress,1999)

BestChoicesfromThePeople’sPharmacy(Rodale,2006,2007)

FavoriteHomeRemediesfromThePeople’sPharmacy(GraedonEnterprises,Inc.,2008).

Favorite Foods from The People’s Pharmacy: Mother Nature’s Medicine(GraedonEnterprises,Inc.,2009)

Recipes&RemediesfromThePeople’sPharmacy(GraedonEnterprises,Inc.,2010)ALSOBYJOEGRAEDON

ThePeople’sPharmacy:AGuidetoPrescriptionDrugs,HomeRemedies,andOver-the-CounterMedications(St.Martin’sPress,1976)

NoDeadlyDrug (Pocket Books, 1992), a novel by Joe Graedon and TomFerguson,M.D.ALSOBYTERESAGRAEDON

ChocolatewithoutGuilt (GraedonEnterprises, 2002), a cookbook byTerryGraedonandKitGruelle

THEPEOPLE’SPHARMACY®

Quick&Handy

HOMEREMEDIES

THEPEOPLE’SPHARMACY®

Quick&Handy

HOMEREMEDIESQ&AsforYourCommonAilments

JOEandTERRYGRAEDON

IMPORTANTNOTETOREADERS

Thisbookisnotasubstituteforthemedicaladviceorcareofaphysicianorotherhealthcareprofessional.Thereadermustconsultaphysicianinmattersrelatingtohisorherhealth,especiallywithregardtoanysignsorsymptomsthatmayrequirediagnosisormedicalattention.Anyhealthproblemsthatdonot get better promptlyor getworse shouldbe evaluatedby an appropriateclinicianandtreatedproperly.

Homeremediesarerarelytestedinascientificmanner.Theyshouldnotbeconsideredasubstituteforpropermedicalcare.Thereadershouldnotassumethatthehomeremediesdiscussedinthisbookaresafeinallsituations.Everytreatmenthasthepotentialtocausesomesideeffectsforsomepeople.

Ifyoususpectthatyouorsomeoneyoucareforisexperiencinganadversereaction from an herb, drug, dietary supplement, or home remedy, pleaseconsultaknowledgeablehealthprofessionalimmediately.

Throughout this book, the authors make references to specific productswhoseeffectshavebeen reported to themby readers, listeners, andwebsitevisitors. In publishing this book, theNationalGeographic Society does notendorsetheuseofanyspecificbrandsorproducts.

Thisbookisdedicatedtothethousandsofreadersandlistenerswhohavecontributedremedies,recipes,andcommonsensesuggestionstoThePeople’sPharmacyoverthepastthreedecades.Withouttheirinput,thisbookwouldneverhavebeenpossible.

Wealsodedicateittothegrandparentswhohavepasseddowntheirwisdomfromgenerationtogeneration.Itmustnotbeforgotten.

CONTENTS

IntroductionPARTI.HOMEREMEDIES

AcneandRosacea

Allergies

Anemia

Asthma

BackPain

BodyOdor

BrainFunction

BugBitesandStings

Burns

Bursitis

Cancer

CankerSores

Colds

ColdSores

ColitisandCrohn’sDisease

Constipation

Coughs

CutsandBruises

Dandruff

Diabetes

Diarrhea

Diverticulitis

DrySkin

Eczema

Fibromyalgia

Gas

Gout

HeadachesandMigraines

Heartburn

Hemorrhoids

Hiccups

HighBloodPressure

HighCholesterolandTriglycerides

HotFlashes

Incontinence

Insomnia

IrritableBowelSyndrome

JointPainandArthritis

KidneyStones

Lice

MacularDegeneration

MotionSickness,Vertigo,andDizziness

MuscleandLegCramps

NailFungus

Nausea

NervePain

Nosebleed

PlantarFasciitis

Psoriasis

Raynaud’sDisease

RestlessLegSyndrome

Sex/Libido

Shingles

Sinusitis

SkinFungus

SkinTags

StinkyFeet

SunburnandSunRash

VaginalDryness

Warts

WeightLoss

WoundCareFAVORITEFOODS

Coffee

Blueberries

GreenTea

Pomegranate

ChickenSoup

Pineapple

Coconut

Cinnamon

Yogurt

OolongTea

FennelSeed

Almonds

Broccoli

HotPeppers

Beets

Chocolate

FishandFishOil

GrapeJuice

Walnuts

Cherries

Mustard

Ginger

Curry

GarlicPARTII.EATINGFORHEALTH

TheDASHDiet

TheMediterraneanDiet

TheLow-CarbDietBREAKFAST

Anti-InflammatoryCurcuminScramble

Joe’sBrain-BoostingSmoothie

Cholesterol-CombatingOatmealLUNCH

CrustlessCauliflowerandRedPepperQuiche

SolewithLemongrassRedBellPepperSalad

WheatBerrySaladDINNER

CardamomGrilledChickenwithMangoLimeSauce

LentilNutLoafwithRedPepperSauce

PescadoAlCilantroSIDES

ColeslawwithMint

FarmersMarketSaag

RoastedGarlic

SimpleSaladDressing

Sources

AbouttheAuthors

Acknowledgments

RecipeContributors

Index

Introduction

TRADITIONAL ADVICE FROM AROUND THE WORLD is remarkably similar in its commonsenseapproach to staying healthy: Get plenty of exercise, sleep, and good food.Over the past 15 or 20 years, researchers have discovered thatmany ideaspeople once dismissed as “old wives’ tales” have solid scientificunderpinnings.Homeremedieslikecranberryjuiceforurinarytractinfectionsorvitamin-D-richcod-liveroilasawintertonichavebeenprovenhelpful.

Grandmothers’ wisdom fell out of favor with the medical establishmentdecades ago, however, and even the public has forgotten much of it. InkeepingwithatypicallyAmericanfixationonallthingsinstant,peoplehavecometoexpectapharmaceuticalfixfortheirproblems.Somedoctorsbelieve,with reason, that their patients would be disappointed to leave the officewithoutaprescription.

Prescription drugs can be lifesaving, and our intention certainly isn’t todisparage pharmaceuticals or the doctors who prescribe them. Millions ofAmericans depend on medications, and no one should ever change ordiscontinueatreatmentregimenwithouttheguidanceofadoctor.

What concerns us, and the reason we conceived this book, is that weconstantlyhearfrompeoplewhofeelhelplessandhopelessaboutcaringforthemselves and preventing the kinds of chronic conditions for whichmedication is required.Asaculture,we’ve largely lost sightofhow to liveandeatsowecanbehealthy.

Peoplehaveprobablybeenusing foodasmedicine formillennia.Studieshave shown that other animals, too, seek out foods that may function aslaxatives,antibiotics,orantidotestotoxins.1Forthousandsofyears,peopleinregionsasdiverseasChina,Japan,India,andancientGreecehavemadeuseoffoodforitshealingproperties.TheGreekphysicianHippocrates,wholived2,500 years ago, once famously proclaimed, “Let food be your medicine.”(HippocratesisalsofamousasthefatherofmedicineandtheoriginatoroftheHippocratic Oath.) In recent years, as more researchers have becomeinterestedinthepotentialhealthbenefitsofvariousfoods,scientificevidencethatsupportsafood-as-medicineapproachhasbeguntomount.

Whenwetalkaboutusingfoodasmedicine,wemeantwodistinctthings.First, wemean that the foods we choose to consume regularly can have amajor impact on our health, and that even small changes to our dietsmayhavesignificantlong-termbenefits,includingthepreventionofmanychronicconditions.More intriguing is the possibility that certain foodsmight havespecific therapeuticactivities.People in Indiahavebeenusing turmeric, the

yellowspice in curry andyellowmustard, for thousandsofyears. It adds avery special taste to foods, but it also fights inflammation. A surprisingamountof researchon curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, suggestsgreatpromiseforusingthespiceto treatcancer,arthritis,andheartfailure.2Studies indicate that beets are another exampleof adelicious food that canhelp control a common problem: high blood pressure.3 Studies show thatwalnutscanlowercholesterol,helppreventheartdisease,4andperhapsevenhelp cut one’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes.5 Researchers have alsoconfirmed that blueberries and other antioxidant-rich foodsmay help boostcognitivefunctioninolderpeople.6Andthelistgoeson.Thisbookcontainsdozensofotherexamplesofliterallyusingfoodasmedicinetotreatcommonailments.

We also like to think of foods as home remedies.We’ve been collectinghome and herbal remedies for decades—ever since the People’s Pharmacycame into existence in 1976.Wheneverwe hear of a new remedy,we takenote.Ifwehearthesameremedyrepeatedly,weliketoshareit.Ourmottois,ifitwon’thurt,mighthelp,anddoesn’tcosttoomuch,it’sworthconsidering.Whilenotallremediesworkforallpeople,notallpharmaceuticalsdoeither.

Home remedies should never become substitutes for medical treatment,though,andyoushouldalwaysconsultyourphysicianbeforeaddinganythingnewtoyourregime,sincesomefoods,herbs,andsupplementsmayinteractwithmedication.Ifyouhaveanadversereactiontoaremedy,youshouldstopusing it rightawayand talk toyourdoctor.But itmaybeworthwhile to tryusingfoodsorotherremediestocombatsomecommonailmentsbeforegoingtothepharmacy.

Throughout these pages, you’ll find information and citations from themedical literature on themedicinal properties of various foods. You’ll alsofindrecipesforbothfoodsandremedies.We’veinvitedafewofourfavoriteguests from the People’s Pharmacy radio show—some of the country’sleadingexpertsonhealthandnutrition—tosendustheirfavoriterecipesforhealthful eating and living. We’ve then selected from that already selectgroup.

These experts’ approaches to diet represent a diversity of opinions andapproaches,but they’reallbasedon thesamebasicprinciplesofgoodfoodforgoodhealth.Ifanyoneknowsfood,thesefolksdo.Welovefood,too,andwe’vealsocontributedsomeofourownfavoriterecipes.Wehopeyouenjoythem,andwehopetheyhelpyouenjoygoodhealth!

PartI

HOMEREMEDIES

HOME REMEDIES REPRESENT a practical, affordable way to deal with some commonailments that don’t necessarily need immediate medical intervention.Likewise, food chosen wisely can serve as Mother Nature’s medicine.Hippocrates,thefatherofmedicine,said,“Letfoodbeyourmedicine.”That’swhy this book has twoparts. In the first section youwill find someof ourfavoritehomeremediesthatreadershavebeensharingwithusfordecades.Inthe secondpart,wediscuss foods that canbeused topromotegoodhealth.There is some overlap between home remedies and healing foods, and wetrustyouwillfindtheinformationyouneed.

Remedies&Ailments

Inthefirstpartofthebookyou’llfind62ofthemostcommonailmentsthatbedevil people, listed alphabetically, fromAcne toWounds.There’s awiderange covered in between, both in terms of seriousness (from Colds toCrohn’s Disease) and duration (from Bug Bites to High Blood Pressure).Withineachcategory,weofferhomeremediestohelpwiththeseailments.

The ailments are presented in a question-and-answer format gleanedfromournewspapercolumn,ourradioshow,andourwebsite.Muchofwhatwe know about home remedies comes as a result of suggestions or queriesfromourreadersandlisteners.Inasurprisingnumberofcases,though,thereis some scientific support for our approaches. In those cases, we offer thepublicationandtheyearinwhichtheresearchwaspublished.Inmanyotherinstancesthesefolkremedieshaveneverbeenstudied,andwecannotofferascientificexplanationforwhytheymightwork.Wetrytofollowthemotto“Ifitmighthelp,won’thurt,anddoesn’tcosttoomuch,it’sworthconsidering.”DochecktheImportantNotetoReadersonpage6forthecaveatsoneshouldalwaysfollowwhenexperimentingwithahomeremedy.

FavoriteFoods

HereandtherethroughoutPartI,youwillfindthatwefocusononeofour24favorite foods. These have been found especially beneficial in preventingillnessandmaintaininghealth.

We’ve placed these foods in Part I because they are also remedies. Inaddition, there is significant researchon them,oftenmore than fornonfoodremedies.

Wealso share recipes throughout the first part of thebook, notonly forremedies suchas teasandcoughsyrupsbutalso fordeliciousandhealthfuldishes that we have learned about from some of our favorite radio showguestsorhaveinventedinourownkitchen.

The two parts of our book really reinforce each other. Part II, Eating forHealth,goesmoredeeply intohealthful foodchoices,describing threedietswith proven health benefits. There youwill also find 13 additional recipes.You might turn straight to this section if eating well is your immediatepriority.

Wehopeyoufindtheremediesandrecipesinthisbooktastyandhelpful.

AcneandRosacea

Acneisthebaneofmanyteenagers,butitcanalsoaffectadults.Thesebumpsandblemishesmaybepartlydue to inflammation, triggeredbycertain skinbacteria. Ordinary acne (acne vulgaris) is a completely different conditionfrom acne rosacea, although in the initial stages they may look similar.Rosaceaaffectswomenmorethanmenandusuallystrikesduringmiddleage.It causes rednessof thecheeks,nose, and forehead.Dermatologists are stilldebatingthecausesofrosacea.Researchsuggeststhatoneimportantfactorisinflammation triggered by cathelicidin, one of the skin’s innate immunedefensesagainstbacteria,fungi,andsomeviruses.1Treatmentforrosaceahasinvolvedoralantibiotics(doxycycline,minocycline,tetracycline)andtopicalantimicrobials (metronidazole). A topical gel containing azelaic acid(Finacea) can reduce theproductionof cathelicidinand improve symptoms.Buttheconditionmaynotrespondwelltoprescribedmedications,leadingtofrustration.Homeremediesareunprovenbutmaybeworthatry.

CORNSTARCH

Two years ago a dermatologist diagnosedmy skin condition as rosaceaand prescribed topical tetracycline and MetroLotion to be applied twicedaily.Myconditiondidnotimprove.Therednessandrashwerechronicandseemedtobegettingworse.Itriedallkindsofproducts,includingover-the-counter lotionsandcortisonecreams.ThenIputArgoCornStarchon therosacea.Oneplaceonmycheeknearmynoselookedespeciallybad.Tomysurprise, in aweek it healed.Nowall I do iswashmy facemorning andnight,thenapplyalightcoatofcornstarch.Ihavenothadarecurrenceofrosacea.Myfaceissmoothandclear.AmIanisolatedcase,oriscornstarchareliabletreatment?

Rosaceaisachronicskinconditionthataffectsthechin,cheeks,nose,orcentral forehead. Redness, bumps, pimples, and visible blood vessels arecommon. Itscause is somewhatmysterious,butdermatologistsoften treatrosacea with oral antibiotics or topical anti-infectives like MetroGel orMetroLotion (metronidazole). Cortisone creams canmake rosacea worse.Gentlefacewashingtwiceadayisrecommended,butasfaraswecantell,yourcornstarchapproach isunorthodox.Wedonotknowif itwouldhelpanyoneelseorifyouareanisolatedcase.Theconditioncanwaxandwane,butifthislow-techtreatmentworks,countyourselffortunate.

DIET

I had facial acne and rosacea for at least four years. I blamed dailymedications. A visit to the dermatologist did not help. Then one of your

columnsmentionedartificialsweetenersasacauseofdiarrhea,soIstoppedusing them for that reason. When I quit drinking diet soda, my skinimproved.Now, after sixweeks,my skin problems are almost gone—forthe first time in four years. I have diabetes and now drink onlywater orunsweeteneddrinks.Thankyou.

Dermatologists recognize that individuals have different triggers.We’regladtohavehelpedyoufindyours.Doctorsoftenprescribeoralantibioticsor topical antimicrobials. Some studies suggest that a topical B vitamin,nicotinamide(Nicomide),mayalsohelpcontrolrednessandbumps.Topicallow-dose doxycycline (Oracea) is prescribed to maximize anti-inflammatoryactivityandtominimizeantibioticaction.

Myrosaceagivesmearednoseandcheeks.Tetracyclinehelpsbutupsetsmy stomach. If I stop the antibiotic, the redness returns. My neighborsuggested two tablespoonsdaily of salsa. I started the salsa amonth ago.Now my nose is not red or itchy as it usually is. It’s hard to believesomethingthattastessogoodcouldbegoodmedicine.Haveyoueverheardofthistreatment?

Your experience with salsa is intriguing. Doctors usually tell rosaceapatients toavoidfoodordrinkthatcandilatebloodvessels, includinghotbeverages, alcohol, and spicy foods.We have heard of people using hotsalsa for skin problems such as psoriasis and eczema, but this is the firsttimeanyonehassuggesteditforrosacea.Capsaicin, thecomponentinhotpeppers that gives them a zing, has been tested topically for other skinconditions.Pleaseletusknowifitcontinuestowork.

Ireadyourarticleonacnedisappearingwhenthewritergaveupbananas.Itoohad thisproblemyearsago.When I stoppedeatingbananas,myacnedisappeared.

We don’t have a clue why some people might react to bananas bydevelopingskinblemishes.Whilecuttingoutbananasmightnotwork forothers,itseemsasimpleexperimenttotry.

My14-year-olddaughterhashadmoderateacnefor twoyears.Clearasilleavesbleachstainsonherclothes.Antibioticsseemtomakemattersworse.The doctor suggested birth control pills, but it’s not an option we’dentertain.Arethereanytopicalornaturalremediesthatmightwork?Whataboutdiet?

Anylinkbetweenacneanddietiscontroversial.Peopleoncetoldteenstoavoid chocolate and high-fat foods. That turned out to be unhelpful.However, researchsuggests thatdietmaymakeadifference.2 Populations

thateatlow-carbohydratedietsthatdon’tcausearapidriseinbloodsugarmay be less prone to blemishes. Your daughtermight try avoiding foodslikecandy,cookies,frenchfries,potatochips,sugar,andwhiteflourtoseeif ithelpshercomplexion.Askyourpharmacist about a topical treatmentthat contains a B vitamin. Nicomide-TGel was equivalent to the topicalantibioticclindamycininonecontrolledstudy.3Oralnicotinamidemayalsobehelpful.4

LISTERINE

Ihavesensitiveskinthatreactsbadlytoeverything.IhaveusedListerineforyearstoclearupsmallblemishes.Applyadabtotheareaatnight,andusuallybymorningthespotisclear.Itdoesn’tirritatethesurroundingskineither.Myhusbandhasstartedusingitforshavingbumpstoo.

The herbal extracts and alcohol in Listerine that are supposed to “killgerms by millions on contact” may be useful in helping your blemishesheal.WehaveheardfromotherreaderswhohaveusedListerineinthisway.

MILKOFMAGNESIA

Haveyouheardofusingmilkofmagnesiaonsevereacne?Mysonhascysticnodularacne.Heis16andhasbeenunderadermatologist’scareforyears.We have spent thousands of dollars to no avail. Recently he triedapplyingmilkofmagnesiatohisfaceatnightbeforebed.Helooksbetterthanhehasinfouryears.Canyoutelluswhythisisworking?

Milkofmagnesiaisasolutionofmagnesiumhydroxideandisbestknownfor its laxative action.Wedon’t knowwhy itmight combat acne, butwehaveheardthatthislaxativecanhelpclearupseborrheicdermatitis.

Iam44yearsoldandhavehadacnesincemyteens.Dermatologistshaveprescribed countless antibiotics, including Cleocin T, to no avail. Birthcontrolpillsworked,butwhenIstoppedtaking them, theacnereturned. Ialso took Retin-A, which helped but caused sun sensitivity, redness, andcracking. I was excited to read about milk of magnesia as a topicaltreatment.My12-year-oldsonandIaregettinggoodresults.Canmilkofmagnesiamakeacnedisappear?

There are no good studies, though a letter inArchives of Dermatologysuggests that a topical application of milk of magnesia each night couldhelp reduce the redness and inflammation that is associated with acne.Someofourotherreadershavereportedsuccesswiththisremedy.5

REDCLOVERSALVE

I have been successful in keeping rosacea outbreaks from recurring by

usingaproductfromJ.R.WatkinscalledRedCloverSalve.Isimplyrubasmallamountonmynoseandcheekseverymorning.Ifindthesalvejustaseffectiveasaprescribedointmentanditisalsolessexpensive.

A chronic skin condition, rosacea causes flushing and pimple-likeoutbreaks.The salve canbeorderedonline fromAmazon.com.We foundnostudiesrecommendingitsuseforrosacea,butwearegladitishelping.

VINEGAR

Ihavebeensufferingfromrosaceaforyears.Adermatologistprescribedboth metronidazole cream and minocycline twice daily. These wereineffective. I am a 47-year-oldmale, 5 feet 8 inches tall, andweigh 139pounds. I exercise regularly (run and bicycle) and have a healthy diet. Idrinkalcoholoccasionally,mainlyredwineandbeer.Mycholesterolislow,andItakenomedications.WhatelsecouldIdoformyrosacea?

Alcohol isfrequentlyblamedasa triggerforrosacea,socuttingbackonbeer andwinemight help. Another nonstandard approach is antibacterialsoap. One reader applies organic raw apple cider vinegar to the affectedskin and washes it off with a gentle cleanser after 30 minutes. Anotherreports,“Ihavehadrosacea—dry,flaky,reddenedfacialskin—foryears.Idecidedtotryvinegarasafacialcleanser.Idampenaclothwithitandwipemyfaceoffoncedaily.Myfacehasnotfeltthissmoothorbeenthisfreeofrednessforalongtime.”

Allergies

Allergiescausealotofmisery,particularlyatcertaintimesoftheyearwhenpollenisintheair.Nasalcongestionandsneezingareoftenaccompaniedbyfatigue, mental fuzziness, and delayed reaction time. These symptoms canmakedrivinghazardous,but socanmanycommonantihistamines availableover the counter to treat allergy symptoms. No wonder people get excitedabouthomeremediestotreatallergies—ortopreventtheminthefirstplace!

GLUTEN-FREEDIET

Acalleronyour radio showsaid thather allergieswentawaywhen shemaintainedagluten-freediet.Ihavehadasimilarexperience.Ihadbattledallergiesmostofmylife.AbouttenyearsagoIwasdiagnosedwithlupus.Since eating a gluten-free diet for the last two years, I have been allergyfree. In the last nine months I have had no lupus symptoms and haveeliminatedprescriptionmedications.Glutenistoxicforme,andIwillavoidit for the rest ofmy life.My teenage sonwas just diagnosedwith celiacdisease.Iamhopingthatanewgluten-freedietwilleliminatehisallergiesasitdidmine.

Celiacdiseaseisaninabilitytotolerategluten,aproteinfoundinbarley,wheat, and rye. Celiac disease is very serious. It is not usually linked toallergiesbutmaybeassociatedwithlupus.

NETIPOT

Since using a neti pot daily,my friend,my daughter-in-law, and I havestoppedourprescriptionnasal sprays and inhalers for sinusproblemsandallergies!Igetbronchitiseasily,butIhavebeencoughfreefortwomonthssinceIbeganrinsingmysinusesnightlywithamixtureofonecupofwarmwaterandone-quarterteaspoonofplainsalt.

ThenetipotlooksabitlikeAladdin’slamp.Itisatraditionaltechnologyfornasal irrigation tocleanse thenasalpassagesandsinuses.Practitionersof India’s traditional ayurvedic medicine have used neti pots for regularnasalcleansingforhundredsofyears.Inusinganetipot,theheadistippedforwardandslightlytothesidesothatwatercanbepouredintoonenostrilandallowedtorunouttheother.Nasalirrigationmayalsobeaccomplishedwithsprayequipmentfromadrugstore.Astudysuggeststhatmanypeoplewithchronicsinussymptomsbenefitfromdailynasalirrigation.1

ROOIBOSTEA

WhileinAfricaIstarteddrinkingrooibosteaeveryday.NowIambackhomeinHouston,andmyusualfallallergieshavenotrecurred.Haveyouheardofusingrooibosteaforallergies?

Wehaveheardofrooibos(redbush)teafromSouthAfrica.Traditionallyithasbeenusedtofightpollenallergies,butthereislittleclinicalresearchtosupportitseffectiveness.However,onestudydidsuggestrooibosteahasaneffectontheimmunesystemthatmighthelprelieveallergicsymptoms.2

STINGINGNETTLE

Afriendfoundamentionofnettleleafforallergyreliefinyourbookandpassediton.Itworks.Whenastudentinoneofmycollegeclassestoldmethat his allergy disrupted his sleep. I gave him a dose of my nettle leafextract.Anhourlaterheinterruptedclasstosayhissymptomsweregone.OnyourWebpagesyoudiscussnettlerootforprostatehealth.Aretheusesoftheleafandtherootdifferent?

Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) is commonly used in Europe, both asmedicationandvegetable.IntheUnitedStates,fewknowaboutit.Youarecorrect that nettle root extract is used to treat symptoms of enlargedprostate. Research suggests that aboveground parts are useful in treatingallergysymptoms.3

Anemia

Anemia is a relatively common condition, particularly in menstruatingwomenandinpeoplewhofollowavegetariandiet.Nevertheless,anemiaisablooddisorderandcanbequiteserious.It’scausedbyalackofhealthyredbloodcells,whichmaybeduetoexcessivebloodlossorinadequatenutrition.Symptoms can include easy bruising, tiredness and lethargy, paleness, andlack of concentration. Pica—a craving for substances other than food (likeice,cornstarch,laundrystarch,ordirt)—canalsobeasignofanemia.

Anemia can sometimes signal an underlying condition, such as celiacdisease or hypothyroidism. If you suspect that you suffer from anemia,consult your doctor. Iron supplements can frequently correct less acuteanemia.Dietaryalterationsalsomaymakeadifference.Considercuttingoutitemssuchaswine,tea,andsoy,whichcanblockironabsorption.Italsomaybehelpful toaddiron-richfoods,suchasspinach,beets,beans,andnuts, toyour diet. For nonvegetarians, poultry, fish, or meat (especially liver) canprovideironfromthebloodproteinhemoglobin,whichthebodymorereadilyabsorbs. Other foods rich in nonhemoglobin iron include quinoa (a grain),raisins,andblackstrapmolasses.

BLACKSTRAPMOLASSES

Yourecentlyansweredaquestionfromavegetarianblooddonorwhohaslowhemoglobin.Hewas concernedabout caffeine. I tooamavegetarianand donate blood every 56 days. I do not consume caffeine, butmy ironlevelat timeshasbeen too low toallowme todonate. Iwas told that tea(evenherbalanddecaf)robsthebodyofiron.SoaweekbeforeIdonate,Istopdrinkingtea.SinceIstarteddoingthat,Ihavenothadaproblemwithmy iron level. For a hot drink before donating, the donor should try atablespoonful of blackstrapmolasses in hotwater. It’llwarm him up andprovideiron.

Thanks for the recommendation for the iron-rich hot drink usingblackstrapmolasses.Caffeinedoesn’taffectironlevels,butmanykindsofhot drinks have tannins and polyphenols that can interfere with ironabsorption.Teaisrichinthesecompounds,andcoffeeandcocoacanalsohinder iron absorption. So can herbal teas made from peppermint orchamomile.

Asthma

Asthmadoesnothaveado-it-yourselftreatmentprogram.Evenmildasthmarequiresmedical supervision, andmore severe asthma requires a thoughtfultreatment plan. Doctors often give asthma patients a steroid inhaler and abronchodilator tohelpopenconstrictedairways.Combinationproductssuch

asAdvairhavebecomepopular,since theycontain twodrugs inonepuffer.We’renot here todiscuss thepros and consof asthmamedications, butwecan try to provide backup in a pinch. Imagine that you have packed yourasthmamedicineincarry-onluggageforaflightfromAkrontoPhiladelphia.As you approach the boarding gate, however, you learn that the “puddlejumper” airplane cannot accommodate your overstuffed carry-on. The gateattendant unceremoniously tags your luggage, and off it goes to theunderbellyoftheairplane.MidwaytoPhilly,yourlungsgetabittwitchyandyou start towheeze.Youcan’t ask the flight attendant toget your luggage.Butyoucanaskforstrongcoffee,aremedythatoftenhelpsasthmasufferers.

CAFFEINE

Iwaswonderingaboutcoffeeandasthma.Coffeeworksformyasthma!Which works better? Caf or decaf? Should it be brewed, or can it beinstant? I am going on vacation this month, and it would make me feelbettertoknowthesethings,incaseIrunintotrouble.

Physicianshaveknownabout thebeneficialeffectsofcoffeefor treatingasthma since at least 1859, when the Scots noted it in the EdinburghMedicalJournal.Researchhas shown that caffeine canopen airways andimprove asthma symptoms.1 Caffeine is related to theophylline, an old-fashioned drug used to treat respiratory diseases such as asthma andemphysema.Therecommendeddoseisusuallythreecupsofstrongcoffeeforanaverageadult.Decafcoffeewillnotwork.Instantcoffeecontainslesscaffeine than brewed coffee, so a person seeking reliefmight need a fewmorecupsofinstant.Greenteaalsohelpsopenairwaysbuttakeslongertodoso.SchoolnursesevenuseMountainDewsodaforkidswholeft theirinhalers at home.However, noone should relyuponcoffee, green tea, orMountainDewtocontrolasthmasymptoms.Althoughthesedrinkscanhelpinapinch,prescribedmedicationoffersmorereliablerelief.

BackPain

Back pain plagues humankind.Almost everyone experiences a twinge nowandagain.Othersarelaidlowforweeks,barelyabletowalkortorideinacarwithoutexcruciatingpain.Believeitornot,physiciansstilldonotreallyknow what causes acute low back pain. And there is a great deal ofcontroversyaboutthebestwaytodealwiththisproblem.Afewdecadesago,health professionals told people to rest and avoidmoving for days or evenweeks. Today, unless there is a herniated disc or other anatomicalcomplicationinvolved,doctorsusuallyencouragepatientstomovegentlyassoon as possible after a back spasmwears off. Some back experts criticizepractitionerswhoperformspinalmanipulation.Others thinkmanipulation is

abouttheonlyapproachthatmakesanysense.Werefusetoenterthefray.Butwedooffersomehomeremedies thatare less likely tocausecomplicationsthan more invasive approaches (such as back surgery). Of course, if acutelowerbackpainisaccompaniedbyothersymptoms,suchasurinarycontrolissuesornumbnessandtingling,weencourageaworkupbyaqualifiedbackspecialist.

THEPEOPLE’SPHARMACY

FavoriteFood#1:CoffeeBetyounever thoughtyourmorningcupof joemighthelp reduce theriskofdevelopingtype2diabetes,cancer,stroke,heartdisease,andevenAlzheimer’s.Coffeegetsblamedforallsortsofthings,fromdiscoloredteeth to headaches fromcaffeinewithdrawal—it is habit-forming, afterall. Caffeine also has been linked to increased risk for miscarriage inpregnantwomen,1andtobreastcancer,2althoughthedataremainmixed.Pregnant women certainly should be cautious about caffeineconsumption. But for most people, the benefits of drinking too muchcoffeefaroutweightherisks.The news about this tasty beverage keeps getting better and better.

Severalstudiessuggestthatcoffeedrinkersareatalowerriskfortype2diabetes.3 Surprisingly, coffee contains more antioxidants than manyvegetables, and this may account for its cancer-fighting properties. Innumerous studies, coffeehasbeenassociatedwith adecreased risk forcancersofthemouth,throat,esophagus,4colon,5kidneys,6liver,7 skin,8andendometrium.9Drinking coffee appears to help cut the chance of stroke aswell. In

one study, women drinking at least four cups of coffee a day seemedmoderately less likely to suffer strokes than those consuming less thanonecupamonth.10Coffeealsomayhelpprotect againstheartdisease,butthesedataarecontradictory—maybebecauseunfilteredcoffeemightactually raise cholesterol. (If you have high cholesterol, you mightconsidertradinginyourFrenchpressorespressomakerforadrip-stylebrewerthattakesapaperfilter.)YetanotherboonisthatcoffeeseemstolowertheriskofAlzheimer’s

disease.Researchersanalyzingthecoffee-drinkinghabitsofFinnsinthe1970sand1980sdiscoveredthatthosewhodrankthreetofivecupsdailywere 65 percent less likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s severaldecades down the road.11 Maybe it’s time to wake up and smell thecoffee.

MEDITERRANEANDIET

I’vesufferedfromseverelowerbackpainsince1964,whenIwas14.In1972, Iwas diagnosedwith spondylolisthesis, fourth degree. In 1980 and1986Ihadsurgicalprocedurestofusemyspineintoplace.In2004,Iwastoldmy spine had slipped again; I had scoliosis and osteoarthritis in thespine andpelvis.Then, last year, I readyourbookBestChoices from thePeople’sPharmacy and began theMediterranean diet at the beginning ofSeptember.IstoppedtakingCelebrexatthattime.Afterthreeweeks,Iwasabletomovemyshouldersfreely,despitepreviousbursitis,andnolongerhadpaininmyspineandpelvis.WhenIstoppedtakingLipitor,themuscleandnervepainsand the tingling inmyextremitiesdisappeared. I’vebeenable to stop taking all medication for any sort of pain since December.Besidesthefreedomfrompain,Ilovethefeelingofwell-beingI’vegained.I’vesharedtheinformationwithmycousinsandfriendsandhavegiventhetitleofyourbooktofellowpatientsI’vemetinthepharmacyoratclinicsatthePrincessMargaretHospitalhereinNassau.

Wearedelightedthattheanti-inflammatorybenefitsoftheMediterraneandiethaverelievedthepainfromyourseriousbackcondition.Thisdietcanalsohelppreventheartdisease.

TURMERIC

I have a degeneration of the L4 andL5 onmy spine. The pain doctorswanted to make me a walking zombie with pain meds. Instead, I beganaddingone-quarter teaspoonof turmeric toscrambledeggs.Thatwasfouryearsago.Iampainfreeandabletogetoutofbed,walk,andliveanormalanddrug-freelife.IttookaboutthreeweeksbeforeIexperiencedadropinmypainlevel.Havefaithandpatience.

Thankssomuchforsharingyourexperienceandremedy.Followingyoursuggestion,wefoundscrambledeggsagreatwaytogetadoseofturmeric.

BodyOdor

Thisconditioncanbeextremelyembarrassing,butinmostcasesdoctorspaylittle attention to body odor because it isn’t really a medical problem.Antiperspirantscontainingaluminummayhelp,butsomepeoplereactbadlyto them, and many would prefer to avoid aluminum. Body odor may becaused by skin bacteria that break sweat down into volatile (smelly)compounds.Somepeoplehavefoundintriguingapproachestothisproblem.

BAKINGSODA

Bakingsodaisfantasticforsweatyunderarms.I’veuseditformanyyears

becauseregulardeodorantseithercauseanallergicreactionordon’twork.Bakingsodabeatsthemall.

Others have also found baking soda helpful. It is appliedwith a cottonball.

LISTERINE

Mydaughterisenteringpubertyanddealingwithunderarmbodyodor.Wetriedmanydifferentdeodorantsandantiperspirantstonoavail.IfiguredifListerinekillsthegermsthatcausebadbreath,itmightkillthebacteriathatcauseunderarmodor. I checkedwith thepediatrician first tomake sure itwouldbesafe.Sureenough,Listerineworks.Sheappliesitaftershowering,lets it dry, and then applies an antiperspirant. She can go just about theentiredaywithbarelyanyodor.

Thanks for sharing thisunique solution toacommonproblem.Listerinecontains thymol, eucalyptol, menthol, and methyl salicylate. These oilshave antifungal and antibacterial properties. Although Listerine is notapprovedforthisuse,we’regladtolearnitworks.

MILKOFMAGNESIA

Iwant to share a remedy I learnedwhen traveling inBrazil. Just applymilkofmagnesiatoyourarmpits.Itisthebestunderarmdeodorant!

Whatanunusualidea.Milkofmagnesiacontainsmagnesiumhydroxide,whichisbothanantacidandalaxative.Wehaveneverheardofapplyingitto underarms, though. Perhaps it reduces the acidity of the skin tomakeodor-formingbacterialesswelcome.

RUBBINGALCOHOL

Iam70.WhenIwas13,mymothertoldmetouserubbingalcoholasadeodorant.Itworks.Ihavetriedover-the-counterproductsbutfindMom’sadviceworkslikeacharm.Allmysixchildrenusethischeapremedy,andnowtheirfamiliesdo,too!

Thanksforsharingyourapproach.WehavealsoheardfromreaderswhousewhitevinegarorListerineundertheirarmstofightodor.Otherreadersare enthusiastic about applying topical milk of magnesia to take care ofunderarmodor.

VINEGARORVODKA

Iusedtoworkbackstageforthewardrobedepartmentinatheater.Actorssweat,andclothesthatarenotmachinewashablearedry-cleanedonlyonceaweek.Clothesgetsweatyandsmelly.ThesolutionIwastaughtistospray

undilutedwhitevinegarorvodka(thecheaperandhigherproofthebetter)onthearmpitsandothersweatyareasoftheclothing.Oncedry,theclothesdidn’tsmell.Thisworkedforthe15yearsthatIdidit.

Thanksforthisfascinatingtip.Duringsummerclothesgetsweatyquickly.This seems like an affordable solution to a common problem. Beforesprayinglargepartsofthegarment,though,itmightbeagoodideatotestthevinegarorvodkainanunobtrusiveplacetomakesureitwon’tstaintheclothing.

ZINCOXIDE

YearsagoIwassufferingfromsensitivity toallunderarmdeodorantsonthe market. I found an alternative product at the health food store andbought it, though it was expensive ($12). The directions said to apply asmall amount of this white paste to each clean, dry armpit only once aweek.Itriedit,anditworked.Theingredientswerezincoxide,rosewater,andsomekindofpowder.ThetinwassosmallthatIuseditupinnotime.Then Iboughta tubeofcheapzincoxideointment (75cents)andused itinstead. I’vebeenusing itever since. It’snotanantiperspirant,but it isamarvelous deodorant. Also, it’s safe: Diaper rash cream is made of zincoxide.

Thanks for telling us about your experience.According to our cosmeticconsultant,zincoxidehasantimicrobialproperties.Weagreethatitisasafeandinexpensiveapproachtounderarmodor.

BrainFunction

There’snoquestionaboutit:Lossofmentalabilityloomslargeonthelistofhealth worries, right up there with heart disease and cancer. As the babyboomersage,allthreeofthesechronicconditionsarebecomingincreasinglyprevalent.Although thereareeffectivemedical treatments forheartdisease,and even for certain cancers, those for dementia leave a lot to be desired.Doctorshaveverylittletoofferforpreventingordinarycognitivedecline,butexercise,socialinteraction,anddietcanbeveryhelpful.Whatshouldyoueattokeepyourbrainsharp?

BLUEBERRIES

I’veheardthatblueberrieshaveabeneficialeffectonthebrain.Canyoutellmemoreaboutthis?Istheresearchrecentandcredible?

JamesJosephatTuftsUniversityisaleadingneuroscientistandexpertontheeffectsofberriesonbrain function.His studiesonbothaging rodentsand humans have demonstrated cognitive benefits from blueberries. We

thinkhisresearchishighlycredible.1Dr.Josephrecommendsfrozenberriesasaneconomicalwaytogettheantioxidantpotentialofthisfruit.

FISHOIL

Ikeepreadingthateatingfishisgoodforyourheart,yourbrain,andjustabouteverythingelse.Iamnotfondoffish,soIhavestartedtakingfishoilcapsules.Afriendsaysfishoiliscontaminatedwithmercury.IhatetothinkI’mslowlypoisoningmyselfbytryingtoimprovemyhealth.

The FDA cautions that large fish (shark, swordfish, kingmackerel, andtilefish) may be contaminated with mercury. Tests of fish oil capsules,however,havenotrevealedmercury.Formoredetailsononesuchanalysis,checkoutwww.consumerlab.com.

THEPEOPLE’SPHARMACY

FavoriteFood#2:BlueberriesWeloveblueberries.Actually,weloveallberries,whetherblue,black,red,oranycolorinbetween.Ounceforounce,blueberriespackabiggerantioxidant punch than almost any other fruit or vegetable. Just 3.5ounces of blueberries has 2,400 oxygen radical absorbance capacity(ORAC)units.That’sabouttwiceasmanyasspinachorbroccoli.One big helping of blueberries has the same antioxidant power as

nearlyfiveservingsofcertainotherfruitsandvegetables.Andyoudon’thavetospendafortuneonfreshblueberriesoutofseason:Frozenberriesworkjustaswellandtheyareatastyandeconomicalalternative.Plus,itmay be a lot easier to get your kids to eat their blueberries than toconvincethemtoswallowanothermouthfulofcookedspinach.Studies indicate that blueberries help brain cells withstand stress.1

Studies on rats show great results, but even studies on human beingswith mild, aging-related cognitive impairment show that people givenblueberries or Concord grape juice perform better on tests of verbalmemorythanpeoplewhoaregivenplacebos.2Strawberries and walnuts offer some of the same benefits. Other

studieshavefoundthattheantioxidantcompoundsinblueberriesprovidestillmorebenefits.Theyalsocanhelplowerbloodpressure3andprotectagainststroke4inrats.Promising work at Ohio State University suggests that blueberry

extractcanblockthedevelopmentofbloodvesselsthatfeedtumorsandcaninhibitinflammationthatencouragestheirgrowth.5Morerecently,asmallstudyonmicepointedtoapossibleprotectiveeffectagainstbreast

cancer.6Researchersgavemiceblueberryextractoraplaceboeverydayfor a week before injecting the mice with hard-to-treat breast cancercells.Thedoseoftheextractwouldbecomparabletoeatingfiveouncesof blueberries a day. After six weeks, the mice getting the blueberryextracthadtumorsthatwere70percentsmallerandlesslikelytomigratethanthemicegettingtheplacebo.

BugBitesandStings

Whenyou are dealingwith a sting or a bite, common sense is essential.Apersonwho’shadanallergicreactiontoastingmayneedimmediatefirst-aidtreatment with epinephrine (EpiPen) while being rushed to the emergencydepartment.Reactionstoatickbite(generallyfeverandarashdaysorweekslater) also call for prompt medical attention. Lyme disease and RockyMountainspottedfeverareseriousdiseasesspreadbyticks.Usually,though,thepainor the itch is themain issue,andpeoplehave foundmanyways tocope.

BAKINGSODA

Awaspstungmetodayontheinsideofmythumb.IcalledNHSDirectforadvice.Then I loggedon toyourwebsite and founda remedy suggestingbicarbonatedsodaandvinegarforstings.Itworked!Tenminuteslater,thepainwasnearlygone.

American readers may not know that Britain’s National Health Service(NHS) provides advice by telephone, digital TV, and the Web. We aredelighted that a paste of baking soda and vinegarworked for you.Manyotherreadershavefoundthishomeremedyhelpful.

CASTOROIL

Igotbittenbyfireantsyesterday,andthebitesswelledupanditchedlikecrazy.Iappliedcastoroilrightaway,andtheitchingstopped.Thebitesarejustalittlebitswollentoday,andtheydon’titchatall.Castoroilsureworksonantbites!

Castoroilisanold-fashionedremedythatpeopleonceusedasalaxative.We’veheardofusingitonwarts,bruises,andsorejoints,butthisisthefirstwe’veheardofusingitonantbites.Otherremediesthatreadershaveusedsuccessfullyon fire antbites includebaking sodaandvinegar, toothpaste,andVicksVapoRub.

HOTWATER

Letme add to a recent article describing the benefits of applying a hot

water compress to subdue severe itching. I suffer from terrible andprolonged itching fromfireantbites (acommonproblemwhen fishing intheSouth).Severalyearsago,whilesufferingdreadfullyfromtheitchingofabout30concentratedfireantbites,Ijumpedintotheshower,adjustedthewatertoashotasIcouldstand,and,usingmyhandheldpulsatingshowerhead, ran it up and down the affected area on my leg. Amazingly, theitching stopped, and I never had to chance the consequences of infectionandscarringthatmightresultfromunabatedscratching.Ibelievethat thismethodofrelievingsevereitchingmaybeevenbetterthanthehotcompressapplication. The hot water alleviates the itching, and the pulsating wateralsosafelysatisfiestheurgetoscratch.

Brief exposure (a few seconds) to hotwater can ease itching from bugbites ormild poison ivy.Thehotwater blocks the itch signal fromnerveendings for a few hours. Do not use hot water for hives, however, as itcouldmakemattersworse.

MEATTENDERIZER

Let’stalkabouttwoofthehazardsoftheAmericanSouthwest—fireantsand scorpions. These critters give awallop of a bite or stingwithout thewarningofabuzz.Yearsago,whenImovedtoTexaswithatoddler,Iwasfreakedout just at the sight of a scorpion.Poison control inSanMarcos,Texas,toldmetokeepmeattenderizer—thekindwithpapayaextractinit—onhandforbee,scorpion,andfireantstings.Addalittlewatertoascanthandfuloftenderizerandputthepasteonthestingimmediately.Itworks!Thepoisoncontrolpeoplealsosaidweshouldkeeptetanusshotsuptodatebecausestingingthings,especiallyfireants,canspreadinfection.

Thepapayaextract (theenzymepapain) inmeat tenderizerbreaksdownproteins—notonlyinmeat,butalsoinstings.Itisatime-honoredtreatmentfor bee and wasp stings. Scorpion stings might be too serious for homeremedies. If a scorpion stings your child, medical attention would beprudent.

RAWONION

You’vewrittenaboutbakingsodaandvinegartoeasewaspstings.Ionceusedthisremedy.Thenafriendsuggestedapplyingrawyellowoniontoabiteassoonaspossible.I takeaboutateaspoonofgratedonion,putitonthe sting, and bandage it in place. It provides immediate relief, and theswellingsoondisappears.Ialwaystakearawonionaspartofmyfirst-aidkitoncampingtrips.IfIdon’tneeditforasting,Icanalwaysuseit inastew.

You aren’t the only one to benefit from raw onion for stings. Anotherreaderpostedthisstorytoourwebsite:“I’mapianist,andIreactpoorlytowaspstings.IgetreallyworriedandfreakoutwhenIgetstungonthehand.Yesterday Iwas stung just below the thumb-nail, andwithinminutesmyhandlookedlikearubberglovethathadbeenfilledwithair.Iputitundercoldwater,foundmyApisMell(homeopathicremedyforbitesandstings),and also took ibuprofen. Then I looked online for help. At your site(www.peoplespharmacy.com)Isawpeoplehadsuccesswithonions,soIcuta slice of onion and taped it to my thumb.Within an hour the swellingstarted to go down. By dinnertime, six hours later, my hand was almostnormal. I could bendmy thumb, and the swelling was down. The onionworks.LastyearwhenIgotstungonthewrist,Ididn’tknowaboutonion,andmyhandwasalmostuselessforoveraweek.”

TAPE

Ilivenearanationalparkandwalkmydogsinthewoods.Therearetickseverywhere.Istopandpullticksoffmyselfeveryfewminutes,butIhatetojust throw themback in the busheswhere theywillwait forme the nexttimeIgoforawalk. Is thereaneasywaytokillordisposeof them?Mydogshavebeenvaccinated againstLymedisease, but I understand there’snovaccineforme.Isurelydon’twantthisdisease!

Put on insect repellent containingDEET before you leave home. Sprayyourshoesandsocks,andtucktrouserlegsintoyoursocks.CarryarollofScotchTapeinyourpocket.Wheneveryouspotatick,usethetapetotrapit.Onceitissealedintape,itcan’tescape.

TOOTHPASTE

Your column mentioned toothpaste as a cure for bites from fire ants.SeveralyearsagoIwasstungmanytimesbyyellowjackets.Twelvehourslater Iwas still hurting as though it had just happened.Mydaughter hadseen a TV show that mentioned toothpaste for stings. I tried it and wassurprised to find that itworked immediately.Since then Ihaveused itonvarious bug bites and stings, including jellyfish stings,with great results.Theprogramstated that itmustbemint toothpaste.Perhaps it is themintthatdoesthetrick.

Anumberofreadershavetoldusthatputtingtoothpasteonfireantbitescanbeverysoothing.Wehaveneverheardthattoothpastewouldbehelpfulagainstotherstingsaswell.Nooneseemstoknowwhetheritisthemint,thefluoride,orsomeotheringredientthateasesthepain.However,anyonewho is allergic to yellow jackets, bees, or wasps should get emergencytreatmentimmediatelyandnotresorttohomeremediesforstings.

ShortlyafterIreadaboutusingtoothpasteforfireantbites,Iwasbittenbyafireant.Istartedspreadingtoothpasteovermyswollenankletwiceaday.Ithasbeenthreedays,andtheinflammationhasmostlygoneaway.Ionlyhaveasmallredareaaroundthecenterofthebite.PreviouslyIwouldhavebeenat thedoctor’sofficeand receivingantibioticsbynow.Additionally,thetoothpastehelpedwiththeitch.

Readers have applied many remedies to fire ant bites. In addition totoothpaste, they report success with tobacco juice, Vicks VapoRub,Listerine,applecidervinegar,andmeattenderizermixedintoapastewithwater.

VINEGARANDBAKINGSODA

I used a combinationof apple cidervinegar andbaking sodaon awaspstingandfeltinstantrelief.Thefoamingactionshouldamusechildrenwhohavebeenfrightenedbythesting.

When you combine vinegar and baking soda, the impressive foam iscaused by the release of carbon dioxide. We don’t know why thiscombinationseemstoeasethepainofwasporbeestings,butitispopular.Other treatments include fresh onion juice or a paste made of meattenderizerandwater.

Burns

For burns, cool the skin immediately with cold water by holding the burnunderthetap.Somepeopleplungeaburnedhandintoapitcheroficewateroricedtea.Thisalsohelpseasethepainofamildburn.Afterthecoldwatertreatment, assess whether the burn is serious and requires a trip to theemergencyroomorwhethertheproblemislesssevereandahomeremedyisappropriate.

ALOEVERA

Some time ago a gardener friend gaveme a large pottedAloe vera andsaid,“Ifyougetaburn,breakoffaleafandrubthesapthatoozesoutontothe burn.” I have had a couple of minor burns since, followed theinstruction, and experienced relief. Presumably this is not appropriate forsevereburns.

TheuseofAloeveradatestotheancientEgyptians.Theyusedittotreatskininfectionsandtomakelaxatives.TodaythevalueofAloeveragelforburns is somewhat controversial, although people have used it for thispurposeforcenturies.Aloegelcontainspolysaccharides—compoundsthathave a soothing effect on mucous membranes—and enzymes that coat

irritated skin and easepain. It alsomaybe antibacterial. In a studyof30peoplewithsecond-degreeburns,aloecreamcontaining0.5percentofthegel in powdered form helped to heal the burns faster than sulfadiazine, acommonlyusedantibacterialcream.Youarerightthatseriousburnsrequireimmediatemedicalattention.

RAWONIONJUICE

WhileIwasworkingatarestaurant,oneofourchefswasburnedbadlybyafryer.Ihappenedtobeinthekitchenwhenithappened,andthemanagerscreamed,“Getmea freshonionoutof thewalk-in refrigerator!” Ididn’taskquestions. I justgot it.Heaskedme tocut it inhalf,which Idid.Hesqueezed the freshonion juiceon the chef’sburn.Amazingly, it not onlycalmedtheawfulpain,butalsopreventedtheburnedskinfromblistering!Themanager later explained tome that itmust be a freshly cut onion. Ilearnedthetruthofthatlaterwhen,inanotherrestaurant,Igotburnedandreachedforonionscutupthatmorning.Thatdidn’twork,sothenIhadtocutafreshonion.Secondscountwhenitcomestoaburn.Butonionjuicealwaysworks!Somethingaboutthechemistryofthejuiceworkswonders.

Thankyouforsharingyourexperience.Firstaidforaburnissoakingitincoldwaterimmediately.Afterthat,iftheskinisintact,ahomeremedysuchas onion juice might be worth a try. Obviously, a severe burn requiresmedicalattention.

SOYSAUCE

Ilistenedtoyourpublicradioshowandheardamancallinrecommendingsoysauceforburns.“Howweirdis that?”I thought.But then,asI tookaloafofbreadoutoftheoven,theinneredgeofmythumbandthefleshypadunderneathhitthemetalrimofthepan.Iexpectedapainfulburn.SinceIhadnothingelseathand, Idecided to try thesoysauce remedy.Thepaineasedup in less thanaminute, thesorenessdidnotmaterialize,andeventherednesswentaway.Itmaybeweird,butitcertainlydidwork!

Wedon’tknowwhythishomeremedyworksbuthaveheardfromseveralpeoplethatitdoes,includinganarmyrangerwhotoldusthatU.S.SpecialForcesmedicsusesoysauceforcombat-relatedburns.

Whenwewereatthebeach,afriendburnedherhandonahothandle.(Ihadjustpulledthepanoutofthebroiler.)Igrabbedthesoysauceandhadhersoakherhandinitaftersherantheburnundercoldwater.Shereportedrelief, and the next day shewas fine. Iwasworried itwould blister. Shesmelled like marinade, but that’s a small price. We credited you for thesave.

Thanks for sharing your success with soy sauce. We heard about thisremedyforburnsfromanOregonianlistenertoourradioshow.

Soysauceforburnsworks!Iwaschangingtheaircleanerinmycar,andmymetalwatchband accidentally arced across a battery terminal. I got asevere burn in the shape of my watchband at the point of contact. Irememberedtherecommendationofsoysauceforburns.Islowlypourediton theburn foraboutaminuteandhadnopain thenorafterward. Iwentbackandfinishedmyproject.

Wealwayssuggestputtingcoldwateronaburnfirst.Soysaucethereaftercan help ease the pain from a burn, as you discovered. Anyone who isinterestedinmoredetailsaboutthishomeremedyandotherswillfindthemat www.peoplespharmacy.com. Severe burns require immediate medicalattention.

VANILLAEXTRACT

Irecentlyreadyourcolumnaboutusingsoysauceonburns.Vanilladoesthesamething.Ihaveusedvanillaformanyyearsinmykitchentosootheburns.

Wealwaysrecommendthatburnsbetreatedwithcoldwaterimmediately.Thanksforsharingyourvanillaremedy.

Bursitis

Bursitis is an inflammation of the bursa, a sac of fluid inside a joint. Theresult ispain,and theusualprescription isanonsteroidalanti-inflammatorydrug(NSAID)suchasdiclofenacoribuprofen(alsowidelyavailablewithoutaprescription).WhiletheseNSAIDscancertainlyeasethepain,noteveryonetolerates them well. They can irritate the digestive tract and even causebleeding ulcers.Bursitis can take a long time to heal.Many peoplewant ahomeremedylesslikelytotriggersideeffects.

BROMELAIN/PINEAPPLEEXTRACT

Ihavebursitis inmyhip.A friend said thatyouoncepublishedahomeremedythathelped.

Anotherreaderrecentlytookus to taskfornotrecommendingbromelainforbursitis:“Thishasworkedformanypeopleweknow. In justacoupledaysthepainisgone.Thosewhocontinuedtotakeitforaweekafterthatgot rid of their bursitis.” The enzyme bromelain is extracted frompineapple.Many animal studies have shown that it has anti-inflammatoryandanalgesicproperties.Aclinical trialon subjectswithpainful, arthritichipsfoundthatbromelain(underthebrandnamePhlogenzym)wasjustas

effectiveastheNSAIDdiclofenac(Voltaren).1

CURCUMIN

Ireadthatcurcuminhasanti-inflammatorypropertiesandcanbeusedtotreat bursitis. Scientists at the MD Anderson Cancer Center areinvestigating it for the treatmentofcancer.Earlier thisyearCelebrexwasprescribed formy hip bursitis. I contacted the company that provides thecurcumin to MD Anderson and ordered some. I stopped the Celebrex,startedthecurcumin,andveryshortlygottotalrelief.CurcuminwasmoreeffectivethanCelebrex.

Curcumin is the active ingredient in the yellow spice turmeric and hasanti-inflammatoryproperties.Curcuminmayinteractwiththeanticoagulantwarfarin(Coumadin),however,tocausebleeding.

Cancer

There’s no simple, straightforward remedy for preventing cancer.Cancer isextremelycomplicated,andthetreatmentsscientistshavedevelopedarealsoquite complex. But some researchers are starting to recognize the veryimportantrolefoodplaysinhelpingtopreventvarioustypesofcancers.

OneofthoseresearchersisDavidServan-Schreiber,M.D.,Ph.D.,authorofAnticancer:ANewWayofLife(2008).AccordingtoServan-Schreiber,dietisat the core of a healthy anticancer lifestyle. Sugar, white flour, and otherrefined carbohydrates (all rapidly turned into glucose by the body) canstimulate inflammation and thus, perhaps, cancer cell growth.Based on hisresearch,wehavecomeupwithalistoffoodsthathaveanticancerpotential,listed here from most to least powerful: garlic, leeks, Brussels sprouts,scallions, cabbage, beets, broccoli, cauliflower, onions, kale, spinach,asparagus,greentea,pomegranate,turnips,squash,celery,radishes,eggplant,bokchoi,andcarrots.

THEPEOPLE’SPHARMACY

FavoriteFood#3:GreenTeaGreen tea is typicallygrownandprocessed inChina,where itshistorydates back more than 3,000 years. Green tea comes from exactly thesameplant—alargeshrubcalledCamelliasinensis—asblackoroolongtea.Thedifference is in thewaythe leavesare treated.Withgreen tea,leaves are steamed immediately before being dried with hot air. Thispreserves the color and some compounds found in green tea, such asepigallocatechin-3-gallate(EGCG).(Toproduceblacktea,theleavesare

“fermented”beforebeingdried.)Researchindicatesthatregularteaconsumptionmaylowertheriskof

developing Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease.1 Scientists also areexploring possible cardiovascular benefits.2 Researchers in Texas areinterested in using green tea to strengthen bones and to preventosteoporosis.3Butmostresearchseemstofocusongreentea’spotentialto reduce cancer risks. An exhaustive Cochrane review—a systematiclookatmedicalresearchresultsinacollectionofdatabases—covered1.6millionparticipants.Theevidence indicates thatgreen teaconsumptioncanlessenthelikelihoodofdevelopingprostatecancer.4Evidencethatitcan help protect against other cancers is equivocal, although lung,pancreatic, and colorectal cancers may be less common in green teadrinkers. Appropriate dosage appears to be three to five cups daily,which amounts to approximately 250milligramsofEGCGand relatedcompounds.Themostsensationalclaimpeoplemakeaboutgreenteaisthatitaids

inweightloss.Whileresearchisinconclusive,substitutinggreenteaforsugar-sweetened beverages can certainly cut calories for dieters.Withcenturies of use, drinking green tea seems reasonably safe. Green teadoescontaincaffeine—butlesscaffeinethancoffeeorblacktea.One caveat: Patients under bortezomib treatment for multiple

myeloma should avoid green tea. Research indicates that EGCG canblock the drug’s effectiveness.5 People in cancer chemotherapy shouldcheckwithanoncologistbeforeaddinggreenteatotheirregimen.

THEPEOPLE’SPHARMACY

FavoriteFood#4:PomegranateIf you have never eaten a pomegranate, you have missed somethingspecial. No flavor compares to pomegranate’s tartness and sweetness,whichcombine foraculinarydelight.Forus, this isalmost theperfectfruitwhenitisripe.Thebrightredcolorjustaddstoitsappeal.Youcaneat the seedsanddrink the juice.Bestofall, the listofhealthbenefitsattributabletopomegranatesjustkeepsgrowinglongerandlonger.Let’s start with the antioxidant power of the amazing pomegranate.

Research has shown that this fruit can help prevent bad low-densitylipoprotein(LDL)cholesterolfromoxidizing,whichmayalsoreducetheriskofplaqueformationandcoronaryarterydisease.1Studiesshowthatpomegranates also have an aspirin-like effect on platelets, whichcirculate in the blood. This antiplatelet effect may reduce the risk of

bloodclotformation.2Research also demonstrates that pomegranate juice inhibits

angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) andhelps lower bloodpressure,thusmakingitanimportantpartofanyheart-healthydiet.3Growingevidencealsosuggeststhatpomegranatescontainingredients

that have both antibacterial action and antiulcer effects that seemprotective for the digestive tract.4 Research supports the idea that theanti-inflammatory effects of pomegranatemay protect against arthritis,diabetes,andperhapsevenAlzheimer’sdisease.5One reader writes that his grandmother even used a pomegranate

infusion.Shecutthefruitinhalf,boileditinwater,andthenreducedit—tomakeateathateffectivelytreatsdiarrhea.Even more exciting are the potential anticancer effects of

pomegranate. Researchers have demonstrated that pomegranate“produces anticancer effects in experimental models of lung, prostateandskincancer.Morerecently,pomegranatehasbeenfoundtobeanti-carcinogenicinthecolon.”6Bottom line: We know of relatively few foods that have so much

healthpotential,tastesogood,andlooksobeautiful.

The bottom line is that themore cancer-fighting foods you eat—and thefewerprocessedfoodsyoueat—thebetteryourchancesofremaininghealthyandcancerfreeforlonger.

CankerSores

Doctors have a fancy name for canker sores—aphthous ulcers—but theydon’thavegoodtreatments.Thesesorespotsontheinsideofthecheekoronthetongueusuallyoccurwheretherehasbeensomekindofsmallinjuryfrombiting the tongue or the cheek, for example, or scratching the inside of themouthwithfoodssuchaspretzelsorpotatochips.Nooneseemstoknowwhysomepeopleget themandothersdon’t.Cankersoresarecommon,sohomeremediesabound.

ALOEVERAGEL

WhenIgetacankersoreIusethegelfromanAloeveraleafdirectlyonthesore.Ikeepaplanthandyallthetime.

Aloegelhasa longhistoryofhealingcutsandburns,butscientificdataproving its effectiveness is slim. However, a small study on licorice-containing patches (marketed under the brand name Cankermelts) thatadhere to canker sores suggests that the sores get smaller and heal fasterthanuntreatedaphthousulcers.

BAKINGSODA

My husband used to get canker sores. Our dentist recommended usingbakingsodatobrushhisteeth.Hehasn’thadacankersoresince.

Somepeoplereportthatavoidingtoothpastecontainingthefoamingagentsodiumlaurylsulfatecanhelppreventcankersores.

I have found that toothpastewith sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)mademymouthulcersmuchworse!WhenIswitchedtoWeledatoothpaste,Isawanimmediate improvement. Toothpaste with tartar control seems to beespeciallyirritating.

Thanksforthetestimonial.SomedentistsrecommendavoidingtoothpastewithSLSinordertoreducecankersores.

BANANA

Iusedtogetcankersoresinmymouth.Mymothertoldmetoholdasliceofbananatightagainstthesorewithmytongue,anditworks.Youhavetoholditthereuntilitstings,aboutfourorfiveminutes.Riperbananasseemtoworkbetter.SeldomhaveIhadasorethatlastedlongerthanaday,anditcertainlytastesbetterthanmedicine.

A slice of banana certainly sounds like a pleasant treatment for cankersores.Wedon’tknowhowitwouldwork.

BUTTERMILK

I’vereadyoursuggestionsfor treatingcankersores.Some35yearsago,theschoolnurserecommendedbuttermilktohealthemfast!

Whybuttermilkmightsoothe the irritationofcankersores isbeyondus,but we cannot think of a safer solution for this annoying and painfulproblem.

GREENBEANS

Iamverythankfultoyouforrecommendinggreenbeansforcankersores.Iamplaguedwith themforsomereason. Istartedrinsingmymouthwiththejuicefromcannedstringbeans.Thatwasaboutfourdaysago,andnowthesoresarealmostgone.Thebeanjuicedoesnotburn,anditdoessoothethesores.Wheredidyoulearnaboutthisgreatremedy?

A reader wrote in about the value of Gerber’s strained green beans forfightingcankersores.

KIWI

I’ve always been susceptible to canker sores, so when I heard thatkiwifruitcouldmakethemgoawayquickly,Itriedit.Wow!Mycankersorewasgoneintwodays.Ihadanotheroneaboutaweeklaterandateanotherkiwi.Again,mycankersorewasgoneintwodays.NowIdon’twaitforacanker sore to showup. I justeatakiwievery fewdays. I’m58andhadsufferedfromcankersoressincemycollegedays.

Wecouldfindnoscientificevidencethatkiwifruithelpshealcankersores,butafewyearsagoareaderwrote,“Ihavesufferedwithmouthulcersallmy life. I have triedmany home remedies, over-the-counter cures, and afew prescriptions. Eating one kiwi cures my canker sores as fast as theprescriptionsteroidcream,andthekiwidoesn’tcomewithwarningsaboutthedangerofputting it inyourmouth. It hashelpeda fewofmy friendsalso.”Othercanker sore remedies includesauerkraut juice,awet teabag,andL-lysine,oracidophilus.

L-LYSINE

My37-year-olddaughterhasbattledcanker soresherentire life. It’snotunusualforhertohavemorethantenatatime.She’striedalotofdifferenttreatmentsovertheyears,withlittlesuccess.Recentlyshehadababyanddidnothaveonesoretheentirepregnancy.Sixweeksafterdelivering,thesores came back in full force. Her doctors prescribed oral corticosteroid,which cleareduphermouths sores temporarily.They returned as soon asthesteroidworeoff.

Manypeople,includingdentists,notethebenefitsofL-lysine.Onepersontakes 500-milligram doses of this amino acid morning and evening:“SometimesI’llgetacankersore,butitisgoneintwodays.Iusedtogetalotofthem,andtheywouldberawforatleastaweek.”

A number of years ago a dentist recommended a possible treatment forcanker sores: L-lysine supplements. I have used them successfully manytimes.WhenIhaveasoreIbegintakingacoupleoftabletsadayuntilthepaineases.ThesoresseemtodisappearwithL-lysine.

Several readers are enthusiastic about daily L-lysine tablets from thehealthfoodstore.Onereaderofferedthis:“IhadheardthatL-lysinemighthelp. I don’t take pills well, so I chewed them. Possibly the chewingexplainswhy they help so quickly.After noticing a sore, I chew a tableteveryfewhours.Thesoreisusuallygonewithin24hours.”

MYLANTA

I often suffer from canker sores and have tried everything from twoL-lysine tablets daily to nearly every over-the-counter medication. It has

alwaystakenthesoresquitealongtimetoheal.Thenaretiredpharmacistfriend of mine suggested swishing around a spoonful of Mylanta in mymouth.Shazam!Thesoresdisappearedquickly.

Thankyouforyourrecommendation.WehaveheardofusingMylantaorotherliquidantacidsfordiaperrash,butnotforcankersores.Somepeoplereportthatacidophiluspillsalsohelpcankersoreshealquickly.

PRELIEF

MydoctorhadmetakePreliefbecausehethoughtIhadinterstitialcystitis.ItturnsoutIdon’t,butIwasplaguedwithcankersoresinmymoutheverytime I ate something acidic, like salsa or barbecue sauce. Since I startedusingPreliefIhavehardlyhadany.ItakeitbeforeIeatanacidicfood,andit reallyhashelpedme. I hopeyouwill pass this informationon toothercankersoresufferers.

Preliefiscalciumglycerophosphate.Itissoldasasupplementtotaketheacidoutoffood,whichcanbehelpfulforpeoplewhosufferfromheartburnorbladderproblems.We’regladtohearitworkedforyourcankersores.

SAUERKRAUT

Myhusbandhascankersoresinhismouthallthetime.Thedoctorshehasseensaythere’snocure,sohehastolivewithit.Hehastriedmanytopicalremedies,plussomeprescriptiondrugs,buthe isnotsleepingwelldue tothepain.Howcanhegetrelief?

Here’sonereader’sremedy:“Sauerkraut juicehasworkedlikeamiracleforme!Itstartsclearingupacankersorewithinhours,andthesoreusuallyhealsbythenextday.Juicefromcannedsauerkrautdoesn’tworknearlyaswell as the fresh stuff (in the refrigerated deli section). It’s such aweirdremedy that I did some researchon sauerkraut to seewhy itmightwork.Sauerkrautisfermented(likeyogurtorsourdough)andisfullofprobiotics.I’vediscoveredthatifIsipalittlesauerkrautjuiceeverycoupleofdays,Idon’tdevelopcankersoresinthefirstplace.”

STYPTICPENCIL

Ihavesufferedfromcankersoresallmylife.Eachoneresulted inmorethanaweekofpain.I’vetriednumerousfamilyremedies,butnoneofthemhelped.Afewyearsagoaco-workersuggestedusingastypticpencil.Iputthe pencil in a plastic bag and smashed it with a hammer, then put thepowderinabottlewithalittlewatertomakeapaste.Atthefirstsignofacankersore,Iputsomeofthispasteonittwoorthreetimesaday.Usuallywithinacoupleofdaysitgoesawaycompletely.Thishasonlyonebadside

effect:anastytaste.ButI’lllivewiththetastefortwodaystoavoidseventotendaysofpain.

Stypticpencils,usedtocontrolbleedingfromsmallcutssuchasshavingnicks,usuallycontainalum(aluminumpotassiumsulfate).Wehaveheardfromothersthatpowderedalumcanhelpcankersoreshealfaster.Alumissold on the spice shelf of the supermarket.Home canners use it tomakepicklescrunchy.

Colds

Fewthingsmakeapersonmoremiserablethanacold.But,whilethereisnocureyet,thereareafewitemsinyourpantrythatcanhelpyoufeelalotbetterwhileyourecover.You’veprobablyheardyourwholelifethatchickensouphelps feed a cold. But did you know that there’s actually some clinicalevidence toback itup?Doctorshavebeenrecommending it forcenturies—datingtoMaimonidesinthelate1100s.

Chicken soup fell out of favorwith doctors for a time, but in the 1990s,some researchers revisited it. Physician Irwin Ziment hypothesized that theamino acid cysteine, found in chicken soup, might act a bit likeacetylcysteine,adrugprescribedtothinmucusinthelungs.SomeresearchersatMountSinaiMedicalCenterinMiamithendidtestsrevealingthatcysteinewasbetteratimprovingmucusflowthanhotorcoldwater.Andthere’salsoevidencethatchickensoupmayslowthewhitebloodcells thatcauseupperrespiratoryinflammation.1WegotourfavoritechickensouprecipefromJoe’smother,andweuseitwheneveranyoneinourhouseshowsthefirstsignsofacold.

Almost as popular as chicken soup is ginger tea. And while you’rewhippinguphotbeverages,anothertriedandtrueremedyforadultssufferingfromcoldsymptoms isahot toddy.Okay, soyou’veheardofchickensoupforcolds,aswellastoddiesandtea.Butwhataboutprobioticyogurt?There’ssomenewevidencethatprobioticscanhelptopreventthesniffles.

Ofcourse,it’salwaysgoodtoremembersomeusefultipsfortryingtostayhealthy in the firstplace, especially in this eraofpandemic flu.First,washyourhandsregularly.Second,washyourhands.Third…well,youknowwhatwe’re going to say. But this next recommendation may surprise you—it’sbeendismissedasanoldsuperstitionforyears.Somerecentdatasuggestthatkeeping your feet warm and dry in cold weather may also help fight offviruses and infections. In one study in Wales, subjects whose feet wereimmersed in cold water were significantly more likely to report coldsymptoms in the five days after the experiment than those in the controlgroup.2

FAVORITERECIPES

HelenGraedon’sChickenSoup

LargestewinghenandafewadditionalbacksandwingsOnionsCeleryCarrotsParsnipsParsleyBayleafPeppercornsSalt

FOREXTRACOLD-FIGHTINGPOWER:severalclovesofgarlic(uptoahead)

Coverchickenwithwaterandtopwithtwoinchesmore.Addvegetablesandspices.Simmerforabouttwohoursandthenstrainoutthechicken,vegetables,andspices.Removethemeatofthechickenfromthebones(careful—itwillbehot!),andadditbacktothesoupwithnoodles,peas,rice, or other embellishments.Refrigerating the broth overnightmakesexcessfatremovaleasy:Justskimitfromthetop.

FAVORITERECIPES

CoconutChickenSoup

ContributedbySallyFallonMorell

1quarthomemadechickenbroth1can(14ounces)wholecoconutmilkJuiceofonelemon1tablespoongratedfreshginger1teaspoonseasaltPinchredpepperflakes

TOPREPAREHOMEMADECHICKENBROTH:Placeleftovercarcassofachicken(bones,skin,andanymeat)inlargepot,andcoverwithcoldwater.Addsaltandpepper.Bringwatertoaboil,andimmediatelyreduceheattolowsimmer.Cookuncovered for several hours, skimming foam from surface of broth.Removebonesandstrainthebroth.

TOPREPARETHESOUP:Combineallingredientsinalargesaucepan.Stirandbringtoasimmer.Makesfourservings.

ChickenAdobo

Contributed by a listener, from a recipe by his Filipina-Americangirlfriend

6pieceschicken1cupsoysauce1cupwhitevinegar6-inchpiecefreshgingerroot,peeledandslicedthin1tablespoonmincedgarlic2or3tablespoonsbrownsugar

Combineingredientsincasseroledish.Bakeat350degreesforanhour.

THEPEOPLE’SPHARMACY

FavoriteFood#5:ChickenSoupChicken soup ispopular inmanyculinary traditions and is recognizedfor its healing powers. Jewish grandmothers are famous foradministering this “Jewish penicillin,” but traditional cuisines fromMexico toChinaalso includechickensoupasaclassicdish.Therearevariations on the vegetables and on the seasonings, but chickensimmeredinwaterseemsaconstant.The medieval physician Moses Maimonides recommended chicken

soupforcolds.Eventoday,doctorsdon’thavemedicinestoprescribeforcolds. They might do well to prescribe a piping-hot bowl of chickensoup.Itisfarlesslikelytocausesideeffectsthanmanyofthedrugstorecoldremedies,anditmightbemoreeffective.Acouple decades ago, physicians atMountSinaiMedicalCenter in

Miamipittedchickensoupagainstplainwater,hotandcold.Theyfoundthat chicken soup greatly improved the flow of mucus through nasalpassages. And even though there are prescription drugs to treatinfluenza, a careful evidence-based review a few years ago concludedthatchickensoupcanprobablyhelpalleviateflusymptoms.1In one study, ingesting chicken soup reduced the inflammation

associated with immune system cells called neutrophils.2 Thisinflammationcontributestomanyoftheunpleasantsymptomswesufferfrom colds and flu. Chinese grandmothers add astragalus root to theirchickensoup,whichmayincreasethesoup’sabilitytoboosttheimmunesystem.Somepeopleaddgarlic.Pulmonologist Irwin Ziment is a chicken soup enthusiast who

advocatesaddinghotpepperstochickensoupforsymptomaticreliefof

bothsinusitisandbronchitis.3Wealsohaveheardfromourreaders—andhave personally experienced—that chicken soup with thyme can helpeaseacough.There isalsosomeevidence that thymealongwithotherspices that are used to flavor chicken soup, such as garlic, bay leaf,rosemary,andblackpepper,mayhaveantimicrobialactivity.4

GINGER

I’veheardthatgingerisgreatforbothcoldsandflu.Isthereanytruthtothat?

Gingerteaispopulartheworldoverforcolds.Therearen’tanyharddataonginger’s cold-fighting efficacy, but someanimal research suggests thatan ingredient in ginger may help fight coughs. And there’s certainly noshortageofanecdotalevidenceaboutitsabilitytoeasecoldsymptoms.Oneofour favorite recipes came tous froma listener in the foothills ofWestVirginia;shelearneditfromhergrandmotherinIndia.

I love ginger tea for colds and the flu. I add a clove of garlic and ajalapeñopepper. Idrink the teawhilehavingabath,wrapmyselfup inarobe,andalwaysfalldeeplyasleep.IfIdoitatthefirstsignofsymptoms,Idon’tgetacold(and,besidesthat,ittastesmuchbetterthanyou’dthink!).

Soundslikeawonderfulsolution.

A few years ago, I had a terrible case of what my doctor called adultwhoopingcough; literally,Icoughedformonths.Nothingseemedtohelp.(Even theRx cough syrup concoction did notwork formore than a fewdays!)AdearauntinHawaiiheardmyplightandshesentmeagingerteamix. She said that healers and other Hawaiian islanders use it for colds,coughs, and other respiratory problems.When I drank the teamixture, itburnedallthewaydown,butitsureworked!

We’veheardfrommanyreadersabout thewondersofginger forcoughsandcolds.Thanksforsharingyourexperience.

FAVORITERECIPES

GingerTea1

Contributed by a listener, who learned it from a practitioner ofayurvedicmedicine

1inchfreshgingerroot2tablespoonslemonjuice

Pinchcayennepepper2teaspoonshoneyormaplesyrup

Grategingerrootintoamug.Addtenouncesofboilingwaterandallowgingertosteepforfiveminutes.Straingratedgingerout,andaddlemonjuiceandcayennepeppertoliquid.Sweetentotastewithhoneyormaplesyrup.

GingerTea2

ContributedbyalistenerfromWestVirginia,wholearneditfromhergrandmotherinIndia

Freshgingerroot8ouncesboilingwater

Peelafreshgingerrootandgrateintoamug.Pourwateroverit.Steepfiveminutes,strain,andsweetentotaste.

HotToddy

1spoonfulsugar1cuphotwater1tablespoonlemonjuice1shotrum

Put sugar in the bottom of a mug or heat-safe glass. Add hot water,lemonjuice,andrum.Stayhome,sip,andrelax.

PROBIOTICYOGURT

LatelyI’veheardalotaboutprobioticyogurtbeinggoodforcolds.I’dliketoknowmoreaboutprobioticyogurt.

A new study out of China provides some very promising evidence thatprobiotics may help prevent colds and the flu, at least for children agedthree to five. In the study, those who drank milk with Lactobacillusacidophiluswerehalf as likely to get a coldor fever as thosewhodrankplainmilk.KidsdrinkingmilkcontainingLactobacillusplusthebacteriumBifidobacteriumanimaliswere72percent(!)lesslikelytodevelopafever.3

ColdSores

Coldsorescanbepainfulandunsightly.Theyarecausedbyavirus(usuallyherpessimplexvirus1).Recurrentcoldsorescanbetreatedeffectivelywithprescription antiviral medicines such as acyclovir (Zovirax), famciclovir(Famvir), or valacyclovir (Valtrex). Many people prefer a less expensive

remedy,however.

BUTTERMILK

A few weeks ago a reader wrote to you about cold sores. This personderidedtheuseof“silly”remedieslikelysine.Iknowfromexperiencethatlysineworks, but plain old buttermilkworks just as well and evenmorequickly.

Physicians, pharmacists, and housewives have all written to tell us thattakingtheaminoacidlysineanddrinkingbuttermilkbothworktopreventcold sores (fever blisters) or canker sores (aphthous ulcers).There are noplacebo-controlled trials, but this seems like an inexpensive and low-riskapproach.

L-LYSINE

Youhadanarticleaboutdrugsthathealcoldsoresfaster.Whynotpreventthem? I takeL-lysine beforemeals every day to prevent cold sores fromdevelopingintoblisters.Preventionisbetterthancure.

Several studies suggest that thedietary supplementL-lysinemay reducecoldsoreoutbreaks.1Theoptimaldose isunknown,but sideeffects seemrare.Somepeoplecontendthatlimitingtheaminoacidarginineinthedietimproves the effectiveness of L-lysine. Foods high in arginine includechocolate,nuts,andseeds.

IgetcoldsoresandwastoldtotakeL-lysinedailytohelppreventthem.Itake one pill per day and have not had a cold sore in fivemonths! Is L-lysinedangerous?

L-lysine is an amino acid, a building block for protein. Several studieshave shown that it prevents cold sores. It appears quite safe, except forpeoplewithkidneyorliverdisease.

ColitisandCrohn’sDisease

Colitis, also known as inflammatory bowel disease, is hard to treat anddifficult to endure. Anyone with inflammation of the colon should seek aspecialist’s care. Related to colitis, Crohn’s disease might be considered atype of colitis except that any part of the gastrointestinal system can beinvolved, not just the large bowel. In both inflammatory conditions, theimmunesystemrunsamokandattacksthedigestivetract.Scientistsstilldon’tunderstandthecausesnordotheyhaveacure.Foodsorhomeremediesarenot substitutes formedical treatment.Nevertheless, youwill be surprised atsomeofthesuccessstoriesyoureadbelow.

THEPEOPLE’SPHARMACY

FavoriteFood#6:PineappleThink of Hawaii, and chances are you will think of this delicioustropical fruit, known by the botanical name Ananas comosus.Nutritionally,thepineappleisrichinvitaminCandmanganese,butthemedicinaleffectsprobablycomeprimarilyfromitsbromelaincontent.Bromelain is the compound responsible for pineapple’s ability to

breakdownprotein. (This iswhy freshor frozenpineapple added to agelatinmoldwill turnit tosoup.CooksusecannedpineappleinJell-Oforthisreason.)Bromelaincandofarmorethandissolvegelatin,though.Early on, it was reputed to be a beneficial digestive enzyme, perhapssimilartothepapainderivedfrompapayas.More recent research in mice has demonstrated that bromelain can

calm inflammatory bowel disease. It does this by affecting howwhitebloodcellsrespondtoinflammatorytriggers.1Many readers have reported that bromelain can also be helpful for

inflamedjoints.ThismaybeduetoitsabilitytoinhibitCOX-2,thesameenzyme that is blocked by the prescription arthritis drug Celebrex.2However, when put to the test in people who experience moderate tosevereosteoarthritisintheirknees,bromelaincameupshort.3Nevertheless, according to reported studies, scientists have found

someintriguinganticancerpropertiesofbromelain.4 It’sprettyunlikelythat simplyeatingpineapplewillbe able towardoff cancer,butgiventhisbasicresearch,itmakessensetoincludepineappleamongthefreshfruitseatenaspartofanoverallhealthfuldiet.

THEPEOPLE’SPHARMACY

FavoriteFood#7:CoconutCoconutsdefylogic.Howdidsomebodyseethathard,hairyspecimenandimaginesomethingdeliciousinside?Itmaybethatpeoplelivinginthetropicswherecoconutsgrow(andwheretravelersareoftenvisitedby“Montezuma’s revenge”)quicklymade thediscovery that coconuts areexcellentforsoothingdigestiveupset.Infact,oneofourreaderstoldus,“Mygrandmotherwasthemedicine

womaninourvillage[inNicaragua].Sheusedtogivemecoconutmilkfordiarrheaorparasites, theyounger the coconut thebetter.”Over theyears,we’ve heard of coconut remedies for everything from traveler’sdiarrheatoirritablebowelsyndrometoCrohn’sdisease.(Alwayskeepin

mind,however,thateatingtoomuchcoconutcanleadtoconstipation.)Coconut comes inmanydelicious incarnations. (Coconut creampie,

anyone?)Gluten-anddairy-freecoconutmacaroonsaremadebyseveralcompanies,includingtheever-popularArchwayandJenniesbrands.Twocookies per day seem to decrease diarrhea dramatically. If you havetrouble finding this product in your local grocery or online, you canalwaysbakeyourownbatch.OthercoconuttreatsincludeMoundsbarsandcoconuticecreamorsorbet.But people watching their sugar consumption or their weight—two

cookiesperdaycanadda lotofextracalories,afterall—don’thavetotaketheirmedicineintheformofadessert.Sprinkleshreddedcoconutintoyogurtoroatmeal,orsipcoconutmilk.Coconutwater—VitaCoco,O.N.E.,andZICObrands,forexample—

isalsobecomingmorewidelyavailableintheUnitedStates.Wehaven’tyetheard fromanyonewhohas triedcoconutwater tocalmawrathfulGItract.Butcoconutwaterislowerincaloriesthananyothercoconut-relatedoptionandmaybeworthatryifconcernsaboutyourgutinvolvemorethanwhat’shappeninginsideit.

COCONUT

Thankyouforwritingaboutcoconutfortreatingulcerativecolitis.Iwasdiagnosedwithcolitisin1980andhadthreefeetofmycolonremoved.Mycondition was moderate to severe, and I was taking eight tablets ofsulfasalazine every day to control it, along with Rowasa enemas daily. Istarted eating shredded coconut twice a day after reading your article,thoughIhadnoexpectationitwouldhelp.Withinamonth,Ihadgoneintocomplete remission.A year later, I had a colonoscopy showing a healthycolon.Igraduallycutbackmymedicationandhavenottakenanythingfortheconditionforfiveyears.IfeelwellandhavehadnoGIproblems.Ireadthatcoconuthasanti-inflammatorypropertiesandthinkitmustbetrue.

Wehaveheardfromotherswhosufferedfromseverediarrheaassociatedwith inflammatory bowel disease that coconut macaroon cookies orshredded coconut alone can be helpful.We doubt thatmany peoplewithulcerative colitis would respond as dramatically as you have, but wecertainly aredelighted to learn that this remedywasbeneficial for such aseriouscondition.

Constipation

Americans love laxatives, but they’re not alone. The medical traditions ofmanyculturesfocusonregularityasessentialtogoodhealth.Wecan’tprovethat claimonewayor the other, but constipation can be uncomfortable.Of

course, a regular pattern may be a bowel movement twice a day for oneperson and three times aweek for another.We aremore enthusiastic aboutnaturalwaystodealwiththeproblemthanconstantuseoflaxatives.Abuseoflaxatives—especiallythe“natural”laxatives,likesennaorcascarasagrada—cancompoundtheproblem.Fortunately,manyhomeremediescanhelpeaseconstipation.

BLACKSTRAPMOLASSES

I fought constipation for years until I discovered blackstrapmolasses. Itaketwoorthreespoonfulsofitthreetimesaweekinthemorning.Ithaskeptmeregularfor40years.

What a record! Blackstrapmolasses is a thick, dark syrup that is a by-product of sugar refining.Cooks use it for gingerbread and baked beans.Blackstrap molasses contains minerals and other nutrients, but we don’tknowwhyitmightworkforconstipation.

FIBER

Iwas troubledwith irregularitymostofmy lifeuntil I discoveredFiberOnecereal. I take itwithmeeverywhere—oncruises, toEurope, even tothehospital.FiberOnebarscome inhandywhenmilk isunavailable. It’stheonlyremedythat’severworkedforme.Ican’tstandliquidMetamucil,soItriedthecapsuleswithnosuccess.Benefiberalsodidnothingforme,soI’maFiberOnefanforever.

Thanksforsharingyoursolution.Othersmayalsobenefitfrompsyllium(Metamucil and other brands), wheat dextrin (Benefiber), or cellulose(Citrucel).

OvertheyearsI’vehadissueswithconstipation,andIrecentlydiscoveredawonderful aid. In an attempt to increase the freshvegetables I eat eachday, I have been roasting various veggies—eggplant, squash, zucchini,carrots,andthickslicesofonions.Itossthecut-upveggieswithgarlicandpepper seasoning and olive oil and roast them in a 425-degree oven forabout30minutes.Thissolvedmyproblem.

Thanksfor thesuggestionona tastywaytogetmorefiber into thediet.Eatinglotsofvegetablesislikelytobegoodforanyone,whetherornotitbanishesconstipation.Fluidandfiberarethefirstlineagainstthiscommonproblem.

I suffer from constipation when I travel. The minute I get on a plane,things stop. I go to Europe two or three times a year, and themisery isbeyondwords.SinceIsufferfromthisproblematnoothertime,Ican’ttry

remedies at home, and I have shied away from laxatives. I am going toLondonsoon,andbelieveme,itisonmymindalready!

No gastroenterologist has explained to us why traveling createsconstipation in so many people. We suggest you take along Metamucilcookies. They contain soluble fiber and are a lot more convenient thanpowdered psyllium seed. Sugarless gum can also help. Flying dehydratesthebody,sodrinklotsofwaterontheflight.

FLAXSEEDOIL

I have found a remedy that has worked well for inflammatory boweldisease(IBS),whichcausedconstipationthatputmeinthehospitalabouttwiceayearinexcruciatingpain.Theywouldloadmeuponpainmeds,runtests, and eventually releaseme, only to have it happen again and againwithout any warning. Then I started taking flaxseed oil capsules at leastonceaday.Thishasvirtuallycuredmyconstipation,andIhavehadnoIBSproblemssince.

Groundflaxseeds,suchasthosefoundinUncleSamOriginalbrancereal,arealsoquitehelpfulinpreventingconstipation.Anotherreaderreportsthattwo tablespoons of flaxseed simmered for 15 minutes in three quarts ofwater produces an anticonstipation tonic. She strains and refrigerates theliquidandtakestwoouncesinjuiceeverymorningforregularity.

HONEYANDVINEGAR

I have a concoction for constipation that may help others: Mix twoteaspoonshoney,oneteaspoonvinegar,andenoughhotwatertomakefourounces.ThisisthefirstthingIdrinkeverymorning.Ithelpsmystiffjoints,too.

“Hot lemonade”madewith lemon juice,honey,andhotwater isa time-honoredmorningbeveragesaidtoencourageregularity.Yourdrinksoundslikeavariationonthattheme.

MAGNESIUM

Iwasconstipatedforfiveyears.IwasusingCitrucelandextrabranonmycereal. Idrank lotsofwaterbut still hadhard, rabbit-like stools.A friendsuggestedmagnesium.Ithasworkedwonders.Itake500milligramsbeforebed and have a good response, usually before noon the next day. Myinternistandcardiologistassuremeitissafe.

Magnesiumhaslongbeenusedtocounterconstipation.(Milkofmagnesiais awell-known laxative.)But toomuch can causediarrhea.Most peopletolerate300milligramswithnoproblems,butthosewithkidneyproblems

mustavoidextramagnesium.

POWERPUDDING

Yourecentlysharedanurse’spowerpuddingrecipeofbran,applesauce,and prune juice for constipation. How much of this mixture do yourecommendasadailydose?

The recipe calls for one cup of wheat (not oat) bran, one cup ofapplesauce, and three-quarters cup of prune juice. Take one or twotablespoonsdaily,washeddownwithlotsofwater.Theglop,whichisquitestiff,shouldbekeptrefrigerated.Itisanexcellentremedyforhard-to-treatconstipation, but it is critical to get plenty of fluid to avoid intestinalproblems.

SUGAR-FREESWEETS

Ihavereadaboutconstipationtreatmentsinyourcolumn.Mysolution—icecreamwithsorbitol(thenonsugarsweetener).Ithasworkedformeforyears.

Nonsugarsweetenerslikesorbitolarenotabsorbedfromthedigestivetractandhavea laxativeeffect.Whether found insugarlessgum,candy,or icecream,theycanallhelprelieveconstipation.Toomuch,though,maycausediarrhea.

I read with interest and sympathy a letter about problems withconstipation.Iwantedtosharesomethingthathashelpedme.Afterhearingcomplaints that sugar-free jellybeanscausediarrhea, I tried them to see ifthey would help my constipation. I found that if I eat 30 sugar-freejellybeanswithaglassofwaterhalfanhourbeforebedtime,Istayregular.Ihopethishelpsotherswiththeproblem.

Thank you for the tip. Many people find that sweeteners in sugar-freecandycancausediarrhea.Howcleverofyoutoturnthatsideeffecttoyouradvantage!Eachpersonwillhavetoexperimenttofindtheright“dose.”

Coughs

Coughscanbeinfuriating,andoccasionallyserious.Acoughduetoaseriousbacterial infection or to chronic acid reflux should never be ignored. Butmanycoughsstartasasymptomofacoldorotherviralinfection.There’snotmuch medication that will be helpful in such cases. In fact, research hasshownthattheusualcoughmedicinesarenomoreeffectivethanplacebosforchildrenwithcolds.Forchildrenolderthanone,honeymayworkbetterthanadrugstoremedicine,andwithlessriskofsideeffects.(Note:DoNOTgivehoney to babies one year old or younger! Theymay not be able to handle

botulinum sometimes found in honey.) Readers have come up with manyhomeremediestoeasecoughs.

CONCORDGRAPEJUICE

Mywifeusedtogetsorethroatseverywinter.They’dhangonforweeksanddevelopintoaloud,hackingcough.Untilsherecovered,neitherofuswould get much sleep. Then I remembered a remedy my sisterrecommended: drinking grape juice regularly.Bothmywife and I starteddrinkingaglassofConcordgrapejuiceeveryday,fallthroughspring,andtheproblemvanished.Sincethen,we’vealmostneverhadasorethroatorbad cough.We drink half a glass of grape juice and add half a glass ofwater.Wemakethejuicefromfrozenconcentrate.Doyouknowwhythisworks?

Purple grape juice has a surprising number of potential health benefits.Research has shown that it can reduce bad cholesterol, lower bloodpressure, and help keep blood vessels flexible. Some data suggest thatingredients in grapes boost the immune system.Whether thiswould helpwardoffsorethroatsandcoughswedonotknow.

THYME

I need advice on coughs.My husband has been coughing nonstop, andnothingseemstohelphim.Canyouofferasuggestion?

Itisimportantforyourhusbandtoidentifythecauseofhiscough.Ifitisrelated toan infection,hisdoctorwillneed to treat itappropriately.Somemedicines for high blood pressure (angiotensin-converting enzyme, orACE, inhibitors such as enalapril, lisinopril, or ramipril) can triggercoughing. If there is no obvious cause, your husband may benefit fromthyme tea. Thyme has compounds that can calm a cough. Oils in thyme(thymolandcarvacrol)reduceirritationintherespiratorytract.Peoplehaveused theherb forcenturies to loosenmucusand relaxmuscles that spasmduringcoughing.Juststeepateaspoonofdriedleavesinacupofhotwaterforfiveminutes.Sweetentotaste.Thanksforaninterestingmodificationonan old remedy. Spices like thyme and ginger have a long history againstcoughs.Theyalsohavestrongflavorsandyoursolutionisawaytomakethempalatable.

FAVORITERECIPES

ThymeCoughSyrup

ContributedbyTieraonaLowDog

1cupnear-boilingwater2tablespoonsdriedthyme(or4tablespoonsfresh)1teaspoonlemonjuice½cuporganichoney

Pourwateroverthymeandsteepfortenminutes.Strain.Addhoneyandlemonjuice.Refrigerateforuptooneweek.Forchildren18monthsandolder: Take one tablespoon as needed. For those who don’t like theflavorofthyme,youcansubstitutefennelseed.Simmertheseedsgentlyonlowheatfor15minutes,andthenstrain.

Onereadertoldus:“Idon’tlikethetasteofthymeandgingerinateaforrelieving a cough.But if you add a low-sodiumchickenbouillon cubeinsteadofsugar,youhaveatastylittlebroththatcalmsacough.”

Here’stherecipe:

Bouilloncube1cuphotwater¼teaspoonthyme1teaspoongratedfreshgingerroot

Dissolvebouilloncube inwater.Add thymeandginger root.Steep themixtureforfourorfiveminutes,andthenpouritthroughastrainerintoacleanmug.Sipandenjoy!

VICKSVAPORUB

Afewweeksagomygranddaughterspent twonightscoughingandkeptboth her parents awake. I told them of your suggestion to smear VicksVapoRubonthesolesofthefeettostopcoughing.Sheresisteduntilherdadand older sister agreed to rub it on their feet too. Lo and behold, thecoughingchildsleptallnight,andsodidtherestofthefamily.

Thanksforsharingyourstory.Wedon’tknowwhyputtingVickson thesoles of the feet is so helpful, but itmay have something to dowith theanticoughactivityofmenthol.BesuretoputonwarmsocksovertheVickstokeepthesheetsfromgettinggreasy.

ZINC

My high blood pressure makes it hard to find safe cold or coughmedicines.Blackelderberryextractandzincdidthetrick.

Elderberry-flowerteaisatraditionalremedyforcoldsandcoughs.Manyherbalists believe elderberry is more effective than echinacea. Studies of

zincasacoldfighterhaveproducedmixedresults.Neitherremedyshouldincreasebloodpressure,though.

CutsandBruises

Minor cuts and bruises seem to be an inevitable part of daily life. Whileserious injuriesmayneedmedicalattention, lotsof lesserproblems respondquitewelltohomeremedies.

ARNICAGEL

YesterdayIhadaslow-motiontumbleoffmybikeontomykneesonthewayhome.Mykneeswerebruised,but Iwasable topedalhomeandgetarnica gel on them in about ten minutes. I also took some homeopathicarnicapills.Mymotherswearsbythisherb,butIhadnothadoccasiontouseitmuch.Iappliedmoregelbeforebedandagaininthemorning.Todayonekneeshowsnoeffectsofhavingbeenbruised,andtheotherisnotblackandblueandbarelyhurts at all. I amstunnedby theeffectivenessof thisarnica.Havestudiesbeendone?

Arnicamontana is a flowering plant that grows inEurope. People havetraditionallyusedarnicasalves,ointments,gels,andcreamsforbruisesandsprains. Arnica has a long history of use in Europe and is becoming acommon addition to first-aid kits in theUnited States. There is relativelylittle scientific evidence to support its use, but your report is not the firstwe’veheard.Inarecentstudy,homeopathicarnicapillsseemedtohaveasmallbutmeasurableeffectonbruisingfollowingaface-lift.1Homeopathictabletscontainverylittlearnica.Athigherdoses,though,arnicashouldnotbetakenorallysinceitcanbequitetoxic.

BLACKPEPPER

LastnightIslicedmyfingerontheinsideofacanthatIwasrinsingout.Itwasafairlysignificantcut.Irinseditandappliedpressure,thenwenttothecupboardandpulledoutapacketofblackpepper(whichhadbeenstoredinthecupboardspecificallytotreatcuts).Iputblackpepperonthebleedingcutandthenbandagedit,anditseemedfine.Afterafewminutes,Istartedto think maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to put pepper into an openwound.Idecidedtorinseoutthecut,makesureitwasclean,thenwrapitagain and start over. But when I took the bandage off, the bleeding hadstoppedandthecutwasbasicallysealed.Irinseditandputanewbandageon.ThismorningIlookedagain,andithardlylooksliketherewasacutatall,thoughit’sstillquitetender.I’mamazedthisworkedsowell!

Thanks for your story. Other readers have reported that ground blackpepperdoesseemtohelpstopbleeding,butaseriouscutrequiresmedical

attentioninsteadofhomeremedies.

CASTOROIL

Mymother-in-lawswearsbycastoroilforbruises.Wheneveroneofmykidsbumpsaknee,sherubscastoroilonitandthereisneverabruise.Haveyoueverheardofusingcastoroilforbruises?

Arnicaandcalendulaareherbsthathavelongbeenusedtorelievemuscleaches and to prevent bruises after minor injuries. Castor oil is usedinternally as a laxative, but many people tell us it works externally forwarts.Nowwewilladdbruisestothelist.

Whenevermychildrenhurt themselves, the first thing I reachedforwasthecastoroil.Mymother-in-law’sunclewasaboxerandalwaysusedcastoroilafteraboxingmatchtopreventhematomasandbruising.Itworkslikeacharm.Ithasbeenpasseddownasaremedyinmyfamilyformanyyears.

Thanks for sharingyour family remedy.Wehaveheard fromothers thatapplyingcastoroilafterabumpcanoftenavertabruise.

CAYENNEPEPPER

A freak razor blade accident sliced the edges ofmy nose.The bleedingwouldn’t stop. Before going to the emergency room, I checked “StopBleeding” on the computer. I read that a paste of cayenne should stopbleedingintenseconds,itsaid.Minetook15seconds.

Wehaveheardfrommanypeoplewhohaveusedgroundblackpeppertostop bleeding. Although we also have heard that cayenne pepper works,yourstoryisthefirsttodescribesuccess.Weassumeyoumadethepastebymixingitwithwater.High-techsolutionsforminorcutscanbepurchasedinpharmacies. Look for products such as QR Powder, QuikClot Sport, orBloodSTOP.

SAGE

Morethan40yearsagoIworkedinaChineserestaurant.OnedayatworkI somehowstabbedan icepick through theendofmy thumb,and itbledseverely. I couldn’t evenget it stopped longenough toputon abandage.Finally, Iwent into thekitchen to show it tomyboss.He tookone look,reachedforacanofgroundsage,andappliedittothewound.Ineversawanything stop bleeding as quickly as that! Black pepper isn’t the onlykitchenremedyforbleeding.

Thanksfor thisunusualremedy.Wehavehadfirsthandexperienceusingblackpepper to stopbleeding fromaminor cut. It’s helpful to know that

groundsageworkstoo.Ofcourse,seriouscutsrequiremedicalattention.

Dandruff

What is the most annoying thing about dandruff—the flakes all over yourshoulders or the itchy scalp? Dandruff is hardly ever a serious medicalcondition (except thekindcausedbypsoriasis),but it canbepersistent andextremelyannoying.Itseemstobetriggeredbyanimbalanceofyeastlivingonthescalp.Readershavesharedanumberofinventivehomeremediesthatmayhelp.

LISTERINE

Have you ever heard of usingListerine for dandruff? Someone toldmethat he heard on the radio how Listerine helps to get rid of theembarrassmentofflakyscalp.

A gentleman called in to our public radio showwith an amazing storyaboutListerinemixedwithbabyoil.Hisveterinarianhadrecommendedthiscombination for relieving itchy spots on his Dobermans and horses. Hefoundthatitworkedandtrieditforhisowndandruff.Hesaiditgetsridofdandruffintwotothreedays.Ofcourse,thisisnotscientificevidence.ButListerine does contain a number of essential oils (thymol, eucalyptol,menthol,andmethylsalicylate) thatmayhaveantifungalproperties.Sincedandruffappearstobecausedinpartbyafungus(yeast),itstandstoreasonthat a fungus fighter could provide benefit. Other ingredients in dandruffshampoosalsocounteractfungi.Seleniumsulfide,zincpyrithione,andtheantifungaldrugketoconazole(Nizoral)arealleffectivefungusfighters.ThecallerdidnottellusthepreciseratioofListerinetobabyoil,soifyouwanttotryit,youwillhavetoexperiment.

AfewweeksagoyouwroteaboutsomeoneusingListerineandbabyoiltotreatdandruff.Morethan40yearsago,myfamilywasusingplainListerineforthispurpose.ItwasadvertisedasadandrufftreatmentduringWorldWarII,anditworkedwonders.

Wewerefascinatedtodiscovera1943adforListerineAntisepticagainst“infectious dandruff.” These days Listerine is advertised only for oralhygiene.

MILKOFMAGNESIA

Ihavebeenusingmilkofmagnesiaonmyfaceforseborrheicdermatitisforthepasttwomonths,andmyfaceflakesaregone!Ipouritinmyhand,massageitonmyface(forehead,eyebrows,aroundtheeyes,nose,cheeks,andchin)whileshowering,andrinseitoffattheendoftheshower.Endof

problem.It’sagreat,cost-effectivealternativetoexpensiveNizoral,anditworksbetter.

Seborrheicdermatitis is likesuperdandruff,causingflakesanditching.Itappearsnotonlyonthescalp,butalsoontheface.Wearegladtohearthemilkofmagnesiasolvedtheproblem.

MIRACLEWHIP

Forseveralmonthsnow,Ihavehadaproblemwithascaly,flakyscalp.Ifinally went to the doctor, who prescribed medicated shampoo andmometasone topical solution. Nothing worked. Then a friend suggestedMiracleWhip.Irubbeditintomyscalpandleftitinforacoupleofhours.Inowhaveaflake-freescalp.Anyideawhy?

WecheckedtheingredientsinMiracleWhip.Theyarewater,soybeanoil,vinegar, high-fructose corn syrup, sugar,modified food starch, egg yolks,salt,mustardflour,artificialcolor,potassiumsorbate,spice,paprika,naturalflavor, and dried garlic.We can’t imagine why any of these compoundswould clear the flakes from your scalp, but others have praised MiracleWhipasagoodhairconditioner.

VINEGAR

A few weeks ago someone reported success using Miracle Whip on ascaly, flaky scalpandwanted toknowwhy itworked sowell. I think theeffectiveingredientisvinegar.It’slotscheaperandlessmessythanMiracleWhip. There are manyWeb posts on this and I’ve found from personalexperiencethatvinegarworksgreat.

Otherreadersagreedthatadilutevinegarrinsehelpsreducedandruff.Onesuggestedmixingfourpartswarmwatertoonepartapplecidervinegarandusing thissolution to rinsehairafter shampooing.She is80andhasbeenusing this remedy successfully for 55 years. Other readers use equalamountsofwaterandvinegar.

Allmylife,Ihaveuseddilutevinegartorinsemyhairaftershampooing.Itworksondandruffandonfeettostopodor.Andit’scheap!

A number of people have confirmed that vinegar (before or aftershampooing)iseffectiveagainstdandruff.Theaciditymakesitdifficultforyeasttothrive.Dandruffandfootodorarebothcausedinpartbyyeastthatlivesontheskin.

Mywifereadsyourcolumnandtoldmeaboutavinegarrinsetocontroldryscalp.Ihavesufferedfromthisproblemforyears.Ihaveusedahugevarietyofshampoos,includingexpensiveprescriptionones.Sometimesmy

itchy scalp made it difficult to sleep. The vinegar mixed with an equalamount of water has made a huge difference. Thank you! I have evenstarted rinsingmy dog’s coat with this solution after a bath. Some areaswherehiscoatwasthinhavegrownback.Wespenthundredsonvetbills,and I am pleased to have solved this so inexpensively. I can’t thank youenough.

Manypeoplereportthatvinegarfightsdryskin.Somefindthatrinsingthehands in a vinegar solution is helpful. The vinegar rinse might alsodiscourage yeast that lives on the scalp and causes dandruff, seborrheicdermatitis,andintenseitching.We’regladithelped.

Diabetes

The body runs on sugar. Everything we eat eventually breaks down intoglucose,which the hormone insulin carries into our cells.When somethinggoeswrongatanypoint in thisprocess, thecellsdon’thaveenoughfuel torunon,andtheresultisseriousillness.Intype1diabetes,thepancreasstopsproducinginsulin,sothediseaseiscontrolledwithinsulininjections.Intype2diabetes,whichisfarmorecommon,thecellslosetheirabilitytorespondtoinsulin.Thisisknownasinsulinresistance.Type2diabetescansometimesbecontrolled through exercise and diet. A number of foods may have apotentiallybeneficialeffectontheglucose-insulin-fuelprocess.Anyfoodthatimproves insulinsensitivitymightbeuseful.Diabetes requirescollaborationbetween physician and patient. Diabetics must pair consistent blood sugarmonitoringathomewith regularmeasurementofhemoglobinA1c (HbA1c)—an average of blood sugar control over several weeks—at the doctor’sofficetomakesuretheirbloodsugarcontrolisadequate.Asurprisingnumberofnaturalremediescanhelppeoplewithtype2diabetesbypreventingarapidriseinbloodsugaraftereating.

BITTERMELON

I have type2diabetes andhighbloodpressure, and I takemedicine forboth. I have heard that bittermelon can be used to treat type 2 diabetes.Whatdoyouknowaboutthisplant?

Bitter melon (Momordica charantia) is widely used as both food andmedicineinIndiaandChina.Studiesshowthatitcanlowerbloodsugarinanimals and in human diabetics.1 Use of any herb or dietary supplementrequirescarefulmonitoringandmustbecoordinatedbyyourphysician.

CINNAMON

I havehigh cholesterol anddiabetes (controlled throughdiet). I’vebeenusingcinnamontohelpkeepmybloodsugarandcholesteroldown.I’dlike

tocontinue,butIreadinyourcolumnthatitmightbedangerous.Isthereaspecificbrandor type thatdoesnothave thedamaging ingredient in it? Ihatetobuyyetanotherexpensivesupplementwhencinnamonissoreadilyavailableinthespiceaisleofthegrocerystore.

Researchshowsthatcinnamonmayhelpcontrolbloodsugar,butGermanregulatoryauthoritieswarn that thekitchenspicesometimescontainshighlevels of coumarin. This compound can damage the liver or kidneys, iftaken at fairly high levels daily. Itmay also have blood-thinning activityand interactwith theanticoagulantwarfarin (Coumadin).CinnulinPF isawater-soluble extract of cinnamon that does not contain coumarin.Capsules, available in health food stores, appear to be safe andmayhelpcontrolbloodsugarlevels.

WhenmydaughterlearnedthatIwasdiagnosedwithtype2diabetes,shedidsomeresearchandfoundoutthatcinnamoncapsuleswouldbehelpful.Ihave used cinnamon for about three years.My family doctor does bloodtestsandhasconfirmedthatcinnamonkeepsmybloodsugarundercontrol.

Research supports your experience.Cinnamon can keep levels of bloodglucose from spiking after ameal.We don’t recommend using cinnamonfromthespicerack, though,sincesomebrandsmaycontaincoumarin,aningredient that can be toxic when ingested in large amounts. Cinnamoncapsulesaresafer.

Itriedmakingacinnamonextractwithhotwatertohelpwithbloodsugar.Iendedupwithagooeyglob.PleaseprovideexactproportionsofspicetowatersoIdon’thavetodealwiththemess.

Researchshowsthatone-quartertoone-halfteaspoonofgroundcinnamonbefore ameal can reduce the rise inblood sugar after eating.We suggestputtingthisamountofcinnamoninapapercoffeefilterandpouringacupof hotwater over it.One reader has a slightly different technique: “I putabout two teaspoons cinnamon in my coffee filter and then put coffeegroundsontopsoIgetthebenefitsofcinnamonanditcutsanybitternessfrom the coffee. I turned all my family and friends on to this, and mymother-in-lawwasabletogooffherdiabetesmedicinethatshe’dbeenonforyears!”Note:Twoteaspoonsofcinnamonisenoughforawholepotofcoffee.Anyonewhousescinnamonto lowerbloodsugarshouldbeundermedicalsupervisiontohavebothHbA1candliverenzymesmonitored.

THEPEOPLE’SPHARMACY

FavoriteFood#8:Cinnamon

CinnamoncomesfromthebarkoftwoSouthAsiantrees:Cinnamomumverum and Cinnamomum cassia (commonly called cassia cinnamon).The cinnamon found on the spice shelf at the grocery store usuallycomesfromC.cassia.Activecompoundsincinnamonarewater-solublepolyphenols,which contribute to the color, taste, flavor, andmedicinalactions of many plants. Polyphenols dramatically boost the action ofinsulin.1 In a placebo-controlled trial lasting 40 days, researchers inPakistangaveparticipantscinnamoncapsules indosesofone, three,orsixgrams.Theresearchersreportedthatcinnamonreducedfastingbloodsugar—alongwithtriglycerides,LDLcholesterol,andtotalcholesterol—inpeoplewithtype2diabetes.2Onestudyclarifiedthatcassiacinnamonaffectsbloodsugar,whileCeyloncinnamon,fromC.verum,doesnot.3

COFFEE

My father andunclebothhavediabetes. Iwant to reducemychanceofdeveloping this disease, and I’ve heard that drinking coffee can help. Isthereanyevidenceforthisclaim?

Severalepidemiologicalstudieshavedemonstratedanassociationbetweenregular coffee consumption and a reduced risk of developing type 2diabetes.2Donot count on coffee alone to protect you, however.Regularexerciseandweightcontrolarefarmorelikelytobehelpfulinpreventingtype2diabetes.

FENUGREEK

What is fenugreek? I have been diagnosed as borderline diabetic. Myneighbor said this over-the-counter product helps keep blood sugar incheck.MydoctorsaidwithproperdietandexerciseIcanbeatthediabetes.Doyouhaveanyadditionalinformation?

FenugreekisanherbusedinIndiancooking.Researchshowsthat itcanhelp lower blood sugar. Other natural substances used to control bloodsugarincludecinnamon,bittermelon,oolongtea,andvinegar.

MUSTARD

I havebeenusing cinnamon tohelp controlmyblood sugar for the lastfouryears.Usingone-quarterteaspooninboilingwatertomakecinnamontea lowersmy blood sugar readings from about 185 to 135 in one hour.Yellowmustardworksevenbetter.Itakeaboutone-halfteaspoonpermeal,dependingontheamountofcarbohydratesinthefood.Bothcinnamonandyellowmustardcanbeoverdoneand lowerbloodsugar toomuch,soyouhavetobecautious.

Research supports the idea that cinnamon can lower blood sugar. Untilyouremail,wehadnotheardthatyellowmustardcoulddomuchthesamething.Several animal studies show that curcumin, theactive ingredient inthe yellow spice turmeric, lowers blood glucose. Since turmeric givesmustard its yellow color, perhaps this explains the benefit you havediscovered. The vinegar in mustard may also help. However, diabeticsshouldmonitortheirbloodsugarcloselyandcheckwithaphysicianbeforetryingsuchdietarystrategies.

NOPALCACTUS

Friendswhogo toMexicoeachyear tellme they takenopalcapsules tolower cholesterol and sugar in the blood. (They have type 2 diabetes.)Apparently this herb is popular in Mexico. Do you have an opinion onnopalesfortheseconditions?

Werecentlyheardfromaphysicianthatoneofhistype2diabeticpatientswas able to get control of his blood sugar by drinking a tea made fromnopal cactus in combination with his medicine. Nopal is prickly pear(Opuntia) and has been studied in Mexico for its ability to lower bloodglucoseandcholesterol.Researchonanimalsshowsitcanbeeffective,butinvestigators inahumanstudyhad tousehighdosesofnopalcapsules toproduce results. No one should substitute nopal capsules for diabetes orcholesterol medicine. Diabetics must monitor blood sugar closely if theyaddanynonstandardremedytotheirregimen.

Myhusbandhashadproblemswithblood sugar.Whenhehad togoonprednisone I worried because this drug can make blood sugar problemsworse.Thedoctordidn’tseemconcerned,butasadiabeteseducatorIknewthiscouldbecomeaseriousproblem.Soonaftermyhusbandstartedtakingprednisone,hisbloodglucose levelwentover200.Thenhestarted takingnopalcactus,anditdroppedto150andthento132.We’repleasedwiththeresultsbutwouldliketoknowmoreaboutnopal.

Peoplehaveeatenpricklypearcactusleaves(Opuntia)asavegetableforcenturies. Nopal, as it is known in Mexico, has also been used there tolower blood sugar in type 2 diabetics. Some preliminary animal researchsuggeststhatnopaliseffective,butthereislittlehumandatatosupportitsuse. Anyone who might consider such an approach needs to be undermedical supervision andmonitor blood glucose carefully. Nopal capsulescanbefoundinhealthfoodstoresorontheInternet.

NUTS

Could you talk about the relative benefits of various nuts? We know

almondsandwalnutscanlowercholesterol.Dopecans,macadamianuts,orhazelnutsofferanythingbesidescalories?

Nearly all nuts have beneficial fatty acids, particularlymonounsaturatedfattyacids like thosefoundinoliveoil. Inaddition,walnutscontainsomeomega-3fattyacidslikethosefoundinfishoil.Peoplewhoeatfiveouncesofnutsweeklyarelesssusceptibletoheartdiseaseandtype2diabetes.Thenutsmust be part of the diet, though, and not added to it. Excessweightfromaddedcaloriescanraisetheriskofdevelopingtype2diabetes.

VINEGAR

Isufferfromtype2diabetes.MydoctorprescribedGlucotrolformybloodsugar. It helped to a degree, but I have found that by adding apple cidervinegarandcinnamontoacarefuldiet,Icancontrolmybloodsugarevenbetter. IknowIhaven’tmade thisup,butare thereanydatashowingthatthesenaturalremedieswork?

High-carbohydratemeals containingwhite bread or rice can raise bloodsugar. We would not have imagined that vinegar could counteract thiseffect,butthereisgrowingevidencetosupportyourexperience.ScientistsinSwedenreport thatvinegargivenwithwhitebreadreducesbloodsugarand insulin. It alsohelpspeople feel full up to twohours later.3 Japaneseresearchershavefoundthatvinegarcancounteract theeffectofwhitericeon blood sugar.And investigators atArizona StateUniversity report thattwo tablespoonsofvinegarbeforea starchymealcansignificantly reducetheexpectedriseinbloodglucose.4

Diarrhea

Diarrhea can be caused by an infection, as traveler’s diarrhea generally is.Prudenteatinganddrinking(anddailyPepto-Bismol)cansometimespreventit, but once the symptoms start, it is too late for prevention. Antibioticmedications can help. People with chronic diarrhea due to other causesfrequentlysufferforyears.Sulfitesensitivitycantriggerabadbout.Irritablebowelsyndrome(IBS)canalsobetroublesome.Herearesomeofthehomeremediesourreadersandlistenershavefoundhelpful.

COCONUT

I’dliketotrycoconutmacaroonsforcontrollingdiarrhea,butIamtryingtocutoutsugar.CouldImakemyownmacaroonsusingSplendainsteadofsugar?CanIuseshreddedcoconutbyitselfinsteadofeatingthecookies?

Readerstellusthateatingtwococonutmacaroonsdailycaneasechronicdiarrhea.Somereportthatplaincoconutalsodoesthetrick.

I noticed a report on your website (www.peoplespharmacy.com) aboutcoconutmacarooncookiesstoppingdiarrhea.Iamahospicenurse,andoneof my patients was literally dying of diarrhea. None of the medicaltreatments were helping. After reading about macaroons, I asked mypatient’s daughter ifwe could try giving hermom coconutmilk and ricemilk. She had nothing to lose.The diarrhea stopped in 24 hours, and thepatientbegantoeatagain.Asaresult,shebegantothriveandhadtoleaveourhospiceprogram!

Flunking out of hospice is good news.We are so glad this suggestioninspired you and was so helpful for your patient with life-threateningdiarrhea.We have heard frommany readers that coconut is a traditionalremedyfordiarrhea.

ThankyousomuchforwritingaboutIBSandcoconutmacarooncookies.Itworks.Isufferedwithchronicdiarrheaforyearsandhavebeenhealedforthelasttwoyears.

We’realwayspleasedtohearaboutsuccesswithhomeremedies.DonaldAgarwrote us nearly ten years ago to report that twoArchway CoconutMacaroon cookies a day banished the chronic diarrhea he suffered as aconsequence of Crohn’s disease. We have heard from other readers thatcoconut helps combat diarrhea. But not everyone who suffers with IBSbenefitsfromcoconutmacaroons.

Thankyouforyourinvaluableadvice.AfteracolonresectionIhadseverediarrheadiagnosedasIBS.NothinghelpedexceptfourtosixLomotilpillsdaily.ThenI triedyourremedyofshreddedcoconut,and itworkedlikeamiracle. Can I safely increase the dosage, which is presently threeteaspoons?

It is possible to increase amount of coconut you are taking.Be careful,though,sincetoomuchmayleadtoconstipation.Coconutishighinfatandcalories.Soyoumayneedtoadjustyourdiettocompensate.SeerecipeforCoconutChickenSoupintheColdsentry,p.51.

Ihaveastudentwithirritablebowelsyndrome.Nothing—evenremovingher gallbladder—gave her relief. She was thinking of dropping out ofschool.ItoldherwhatIreadinyourcolumnaboutcoconut,anditworked.Herdigestionisnormalagain.Amazing!

Somepeople report that twoArchwayCoconutMacaroon cookies dailycontrolchronicdiarrhea.

DIETARYDISCRETION

Some of your readers have had questions about chronic diarrhea. Mymother had a similar problem for many years. Then one day her doctorsuggestedthatitcouldbecausedbylactoseintolerance.Hehitthenailonthe head. My mother loved ice cream, and the milk sugar in it wastriggeringthediarrhea.

Lactose, the sugar inmilk, is indigestible formany adultswho lack anenzymecalledlactase.Forsuchpeople,drinkingmilkoreatingicecreamorotherdairyproducts can causegas, bloating, cramping, anddiarrhea.Thesafestwaytopreventsymptomsistoavoidallformsofmilkandmilksugar(which is sometimes used in prepared foods or even as binders in pills).Commercial lactase, such as Lactaid, Lactrase, and generic pills, cansometimes be helpful. There are even dairy products that have beenpretreatedtoreducelactose.

Doyouhaveanyinformationregardingsugar-freegumanddiarrhea?Mydaughterhadtroublewithweightloss,stomachcramps,anddiarrhea.Threedifferentdoctorscouldnotdiagnosethecause.Thensheremembereditallstartedaftershebeganchewingsugar-freegum.

Sugar-freegumfrequentlycontainscompoundssuchasmaltitol,sorbitol,mannitol, and xylitol. These sweeteners are not absorbed well from thedigestivetract,andtheyattractwater.Thiscanleadtowaterydiarrhea,gas,and cramps. Giving up sugar-free gum should ease your daughter’sdigestivewoes.

My husband is plagued with diarrhea. He’ll be okay for a week or so.Then,fornoapparentreason,hehasdiarrhea.He’sbeeneatingtwococonutmacaroonsadayforabouttwoweeks.Wethoughtthathadtakencareoftheproblem,butitappearedagaintoday.Ireadthatsugarlessgumcouldcausediarrhea.Hechewsiteveryday.Canyoutellmeaboutthis?

Manyreadersreportthateatingtwococonutmacarooncookiesdailyhelpscontrol their chronic diarrhea. But why treat a problem that might beavoided? Sugarless gum could be the culprit in your husband’s case.Sweeteners in sugarless gum, such as sorbitol, maltitol, mannitol, andxylitol, are poorly absorbed from the digestive tract. When the residuereaches the large intestine, it can cause gas and diarrhea. Your husbandshouldtrygivingupthegumtoseeifthatsolvestheproblem.

FISHOIL

Hasanythingshownthatfishoiliseffectiveinreducingchronicdiarrhea?Itworkedinstantlyforme,althoughIstartedtakingitforhearthealth.Theresultswerestartling—nomorerunsortrots.

Theonly researchwe foundon fishoil for diarrhea involved studiesonrats.1Scientistsgave ratsadrug thatcausedchronicdiarrhea,and fishoilsped intestinal repair and recovery.We don’t know if this will work foranyoneelse,butfishoilhasenoughhealthbenefitstobewellworthatry.

POMEGRANATEJUICE

Someofyourreadershaveaskedaboutchronicdiarrhea.Oneofthebestthingsto takeispomegranate juice,whichcanbefoundingrocerystores.Youcanactuallygetconstipatedifyoudrinktoomuch(asIfoundout!).

Researchersarerediscoveringthehealingpowerofpomegranates.Studiessuggest that thisancient fruitmayhelp reduce the riskofbloodclotsandkeep cholesterol from damaging arteries. People have traditionally usedpomegranatetotreatdiarrheaanddysentery,thoughthereisn’tanyresearchtoshowitiseffective.We’llgoalongwiththewarningnottooverdo.

PROBIOTICYOGURT

Ihadchronicdiarrheaforseveralyears,soIwasinterestedinthecoconutmacaroon cookie remedywhen I read about it in your column. I ate twoeachmorningandgotabenefit forawhile,but thenIhad to increase thedose.Afterafewmonths,eventhreecookieswerenothelpingthediarrhea.Instead I turned to DannonActivia yogurt. They advertise that they willrefundyourmoneyiftheirproductdoesn’tsolvetheproblemintwoweeks.I didn’t get anymoney back, but I am happy. It not only eliminatedmydiarrhea,butalsosolvedmyhusband’slong-standingconstipationproblem.

Activiacontainsprobioticbacteriathataresupposedtohelpreestablishahealthybalanceofmicrobesinthegut.Yogurtismadefromculturedmilk,so it isanexcellentway todeliver livingbacteria.Probioticshavegainedpopularity inEuropebutarestill relativelyunknown in theUnitedStates.Nonetheless,someresearchlinksprobioticstoimproveddigestivehealth.

QUESTRAN

Oneofyourreaderswastroubledwithdiarrhea.Aftergallbladdersurgery,Ihad thesameproblem.Saying thebileacidhadcaused thediarrhea,mydoctorprescribedQuestran.Itworksgreat.

Cholestyramine (Questran) lowers cholesterol by binding to bile acids.Alongwithrelievingdiarrhea,itkeepsbloodlipidsundercontrol.

THEPEOPLE’SPHARMACY

FavoriteFood#9:Yogurt

Over thelastfewyears, theterm“probiotics”andthephrase“liveandactive cultures” have gone mainstream. We’ve been excited aboutprobioticsforyears,andwe’regladthatlargeyogurtmanufacturers,likeDannon, have taken up the cause of this duly celebrated supplement.Dannon’sActiviacontainsprobioticbacteriathatrepopulatethestomachandgastrointestinal tractwithgoodbacteriaandpushbadbacteriaout.Becauseyogurtismadefromculturedmilk,itisaveryeffectivewaytodeliverlivingbacteria.Researchsuggests that this rebalancingshouldsootheavengefulgut

andameliorateconditionsfromgastodiarrheatodiverticulitis.1Thereisalso some research indicating that probiotics may benefit the immunesystem in other ways—easing eczema symptoms and even helpingreducesusceptibilitytoupperrespiratorytractinfections.Yogurtoffersevenmoreadvantages.Forone,calcium,wheningested

in theformof food(rather thanpills),mayprotectpeople fromkidneystones.Andmanywomenhavelongknownthateatingyogurtcanhelppreventyeast infections. Inonestudy,womenwhoateacupofyogurtcontaining liveLactobacillusacidophilus cultures each daywere threetimeslesslikelytohavearecurringyeastinfection.2Not all yogurts are created equal, however. Some yogurts that may

taste great are just high-sugar snacks that should be treated as dessertrather thanhealth food.Lookfora label thatsays“probiotics”or“liveandactivecultures”(theNationalYogurtAssociationhasdevelopedanofficial seal). But keep in mind that calcium can interfere with theabsorptionofsomemedications,likecertainantibioticsandosteoporosisdrugs. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about whether eating yogurtcould affect any of the drugs you’re taking, and if so, how long youshouldwaittoeatyogurtaftertakingthem.

Diverticulitis

This digestive condition is another mystery.Why do some people developlittle pouches (diverticula) along the wall of their colons? Why do somepeopledevelopinflamedorinfecteddiverticula(diverticulitis)?Therearelotsof theories, but the predominant hypothesis is lack of fiber (roughage). Itmightevenbetrue.Butafairnumberoffolkseatlotsoffiberandfruitsandvegetables and still end upwith diverticulitis.And there are thosewho eatverylittleroughageandescapeunscathed.

Whenwedon’tknowforsure,wefrequentlyblameourgenes,andtheytoomaybeacontributingfactor.Regardlessofwhatcausesdiverticulitis, itcanbe painful and disabling. Symptoms can include abdominal pain, fever,

nausea, cramping, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation. Treatment oftenincludesantibiotics if therearesignsof infectionwithinthediverticula.Notinfrequently, physicians will give the bowels a “rest.” If patients arehospitalized,doctorsmaytakethemofffoodandgivethemonlyintravenousfluidsforawhile.Outpatientsoftenreceivetheconfusingadvicetoeataverylow-fiber diet initially during an attack. Then, eventually, when the colonrecovers,theyareencouragedtoconsumeahigh-fiberdiet.

Diverticulitis requires excellent supervision by a very knowledgeablegastroenterologist.Ifthesituationgetsserious,surgerymaybenecessary.Wehopethesesuggestionshelppreventthat.

PROBIOTICS

My husband was diagnosed with diverticulitis. He was treated withantibiotics,butthedoctorsaidhecouldhaveanotherattackatanytime.Myhusband now avoids seeds and nuts, but a different doctor says food hasvery little impact. I now give my husband lots of fruit, yogurt, andacidophilusmilk,andheistakingFiberCondaily.Isthereanythingelsethatmighthelp?

Yourhusbandmaywant to tryprobiotics (goodbacteria).Suchproductsare available in health food stores and inmany supermarkets.One readerreported,“Aftertenyearsofbeingdiagnosedrepeatedlywithdiverticulitisand treated with antibiotics, my digestive system went crazy and I lostbowelcontrol.Moreantibioticsandprednisonewereprescribed.Onedoctorwantedtodosurgery,perhapsacolostomy.Isoughtasecondopinion,andthedoctorprescribedprobiotics.AweeklaterIwasfine.AfterfouryearsIhavenomorediverticulitisandnodiarrhea.”

DrySkin

Dry skin can be terribly annoying. Some things seem to make it worse:frequenthandwashing,exposuretowaterorsoap,winterweatherwithwindand dry indoor air, and health conditions like eczema or an underactivethyroidgland.Nomatterwhat,youhavetowashyourhandstostayhealthy,but using rubber gloves to do dishes or other cleaning chores may help.Dermatologistsalsosuggestavoidingsoap—instead,useawaterlesscleanserforhandsorasoap-freecleansersuchasCeraVeorCetaphil for thefaceorbody.Usingagoodmoisturizeraftergentlypattingtheskindryisessential.At night, try wearing a relatively greasy moisturizer, such as AquaphorHealingOintmentorVaselinePetroleumJelly—undercottonglovestoprotectbedclothes.Someofourotherfavoriteremediesarelistedbelow.

BARNYARDBEAUTYAIDS

MylatehusbandalwaysmadesurewehadBagBalminthehousetousefor scrapes and cuts. Now our children keep it in their homes, and ourgranddaughteruses itdaily. I first startedapplying it to somehorriblebigcracksonmyheels.Itworkedsowell thatInowuseitonmyarms,legs,face, andneck. It isbetter thananyother lotion formydry skin. Imix itwitha littlecoldcreamso itgoesonmore smoothly,and it suremakesahugedifference.

Thanksforsharingyourskincaretipwithus.Manyreadersappreciatethemoisturizing power of beauty aids like Bag Balm and Udderly SmoothUdderCream.

Igetdryhandseverywinter.Cracksinmyfingertipsandknucklesdrivemecrazy.Mynailsareroughtoo,andIamatmywit’send.Icannotaffordcostlydepartmentstoreproducts.Anysuggestions?

Inwinterwefrequentlyrecommend“barnyard”beautyaids.Dairyfarmerslearned long ago that the salves they used to prevent cows’ udders fromchapping alsoworked beautifully for their own hands. The oldest is BagBalm from the Dairy Association Company (800-232-3610). It is greasyandsmelly,though.UdderlySmoothUdderCreamisnicertouseandalsoprovidesgoodmoisturizingatagoodprice(800-345-7339).Listenerswillrecognize Udder Cream (with urea, for extra moisturizing power) as alongtimeunderwriterofthePeople’sPharmacyradioshow.

MyskinissodryanditchythatsometimesIhavetostopandscratchitinthemiddleofatennisgame.ThisannoysmypartnerandbothersmemorethanIcansay.Whatsuggestionsdoyouhave?

For very dry skin, dermatologists often recommend a heavy-dutymoisturizer.Plainpetroleumjellyworkswellandisinexpensive.AquaphorHealingOintmentisalsoveryeffective,thoughsomepeoplefinditgreasy.Thebestway touse suchproducts is by applying themafter abath.Blot(don’trub)excesswaterofftheskin,andthenputthemoisturizeron.Manypeople also find “barnyard” moisturizers such as Bag Balm or UdderlySmoothUdderCreamhelpfulandcost-effective.

OLIVEOIL

Years ago my dermatologist suggested I stop using topical creams andlotions since I amallergic to themall.Twice aday I ruboliveoil onmyskin instead.Onweekends I alsouse it as a hair conditioner.By stickingwitholiveoil,Ihavesolvedmyskinproblems.Asthedoctorsaid,“IfitwasgoodenoughforCleopatra,it’sgoodenoughforyou!”

Somepeoplemaybeallergictooliveoil,butformostpeopleitcanoften

beaneffectivemoisturizer.Itmaybealittlegreasy,however.Somewomenalsofindthatapplyingoliveoilcanhelpreducevaginaldryness.

VINEGAR

Iusedtohaveseverelydryskin.Myhandswerealwaysdryandchapped.Then a friend toldme to dipmy hands in a solution of two-thirdswhitevinegarandone-thirdwaterforoneortwominutesandthenrinsethemoff.I keep a spray bottle of thatmix inmy shower to spray onmy feet andhands.Myheelsareno longersodryandrough that they tearmyhose. Ihave given this tip to hairdressers who have dry hands because of thechemicalstheyuse.

Thisisnotthefirsttimewehaveheardthatvinegarcouldhelpdryskin.There are no scientific studies to support this claim, but this inexpensiveremedymaybewortha try.Onetheoryis thatvinegarrestoresbalancetodryskincausedbytoomuchhandwashing.

Eczema

No one knows exactly what causes the red, itchy skin condition calledeczema.Butwedoknowafewthingsthatexacerbateeczema:stress,irritantslike laundry soap, prolonged exposure towater, and contactwith allergens.The itching causedby severe eczemacanbe extremelydistressing.Doctorsmay prescribe heavy-duty immune-suppressing creams such as Elidel orProtopic, but worries about the risks posed by these drugs have led manypeopletoseekhomeremedies.

BORAGEOIL

Iama51-year-oldfemaleplaguedwithpersistenteczema.Theskinonmyhandswasalways red, itchy,cracked,andoftenbleeding.Myhandswerealways covered with bandages or gauze. Dermatologists prescribedcortisonecreamsofincreasingstrength.Noneofthemwerehelpfuloverthelong term.Hand cream for dry skinwas totally useless. Five years ago Iwent toanallergist foranunrelatedproblem.Whenhesawmyhands,hewasconcernedthattheopensoresputmeatriskofinfection.Hesuggestedtakingborageoil.Itriedtakingonecapsuleofborageoilafterbreakfastandone before bed. Within a few months the eczema on my hands haddisappearedcompletely,andtheconditionisnowonlyaminorannoyance.Icontrol my dry skin with ordinary hand cream. I hope this tip will helpothers.

Borageoilisrichinafattyacidcalledgamma-linolenicacid(GLA).TheoilcomesfromtheplantBoragoofficinalis,alsoknownasstar-flower.Weare delighted that you got such relief, but not everyone will benefit. A

placebo-controlledstudysuggeststhatborageoilisineffectiveforeczema.The researchers conclude, “It seemsunlikely thatdietary supplementationwith gamma linolenic acid is beneficial in management of atopicdermatitis.”1

CERAVEMOISTURIZER

I have had eczema ever since I was a child. I have usedmany steroidcreamsover theyears, andwhile theyhelpabit, inbadbouts thecreamswere not soothing and just kept away the worst irritations. I have beengoingtoayoungdermatologistwhoadvisedmetouseCeraVeMoisturizingCream(notlotion).Ican’traveaboutitenough.ImmediatelyafterbathingIputiton,and24hourslater,whenIshoweragain,Icanfeelthatthecreamisstillthere.Ihaveonlyhadtouseoneprescriptioncreamafewtimessincestartingwiththismorethanayearago.Keepingmyskinhydratedseemstodothetrickforme.

CeraVemoisturizer containsno fragrance to irritate the skin, but it doescontain ceramides. These are natural fatty compounds found in cellmembranes.Peoplewitheczemafrequentlyhaveabnormallylowlevelsofceramides in their skin.Moisturizing can help keep eczema from itchingandmayboosttheeffectivenessoftopicalsteroidswhenyoudoneedtousethem. Another interesting product is CamoCare Soothing Cream(www.camocare.com). It contains a chamomile-derived oil that has anti-inflammatoryproperties.

DERMASMARTCLOTHING

Myeight-year-oldsonhaseczema.Wehavebeenalarmedby the recentstudiesaboutElidelincreasingtheriskofcancer.Wealsodonotwanttogoback to topical steroids because they might thin his skin too much. Arethereanyothertreatmentsthatwecanconsider?

Besidesusing agoodmoisturizer tokeep the skin fromdryingout, youmay want to consider DermaSmart undergarments and pajamas(www.dermasmart.com).Thisspecialfabricissupersoftandnonirritating.Afirefighter toldus that hedeveloped eczema after exposure tomold in anolder fire station.When he put on his protective gear the itching nearlydrovehimcrazy.TheDermaSmartT-shirt andpants reduced the irritationanditching.

INSTANTGLUE

Likesomeofyourreaders,Igetcrackedfingersincoldweather.ThisyearI decided to try something different. I had a place that split open onmythumb. I put Super Glue on it, held it together, and let it dry. It worked

beautifully. Instant glue seals the crack so there’s no pain.When it startswashingoff,Ijustputmoreon.Worksgreat!

Physicianshavebeenusingaproductsimilartoinstantgluetoclosecuts.The cyanoacrylate glue they use is calledDermabond,which is now alsoavailabletoconsumersinBand-AidBrandLiquidBandage.Itmaybelessirritating to the skin than household instant adhesives like SuperGlue orKrazyGlue.

LOW-CARBDIET

Iusedtogeturinarytractinfectionsoryeastinfectionseveryothermonth.Then I changed my diet. I cut out sugar, white flour, and starches likepotatoes and rice. Since then I have had only one urinary tract infection.I’velost20pounds,andmyeczemais99percentbetter.Ionlyhaveaflare-upwhen I have cake ormilk chocolate. I am still surprised that diet canhave such an effect. Other people with eczema or seborrheic dermatitismightbenefitthewayIdid.

There is not much research linking a high-carb diet to urinary tractinfectionsoreczema.Butreducingtheamountofsugar,starch,andrefinedcarbohydratesseemslikeasimpleenoughexperiment.Ifitworksforsomepeople with such hard-to-treat conditions, it might be worth the trouble.Thanksforyourinterestingstory.

NOXZEMA

IjusthadtoletyouknowthesuccessI’vehadwithyoursuggestiontouseoriginalNoxzemaforeczema.Mythree-year-oldsonhassufferedfromthisskinconditiononhislegsandfeetfortwoyears.WetreateditsuccessfullywiththeprescriptiondrugElidel,butsafetyconcernsledustostopusingit.I triedmanymoisturizingcreamstosoothehisskin,buthecriedandsaidthey hurt. I started usingNoxzema the day I read your article, and therewerenotears.Hisskinrespondedquickly,andafterthreeweeksalmostalltracesofeczemaaregone.Thisadvicehaschangedmyson’slife.

We are pleased to learn of your success. Lore has it thatNoxzemawasnamedaftertheproducthelpedacustomer“knock”eczema.

OOLONGTEA

Ihavebeenplaguedwithnummulareczemaforyears.Itdoesnotrespondto Benadryl, prednisone, or topical cortisone ointment. I read in yourcolumnaboutdoctorsinJapanwhoprescribedoolongtea.SothelasttimeIhadanoutbreak,I triedoolongteawithamazingresults.Within24hours,the itchingand inflammationweregone. It tookacoupleofdays,but the

lesionsdisappearedandleftnoscars.Whydoesoolongteaworksowell?ItisthebesttreatmentforthisawfulskinconditionI’veeverseen!

Nummulareczemaconsistsofcoin-shaped,itchyredpatchesontheskin.Nobodyknowswhatcausesit,buttheconditionisaggravatedbydryskin,stress,detergent,andcoldweather.Astudyofmorethan100patientswithatopic dermatitis showed that drinking a liter of oolong tea daily couldmarkedly ease inflammation and itching. Researchers speculated thatantioxidant polyphenols in tea have anti-allergic properties and calm theoveractiveimmuneresponse.2Somepeoplehavereportedthattheireczemaimproved when they took borage or flaxseed oil orally. These dietarysupplements are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which also have anti-inflammatoryproperties.

PROBIOTICS

Is there anything to help with pediatric eczema? My son has triedeverythingformygranddaughter.Topicalsteroidshelpedforawhile,butIworryabout long-termsideeffects.Probioticswere suggested,but Idon’tknowanythingaboutthem.Anyinformationwouldbemostwelcome.

Research suggests that goodbacteria (probiotics)maypreventor reducetheseverityofeczemainchildren.3Americanhealthprofessionalsarelessfamiliar than theirEuropeancolleagueswith theuseofprobiotics to treatconditionssuchaseczema,foodallergies,irritablebowelsyndrome(IBS),anddiarrhea.

THEPEOPLE’SPHARMACY

FavoriteFood#10:OolongTeaOolong,whosename is nearly as delicious as its taste, is a traditionalChinesetea.Itbelongstoneithertheblacknorthegreenteafamiliesandfalls somewhere between them in the amounts of both oxidation andcaffeinethatitdelivers.Its range of antioxidants is different from that of either tea family.

Researchsuggestsoolong teamayhelpcontrolbloodsugar levels, andoolong tea drinkers also appear less likely to develop hypertension.1Some recent studies suggest that tea may contain compounds that aregood for the heart; one study conducted in southern China providesevidencethatdrinkingteaalsodecreasestheriskforstroke.2Peoplewhodrank at least one cup of tea per week over the course of 30 yearsdecreased their chances of stroke by 60 percent. Those who drankoolongorgreenteaeachdaycuttheirriskevenmore—bymorethan70

percent.But there’s more. Oolong tea has one benefit that no other hot

beveragecanclaim: It is remarkablyeffectiveatconquering thepesky,scalyskinconditioneczema.More than 100 people suffering from different types of eczema

participatedinastudythatconfirmeddrinkingoneliter(roughlythreetofour cups) of oolong tea each day could significantly improve theircondition.3Researchers speculated that antioxidants in the tea may help

counteract an overactive immune response that results in dry, itchy,inflamedskin.This isespeciallygoodnews,sincemany treatments foreczemacarrypotentialhazards.Eczemaistypicallytreatedwithsteroidcreams,whichshouldbetaken

fortheshortestpossibletimesincetheycanthintheskin.Severalyearsago, citing a possible cancer link, the U.S. Food and DrugAdministration issued warnings for two popular eczema treatments,Elidel and Protopic. Drinking tea, steaming hot in winter or iced insummer,posesnoneofthesepotentialrisks—andit’stasty!

PYCNOGENOL

FormanyyearsIhavesufferedfromatopicdermatitis,atypeofeczema.The regimen prescribed bymy dermatologist helped to some degree, butwhat seems to have cleared up the itching is an antioxidant supplementcalledPycnogenol.Aftersixmonths,myeczemaisintotalremission.WhatcanyoutellmeaboutPycnogenol?

Pycnogenol is extracted from thebarkofmaritimepine trees.Theplantcompounds it contains are proanthocyanidin flavonoids similar tocompoundsderived fromcranberries,blueberries,andotherplant sources.Pycnogenol has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Perhaps theeffectonyoureczemaisrelatedtoitsabilitytoreduceinflammation.

Fibromyalgia

Thismysteriousconditioncausesrepeatedboutsofsofttissuepain,weakness,and fatigue. People with fibromyalgia often have disturbed sleep and maywake up tired even after eight hours in bed. Diagnosis of fibromyalgia isdifficult,inpartbecausemanydoctorsbelieveitisapsychosomaticconditionor a form of depression. Very low-dose antidepressants at bedtime mayrelievepainorhelpwithsleep.Gentleexercisecanalsobehelpful.VitaminDisalsosaidtoeasethediscomfortoffibromyalgia.Relativelyfewpeoplehavereportedsuccesswithhomeremedies,butherearesomethathavehelped.

BOSWELLIA

Isufferfromfibromyalgia,whichisanextremelypainfulillness.LatelyIhavefoundthattheherbboswelliaishelpfulforthemorningstiffnessthatgoeswithfibromyalgia.Therearenosideeffects,and theresultsareveryquick. It doesn’t eliminate pain, but reducing my stiffness makes themorninglessdifficult.Otherswithfibromyalgiamightwanttoknowaboutthis.

Thankyouforsharingyourexperience.Boswellia isanherbused in theayurvedic tradition, anancientmedical systemof India thatmakesuseofplants.Theherbhasanti-inflammatoryproperties,whichmightexplainwhyithelpsreducestiffnessassociatedwiththisdebilitatingchroniccondition.Moststudieshavefoundnosignificantsideeffects.

CHERRIES

Ihavespinalcerebellarataxia,ageneticdisordercharacterizedbylackofcoordination and a halting gait, and I also have fibromyalgia. Tart cherryconcentrateisthegreatestthingforeasingmydiscomfort.Idon’teventakepainpillsanymore.

Others have told us that tart cherry, as juice or concentrate, is helpfulagainstthepainofgoutorarthritis.Wearegladtolearnithasalsohelpedyourfibromyalgia.

Gas

Flatulenceisn’tharmful,butitcanbeembarrassing.Everybodyhasgas,butsome people seem to havemore gas than others.Diet or evenmedicationsmaybetoblame,buthomeremediessometimeshelp.

BITTERS

Iwouldliketoknowtheformulayouonceprintedaboutusingbittersforflatulence.

TheAngosturabitterslabelsuggeststakingonetofourteaspoonfulsaftermealsforflatulence.Somereadersput it inclubsodaor7UPtomask thebittertaste.

FENNELTEA

For the past severalmonths I have been suffering with flatulence. It isextremely embarrassing. Iworry every time I go out in public that Iwillpass smelly gas. I have tried over-the-counter medications like Gas-X,Beano,Tums,andcharcoalcapsules.Itrytoavoidfoodsthatmightgivemegas, but even so, the problem persists. Is there anything I can do? It is

gettingsobadthatIdon’twanttogooutinpublicanymore.

Itsoundsas ifyouhavetriedalmosteverythingin thepharmacy.Fennelteaisahomeremedytoconsider.Crushoneteaspoonoffennelseedswithaspoonandsteepit inhotwaterforfiveminutes.SomeflatulencesufferershavealsosuggestedusingadoseofPepto-Bismoltohelpcontrolodor.

THEPEOPLE’SPHARMACY

FavoriteFood#11:FennelSeedThis member of the celery family is a well-known herb native tosouthern Europe and western Asia, but it was also known in ancientChinaaswellasinIndia,Egypt,andGreece.IntheMiddleAgespeopleprized it as a vegetable, and indeed we appreciate its flavor today.ColonistsbroughtfennelseedstotheNewWorld.Thisaromaticlittlespicemightseemmodestandmild.Butinreality,

ithasthepowertotameunpleasantflatulenceandheartburn.Formanyyears,we have heard from readerswho have banished gas by sippingfennel seed tea. Some report that it’s also possible to get relief bychewingontheactualseeds.Infact,manyIndianrestaurantsofferfennelseeds as a colorful after-meal treat to aid digestion. They can also bepurchasedathealthfoodstores.For people who don’t like the licorice flavor, fennel seeds are

availableincapsuleformaswell.(Infact,fennelisnotactuallyrelatedto licorice and therefore carries none of its potential dangers, likeincreased blood pressure, fluid retention, depleted potassium, anddisruptedhormonalbalance.)Anyoneallergic tocelery,carrots,dill,oraniseshouldavoidfennel.Pregnantwomenshouldnotusefenneloilorextracts,butfennelseedinfusionsareprobablysafe.Wehaveheardthat,inadditiontosoothingthestomach,fennelseeds

may ease upper respiratory and sinus symptoms. One reader uses thisrecipeforsinustrouble:

1tablespoonfennelseeds¼teaspoonpowderedginger1clove½inchpieceofcinnamonstick1teaspoonbrownsugar

Combineingredientsintwocupsofwater.Boiluntiloneandahalfcupsof liquid is left. Strain mixture and drink it hot with milk. You cansubstitutehoneyforbrownsugar.

FennelSeedTea½teaspoonfennelseeds1cupboilingwater

Smash seeds with a spoon to “bruise” them. Steep in water for fiveminutes.Strainoutseedsandsweetentotaste.

FLATULENCECUSHION

I am interested in purchasing flatulence filters.Mymomhas severegasproblems and is taking charcoal tablets along with other things. Theproblem is still noticeable. Iwould like to try the filters. I have checkeddrugstoresbuthavehadnoluck.

Search the Web for the GasBGon flatulence filter seat cushion(www.gasbgon.com).Itcontainsactivatedcharcoalthattrapsodorsfromthedigestive tract.The samecompany (Dairiair at877-427-2466) alsomakesunderwearwithactivatedcharcoalwovenintothefabric.Thesecarbonizedundies reduce unpleasant smells evenwhen thewearer is not sitting on aflatulencefilterseatcushion.

PEPPERMINTOIL

Yournewsletterhadastoryaboutaladywhoneedshelpforthegascausedby her mother-in-law’s cooking with onions, cabbage, beans, and barley.I’ve found peppermint oil capsules (sometimes sold as breath fresheners)are brilliant for quick relief. Prevention would be better, however. Mygrandmotheralwaysboiledheronionsfirstandthenstrainedthewateroffbefore adding them toher recipe.This removed thegas-causingpart, andwecouldallenjoyeatinghermealswithnoworries.

Thanksfortherecommendationofpeppermintoilcapsules.Somereadersclaim that mint tea drunk after a meal can ease gas. Your suggestion ofdiscardingtheinitialcookingwatercanhelpwithbeansaswellasonions.

PROBIOTICS

What is thebest thing todofordaily,embarrassinggas?Ieathigh-fiberfoodsduring theweek,butmoreofavarietyonweekends,and itdoesn’tseemtomakeadifference.Ihavecontinuousgasallweek.

A recordofwhatyoueat andhowyourgut respondsmaybehelpful inpinpointingwhetheryouarereacting toaspecificfood.Somepeoplefindthatmilkanddairyproductscausedistress.Othershavetroublewithfoodslikebagelsorpretzels.Onceyouidentifyalikelyculprit,avoidingitshouldtell you if you were correct. Another reader found a simple solution:

“Activia yogurt is excellent in stopping flatus. One small carton a daystoppedmostoftheproblem.”Activiacontainsprobiotics(goodgerms)thatcanaiddigestion.

Gout

Anyonewhohassufferedfromitcantellyouthatgoutcanbeexcruciating.Inthis condition, uric acid crystals precipitate out of theblood into the joints.The joint of the big toe is especially vulnerable to gout, although theconditioncanalsoaffectankles,knees,elbows,andwrists.Duringanattack,eventhelightpressureofabedsheetmaybeunbearable.Doctorsprescribeanumberofmedications for gout, andoneormoremaybenecessary.Whenhome remedies work, however, they are less expensive and less likely tocausesideeffects.

CELERY

Ibegantakingceleryseedextractcapsulessixmonthsagoforgout.Withinaday,allfootpainwasgone.Abloodtestsixweekslatershowednormallevelsofuricacid.Itaketwocapsuleseachmorning.It’samiracleforme.

Celeryseedwasa traditional treatmentforrheumatism,anold-fashionedterm for inflamed joints.Ethnobotanist JamesDuke, authorofTheGreenPharmacy, says that celery seed extracts have helped him ward off goutattacks.

CURRY(TURMERIC)

I suffer from gout from time to time. Have you ever heard of curryrelieving the symptoms?Mywifemade a soup containing curry powder,andwithinonehouraftereatingit, Icouldfeel thepaingoingaway.Iatethesoupthenexttwonights,andmygoutwas95percentgone.

Thanksforthetip.Goutisapainfulinflammatoryconditioninwhichuricacid crystals collect in the joints. The yellow spice in curry powder isturmeric. For centuries ayurvedic practitioners have used it to treatinflammation. Research on animals confirms that turmeric extracts canreducejointswellingfromarthritis.1

SOURCHERRIES

I haveheard that sour cherry juice canwardoffgout attacks.Haveyouheardofthisremedy?Mydoctorthinksitisridiculous.

Cherrieshavetraditionallybeenrecommendedforgoutprevention,butthemedicalevidencehasbeenlimited.Onestudyshowedthaturicaciddropsafterpeopleeatbingcherries.2Elevateduricacidtriggerstheexcruciating

pain of a gout attack, so this finding supports the potential usefulness ofsourcherriesagainstgout.

Mysisterhashadtworecentepisodesofgout.Withouthealthinsurance,shecouldnotaffordtogotothedoctor.Igavehersomesamplesofananti-inflammatorymedicine I had on hand. She took them but got relief onlywhen she started eating sour cherries. Someone told her it was an oldremedy toeat sixcherriesaday.Was this relief all inhermind?Will thegoutreturn?Itwasextremelypainfulandleftheralmostimmobile.

Once someone has an attack or two, theymay bemore prone to othersunless theiruricacid levels are lowered.Many readershave reported thatsour cherries can ease the pain associated with gout and even arthritis.Fresh,dried,orfrozencherries,cherryjuice,orevencherryextractcapsulesmay be helpful. No home remedies have been clinically tested, however.There are medicines that help lower uric acid levels, but they require aprescription.A diet low in redmeat, fish, and other seafood and high inlow-fatdairyproductsseemstohelpsomepeopleavoidgoutattacks.Onestudyconfirmsthatalcohol,especiallybeer,increasestheriskofgout.3

I was on Celebrex but experienced side effects. A friend recommendedthatItryFruitFastTartCherryJuiceConcentratefromBrownwoodAcres.Ittookfourweeksforthejuicetokickin,butattheripeoldageof79I’mtapdancingagain.Itworkedforme.

We’veheard fromothers that tart or sour cherries or cherry juicemighteasejointpainfromgout.Yourtestimonialisterrific,andwesuspectotherswillwanttotrycherryjuiceforarthritisaswell.Thebrandyoumentionisavailableat877-591-3101orwww.brownwoodacres.com.

Iwas fascinated to readabouta79-year-oldpersonwitharthritiswho istapdancingagainafterdrinkingtartcherryjuice.Itoohavebeendrinkingthe juice in addition towatchingmydiet andcuttingout shellfish. Ihavehadnofurtherattacks.

We’vereceivedmanyanecdotalreportsthattartcherrieshelprelievegout.Youaresmarttowatchyourdiet.Onearticleconfirmsthatpeoplewhoeatalotofmeatandseafoodaremoreinclinedtohavegoutattacks.4

HeadachesandMigraines

Wetakeheadpainveryseriously. Ifyouareexperiencingchronicorsevereheadaches, you should waste no time getting to a doctor or headachespecialist. Pain in the head can signal a variety of extremely seriousconditions. That being said, headaches are a common affliction, and,statistically speaking, far more often than not they’re simply a painful

nuisanceratherthanamedicalemergency.Thefirstthingtoknowaboutrun-of-the-millheadaches is thatmedicine taken toalleviatepainmightactuallybe causing the symptoms. Medication-overuse headaches often occur inpeoplewhopoppainkillerstwoormoretimesaweek,astheirbrainreceptorsbecomesensitizedandtriggermoreandmoresevereheadaches.Thewaytobreakout of the cycle is to stop taking themedication (under a physician’ssupervision)andtogothroughanadjustmentperiod.Lotsofotherthingscancauseheadachesaswell.Forexample,glutencantriggerheadachesinpeoplesufferingfromceliacdisease.Forgoingthatmorningcupof joecan literallybe painful for folks addicted to caffeine. And as anyonewho’s ever had ahangoverknows,overindulginginalcoholcan lead toarudeawakening thenextmorning.

BEER

Iknowthatredwinecancausemigraines.ButIhavealsoheardthatthereissomethingyoucandrink toalleviateamigraine.Doyouhaveany ideawhatitcouldbe?

Thiswillsoundbizarre,butonepersontoldusthatdrinkingabeerattheveryfirstsignofamigrainecouldpreventtheattackfromprogressing.Shelearned this approach from an old country doctor and has used itsuccessfully for decades.We can’t explain why beer might work againstmigraines,butwehaveheardfromothersthatitcanbehelpful.

DIETARYTRIGGERS

Isufferedfrommigrainesforyears.ThenIstartedtakingmagnesiumandpracticing yoga. I also eat a low-carbohydrate diet—low in yeast, sugars,andgrains.Inolongersuffer.It’sablessing.

We’regladtohearthesechangesmadesuchadifferenceforyou.We’vealsoheardfromthosewhohavechangedtheirdietsinotherways,includingadding supplements like magnesium, vitamin B complex and B2(riboflavin),coenzymeQ10,melatonin,feverfew,andbutterbur.

I suffer fromclassicmigraines. I’vebeenable tocutwaydownon theirfrequency by avoiding my food and beverage triggers and taking bloodthinnerssuchasaspirin,vitaminE,andomega-3andomega-9fattyacids.Thishasstoppedmymigrainesalmostcompletely.

There are, unfortunately, a lot of foods and drinks—such as caffeine,chocolate, red wine, aged cheese, or too much of any kind of alcoholicbeverage—that may trigger migraines in some unlucky folks. Frequentculprits also include foods containing aspartame, MSG, sulfites, nitrates,andtyramine.Buttherearealsofoodsandbeveragesthatmayhelpalleviate

headacheormigrainesymptoms.

GINGER

I sometimes make a tea of mint, chamomile, sassafras (which onegrandmothercalled“headachebark”),somecinnamonsticks,cloves,andabitofvalerian.Iaddgratedfreshgingerwhenpreparingthetea.It’snotacure,butithelps,asdogingerbeer;awarmed,buckwheat-filledpackalongmybackandshoulders;andicepacksonmytemplesandforehead.(IwishImitrexanditsrelativesworkedforme,buttheydon’t.)

Studieshavedocumentedgingerasamigrainetreatmentfordecades.1Asmall study testing a combination product (GelStat Migraine) containinggingerandtheherbfeverfewindicatedthattheproductcouldhelpalleviatemigraines.2

GLUTEN-FREEDIET

Isufferedfrommigraineheadachesformorethantenyears.Isawseveralneurologists,butmyintenseheadachesforcedmetotakeearlyretirement.In fall2002, Iwent fromthreeheadachesaweek toalmostnonstop.ThatNovember,Ihadonlythreedayswithoutheadaches.ItookmigrainemedslikeFrova,Maxalt,andImitrex,butmostly I lay inbed inadarkroom.Iwasatmywit’send.Thenmyfamilydoctor suggestedagluten-freediet.Graduallymyheadachesbecame less frequent, andafter severalmonths Iwas98percentheadachefree.IfeelIwasgivenanewlife!Pleasesharemystorysootherscanbenefit.

One commonsense approach to headache relief is keeping a journal inwhich you record the food and drink you consume and times when youexperienceheadaches.Thiswillhelpyoudiscernanypatterns.

HOTANDSPICYSOUP

I read in your column that gumbo soup could help some people withmigraineheadaches.IstartedtocomedownwithamigrainewhileIwasonatripandorderedsomegumbosoup.Thediscomfortwasgonewithinafewhours,butIdon’twanttoeatouteverytimeIgetaheadache.Howdoyoumakegumbosoup?

Therearemanyrecipesforgreatgumbo,andyoucanselectanythattickleyour taste buds. Common ingredients include okra, onion, garlic, celery,green pepper, tomatoes, shrimp, and most important, chili peppers. Wethink the key ingredient against migraines is capsaicin (the “hot” in hotpeppers).Aboutayearago,onemanwrotetotellusabouthisexperiencewithgumboasatreatmentforoccasionalmigrainesthatdisturbhisvision.

Theygenerallyoccurinclustersoveraperiodofseveraldays:“Inmytown,thereisarestaurantthatservesverygood,veryspicyseafoodgumbo.Whilewaiting for my gumbo to be served one day, I noticed the onset of amigraine. My vision had deteriorated, so I could barely read just as mygumbowas served.As I sippedmy soup (it was both very hot and veryspicy), my vision cleared and the headache disappeared. There was norecurrence.”Wehaveheardfromotherswhohavealsohadgoodresultswithahotandspicy soup relieving migraine symptoms. While it may not work foreveryone, there issomeresearch tosupport thevalueofcapsaicinfor thiscondition.

Heartburn

Doctors have been writing about treating heartburn for most of recordedhistory.In400B.C.theGreekphysicianHippocratesnotedthateatingcheeseafter a meal could cause indigestion and discomfort, especially ifaccompaniedbywine.ApparentlyEuropeanswerealreadyenjoyingthathabitiftheydidn’tsufferreflux.Heartburn,alsoknownasgastroesophagealrefluxdisease (GERD),canhaveseriousconsequencesandshouldnotbe ignored.Drugs that doctors prescribe for the condition can be very difficult todiscontinue, however, and have potential side effects.We’re not convincedthattheyarealwaysbetterthanhomeremedies.

ALMONDS

IhavebeensufferingfromGERDforanumberofyears.ItookZantacforit.Butrecently,Iwenttoadinnerparty.Whendinnerwasover,thehostesspassedaroundadishofrawalmonds.Iaskedherwhattheywerefor,andshesaid,“Topreventheartburn.”Sheisapharmacist,soIaskedherhowitworks.Shedidn’treallyknow,butshesaidthatfourorfivealmondsafteramealwouldhelp.Igaveitatry,andeatingalmondsaftereverymealseemstobeworkingforme.Ihaven’ttakenZantacforthepasttwoweeks,andIhaven’tevenneededmuchantacid.Doyouknowwhythisworks?

Thisremedyisnewtous,butitsoundssafe,andalmondsareoneofourfavorite foods. Taken inmoderation, they can help lower bad cholesteroland control spikes inblood sugar.Another reader says that a bit of appleafteramealcanpreventheartburn:“IhavehadthisproblemforyearsandrecentlystoppedtakingomeprazolesoIcouldtrytodealwiththisailmentinabetterway.Inoticedonedaythatfoodthatusuallygavemeheartburnhadn’t and realized I had eaten an apple that day. Another time after Ialreadyhadheartburnsymptoms,Iatethreeorfourbitesofappleandthatstoppedit.”

THEPEOPLE’SPHARMACY

FavoriteFood#12:AlmondsMost health-conscious people have heard that walnuts are a heart-healthyfood.That’sinpartbecausethey’rerichinomega-3fattyacids.We’reallforwalnuts,butwearealsoquitefondofalmonds.Almondsusedtosufferfromabadreputation.Manypeoplebelieved

theywerefatteningandcontributedtohighserumcholesterollevels.Butalmonds have been rehabilitated. They are rich in healthfulmonounsaturated fatty acids and an asset in a cholesterol-loweringdietaryportfolio.Eating nuts can help lower bad LDL cholesterol and triglycerides.

Recentlyinvestigatorspooleddatafrom25experimentalstudiescarriedout in 7 countries.1 They found that almonds, hazelnuts, pecans,pistachios, walnuts, and even peanuts help improve blood lipids.Consumingabouttwoandahalfouncesdailyhelpedpeoplereducetotalcholesterolbyalmost11points.BadLDLcholesteroldroppedbyabout10points,andtriglycerides,ameasureoffatintheblood,wentdownby21points,ornearly10percent.Benefits were most apparent in people with elevated levels of

triglycerides or cholesterol.Themore nuts people ate, the stronger theeffect. Of course, nuts have calories, so overindulging can becounterproductive by leading toweight gain.Nevertheless, it’s a goodideatoeatnutsinsteadofsnacksordessert.Studies inCanadademonstrated thataddingalmonds toavegetarian

diet low in fat and rich in soluble fiber can lower total and bad LDLcholesterolasmuchastheprescriptiondruglovastatin.2Analmond-richdietalsocanmodestlylowerbloodpressure.3Eatingalmondscanevenhelp prevent a post-meal spike in blood sugar. One small but well-controlledstudyshowedthateatingone,two,orthreeouncesofalmondswithasliceofwhitebreadreducedtheriseinbloodsugarproducedbythewhitebreadalone.4

BAKINGSODA

IusedtohaveverybadheartburnuntilIrememberedahomeremedymymother used tomake. Imix a couple ounces ofwater, an ounce of applecidervinegar,andateaspoonofsugar.Afterthesugardissolves,Iaddhalfateaspoonofbakingsoda,stiritbriefly,anddrinkthemixtureimmediately.Thisoffersfastrelief.

Bakingsodaisatime-honoredapproachtoneutralizingstomachacidthat

hassplashedintotheesophagusandiscausingheartburn.

BANANA

I have suffered fromGERD for several years.One night,when dealingwith a bad session, I ate a banana. I haveno ideawhy; I certainlydidn’texpectanyresult.Within30minutes,Iwasabletogobacktosleep.Sincethen,wheneverabadepisodeofheartburnoccurs,Ieatoneortwobitesofbananaand theproblemgoesaway.Doctorshavenoexplanation for this.Nonetheless, it works every time, and it’s not a drug.We almost alwayshaveabananainthehouse.

We’renotsurprisedthatyouhavefoundbananashelpful.DoctorsinIndiahaveprescribedbananasorbananapowdertotreatindigestionandstomachupset from aspirin. According to a study published long ago, bananapowderrelievedindigestionin75percentofpatients.1

BROCCOLI

I’vebeenwonderingwhyyounevermentionthewondersofbroccolifordigestive upset. I have had heartburn for as long as I can remember.Broccoli, three or four times weekly, has been a godsend. Studies haveshownitevendestroysstomachbugs.Itookacourseofantibiotics,anditkilledhalfthestomachbugs,butIstillhadheartburn.Thebroccoligotridof it. Broccoli is not a drug and doesn’t work like one. (I tolerate drugspoorly.)Ittakestimeandpersistence,butitworksforme.InolongerhavetotakePrilosecfornighttimereflux.

Broccoliiscertainlyanutritiousvegetable,loadedwithvitaminsA,C,andK; folate; and fiber. As you note, it also contains a natural compound,sulforaphane,whichcandestroyHelicobacterpylori,atypeofbacteriathatlive in the stomach and causeulcers. In 2002 scientists at JohnsHopkinsUniversityreportedthatintest-tubestudies,sulforaphanefrombroccoliandbroccoli sproutswasable tokillHelicobacter inside cells, evenwhen thebacteriahaddevelopedresistancetoantibiotics.Subsequentresearchtestedbroccolisproutsonhumans.ThreeoutofninepeoplewhoatesproutstwiceadayforaweekwerecuredoftheirHelicobacterinfections.2

CHEWINGGUM

Isufferfromheartburnonadailybasis,sometimesevenwithmedication,soIwasveryinterestedtoreadthatchewinggummighthelp.Itakeover-the-counteracidsuppressorsanddecided tosubstitutesugarlessgumafterbreakfast and then after lunch. It has been very successful for me. If Ieliminatetheafter-dinnerheartburntablets,Irunahighriskofitoccurringinthemiddleofthenight.Myhusbanddoesnotwanttoraisetheheadof

the bed, so I take a tablet before dinner or bed to counter a nighttimeepisode. An additional benefit to chewing gum is that it can fight off asweettoothattack.

One study published almost two decades ago documented the power ofsalivatoeaseheartburn.3Suckingonahard lozengeorchewinggumwasshown to ease symptoms. Recent research demonstrates that chewingsugarless gum for 30minutes after ameal dramatically eases acid reflux.“Gum therapy”offers aneasy solution. It stimulates saliva,whichbuffersstomachacid,washing it out of the esophagus andback into the stomachwhereitbelongs.

FENNEL

Ihavebeenbotheredbyheartburnfor50years.Igotitaftereverymeal,butitwasimmediatelyrelievedwithTums.Iwascleaningouttheherbsinmykitchencupboardandfoundsomefennelseeds.Itookateaspoonafterdinner and didn’t get heartburn. Now I take fennel after everymeal andhaven’tneededTumsallmonth.Formethisisnothingshortofamiracle.MymomtoldmeIwasdiagnosedwithaspasmodicstomachasaninfant.Ilookedonlineandsawthatfennelisanantispasmodic.Maybethat’swhyithelps.

Fennelhastraditionallybeenusedtotreatindigestionandgas.Ithasbeenshowntocounteractsmoothmusclespasmsinthedigestivetract.

FAVORITERECIPES

DigestiveTea

ContributedbyDavidMathisandDebbieMathis

½teaspooncuminseeds½teaspooncorianderseeds½teaspoonfennelseeds

Bring8to12ouncesofwatertoaboil,addtheseeds,andremovefromheat.Steepforfiveminutes.Strainandenjoy.Youcanalsomixalargeramountofseeds inequalpartsandstore theminaglass jar.Useaboutoneandahalfteaspoonsofthemixpercup.

GINGER

YouansweredaletterfromapersonwhosedoctorprescribedPrevacidforheartburn.Thepatient said that she took thedrugeveryday, even thoughshe got heartburn only when she drank coffee. I think the physician

overprescribed. Drinking arabica coffee would be better than takingPrevacidas thecoffee is lower inacid.Personally, I find thathardgingercandy is very helpful in trying to deal with heartburn. You should tellpeopleabouthandlingheartburnwithoutprescriptiondrugs.

A surprising number of foods, beverages, and medicines can aggravateheartburn.Preventionisalwayspreferabletoprescriptionmedicines.Somepeoplemay findarabica coffee easier to tolerate, butothersgetheartburnfrom any kind of coffee, even decaf. Alcohol, fried foods, peppermint,chocolate, Valium (diazepam), and progesterone are just a few commontriggers.

I’vebeensufferingfromaconstantswollen,sorethroatduetoacidreflux.I’ve been on several different acid-suppressing drugs that workedtemporarilyandthenstoppedworking.TodayItriedgingercandytosoothemythroat,andit’sworking.Haveyouheardofgingerhelpingwithrefluxsymptoms?

Ginger has a long-standing reputation for soothing stomach disorders.Chinesesailorshaveuseditformotionsicknessforatleast1,000years,andmanyreadershavefoundithelpfulforupsetstomach.Severalyearsagoweheard froma readerwhodiscovered that a cinnamon-ginger drink helpedher heartburn: “My reflux became really bad when I stopped hormonereplacement therapy. Acid-suppressing drugs worked great, but after twomonths Icouldn’t stop themwithout theheartburn recurring.Onenight, Itook colleagues to dinner at a Korean restaurant. Someone orderedpersimmonpunch,aconcentratedcinnamon-gingerdrink,fordessert.Afewsipslater,Ifeltfantastic.Afteramonthofaddingthreetablespoonsofthecinnamon-ginger drink to my tea morning and night, my heartburn wasundercontrol.”

THEPEOPLE’SPHARMACY

FavoriteFood#13:BroccoliAlthoughtherewasatimewhenbroccoliwasnotoriouslyunwelcomeonmany American menus—including former President George H. W.Bush’s—it is nevertheless high on the list of favorite foods of manynutritionscientists.Broccoliisoneofourfavorites,too,whetherlightlysteamedorstir-friedwithabitofgarlicandasplashofsoysauce.Broccoli is not only delicious, but also rich in nutrients: vitaminsC

and K, carotenoids for building vitamin A, potassium, folic acid, andfiber. We also have heard from several readers that a diet featuringbroccolicanhelpreduceheartburn.Researchindicatesthatbenefitmight

beduetosulforaphane,acompoundthatcangetridofintestinalbacteriasuchasHelicobacterpylori.1Infectionswiththisbeastieareresponsibleformanystomachulcers.Research shows that sulforaphane is also active against a range of

other pathogens.2 The sulforaphane in broccoli (along with that incabbage,brusselssprouts,andothercruciferousvegetables)mayalsobebeneficialinloweringthepotentialfordevelopingcancerofthebowel.Researchongeneticallyengineeredmiceshowsthatsulforaphaneinthediet reduced the number and size of colon polyps that the micedeveloped.3Researchers working to find out exactly how broccoli-derived

sulforaphaneaccomplishesthishavediscoveredthattheremaybemorethanonepathway.4Inaddition,somebasicresearchsuggeststhatatastypairingofbroccoliwithgarliccanprovideaddedprotection.5Acoupleofcautions:Peoplewithhypothyroidismshouldbemoderate

in their consumption of cabbage-family vegetables, including broccoli,andshouldalsoapplythesamecautionineatingsoybeans.Someofthecommon compounds in these plants can interfere with the body’sutilizationofthyroidhormone.Theotherconcernisgas.Peoplevaryintheirsusceptibility,butthose

who are especially sensitive to the gas-producing potential of broccolishouldgoeasy.FennelteaorAngosturabittersmaycomeinhandyforthosewhodooverindulge.

FAVORITERECIPES

PersimmonPunch

2quartswater½cupthinlyslicedfreshginger3cinnamonsticks½cuphoney1ripepersimmon,washedandslicedthinly

Combine ginger and cinnamon in water and simmer for 30 minutes.Straintheliquidandstirinhoneyandpersimmon.Iffreshpersimmonisunavailable, one-half cup sliced dried persimmon may be substituted.Chill in the refrigerator overnight and serve cold. The punch can bestoredforuptoaweek.

GingerPickle

ContributedbyDavidMathisandDebbieMathis

PeeledfreshgingerrootFreshlimejuiceSalt

Slicethincrosssectionsofginger.Squeezealittlefreshlimejuiceoverthe slices, and lightly sprinkle them with salt. To kick-start gooddigestion, eat about two slices per person, permeal, about 15minutesbeforethemeal.

HOTPEPPERS

My brother-in-law is addicted to hot peppers. He loves salsa and putsTabascoon everything. I can’t figure out howhe avoids heartburn.Spicyfoods giveme indigestion, but hemaintains hot peppers are good for thestomach.Howcouldthatbe?

Your brother-in-law actually has some science on his side. Italianresearchers reported that red pepper powder in capsules reducedstomachache, fullness, andnauseaby60percent.4 In comparison, a look-alikeplaceboreducedthesesymptomsbyhalfasmuch.Scientiststhinkthe“magic” ingredient in hot peppers is capsaicin, which is used in arthritisremediesandothercreamstorelievepain.Studiesonratshaveshownthatcapsaicinreducesstomachdamagecausedbyaspirinoralcohol.

THEPEOPLE’SPHARMACY

FavoriteFood#14:HotPeppersSomepeople shun spicy foods.Evenahintofheathas themsweatingandgasping.Then thereare thepepperheads.Thehotter the food, thehappier they are. Faced with chicken curry, chili, eggs, gumbo, orspaghettiwithoutabottleofhotsaucehandy,theygetanxious.Forthem,suchfoodsdemandanextrakick.Many believe spicy foods are hard on the digestive tract. For years

physicians warned people with heartburn (also called dyspepsia) orulcers toavoid spicy foodsand to stayaway fromcitrus fruit, alcohol,fattyfoods,chocolate,coffee,andtea.Yet in the medical literature the evidence that spicy foods lead to

heartburnisthin.1Andweareheretotellyouthatspicecanbenice.In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, researchers in Italy gave

hot peppers to patientswith heartburn. Instead ofmaking themworse,the hot peppers reduced symptoms of indigestion by 60 percent,

compared to roughly 30 percent for patients given a placebo. Theresearchers concluded, “Although larger trials with standardizedmaterials are needed, capsaicin [the active compound in hot peppers]couldrepresentapotentialtherapyforfunctionaldyspepsia.”2In one study, physiologists found that capsaicin might even be

beneficial for the stomach lining.3 Other studies on rats and cats haveshown that capsaicin can actually inhibit stomach acid secretion.4Anotherstudydemonstratedthepowerofthehotstuffinhotpepperstoprotectthestomachagainstaspirin-induceddamage.5Further research has shown that capsaicin protects against stomach

damagecausedbythearthritisdrugindomethacinandbyalcohol.6Thereis also increasing evidence to suggest that capsaicinmay help preventplateletsfromstickingtogetherandcausingclots.7Even more exciting is the surprising amount of new research

suggesting that hot peppers and capsaicin may have significantanticancerpotential—inbothpreventingandtreatingthedisease.8

LOW-CARBDIET

Formanyyears I suffered fromheartburnand tookAlka-Seltzer fourorfivedaysaweekatbedtime.Ihadbeenadvisedtoavoidfattyfoods,soIateavery low-fatdietwith lotsof rice,pasta, andbeans. I atenothing fried.Then,lastyear,ImadeaNewYear’sresolutiontoloseweight,andItriedtheAtkins diet. Iworried that eating greasy food like sausage, eggs, andcheesewouldaggravatemyheartburn,butIdecidedtotrythedietanyway.(Icouldnolongerbuttonmyjeans.)Ilost25poundsin10weeksandhavekepttheweightofffor15months.Ialsolostmyheartburn,evenbeforetheweight came off. I no longer take any antacid. Have others reported thisbenefit?

We have heard from some people that the Atkins diet helps relievesymptomsofheartburnandacidreflux.Thereisevenapreliminarymedicalreport documenting five cases of patients whose acid reflux disappearedwhen they adopteda carbohydrate-restricteddiet.5Research also suggeststhatavery-low-carbohydratedietmayhelpeasesomesymptomsofirritablebowelsyndrome.6

IoncesufferedfromGERDandtookPrilosecdaily.Evenso,Ihadsevereheartburn, and food often got lodged inmy esophagus, even after it wassurgicallystretched.Ihadafewotherminorhealthproblemsandwasabitoverweight, so Iwas ready tomake some changes.A friend suggested alow-carbdiet.ThoughIexpectedlittle,Ioptedtotryit.Afterthreedays,I

realized that Ihadnoheartburn, so Idiscontinued thePrilosecwithout illeffects.I’dtriedtostopthedrugbefore,buttheheartburnhadgottenworse.Ashorttimelater,IfoundIcouldswallowwithoutchoking.Afteryearsofsuffering,mylifewasnormalonceagain.Ithasnowbeenayear,andIhavelost 45 pounds. I’m still fine. My message is simple: If you are havingheartburn,GERD,orswallowingdifficulties,consultyourdoctortofindoutaboutatemporarylow-carbdiet.Istronglybelieveitwillhelpmanypeople.

Thanks for sharing your story. In one study, people on a carbohydrate-restricteddiethadsignificantlylessheartburn.7

PAPAYA

Ifrequentlyhaveheartburnandfinallyfoundawonderfulremedy:papayapills.Every timeIhaveheartburn, Ieatoneof thepillsand theheartburndisappears.Mydoctorsaysit’sfinetousethem.Othersmightliketoknowaboutthisgreatwaytotreatheartburn.

Papaya is a tropical fruit that contains an enzyme (papain) thatmay beveryhelpfulfordigestion.Althoughpapaindoesnothingtosuppressacid,somepeoplereportthatpapayarelievesheartburn.Anyonewhoisallergicto latex should avoid papaya since there is cross-reactivity between latexandpapaya,whichcouldbeverydangerous.Papainmayalsoincreasetheblood-thinningeffectsofwarfarin(Coumadin).

VINEGAR

Ihavebeenonacid-blockingdrugsforyearstotreatheartburn.InitiallyIwas on Prilosec, then Prevacid, and now Nexium. I recently saw anaturopathicphysicianwhosaid that stomachacid isnecessary forproperdigestionandgoodhealth.HesaidIcouldbemorevulnerabletoinfectionsif I keep shutting down my stomach acid and recommended twotablespoonsofapplecidervinegar inaglassofwater instead.Thisseemstotallyillogicaltome.

Vinegarseemsanoddremedyforheartburn,butthisisn’tthefirsttimewehave heard of it. One reader reported that his doctor recommended atablespoonortwoofvinegarinwaterforheartburnrelief.Hetriedit,anditworked. Studies have suggested that constantly suppressing stomach acidmayincreasetheriskofpneumoniaorsevereinfectiousdiarrhea.8Acidinthestomachkillsbacteria.Withoutitgermsmaysurviveandcausetrouble.Nonetheless, some people require such medication to avoid scarring theesophagus.

I’mtryingtofindoutwhatcausesheartburnandhowbesttotreatit.Isitcausedbyeatingtoofast?Canheartburncauseheartattacks?Myboyfriend

hasdiscomfortnearlyeverynight.Aguyheworkswithhasrecommendedvinegar,butthatseemsridiculous.

Heartburnhappenswhenstomachacidsplashesbackintotheesophagus.The corrosive chemicals are irritating to the delicate lining of the gullet.Thoughheartburnmaysometimesfeellikeaheartattack,itdoesnotcauseone.Ifthereisanyquestionaboutthecauseofchestpain,itwarrantsavisitto the ER for checking out. Many foods and drugs can make heartburnworse. Eating rapidly or overeatingmay also aggravate it.We agree thatvinegardoesn’tsoundlikealogicalthingtotakeforheartburn,butwehaveheardfromseveralreaderswhofoundithelpful.

YELLOWMUSTARD

MywifeandIbothuseplainoldyellowmustardtocombatindigestionoracidreflux.Itworksverywellforus.IfweswallowaspoonfulofmustardbeforeanItalianmeal,weareokay.

Althoughmustardmayseemlikethelastthinganyonewouldwanttotakefor heartburn, we have heard from others that it can be helpful. Theturmeric that makes mustard yellow was traditionally used for digestiveupset in Chinese medicine. Mustard also contains vinegar, which somepeoplefindhelpfulagainstheartburn.

Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids afflict lots of people, especially older adults and pregnantwomen.Andas anyonewho’s ever suffered from themknows, they canbeverypainful.Wehavenowheardfromseveralreaderswhohavetoldusthateating a teaspoon or two of blackstrap molasses daily helps alleviate theirsuffering.Wehaveno ideawhy thismightbe,andwehaven’tbeenable tofindanyscientific research tosupport thisunconventionaluse formolasses.Butwearedelightedtohearthatithashelpedsomefolksgetrelief.

BLACKSTRAPMOLASSES

Recentlyareaderwroteyoutoutingblackstrapmolassesasatreatmentorcure for hemorrhoids. I am a hemorrhoid sufferer. I’ve used over-the-counter medications and the prescription ointment Proctosol-HC withoutmuch success. My problem seems to flare up when I eat certain foods,especially spicy dishes, and when I engage in vigorous exercise such asrunning or bike riding. I decided to try taking blackstrap molasses, oneteaspoontwiceaday.Remarkably,inlessthanamonthIhavefoundrelief!Theconditionhasimprovedatleast75percent,withonlyoccasionalminorirritation. The burning, itching, and even blood spotting have all butdisappeared.Believeme, Iwas skeptical about this remedy, so even aftersome initial relief, I purposely ate foods that normally cause a flare-up.Much to my surprise, there was no outbreak. Has anyone else reportedsuccess?

Yourtestimonialisthefirstwehavereceived.Wetoowouldbeinterestedtolearnofothers’experience.

Ireadyourcolumnaboutblackstrapmolassesforhemorrhoidsaboutthreeweeks ago. I too had huge, painful, bleeding hemorrhoids that weren’trespondingtoProctosol-HC,sitzbaths,orice.EventhoughIwassomewhatskeptical,Iboughtsomeblackstrapmolassesandstartedtakingateaspoontwice a day. Lo and behold, within a week the hemorrhoids and paindiminished,andwithintwoweeksmyhemorrhoidshadallbutdisappeared.Iamamazedandthrilled.Icontinuetotaketheblackstrapmolasseseveryday,butIhavereducedtheamounttooneteaspoonaday.Iwillstoptakingthemolasses,butIamnotsurewhen.Thankssomuchforwritingaboutit.Inever would have known about this treatment and would have ended upwithsurgery.Amiraculouscure,andthetimingwasphenomenal.

Wecontinue tobeastonished thatpeople findblackstrapmolasseseaseshemorrhoids.Itmightbecoincidence,butifitworks,it’salow-cost,low-

riskremedy.Thosewhomustavoidsugarshouldbecautioussincemolassesisaby-productofsugarmanufacturing.

Hiccups

Hiccups are almost always treated with home remedies. Doctors would behard-pressed to find drugs they would want to prescribe for singultus, themedical term for hiccups.Almost everyone knows about drinking from thewrongsideoftheglass(youhavetobendover)orswallowingaspoonfulofsugar. Listeners and readers have also come up with some more unusualhiccupremedies.

CHOCOLATECHIPS

Chocolate works for hiccups.My father was in the hospital for severalweekslastsummer,andmany,manytimeshadlengthyboutsofhiccups.Ashewas recovering from abdominal surgery, thiswas painful. His doctorstriedantispasmodicdrugs,buttheydidnothelp.Ireadaboutthisremedyinyourbook,boughthimabagofchocolatechips,andvoila,itworked!Heisa skeptic. When he mentions this cure to his doctors, they think he ismakingitup.Buthewasthrilled.

Wefirstheardabouteatingafewchocolatechipstostophiccupsfromaradioshowlistener.HerDanishgrandmotherhadalwaysusedthisremedy,andshecontinuedthetraditionwithherchildren.

DILLPICKLEJUICE

The best hiccup remedy I have found is dill pickle juice. One to twoouncesdoesthetrick.

Youarenotthefirstreadertosingthepraisesofdrinkingpicklejuiceasaway of getting rid of the hiccups. Perhaps the salt or the vinegar isresponsible.Pickle juice is high in sodium,however, sopeoplewithhighbloodpressureorheartfailureshouldstayawayfromthishomeremedy.

DRINKINGTHROUGHPAPER

When I was in college a fellow student gave me this silly remedy forhiccups. Place a paper napkin over the top of a glass ofwater.Have thehiccupertakesipsofwaterthroughthenapkin.Itworks!

Beforethedaysofpapernapkins,peopleusedacleanclothhandkerchiefinonevariantofthishiccupremedy.Wehavenoideawhythiswouldwork,butreadersassureusthatitdoes.

EARPULLING

IhaveahiccupcurethatI’veusedallmylifeandpassedontomykids:Havesomeonestandbehindyouandpullstraightuponyourearswhileyoutake sipsofwater. Ido thisbymyselfby takingamouthfulofwater andswallowingitinsmallamountswhilepullinguponmyears.Ikidyounot,itworkseverytime!

We have collected dozens of hiccup remedies over the years but havenever heard of this one. It is similar to a remedy in which the hiccuperdrinkswaterwhilesomeonestandsbehindhimandpushesonthelittleflapsatthefrontoftheears.

Here is a cure for hiccups. The personwith hiccups plugs up both earswithher fingersanddrinkswater.This is easiestwith thehelpofanotherpersonholdingtheears,butbyusingabottleofwateryoucanaccomplishthisbyyourself.

Ithelps tohavesomeonepresson theflap,called the tragus, thatcoverstheopeningofeachearcanal.

GREENOLIVES

Ihaveusedoneortwogreenolivesforhiccupsformanyyears,ashaveallmy familymembers. I don’tknowwhy itworks, it justdoes. It stops thehiccupsalmostimmediately.ThisremedyevenworkedonafriendwhohadbeenthroughsurgeryandhadsufferedforthreeweeksuntilIgavehimanolive.Haveyoueverrunacrossanyoneelsewhohasusedthis?I’mrathercuriousastowhyitworks.

Wehavebeencollectinghiccupremediesformorethan30years,butthisisthefirsttimewehaveheardofusinggreenolives.Mosthiccupremediesworkbystimulatingthephrenicnerveatthetopofthehardpalate.Chewingcrushed ice or swallowing a spoonful of granulated sugar or ice creamseems to interrupt the hiccup reflex. Perhaps the green olives work on asimilarprinciple.

Iamwritingaboutyourarticleonhiccups.RecentlywhenIhadabadcaseofthehiccups,Irememberedreadingabouteatingacouplegreenolives.Ihave to tellyou I ama firmbelievernow.ThehiccupsweregonealmostinstantlyafterIatethesecondolive.Whatawonderfulidea!

Weappreciateyour testimonial.Wedon’tknowif it is theolive itselforthevinegarinthebrinethatdoesthetrickbystimulatingthephrenicnerve,butwearealwayspleasedtolearnthatahiccupremedyhashelped.

IjustwantedyoutoknowIrecentlyreadyourcolumnaboutthepowerofgreenolivestofighthiccups.Myfive-year-oldgotthehiccupsthenextday.

Guess what? Just one green olive did the trick. Coincidence or science?Whoknows,butwe’requiteconvincedthatitworked!

We’redelightedtolearnthatthisunusualremedyworkedforyou.

PEANUTS

Myfavoritehiccupcure,peanutbutter,hascomeunderfireasachokinghazard. I found a substitute thatworks just aswell, butwithout the risk:peanuts!Ifyou’reallergictopeanutsIwouldn’tsuggestthis,butifyou’veusedthepeanutbutterhiccupcurebefore,thisworkstoo.Igaveuppeanutbutteraspartofmyweightlossplan,soIdon’tkeepanyinthehouse.Idosometimesliketosnackondry-roasted,unsaltedpeanuts.Igotthehiccupsone night, and I ate a handful of peanuts and drank a little water. Myhiccupsweregone!Afriendhadthesameresult,soIexpectthiswillhelpothers.

Swallowingaspoonfulofdrysugarandsuckingonasectionoflemonaretime-honoredhiccupcures.Thanksforanewone.

PINEAPPLEJUICE

I amsurprised that Ihavenever seenpineapple juicementioned inyourcolumnasacureforhiccups.Itworkswithonesip!

Thanksformentioningit.We’veheardthatpineapplejuicecaneasejointpain,butyouarethefirsttoreportthatitcureshiccups.

VINEGAR

I have been using vinegar as a remedy for hiccups for over 20 years. Iknowofnoinstancewhenateaspoonofvinegardidnoteliminateeventhemoststubborncase.UsuallyIusewhitevinegar,butIhaveusedbalsamicand rice vinegarwith success. I believe this answers thequestionofwhygreenolivescurehiccups.Itisnottheolivebutthevinegarinthebrine!

Thanksforyourremedyandtheanswertoapuzzle.

HighBloodPressure

Elevatedbloodpressure increases theriskfor twomajorkillers—strokeandheart attack.High blood pressure also plays a role in dementia and kidneydamage.That’swhydoctorsemphasizekeepingbloodpressureundercontrol.Bloodpressurevariesthroughouttheday,soitmakessensetomeasureitathomefromtimetotimeratherthanrelyingonasinglemeasurementortwoatthe doctor’s office. Exercise raises blood pressure, but afterward pressuregenerally dropsnoticeably.Toget a good reading at home,make sure yourarm is resting at about the same level as your heart.Use a cuff that is the

correctsizeforyourarm.Don’ttalkwhileyouaretakingyourbloodpressure,andwritethenumberdowninalog.Keepingrecordswillhelpyouandyourdoctorfigureouthowbesttohandleyourbloodpressure.

BEETJUICE

Is thereanything in thewayofvitaminsorherbs that apersoncan takeinstead of a prescription drug for high blood pressure? I’ve heard aboutgarlic,butIdon’tlikeitmuch.Isthereanythingelse?

Thenewestcandidatefornaturalbloodpressurecontrolisbeetjuice.Beetsarehighindietarynitrateandincreasenitricoxideinthebody.Nitricoxidehelpsbloodvessels relax (thushelping to lowerbloodpressure),hasanti-inflammatoryproperties,anddiscouragesbloodclotformation.Adietrichin vegetables and dark chocolate can also lower blood pressure.Pomegranate and grape juice, magnesium supplements, and breathingexercisesalsocanbebeneficial.

THEPEOPLE’SPHARMACY

FavoriteFood#15:BeetsDistinctlycolorful—theexpression“beetred”comestomind—thisold-fashioned root vegetable was adopted by eastern Europeans long ago.Redbeets(theyalsocomeingold)makeadeliciousadditiontosalads,and there’s nothing like borscht, served hot in winter or cold with adollopofsourcreaminsummer.(Anddon’tworryifyoururineorstoolturnsred;itissimplyanaturalconsequenceofeatingbeets.)Beets made headlines back in 2008, when British investigators

announcedthefindingsofastudyonbeetjuiceandbloodpressure.Theyhadrandomlyassignedvolunteerstodrinkeithertwocupsofbeetjuiceortwocupsofwater.Bloodpressurewascarefullymonitoredbeforeandupto24hoursafterthesubjectsdrankthebeetjuice.In the British study, beet juice lowered blood pressure readings by

around ten points, and the effect lasted for nearly a day.1This benefitcompareswelltomanyantihypertensivedrugs.Thisisgoodnewsforpeoplewhotakebloodpressuremedicine,since

arecentarticlehasraisedquestionsaboutthesafetyofseveralofthem.Thearticlenoted thatAtacand,Diovan,andMicardismaybe linked to“amodestly increased riskofnewcanceroccurrence.”2Another recentstudysuggeststhatabout8.5ouncesofbeetjuicecansignificantlylowersystolicbloodpressure.3Scientists have hypothesized that the nitrate content of beets is

responsibleforthiseffect.(Spinachandotherdark,leafygreensarealso

naturally rich in nitrate.) Nitrate in the diet leads to nitric oxideformation in the tissues. That, in turn, helps blood vessels relax anddiscouragesbloodclotformation.Researchonmicesuggeststhatnitrate-containingfoodscanreducethe

inflammationtriggeredbyhighbloodlevelsofcholesterol.4And,infact,some of our readers have indeed reported successfully lowering theirLDLcholesterolbyaddingbeetstotheirdiet.

CHOCOLATE

IstartedeatingHershey’sdarkchocolatewhenitwasonsaleafewweeksago. I enjoy about five of the little squares twice a day.My systolic anddiastolicbloodpressurenumberswentdownabout15or20pointseach.

Chocolatewillneverbeasubstituteforbloodpressuremedicine,butsomedatasupportyourexperience.Studieshavedemonstratedmodestbenefitsofcocoa and dark chocolate in lowering blood pressure.1 Your reaction tochocolateisgreaterthanaverage.Theamountusedinstudiesrangesfromalittle less than 10 grams (one small Ghirardelli square) to 100 grams (aRitter Sport bar). Keep in mind that chocolate is high in calories, andweightgaincandrivebloodpressureup.

DASHDIET

Manyyearsago,Ireadthatpeopleshouldeatbrownricetoreducebloodpressure. More recently I read that the rice diet works, but modernmedicinesarebetterfortreatinghighbloodpressure.Haveyoueverheardofthisdietregimen?

The rice diet (mostly brown rice, vegetables, and fruit; no salt) wasoriginallydevelopedtocontrolbloodpressure,beforemanymedicineswereavailable.Sincethen,peoplehavealsouseditsuccessfullyforweightloss.Researchshowsthatadietrichinvegetablesandverylowinsodium(theDASH diet) can help control blood pressure almost as well as somemedications.DASH stands forDietaryApproaches toStopHypertension.In one study, women who followed this diet were less prone to heartdisease.2 Other natural approaches for controlling blood pressure includeweight loss, stressmanagement,deepbreathing, tea,Concordgrape juice,pomegranate juice, dark chocolate, and minerals such as potassium andmagnesium

THEPEOPLE’SPHARMACY

FavoriteFood#16:Chocolate

Oneofourfavoritefoodsischocolate,thedarkerthebetter.Asurprisingamount of research shows that the active ingredients in chocolate andcocoa have exciting biological benefits. Cocoa flavonoids, as thesecompounds are called, reduce insulin resistance and improve insulinsensitivity.1Theseareimportant issuesforpeoplewithtype2diabetes,becausetheirbodiesoftenmakenormalorevenhighamountsofinsulin,but their cells become resistant to this hormone. Increasing insulinsensitivitycanhelpimprovebloodsugarcontrol.Eating dark chocolate may also reduce inflammation, now being

blamed for everything from diabetes and heart disease to cancer andAlzheimer’s.Onemarker of inflammation isC-reactiveprotein (CRP).Scientists have found that eating less than an ounce of dark chocolateevery three days significantly lowered CRP levels.2 Eating a lot morethanthisamountwascounterproductive.Epidemiologists in China analyzed eight studies to see if cocoa

polyphenols in dark chocolate can lower cholesterol.3 They found thatthese compounds lower bad LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol byapproximatelysixpoints.Butthebenefitwasseenonlyinpeopleatriskofheartdisease.Researchsuggeststhatcocoaflavonoidscanalsolowerblood pressure, improve flexibility of blood vessels, and keep bloodplatelets from sticking together to form blood clots.4 They may evenreduce the chance of a heart attack, which is, after all, why we areconcerned about blood clots or blood pressure. A Swedish studyfollowedmorethanathousandheartattacksurvivorsforeightyears.Apersonwhohashadoneheartattackisatincreasedriskforasecondone.Theinvestigatorsfoundastrikingresult:Comparedtopeoplewhoneveratechocolate,thosewhoindulgedtwiceaweekormorewereaboutthreetimes less likely tohaveasecondheartattack.5 Ifapriceyprescriptiondrugproducedsuchdramaticresults,physicianswouldbeprescribingitlikecandy!

EXERCISE

I am a 63-year-old female. A fewmonths ago, I finally yielded to mydoctor’s pressure and went on a blood pressure medication, against mybetter judgment.Themedication ismetoprolol succinate. Ifyoucould tellmesomeofitssideeffects,Iwouldbegrateful.Iamnotfeelingwell,andIamguessingthisnewmedistheculprit.

Metoprolol,likeotherbeta-blockingbloodpressuremedicines,maycausefatigue,dizziness,anddiarrhea.Somepeopledevelopan itchyrash,whileothersmayfind themselvesshortofbreath. Itslowsheart rate,sometimes

by quite a lot. Many cardiologists are reassessing beta-blockers. Currentstudiesshowthatsuchdrugsarerarelyconsideredfirst linetreatmentsforhypertension.3Bloodpressurecontrolisveryimportant,sodon’tstopyourmedicationonyourown. (It is dangerous to stopabeta-blocker suddenly.)Discussyoursymptoms with your doctor and ask about other possible treatments.Perhapsthisreader’sexperiencewillhelpyou:“IwastoldIneedtobeonbloodpressuremeds.Idon’tliketotakepills,soItriedbreathingexercisesandgoingtothegym.Ididn’thavehighbloodpressureatmylastvisit.”

GARLIC

AnolddoctortoldmyhusbandthatKyolicgarliccapsulesmightlowerhisbloodpressure.Istartedtakingthemmyself,morningandnight.Mybloodpressure isnowlower thannormalmostof the time.Mydoctorhas takenmeofftheatenololandlisinoprilIusedtotake.

You did this experiment properly, with a doctor’s supervision. Peopleshouldnotstopbloodpressuremedicationon theirown.Studiesongarlicand blood pressure have had mixed results. A recent review and meta-analysis fromAustraliaconcludes thatgarlicworksbetter thanplacebo inloweringbloodpressure.4ArecentRussianstudyfoundthatatimed-releasegarlicformulationworkedbetterthanimmediate-releasestandardizedgarliccapsules.5

GRAPESEEDEXTRACT

I’vebeenhearingaboutgrapeseedextractasanantioxidant.Whatdoyouknowaboutit?

Grapes and their seeds are rich in antioxidant compounds such asflavonoids (chemical compounds found in many fruits, vegetables, teas,wines,nuts,seeds,androots)andproanthocyanidins(agroupofchemicalsfound in red wine). Researchers at the University of California, Davis,reportedthatgrapeseedextractloweredbloodpressureamongpeoplewithprehypertension.6 Systolic pressure (the top number in a blood pressurereading)camedownalmost12points,anddiastolicpressure(thebottomorsecondnumber)camedownroughly8points.

GREENANDOOLONGTEA

Iliketodrinkaboutfourcupsofteainthemorning.Ihavehypertension,andIamtakingatenololforthis.Mybloodsugarisalsoalittlehigh.Willdrinkingteawithcaffeineinitaffectmybloodpressureandbloodsugar?

Acupofblackteahasabout40or50milligramsofcaffeine,dependingon

howlongitsteeps.Soinyourfourcupsyouaregettingroughly160to200milligramsofcaffeine,roughlyasmuchasyou’dgetintwocupsofcoffee.Researchsuggests thatconsuminggreenoroolongtea(whichcontainlesscaffeinethanblacktea)mayhelppreventhighbloodpressure.7Ingeneral,however,caffeinecanraisebloodpressuresomewhat,especiallyforpeoplewhoarealsounderstress.Anotherstudyshowedthatcaffeineonanemptystomachdoesnothaveanimpactonbloodsugar,butiftakenwithameal,caffeinecanraisebloodsugarandinsulinlevelsintype2diabetics.8Maybeyoushouldmakesureyoudrinkyourteamid-morningwithoutasnack.

SALT

Mybloodpressureisslightlyelevated.Itakeawaterpilltocontrolit,andmydoctorsuggestedthatIrestrictsalt.Myadult-edscienceteacherclaimsthat only half the adult population is sensitive to salt, whichmakes theirbloodpressurerise.Iwentonanextremelysalt-restricteddietforamonthand had no change inmy blood pressure.My doctor now says I can eatnormally.Pleasetellpeoplethattheyshouldrunthisexperimentthemselvesbefore spending the rest of their lives hunting for low-salt foods. Life iscomplicatedonarestricteddiet,anditwouldbeashametodothisifitisn’tneeded.

Thelinkbetweensalt(sodiumchloride)andhighbloodpressurehasbeencontroversial for decades. Studies suggest that cutting back on salt canlower blood pressure modestly. A carefully run, long-term trial indicatedthat substantial sodium reduction lowersbloodpressureonly twoor threepoints.9 Some people are especially salt sensitive and benefit from asodium-restricted diet.Others, like you, don’t see any improvement. In acomprehensivestudy,sodiumrestrictionledtoa25percentdeclineinheartattacks and strokes.10 Though cutting back on salt may not make a bigdifference for everyone, it clearly can help some people controlcardiovasculardisease.

STEVIASWEETENER

InyourbookBestChoicesfromthePeople’sPharmacy,yousaidthattheno-calorie sweetener Stevia rebaudiana was not approved for use in theUnited States. I have some great news for you! I found it in a nonsugarsweetener in the supermarket under the brand name of OnlySweet. It ismadebySunwin, and theirwebsite iswww.onlysweet.com. I am a type 2diabeticwithhighbloodpressure.Thissweetenernotonlylowersmybloodsugar,butalsohelpsreducemybloodpressure.Iamenthusiastic!

Thanks for the alert. The FDA has approved a stevia extract, but the

product that the FDA approved, rebaudioside A, does not seem to lowerbloodsugarorbloodpressureinhealthyadults.11Adifferentsteviaextract,stevioside, brought both blood pressure and blood sugar under control inrats. We were unable to determine the extract found in the OnlySweetproductyouareusing.

TURMERIC

Ilearnedthatturmericcouldhelpreducemyhighbloodpressure.Itwentfrom160/80to140/60afteranIndianmeal.Thenmynutritionistdaughteradvisedme touseone-half teaspoon turmericdaily. I add it to a cloveofgarlicandblendwithfruitsinasoyshake.Ihavelostweight,andmybloodpressurerunsabout109to120/65.

Whataninterestingdiscovery.Wedon’tthinkdoctorswillprescribecurry,but research on rodents suggests that curcumin, the active ingredient inturmeric,canlowerbloodpressure.12Turmericistheyellowspiceusedincurryandyellowmustard.Althoughyours is the first reportonusing thisspiceforhypertension,readershavefoundanumberofotherusesforit.Wehave heard stories about benefits for arthritis, bursitis, diabetes, gout, legcramps,andpsoriasis.Somemaybeallergictoturmeric.Further,thisherbmay interact with the blood thinner warfarin (Coumadin) and causedangerousbleeding.

HighCholesterolandTriglycerides

High cholesterol is a risk factor for heart disease, though not the onlyimportant one. High triglycerides—blood fats that function somewhatindependently of cholesterol—are also harbingers of heart disease. Severalmedicationslowercholesteroleffectively.Someevenreducetheriskofheartattack or stroke. But many cholesterol-lowering drugs have side effects.Statin-type cholesterol-lowering medicines like atorvastatin (Lipitor) orsimvastatin (Zocor) may cause muscle pain, weakness, or even a life-threateningmuscle breakdown called rhabdomyolysis, which also threatensthekidneys.Drugsthatarenotstatins,suchasZetia(includedwithastatininVytorin),mayalsocausemusclepain.Fewcholesterol-loweringdrugsreducetriglycerides.Consequently,manypeopleareeagertolearnofhomeremediestotryforloweringhightriglyceridesandcholesterollevels.

CERTOANDGRAPEJUICE

Afterayear,Igotmycholesteroldownfromover260tobelow220.Thensore joints ledmetoglucosamineandchondroitin.Nowmycholesterol isover240.Ithinkthereisaconnection.MydoctorrecommendedCertoandgrapejuicetolowercholesterolandpossiblyeasearthritispain.Howmuch

doIneed,andisthereanythingelsenaturalIcouldtry?

Research has not confirmed that glucosamine and chondroitin raisecholesterol,butotherreadershavereportedasimilarproblem.Youmaybeinterested to note that grape juice has been shown to lower cholesterol.Solublefiberintheformofliquidplantpectin(Certo)mayhaveasimilarbenefit.Manyreaderstellusthecombinationalsohelpseasearthritispain.OnerecipeinvolvesaddingtwoteaspoonsofCertotothreeouncesofgrapejuice and drinking it three times daily. Fish oil also can help lowertriglycerides and ease joint pain, while psyllium can reduce cholesterollevels.

CINNAMON

Taking lovastatin has controlled my total cholesterol and bad (LDL)cholesterol.Butmytriglycerideswerealwaysveryhigh.Mydoctorhadnosuggestions,soIdecidedtotrycinnamon.AfterIstartedtakingcinnamon,mytriglycerideswentfrom350allthewaydownto150infourmonths.Itookone-fourthtoone-halfteaspoondailywithaglassofwater.

Thanksforsharingyourextraordinaryresults.Wehaveheardfromotherreaders who have managed to lower cholesterol and blood sugar with adaily dose of cinnamon. Some people report that this spice causesheartburn.Wewouldencourageanyonewhoconsiderscinnamontotreatitasadrugandtocheckwithaphysicianformonitoringofliverenzymes.

FISHOIL

I was saddened to read about people suffering from the side effects ofcholesterol-lowering statin drugs. In less than a year, I have loweredmycholesterol 30 points by doing nothing other than taking a tablespoon ofcod-liveroiladay.Itnotonly lowersbadcholesterolbutalsoraisesgood(HDL) cholesterol. I wishmore people knew about this very simple andsafe remedy.One friend said it tastes bad, but that’s not true if you takeCarlsonorNordicNaturals.

Thebenefitsoffishoilarewellestablished.Therearemorethan10,000articles on fish oil in themedical literature.Many refer to its abilities tolower triglyceridesand to raiseHDLcholesterol.There is evenapurifiedfish oil available as the prescription drug Lovaza. Fish oil also has anti-inflammatoryproperties.

OATMEALANDBARLEY

Oatmeal and barley have loweredmy cholesterol significantly. How dotheywork?

Oatmeal and barley are rich sources of soluble fiber. They bind tocholesterolinthedigestivetractandkeepitfrombeingabsorbed.

THEPEOPLE’SPHARMACY

FavoriteFood#17:FishandFishOilFishiswidelyconsideredoneofthemostvaluablefoodsyoucaneat.Injustoneweek in2002, threeof the country’smostprestigiousmedicaljournalspublished separate studiesdemonstrating the sameconclusion:Peoplewhoeatmorefishortakefishoilarelesslikelytodieofaheartattack.1Fishoilmayhelp stabilize theelectrical activityofheart cells,thereby lowering the risk of potentially life-threatening heart rhythmdisturbances.Itmayworkbetterasapreventive.Arecentstudyshoweddaily consumption of margarine containing almost 500 milligrams ofelcosapentaenoicacid,orEPA,anddocosahexaneoiacid,orDHA—thefattyacidsinfishoil—didnotpreventsecondheartattacks.2Accordingto theAmericanHeartAssociation, two servingsof oily fishperweekprovideroughly400to500milligramsofomega-3fattyacidsperday.Researchalsosuggeststhatincludingfishinthedietseemstoprotect

thebrainfromstrokes.3Sotheoldideathatfishisbrainfoodappearstobe true. A study of nearly 15,000 elders in China, Cuba, DominicanRepublic, India, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela found populations withhigherfishintakehadlowerratesofdementia.Theauthorsconcludethattheepidemiologicalfindings inmanylow-andmiddle-incomecountriesareconsistentwiththe“neuroprotectiveaction”ofomega-3fattyacids.4Peoplewhoeatmore fishare lesssusceptible toage-relatedmacular

degeneration,aleadingcauseofblindness.Collectingdietarydatafromsome 2,500 people for years in the Blue Mountains Eye Study,Australianinvestigatorsfoundoneservingoffisheachweekreducedtherisk of developing early age-relatedmacular degeneration by about 31percent.5Our readers also tout fish oil for easingmorning stiffness, arthritis,

andachesandpains.Onereaderwrote,“Myhusbandisunderadoctor’scareforarthritis.Withinadayofstartingfishoil,swellingbegantogodown in his fingers.He still takes prescribedmedication, but in lowerdoses.Thisreliefissomuchbetter.”

PLANTSTANOLESTERS

Iwassurprisedthatyoudidn’tincludeareferencetoplantstanolestersinyour response toaquestionabout loweringcholesterol.Sixyearsagomy

husband’scholesterolwasat385.Hedidn’twanttotakestatinsbecauseofinteractionswithotherhealthproblems.HiscardiologistrecommendedthatheuseatleastonetablespoonofBenecolateachmealandmakesomeotherdietarychanges.Thisbroughthischolesteroldownto185,andthebalanceofHDLversusLDLwasrestoredtoahealthierlevel.

TheFDAhasconcludedthatstanolesterscanlowercholesterolandreducetheriskofheartdisease.SpreadssuchasBenecol,Promiseactiv,andTakeControl contain these plant products.We are delighted to learn that yourhusband’s dietary changes had such a profound impact on his cholesterollevels.

REDYEASTRICE

Iheardonthenewsthatredyeastricecanhelplowercholesterol,butI’dliketohearsomeprosandcons.Aretheredangeroussideeffects?Someonetoldmeredyeastricecancauseliverproblems.Isthattrue?

For centuries, peoplehaveused redyeast rice in foodas apreservative,flavoring,andcoloringagent.ItmakesPekingduckred,forexample,andisalso used in red rice vinegar. It has also been used in traditionalChinesemedicine for indigestion and to promoteblood circulation.Redyeast ricecan also lower cholesterol. It contains compounds related to statin-typecholesterol-loweringdrugssuchaslovastatin(Mevacor).ArecentstudyinChinashowsthatredyeastricecannearlyhalvetheriskofasecondheartattack.1Oneofourreadersreportedsuccesswithredyeastrice:“ForyearsIbalked at taking a statin, but my cholesterol rose in spite of attempts tocontrol itwith diet. I tried Pravachol but did not like theway I felt.Mycardiologistsuggestedredyeast rice.WithinsixweeksmyLDLlevelhaddroppedfrom187to123.”Somepeopleexperiencesideeffects,includingmuscle pain andweakness and liver damage, so anyone taking red yeastriceshouldbeundermedicalcareandhaveregularliverenzymetests.

THEPEOPLE’SPHARMACY

FavoriteFood#18:GrapeJuiceThebuzzaboutthebenefitsofredwineleadsmanytoassumethatgrapejuiceisjustawimpyalternativeforteetotalers.Nothingcouldbefurtherfromthetruth.Researchsuggeststhatpurplegrapejuicehassomeprettypowerfulproperties.AreviewoftheliteraturebyinvestigatorsatBostonUniversityreveals

that compounds in grapes and grape juice can lower blood pressure,reduceriskofbloodclotsbyinhibitingtheclumpingofbloodplatelets,

block oxidation of bad LDL cholesterol, improve flexibility of bloodvessels,andreduceinflammation.1Inadouble-blind,placebo-controlledtrialofKoreanmenwithhighbloodpressure,realConcordgrapejuicelowered blood pressure significantly more than fake juice.2 Evidencealsosuggeststhatgrapesandgrapejuicecanenhanceimmunefunction.3Oneoftheprotectiveconstituentsingrapesisresveratrol.Plantsmake

resveratrol in part to ward off bacterial and fungal infection, and thiscompoundisespeciallyabundantintheskinofredgrapes.Researchonanimals suggests that resveratrolmay have anticancer effects andmayreduce the formation of plaque within the brain that may lead toAlzheimer’sdisease.A leading nutritional expert, neuroscientist James Joseph, recently

published a summary of his research in which he concluded that “agreaterintakeofhigh-antioxidantfoodssuchasberries,Concordgrapes,andwalnutsmayincrease‘healthspan’andenhancecognitiveandmotorfunctioninaging.”4Grapesalsoseemtoworkforcoughsandarthritis.Overtheyearswe

haveheardfromhundredsofreaderswhosingthepraisesofthisgrapejuice“cocktail”forarthritis:Combineonepartapplecidervinegarwiththreepartsapplejuiceandfivepartsgrapejuice,anddrinkfourouncesdaily.Alternatively, you can add two teaspoonsofCerto (liquidpectinusedbyhomecannerstomakejamsandjelliesthicken)tothreeouncesof purple grape juice, and drink this arthritis-fighting concoction threetimesdaily.

SMOOTHIE

My 15-year-old son had lowHDL and a poor cholesterol profile at hischeckup. (Total cholesterol was 146—HDL 29 and LDL 96). For tenmonths I have had him drink my version of the cholesterol-loweringsmoothieIfoundonyourwebsite.Hehadthesmoothiefourorfivedaysaweek and loved it. I use frozen unsweetened strawberries, orange juice,groundflaxseed,andoatbran.InJuneIaskedthepediatricianifhewouldorderbloodworksoIcouldseeif the smoothie had helped raise my son’s HDL and improved his otherbloodwork.Itdid.NowhisHDLis34,andhistotalcholesterolis138,withLDLof92.ThatmakestheratioofLDLtoHDLcholesterolmuchbetter—underthree.ItwouldbegreattogethisHDLevenhigher.Doyouhaveanyideas?

A surprising range of dietary choices can help improve cholesterolprofiles,frombeetstocinnamontofishoiltoalow-carbdiet.Theoriginal

smoothie recipeyou foundonourwebsite is:Putorange juice (8ounces)and a diced banana or peach into a 16-ounce jar, cap the jar tightly, andshake. Add one-third cup raw rolled oats and one tablespoon groundflaxseedmeal.Caponceagain,shake,andletsitfor15or20minutes.Thesmoothiecanbefrozenandwillstaycoolforhoursaftercomingoutofthefreezer.

VINEGAR

Yourcolumnoftencovershigh-cholesterolissues.Whydon’tyoumentionthevalueofaddingadailydoseoforganicapplecidervinegarasagreatway of reducing cholesterol? I add one to two teaspoons tomymorningcranberryandorangejuice,andmycholesterolhascomedownfrom184to132. It’s tasty and a whole lot cheaper and safer than the medicines thepharmaceuticalindustrypushesonus.

Applecidervinegar isa traditional remedyoftensuggested for loweringcholesterol.AstudyinJapanhasshownthataceticacid(vinegar)addedtothedietcan lowercholesteroland triglycerides in rats.2Wehavenotseenclinicaltrialsontheeffectsofvinegarinhumans,however.

WALNUTS

I have read that nuts are healthy even though they are high in fat.MyhusbandandIarethinkingofaddingwalnutstoourdiet.Ifwedoaddthem,howmanyshouldweeat?Ipresentlyeatsevenalmondsaday.Is that toomany?

Walnutscontainhealthfulfat,primarilyomega-3polyunsaturatedfat.TheFDA now allows walnut packaging to carry a health claim based onresearchshowingthatoneandhalfouncesofwalnutsdaily(aboutone-thirdcup) can help lower LDL cholesterol. Your overall diet has to be low incholesterolandsaturated fat,however.Youmightwant toalternateeatingwalnuts one day and almonds the next. Almonds are rich inmonounsaturatedfatlikethatfoundinoliveoil.Theyarealsoagoodsourceof fiber, vitamin E, and protein. Seven almonds, less than an ounce (23almonds), is the daily dose that has been shown to help lower bad LDLcholesterolbyaboutfourpercent.

HotFlashes

Hotflashesmaybeoneofthemostuncomfortableaspectsofmenopause.Itisembarrassingtosuddenlybedrenchedinsweatduringtheday.Wakingupinthemiddle of the night frequently interferes with the ability to get a goodnight’ssleep.Thestandardmedicalprescriptionsforthisproblemareestrogen(Estrace,Premarin,Prempro)andantidepressants likefluoxetine(Prozac)or

venlafaxine (Effexor).Although suchdrugs easehot flasheswhileyou takethem,thehotflashesmayrecurwhenyoudiscontinuethemedications.Thesedrugsallhavesideeffectsthatmaybetroubling.Forexample,estrogenandprogestin have been linked to breast cancer. That’s why many women areinterestedinhomeremedies.

THEPEOPLE’SPHARMACY

FavoriteFood#19:WalnutsWe are nuts about nuts. And while nearly all nuts offer great healthbenefitsbecauseoftheirmonounsaturatedfattyacids,walnutsareking.Walnuts not only have the same fatty acids as other nuts but also

contain omega-3 fatty acids, the magic ingredients in fish oil. Inmoderation,walnutscandowondersfortheheart.(Rememberthatlikeallothernuts,they’recalorieladen,sorestraintiskey.)Aboutone-thirdcup(1.5ounces)ofwalnutseatendailycanhelpcut

LDL cholesterol and prevent heart disease. In fact, the research is soconvincing that theU.S. Food andDrugAdministration allowswalnutpackagers to flauntheart-healthyadvantages.Theomega-3s inwalnutsmay even stabilize heart rhythms.ThePhysiciansHealthStudy,whichfollowed22,000maledoctorsfornearly20years,showedthatsubjectswhoatenutswereconsiderablylesslikelytodropdeadofasuddenheartattack.1Inadditiontobenefitingtheheart,walnutsalsoappeartocuttheriskofdevelopingtype2diabetes.InamajorstudypublishedbynutritionalexpertWalterWillettandhis

colleagues, women who ate about five ounces of walnuts each weekreduced their chances of getting type 2 diabetes by an impressive 27percent.2Readerstellusthatwalnutshaveevenhelpedbringbacktheirnatural

hair color: “Myhusband and I have started eatingmoreomega-3 fattyacids.Wenowtakeaspoonfuloffreshlygroundflaxseeddaily.Wealsoeat salmon and English walnuts several times a week to improve ourhealth.Asaresultofthesechanges,myhairisregainingitsoriginalcolor.I

wasaredhead,butithadturnedblond.Itisnowbecomingredagain.Iam85.Myhusbandhadblackhair,buthehasbeengettinggray.Hishairisnowshowingmoreblack.Heis86.”We cannot promise that walnuts will restore hair color or act as a

fountainof youth.But adding anounceor soofwalnuts toyourdailydietwillcertainlybegoodforyouandmayactasapreventiveforheartdiseaseandtype2diabetes.

BLACKCOHOSHANDST.JOHN’SWORT

I know the experts say black cohosh is ineffective for hot flashes, butpersonally I wouldn’t be without it! I am not one to take supplementswithoutgoodreason,soperiodicallyIstoptakingthemtoseeiftheyreallymake a difference.Within 24 hours of ceasing black cohosh, sizzling hotflashes are backwith a vengeance!As soon as I restart the capsules, theproblemceases.Iwonderifanyoftheexpertshaveexperiencedhotflashesthemselves.Maybethiswouldaffecttheiroutlook.

One study showed that a standardized black cohosh extract offered nobenefit over a placebo for symptoms of menopause.1 Other randomizedstudiessupportyourobservationthatblackcohoshishelpfultorelievehotflashes.

IhavebeentakingSt.John’swortandblackcohoshtorelievesymptomsof hot flashes and night sweats associated with menopause. Thiscombinationworks reallywell.Are there anynegative effects that shouldconcernme?

The combination of St. John’s wort and black cohosh is often used inEuropetotreatmenopausalsymptoms.Thereare,however,afewpotentialpitfalls. Black cohosh has been linked to rare cases of elevated liverenzymes.Youshouldaskyourdoctortomonitoryours.St.John’swortcaninteractwithmanymedications.Donot take itwithanydrugsunlessyouverifywithyourpharmacistthatthereisnointeraction.Moredisconcertingisthepossibilityofeyedamage.St.John’swortcontainshypericin.Whenthiscompoundisexposedtovisible light itbecomesactivatedandcreatesdangerous chemicals called free radicals. Researchers at FordhamUniversityhave found that hypericin canharm lens tissue andmight alsodamage the retina.2 Anyone taking St. John’s wort for depression ormenopausalsymptomsshouldavoidsunlightandevenbright indoor light.Sunglasses cannot protect the eye adequately against this possible sideeffect.

BORAGESEEDOIL

Yourecentlyhadaquestionfromawomansufferingfromhotflashesduetomenopause. I ama cancer patient, and I avoid soybecause it acts likeestrogen.Ihavefoundthatborageseedoilnearlyeliminatesmyhotflashes.ThecancercentercheckedonitbeforeIbeganandsaidit’sokay.

Youwere smart to have the cancer center check your supplement first.Borageseedoilisrichingamma-linolenicacid,similartothefatfoundin

eveningprimroseoilorflaxseedoil.AlthoughtheWebhasmanysitesthatrecommend borage seed oil for hot flashes, we were unable to find adefinitive study showing that this dietary supplement can reduce them.Make sure that your supplement has had the pyrrolizidine alkaloidsremoved,sincethesecanbetoxictotheliver.

PYCNOGENOL

Help! My menopausal hot flashes are becoming unbearable anddebilitating. I have tried many remedies. Some (like cutting down oncaffeine)helpedalittle,butothers(likesoy)didnothing.Iworkwithlivertransplant patients, and specialists say that the herb black cohosh candamagetheliver.SoI’mafraidtotryit.Ifinallybrokedownandtriedanestrogenpatchmydoctorprescribed.Ihadanadversereactiontoitinlessthanaweek.Whatcanyourecommend?

Althoughtherearereportsofliverproblemsassociatedwithblackcohosh,this appears to be an uncommon complication.One study suggests that apatentedpinebarkextractcanhelpeasehotflashesandothersymptomsofmenopause. The compound is Pycnogenol, derived from the Frenchmaritime pine. The study included 155 women aged 45 to 55. After sixmonthsoftreatmentwithPycnogenoloraplacebo,womentreatedwiththepine bark extract had significantly fewer symptoms and lower cholesterollevelsthanthosetakingtheplacebo.3Itmaybeworthatry.

IwasskepticalaboutPycnogenol,butafterfourdaysofuse,myseverehotflasheshave completelydisappeared. I take50milligrams in themorningand 50 milligrams again in the evening. I used to have a couple of hotflashes every hour around the clock. Since I have started takingPycnogenol,Ihaven’thadone.Itfeelslikeamiracle!

WehaveseenjustonecontrolledstudyoftheeffectsofthisFrenchpinebarkextractonhotflashes.4Itlookspromising.Wearegladithelpedyou.ItcanbefoundontheWeborinhealthfoodstores.

Ihaveacondition(Wegener’sgranulomatosis)thatmadememiserableforyearsandstumpedseveraldoctors.Thesymptomthattroubledmewaslikehot flashes, but instead of flashing they were almost constant. I finallysearched“hotflashes”onwww.peoplespharmacy.com.Nowtheyaregone,andI’mtellingeveryone!Taking50milligramsofPycnogenoltwiceadayhasdonethetrick.Thankyousomuch.Ihaven’thadaflashsincethedayIstartedit.Mydiseaseisnotcurable,buttheflashesbotheredmemore,andtheyaregone.

We are pleased that Pycnogenol worked for you. The study we cited

showed it helps reduce hot flashes for menopausal women.5 We did notknowthatitmightworkforhotflashesfromothercauses.

YAMS

I am 52. At age 49 I began to have menopausal symptoms—irregularperiods,hotflashes,nightsweats,depression(notwantingtogetout

of bed in themorning), fuzzy thinking, andvaginal dryness thatmadeintercoursepainful.Ihaveaveryhealthylifestyleincludingavegandiet,dailyexercise,nosmoking,andalmostnoalcohol.I’vealwaysbelievedthat the right nutrition allows the body to handle anything. Butmenopausereallythrewmeforaloop.SomewhereI’dheardthatyamscouldhelpsupporthormones.SoIbeganbakingyamsandeatingsomeevery day. I was certainly a skeptic. However, after only five days ofeatingyams(one-halfperday,dependingonsize),Istoppedhavinghotflashes and night sweats altogether! Within days I realized that thevaginal dryness problem was gone.My thinking had cleared, and mydepressionbegan to lift. In addition,mybreastshave increased in sizeandfeelfullinsteadofsaggyanddroopy.Mynormalmenstrualperiodshave returned.What surprising results I’ve gotten from a simple (anddelicious)food.Thekeyistoeatthemdaily.

Research suggests there does appear to be an estrogenic effect fromregular yam consumption.6 Taiwanese investigators fed postmenopausalwomen yams (Dioscorea alata) for 30 days and noted improvements inhormone and cholesterol levels.Control subjectswere fed sweet potatoesand did not get similar benefits. Investigators concluded that changesbrought about by consumption of yams “might reduce the risk of breastcancer and cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women.” In theUnited States, sweet potatoes and yams are often confused, but they arecompletelydifferentplants.

Incontinence

Oneofthemostdistressingconditionsatanyageisincontinence.Involuntaryleakage of urine is embarrassing and directly affects quality of life. Aurologist should always investigate this problem to uncover any underlyingmedicalconditionsthatmightbetreatable.Bewareofsomeprescriptiondrugsthatarepromotedforthisproblemorfor“overactivebladder,”astheymaycausedisorientation,drowsiness,orevenhallucinations.

DIETARYCHANGES

Iwasdiagnosedwithanoveractivebladdersixmonthsago.TheurologistprescribedVESIcareandhandedmeapamphletonthemainoffendersthat

cause the symptoms. After reading the pamphlet, I eliminated caffeine,chocolate,andalcoholfrommydiet.Voila,Imakenomorenightlyvisitstothe bathroom. As an added benefit, I no longer need anymedication forreflux. Sometimes giving up something that is harmful to health is betterandlessexpensivethantakingmedicine.

Not everyone will get as much benefit from the kinds of changes youmade,but this isa low-riskapproach.Chocolate,caffeine,andalcoholallhavebeenimplicatedaspossibleculpritsintriggeringrefluxaswell.

KEGELEXERCISES

I am 29 years old and engaged to be married this summer. I am veryexcited, but as we make plans for our honeymoon, I am starting to getworried as well. And I’m too embarrassed about this problem to knowwheretoturnforhelp.Iamingoodhealth,butsometimeswhenIcoughorsneeze,Ican’tholdmyurinein.Thisisbadenough,buteverysooftenatnightIdreamthatIamlookingforarestroom,andwhenIwakeupthebediswet.Iwouldbemortifiedifthishappenedonmyhoneymoon.Isn’ttheresomemedicationchildrentaketokeepthemfromwettingthebed?Woulditworkformetoo?

Make an appointment with a physician for proper diagnosis. Bladdertrainingandspecialexercisestostrengthenthepelvicmuscles(Kegels)canbeveryhelpfulforyourcaseofstressincontinence.Somedoctorsmayalsoprescribe estrogen or oral decongestants to tighten the sphincter. To keepfrom wetting the bed at night, avoid caffeine during the day and reducefluid intakea fewhoursbeforebedtime. If thisdoesn’thelp, theurologistmayconsiderprescribingdesmopressin(DDAVP),anasalspraymoreoftenusedforchildren.Thismedicationdramaticallyreducesurineformationandthechanceofanaccident.

STINGINGNETTLE

Ihaveaurinarydripthatusedtorequirewearingheavypads.MydoctorprescribedOxytrolandthenDetrol.Bothmedicinesmademyeyes,mouth,and throatunbearablydry. I started takingstingingnettle forallergiesandpostnasaldrip.Ifounditveryhelpful.Inaddition,Inolongerneedtowearpads,onlypantyliners,becauseithelpedmyurinaryproblemtoo.

Theherbstingingnettle(Urticadioica)hasbeenusedinEuropetorelieveallergy symptoms and improve urinary flow in cases of benign prostateenlargement.Wearepleasedithelpedyou.Somepeoplemaybeallergictonettles.Ifarashdevelops,youshoulddiscontinuetheherb.Stingingnettleshouldnotbeusedduringpregnancy.Newresearchsuggeststhatdrugslike

Detrol,Ditropan,andOxytrol,whichdryoutmucousmembranes,mayalsoimpairmentalfunction.

Insomnia

Grandmahaditright.Weallneedagoodnight’ssleep.Sleepisimportantforimmunefunction,memory,andgeneralwell-being.ButoneAmericanoutoffivesuffers frominsomnia.Chronic insomnia is linked toweightgain,highblood pressure, diabetes, poor cognitive function, reduced daytimeperformance,andfalls.Rulingoutcontributingfactors,suchassleepapneaoranother medical condition, requires consultation with a sleep specialist.Sleeping pills may help, but they can be habit forming and may havedangeroussideeffects.SomereadersreportinstancesofsleepdrivingthatareassociatedwiththeprescriptionsleepaidAmbien.Ifahotbathtoresetyourbody temperature or a small high-carb snack before bedtime doesn’t help,therearesomeotherhomeremediesthatmightmakeadifferenceforyou.

ACUPRESSURE

Youwroteaboutapersonwhohadtapedabeantotheinsideofhiswristatbedtimeasanaidagainst insomnia.Pushingonanacupressurepointgavehimadecentnight’ssleep.Wouldyouusethesamebeanoverandoveroranewbeaneverynight?

That reader told us that he taped a dried kidney bean between the twotendons on the inside of his right wrist. He located a spot three fingerwidthsfromthecreaseofthewristbetweenthetwotendons.Accordingtoourresearch,thisisanacupressurepointcalledtheinnergate.Pushingonitissupposedtorelieveanxietyandpromotesleep.Youshouldbeabletouseadriedkidneybeanmanytimeswithoutreplacingit.Youmayalsowanttolook for acupressure wristbands, with a plastic button embedded in anelasticorVelcrostrap.Thewristbandsareavailableonlineorindrugstores,atawiderangeofprices.

Thanksforyour tipontheacupressuresleepaid.IuseaSea-Bandwriststrap that improvesmysleepandalsohelpsme fallback to sleepwhen Iwakeup.Butthebestthingisthatitreducesmysnoring.It’ssoeffectiveinreducingsnoringthatwhenIforget towear it,mywifewakesmeupsoIcanput iton. Ievenuse it foranap,somysnoringwon’twakemeup. Ithinkthereducedsnoringeffectisasleepaidinitself.

Sea-Bands are intended to prevent motion sickness. They press on anacupressurepointontheinnerwrist.ThefewstudieswefoundonsleepandacupressurewereconductedinKoreaandTaiwan.We’regladtohearSea-Bandshelpedyoursnoringaswellasyourinsomnia.

MAGNESIUM

I often read about people having trouble getting a good night’s sleep.Perhapsmy storywill help someone.My pharmacist recently toldme totakemymagnesium tablets at bedtime instead ofwith breakfast.What adifferenceinfallingasleep!

Another reader shares your enthusiasm for thismineral: “Magnesium islikeatranquilizerforme.IenjoydeepsleeplikewhenIwasateenagernowthat I take a hotmagnesium citrate tea calledNatural Calm before bed.”Although other readers have also reported benefits, we could find noscientificsupportfortheclaimthatmagnesiumeasesinsomnia.Toomuchcancausediarrhea.Peoplewithkidneyproblemsshouldavoidmagnesium.

TEA

Your readers often ask about helpwith falling asleep easily. It’s a goodthingIwassafelyseatedonmyownsofawhenIfirstsippedacupofTazoCalmherbal infusion tea. Iwassoonnappingcomfortably. Inowuse thisblendwhenIwant torelax.It isdifficultnot todozeoff. I’mnotpushingthe Tazo brand. The blend contains chamomile, hibiscus, spearmint,lemongrass, rosepetals,blackberry,sarsaparilla, lemonbalm, licorice,andnaturalflavors.Chamomileteadoesn’tputmetosleep.Ileaveittoyoutofigureoutthemagic.

Thanksfor the tip.Otherreaderswillsurelywant to try this tastyblend.Chamomile is traditionallyconsideredamildsleepaid.Perhaps thesecretof this tea is in the combination of other mildly relaxing herbs, such aslemon balm. Hops, valerian, and passionflower are other herbs used forrelaxationandsleep.

IrritableBowelSyndrome

Irritablebowelsyndrome(IBS)isamystery.Causeandcureremainelusive.Somepeoplecomplainofdiarrhea,whileotherssufferfromconstipationoranalternating cycle of both. Other symptoms can include bloating andabdominalpain.Yourdoctor should ruleout celiacdisease, an autoimmunedisorderbroughtonbyexposure towheat,barley,and rye,beforemakingadiagnosisofIBS.

COCONUT

ThankyousomuchforwritingaboutIBSandcoconutmacarooncookies.Theywork!Isufferedfromchronicdiarrheaforyearsandhavebeenhealedforthelasttwoyears.

We’realwayspleasedtohearaboutsuccesswithhomeremedies.Donald

Agar wrote us nearly ten years ago to report that two Archway coconutmacaroon cookies a day banished the chronic diarrhea he suffered as aconsequence of Crohn’s disease. We have heard from other readers thatcoconuthelpscombatdiarrhea.Youcanreadstoriesfrompeoplewhohavetrieditatwww.peoplespharmacy.com.NoteveryonewhosuffersfromIBSbenefitsfromcoconutmacaroons,however.

Icouldn’tfindArchwaycoconutmacarooncookiesatthesupermarket,soImademyown.Presto!Iamnormal.Itisstillamiracletome.Iwonderifitisn’tsomethinginthecoconutthatisthekey.Afterall,cookieingredientsareaboutthesame,commercialorhomemade.Iatetwoadayforaweek.Justacoupleaweekisnotenoughforme.Itishardtobelievethereissomereliefforthisawfulcondition.

We think there is something about coconut that may provide relief forsomepeople.OnereaderalsohadtroublelocatingArchwaybrandcookiesandreported,“I juststartedeatingsomeshreddedcoconut.Thesymptomswentawayafterthefirstday.”

PEPPERMINT

I’ve heard that taking enteric-coated peppermint oil can help IBS. Myworst symptoms are stomach cramps and flatulence, which make mereluctanttoeatoutortravel.Someofmyfriendshipshavesuffered.Whatdoesentericmean,andwhywouldpeppermintoilhelp?

Irritablebowelsyndromecanproducesymptomssuchasabdominalpain,gas, cycles of constipation and diarrhea, urgency of stools, and bloating.Enteric-coatedpeppermintoilhasbeenshowntorelievesymptomsofIBS.Onestudyshowed that thispreparation reducedbloating,abdominalpain,flatulence,frequencyofbowelmovements,andstomachnoises.1AGermaninvestigatorreviewed16clinical trials inwhichenteric-coatedpeppermintoilwasusedtotreatsymptomsofIBS.Two-thirdsoftheplacebo-controlledtrials indicated that peppermint oil eased symptoms twice as well as aplacebo.2Peppermintinthestomachcouldmakeheartburnworse,whichiswhy enteric-coated pills are essential. This special coating, by definition,doesn’t dissolve until it gets to the small intestine. There, peppermint oileasesspasmsandrelievessymptomswithrelativelyfewsideeffects.Somepeople have reported heartburn and rectal burning, however. One brand-nameproduct,Pepogest,canbeboughtonline.

Is there a home remedy to ease the discomfort of IBS? I currently useNexiumdailyanddrinkalotofwater,butIamalwaysuncomfortable.I’matmywit’send.HELP!

Research from Germany suggests you may want to try enteric-coatedpeppermint oil. There were some side effects: Peppermint oil can causeheart-burn and rectal burning. But overall it seemed the enteric-coatedcapsulesimprovedqualityoflifeforpeoplewithIBS.

PROBIOTICS

Myteenagedaughterhasbeentakingantibioticstotreatheracneforyears,but she’s also had terrible gastrointestinal problems (stomachaches anddiarrhea)formuchofthattime.Ididn’tthinkofaconnectionuntilrecently,but now I wonder if the antibiotics might be responsible. She has takenPrilosec per her doctor’s recommendation, but it really hasn’t helped. Isthere anything else that might help her overcome these symptoms? Herdermatologistsaysifshestopstheminocyclinesheistakingheracnewillcomebackbadly,andIhateforhertohavetodealwiththatatthestartoftheschoolyear.

Itispossiblethatyearsofantibiotictreatmenthavealteredtheecologyofyour daughter’s digestive tract and contributed to her pain and diarrhea.Antibiotics kill good bacteria as well as bad ones. Repopulating thedigestivetractwithgoodbacteriacansometimeshelpreversethatproblem.SuchprobioticbacteriamaybefoundinyogurtwithactiveliveculturesorincapsulessuchasCulturelle,EnzymaticTherapy,orFlorastor.

ArethereanynaturaltreatmentsforIBS?Ithinktheyshouldcallitcrankycolon or irritable intestine or something alliterative, but I’ve had it forseveral years and it seems that there is little to be done for it. I haveoccasionally had rectal spasms so intense I pass out. Doctors don’t haveanythingtooffer.DoyouknowofanythingIcouldtry?

One study showed that a probiotic product containing BifidobacteriuminfantiswassignificantlybetterthanaplaceboforconstipationanddiarrheaassociatedwithIBS.AProcter&GambleproductcalledBifantiswasusedintheresearch.

Myhusbandand I travelbycareachyear toArizona for thewinterandreturn home in spring. The trip is difficult because I have IBS and oftenholdupour fellow travelers so Icanget toabathroom.Atpresent I takeImodium,but thatonlyworksafteraboutofdiarrhea. Is thereanything Icould take tomake our trip less stressful? It does not feel good to drivethrough the mountains with no rest stations on the horizon when mystomachis“erupting.”

We don’t have anymagic bullets to offer you, butwe have heard fromseveralreadersthataprobioticproductcalledDigestiveAdvantageIrritable

Bowel Syndrome was helpful. It contains live strains of Lactobacillusbacteria.Hereiswhatonereaderhadtosay:“ForyearsIhavesufferedwithnausea and gastritis. Antacids and other stomachmedicines did not help.Then my doctor told me his daughter has the same problem. A productcalled Digestive Advantage Irritable Bowel Syndrome helps her. It costsunder ten dollars atmost drugstores.This productworks fast, and I havebeentotallywellformonths.”

TURMERIC

Havingreadafewofyourarticlesonthebenefitsofcurrypowder,Iwouldliketoaddthatithelpsirritablebowelsyndrome.AfterhavingsufferedwithIBS pain for several years, I looked into possible natural remedies andfound that naturopaths recommend curry for certain intestinal problems.Since using curry in my food once a day, I have been pain free. Thebloatingisstillthere,butitdoesn’thurt.IfIdon’tsprinklecurrypowderonmyfoodforafewdays,thepainreturns.

Currypowdercontainsturmeric,ayellowspicethathasanti-inflammatoryproperties.Othershavetoldusthatiteasestheirarthritispainandpsoriasissymptomsaswell.Wehadn’theardthatitmightrelievesymptomsofIBS.

JointPainandArthritis

Asmanyas70millionAmericanssufferfromthechronicjointpainthatwecallarthritis.Ofthemanyvarieties,themostcommonisosteoarthritis,whichtends todevelopwith age.Why somepeople suffer fromstiff, sore, achingjointsandothersareseeminglyimmunefromarthritisremainsamystery.Thedrugs that aremost often used against arthritis pain—the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatorydrugs(NSAIDs)likeibuprofenordiclofenac—mayofteneasepainintheshortterm.However,sideeffects,suchasdigestivetractirritation,includingbleedingulcers,aswellaspossibleincreasedriskofhypertension,heartattacks,stroke,orcongestiveheartfailure,certainlylimittheappealofthese drugs. That’s why inexpensive home remedies for joint pain andarthritisaresopopular.

BEESTINGS

I’manurseinaruralhospital.SomeofthemountainfolkIcarefortellmethat a bee sting every two years or sowill significantly decrease arthritisinflammation and pain. They attribute awareness of this remedy to theChinesewhocametothisareaahundredyearsagotoworkontherailroadsandintheloggingindustry.

Apitherapy,orbeevenomtherapy,forarthritisdatestoancientEgyptandChina.Hippocrates(460–377b.c.) issaidtohavewrittenaboutbeestings

for treatingpainful joints.Doctors in thiscountryusedapitherapy to treatarthritisduringthefirstpartofthe20thcentury.Hospitalpharmaciesevenstocked venom for injections. After World War II, this approach wasconsidered unscientific and fell out of favor. Proponents claim thathoneybee stings can alleviate the pain of tendinitis, arthritis, multiplesclerosis,andpostherpeticneuralgia(nervepainthatlingersafterashinglesattack). The American Apitherapy Society can provide more information(www.apitherapy.org).

I was stung on my left leg five times by yellow jackets. I haveosteoarthritisinmyleftknee,andthepainhasbeengonesinceIwasstung.I’mhopingthatitwilllast!

You’renotthefirstpersontosharesuchastorywithus.Yearsagoareaderwrote, “While snoozing on the porch Iwas stung on the finger by a tinybee.Theresult:intensepainand,afterthat,agreatreductionofarthritisinmyarm.”Today apitherapy is undergoing a resurgence.Proponents claimthathoneybeestingscanalleviatethepainofarthritis.Yellowjacketscanbedangerous,however,andshouldnotbeusedinapitherapy.Peoplewhoareallergictobeestingsshouldnevertrythistherapy,whichisbestappliedbyatrainedapitherapist.

BOSWELLIA

Ihavearthritisinmyfingers.Usingthecomputercompoundsthepain.Ican’ttakeanti-inflammatorymedicationbecauseIhaveanulcer.Couldyousuggest other supplements that might help? Many herbs and dietarysupplements can ease inflammation. One person offered the following:“The combination of boswellia and glucosamine-MSM replacesnonsteroidal pain relievers andworkswell forme.Nine years ago Iwasliterallyfallingdownbecauseofthepaininmyspine.Iheardsomeonesaythat the herb boswellia had saved her life because of back pain. ThatSaturdayIstartedboswellia. In twoweeks thepaindecreased,andafteramonththerewasanenormousdifference.AtlastIcouldsleepandIcouldwalk. Several years later the arthritis increased and I added MSM[methylsulfonylmethane supplement], and glucosamine and chondroitin. Itakethemwithboswelliaandgetgoodrelief.”

CAYENNE

Yourecentlyhadaquestionfromapersonwitharthriticfingerswhocan’tuse anti-inflammatory drugs because of an ulcer.Manyyears ago, an oldman panning gold in icy water told me of an arthritis cure. He’d hadarthritisinhisfingerssobadhecouldhardlymovethem.Hestartedtakingateaspoonofcayenneadayinasmallglassof tomatojuice.Hesaid this

remedy tookamonth to takeeffect andamonth towearoff.When Igotarthritis in my hip, I started taking cayenne. I found that one-quarterteaspoonadayinatallglassoforangejuiceworksforme.

We’ve heard lots of arthritis remedies over the years but never onerecommending cayenne. It is, however, a time-honored ingredient inarthritisrubs.

CERTOANDJUICE

IreadinyourcolumnthatsomeoneusedCertoinjuicetorelievepainfularthritis in thehands. Is this thepectinwithwhichonemakes jelly? Ididbuysomeandstartedputtingatablespoonineightouncesofpomegranatejuice,asIhavehorrendousarthritisinmyhands.

Certoisa liquidpectinproductusedbyhomecannerstomakejamsandjellies thicker. For ten years readers have told us that Certo mixed withgrapejuicecanhelpeasearthritispain.OneformulacallsforatablespoonofCertoineightouncesofjuicedaily.

IreadaboutgrapejuiceandCertolastfallwhileIwassufferingapainfulmedial column collapse of the right foot that the doctor attributed topsoriaticarthritis.IwasgoingtohavesurgeryinlateNovember,butItriedthejuicewithCertoinOctober.Ididn’ttellthedoctor,asIdidn’twanttobeadmonished. For some mysterious reason, the pain subsided. The doctorwasamazedbutsaidsurgeryshouldbedoneonlyasalastresort.Iseehimnextmonth for a checkup andwillmention the juicewithCerto. I’mnotsayingthat’swhatputthearthritisinremission,butsomethinghappened,asIcouldhardlywalkatthetime.SoI’llcontinuetakingit.

I’vereadyourcolumnsaboutgrapejuiceandCertoforeasingjointpain,butIdon’tlikegrapejuice.ItriedpomegranatejuicewithCertoinstead.It’smuchlowerincalories,andittastesreallygood.Afterjustacoupleofdays,the results are amazing! I can comfortably make a tight fist now, whichmeans I can look forward to throwing punches in aikido classes againwithoutjamminganarthriticknuckle.Asanemergencymedicaltechnician(EMT), I’m in tune with conventional modern U.S. medicine. From amedicalstandpoint,thisremedyhasmestumped,butthereisnodoubtthatitworkedquicklyandeffectivelyforme.Idon’tknowifthismixturewillaffect other drugs or conditions, so others should consult their doctorsbeforetryingit.

Thanks for sharing your experiments.We have heard from hundreds ofreaders that Certo and grape juice can ease joint pain. Research suggeststhat pomegranate juice also can ease inflammation and slow cartilage

destruction.1

CHERRYJUICE

Myhusbandand I takeblackcherry juiceconcentrate forarthritis achesandpains.Ibuyitatthelocalhealthfoodstore.Wetakeateaspoonaday,like cough syrup.My finger joints are no longer swollen andpainful.OnraredayswhenIstillhavediscomfort,Ijusttakeanotherdose.

Tart cherries, sour cherries, and black cherries have all been used tocombat inflammation associated with arthritis or gout. Cherry juiceconcentrateisusuallymoreaffordablethanfreshcherriesorjuice.Itcanbeaddedtoseltzerwaterormadeintoatea.Concentratedcherrycapsulesorcherrysupplementbarsarealsoavailable.Studiesonanimalshaveshownthattheredanthocyanincompoundsincherriesactasanti-inflammatories.2Researchfromthe1950salsosuggeststhatcherriesmayhelpbothgoutandarthritis.

I would like some info about cherries for a friend who suffers fromarthritisandgout.

Onestudysuggestedthatsweetcherriescouldloweruricacidlevelsthatcause gout. The researchers also observed that “cherries may inhibitinflammatorypathways.”3Readers have been telling us that sour cherries(fresh,dried,frozen, juice,orCherryFlexpills)caneasebothgoutattacksandarthritispain.Hereisonerecentaccount:“Itriedthecherryjuiceafterreading about it in your column. I nowget out of bedwithout back pain(afterlessthanamonth).Ihavesciatica,alongwithotherbackissues,andarthritisinbothknees.Icandostairsagain.Ontopofthat,IaskedourvetifIcouldgiveittoourdog.Hesaidyes,buttogiveherhalfadose.Igivehertwocapsulesaday,andsheisnowrunningagainafteronlytwoweeks.”

CURCUMIN/TURMERIC

Allmylifemykneeshaveachedatnight.IusedAleve,arthritis-strengthaspirin,orTylenolandusuallywokeupabout3a.m.andtookmore.Ireadin your column about using turmeric for arthritis pain and bought somecapsules.Itookonewithmilkandacookieatbedtimeandsleptpainfreeallnight—andeverynightsincethen.Itisalmostmiraculous.

We are intrigued by your story. Studies show that turmeric has anti-inflammatoryproperties.Wehaveheard fromreaders that itmay increasetheriskofbleedingincombinationwithCoumadin,ananticoagulantusedasabloodthinner.

THEPEOPLE’SPHARMACY

FavoriteFood#20:CherriesThere’s a reason for the adage “Life is just a bowl of cherries.” ButprobablynotevenEthelMerman,whenshesangthefamoussongwiththis titlebackin1931,couldhaveguessedatallof theremarkableandlife-enhancingpropertiesofthisdelectablefruit.Cherries can literally put the spring back in your step. Research

indicates that people who suffer from arthritis or plantar fasciitismaybenefit considerably from the proven anti-inflammatory properties ofcherries.1 A study from several years ago found that as little as tenouncesofcherriesadaydecreasedinflammatorymarkersintheblood.2Tart cherries contain anthocyanin compounds that inhibit enzymes

called COX-1 and COX-2. These are the enzymes targeted by anti-inflammatorydrugslikeCelebrex,diclofenac,andibuprofen,soitisnotsurprising that cherry juice appears to alleviate pain.3 One readerwhosuffered from arthritis pain in the hip and knees reported, “I took tartcherryjuiceeverymorningandsawresultsafter the thirdweek.Ihaveusedtartcherryjuiceforoveroneyearnow,andIampainfree!”Sweet cherries also appear to reduce the high uric acid levels that

causegout,4andtheyhavebeenshowntobequiteeffectiveatrelievingpain caused by this often agonizing condition.We’ve also heard someanecdotalevidencethatcherriesmayhelpfibromyalgiasuffererssoothediscomfortandpain.Forpeoplewhodon’t love the tasteofcherriesor for thosewhoare

concerned about the high sugar and calorie content of juice, it is alsopossibletobuycherriesintheformofsupplements.TwocompaniesthatsellcapsulesareBrownwoodAcres,whichsellsCherryFlex,availableatwww.cherryflex.com, and Fruit Advantage, available atwww.fruitadvantage.comorat877-746-7477.Thenexttimeyou’rethinkingaboutpoppingapainpillforsorejoints

orforachingfeet,considertryingcherrycapsulesinstead.Youmayfindsomesweetrelief.

EQUALSWEETENER

I have arthritis inmy knees and fingers, but no pain. Everymorning IdrinkacupofgreenteawiththreepacketsofEqualinit.Iknowthisworksforme,forItriedusingotherartificialsweeteners.Afterfivedays,Istartedtohavemildpainandstiffness inbothmyknees.Needless tosay, IwentrightbacktousingEqual.Ittookaboutaweektogetbacktobeingfreeofpainorstiffnessinmyknees.Idon’thavediabetes,butmyson-in-lawdoes.

He too usesEqual to rid himself of pain in his feet. I can’t say thiswillworkforeveryone,butthreedollarsfora50-packetboxisasmallpricetopayforpainrelief.

Aspartame (Equal)hasbeen tested forarthritispain ina small,placebo-controlled trial. It isnearlyaseffectiveasaspirinbutdoesnot irritate thestomach. Peoplewho cannot tolerate aspartame or prefer to avoid itmaywant to try natural anti-inflammatory agents such as ginger, curcumin,boswellia,orbromelain.

FISHOIL

Ihaveheardthattheomega-3fattyacidsinfishoilmaybebeneficialinhelping the body repair cartilage and improving arthritic joints. Is this anoldwives’tale,ordoesitholdupunderscrutiny?

Fish oil is amazing. My husband is under a doctor’s care for arthritis.Within one day of starting fish oil, the swelling began to go down in hisfingers.He still takes his prescribedmedication, but in lower doses.Thisreliefissomuchbetter.

Therehavebeenanumberofstudiessuggestingthatfishoilishelpfulforjointsaffectedbyrheumatoidarthritis.Evenwhendoctorsdonotdetectanobjective difference, patients taking fish oil report less pain andmorningstiffnessandtakefewerpainrelieversthanpatientswhorefrain.4

GINANDRAISINS

A neighbor ofminewas so crippledwith arthritis that she had to use awalker.Sheandherhusbandhadover100beautifulazaleasthatshecouldno longercare for.Then Iwalkedbyherhouseand thought Iwas seeingthings.There shewas, downon her knees,working in her flower beds. Isaid, “Nancy, haveyou experienced amiracle?” “No,” she said, “just ginand raisins!” I began taking the recipe andwas able to stop going to thearthritis clinic,whichwasn’t helping anyway.My osteoarthritis subsided,andIstopped theremedy.Now, tenyears later, I’m67and thearthritis isbackinmylittlefingers,withredness,pain,andswelling.Irememberedtherecipebutforgot to let theginevaporate. It turned into themostdeliciousraisinybrandyandhelpedmyjointsaswell.InthenextbatchIusedblackraisins.Forsomereason,itisn’thelpingasmuch.

Wecannotbegintoexplainwhysomefolksbenefitsodramaticallyfromthegin and raisin remedywhileothers tell us it isworthless.Nor canweexplainwhylightraisinsmightworkbetterthandarkonesinsomecases.

Iaminterestedin theformulafor theginandraisinremedyforarthritis.

Howmuchofeachmakesabatch,andhowmanybatcheswouldItakeeachday?

Thisrecipecallsforgoldenraisins.Emptyaboxofraisinsintoashallowbowl,andthenaddenoughgintocoverthem.Allowthegintoevaporate.(Thismaytakeuptoaweek.)Storetheraisinsinacoveredcontainer,andeat nine golden raisins daily. Althoughwe don’t knowwhy, this remedyworksformanypeople.Butawordofwarning:Peoplewhoareallergictosulfitesshouldavoidgoldenraisins,whichhavesulfitesaddedtopreservetheircolor.Onepersonexperiencedaswollentongueduetothisallergy.

HONEYANDVINEGAR

About a year ago you mentioned a recipe for arthritis from a footballplayer. He mixed one-half teaspoon apple cider vinegar and one-halfteaspoonhoney inaglassofwaterwitha teaspoonoforangepowder. I’dreallyliketotrythisremedy,butIcannotfindorangepowder.DidhemeanTang?

The reader who gave us this recipe got it from a former owner of theDallas Cowboys. The mysterious orange powder is nothing more thanorange-flavoredKnoxgelatin.Atage81,hesaysthisformulastillkeepshisknucklesflexible.

MAGNETS

Myhusbandsaysthathismagneticbracelethelpshisarthritispain.Whatdo you have to say about that?Would it also helpmy fibromyalgia?Aretheresideeffects?

A few randomized studies suggest thatmagnetsmay help arthritis pain.Manyscientistsareskeptical,andafteronesmall,placebo-controlledtrial,researchers concluded that magnetic and copper bracelets are useless fortreating arthritis pain.5 Some people who have tried magnets agree withyourhusband,however.Magnetsarenotappropriateforpregnantwomen,people wearing pacemakers, or people using electromagnetic equipmentsuch as insulin pumps or sleep apnea machines. There are no studies toshow whether a magnetic bracelet would help people with fibromyalgia,although one reader reported that a magnetic bracelet made herfibromyalgiapainworse.

PINEAPPLEJUICE

Yearsago,youwroteaboutanenzymeinpineapplejuicethathelpswitharthritis pain.At that time Iwas inmyearly40s andwas alreadyhavingpain in my hands and feet from arthritis. I started drinking one glass of

pineapple juice a day, and my symptoms cleared up. I may eventuallydevelop arthritis, but hopefully it will not be as severe as it would havebeen.

Pineapple juice contains bromelain, which appears to have anti-inflammatory properties. In one study, a product containing bromelain(Phlogenzym)waseffectiveineasingdiscomfortfromhiparthritis.6

PLANTPECTINANDCERTO

IwokeupthismorningtofindIwasanotheryearolder,butthankstoyou,Iamactiveagainforthefirsttimeinyears.IcombinedseveralsuggestionsI found in your column. I am taking glucosamine and chondroitin alongwith grape juice and Certo (plant pectin) and turmeric. These remediesmademe feel sogood I forgot to take them for a fewdays, and thepainreturned.Iwon’tmakethatmistakeagain.

Theexperimentyouareconductingisunusual.Combiningseveralnaturalremediesforarthritishasn’tbeentestedbutmayoffersomeadvantages.

SLOEGIN

Goldenraisinssoakedinginwereineffectiveagainstmyarthritispain.Butthen I tried raisins in sloe gin, and they were immediately and totallyeffective.

Regularginisflavoredwithjuniperberries,whilesloeginisflavoredwithsloe berries from the blackthorn bush, traditionally used for digestivedisorders.Thisisn’t thefirst timewehaveheardthatsloeginwithraisinsmayfightarthritispain.

SOAP

Mydaughterheard thatabarof soapat the footof thebedbetween thesheets would ease arthritis pain. I tried it. After about four weeks myarthritisseemstobemuchbetter.Istheresomethinginthesoapthathelps,orisitmyimagination?

Wehavereportedonahomeremedyforlegcrampsthatcallsforabarofsoaptobeplacedbeneaththebottomsheet,nearthelegs.Wedidn’tthinkaboutthisworkingforarthritisuntilwereceivedthisnotefromareader:“Since my husband sometimes gets leg cramps, I gave him your articleaboutcarryingsoapinhispocket.Hedecidedtotryit,andforatleastfourdaysnowhehashadnopain fromhis sciatica. In fact,hehasnothad totakethepainmedicationthatheusuallytakesdaily.Haveyouheardofthiseffectfromanyoneelse?Doyouhaveanyconjecturesonwhyabarofsoapworks?”

Wehave no ideawhy soapmightwork, but it is not only cheap but alsoharmless.

VITAMIND

Ihavebeenstrugglingwitharthritisandjointpainandjustfoundoutthatmy vitamin D level is really low. My doctor put me on a megadose of50,000 international units (IU) each week for eight weeks. Then I willswitchto800IUdaily.Itookthefirst50,000-IUpillyesterday,andtodayIcan’t believe how good my joints feel.My wife thinks I’m crazy. I justreturnedfromasix-milewalkandthenusedmyweights.IhavenopainandwonderifthevitaminDisresponsible.Shouldn’tavitaminDcheckbepartof a physical?After reading about theproblems lowvitaminDcauses, itseemsitshouldbe.

You may be right. Rheumatologists have reported that low vitamin Dlevels often contribute to both joint and soft tissue pain. Vitamin Ddeficiency is linked to an increased risk ofmany ills, including diabetes,hypertension, heart disease, and cancer. Insufficient vitaminD canmimicother serious problems as well, as one of our readers reported: “I wasdiagnosedwithmultiplesclerosisuntilthedoctorfoundthatmyvitaminDlevelwas8.3(dangerouslylow).I’mon50,000IUtwiceweekly,andIcantellyouthatitmakesahugedifference!”

KidneyStones

Words are inadequate to describe the pain of a kidney stone.Womenwhohave gone through childbirth often say that passing a kidney stone is farworsethangivingbirth.Yougetthepicture.Andonceyouhavehadyourfirstkidney stone,your chancesofgettinganotheronegoup significantly.Whysomepeoplearesosusceptibletokidneystonesandothersarenotisoneofthemanymysteriestowhichwehavenoanswer.Here’sanotherpuzzle:Whyis the southeastern part of the United States the Kidney Stone Belt? Thefarthernorthyoutravel,thelesslikelyyouwillbetodevelopastone.Isitthetemperature?(SomefolkssayglobalwarmingwilldramaticallyincreasethenumberofkidneystonesintheUnitedStates.)Othersblamekidneystonesondiet—possibly the large amounts of iced tea so popular in the Southeast.Whateverthecause,thegoalistopreventthem.Roughlythree-fourthsofallkidney stones are composed of calcium and oxalate. Stones of calciumphosphatearelesscommon.Itmaybepossible,ifyouhavepassedakidneystone,todiscoverwhichtypeyoumake.Mostexpertsrecommendincreasingwater intake to keep calcium from concentrating in the urine and formingcrystals.

CALCIUM-RICHFOODS

WheneverIreadaboutcalcium,onlywomen’sneedsareaddressed.Littlecomment ismade aboutwhethermen should be concerned about lack ofcalciumastheyage.Myhusbandthinksifhetakescalciumsupplements,hemightgetkidneystones.Isthistrue?

Althoughmenare less susceptible toosteoporosis thanwomenare, theyarenot immune.Adequatecalciumintake isalso importantformen.Yourhusbandiscorrectthatcalciumpillsmayincreasetheriskofkidneystones,but calcium from food seems to protect against this painful condition. Ifyourhusbandrefusestodrinkmilk,perhapsyoucouldaddyogurt,sardines,cannedsalmon,andothercalcium-richfoodstothemenu.

LEMONADEANDORANGEJUICE

I have had a couple of kidney stones, and my urologist recommendedlemonadetopreventthem.IwasskepticaluntilIdidsomecheckingontheWebandMedline.I learnedthat lemonjuiceisanaturalsourceofcitrate.This compound helps prevent the formation of calcium oxalate kidneystones. Some lemonade mixes do not list sodium citrate, but cannedconcentrateappearstohavealotofreallemonjuice,andsodiumcitrateislisted.

Doctors prescribe potassium citrate to prevent the recurrence of stonesmade of calciumoxalate.One study shows that adding lemonade aswellseemstoprovidesomeaddedbenefit.Atrial testingcranberryjuicefoundthat it toocouldhelpreduce theriskfactors1 forkidneystoneformation.2Thispopularbeveragereducedoxalateandincreasedcitratelevelsinurine.

Areany foodsor supplementsespeciallybad forpeoplewhogetkidneystones? Iwould like toknowwhat toavoidandwhatwouldbehelpful. Ineverwanttoexperiencethepainofpassingakidneystoneagain.

Themostimportantrecommendationforavoidingkidneystonesistodrinkplentyoffluids.Butthebeverageyouchoosedoesmakeadifference.Datafrommore than 80,000women in theNurses’Health Study indicate thatcoffee, tea, and even wine are associated with a reduced risk of kidneystones, but grapefruit juice seems to increase the risk.3 This is a puzzle,becausewhenhealthypeopleinonestudydrankgrapefruitjuice,theirurineseemednomoresusceptibletostonesthanwhentheyweredrinkingwater.4Orangejuiceandlemonadereducethechancesofdevelopingastone.Theyincrease citrate in the urine, and that reduces crystallization of calciumoxalate into kidney stones. Urologists who have studied “lemonadetherapy”haveconcluded that it representsaviablealternative forpatientswhohaveahardtimetoleratingstandardtreatment.5Suchanapproachcalls

foronetotwoquartsofunsweetenedorlow-sugarlemonadeperday.

Lice

Lice do not discriminate on the basis of hygiene, age, or economic status.Childrengetthesescalpparasitesbecausetheyputtheirheadsclosetogetherorsharehatsandcombs.Licedon’tjumporfly,buttheydocrawlandspreadeasily in close quarters like camp or school. And they have developedresistance to common lice shampoos. That’s why many look for homeremediesforlice.

CETAPHIL

Is there a safe and easy improvement on themethod of removing headlice?Mywife is a kindergarten teacher, and this annual ritual of treatingthemiswearingusbothout.Herstudentsbring lice fromhome,and theyspreadtoteachersandotherstudents.Pleasehelp!

Thereisonenovelapproachthatisbotheasyandsafe.Dampenthehair,coatitwiththefacialcleanserCetaphil,andthenuseablow-dryer.Cetaphilhardensandformsabarrier thatsuffocatesthelice.LeavetheCetaphilonovernight,andthenshampooitoutinthemorning.1

COCONUTOIL

I am a kindergarten teacher, and on occasion I pick up lice from mystudents. The best home remedy I’ve ever used to kill lice and easilyremovenits is coconutoil. I completely saturatemyhairwith theoil andcovermyheadwithashowercap. I leave itonovernightandwash itoutwith regular shampoo the next morning. This leaves my hair silky—andwithoutlice.Iftheinfestationisbad,Idothisagainasecondnight.Itreallyworks!

Thanks for suggesting this remedy.This is the first timewe’veheardofusing coconut oil to get rid of lice, but it certainly doesn’t seem like itwouldhurttotryit.

LISTERINE

Bothofmyboysweresenthomefromschoolwithheadlice.Thechecklistgiventomebytheschoolnursestatedthatinorderfortheboystoreturntoschool, I must treat their scalps with an insecticide. I used a head licetreatment containing permethrin, and it was completely ineffective. Bothchildrenwererefusedreadmissiontoschool,andIwasinstructedtoreapplythe insecticide that day (despite the package instructions that treatmentsshouldbespacedatleastsevendaysapart).I took them home andwashed their hair, towel dried it, saturated itwith

Listerine,andcoveredtheirheadswithshowercaps.Ilefttheshowercapsonfortwohours,andthenweremovedthemandIcombedtheirhairwithalice comb.The next day theywashed their hair and toweled it dry, and Isprayed their hair with Listerine and combed it again. The lice are goneeven though the infestationwas severe. Prior to the Listerine treatment Icombedhundredsoflicefromtheirhair.Listerinewasmuchmoreeffectivethantheinsecticide.

Therearereportsthatlicehavedevelopedresistancetosomeinsecticidesusedin liceshampoos.WefirstheardaboutusingListerineagainst lice in1999.Areaderreportedsprayingitonherchild’sheadbeforehispossibleexposure to lice. A lice expert once told us that she thought the alcohol(26.9 percent) in Listerine was toxic to lice. The herbal oils found inListerine (thymol, eucalyptol, menthol, and methyl salicylate) may alsocontributetotheeffect.

MAYONNAISE

Whenmydaughtersgotlicethatwereimmunetoalltheliceshampoos,afriend said that the health department had told her to smother themwithmayonnaise.Wecovereditwithashowercapandleftitonovernight.Themayokilledallthelice,andarepeattreatmentaweeklatertookcareofthehatched nits. As a nice side effect, the treatment left their hair soft andshiny.

This treatment works on the same principle as coating the hair withpetroleumjelly,butmayonnaiseismucheasiertowashout!We’regladyouhadsuccesswiththishomeremedy.

MacularDegeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading causes ofblindnessamongtheelderlyintheUnitedStates.Theconditioniscausedbyadeteriorationofthecentralpartoftheretina,knownasthemacula.Becausethis part of the eye is essential in focusing vision, people with maculardegeneration find it difficult to read, to sew, or to doother closework thatrequires seeingdetails.AMDismost commonamongpeopleover60yearsold.(SmokingsignificantlyincreasestheriskofAMD;anysmokersworriedabout this disease should get help quitting.)Medical scientists believe thatheredityplaysanimportantroleindeterminingvulnerabilitytothiscondition,but studies also hint at nutritional factors.Recent studies, such as theBlueMountains Eye Study in Australia, have found that carotene compoundscalledluteinandzeaxanthinareprotective.1Luteinandzeaxanthinarefoundingreenandyellowvegetables, suchascorn,but theyarealsoabundant ineggyolks.ThelatestanalysisfromTuftsUniversityscientistswhohavebeen

studying this issue for many years is that diets rich in lutein, zeaxanthin,vitaminsC and E, and the omega-3 fatty acidsDHA andEPA, and low inhigh-glycemic-index foods (such as white bread, crackers, and pasta), canreducetheriskofAMDprogressionbyapproximately40percent.2

BILBERRY

My wife was diagnosed with macular degeneration, and ourophthalmologistsaiditwouldjustgetworse.Weimmediatelystartedtakingbilberry fruit capsules because Iwanted to be proactive.A year later,wereturned forher annual eye exam.Thedoctor’s assistant administered theexams. After checking my wife three times, she took her folder to thedoctorandtoldhiminfrontofusthattheassistantlastyearsuremesseduptheexam.Thedoctorreplied,“Iadministeredthatexammyself,andIknowit is proper.” The assistant exclaimed that the macular degeneration wasonlyblocking25percentofvisioninsteadof45percentlikelastyear,andthatwas impossible.Thedoctor askedwhatwehaddone, and I toldhimabout takingbilberry.Whenmywifepassedaway threeyears lateratage82,shenolongerhadmaculardegeneration.

Bilberryhasareputationforbeinggoodforeyesight.Therehasbeenverylittle research on its power to slowor to reversemacular degeneration inhumanbeings,buttherearesomeintriguingdatainvolvinganimals.

I have recently beendiagnosedwithmacular degeneration.Myhusbandreadthattheherbbilberryisgoodfortheeyes.Iworry,though,thatitmightinteract with any or all of my medicines: Pacerone, Coumadin, andPremarin.Woulditbesafeformetotrybilberry?

Theideathatbilberryfruitisbeneficialtotheeyesisbasedprimarilyonfolklore. However, one study suggests that bilberry can inhibit theovergrowthofbloodvessels.3Sincethisisoneoftheproblemsthatoccursin advanced AMD, it might be a mechanism by which bilberry extractprotectstheretinafromthedamageofmaculardegeneration.Bilberryisnotknown to interact with medications. Coumadin, however, interacts withmanyherbs.Askyourdoctortomonitoryourprothrombintime(ameasureof bleeding) more closely if you decide to try this herb in addition toappropriatemedicalcare.

FISH

I have been diagnosedwith the onset ofmacular degeneration.The eyedoctor said there is no cure. Are there any vitamins or other nutritionalsupplementsthatmightslowtheprocessdown?

Research has shown that several nutritional factors can slow the

development of macular degeneration. One significant study, the Age-RelatedEyeDiseaseStudy,demonstrated that vitaminsCandE, togetherwith beta-carotene and the minerals zinc and copper, could slow visionloss.4 Additional studies confirmed that these nutrients can help preventage-related macular degeneration.5 Research shows that people who eatmorefisharelesssusceptibletoAMD,presumablybecauseoftheomega-3fattyacidsinfish.6AnotherstudyfoundthatvitaminDalsocanreducetheriskofAMD.7Researchalsoshowsthatadietrichinrefinedcarbohydrates,suchassugarandwhiteflour, isnotgoodfor theeyes.8Peoplewithdietshighontheglycemicindexwerealmost50percentmorelikelytodevelopadvancedmaculardegeneration.

LUTEIN-RICHVEGGIES

I’veseenluteinlistedasaningredientinCentrumandOcuvitevitamins.Whatexactlyislutein?

Lutein is ayellowplantpigment,partof thecarotenoid family that alsoincludesbeta-carotene.Scientistsbelieve that thisantioxidant isespeciallyimportant in the retina of the eye and may help prevent maculardegeneration,whichcanleadtoblindness.Vegetablesrichinluteinincludekale,collardgreens,spinach,andSwisschard.

ZINC

Ihavejustlearnedthatmembersofmyfamilyhavemaculardegenerationandthatitishereditary.Adoctorrecommendedvitaminswithzincforthiscondition.Howeffectivearesuchsupplements?

Ophthalmologistshavelongrecommendedantioxidantvitaminswithzincfor patients at risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In thiscondition, the retina deteriorates and central vision needed for reading ordriving is gradually lost.One large study demonstrated that for people atrisk ofAMD, high-dose vitaminswith zincmay reduce the likelihood ofdeveloping this condition by 25 percent.9 The supplements in the studyprovided500milligramsofvitaminC,400IUofvitaminE,15milligramsofbeta-carotene,80milligramsofzinc,and2milligramsofcopper.

MotionSickness,Vertigo,andDizziness

Feelingmotionsickisawful,especiallywhenyou’restuckonaboat,plane,or bus for hours and there’s nothing you can do tomake it stop. The onlythingthatmightbeworseissufferingthesamesymptomsondryland—thenthere’snoteventheprospectofsolidgroundinyourfuturetotakeyourmindoffyourdistress.Therearesomeconditions,likelowbloodpressure,thatcan

make a person dizzy, and dizziness is also a side effect of going on or offmanymedications. If your dizziness persists, you should certainly see yourdoctor.Butifyou’rejustsufferingfromsomegarden-varietymotionsicknessor vertigo, there are a few tried and true remedies thatmay calm your sadstomachandsenseofthewobbles.

ACUPRESSURE

Zoloft was prescribed forme after I complained tomy gynecologist offeelingsofgreatdespair.HerecommendedZoloftbecauseheheardpositivethingsaboutitformenopausalsymptomsandbelievedtherewerefewsideeffects.Zoloftdid takeawaymy feelingofdespair. It alsoobliteratedmysense of humor and caused constant forgetfulness. After six years, myhusbandconvincedmetogetoffZoloft.SoIboughtapillcutterandstartedto reduce the dose very slowly.My brain retaliated. I became extremelydizzy, to the point of being bedridden. I thought I would not be able towithstand the withdrawal symptoms. Then I remembered having similarvertigoonacruiseship.AlthoughtheZoloftvertigowasmuchworsethanseasickness,acupressurewristbandsworked!I’mnowZoloftfreeandhavediscoveredthatcaffeinecontributedtomyemotionalupsanddowns.

Wearegladthewristbandshelpedconqueryourdizziness.ThissideeffectcanbetroublesomewhenpeoplestopantidepressantslikeEffexor,Paxil,orZoloft.Gradualtaperingofthedosemayhelpeaseothersymptoms,suchassweating,nausea,chills,insomnia,andheadache.

EPLEYMANEUVERS

One day I woke up and tried to get out of bed, and the room startedswaying. IbecamesweatyandsonauseatedIwassure Iwould throwup.Overthenextcoupleofdaysthevertigogotworseandworse.WheneverIrolledoverinbeditfeltliketheroomwasspinning.Afriendsaidthesamething happened to him, and he recommendedEpleymaneuvers. I saw anear, nose, and throat specialist who diagnosed my condition as benignparoxysmal positional vertigo.His audiologistmovedmyhead andupperbody through four different positions. It took about 20 minutes (sherepeatedittwice).Whatamiracle!Iwascured.Ijustwantedtosharethiswithothersbecauseitrestoredmysanity.

Benignparoxysmalpositionalvertigo(BPPV),despiteitsname,doesnotfeelbenign to sufferers.Mostpeoplewhodevelop this conditionareover60.Itiscausedbyadisturbanceinthebalancemechanismoftheinnerear.Scientists believe this happens when calcium carbonate crystals becomedislodged and fall into the semicircular canals of the inner ear. Untilrecently,therehasbeencontroversyoverthebesttreatment.Anewreview

shows that a sequence of headmovements, sometimes referred to as theEpley maneuvers, is the most effective treatment. Although people canlearn to do the movements themselves, the exercises work best whensupervisedbyatrainedprofessional,suchasanaudiologist.1

GINGER

Ihadvertigofor17months,averyseverecase.Thedoctorputmethroughtests,includinganMRI,atestthatputmeinablackcabinetandspunmearoundwhileIansweredquestions,andonethatsquirtedwaterintomyear.Then a friend suggested ginger capsules. I took the recommended twocapsules four times a day. The vertigowas nearly gone, but I still had aterriblestomachache.Icouldn’teatorevensitup.Inowtakeonecapsuletwiceaday.Thestomachpainismostlygone,andsois thevertigo.Icanwalk up and down stairswithout holding onto something, and I can turnaroundtoseesomethingbehindmewithoutmyheadspinning.WillIneedtotakethegingerfortherestofmylife,orwillthevertigostopeventually?Inotherwords,isthisacureorjusttreatingthesymptoms?

Chinese sailors have used ginger for centuries to ease or to preventsymptoms of motion sickness, so we’re not surprised it might help treatvertigo.Inhighdosesgingercancauseheartburnorotherdigestivedistress.We cannot speculate about whether ginger will cure your vertigocompletely or just relieve the symptoms. At some point you and yourphysicianshouldevaluateyourprogresstoseewhetheryoucandiscontinuetheginger.

Myhusbandjustboughtaboat,andIwishIcouldbeasenthusiasticasheis. I get seasick.Hewantsme to gowith him, but I hate feeling so bad.Over-the-countermedicinesputme to sleep. Is thereanatural remedy formotionsicknessthatworksandwon’tknockmeout?

Youmaywant to try a preparation containing ginger. One randomized,double-blind study2 compared ginger capsules with dimenhydrinate, theingredient in Dramamine. The subjects were 60 passengers on an Italiancruiseshipduringtwodaysofroughseas.Gingeranddimenhydrinatewereequally effective in relieving the symptoms of seasickness, but only 13percentofpeoplegivengingerdevelopedsideeffects (suchasdrowsinessandheadache)comparedto40percentofthoseonthepharmaceutical.

Afteracruise,Iwasupsettofindthatsolidgroundfeltlikeitwasmoving.This was very annoying, though it did not make me sick. A friend saidgingerworkedgreatforseasickness,soIslicedthreepiecesofgingerrootintohotwaterandletitsteep.Thegingerteamadethegroundstopmovingthatsameday.

People often don’t anticipate that sensation of solid ground swayingbeneath their feet after theyhavebecomeaccustomed tobeingonaboat.We’regladtohearthatgingerteaworkedaswellforthatstrangefeelingasitdoesforactualseasickness.

MuscleandLegCramps

Having a muscle suddenly and violently contract, and refuse to relax, is apainful experience. It is bad enoughwhen it happens during the day (oftenafterexercise).Butwhenamusclecrampsupatnight,itcanwakeyoufromasound sleep.Doctors once prescribed quinine, but theU.S. Food andDrugAdministration no longer permits quinine prescriptions for any conditionotherthanmalariabecauseofthedangerouseffectsofthisdrug.Thosewhoknow they do fine with tonic water may be able to get quinine that way.Othersmaybenefitfromsomeofthesehomeremedies.

AVOIDINGEARLGREYTEA

You brieflymentioned EarlGrey tea causing leg cramps and suggestedthat theoilofbergamotused for flavoringmight interferewithpotassiumabsorption.Eliminatingtheteawasaninstantcureforme.

EarlGreyteagetsitsdistinctiveflavorfromthecitrusfruitbergamot.Theoilcontainsanaturalcompoundcalledbergapten,whichcaninterferewiththeflowofpotassiumintoandoutofcells.Accordingtoonestudy,thisispresumed tobe the reason that toomuchEarlGrey tea cancausemusclecramps in susceptiblepeople.1We’regladyouwere able to conqueryourmusclecrampsbygivingupthetea.

BLACKSTRAPMOLASSES

Yearsago,Iheardthatatablespoonofblackstrapmolasseswouldalleviatelegcramps.Iusedtorelyonitbuthaven’tfounditrecently.

Askyourgrocerorcheckahealthfoodstore.Blackstrapmolassesisrichinpotassiumandironandhassomecalciumandmagnesium.

CASTOROIL

For about20years, I had chronicpain fromamuscleknottedup inmyback, like a constant cramp. I tried unsuccessfully to address it withchiropractic adjustments. A massage therapist recommended applyingcastoroil,coveringtheareawithfelt,andthenputtingaheatingpadonthesorespot.Ithastakenthreetreatments,buttheresultsaredramatic.

Castor oil applied topically has been reported to ease bruising. We’reimpressedthatitrelievedyourmusclepain.

GATORADE

IcrampeasilyevenwhenIhavenotdoneanythingstrenuous,butmoresoafterplayingtennis.DrinkingGatoradebeforeandaftertennishelpssome.WhatamIlacking?

IfGatorade helps somewhat, youmay be low in some electrolytes.WehaveheardfromanothertennisplayerthatdrinkingPedialyteafteramatchcan help prevent cramps. This liquid formulation is designed to helpreplenishlostfluidsandmineralsforbabieswhobecomedehydratedfromdiarrheaorvomiting.

GLUTEN-FREEDIET

I thoughtmyserious legcrampswere justoldagecreepinguponme. Ihandled them with additional calcium and magnesium supplements, andalsowithtonicwaterandmustard.ItwasonlywhenIwasdiagnosedwithceliacdisease(IwassoanemicthatIhadtogototheER)thatIrealizedIwasnotabsorbingcalcium.SinceIstartedthegluten-freedietforceliac,Ihaven’thadanylegcrampsatall.

People with celiac disease must avoid gluten found in wheat, rye, andbarley.Ittriggersareactionthatharmstheliningofthesmallintestineandinterferes with the absorption of crucial nutrients, including calcium andotherminerals.

MAGNESIUM

Manypeoplehavehorriblelegcrampsandcannottakequininebecauseitisbeingtakenoffthemarket.Iam70yearsoldandhavesufferedwithlegcrampsallmylife.Yearsago,IusedtotakeOTCquininetablets,buttonicwater neverworked forme.A long time ago I found that 250-milligramtablets ofmagnesium at bedtimeworked like a charm inwarding off legcrampsandrestlesslegsyndrome.

Others have also reported thatmagnesium can help relieve leg cramps.Takenbefore bedtime, itmay also help insomniacs fall asleep.Toomuchcancausediarrhea,though.

MINERALS

When I was teaching elementary school, I spent many sleep-deprivednights because I was awakenedwith leg cramps so severe they tookmybreathaway.Imentionedthis tomymother,andshesaid,“Takecalcium-magnesium.” Iwas already taking calcium, but her doctor had told her itmust be the combination supplement. I took this with a grain of salt,thinking, “I’ll try it; it won’t work.” As you might have guessed, it did

work.Icontinuetotakecalcium-magnesiumeachnightandnolongerhavecramps. One exception: I bowled six games in succession and later thatafternoonawokefromanapwithanexcruciatingcrampinmyleg.I tookthreecalcium-magnesiumtabletswithaglassofwater,andthecrampsweresoongone.Othersmightliketoknowaboutthis.

Thanks for the suggestion. Calcium, magnesium, and potassium are allessentialmineralsformusclefunction.Otherreadershavealsohadsuccessusing magnesium or calcium supplements to prevent leg cramps. Takingthemtogetherisagoodidea.

PICKLEJUICE

I’m 47 years old and play basketball.My calves seem to cramp almostevery time I play. I stretch them for about 20minutes beforehand, but itdoesn’thelp.Wouldthisbeduetoalackofcalciumorpotassium?Pleasehelp.I’msickofhobblingaroundfordaysafterIplay.

Musclecrampscanbecausedbyallsortsofthings.Lackofmineralslikecalcium, magnesium, and potassium may be responsible. In such cases,replenishingthemineralsmaypreventthecramps.Aformerfootballplayerwith the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers told us that the besthomeremedyisajiggerofpicklejuice.Youmightalsowanttodoyourcalfstretchesafteryouplay,inadditiontoyourexercisesbeforethegame.

My husband had severe leg cramps for years.While hewas at the eyedoctor, the receptionistexcusedherself, saying,“I’vegot legcramps. I’vegottagrab thedillpickle juice!”Whenmyhusbandgot legcrampsa fewnights later, he grabbed the dill pickle jar and poured himself a swig ofjuice.Almostinstantly,thecrampsweregone!Oncewewereoutofpicklejuice,andhetookatablespoonofmustard.VOILA!Hegotthesameresult!Nowhekeepslittlepacketsofmustardinthecarandthetruckjustincase.

Thanksforsharingtheremedy.Legcrampvictimsmaywellbenefit.

SOAP

I read in your column about putting soap under the sheet to stop legcramps.Myhusbandtriedit,anditworked.Before,hislegshadsometimeshurtsobadhewouldalmostcry.Oncehetriedthesoap,hislegshurtonlyafterhegotoutofbed.Nowhekeepsamotel-sizebarofsoapwithhimatalltimesandhasnomorelegpainduringthedayeither.Ourfriendsthinkwehavelostourmarbles,butwhocares?Nolegpain!

Many doctors think we have lost our marbles for recommending thisstrange remedy. Nevertheless, we have heard from many readers that it

helps,andwecan’tseehowitwouldhurt.

I readyourcolumnaboutusingsoap in thebedfor legcramps. It reallyworks.Myhusbandhadlegcrampsforyears,sinceheisafishermanandonhisfeet18hoursaday.Theybroughttearstohiseyes,althoughheisverystoic.He’shadnomorelegcrampssincewestartedputtingsoapunderthebottomsheet.Wewereplayingcardstheothernight,andhegotcrampsinhishands,holdingthecards,ashesometimesdoes.Igotabarofsoapandput it inhishand.Withinaminute thepainsubsided.Heheld thebar forabouttenminutes,andthecrampnevercameback.Nowwekeepabarofsoapnearwhereweplaycards.

Thoughmanypeoplehave toldusof their successusing soapunder thebottom sheet to ward off nighttime leg cramps, this is the first we haveheardofusingsoaptokeepawayhandcramps.

TONICWATER

WhileIwasrecoveringfromsurgery,Ihadtowearacastonmyleg,andIgotlegcramps.Afriendrecommendedtonicwater.BINGO!Itworkedlikeacharm.

Thanks for sharingyour successwith tonicwater.Manybrandsof tonicwater contain quinine, and other readers have also reported finding ithelpfulagainstlegcramps.Quininehasbeenusedmedicinallytowardoffmalariasincethe17thcentury.Aglassoftonichasroughly20milligramsofquinine,whichisarelativelysmalldose.Nevertheless,somepeoplearesosusceptibletoserioussideeffectsfromquininethattheymustavoideventhis small amount. For them, quinine may cause life-threatening heartrhythm disturbances, severe skin reactions, and several blood-relatedcomplications.ThatiswhytheFDAbannedquininefortreatinglegcramps.

TURMERIC

Mustard works for leg cramps. But I really don’t like it straight up,especiallyatnightbeforegoingtobed.Turmericistheactiveingredientinmustard.When I get leg cramps, I mix one-quarter teaspoon turmeric infourouncesofwateranddrinkitdown.Legcrampssubsideinaminuteorless,fasterthanmustardandawholelotmorepalatable.

Thanks for the tip.Somemay find the tasteofpure turmericevenmorechallenging thanmustard, though. Turmeric ismore soluble, andmay bemorepalatable,inmilk.

V8JUICE

Ayearagoyourcolumnmentioned thebenefitsof low-sodiumV8 juice

formusclecramps.ForyearsIhadsufferedfromseverelegcrampsalmostnightly. Iwould awaken in agony, even though Iwas eating bananas andtaking potassium supplements daily. After seeing your column, I begandrinkingeightouncesoflow-sodiumV8juiceeveryday.Now,morethanayear later, I have not had one episode ofmuscle cramping.V8 juice hasfewercaloriesthanbananas,andit’sthesolutiontoapainfulproblem.

Severalreadersmentionedthehighpotassiumcontentoflow-sodiumV8juice (840milligrams in 8 ounces).This offersmore potassium for fewercalories than either bananas or orange juice.We’re glad it has preventedyourlegcramps.

I awoke one nightwith themuscles and nerves inmy legs feeling likefireworks(littleexplosions…bigexplosions…thegrandfinale!).Theyweresoactivethattheystartedtwistingintocramps.Thisliterallykeptmeawakeallnight.Thecrampswereinallpartsofmylegsandfeet—nowhereelseinmy body.Blood tests didn’t reveal any problems, so the doctor shruggedand gavememuscle relaxants so I could sleep at night. I took them formonths.IfIstoppedthedrug,theproblemreturned.OnedayIreadinyourcolumnaboutamanwhowastakingadiureticandbeganhavingcrampsinhislegsatnight.Hefoundthatlow-sodiumV8stoppedtheproblem.SinceIwastakingadiureticatthetime,IthoughtIwouldgiveitatry.Itstoppedthe cramping and severely curtailedmost of the weirdmuscle and nerveactivity. I faithfully drink two glasses of the V8 every evening, and Ihaven’ttakenamusclerelaxersincethefirstglass.

Low-sodiumV8juiceprovidesplentyofpotassium.Whenthismineralisinshortsupply,manypeopledevelopcramps.Diureticsfrequentlydepletethe body of potassium, and thatmay bewhy low-sodiumV8helps somepeople. Anyone who is taking angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)inhibitor blood pressure medicines like enalapril, lisinopril, or ramipril,though,mustbeverycautiousaboutextrapotassium.

VINEGAR

Isometimesgetpainfullegcrampsthatwakemeupinthemiddleofthenight. The best treatment I have found is to drink vinegar. I put onetablespooninsixtoeightouncesofwaterwithone-halfteaspoonofsugartohelpitgodown.Thelegcrampsaregoneinaboutfiveminutes.Icarryasmallbottleofvinegarwithmenowjustincase.

Thissoundslikeaveryeasysolution.Thankssomuchfortellingusaboutit.

YELLOWMUSTARD

We tried a treatment from your column for nighttime leg cramps. Myhusbandusedtogetthemfrequentlyandwouldhavetowalkthemoffwhilein pain.He read that takingmustardwould alleviate them, so he tried it.Nowwhenhegets leg cramps at night, he takeshismustard and theygoaway quickly. He keeps a few individual packets of mustard in thebedroom.Hethoughtitwasjustanoldwives’tale,butnowhe’sabeliever.

We are delighted to learn that yellow mustard has helped relieve yourhusband’slegcramps.Aretiredpharmacisttoldusaboutthisremedynearlysix years ago: “A friend of ours uses plain mustard for leg cramps. Sheswallowsa teaspoonfulofmustard to relieve thepain.Thishome remedyworks so well for her that she carries packets of mustard wherever shegoes.”Sincethenwehaveheardfrommanyfolkswhouseyellowmustardtorelievelegcramps.Althoughthereisnoscientificproof,wesuspectthatturmeric, which gives mustard its yellow color, may have a beneficialeffect.

I suffer from legcramps.Recently,while attendingabasketballgame, Ihad to leave my seat and try to walk off a severe inner thigh cramp. Asecurityguard,seeingthatIwasgrimacinginpain,approachedmetoseeifIneeded first aid.When I said itwasonly legcramps,he tookme to theconcession stand and suggested I try yellow mustard. I asked if I wassupposed to eat it or apply it. He said it was an old-time remedy hisgrandmotherused.Iatethemustard.BythetimeIwalkedtotheendoftheconcession stand,my legcrampwasgone! Ihave sinceused this remedyrepeatedly,especially in themiddleof thenightwhenmycrampsseemtooccurmostoften.Itworks.Idon’tknowwhy,butIsureamgladitdoes.

Youarenotthefirst tosharethesecretofyellowmustard.Somereaderskeeplittlepacketsofthiscondimentontheirnightstandtoeaselegcramps,althoughothershavecomplainedthatmustardcangivethemindigestion.

NailFungus

Formostpeople,nailfungusisaminorconditionthatrequiresnotreatment.Thick yellow or brown nails aren’t pretty, and they can be hard to trimproperly.Thatistheprimaryreasonthisinfectionismoreseriousforpeoplewithdiabetes,whoareprone to footproblems.But for the restofus,homeremediesmightbejustasrationalasprescriptionmedicationssuchasLamisilorPenlac.AlthoughapprovedbytheU.S.FederalDrugAdministration,thesepriceydrugsdon’tworkforeveryone.OraldrugssuchasLamisilmayhavesystemicsideeffects.Homeremediesmaybenomoreeffective,butatleasttheyareinexpensive.

THEPEOPLE’SPHARMACY

FavoriteFood#21:MustardMustard dates to the Romans, who apparently combined unfermentedgrapejuice(must,or“newwine,”inLatin)withgroundmustardseed.Atfirstpeopleprizedmustardmoreforitsmedicinalpropertiesthanforitstingle to the taste buds. Hippocrates used mustard in poultices andvarious medicines. By the 1500s, Europeans frequently used mustardplasters to ease chest congestion. Up until the early 20th century,physiciansintheUnitedStatesroutinelyrecommendedmustardplastersonthechestfortreatinglungcongestionandacough.We enjoy all sorts ofmustards, from old-fashioned French’s yellow

hot dog mustard to German mustard with the seeds, dark deli-stylebrownmustard,andDijonmustard.Mustard’sbasicingredientsincludemustard powder, vinegar, water, salt, sugar, and various spices. In theUnited States, mustard is usually made with white mustard seeds. Tomake mustard the yellow color we expect at the ball park, the herbturmericisadded.We weren’t particularly aware of any health benefits linked to this

spiceuntilourreadersstartedsharingsomeamazingstorieswithus.Onelong-distancebicyclist relatedhis storyof usingmustard to relieve legcramps.Onarideofover100miles,hislegsstartedtocramparoundmile75.

Hehadheardthatplainyellowmustardcouldhelpcalmlegcramps,andhehadbroughtacouplemustardpackets(thekindyougetatafast-foodjoint) with him. He “sucked them down,” and, to his amazement, thecrampsdisappearedalmost immediately.Hewasable to finish the ridewithoutmoreproblems.Having heard from so many people about the unique benefits of

mustard,wedid some research.We learned thatmustard seedscontainomega-3fattyacids(thegoodfatinfishoil),aswellasmagnesium,iron,calcium, selenium, and several other important minerals. One studyrevealedthatmustardoilwasmoreeffectivethanfishoil inpreventingcoloncancer.1

CORNMEAL

Itriedthesuggestionofusingcornmealmushfortoenailfungus.Iusedittwice, and after the nail grewout the funguswasgone.Myproblemwasonlywiththebigtoenail,notallthetoes.

We heard about using cornmeal to fight nail fungus from a gardener in

Vicksburg,Mississippi.Hetoldustoputaninchofcornmealinafootbathandcoveritwithhotwatersoitcandissolve.Letitcoolsoyoudon’tburnyour feet, and then soak them in this mush for an hour. This is aninexpensiveandlow-riskapproachtonailfungus.

DANDRUFFSHAMPOO

Myneighborswears thatbrushinghis toenailswithPertPlusorHead&Shoulders dandruff shampoo when he showers both cures and preventstoenailfungus.Heclaimsthatifyouwashyourhairwiththeseshampoos,youwillneverhavefingernailfungus.Ishenuts,orisheontosomething?

Dandruff is caused by yeast (a type of fungus). That’s why dandruffshampoos with antifungal ingredients are effective at controlling flakinganditching.Itisconceivablethatbrushingtoenailswithdandruffshampoomight provide some protection against fungal infection. Once a nail isinfected, though, it is unlikely that dandruff shampoo will solve theproblem. Toenails are tough, and it is difficult for antifungal products topenetratethem.

HYDROGENPEROXIDE

Ihavebattledtoenailfungusoffandonforthepast25years.IhavebeenonLamisil three timesand triedall sortsofOTCandprescription topicalmedicines.IdecidedtotrytwooftheremediesIreadaboutinyourarticles.IappliedhydrogenperoxidewithacottonballtomytoenailsafterIbatheddaily.ThenIappliedVapoRubtomyfeetandtoenailsandputonsockstosleep in.Within amonth, I had nomore toenail fungus. I have themostbeautifultoenailsIhaveeverhadin25years.IalsolikethefactthatIcanpolishmytoenailsandstillusetheseremedies.Thankyou!

Toenailfunguscanbetoughtotreat.PrescriptionmedicineslikeLamisilareexpensiveandrequiremedicalmonitoringforliverproblemsandotherpotential side effects. Success with home remedies like the ones you areusing requires persistence.Hydrogenperoxide is antimicrobial, andVicksVapoRubcontainsherbaloilswithantifungalactivity.

Itriedyourhydrogenperoxidetreatmentfortoenailfungus,anditworkedlikeacharm.

The reader who suggested this remedy applied pharmacy-strengthhydrogenperoxidedailytonailswithacottonballaftershowering.

IODINE

For over 20years Iwasplaguedwithdry, flaky skinon the sideofmynose and behind my earlobes. I went to several doctors, including

dermatologists.Wetriedvarioussalvestonoavail.Afterawhilethisaddedup tobigbucks. Iwondered if thisailmentwascausedbya fungus.Asachemist,Iknowthatiodineisveryeffectiveonfungusandmanybacteria.Iappliedtinctureofiodinewithmyfingers(everytwodaysforaweek)andgot cured within a week. It’s been two months, and the spots have notreturned.Thecostoftreatmentwaslessthantwodollars.Ipreviouslyhadsuccesstreatingtoenailfunguswithiodine.SinceIamaman,darktoenails(stainedbyiodine)didnotbotherme.Ihavesuggestediodinetreatmenttomanyfriends,andtheresponseshavebeenenthusiastic.Manyhavesolvedtheirnailproblemsafterotherpriceytreatmentswereunsuccessful.

Iodinewas discovered about 200 years ago. As a tincture, it has broadantisepticactivity.Youarecorrectthatitkillsfungus.Tinctureofiodineisdarkbrownandcanstain,sonoteveryonewillwant touseitontheface.Analternativewouldbeclear,decolorizedor“white”iodine(yodoblancoinSpanish).Itwon’tstaintheskin,andmanyreaderstellusitworksaswellastinctureofiodineforfightingfungus-infectednails.

LISTERINE

WhenIneededtreatmentfor toenail fungus,mydoctorsuggestedIsoakmytoesinListerinefor30minutesanightfor30days.IsentmyhusbandtoCostcoforagiantjugofListerine.Hereturnedwiththemintyone.It’sblue,but I figured thatwouldn’t reallymakeadifference. It did.My feetturned blue, and no amount of scrubbing could take the color off. Myhusband laughed until he cried. After switching to the regular (amber)Listerine,mytoenailfungusdidclearup,butthenailsthemselvesweredry.

The herbal oils found in old-fashioned Listerine, such as thymol andeucalyptol,haveantifungalproperties.ManyofourreadershavefoundthatListerineiseffectiveinfightingnailfungus.ThealcoholinregularListerine(26.9percent)mightbetheculpritthatdriesoutyournails.

LISTERINEANDVINEGAR

You receive many letters about nail fungus, and I wanted to share myexperience. Our daughter contracted a foot fungus while swimming at alocal club when she was six. We’ve tried a lot of different antifungalproducts, but I didn’t want to give her oral medicine. The podiatristsuggested amixture of half white vinegar and half Listerine. I dabbed itontohertoeseverymorningwithacottonball.Finallyhertoenailsarepinkandhealthylooking.Itworks,butittakesaverylongtime.

We firstwrote about using amixture ofwhite vinegar andListerine fornailfungusinspring2005afterhearingaboutitspotentialfromonereader.

Some people dab it on their nails, while others soak their feet in thesolution.(Itcanbereusedseveraltimes.)TheherbaloilsinListerinehaveantifungal properties, as does the alcohol. Vinegar is acidic, and thusdiscouragesthespreadoffungus.PerhapsthecombinationofListerineandvinegarprovidesmoreantifungalactivitytogetherthanindividually.

I’vehad toenail fungusonallmy toes foranumberofyearsandwouldliketoknowthemosteffectivetreatment.

Therearenostudiestoshoweffectivenessofmosthomeremedies,soitishardtopredictwhatwillworkbest.Whetheryoutreatyournailfunguswithaprescriptiondrugorahomeremedy,you’llneedtobepersistent.Hereisone reader’s experience: “I read your column about toenail fungus andathlete’s foot. I’ve found the foolproofmethod to get rid of this problemwithoutusingtoxicprescriptionmeds.Soakthefeettwiceaweekforaboutfivetotenminutesina50/50mixtureofwhitevinegarandregular(amber)Listerine.Themixturecanbeput inasealablecontainer largeenoughforyour feet and canbeused for threemonthsbeforemaking another batch.For in-between use and traveling, pick up aMisto container for sprayingcooking oil at any good kitchen store. It’s unbreakable, doesn’t leak, andtravelswell.Iuseit tospraymyfeetdaily,especiallybetweenthetoes.Ittakes about a year of this to clear up a serious toenail fungus, but it alsoeliminatesotherfootproblemscausedbymoisture.”

TEATREEOIL

Idevelopedtoenailfungusonbothbigtoesbutwasreluctanttouseharshpharmaceutical treatments. So I blended a one-to-one ratio of tea tree oil(antifungal) and DMSO (penetrating carrier) and added a few drops ofcloveoil(whichwillkillanything—fungalorbacterial!).Ishookitupwellanddabbeditonmynailstwiceaday,makingsuretheyweredrybeforeIput onmy shoes. It took threeweeks, butmy nails are now clear. I lovehomeremedies,soIthoughtI’dpassthisoneon!

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is an interesting compound. This solventcarries other chemicals through the skin, and is used in some topicalprescriptions products for this purpose. Tea tree oil has demonstratedantifungal properties, and the DMSOmight help it get through the nail.Your formula is unique, but itmaybe irritating to the skin.Anyonewhotriesitshouldrestrictthismixturetothenails.

URINE

Over the last nine years I have tried everything I ever heard about andeverythingyouhavewrittenontreatingnailfungus.Nothingworked.Then

Ireadyourcolumnaboutthesoldierwhowastoldbyhissergeanttourinateon his feetwhile in the shower.Well, Iwas desperate, so I urinated in afoam cup and then soakedmy finger for about fiveminutes every night.Aftersoaking,Icleanedmyfingerwithahandsanitizer.Iknowitsoundsgross. I did this for about threeweeks.Thatwas threeyears ago, and thefungusisstillgone!

AfewyearsagoweheardfrombothagrandmotherandaWorldWarIIveteranthaturinatingonyourfeetintheshowercouldhelpcontrolathlete’sfoot.Thisisthefirsttimewehavelearnedthatthisremedymightalsoworkagainst nail fungus. Thanks for sharing your experience with thisinexpensiveremedy.Wecannotexplainhowitmightwork.

VINEGAR

Mysisterhasbeengoing throughchemotherapyand radiation forbreastcancerthispastyear.Shestartedlosinghertoenailsduetofungusandwasshocked at the cost ofmedication for this. I passed along your article onvinegar soaks.She laughedat firstbutdecided to try it.Guesswhat?Shehasn’tlostanothernail,andthefungushasgoneaway.Sheevencopiedthearticleandgaveitoutatthechemocenter!Thanks.

We are pleased your sister has benefited and shared the word. Vinegarsoaksareasimple,inexpensiveapproachtonailfungus.Theacidinvinegarmakesforaninhospitableenvironmentforfungus.

Myhusband’stoenailfunguswasterrible.Ireadyourarticleaboutusingvinegarandwater toheal thefungus.Myhusbandstarted this treatmentafewmonthsagoandsoakedhisfeetalmosteverynight.Thetoenailsononefoot are completely healed, and the other foot has only one nail stillaffected.Thanksforsuchgoodadvice.

Soakingthefeetnightlyinasolutionofonepartvinegartotwopartswaterisaremedythatseemstohelpmanyfightoffnailfungus.Ittakespatience,sincethenailhastogrowoutfungusfree.Thatmaytakemanymonths.Ifvinegarsoaksdonothelp,thereareseveralotherhomeremediesthatcanbehelpful, such as applications of tea tree oil, vitamin E oil, hydrogenperoxide,rubbingalcohol,oriodine.

Nausea

Thequeasyfeelingthatprecedesvomitinghasanumberofcauses.Itmaybethe firstalertofagastrointestinal infectionora reaction tomedication.Thenausea that accompanies pregnancy, especially in the first trimester, isnotorious,andpregnantwomenarecautionedagainsttakingmedications.Soitishelpfultohaveacouplehomeremediestotry.

ACUPRESSURE

Ireadwithgreatinterestthecommentsfromreaderswhohavehadgoodresultsusingacupressurebandsasasleepaid.I toohavehadgreatresultsfromacupressurebands,but as a cure fornausea.When Iwaspregnant Isufferedfromnausea24hoursaday.(I’llneverfigureoutwhytheycallitmorningsicknessbecauseIwasnauseatedmorning,noon,andnight.)Ihadto travelwithplasticbags inmycarbecause Ineverknewwhen Iwouldneedtovomit.Afriendfinallysentmethesenewantinauseabandsthatareworn around thewrist andprovide constant pressureon something calledtheNei-kuanacupressurepoint. I feltsomuchbetter that Iwore themforthedurationofmypregnancy.Thebandsareadjustableforanysizewrist.You can control the amount of pressure you apply, which makes themcomfortable.Iamnolongerpregnant,butIwearthemonlongcartripsandwhenItravelbyair.Ihopethisishelpful.

Thankyouforsharingyourstory.Othershavealsoreportedsuccesswithwristacupressurefornauseaorinsomnia.ThosewhoarecuriouscansearchtheWebforPsiBands,Sea-Bands,orAcuBands.

Is thereanynondrugsolutiontoextremenauseaduringpregnancy?Iamfourmonths pregnant and nauseated all the time.Nothingmy doctor hassuggestedhasworkedmorethanaweek.Iamdesperate.

Morningsickness isamisnomer formanywomen, since thenauseaandvomitingcanoccuranytime.Forsome,theconditionissoseverethattheymay lose weight and become dehydrated, putting the baby at risk. OnedevicethatmayhelpiscalledPrimaBella.It looksalotlikeawristwatch,butitdeliversamildpulseofelectricitytoanacupressurepointontheinnerwrist.Thiselectronictoolisavailablebyprescriptionformorningsickness,chemotherapy, and postoperative nausea, and without a prescription formotion sickness. You can learn more from the website:www.primabellarx.com.Ameta-analysishasalsoindicatedthatstimulationoftheP6acupuncturepointwasaboutaseffectiveasantiemeticdrugsfortreatingpostoperativenausea.1

GINGER

Itmakesmemadwhenpeoplewon’ttryhomeremedies.Iguessitsoundstooeasy.Gingerteaworksgreatfornausea.

A recent study showed that ginger pills can alleviatemorning sickness.Gingerteashouldalsohelp.

Forallofhis65years,mypartnerhasgottenseasickonaboat.Thiswastrue even for two years serving on a ship in the navy. We just took an

AlaskacruiseonwhichIservedasaguide.Hefelt justfine,eventhoughsome others did not. Why? Because we read your column about gingercapsules, available inhealth food stores.He took thecapsuleswithmealsthreetimesaday.Hegotgreatbenefitandhadnosideeffects.IamtellingeveryoneIknow!

Peoplehaveusedgingerroottopreventmotionsicknessforthousandsofyears.Placebo-controlledstudiesconfirmitseffectiveness.

Canyoutellmeaboutgingerfornausea,especiallyduringpregnancy?

People in China have used ginger root to combat nausea for centuries.Several studies suggest it may also fight morning sickness. One readerreports, “I taughtchildbirthpreparationclasses foranumberofyearsandsuggestedcandiedgingertomystudents.Ithasalongshelflife,especiallywhen refrigerated. Candied ginger is inexpensive, readily available, andoftenhelpful.”

NervePain

Ifyouhityour thumbwithahammer, thecauseof thepain isclear.Notsowith themysterious ailment known as neuropathy, or nerve pain.Weknowthatchronicconditionssuchasdiabetescancauseperipheralneuropathy,ornervepain in the legs (andveryoccasionally in thehandsandarms).Somemedications provokeneuropathy as a side effect; statinsmaybe among themostcommonlyprescribeddrugsthatproducethiseffect.Shinglesisitselfaverypainful affliction,but for somepeople thenervepain that lingers afterthe rash has healed (known as postherpetic neuralgia) is lasting andexcruciating. According to one study, vitamin deficiencies, particularly invitaminB12,canleadtonervepain.1Inthatcase,thepainshouldrespondtovitamin supplementation, either oral or injected.2 But it is by no meansobvious why some people develop trigeminal neuralgia, which is pain thatrunsalongthepathofthetrigeminalnerveinthefaceandhead.

Doctorshaveafewmedicationsthattheyoftenprescribeforpainrootedinirritationof thenerves.Medications initiallydeveloped for treatingepilepsyare often helpful:Neurontin,Topamax, orLyrica. In some cases physiciansprescribe antidepressants for the pain itself rather than for the lowmood itmight understandably produce. Old medications like amitriptyline ornortriptyline,andneweroneslikeCymbalta,maybeusedinthismanner.

Research shows that diabetics with peripheral neuropathymay get relieffromalpha-lipoicacid,anonprescriptiondietarysupplement.3Manyreadersare enthusiastic about the value of the herb turmeric, either alone or incombination with bromelain and boswellia, but at this time the research is

limitedtoinvestigatingbasicmechanismsofitsactioninanimals.4

TURMERIC

Turmericisexcellentfornervedamage.Ihadapinchednerveinmyneck.I went to the emergency department, but the doctors said they had nopainkillerfornerves.Insteadtheygavemeahigh-poweredpainpill.Thosepainpillsalmostkilledme—myreactiontothemsetthenerveonfire.ThepainwassogreatthatIcriedallthetime.For14daysIcouldn’tsleepformorethanafewminuteshereandthere.OnceIstoppedthepainpills,thepain eased up somewhat. I asked at the health food store if there wasanythingtohelpthepaininmyneck.Theyrecommendedturmeric,soIgotabottle,andwith thevery firstpill Icould feel thepaingoingaway.TheturmericItakeisinacombinationformula.IuseSolarayTurmericSpecialFormula. It combines turmericwith bromelain and boswellia, and I havegottengoodrelieffromitforfiveyears.

I’ve found turmeric to beveryhelpful for pain associatedwithmultiplesclerosis. I gaveupon all themedications prescribed forMSpain—nonegavemeanyrelief.ButI’vetakentwocapsulesofturmericdailyforalmosttwoyearsandhavehaddramaticrelieffrompaininmyfeetandlegs.

Bromelain, boswellia, and turmeric are all traditional Indian ayurvedicmedicines with strong anti-inflammatory properties. Bromelain is anenzymederivedfrompineapple.Boswelliacomesfromatreeresinsimilarto frankincense.Turmeric is theyellowspice incurrypowderandyellowmustard. Other readers have also reported that this combination isespeciallyhelpfulfornervepain.

THEPEOPLE’SPHARMACY

FavoriteFood#22:GingerGingercomesfromtherhizome(orundergroundstemthatiscommonlyreferred to as a root) of the SoutheastAsian plantZingiber officinale.The flavor is spicy, almost hot, though in a completely different wayfrom hot peppers. In addition to proving useful as a flavor in spicecookies or curries, ginger has been widely used to calm the digestivetract,toeasesymptomsofcolds,andtoprovidepainrelief.Chinesesailorsusedtorelyongingertopreventmotionsickness,and

someresearchsuggeststheymayhavebeenontosomething.1Althoughsomeinvestigatorshavenotfoundgingertobeeffectiveagainstmotionsickness,2mostoftheevidenceindicatesthatitcanbehelpfultocombatmorningsickness.3

Scientists are also investigating ginger for its ability to quell thedebilitating nausea associatedwith chemotherapy.4 In a study ofmorethan 600 patients undergoing chemotherapy, participants were given astandard antivomiting medication. They also took either ginger orplacebocapsulesforsixdays,startingthreedaysbeforechemotherapy.They rated the severity of nausea four times daily during treatment.

Thepatientswhotookgingerhad45percent lessnauseathantheyhadexperienced in a previous round of chemotherapy with only standardmedication. Those who took the placebo did not have a significantdifferenceintheirratings.Otherreadershavefoundthatgingerhasadditionalusesaswell.Itcan

ease the symptoms of a cold or cough, restore a hoarse voice, or helpalleviateaheadache.Though little researchdemonstrates thatginger istrulyeffectiveforcoldsandheadaches,onereaderreportedonginger’seffectiveness for a persistent cough: “I tried antibiotics, gargles, andanestheticlozenges,butnoneofthemworked.Thenmyfathersuggestedthat I chop up some raw ginger root, chew the pieces like candy, andsuckthejuiceoutofthem.Itriedhissuggestion,andthefollowingday,mycoughwascompletelygone.”

VITAMINB12

Myfingersandtoesstartedtinglingunpleasantlyaboutthreemonthsago.My internist recently did blood work and found no diabetes or otherproblems.WhenthenurseaskedmeifIwasstilltakingmyusualmedicinesand vitamins, she mentioned B12. It dawned on me then that I haddiscontinued it when I was suffering from a nasty coughing spell. ThetinglingbeganaboutthetimeIstoppedtakingthevitaminB12.Thedoctorwantedtorefermetoaneurologist,butIaskedifIcoulddelaythatuntilIbegan takingB12 again to see if the tingling disappeared. I’ve just beguntaking the supplement, but it seems to be working. Others might like toknowaboutthis.

Tinglingornumbnessinthehandsorfeetiscalledperipheralneuropathy.A fairly common complication of diabetes, it can be caused by somemedications, including certain cholesterol-lowering drugs, cancertreatments,andantimicrobials. InadequatevitaminB12canalsocontributetoneuropathy.Wehopethatreturningtoyourregularvitaminregimenwillrelievethetingling.

Nosebleed

Ifyougethithardinthenose,there’sagoodchanceyouwillendupwitha

nosebleed.Nomysterythere.Mostnosebleedsoccurfornoapparentreason,though. Children are especially susceptible. Chronic or severe nosebleedsrequire medical attention to rule out any serious underlying medicalcondition.There are effectiveover-the-countermedications. If, on theotherhand,anosebleedhappensatworkoratnightwhenitisinconvenienttogettoapharmacy,ahomeremedymaybejusttheticket.

COLDKEYS

Mydaughterhasbadnosebleeds.Doyouhaveanyherbalorhomeremedysuggestions?

You may want to start in the pharmacy. There are three products toconsider: Nosebleed QR (www.biolife.com; 800-722-7559), NasalCEASE(www.nasalcease.com;800-650-6673),andSeal-On(www.seal-on.com).Asforhomeremedies,ourfavoritewouldbetoputaringofcoldkeysdownthe back of her neck under her shirt.We cannot explain why this mightwork,butwehaveheardfrommanyreadersthatit isamazinglyeffective.One readeroffered this: “When Iwasa littlegirl in ruralNorthCarolina,mydaddyknewhow tostopnosebleedswhensomeone in the familyhadone.Heput a bunchof car keysdownourbacks.Thenosebleed stoppedpronto.”

WhenIwasakid,Igotverybadnosebleeds.Ifnothingelseworked,mymotherwouldgetoutherkeysanddropthemdownthebackofmyneck.IwishIknewwhyitworkedsowell.

We have heard from many people who have had success stoppingnosebleedswithkeysoracoldbutterknifeagainstthebackoftheneck.Wedon’tknowwhythistrickworks,butonereaderofferedthefollowingfromhisexperienceasamedicdoingwaterrescue:“Thekeysworkbecauseofthemammalian dive reflex.Cold hits the nerves in the neck, causing theblood vessels to constrict.Youmight notice your pulse slowing too. Thedivereflexiswhycold-waterdrowningvictimsarenotusuallypronounceddeaduntiltheyare‘warmanddead.’Coldwateronlyinthefaceandheadarea shunts blood to the organs and away from the skin and slows themetabolismforsurvival.Thevitalsignsareoftentooweaktodetect.”Thishypothesissoundsplausibletous.Wecan’tofferabetterone.

PAPER

Ihadnosebleedsfrominfancytolatepuberty.Anunclegavemymotherthistrick.HeservedinthearmyinWWI,soitgoeswayback.Takesomebrownpaperfromashoppingbag,folditintoadoublestripaboutaninchandahalflongbyone-quarterinch,andplaceitinthefrontofthemouthas

farupasyoucan,soitappliespressureabovethejawboneandjustunderthenose.Itwillstopatorrentinaminuteorso.Itisquickerthancoldkeysonthebackoftheneck.

We’veheard of this remedy, butwe cannot explain how itwouldwork,anymorethanwecanexplainhowkeysdroppeddownthebackoftheneckwouldstopanosebleed.

PlantarFasciitis

This heel condition hurts like hell. Typically, you feel the pain on theunderside of the heel through the arch, and it is especially uncomfortablewhenyoufirstgetoutofbedinthemorningandtakeasteportwo.Wearandtear leads to inflammationof theplantar fascia,which supports the arch.Apodiatristislikelytorecommendspecialstretchingexercises,orthotics,goodshoes,andrest.Homeremediesmayalsoaidinrecovery.

CHERRYJUICE

Iwasdiagnosedwithplantarfasciitisbyoneofthebestfootdoctorsinmycity. Iwasgivenpainmedicines,manyanti-inflammatorydrugs, and footsplintswithnosuccess.Asalastresort,herecommendedsteroidinjectionsfortheintensepain.AfriendsuggestedthatItrycherryjuice.Intwodays,Iwasnearlypainfree.Itwasalmostareligiousexperience.Iamconvincedthisworks,andIhavesincedrunkmorecherryjuicewhenpainflaredupafewweekslater.OnceagainIgotgreatrelief.

Anumberofanimalstudiesonratstreatedtodeveloparthritishaveshownthat cherry extract can reduce paw swelling and pain behaviors. The redcompounds, anthocyanins, appear to have anti-inflammatory effects. Wedon’tknowwhycherry juicewouldhaveworkedwhenanti-inflammatorydrugssuchasaspirindidnot,butwe’regladtohearofit.

Ihaveasensitivestomach,sodrugslikeibuprofenandnaproxencausemeproblems. I havealsoheard that thesedrugscanbehardon the liver andkidneys.WhatelsecanIuseformyplantarfasciitisandbackpain?

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can certainly causestomach ulcers and kidney or liver damagewhen taken in high doses forlong periods of time. Some people can’t even tolerate low doseswithoutgettingheartburn.Forplantarfasciitis, thebestsolutionsarearchsupportsand stretching. Muscle pain may also respond to tart cherry juice. Twoseparate researchprojectsonhorsesandcollegestudentshaveshown thatcherryjuiceminimizesexercise-inducedmuscledamage.1

FISHOIL

IamanRNandamconstantlyonmyfeetatthehospital.Iwasdiagnosedwithplantarfasciitistwoyearsagoandhadsteroidinjectionsinbothheelsseveral times without much relief. A couple weeks prior to seeing thepodiatristwhowoulddosurgeryonmyheels,Ibegantakingfishoilformycholesterol.IwasalittleembarrassedwhenIwentforthepresurgicalvisitbecauseat that time Iwasn’thavinganydiscomfort. I toldhimabout thefish oil I was taking, and he told me that fish oil has anti-inflammatoryproperties.Itakefourcapsulesaday,soIdon’tneedthesurgeryandhavenopain!

Your podiatrist is quite right. Research indicates that the omega-3 fattyacidsinfishoilhaveanti-inflammatoryactivity,2andtakingroughly4,000milligrams per day should certainly be enough to make a noticeabledifference.Otherconditionsthatmayrespondfavorablytofishoilincludeattention deficit disorder (ADD), osteoarthritis, heart disease, depression,anddementia.

Psoriasis

Psoriasisisanautoimmunecondition.Theconditionismildbutchronic,andthere is no true cure. Inpsoriasis, skin cells revup and accelerate their lifecycle.Thisresultsinreddishpatches,oftenwithsilveryscales,ontheelbows,knees,back,orscalp.Peoplewithpsoriasismayfeelembarrassedbecauseitcanbescarylooking;othersmayneedtobereassuredthatitisnotcontagiousin any way. Sometimes psoriasis affects toenails or fingernails. At timespsoriaticnailsmaybemistakenfornailsinfectedwithfungus,butantifungalmedicineswillbeofnohelp.Psoriasisisaninflammatorydisease,anditcanalsoaffectjoints.Psoriaticarthritiscanbequitedebilitatingandmayrequireheavy-dutymedicationssuchasmethotrexateorneweroneslikeRemicadeorEnbrel, which are also used for rheumatoid arthritis. In some cases, sunexposure (but not enough to burn the skin) can help tame the plaques ofpsoriasis.Inothers,adoctorwillprescribeoralmedicinetosensitizetheskinbefore the patient is exposed to ultraviolet light of a carefully controlledfrequency and period of time in the clinic. This is often helpful, but anexperienced clinician must supervise this PUVA (psoralens plus ultravioletradiation)treatmentbecauseofthepotentialhazards.Thereisnospecificdietrecommendedtoeasepsoriasis,butmanyreadershavereportedbenefitfromputtingcurcuminorturmericontheirfood.Preliminaryresearchsuggeststhattheremaybesomescientificbasisfortheirenthusiasm.1

FLAXSEEDOIL

I’vebeenfascinatedwithremediespeopleareusingforpsoriasis.Severalyears agomy husband suffered from psoriasis on his arms and legs. The

medication the dermatologist gave him was not helpful. I bought someflaxseed oil capsules in the health food store.Myhusbandwas skeptical,but by the time he finished the first bottlewe saw improvement.He hascontinuedwithitandisstillfreeofscabs.Idon’tknowwhyitworks,butothersmightwanttoknowaboutit.

Thanksforsharingyourhusband’sexperience.Flaxseedoil,likefishoil,isrich in essential fatty acids, especially alpha-linolenic and linoleic acid.Therearereportsthatflaxseedoilisbeneficialforcellmembranesandskinhealth. Although we have not seen any double-blind, placebo-controlledtrials, some people report improvement in both psoriasis and eczemathroughuseofflaxseedorfishoil.

LISTERINE

Myfatherhadaproblemwithpsoriasisofthescalp.Adoctortoldhimtorub a small amount of Listerine (original formula) into his scalp eachmorning.Hedoesandhasn’thadflakingoritchingsince.

ManyreadershavesharedtheirsuccesswithListerineinfightingdandruff.Thisconditionisoftencausedbyayeastinfection.Thealcoholandherbaloils inListerinehave antifungal properties thatmay control the infection.HowListerinemighthelppsoriasis,which isnotcausedby infection, isamystery.

TURMERIC

A few months ago you wrote about the use of turmeric for boils andpossibly arthritis or cancer. This bit of information has changedmy life.I’ve sufferedwith psoriasis for 25 years and have it over nearly halfmybody.I’veseenmanyphysiciansandtriedeverymedicationandultraviolettreatment. The enormous cost has been matched only by mydisappointment.When I read that turmericmight have anti-inflammatoryproperties,Iwonderedifitmighthelpme.Iimmediatelyboughtsomeandsprinkled a rounded teaspoonful on my cereal. I continued the regimendaily,andtheresultsareunbelievable!Aftertendays,theawfulitchingandbleeding had ceased.My scalp,which had been heavily flaked and itchy,wasreturningtonormal.Theskinproblemsonmylegsandthighsclearedupaftereightweeks.Now,fivemonthslater,Ihavenopsoriasis,justafewreddenedareaswhere itwasbad. Iamgrateful toyoufor the informationthatmadeahugedifferenceforme.

Turmeric, a spice in curry powder, is popular in India. In this country,yellow mustard often contains some turmeric. Curcumin, the activeingredient, has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which may

help explain how it could help an inflammatory condition like psoriasis.Several readers have reported that taking turmeric capsules or putting thespiceonfoodishelpfulagainstpsoriasis.TurmericwasusedfordigestiveproblemsintraditionalChinesemedicine.

I want to thank you for writing about turmeric for treating psoriasis. Idevelopedthisconditiontwoyearsago,anditmademyskinveryitchyandsensitiveaswellasunsightly. Isawthreedifferentdermatologistswhoalldiagnosed psoriasis. Each prescribed creams and ointments, but noneworked.AfterIreadyourarticleonturmeric,Itriedit.WithinonemonthIwas better. After three months, every sore was gone. They have notreturned,eventhoughIstoppedtakingtheturmericnearlyayearago.

Severalreadershavereportedthattakingturmericcapsulesorputtingitonfoodhelpsrelievepsoriasis,andonereaderhasfoundithelpfulfortreatingirritablebowelsyndrome.

Iwanttothankyouforwritingaboutturmeric.Ihadpsoriasisonmyfeetandmyhands so bad that I lost allmy fingernails. Iwent to doctor afterdoctortohealmypsoriasis,butnothingworked.WhenIsawthearticle,IthoughtI’dtryit.Iputturmericonmyfoodandinmycoffee.Withintwoweeks,mypsoriasishadstartedtoheal.Withinthreeweeks,ithadclearedup.Ihavebeenfreeofpsoriasisforsixmonthsnow.Myfootisnolongerscaling,andthenailsonmyhandshavegrownback.Itoldthedoctoraboutturmeric.Iguesshedidn’tbelieveme,butIknowbetter.

Research demonstrates that a component of turmeric, curcumin, showspromise for treating psoriasis and other conditions.2We have heard frommanyothersthatturmericcanhelpeasepsoriasis.Somepeopleareallergictothespice,however,andthosewhotaketheanticoagulantwarfarinshouldavoidit.

My stepdadhas had a horrible case of psoriasis for over ten years.Therashwasalloverhisbodyandcakedonhisscalp,andititchedconstantly.ThedermatologisthesawprescribedDovonex,Capex,andclobetasol.Hehasusedthesemedicationsoffandonsinceabout2001,buttheyprovidedminimal relief.Momfoundasuggestion inyourbook(BestChoices fromthePeople’sPharmacy)thatturmericmighthelptreatpsoriasis.Wewenttothelocalfoodco-opandpickeditupinpillform.Withinaweekhisscalpwashalfwayclear,andnow,threeweekslater,itisjustatinybitflakywithnoitching.Thishasbeenlifechangingforhim.Nothingevercleareduphispsoriasis like the turmerichas.HediscontinuedusingDovonexandwantsto drop theCapex and clobetasol next.All of thesemedications are veryexpensive,especiallyincomparisontoturmeric.

People in Indiahaveused turmeric in traditionalayurvedicmedicine forthousands of years. Basic research suggests a number of reasons whycurcumin,theactivecompoundinturmeric,wouldhaveabeneficialeffectintreatingpsoriasis.3Wehopetoseeadouble-blindstudyofthebenefitsofcurcuminsomeday.Researcherslookingintothepotentialhealthbenefitsofcurcumin found that curcumin inhibits an enzyme called PhK, which isassociatedwithoveractivecellgrowthinpsoriasis.4

I know you have written about taking turmeric for psoriasis. Myfingernailsarefallingoutfromthiscondition.Isturmericsafe?

Thereisgrowinginterest in turmericanditsactiveingredient,curcumin,for treating a variety of inflammatory conditions, includingpsoriasis.Noteveryonewill benefit from turmeric, and there are cautions.Somepeopleexperience skin rashes or liver enzyme elevations. Turmeric may alsointeractwiththeanticoagulantwarfarin(Coumadin)andincreasetheriskofbleeding.Anewstudyshowsthatturmericincreasesoxalateintheurine,soitmayincreasetheriskofkidneystonesinsusceptiblepeople.5

THEPEOPLE’SPHARMACY

FavoriteFood#23:Curry(TurmericandCurcumin)Many spices can go into curry powder, but the one that is absolutelynecessary for color and flavor is turmeric. Derived from the root ofCurcuma longa—a plant related to ginger—turmeric is the goldenyellowspiceincurryandyellowmustard.IthasbeenwidelyusedinthecuisinesofsouthernAsiaforcenturies,andlatelyitseemsthattherestoftheworldhasgrowntoappreciateturmericaswell.Thecompoundsinturmericarenoteasilydissolvedinwater,butthe

tradition of making curry with ghee (clarified butter) or coconut milkovercomes this problem by providing fat to carry the importantcomponents.Researchers have been studying an ingredient in turmericcalled curcumin.1 This compound has both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that may contribute to its use for treatingconditionslikearthritis,psoriasis,andgout.Cancerresearchersareinvestigatingthepotentialofcurcumintoaffect

anextraordinary rangeof tumors involving thebreast,pancreas, colon,bladder,prostate,skin,ovaries,lung,andbrain.Somedataevensuggestthat curcumin might be active against the blood cancer multiplemyeloma.2 Research also suggests that the compound curcumin mayevenbeabletowardoffAlzheimer’sdisease,whichseemstoberootedinbraininflammation.3

Wedo,however,wanttoissueacoupleofcautions.Ifyoudeveloparash or hives, you should stop taking the turmeric immediately. Thereactioncouldworsen.Somepeoplehavefoundthattheirliverenzymesgoupwhentheytaketurmericorcurcumin.Thisisawarningsignthattheliverishavingtrouble.Inaddition,wehavehadseveralreportsthatturmericcaninteractwith

the blood-thinner warfarin (Coumadin). If you take Coumadin, youshouldnot take turmeric. It is toodifficult to strike a balancebetweenturmeric and warfarin, and the danger of bleeding is too great to risktakingboth.

Raynaud’sDisease

Raynaud’s is a condition in which blood vessels in the hands and feetconstrict,leadingtopainandnumbness.Sometimesfingersortoeseventurnwhite or blue. The nose or earlobes also may be affected. The cause ismysterious,andthereisnocure.Doctorsprescribeavarietyofmedicationstoimprove circulation, but no one treatment works for everyone. For some,homeremediesmaybeaworthwhileoption.

ASTRAGALUS

About a year ago I read in your column that a man with Raynaud’sphenomenonhadgoodluckwithastragalusrootforthisproblem.Itriedit,and within days it had worked like magic. Before using it I had almostdecidedIwouldmovetoFloridafor thewinter. Ididn’t takeitduringthesummer, because my fingers become painful only in cold weather. ThiswinterIbegantakingit,anditisworkingbeautifullyagain.

Astragalus root has been used inChina for centuries to boost immunityandcirculation.Researchonanimalssuggeststhatastragalusmayimprovecirculation,whichisaproblemwithRaynaud’s.

CINNAMON

My Raynaud’s syndrome has suddenly seemed to disappear. The onlychange I’ve made is to take a cinnamon capsule daily starting about sixweeksago.Myfingersusedtoturnwhiteeveninthesummer.Todayit’sinthe20sandIhaven’thadaproblem,evengettingstuffoutofthefreezer.Isitthecinnamon?

In Chinese medicine both cinnamon and the herb astragalus have beenusedtoimprovecirculationandtorelievesymptomsofRaynaud’sdisease.Be careful not to overdose on the cinnamon, though, since this spicesometimescontainsacompoundcalledcoumarinthatcandamagetheliver.

Tobesafe,trylookingforacinnamonsupplementthatiswaterextractedtoeliminatethecoumarin.

FAVORITERECIPES

T’sImmuno-tea

ContributedbyTieraonaLowDog,M.D.

1ounceastragalusroot,driedandsliced1ounceschizandrafruit,dried1ouncerosehips,dried½ounceeleutheroroot,driedandsliced2cupswaterHoneyandlemontotaste

Mixherbstogetherandstoreinajar.Keepinadarkplace.

TO PREPARE:Add one tablespoon herbmixture towater, bring to a boil, andsimmer,covered,for15minutes.Strain.Addhoneyandlemontotaste.

Drink half a cup two to three times every day during the cold and fluseason.

RestlessLegSyndrome

For years, people with restless leg syndrome (RLS) tried to describe theirexperienceasacreepy-crawlyfeelingundertheskin,orakindoftuggingorgnawing in the muscle. Some people called it jumpy legs because thesensationsareeasedonlywhen theymove their legs.Thecondition ismostnoticeable when someone is sitting still or lying down. RLS may beaccompaniedbyperiodiclimbmovementinsleep.Inthiscondition,musclestwitchor jerk (everyminute,or even several timesaminute) allnight longanddisturbsleep.PrescriptiondrugscanhelpeaseRLS,butsideeffectssuchas daytime sleepiness (with potential accidents for drivers) have manysuffererslookingforhomeremedies.

GIN-SOAKEDRAISINS

Lastsummeryouranaletterfromawomanwhoreportedthatgin-soakedraisinshadhelpedbothher arthritis andher restless leg syndrome (RLS).Mercifully,Idon’thavearthritis,butIdohaveRLS,soI’vebeentryingthisremedyafterdinnerever since. I ammosthappy to report that those sillylittleraisinshavegonealongwaytowardsmoderatingtheproblemforme.IcanonceagainwatchafewhoursofTVintheeveningwithoutwantingtocrawloutofmyskin.It’susuallyaloteasiertofallasleepaswell.Oh,joy!

We have beenwriting about gin-soaked raisins since 1994.Wehave noideawhysomepeoplefindthemsohelpfulforarthritispain.LastJulywereceivedthisletterfromareader:“Ireadaboutyourhomeremedyofwhiteraisins soaked in gin to help arthritis pain. I tried this and found only amoderateimprovementinarthritispain.ButaftertwoweeksoftreatmentInoticedamarkedimprovementinRLS.Haveothersreportedthisseemingcure?IusedtoexperienceRLStwoorthreetimesaweek,buthavenothadarecurrencesincebeginningtheginandwhiteraisintreatment.”

IRONDEFICIENCY

ForalongtimeIhadtroublekeepingmylegsstill,especiallywhileIwastryingtosleepatnight.IdidnotseektreatmentbecauseIdidnotwanttotakemedication.ThenIreadanarticlethatsaidoneofthehealthconditionscausingthiswasanirondeficiency.Mycousintoldmeshewastakingirontwiceadayandithelpedeaseherrestlesslegs.Myhusbandwastakingironpills for a deficiency, so I borrowed a few and tried them. I could tell adifferencewithintwodays.Iamgratefulforsuchaneasyremedy.

Research has linked iron deficiency to RLS. Correcting this mineraldeficiencymayhelpeasethesymptoms.1

IhavesevereRLS,butithasbeencontrolledwithdiazepam.Recentlythedoctordiagnosedmewithanunderactivethyroidconditionandprescribedlevothyroxine.It reallymademyRLSworse.HesuggestedthatIstopthethyroidmedicineforthreeweekstoseewhathappened.Ittookafullweekto get my RLS back under control. I am worried now about the doctorinsistingI takelevothyroxineformythyroidcondition.IsthereanythingIcantakeinstead?IabsolutelycannotlivewithmysevereRLS.Itaffectsmywholebody,notjustmylegs,andevenaffectsmementally.

We discovered a case report in themedical literature that parallels yourexperience.Thepersonwasdeficient in iron,andthyroidsupplementationmade the creepy-crawly sensations and limbmovements worse.2 Perhapsyour doctor can check your iron levels to see if you need a supplement.Untreated hypothyroidism is associated with a number of uncomfortablesymptoms,includingmentalsluggishness,depression,andconfusion.Itcancause high cholesterol, constipation, fatigue, swollen hands or feet, andweakness,amongotherproblems.

MAGNESIUM

Istartedgettingmusclemovementsinmylegsinthemorningswhilelyinginbed.Itwasn’trestless legsyndromebecauseIdidnotfeel likeIhadtomovemylegs. I justhadanunusualfeelingofmusclesmovingunder the

skin. I heard a discussion on the radio about this that suggested usingmagnesium.I’vestartedtaking1,000milligramsbeforebed,andthoughitdoesn’t stop it, it does minimize the discomfort somewhat. Is 1,000milligramsofmagnesiumadaytoomuch?

Research suggests thatmagnesiummaybe helpful in easing restless legsyndrome.3 Your body will let you know if you are taking too muchmagnesium. Inexcess, thismineralcausesdiarrhea.Formostpeople,300milligrams a day or so is tolerable, but 1,000 milligrams would not be.Peoplewithkidneyproblemsshouldavoidanysupplementalmagnesium,asitcouldputtoomuchstrainonthekidneys.

SOAP

MyhusbandhashadRLSfora long time. Ikeptreadingabout thesoapremedy in your column, and I finally decided to put the soap in our bedwithout his knowledge. It worked! It’s really unbelievable. One day lastmonthmysonwashomedoinghislaundry.Healwaysfoldshisclothesonourbed,andhecametomesaying,“Mom,doIwanttoknowwhythere’sabarofsoapinyourbed?”

Wewishweknewwhyabarofsoapunderthebottomsheetoftenhelpseaserestlesslegs.Thiscondition,apersistent,irresistibleurgetomovethelegs,caninterferewithsleep.Notonlythesuffererbutalsothebedpartnermayendupsleepdeprived.

Ihavesuffered fromrestless legsyndromeallofmy life,andIamover50!Mymother toldme I had growing pains when I was a kid, but thatbecameridiculouswhenIreachedmy20s.WhenIreadaboutputtingsoapunder thebottomsheet, I thought itwasthesilliest thingIhadeverheardof.Letmeassureyou that tomygreatsurprise, itworks. Ihavenowhadfivestraightnightsofsleepinmyownbedwithnowalkingaroundandnoshiftingtotrytogetcomfortable.

Puttingabarofplainsoapbetweenthebottomsheetandthemattresspadcertainly seems bizarre.We have no idea how itmaywork, butwe haveheardfrommanyhappyreadersthatitdoes.

Ifinallyfellasleeplastnightbutwokeupanhourandahalflater.Ihadstartedgettingcrampsandacreepy-crawlyfeelinginmylegs.IknowsomepeoplewhohaveRLS,soIdecidedtolookitupandseeiftherewereanyremedies. I’m sitting at the computer right nowwith a bar of soap undereachleg,anditseemstobeworking!(I thoughtthisideawascrazy,butIfiguredIhadnothingtolose.)Thankyou.

Placingabarofsoapunderthebottomsheet,nearwherethelegswillrest,

isoneofthewackiestremedieswe’vecomeacross.Butwehaveheardfromso many people that it helps, it is clear some folks do benefit. Soap isinexpensive and doesn’t have side effects. That cannot be said about themedicationsprescribedforRLS.

I have severe periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD). I have usedSinemet andMirapex separatelyduring the last eightyears, but I stoppedeachduetosideeffects.Iamcurrentlyunmedicatedandmiserable.Thelegmovements at night destroymy sleep, but I amwaiting for the doctor todecidewhat todonext.Someonementioned Ivory soap, so I tried it in awrap around my ankles and under my feet in double socks. I have alsoplaced four bars acrossmy lower bed under the bottom sheet.Nomatterwhere Imovemy feet, abarof soap isnear. If amovementwakesme, Imovemy foot to touch the soap, and fall right back to sleep.This hasn’tbeenacure,butitcertainlyhasmadethelimbmovementsmoretolerable.Iwouldlovetounderstandwhyithelps,butjusthavingadegreeofreliefisgoodenoughforme.

The medications you have taken, along with one called Requip, aresometimes prescribed for PLMD or for a milder form called restless legsyndrome.Asyoudiscovered, thesideeffectscanbehard to tolerate.Weworryparticularlyaboutpeoplefallingasleepduringnormaldailyactivitiessuchasdriving.Yikes! In that context, soapbegins to soundprettygood.Therearenostudies,andnooneknowswhyitmighthelp.SomanyreadershavetoldusthattheyhavegottenrelieffromRLSorlegcrampsbyusingsoapunderthebottomsheet,wethinkitisworthatry.EvenPLMDmightbelesstroublesome.Andsoapwon’tputyoutosleepbehindthewheel!

Sex/Libido

Human sexuality is tricky business. Sex involves the brain, blood vessels,hormones,andnervesandmuscles.Romanceandrelaxation,aswellasotherfactors, affect libido and sexual fulfillment.We have drugs likeViagra andCialis,buttheydonothingforlibidoanddon’talwaysleadtosuccessfulsex.Asurprisingnumberofpeoplewantsuggestionstodampendesire.Sometimesanaturalapproachcanhelp.

MUIRAPUAMA

MyhusbandandIareinour70sandhavebeenmarriedforever.Ihavehadaproblemwithvaginaldryness.Myhusbandreadaboutmuirapuamaandboughtsomeonline.Itakeitasdirectedtwiceaday,andwemakeloveatleastfivetimesaweek.

Accordingtoonereport,thisAmazonianherbhasareputationfortreating

sexualdifficulties,includinglowlibidoanderectiledysfunction.1However,there is very little scientific data about its safety and effectiveness. Sideeffectsmay includeheadache,digestiveupset,andnervousness.Wecouldfind no research on the use of muira puama for vaginal dryness. Yourexperienceiscertainlyintriguing.

TESTOSTERONE

Whatdoyouknowaboutcompoundedtestosteronecream?Iama64-year-oldwomanwithlowlibido.Afriendofafriendusesthiscreambeforesexby applying it to the inner thighs. She has great results with desire andorgasms,butmygynecologistsaysitisnotapprovedbytheFDAandwon’tprescribeit.

Lowtestosteronelevelsinmenandwomenareassociatedwithdiminishedsexual interest, arousal, and enjoyment. Some studies suggest thattestosterone therapy may boost libido, even in women.2 The dose isimportant: Toomuch of thismale hormone can cause facial hair growth,acne, deepening of the voice, and clitoral enlargement. Your doctor iscorrectthattheFDAhasnotapprovedtestosteroneforimprovingwomen’ssexdrive.Butaphysicianspecializing in sexualmedicinemaybeable toassistyou.

VITEX

Ihaveasexdrivemoreintensethanmypartner’s.Heisinhislate30s,andIaminmymid-20s.Iwouldprefertohavesexeverycoupleofdays,whileheisfinewithhavingsexonceeveryweekandahalf.Ifinditdifficulttodealwiththissituation.IworrythatImightmakesexseemlikeachoretomypartner. I oftenwish that I could takemedication to diminishmy sexdrivesothatIcouldbehappier.

We consulted two leading sex experts about the concerns you raise.Dr.Ruth Westheimer suggested your partner could help you achievesatisfaction even if he isn’t in themood for intercourse. IrwinGoldstein,M.D.,editoroftheJournalofSexualMedicine,pointedoutthatyouarenotunusual.Infocusgroups,25percentofwomenreporthavingahighersexdrive than theirmale partners.Your partnermaywant to have amedicalworkupandhavehormonallevelschecked.However,theherbvitex(chastetreeberry)mayreducesexdrive.

YOHIMBINE

Iama66-year-oldmaleinverygoodhealth.MywifeandIhaverelationstwiceaweek.Myproblemisdifficultyinreachingorgasm.Isatisfyherjustfine but not myself. This is frustrating. I am in good shape, work out

regularly, takesupplements,andamonnatural testosteronereplacement. IdotakeDiovandailyforhypertension.Couldthisbetheproblem?Doyouhaveanysuggestions?

It doesn’t seem likely that theDiovan is to blame. The only study thataddressed this question found thatDiovan improved sexual function.3Anold-fashionedherbalremedymaybehelpful.YohimbineisderivedfromthebarkofanAfricantree.Inarecentstudy,thisherbalextractrestoredorgasmin about half the men treated.4 A doctor familiar with its use shouldsupervise treatment, especially since yohimbine can raise blood pressure.Other potential side effects include palpitations, anxiety, dizziness, anddigestivedistress.

Shingles

Anyonewhohadchickenpoxasachildmaydevelopshinglesatsomepointas an adult. The varicella-zoster virus that causes chicken pox goes intohiding and only reemerges when something, such as stress, weakens theimmunesystem.Shinglescancauseextremetendernessonjustonesideofthetorsoorface.Therashorblistersmayappearafewdayslater.Evenaftertherashclearsup,thepersonmaybeleftwithlingeringchronicpain.Prescriptiondrugscantreatshinglessuccessfully,but theyworkbest if theyare takeninthe first few days of the attack. A person who misses that window ofopportunitymaybeinterestedinhomeremedies.

APITHERAPY

My dad has suffered with pain from shingles for almost two years.Yesterday,duringanaponthedeck,hegotstungonthetoebyabee.Nowhe’s feeling no shingles pain! Have you heard of such a thing? He’sperplexedbutelated,forhoweverlongthefreedomlasts.

Years ago we received this letter: “While snoozing on the porch I wasstungonthefingerbyatinybee.Theresult: intensepain,andafterthatagreat reductionofarthritis inmyarm.”Someprominentdoctorsusedbeevenomtherapytotreatarthritisinthe1920sand1930s.Hospitalpharmaciesevenstockedinjectablebeevenom.Apitherapyfelloutoffavorduetolackofscientificproof.Butpeoplearenowtryingbeestingsagainforarthritisand postherpetic neuralgia (pain lingering after shingles), as well as forother conditions. Some people keep honeybees to sting their sore joints.Othersgettheirdoctorstoinjectvenomusedforbeeallergydesensitization.Noonewhoisallergictobeestingsshouldtrythistreatment,foronestingcouldtriggerafatalreaction.

GREENTEA

I suddenly developed a severe case of shingles aroundmywaist on therightside.Ididn’twanttogetinvolvedwithstrongpainrelievers,soItriedapplyinggreenteafourtimesonthesmallblistersthatformedthefirstday.Thenextday,afterapplyinggreen teaagainfour times, thescabsfelloff,andIhavehadnolastingpain.Perhapsthiswillhelpotherpeoplesufferingfromshingles.

Shingles is anextremelypainful skineruptioncausedby the samevirusthatcauseschickenpox(thevaricella-zostervirus).Prompttreatmentwithprescription antiviral medicines such as acyclovir (Zovirax), famciclovir(Famvir), or valacyclovir (Valtrex) can speed healing. One should neverrelyonhomeremediesforsuchapotentiallyseriousconditionasshingles,butyourexperimentisfascinating.Applyingtepidgreenteainadditiontotaking appropriate medical treatment should not pose a risk. Tests onanimals have shown that topical use of green tea has anti-inflammatorybenefits.

LISTERINE

WhatisthemiracleofListerine?TwentyyearsagoIgotshingles.Ihadapainful,blisteryrash.MydoctortoldmetorubListerineonit.Theitchingstopped,therashdisappeared,andthepainwentaway.Ialsohadgumsthatbled every time I brushed my teeth. The dentist told me to dip mytoothbrushinListerineandapplytomygumsafterbrushing.Theproblemvanished,andIhaven’thadtroublesince.

Listerine contains a number of herbal extracts (thymol, eucalyptol,menthol, and methyl salicylate) in an alcoholic solution. There are nostudiestosuggestthatsuchingredientscouldhelprelieveshinglesorspeedhealingfromgumdisease.Nevertheless,oneormoreoftheoilsinListerinemightbebeneficialforsuchconditions.

Sinusitis

Thesinuses(thereareseveralpairs)areairpocketsinthebonesoftheskull.(Yes,weallhaveholes inourheads.)Theyconnect to the respiratory tract,and when the nasal passages get inflamed, the sinuses may be involved(sinusitis means “inflamed sinuses”). This inflammation may also betriggered by seasonal allergies or infection. A sinus infection might needantibiotictreatment,buthomeremediesmayreducetheinflammation.

SALINESOLUTION

Ijustreadyourcolumninwhichapersonwithsinusproblemsadvocatesusingasalinesolution twiceaday. Ihavebeendoing this foryearswhenmysinusesstarttoactup.TheonlydifferenceisImakemyownsalinewith

waterandtablesalt.

Onerecipeforsalinesolutiontowashnasalpassagescallsforone-quarterteaspoonsalttoeightouncesoftepidwater.

NETIPOT

WhenIwasachild,mymothertoldmetogarglewithsaltwaterforasorethroat.IjustheardDr.OzonOprahrecommendsaltwaterinanetipotforimprovingsinusconditions.Arenetipotssafetouse?

AnetipotlooksalittlelikeAladdin’slamp.Youputlukewarmsaltwaterin it, hold your head upside down, and pour the solution into one nostriluntil it runsout theother.Thisancient Indianpracticehelpswashout thenose and sinuses. It should be safe.But you can achieve the same effectwithasalinerinsefoundinmostpharmacies.

SkinFungus

Skin fungus is extremely common, especially in the hot, humid summermonths. Warm, dark places are particularly susceptible to fungus. But it’spossible to develop athlete’s foot, ringworm, and other itchy, unpleasantconditionsatanytimeofyear.They’recontagiousandspreadonthefloorsofwetgymshowers,atnailsalons,orfromcontactwithinfectedskin.Anounceofpreventiongoesalongway,soconsidertakingapairofflip-flopsalongonyournextvisittothegymshower.Butnomatterhowubiquitousthefungus,thereareremediestotryifyouwindupwiththetelltaleitch.

ANTIPERSPIRANT

My husband suffered from jock itch for a long time. He would usemedicine to clear it up, but it always returned. Then he tried applyingantiperspiranttotheaffectedareasdaily.Thissolvedtheproblem.

Jock itch is caused by a fungus that thrives in moist areas. Theantiperspirantprobablykeepshisskindryanddiscouragesfungalgrowth.

LISTERINE

I have been plaguedwith jock itch forweeks and had tried a couple ofOTCcreamswithlittlesuccess.Iwasgettingreadytoseemydermatologistwhen I read about using Listerine for jock itch, athlete’s foot, and otherfungalinfections.Listerinehasnowclearedtheproblemupinacoupleofdays. It stings foraminuteor twowhenfirstapplied,but it isn’t thatbadanditreallyworked.

The herbal oils in the original formula Listerine include eucalyptol,menthol,and thymol.There is someevidence that theseherbalextracts in

combinationmayhaveantifungalproperties.

MILKOFMAGNESIA

Afriendwhoisaninternistrecommendedamixtureofmilkofmagnesia(MoM)andLotriminAF to combat seborrheicdermatitisonmy face andthebacksofmyears.Shesuggestedmixingroughlyhalfa12-ouncebottleofMoMwithawholetubeoftheLotriminAFcream.Thefirstapplicationcertainly had a positive effect onmy skin. I did not follow through as Ishouldhave,soIdon’tknowhowwellitworksinthelongterm.Haveyoueverheardofthisremedy?

We could find no research on this intriguing remedy for seborrheicdermatitis.This skincondition is characterizedby itching, flaking, scales,andredness.It frequentlyoccursonthescalpassuperdandrufforevenonthe eyebrows, on the forehead, around the nose, or on the chin. ThisconditionappearstobeaninflammatoryresponsetofungithatbelongtothegenusMalassezia andareknownasyeast.Dermatologists frequently treatthis problem with antifungal creams (such as clotrimazole, the activeingredient inLotriminAF).Topicalsteroidcreamssuchashydrocortisoneare also used. Dandruff shampoos containing ketoconazole, seleniumsulfide,orzincpyrithionecanbehelpful.Readersclaimthatapplyingmilkofmagnesiatothearmpitsisagentleandeffectivewaytoreducesweatingandodor.PerhapsthedryingeffectandalkalinityofMoMtogetherwiththeantifungalactivityofLotriminAFdiscourageyeastbelongingtothegenusMalassezia.

Ihavebeenusingmilkofmagnesiaonmyfacefor thepast twomonthssincereadingaboutitinyourcolumn.Myfaceflakesaregone!Ipouritinmyhandandmassageitonmyface—forehead,eyebrows,andaroundtheeyes,nose,cheeks,andchin—whileshowering.ThenIrinseitoffattheendof the shower. It’s a great, cost-effective alternative to expensiveNizoral,anditworksbetter.

A reader told us that a doctor suggested a topical mixture of milk ofmagnesiaandLotriminAFforseborrheicdermatitis.

SkinTags

Thesefleshylittlebenignskingrowthscanshowupinarmpitsorgroinsorontheneck,eyelids,orface.Theymayrangefromthesizeofagrainofricetothe size of an almond. Doctors aren’t sure what causes skin tags, thoughpeoplewhoareoverweightorhavediabetesseemmorepronetodevelopingthem.Womenmayalsodiscoverskintagsduringpregnancy.Adermatologistcan remove skin tags without much fuss, but some may want to consider

homeremedies.

LIQUIDBANDAGE

In one of your articles you stated that a reader used New-Skin LiquidBandage to remove skin tags. Iwould appreciate it if youwould addressthis again and describe how New-Skin was used. I recently saw adermatologist,andhewanted$300toremoveabout12smalltags.

Afewyearsagoweheardfromareaderwhohadmanaged toget ridofskin tags by covering them tightlywith aClear SpotsBand-Aid. SeveralmonthsagoanotherreaderreportedthathehadtriedthespecialBand-Aidsbut“couldnevergetabandage tostayon longenough.”Hewasabout togiveupwhenheranacrosssomeliquidbandageinhismedicinecabinet.Hetoldus,“IhadalargeflapgrowingonmyshoulderandputtheNew-SkinLiquid Bandage on it. Within a week the flap fell off. I put it on somesmallerskintags,andtheyshriveledandfellofftoo.”Thisreaderprovidedno clear instructions. But we have heard from many people who haveappliedliquidbandageoneortwotimesdailywithgoodresults.Onewrote,“New-Skin for skin tags worked for me too! I did reapply the productseveral times,andtheydidshrinkandwerepulledoffwhenremovingthe‘bandage’afterabouttendays.Thissavedmequiteabitofmoney.”

Some time ago I read in your column about someonewho had successremovingskintagswithaliquidbandage.Iwouldappreciatehearingaboutthis remedy. I have several of these growths around my neck where thechainofmynecklacerests.Ihavebeenconsideringhavingthemremovedbyadermatologist,butwouldliketotrythisremedyfirst.

WehaveheardfrommanyreaderswhotellusNew-SkinLiquidBandageworks:“Iused it twiceaday for threedays,and theskin tagscameoff!”Otherstellusitmaytakeafewweeks.Anotherapproachsomereadershavetriedinvolvesawartremedy:“IfoundCompoundWworksjustaswellforgettingridofskintags.”

THREAD

Ihavesomeskintagsinmyarmpits.Isthereanythingtoputonthemsotheywillgoaway?Idon’twanttopayadoctortocutthemoff.

Oneapproachrequiressomefortitude:“Iamanurse,andforyearsIhavetiedapieceofthreadaroundthetagatthebase,pulledittight,madeatightknot, and cut off the long ends. (It stings at first, and then it’s all right.)Afterthreeorfourdaysthetagturnsblackandfallsoff,similartobobbingalamb’stail.Itstranglesthebloodsupplyandworkseverytime.Ithelpstohavesomeonedoitforyou.”Anotherreaderreportedasimilarexperience:

“Ihadaratherlargeoneonthesideofmyneck.Mydermatologistsaidtojustignoreit.Soonafter,Imentionedtoafriend(anorthopedicdoctor)howmuchIhatedit,andhepromptlytiedandknottedapieceofthreadarounditandcut theendsoffrealclose.Youcouldn’tevenseeit.Hesaiditwouldfalloffveryquickly.Itwasgoneinthreedays.”

StinkyFeet

Bacteria,fungi,andgoodnessknowswhatelsecanthrivebetweenyourtoesand inside your shoes. For reasons that are not entirely clear, some peoplehavethesmelliestfeetimaginable.Wehavecollectedallsortsoffascinatingremediesforthiscondition.

ANTIPERSPIRANT

My12-year-olddaughterisaballetdancerandhasstartedpointe.Herfeetsmellsobadwegagifshetakeshershoesoff.Doyouhaveanyremediesforfootodor?

Footodorseems tobeacommonproblemamongyoungballerinas.Themother of a 20-year-old dancer offered this advice: “First, get some shoedogs.Thesearecedar-filledbags thatabsorb themoisture in theshoeandhelp with the odor. Second, ballet students also wear classic soft balletslippers.Canvasslippersarebetterthanleatherones,sincethecanvaskindof slipper can bewashed every otherweek if the need arises.With dailyballetclasses,shoesdon’tdryout,sopurchasingafewpairswillhelp.Theyshouldbestoredinmeshbags,notplastic,andoutsidethedancebag,notinit.Third,youmighttryadry,rub-onantiperspirantonthefeetonceaday.Thisalsohelpedmysonwithhissweaty,smellysoccerfeet.Fourth,ifsheisnewtopointe,shemaybewearingpadsinherballetshoestoprotecthertoes. She should use natural lamb’s wool pads that allow the skin tobreathe.”

BAKINGSODA

Myson-in-lawandgrandsonhavetheworstsmellyfeet.Theycancleararoom in amannerofminutes.Actually, all themen in their family sufferfromthis.Help!

Soaking the feet in a baking soda or in an Epsom salt solutionmay behelpful.Somepeoplereport thatchlorophyll tabletsorzinccanbanishtheodor.Your relativesshouldbecautiousaboutzinc, though.Toomuchcaninterferewiththebody’sbalanceofsomeotherminerals.

LISTERINE

I’vehadsuccesswithListerineforsmellyfeet.Ifitkillsgermsthatcause

badbreath,itmightKOgermsthatcausestinkyfeet.IappliedListerinetocleanfeetandwipedouttheinsidesofmyshoesaswell.Attheendoftheday,myfeetandshoesareodorfree.

TheherbalextractsandalcoholinListerineareversatileforbattlingfungiandbacteriathatcancauseodororitch.

TEA

Ihavefoundahomeremedyforstinkyfeet.Breweighttotenteabagsinafoottub.Allowtheteatocoolslightly,andthensoakyourfeetuntiltheteacools.Dothisasoftenasnecessary.Thetanninsintheteadoawonderfuljob as antibacterial agents. Also, please advise your readers to try goingbarefootasmuchaspossible.Exposingyourfeettoairhelpstremendously.So does washing slippers, flip-flops, or any other footwear that can belaundered.

Tannin from tea cuts down on sweating, and that may be how yourtreatment helps feet smell better. One major shoe firm (Rockport) hasintroducedshoesthatcanbewashedinthewashingmachine.Thecompanymay not have been motivated by a desire to reduce foot odor, but theproducts may help nevertheless. Other manufacturers use high-techmaterialstopreventsweatfrombuildingupinshoeswhereitcancontributetoodor.Feetthatsweatprofuselyarepronetobecomingstinky.

URINE

I read that if you had really bad foot odor that all you had to do wasurinateonyour feet tomake itgoaway. I tried this, andnotonlydid theodorgoaway,butthebadpainfulpeelingoftheskinonthebottomofmyfeetwentawayalso.Whywouldthathappen?

Soldiershaveusedthismilitarysecretfordecadestotreatfootfungusandodor.Perhapstheacidityoftheurinedoesthetrick.Urea,aningredientofurine,mayalsohaveantifungalproperties.

My17-year-olddaughterhasverysmellyfeet.Iconvincedhertotrytheurinetrick,anditworked!Herfootodoriscompletelygone!

Wehaveheardfromveteransthaturinatingonsmellyfeetcanhelpclearup athlete’s foot as well as foot odor. Another possibility involves zincsupplements.Hereisonereader’sstory:“Abouteightyearsago,mythen-12-year-oldsonhadterriblefootodor.ItfinallystoppedwhenIreadinyourcolumnto tryzinc.Weboughtgenericzinctablets,andwithinaweekwesawdramaticimprovementwithjustonetabletdaily.”Dokeepinmindthatexcesszinccanhavedeleteriouseffectsonnervesandmuscles.

VINEGAR

Fortwodecades,Ihadtheworstcaseofsmellyathlete’sfootIhaveeverseen.That’sreallysayingsomething,becauseI’madoctor.I’veseen(andsmelled)many.Thefungusalsocauseddeepfissuresinthesolesofmyfeetand betweenmy toes. I tried everything: griseofulvin (Grisactin), gentianviolet, Clorox, Absorbine Jr., tolnaftate (Tinactin), Desenex, and whitecotton socks. In theearly1990s,mymother suggestedwhitevinegar footsoaks.Iboughtagallonofvinegarandasmallbasinandbegansoakingmyfeet twicedaily. I dried themwithout rinsing thevinegar off, thenput onsocks dusted with Desenex powder. At first the fissures stung, but theitchingandsmellbegantofadealmost immediately.Icontinuetousethisregimen twice or thrice weekly. Soaks of five to ten minutes are longenough.

Your story is very convincing!We’ve heard from other readerswho’vehadsuccesstreatingathlete’sfootwithvinegar.

SunburnandSunRash

Many dermatologists see the sun’s rays as the enemy. Ultraviolet radiationcauses premature aging, wrinkling, and skin cancer. But there is growingrecognitionthatthevitaminDyourskinmakeswhenexposedtosunshineisessential for good health.A little sun exposure (10 to 15minutes) three orfourtimesaweekmaybeagoodthing.Toomuchsun,however,canwreakhavoc.Wealwaysencouragecommonsense.Herearesomehomeremediestohelpifpreventionfails.

LISTERINE

Forover25yearsIhavebeenusingListerinefullstrengthinaspraybottleforsunburn.AnoldfishermantoldmeaboutitwhenIgotasunburnfromsittinginaboatonalake.IgotburnedsobadlyIlookedlikealobster.ThepeopleItellsaythisremedyworksforthemtoo.Itstopsthepaininstantly.Ikeepitinmytravelbag,inazipper-topplasticbagtoavoidspilling.Idon’tlikeListerineasamouthwash,butit’sgreatforsunburn.Youdon’thavetotouchtheskinandhurtyourselfevenmorewhileyou’reapplyingit.

This is a fascinating use for Listerine we’ve not encountered before.Perhaps the menthol or eucalyptol in the original flavor Listerine havecoolingproperties.Thanksforsharingyourremedy.Wehope,however,thatyou don’t have many opportunities to use it. Dermatologists tell us thatmultiplesunburns increaseriskofmelanomaandotherskincancers.WhynotputsunscreeninthatplasticbagalongwiththeListerine,soyou’vegotpreventionashandyasthecure?

IoftengetaveryitchysunrashwhenIgoonholidays.Listerinecalmsitdown so I can sleep and soon clears it. Listerine also soothed an allergicreactionafteramassage.Idon’ttravelwithoutit.

Wealwaysencouragepeopletoavoidexcessivesunexposure.Springandearly summer are especially dangerous because people are pale after thewinter.Anitchysunrashisdifferentfromsunburnoranallergy.Youmaybesufferingfrompolymorphouslighteruption(PMLE),ahypersensitivitytoultravioletlightespeciallycommonatthistimeofyear.Adermatologistshould check you out to make sure you don’t have a more seriousautoimmune condition such as lupus. Thanks for sharing your Listerinestrategyforthiscondition.

VITAMINC

Insteadofsunscreen,ItakemegadosesofvitaminC,whichhasprotectedmefromsunburnforover20years.(Ofcourse,Idon’ttanorfreckleeither.)ItakethreegramsofCeachday,andonceeveryyearortwoImightgetalittlepinkonthemostsensitiveareas(tipofmynose,neck,andshouldersearlyinthesummer);otherwise,theCprotectsmefromtheradiationofthesun.

There is some data to suggest that vitamin Cmay havemodest effectsagainstultravioletradiation.Onestudydemonstratedthatacombinationofantioxidants like vitamins C and E could reduce DNA damage from sunexposure.1Donotassume,however,thatoralvitaminscanprotectyoufromthe sun’s rays.Stayout of themidday sun and alsouse sunblockers thatcontaintitaniumdioxideorzincoxide.

VaginalDryness

This is a common condition after menopause, and it can make maritalrelations quite uncomfortable. Physicians sometimes prescribe an estrogencream or ring, but many women would like to minimize their exposure toestrogen.Over-the-counterpersonallubricantscanpossiblyhelp,buttherearealsosomeinexpensivehomeremediesthatseemtowork.

COCONUTOIL

Youhadareaderwhowantedtoknowwhattodoforvaginaldryness.I’dliketorespond.Frommyexperience,coconutoilisbest.It isinexpensiveand widely available at health food stores. It comes in a glass jar. Eventhough it is a bit solid in the jar, when it is allowed to warm to roomtemperature it easily dissolves into the skin. It is harmless to the tendertissuesof thevaginaandhasantiviralandantibacterialproperties thatareveryhelpful.

Thanksfortherecommendation.Wehaveheardfromseveralwomenwhouseoliveoilforvaginallubrication.Ascoconutoilisedible,ittooshouldbe safe.Keep inmind that oil of any sort is incompatiblewith latex andshouldnotbeusedwithdiaphragmsorcondoms.

CORNHUSKERSLOTION

Iama55-year-oldfemalesufferingfromhotflashes,vaginaldryness,andlossoflibido.Sexualintercourseisuncomfortable.Iusedtolookforwardtomaking lovewithmyhusband,but it ishard toenjoyanything thathurts.We have tried drugstore lubricants, but we are not satisfied with any ofthem.Anysuggestions?

You will have to experiment with personal lubricants. What works forsomecouplesisunacceptableforothers.Onewomanwrotetosaythatshesuffered from dryness starting in her 40s: “I tried numerous treatments,includingexpensivelubricants.ThenIreadaboutCornHuskersLotion.Theresultswiththisinexpensivehandmoisturizerhavebeenincredible.”Otherstell us that olive oil or the gel froman aloe plant can be used as vaginallubricants.Sylkisanothernaturaloption.Itcontainskiwifruitvineextractand is available on theWeb atwww.sylkusa.com or by calling 866-406-SYLK.

OLIVEOIL

I’vereadthatoliveoilcanbeusedforvaginaldryness.Icouldn’ttellifIshouldincludeitinmydietoractuallyapplyitdirectlytothevagina.

Thisremedycallsfortopicalapplicationofoliveoiltothevagina.Itseemstolubricatethosedrytissues.Hereiswhatonereaderreported:“Ihavebeenusingoliveoilforthispurposeforacoupleofyears.Whenmydoctordidapelvicexam,hethoughtIwastakinghormones,althoughIamnot.IthinkoliveoilhasnaturalvitaminEtokeepwomenyouthful.”

Warts

Wartsarenoncancerousskingrowthsthatcommonlyoccuronthehandsandfeet.Theyarethebody’sresponsetoaviralinfectionwithhumanpapillomavirus.Theviruscauseskeratin,ahardproteinoccurringinthetoplayeroftheskin, togrowtoofastandmakerough,blisterlikegrowths.Plantarwartsonthe soles of the feet can be much more difficult to treat. Over-the-counterpreparationsaswellasdermatologists’ interventions likecryotherapy (usingextreme cold to freeze and destroy tissue) or surgery all work, but manypeoplefindthathomeremediesaresuccessfultoo.

BACONFAT

Ireadaboutsomeonewhowantedtoknowhowtogetridofplantarwarts.Mygrandsonhadoneonhis foot forquitesome timeandwasgoing toadoctorfortreatment.Hisgrandpahadhimputapieceofrawbaconfatonthewartovernight,andinacoupleofnightsitwasgone.Totrythis,useafreshpieceofbaconeachnightandcoveritwithabandage.

Plantarwarts(smalllesionsthatgrowonthesolesortoesofthefeet)arenotoriouslyhardtotreat.Readershavesuggestedducttape,castoroil,andhotwatersoaks.Baconfatisanewremedyforourcollection.

BANANAPEEL

Ihaveheardthatabananapeelcanbehelpfulagainstwarts,butIamnotclearonhowyouwoulduse it.Mydoctorburnsoff severalwartsyearly,butinevitablytheycomeback.Iwouldbeverygratefulifyouwouldsharespecificinformationonhowtouseabananapeeltotreatwarts.

Cutapieceofbananapeelslightlylargerthanthewart.Usetapetoholdthewhitefleshysidenexttothewart.Leavethebananapeelonovernight.Useanewsliceofbananapeeldaily foracoupleofweeks.Wemakenopromises,butother readers tell us that thebananapeel remedycanwork.Oneofour readerscomplained thatburningwartsoffwasbothexpensive($600) and painful. Although it took an entire month, the banana peelremedy was painless and affordable. Besides that, the reader noted, sheenjoyedeatingthebananasasabonus.

Wegaveour six-year-olddaughteraheartburnmedicine,cimetidine, forher warts. It’s amazing! After months of visits to the dermatologist, thewartsonthebackofherhandaregone.Shehadupto40bigandtinywarts,and theywere starting to spread to herwrist and other hand. Finally,wegavehercimetidinedailyforeightweeksandtheyjustdisappeared.

Thecimetidine(Tagamet)“cure”forwartswasfirstwrittenupintheearly1990s.Thiswasanunusualuse;Tagametwasapopularprescriptiondrugforulcersatthattime.Sincethenanumberofstudieshavetestedsuchacid-suppressing drugs against warts. Although some research subjects had agoodresponselikeyourdaughter,mostofthewell-controlledtrialsshowednobenefitoveraplacebo.1

DUCTTAPE

Ihadawartnearmyankleanddecidedtoexperimentwiththeducttapetreatment.Icutasmallpieceeachmorning,andaftermyshowerIstuckitover thewart. I repeated thiseveryday for threeweeks. Inoticed the toplayerofthewartseemedtocomeoffeachtimeIremovedthetape.Whenthewartwasquitesmooth,Ifileditgentlywithanemeryboardanditbled

alittle.ThenIforgotaboutit.Threeweekslater,Ilookedforthewartanditwasgone!

Controlledstudiesofhomeremediesarerare,soitisoftenhardtoassesstheir effectiveness. In the case of duct tape, though, there have been acoupleoftrials.Inone,theinvestigatorsfoundthatducttapeworkedbetterthanfreezingwartsoff inchildren.2Morerecently,scientists reported thatduct tape is only slightly better than a placebo when used onschoolchildren3andnobetterthanaplaceboforadults.4Althoughresearchsuggests that youwere fortunate, we have heard from other readerswhoalsoridthemselvesofwartswithducttapeandpatience.

GARLIC

I’ve had good luck getting rid of warts with minced garlic. Apply itdirectlytothewartandcoveritwithabandage.Changethegarlicandthebandage at least once a day. The wart should be peeled or filed downregularlyandwillslowlydisintegrate.Thisusuallytakesaboutthreeweeks.Beverycarefultocoveronlythewart,sincegarlicistoostrongforhealthyskin.

Thanksforthesuggestion.Homeremediescanbeusefulforwarts.

LISTERINE

Mydaughterhadseveralplantarwartsonthesoleofherfoot.Wetreatedthemwithducttapeforseveralmonthswithlimitedsuccess.Listerinehasbeen used for eliminating fungus, so I thought it might also kill wartviruses. I put undiluted Listerine in a zipper-top plastic bag and had hersoakherfeet for tenminutes.Sherepeated the treatmentonlyacoupleoftimes.Thewartsdisappearedinaboutthreeweeksandhaven’treturned.Itmightbeacoincidence,butsheishappytobewartfree!

Warts are susceptible to a surprising range of home remedies. Readershave reported success with duct tape, a few drops of fresh lemon juice,iodine,andcastoroil.Thanksforsharing theListerine idea.We’reglad itworked.

THEPEOPLE’SPHARMACY

FavoriteFood#24:GarlicFor thoseofuswhoaregarlic lovers, there isnothingsowonderfulasthesmellofgarlicbeingsautéedinoliveoil.Garlicisoneoftheoldestmedicines.ItismentionedintheBibleand

theTalmud.Garlicwashungfromthedoorsofhomesandshopstoward

off potential evils. Ancient Greek and Egyptian healers used garlicmedicinally. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, prescribedgarlic for a number of conditions, from chest pain and leprosy totoothachesandbronchitis.Ancientmedical texts fromChinaand Indiaalsorefertothehealingpowersofgarlic.ChecktheNationalLibraryofMedicine(PubMed)database,andyou

willfindthousandsofresearcharticlesdelvingintothebiochemicalandmedicinaleffectsofgarlic.Debateragesoverthebenefitsofgarlicpillsversusfreshgarlic.Wewon’tattempt to layout therationalesor to takesides,butamid

the arguments, we did discover a fascinating study that providesinterestingdata.1InvestigatorsattheUniversityofConnecticutgaveratseither freshly crushed garlic or processed garlic. Although bothpreparationsprovidedheartbenefits,thefreshgarlicprovided“superiorprotection.”Personally,weprefertherealthingtogarlicpowder,garlicpills,garlicjuice,oranyotherprocessedformofgarlic.Although data are contradictory about the benefits of garlic for

preventingortreatingthecommoncold,recentevidencesuggestsgarlicmay indeed be an immune system booster.2 Other potential healthbenefitsoffreshgarlicmayincludeloweringbloodpressureandkeepingbloodplateletsfromstickingtogethertocauseclots.Bloodvesselsmaybecomemoreflexibleafteryouconsumefoodthat

containsfreshgarlic.PerhapsthemostexcitingresearchregardinggarliccomesfromChina,wherestudieshaveshownthatpeoplewhoregularlyconsume garlic have a lower risk of developing stomach or coloncancer.3

POTATO

Ihadawartonmyfingerfor15years.Afewdoctorssaidtheycouldcutifoff,butIdon’tliketheideaofsurgery.Mymothertoldmeofanoldgypsyremedy,butIwouldnever tryit. Itwastoohokey.OnedayIarguedwithherand,inanefforttoproveherwrong,Idecidedtogoaheadandusetheremedy.Ijustknewitwouldn’twork.Well,withintwoweeksthewartwasgone.Hereit is:Cutaslicefromapotato,rubthewhitepartonthewart,andthengoburythepotatointheyard.Supposedlyifyoudigupthepotatolater,itwillhavegrownthewartonit.Thissoundswaytoosilly,butitdidwork.Momwasright,andshewontheargument.

Wedon’tknowifthisisagypsyremedy,butitcertainlyisold.Wehaveheard from a number of other people who have treated their wartssuccessfullybyrubbingthemwithrawpotatoorpotatopeelandburyingthe

pieceofpotato.

TURMERIC

Mydaughterhadthreestubbornwartsonthebottomofherfootthathurther terribly. We tried salicylic acid tape from the pharmacy. It alwaysburnedoffallthegoodskinandleftthewartintact.Ducttapedidn’twork,and neither did freezing the warts off at the doctor’s office. They keptcomingback.Then Ibought turmeric root from thehealth food store andscrapedoffsome.Imadeapasteoffreshlyscrapedturmericroot, tapedalittlelumpthesizeofapeaoneachwart,andchangediteachnight.(Ihadherwearasocktobed.Turmeric isneonyellowandstainsbedding.)Thewarts were completely gone in three applications. Bright pink, fresh,smoothskingrewintheblack-speckedholesleftbehindafterthebandagewasremoved.Thewartsnevercameback.Ihavenoideawhyitworks,butsomeoneatworksaiditworkedforhim.

No one knowsmuch about why any wart remedy works.We do knowwarts are caused by a virus. Studies demonstrate that curcumin, acompound found in turmeric, exhibits antiviral activity, so perhaps thatexplainsyoursuccess.5

Mysondevelopedawartonthebottomofhisfoot.Hedidn’ttakecareofit as I told him to, and it grew andmultiplied untilwalkingwas painful.Nothinghetriedhelped.Hisdoctorwouldn’t touchitandrecommendedavisittoaspecialist.I toldhimtogetsomefreshturmeric,butallhecouldfindwasthepowder.Isuggestedhemakeapastewithalittleoil.Mixingitwithafewdropsofoliveoilandcoveringitwithabandagetookawaythewartsandthepaininacoupleofdays!Ithasbeenseveralweeks,andthewartshavenotreturned.

You are the second person who has reported success with turmeric forplantarwarts.Turmeric’santiviralpropertiesmaybethereason.

VINEGAR

Mydaughteris23andhashadwartsonherthighsallthewaytoherkneesfor five years. She couldn’t wear shorts or bathing suits because of thiscondition. She had over 50 warts at all times. I lost track of howmuchmoney we spent at dermatologists as we tried every treatment available:liquid nitrogen, Tagamet, chemotherapy, and even yeast. A newdermatologist told her shewas out of options.The only thing leftwas toboost her immune system. I heard your radio program and checked yourbook for possible home remedies. I told my daughter about the vinegartreatmentreferencedinyourbook.Shewetapapertowelwithvinegarand

wipedherwartswithittwiceaday.Herwartsarecompletelygone.Icannotbegintoexpressourappreciationfortheinformationyouprovide!

Itiswonderfultohearthatvinegarwassoeffective.

WeightLoss

Everyonewouldlikeasimplewaytodrop10or20poundswithoutworkingtoohardatit.Thatexplainstheperennialpopularityofdietbooksaswellasover-the-counter preparations (often containing caffeine and/or herbs)purportedtocontrolappetite.Therehavebeenonlyafewstudiespittingthepopular(low-carb)Atkinsdietagainstthe(low-fat)Ornishdiet.Thesestudiesshowthatstickingwitheitherdietcanhelpdietersloseweight.What’shardissticking with it! Keeping a food diary may be one of the most helpful“remedies”inaweightlossplan,buthereareafewmore.

LOWGLYCEMICINDEXDIET

Iusedtogeturinarytractinfectionsoryeastinfectionseveryothermonth.Then I changedmy diet and cut out sugar,white flour, and starches likepotatoes and rice. Since then I have had only one urinary tract infection.I’velost20pounds,andmyeczemais99percentbetter.Ionlyhaveaflare-upwhen I have cake ormilk chocolate. I am still surprised that diet canhavesuchaneffectonthesystem.OtherpeoplewitheczemaorseborrheicdermatitismightbenefitasIdid.

There is not much research linking a high-carbohydrate diet to urinarytract infections or eczema. But reducing sugar, starch, and refinedcarbohydratesseemslikeasimpleenoughexperiment.Ifitworksforsomepeople with such hard-to-treat conditions, it might be worth the trouble.Thanksforsharingyourinterestingstory.

I read that high-fructose corn syrup raises triglycerides, part of thecholesterol count. I eliminated corn syrup from my diet, and mytriglycerides dropped significantly. But why did I lose 15 pounds and 3inchesfrommywaistwithnodieting?

Researchhasshownthatahigh-fructosedietcanboosttriglyceridelevelsinmen.High-fructosecornsyrupisfoundinsoftdrinks,breakfastcereals,snacks,andotherprocessedfoods.Expertshaveproposedthathigh-fructosecorn syrup in soft drinks and fruit juices is contributing to the obesityepidemic.1 By eliminating it from your diet, you apparently chosealternativesthathelpedyouloseweight.

WoundCare

Treating and dressing serious wounds is not a do-it-yourself home project.

Whetherthey’retheresultofasuddentraumaticinjuryoroccurredgraduallyovertime(intheformofabedsore,forexample),youshouldalwaysbesureto have a doctor oversee the healing process. That said, people have usedhoney as a wound dressing for hundreds of years, and we’ve heard fromseveralhealthcarespecialistswhohaveusedsugarorhoneytosuccessfullypromotehealinginstubbornwounds.Therearealsosomedatainthemedicalliterature to support the usefulness of this method. Researchers in Egyptappliedhoneyto30diabeticfootulcers,andafterthreemonthsofapplication,thehoneycompletelyhealedthewoundsinmorethan43percentofcases.Inanother 43.3 percent of cases, honey reduced the size of the wounds andhelpedwithgranulation.1Ifyou’rehavingtroublewithawoundthatrefusestoheal, talk to your doctor about thepossibility of trying a honeyor sugartreatment.

HONEY

Ididaninternshipin1973atKingsCountyHospitalCenterinBrooklyn.Whenawoundwouldstarttoopenratherthanhealing,wewouldhavethepatientcometothehospitalafewtimesaweekandpourGoldenBlossomHoneystraight fromthe jarpurchased in thesupermarket into thewound.Nothinggrowsinhoney.We’dgetnicegranulartissuethatwouldhealfromtheinsideout.

Thank you for sharing your experience. Wound management requiresmedicalsupervision,withorwithouthoney.

SUGAR

My father, who is in hospice care, developed a bedsore on his back. Itbecameinfected,andthecaregiversusedanoldwives’remedyofapplyingsugartotheinfectedsore.Thisseemedtowork;ithadtobediscontinued,however,becausetheagencypersonnelarenotsupposedtoapplyit.Iguessthe remedy is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Haveyoueverheardof this remedy? Iamnow inchargeofapplying thesugar,anditseemstowork.

It iscertainlyanoldwives’ tale,butevidencebacksup thisapproach totreating stubborn wounds. Decades ago, surgeon Richard A. Knutsonpublished this old-fashioned approach to wound care.2 He resisted hisnurse’s recommendation at first: “When we started I thought it wasabsolutely nuts.” But his experience with more than 5,000 patientsconvinced him sugar was useful to speed healing. Recently, scientistscomparedhoneyandsugaraswounddressings.Researchersconcludedthathoney is somewhat more effective than sugar in reducing bacterialcontaminationandpromotinghealing.3

You recently wrote about using sugar for slow-healing wounds andbedsores.Asanurse,Ilearnedyearsagothatthebestwaytousethishomeremedyistomakeathickpasteofantibioticointmentandsugarandtopackthewoundwithit.Oldwives’taleornot,itworks.Theantibioticointmenthelpstopreventinfections.

Weheard fromothernurses and even avetwhohavenot forgotten thisold-fashioned treatment. One wrote, “As a nursing student in 1961, Iworkedatasmallhospitalthatroutinelyusedamixtureofmilkofmagnesiaand sugar to cure bedsores. It seemed to be successful in many cases.”Anotherobjected toour terminology: “Using sugar forbedsores isnot anoldwives’tale.Ihavebeenaregisterednursefor45years.WhenIwasastudent,itwasverycommonpracticetousesugarpacks.”Theveterinariansaid,“Manywoundshavebeenshowntohealthreetimesfasterwiththeuseof sugargranulesona salinewet-to-drybandage.The sugarhelps topullthebacteriafromthewound,andthesalinefeedsthetissuetopromoterapidhealingoftheskinbeneath.”

Iwant to thankyoufor thesugarcurecolumn. Ihada toeamputated inMarch 2006, and by November 2007 it still had not healed. I read yourcolumnaboutusingsugarforwoundhealing,tookittomywoundtreatmentappointment, and asked the doctor about it. She said, “Nothing else ishelping, so go for it. It couldn’t hurt.” I applied the first treatment on aFriday afternoon, and by Monday afternoon the improvement wasnoticeable. At my next appointment, the doctor was very impressed. Imixed the sugar into Polysporin and applied it. The improvementwas sogreatthatmydoctorevengavemepermissiontoshowerwithoutabagonmyfoot.Ihadnotdonethatinwellovertwoyears.Healinghasslowed,butitcontinues.Thankyou!

We first found this old-fashioned approach in themedical literature twodecadesago.Therehasbeenlittleresearchonitsincethen,butresearchinAfrica suggests that both honey and sugar may be helpful.4 Medicalsupervisionisessentialwheneverdifficultwoundsaretreated.

PartII

EATINGFORHEALTH

THIS SECTION OF THE BOOK DESCRIBES three diets that have proven health benefits:DietaryApproaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), the Mediterranean diet, and alow-carbohydrate approach. Each of these diets has vocal proponents—aswellassomecritics—andeachhasaslightlydifferentemphasis.DASHwasdesigned to lower blood pressure; theMediterranean dietmay decrease therisk of developing heart disease and cancer; and people often adopt a low-carbdiettoloseweightortocontrolbloodlipids.

Thetruthis,however,thatthesedietsaremoresimilarthandifferent,andwe’re not advocates of one over another. All three involve eating lots ofdifferentvegetables,stickingtoleanproteinslikefishandlegumes,andusingwholeratherthanprocessedgrains.Andallthreeseemtoofferawiderangeof benefits. For instance, research shows that a low-carb dietmay help notonlywithweightlossandbloodsugarcontrolbutalsowithseriousheartburnsymptoms.1And in addition to lowering blood pressure, aDASHdietmayhelptopreservecognitivefunction.2

Therearesomedisparitiesamongthediets,however.Forexample,thelow-carb approach allows you to eat more healthy fats and discourages theconsumptionof lots of fruit,whileDASHemphasizes fruits andvegetablesand lets you eatmorewhole grains.We recommend adopting the diet thatmakesthemostsenseforyourhealthconsiderationsandlifestyle.Whilesomeof the experts we have cited in this book strongly support one diet overanother,wetendtomixandmatchinourkitchen.

TheDASHDiet

ThefirstscientificarticlesconfirmingDASH’seffectivenessstartedshowingupmore than tenyearsago.1Since then, investigatorshavepublishedmorefindings,andtodayroughly200studiesareindexedinPubMed.

IntheoriginalDASHtrial,peoplewithmildlyelevatedbloodpressureatemealsfromoneofthreedifferenteatingplans.(Noneofthevolunteersweretaking blood pressure medication.) The first group followed a typicalAmericandiet; thesecondatemanymorefruitsandvegetables(eighttotenservings daily instead of the usual four or fewer); and the third group goteight to tenservingsof fruitsandvegetablesplus low-fatdairyproducts,sothatfatmadeuponly25percentoftheirtotalcalories.

Fruits andvegetablesmadeadifference:Bothof thegroupswith fruits andvegetables in theirdietexperienceddrops inbloodpressure readings.Bloodpressure fell most in people on the low-fat regimen—the changes in theirreadingswere comparable to those thatmight be achievedwith drugs. In a

later twiston the trial, researchers found thatcuttingpeople’s sodiumwhilestickingwithanabundanceofveggiesandfruitsbroughtbloodpressuredownevenmoreeffectively.2

The secret ingredient in fruits and vegetables isn’t entirely clear. Somescientistshaveassumedthatitispotassium.Foryears,studieshavesuggestedthatadietrichinpotassiumcannormalizebloodpressureandreducetheriskofstroke.3Vegetablesareagoodsourceofpotassiuminthediet,butarecentexperiment found that simply supplementing a standardAmericandietwithpotassium,fiber,andmagnesiumdidnotworkaswellasputtingpeopleonaDASHdiet.4

ResearchindicatesthataDASHdietcanreducetheriskofkidneystones,5lower bloodpressure, and cut the risk of heart attack and stroke.A low-fatdietwithplentyofveggiesmayalsohelppeopleloseweight.Forsomeheavypeoplewithmild hypertension, losing ten pounds or so is even better thantakingmedicine.Butnobodycanclaimthatitiseasy.

So how can you get in on the benefits of a DASH diet? The basicguidelines are below, but for more information you can go online:dashdiet.org orwww.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/hbp/dash/new_dash.pdf. Additionalinformationcanbe found inTheDASHDiet forHypertension:LowerYourBloodPressure in14Days—WithoutDrugs,writtenbyThomasMoore andhiscolleagues,theinvestigatorswhorantheoriginalstudy.

TheDASH diet focuses on produce—fruits and vegetables.Most peopleshould eat four servings of vegetables and four servings of fruit every day,withaservingofnutsorbeanseveryotherdayorso,aswellasacoupleofservings daily of low-fat dairy products.Twodaily servings of lean animalprotein are plenty for nonvegetarians.A serving is defined as the size of adeckofcards.Itiseasiertokeepanimalproteinleanenoughbyeatingfishatleasttwiceaweekandbysubstitutingleangroundturkeybreast(orevensoycrumbles) for fattygroundbeef.Togetenoughcalories, several servingsofwholegrainsprovideadditionaldailynutrition.(Herewedefineaservingasone-halfcupofoatmealorbrownrice,orasliceofwholewheatbread.)

One of the biggest challenges with the DASH plan is to keep track ofservingsoffruitsandvegetablestogetenough.Adailychecklistlikethisonecanbehelpful:

WholeGrains•6servingsdaily

Vegetables•4servingsdaily

Fruits•4servingsdaily

Low-FatDairy•2servingsdaily

LeanProtein•2servingsdaily

Beans/Nuts•½servingdaily

DASH’ssweetsallowanceisoneservingeveryotherday,soitmakessensetouse some fruit servings as dessert at the end of lunch or dinner. A singleservingofasweetisa tablespoonofmaplesyrup,honey,orsugar;one-halfcup of frozen yogurt or sherbet; a Popsicle; or a ten-gram piece of darkchocolate.Withsomepractice,youmaybeabletogetbywithfewersweets,whichcouldhelpwithweightloss.

FavoriteVegetables

A serving of vegetables is a cup of salad greens (spinach, romaine lettuce,arugula, and soon). If the vegetablesare cooked, go forone-half cupasaserving.Somevegetablesarequiteexpensivewhennotinseason,butonceina while you can find them at a reasonable cost. Here are some of ourfavorites:

artichoke

arugula

asparagus

beetgreens

beet

bellpepper

broccoli

cabbage

carrot

cauliflower

celery

collardgreens

greenbean

kale

mushroom

onion

snowpea

spinach

squash(summerorwinter)

sweetpotato

swisschard

tomato

V8juice

FavoriteFruits

Countamedium-sizepieceoffruitasoneserving.Youcanalsosubstitutesixouncesoffruitjuice(makesureitisreallyjuiceandnotsweetened,flavoredwater), half a grapefruit, or one-half cup berries or cut-up fruit (such aspineapple or mango). If the fruit is dried, the serving size shrinks to one-quartercup.Herearesomeofourfavorites:

apple

apricot

banana

blackberry

blueberry

cantaloupe

cherry

currant(dried)

grapefruit

grape

kiwi

orange

peach

pear

pineapple

plum

pomegranate

raisin

raspberry

strawberry

tangerine

ADDINGFLAVOR

Don’t forget the seasonings!Curry, garlic, ginger, lemon, parsley, and salsadon’t contribute a lot of bulk to a plate, but they do offer valuablephytonutrients—nutritionfromplantsources—alongwithaboosttoflavor.Ifyou are cutting back on salt, a substitute such as one of the Mrs. DashproductscanbeagreatadditiontotheDASHdiet.

TheMediterraneanDiet

Foryears,researchershavebeenaccumulatingdataontheremarkablehealthbenefits of the Mediterranean diet. Rigorous scientific studies have shownthat the diet protects people frommanymaladies, from diabetes and heartdisease1tocancer,2metabolicsyndrome,3depression,4Alzheimer’sdisease,5anddeath.6Yes,death—oratleasttheprematurekind.

Okay,sotheevidenceisthere.Andyourintentionsmaybethere,too.Butlike a lot of other people, perhaps you’re wondering: What exactly is theMediterraneandiet?

Broadly, theMediterraneandiet includes lotsofvegetables, fruits,andnuts;plenty of legumes (peas, beans, and lentils); fat calories frommonounsaturatedratherthansaturatedfats(forexample,oliveoilratherthanbutter);moderateconsumptionofalcohol;andlowconsumptionofmeats.Foranimalprotein,fishispreferredtopoultryorredmeat,anddairyproductsareconsumed somewhat sparingly. Any grains eaten should be whole grains,suchasbulgurwheat,barley,orwholewheatbread.

Morespecifically,thereareafewtenets:

Eat fish or shellfish at least twice a week. These foods are highlyrecommended:

arcticchar(farmed)

codfromthePacificOcean

halibutfromthePacificOcean

herringfromtheAtlantic

mahimahi

pollockfromAlaska

rainbowtrout(farmed)

Alaskasalmon(wildorcanned)

sardine(canned)

tuna(lightmeat,notalbacore;canned)

Ifyoudon’tlikefish—oritshighcost—augmentyourdietwithhigh-qualityfishoilsupplementsfromahealthfoodstore.Youmaywanttodothisevenifyouareeatingtwoormoreservingsoffishperweek.

For protein, substitute at least one serving per day of legumesinsteadofmeats.Herearesomerecommendedlegumes:

blackbean

chickpea

kidneybean

lentil

navybean

pintobean

splitpea

soybean

Aimfornineormoreservingsperdayofantioxidant-richvegetables

andfruits,includingsomeofourfavorites:

artichoke

asparagus

blackberry

blueberry

beet

broccoli

brusselssprout

cherry

cucumber

eggplant

fig

grape

kale

kiwi

melon

onion

orange

pepper(bothbellandhot)

plum

pomegranate

prune

raspberry

spinach

strawberry

sweetpotato

tomato

andmanymore

It shouldn’t behard to find several thatyou likeon this list, andyoudon’thave to eat nine servings of different fruits and veggies per day (althoughvariety is good)—just nine servings total.A serving is typically about one-halfcup.Withuncookedgreenslikespinach,aservingisonecup,andwithawholepieceoffruit,likeanapple,aservingisthatpiece.

Eat roughlyonehandfulperdayof treenuts. Tree nuts are high ingood fats and low in saturated fats. They do have a lot of calories,though,so try tostick to thatonehandful.And it’sbest toeat thenutsrawordryroasted,ratherthansaltedorhoneyroasted.Toastingthemabit in a skilletmakes them tasty.Walnuts are fantastic; other healthfultreenutsincludepecans,almonds,andhazelnuts.Stick to monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, like olive oil,canola oil, and oils from nuts—especially walnut oil—and skip thebutter.Incorporatewholegrainbread,pasta,rice,barley,andcouscousintoyourdiet.The occasional glass of red wine is fine for most people, butmoderationiskey.Oneglassperdaywithfoodisokay.Eatleanredmeatinfrequently—afewtimespermonthatmost.Exercise regularly. Experts recommend half an hour to an hour fivetimes per week. It makes sense to find something you love to do,whether it is ballroomdancing orwalking the dog.Thatwayyouwilllook forward to it and will be more likely to stick with it. Enlistingfriendstojoinyoucanalsohelpyoukeepwiththeprogram.Eat meals with family and friends. In traditional Mediterraneancountries like France, Italy, and Spain,mealtime is a social gathering.Healthandhappinessarecontagious!

TheLow-CarbDiet

MostpeoplecaneasilygetonboardwiththeideaoftheMediterraneandietortheDASHdiet.Afterall,it’shardtoarguewithdatathatlinksgoodhealthtoconsuming fish, vegetables, legumes,whole grains, redwine, and olive oil.Thelow-carbdiet,however,hasgeneratedcontroversyfromthedayin1972whenRobertAtkinspublishedhisfirstbook,Dr.Atkins’DietRevolution.

Atkins was not the first physician to suggest that sugar and starch causedweightproblems.In1862aBritishsurgeon,WilliamHarvey,recommendedalow-carbdiettoanoverweightpatientnamedWilliamBanting.Overthenext21months,Bantinglost50pounds.Bantingwroteuphissuccessfuldietinalittlepamphlet called “LetteronCorpulence,Addressed to thePublic.”The

pamphlet went on to become wildly successful in Europe and the UnitedStates. Not surprisingly, the medical establishment of the day was highlycritical.Bantingandhis followerswereadvised tomind theirownbusinessandnottomeddleinmedicalmatterssuchasobesity.

For more than a century, doctors, diet experts, and medical journalcontributors vilified the low-carb concept. A low-fat approach seemed somuchmoresensible.Foronething,itfitssonicelywithourPuritanheritage.We like to suffer,or at leastwe like to think suffering isgood for the soul.Since fatty foods generally taste good (think Brie, sirloin, ice cream, andcheesecake),tryingtoeliminatethemmakesusfeelholy—oratleastsuperiortothesinnerswhostillconsumeredmeat.

Theonlytroublewiththisbeliefsystemisthatitwasbuiltfromahouseofcards that came tumbling downonce therewas real data.But old ideas diehard. Too often science takes a backseat to decades of shouting by dietdictocrats.Nomatterhowmanystudiesdemonstratethatalow-carbapproachseemstohelppeopleloseweightandimprovebloodlipids,thestudiestendtodisappearwithoutatrace.

On March 7, 2007, the Journal of the American Medical Associationpublished an article titled “Comparison of the Atkins, Zone, Ornish, andLEARN Diets for Change in Weight and Related Risk Factors AmongOverweight Premenopausal Women: The A TO Z Weight Loss Study: ARandomizedTrial.”1Thiswasayearlongsmackdown—afood fightofepicproportions that pitted themostpopulardietsof theday against eachother.(LEARNrepresentedastandard,physician-recommendedlow-fat,high-carb,reduced-calorieregimen.)

The results were heretical. The Atkins diet not only helped people shedmorepoundsthantheotherdietsbutalsobenefitedpeopleinotherimportantways. Their blood fat profiles improved, with higher levels of good high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and lower levels of bad triglyceridesamongtheAtkinsdietersthanamongtheothers.Mostdietitianswouldhavepredicted that Atkins dieters would develop higher cholesterol levels thantheirlow-fatcounterparts.Afterall,thesepeoplewereeatingredmeat,butter,andotherdieteticallydisapprovedfoods.Therewere,however,nosignificantdifferencesintotalcholesterolamongthegroups.Atkinsdietersalsoreducedtheirbloodpressuresmoreeffectively thanpeople in theothergroups.Thismayhavebeenpartlyaresultofmoreweightlost,butevenaftermakingthatstatisticaladjustment,Atkinsdieters’bloodpressurescameoutlower.

Thesefindingsarenotasnewastheyseem.Priorstudieshaveconsistentlyshown that a low-carb diet can lower blood pressure and triglycerides and

raise HDL cholesterol.2 Studies also indicate that people may have bettercontroloftheirbloodsugaronsuchaprogram.3

If you are open to data rather than dietary dogma,we recommendGoodCalories Bad Calories: Challenging the Conventional Wisdom on Diet,Weight Control and Disease (Knopf, 2007) by Gary Taubes. It is wellresearchedandfullydocumented.

Perhaps you are now convinced that a low-carb approach is worthconsideration.Whichdietisbestforyou?Therearelotstochoosefrom.Wehave no particular favorites. Whether you select the Atkins approach, theDiabetesDiet (seeRichardBernstein’s book), theSouthBeachDiet, or theZone,theyareallrelativelylowincarbohydrates.Suchanapproachisalsoalow-glycemic diet. That means it is less likely to make blood sugar risequicklywithaconcomitantrapidincreaseininsulin.

So here’s the skinny on a low-carb approach:Avoid sugar, starches, andrefinedcarbohydrates.Beespeciallycarefulaboutwhitefoods.JustsayNOtofoodslikethese:

bread

candy

crackers

cookies

carrots

cereal

corn

fruitsandfruitjuices

pancakes

pasta

potatoes

pretzels

rice

rye

sugar

wheat

yogurt(sweetened,low-fat)

Herearesomeofourfavorite low-carbfoods,basedonRichardBernstein’srecommendationsfromTheDiabetesDiet:

asparagus

beetgreens

bellpeppers

bokchoy

broccoli

brusselssprouts

cabbage

cauliflower

celery

cheese

collardgreens

cottagecheese

eggplant

eggs

endive

escarole

fish

fowl

greenbeans

meat

mushrooms

nuts

okra

pumpkin

radicchio

sauerkraut

scallions

seafood

snowpeas

spaghettisquash

spinach

tofu

yogurt(full-fat)

zucchini

Aswith any diet, regular exercise—half an hour to an hour five times perweek—isessentialformaintainingweightandimprovingoverallhealth.Andwhateverdietyouchoose,besuretotaketimetoenjoyyourfoodwithfamilyandfriends.

BREAKFAST

Anti-inflammatoryCurcuminScramble

4largeeggs(ifyouprefer,substitute2eggwhitesfor1egg)Pinchsaltandgroundblackpepper1teaspoonturmeric(curcumin)powder1tablespoonoliveorgrapeseedoil2 tablespoons milk or water (milk will make the eggs denser andcreamier;waterwillmakethemfluffierandlighter)½teaspoongratedParmesanSprinklingchoppedchives

Inamedium-sizemixingbowl,useaforktomixeggs,salt,pepper,andcurcuminpowder.(Beverycarefulwiththecurcuminpowder;itwilldyeeverythingittouchesabright,summeryyellow.)Addoliveorgrapeseedoil to a large sauté pan or skillet, and set your burner tomedium-lowheat.While theoil isheating,stirmilkorwater intoyoureggmixture.When oil is hot, pour eggmixture into pan or skillet. Let eggs set forabout20secondsbeforegentlyscramblingwithawoodenspatula.AddParmesan. Let set for another 15 seconds, and gently scramble again.Repeatuntileggslookalmostbutnotquitecooked.(They’llcontinuetocookontheplate.)Serve,andaddasprinklingofchivestoeachdishforgarnish.Makestwoservings.

Joe’sBrain-BoostingSmoothie

1teaspoonfishoil1frozenbanana1cupfreshorfrozenmixedberriesIfusingfreshberries:1cupcrushedice¾cupplainyogurt½cuppomegranateorcherryjuice½cuppasteurizedeggwhites(roughly4eggs’worth)4tablespoonswheypowder2tablespoonsgroundflaxseed

Addall ingredients to ablender.Pureeuntil smooth.Youmayneed toscrape down the sides once or twicewith a spatula to ensure that themixtureisevenlyblended.Pourintotallglassesandenjoyrightaway,orchillintherefrigeratorovernight.Makestwogenerousservings.

Cholesterol-CombatingOatmeal

1cupsoyorricemilk¼cupsteel-cutoats1teaspoongroundcinnamonPinchsalt½cupeggwhites¼cupdriedfruit(welikecurrants,raisins,andcherries),or2/3cupfreshfruit2tablespoonsgroundflaxseed½cupchoppedwalnutsoralmonds2teaspoonshoney,agavenectar,maplesyrup,orsugarsubstitute(optional)

Bringsoyorricemilktoaboilinamediumsaucepan.(Werecommendusing a lid so that no milk escapes as it begins to boil.) Add oats,cinnamon, and salt. Stir with a slotted spoon and reduce heat to asimmer. Continue stirringwhile adding the eggwhites, and then cookuncovered over low heat for about ten minutes while stirringoccasionally.Addfruit,flaxseed,andnuts,andcookuntiloatsaretender,approximately five to ten minutes more. Top each serving withsweetenertotaste,ifdesired.Makestwogeneroushelpings.

LUNCH

CrustlessCauliflowerandRedPepperQuiche

ContributedbyEricC.Westman,M.D.,M.H.S.

1teaspoonoliveoil,plusmoreforpieplate½smallonion,finelychopped½redbellpepper,diced4largeeggs½cupheavycream1cupwater1cupgratedMontereyJackcheese,divided¼teaspoondriedthyme¼teaspoondriedoregano¼teaspoonchoppeddriedrosemary½teaspoonsalt¼teaspoonpepper1smallheadcauliflower,cutintoflorets,stemspeeledandcut1/3inchthick(substitutebroccoli,ifyouprefer)

Heatovento375degrees.Brushanine-orten-inchpieplatewitholiveoil.Heatoilinasmallskilletovermedium-highheat.Addonionandredpepper and cook until softened, about three minutes. Transfer to amediumbowlandletcool.Addeggstoonionmixtureandlightlybeat.Whisk incream,water,½cupcheese,herbs, salt,andpepper toblend.Cover bottomof pie platewith cauliflower.Coverwith creammixtureandsprinklewithremaining½cupcheese.Bakeuntilaknifeinsertedinthe middle comes out clean and quiche is golden brown, 50 to 60minutes.Makessixservings.

SolewithLemongrassRedBellPepperSalad

ContributedbyMarkLiponis,M.D.

3redbellpeppers,roastedandthinlysliced3tablespoonsmincedlemongrass1½tablespoonssherryvinegar¾teaspoonsalt¼teaspoonpepper4solefillets,about4ounceseach¼teaspoonsalt¼teaspoonpepper1tablespoonoliveoil

Inamediumbowl,combinethefirstfiveingredientsandmixwell.Setaside. Season fish with salt and pepper. Sauté in a large sauté pan inolive oil about three to five minutes on each side or until cookedthrough. Serve one fish fillet with 1/3 cup of the salad. Makes fourservings.

WheatBerrySalad

Contributed by Jeffrey Blumberg, Ph.D., and Helen Rasmussen,Ph.D.,R.D.,F.A.D.A.

1cuppreparedwheatberries(seepreparationmethod,below)½ teaspoon chicken bouillon (cube or loose granules; can use low-sodiumbouillon)½cupwater2tablespoonslemonjuice½tablespoonoliveoil2tablespoonsfinelyslicedonion½teaspoongroundblackpepper1clovegarlic,mincedorpressed1tablespoondrywheatbran2tablespoonschoppedwalnuts

TO PREPARE WHEAT BERRIES:Putonecupdrywheatberries intoasaucepan(orusearicecooker, ifyouprefer).Add2½cupswaterandbringtoaboil.Stirtheberries,lowertheheattoasimmer,cover,andcookfor20minutes.Regularly check to see that there is still adequate water to preventscorching.Cookforanother40minutes,oruntiltheberriesaresoft.

TOPREPARESALAD:Dissolvethechickenbouillonin1/3cupwater.Inaservingbowl,mixthedissolvedbouillon, lemonjuice,andoliveoil.Stir inonion,pepper,and garlic.Add the cup of cookedwheat berries,wheat bran, andwalnuts.Mixtogether.Makesoneserving.

DINNER

CardamomGrilledChickenwithMangoLimeSauce

ContributedbyMarkLiponis,M.D.

Spicemix:3tablespoonscardamom1tablespoonblackpepper1tablespoonsalt1teaspooncinnamon¼teaspooncayennepepperSix4-ounceskinlesschickenbreasts,bonedanddefatted

Sauce:1mango,cleanedanddiced½cuplimejuice

2tablespoonsoliveoil1tablespoonmincedginger½cupnonfatplainyogurt½teaspoonsalt1tablespoondicedjalapeño1tablespoonchoppedcilantro

Prepare coals for grilling or preheat broiler. In a small bowl, combineingredientsforspicemix.Lightlypoundchickenbreaststoflatten.Dusteachwithaboutoneteaspoonspicemix.Storeremainingspicemixinanairtightcontainer for futureuse.Grill chicken for three to fiveminutesoneachside,oruntiljuicesrunclearwhenpiercedwithafork.Combineall ingredients for sauce in a blender, except for jalapeño and cilantro.Puree until smooth. Pour into a bowl, add jalapeño and cilantro, andgentlystir.Serveonechickenbreastwithone-quartercupsauce.Makessixservings.

LentilNutLoafwithRedPepperSauce

ContributedbyGailPettifordWillettandWalterC.Willett,M.D.,Dr.P.H.

Lentilnutloaf:1cuplentils,washed2cupswater2tablespoonsoliveoil,plusadditionaloilforgreasingthebakingpan1largeonion,chopped1cupmushrooms,chopped1cupwalnuts,chopped1cupwholewheatbreadcrumbs1tablespoonlemonjuice1tablespoonsoysauceSaltandpeppertotaste1tablespoonmixedherbsofyourchoice

Redpeppersauce:2tablespoonsoliveoil3clovesgarlic,peeledandchopped1smalljarroastedredpeppers(4-6oz.)3tomatoes,choppedRedpepperflakes(optional)

FORLENTILNUTLOAF:Preheatovento350degrees.Greaseabakingpan.Combinelentilsandwaterinalargepot,andcooklentilsuntilthey’resoft,about

half an hour.Heat the olive oil in a sauté pan or skillet, and sauté theonion andmushrooms until soft.Mix all other ingredients inwith theonionandmushrooms.Sautéforthreetofourminutes.Placethemixtureinthegreasedbakingpanandbakefor30minutes.

FOR RED PEPPER SAUCE: Heat oil in sauté pan or skillet, and sauté the garlic onmedium heat for three to four minutes. Add the red peppers andtomatoes.Cookuntilthemixturethickens,about15minutes.Ladleoverthelentilnutloaf.Canbeservedhotoratroomtemperature.Makesfourservings. (Lentil loaf recipe adapted fromRecipes for Natural Health:www.recipes.org/health/main.htm;redpeppersaucerecipeadaptedfromyumyum.com.)

PescadoalCilantro

ThisrecipeisofaMexicanstyle,butsimpler.Thesauceisspicy,andthe jalapeños are salty, so there’s no need to add salt duringpreparation.2/3cupcilantroleaves,rinsedanddestemmed2clovesgarlic,peeledandchopped6tablespoonspickledjalapeñopeppers,withthejuice4 filets of firm, white-fleshed fish, such as flounder, tilapia, cod, orhaddockBlackpeppertotasteAdditionalcilantroleavesandlemonwedgesforgarnish

Preheatthebroiler.Putthecilantroleaves,garlic,andpickledjalapeñoswiththeirjuiceintoablender.Processmixtureintoapaste.

Placethefishontoabroilerpanandspreadtheblendedsauceover thefilets. Grind black pepper over them. Broil five to ten minutes,depending on the thickness of the filets, until just cooked through.Sprinkle additional cilantro leaves over cooked filets for garnish, andservewithcutlemonwedges.Makesfourservings.

SIDES

ColeslawwithMint

Coleslaw:½headredcabbage,choppedfinely¼cuponion(redorsweet),choppedfinely1greenbellpepper,deribbedandchopped

1tablespoonfreshmintleaves,choppedfinely

Dressing:2tablespoonsDijonmustard¼teaspoonsaltandfreshlygroundpeppertotaste4dropsTabascosauce½cupapplecidervinegar¼cupoliveoil

Mixtogetherallingredientsforthecoleslawandsetaside.Tomakethedressing:Whiskingredientstogetherinabowl,orpourintoalargejar,closethelidtightly,andshakeuntilwellblended.Pourthedressingovertheslawandmixwell.Makesfourservings.

FarmersMarketSaag

3bunchesfreshgreens(mixandmatch,dependingonwhat’sinseason:collards;kale;chard;beet,mustard,orturnipgreens;spinach;arugula)3or4turnipsorbeets,or2sweetpotatoes1½tablespoonssafflowerorgrapeseedoil1teaspooncuminseeds2clovesgarlic,pressedorfinelyminced1freshjalapeño,seededandminced(optional—butgood)1teaspoonfinelymincedginger,or½teaspoongingerpowder1teaspoonkoshersalt1¼cupsboilingwater1teaspoongarammasala

Wash greens thoroughly and chop coarsely. Scrub and trim turnips orbeetsorparesweetpotatoes,andcutintotwo-inchpieces.Heattheoilina largefryingpan,preferablycast iron.Whentheoil ishot,addcuminseedsandstiruntiltheydarken(justafewseconds).Thenstiringarlicand jalapeño (if desired).Add root vegetables and sauté for six to tenminutes, regulating theheat so theydon’tburn.Stir inchoppedgreensbythehandful,addingmoreastheywilt.Sprinklethemwithgingerandsalt,andstirwell.Addtheboilingwater,reducetheheat,coverthepan,and cook for about 20minutes, or until the root vegetables are tender.Uncoverandcookabitmore,toreduceexcessliquid.Stirinthegarammasalaandremovethesaagfromheat.Makesfourservings.

RoastedGarlic

ContributedbyMichaelD.Ozner,M.D.,F.A.C.C.,F.A.H.A.

1jumbogarlichead1heartypinchgarlicpowderorgarlicsalt(optional)

Oliveoiltodrizzle

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Remove only loose leaves from the garlicbulb.Holding thehead firmlywith stemup, cut off thepointy topsofeach clove. Try to keep the remaining leaves and cloves intact. Placehead (stem and cut cloves facing up) in a tight-fitting baking dish.Sprinklethetopoftheheadwithgarlicpowderorgarlicsalt,ifdesired,anddrizzlewitholiveoil.Place in theovenandbakeuntil thehead isgoldenbrownontopandtheclovetopscanbeeasilypiercedwithafork,about20to30minutes.

SimpleSaladDressing

ContributedbyHelenGraedon

½cupredwinevinegar2or3tablespoonsoliveoilAtleast2clovesfreshgarlic,mincedorpressed2teaspoonsDijonmustardChoppedgreenonions(optional)Saltandfreshlygroundpeppertotaste

Blendallingredients.Oneofthebestsaladdressingsaround.

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Notes,Introduction

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Notes,EatingforHealth

INTRODUCTION

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1.JournaloftheAmericanMedicalAssociation2007

2.JournaloftheAmericanMedicalAssociation2005;NewEnglandJournalofMedicine 2003;MayoClinicProceedings 2003; International Journal ofCardiology 2006; Journal of Nutrition 2006; Annals of Internal Medicine2004

3.MetabolicSyndomeandRelatedDisorders2003;NutritionandMetabolism(London)2008

ABOUTTHEAUTHORS

JoeGraedon,M.S.

Joe Graedon received his B.S. from Pennsylvania State University in1967 and did research on mental illness, sleep, and basic brainphysiologyattheNewJerseyNeuropsychiatricInstituteinPrinceton.In1971 he earned his M.S. in pharmacology from the University ofMichigan. Joewas conferred the degree ofDoctor ofHumane Lettershonoris causa from Long Island University in 2006 as one of thecountry’sleadingdrugexpertsfortheconsumer.JoetaughtpharmacologyattheSchoolofMedicineoftheUniversidad

Autónoma“BenitoJuárez”deOaxaca,Mexico,from1972to1974.Hehas lectured at Duke University; the University of California, SanFrancisco;and theUniversityofNorthCarolina,wherehehasbeenanadjunctassistantprofessorsince1986.HeisamemberoftheAmericanAssociation for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the Society forNeuroscience,andtheNewYorkAcademyofSciences.In2005JoewaselectedtotherankofAAASfellowfor“exceptionalcontributiontothecommunication of the rational use of pharmaceutical products and anunderstandingofhealthissuestothepublic.”JoehasservedasaneditorialadvisertoMen’sHealthNewsletterand

Preventionmagazine.HeisanadvisoryboardmemberoftheAmericanBotanicalCouncil(HerbalGram),andhehasservedasamemberoftheBoardofVisitors,UNCEshelmanSchoolofPharmacy,since1989.

TeresaGraedon,Ph.D.

Medical anthropologist Teresa Graedon received her Ph.D. from theUniversityofMichiganin1976.Herdoctoralresearchwasonhealthandnutritional status in a migrant community in Oaxaca, Mexico. Teresataught at the Duke University School of Nursing with an adjunctappointmentintheDepartmentofAnthropologyfrom1975to1979andpursuedpostdoctoral traininginmedicalanthropologyat theUniversityofCalifornia,SanFrancisco.SheisafellowoftheSocietyforAppliedAnthropology and a member of the American AnthropologicalAssociation and the Society forMedicalAnthropology. She served onthe Foundation Board of the University of North Carolina School ofNursingandcurrentlyservesasatrusteeforGuilfordCollege.

Joe&Terry&ThePeople’sPharmacy

Joe and Terry write a newspaper column, “The People’s Pharmacy,”whichhasbeensyndicatednationallybyKingFeaturesSyndicatesince1978.ThePeople’sPharmacyradioshowwonaSilverAwardfromthe

Corporation for Public Broadcasting in 1992. It is syndicated tomorethan100 radio stations in theUnitedStates, primarilyonpublic radio.Terry and Joe were presented with the America Talks Health HealthHeadlinerof1998Awardforsuperiorcontributiontotheadvancementofmedicineandpublichealtheducation. In2003JoeandTeresa receivedthe Alvarez Award at the 63rd annual conference of the AmericanMedicalWritersAssociationforexcellenceinmedicalcommunications.You can communicate with the Graedons through their website,www.peoplespharmacy.com

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

ALENA GRAEDON made this book possible by coordinating,collaborating,andorganizing.

DAVEGRAEDONgottheballrollingandhelpeduscollectmanyofthehomeremediesinthisbook.

CHARLOTTESHEEDYhelpedmaketheconnectionsthatbroughtthisbooktoprint.Sheisanamazingagent.

THE RESEARCHERS investigating the evidence for using food asmedicineprovidedthescientificfoundation.

THE EXPERT GUESTS on our syndicated radio show shared theirwisdom and emphasized the importance of the healing power of food.Thosewhocontributed recipes to thisbookare listedseparatelyon thenextpage.Wearegratefulfortheirsupport.

RECIPECONTRIBUTORS

Jeffrey Blumberg, Ph.D., is a professor in the Friedman School ofNutritionScienceandPolicyanddirectorof theAntioxidantsResearchLaboratoryattheJeanMayerUSDAHumanNutritionResearchCenteronAgingatTuftsUniversity.

Helen Graedon was a schoolteacher, political activist for peace andjusticeissues,anddedicatedhomecook.ShewasJoeGraedon’smother.

MarkLiponis,M.D.,apracticingclinician in internalmedicinefor20years, is the author of Ultraprevention (2005) and UltraLongevity(2007).

TieraonaLowDog,M.D.,isclinicalassociateprofessorattheArizonaCenter for Integrative Medicine. She served on the White HouseCommissiononComplementaryandAlternativeMedicineandreceivedthe2010People’sPharmacyAward.

DavidMathis,M.D.,F.A.A.F.P.,A.B.H.M.,D.Ay.,wasthefirstboard-certifiedfamilyphysiciantocombineayurvedaandfamilymedicine.Heis associate professor of primary caremedicine atGeorgeWashingtonUniversity.

Debbie Mathis, M.A., D.Ay., studied ayurvedic medicine in Boston,Albuquerque, and India and joins her husband in their pioneeringIntegrative Medicine practice. She also established the websiteAyurveda-MD.com.

Sally Fallon Morell is founding president of the Weston A. PriceFoundation and author of the best-selling Nourishing Traditions: TheCookbook That Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and DietDictocrats.

MichaelD.Ozner,M.D.,F.A.C.C.,F.A.H.A.,isaleadingadvocateforheart disease prevention.Dr.Oz, as he is known tomany, is a board-certifiedcardiologistandauthorofTheMiamiMediterraneanDiet andThe Great American Heart Hoax. For more information, go towww.drozner.com.

HelenRasmussen,Ph.D.,R.D.,F.A.D.A.,istheseniorclinicalresearchdietitianattheJeanMayerUSDAHumanNutritionResearchCenteronAging at Tufts University and works with Community Servings, anorganizationservinghome-deliveredmealstothecriticallyill.

EricC.Westman,M.D.,M.H.S.,isanassociateprofessorofmedicineat Duke University Health System and director of the Duke LifestyleMedicineClinic.WithDr.StephenPhinneyandDr.JeffVolek,heistheauthorofTheNewAtkinsforaNewYou.

GailPettifordWilletthasworkedinhumanservicesfor30years.ShefoundedSavannaBooks,amulticulturalchildren’sbookstore.

Walter C. Willett, M.D., Dr.P.H., is professor of epidemiology andnutrition at the School of Public Health and professor of medicine atHarvard. He is the author of three books includingThe FertilityDiet,withJorgeChavarroandPatSkerrett.

INDEX

A

Acne

Acupressure

fordizzinessforinsomniafornausea

Age-relatedmacular

degeneration

Allergies

Almonds

asfavoritefood#12forheartburnforhighcholesterol

Aloevera

forburnsforcankersores

Anemia

Angosturabitters

Anthocyanins

Antiperspirant

forskinfungusforstinkyfeet

Apitherapy

Arnicagel,forbruises

Arthritisremedies

beevenomtherapyCertoandgrapejuicecherriesandcherryjuicefishoilgin-soakedraisinsturmeric

Aspartame

Asthma

Astragalusroot

AtkinsDiet

Ayurvedicmedicine

B

Backpain

Baconfat,forwarts

BagBalm

Bakingsoda

forbodyodorforbugbitesandstingsforcankersoresforheartburnforstinkyfeet

Bananas

acneandforcankersoresforheartburnpeel,forwartspotassiumcontent

Barley,forhighcholesterol

Barnyardbeautyaids,for

dryskin

Beevenomtherapy

forarthritisforshingles

Beer

goutandformigraines

Beetjuice,forhighblood

pressure

Beets

anticancerpotentialbloodpressureandcholesterolandasfavoritefood#15ironcontentnitratecontent

Bergamot

Bilberry,formacular

degeneration

Bittermelon,fordiabetes

Bitters,forgas

Blackcohosh,forhot

flashes

Blackpepper,forcuts

Blacktea

Blackstrapmolasses

foranemiaforconstipationforhemorrhoidsformuscleandlegcramps

Blueberries

forbrainfunctionasfavoritefood#2

Bodyodor

Borageoil

foreczemaforhotflashes

Boswellia

anti-inflammatorypropertiesforfibromyalgiaforjointpainandarthritisturmericand

Brainfunction

Broccoli

anticancerpotentialasfavoritefood#13gasfromforheartburn

Bromelain

forbursitisforjointpainandarthritismedicinaleffectsturmericand

Bruises.SeeCutsandbruises

Bugbitesandstings

Burns

Bursitis

Buttermilk

forcankersoresforcoldsores

C

Caffeine

addictionforasthmabloodpressureandbloodsugarandironlevelsandasmigrainetriggerasrefluxtrigger

Calcium-richfoods,kidney

stonesand

Cancer

Cankersores

Castoroil

forantbites

forbruisesformuscleandlegcrampsforwarts

Cayennepepper

forarthritisforcuts

Celeryseedextract,for

gout

CeraVemoisturizer

Certo(plantpectin)andjuice

forhighcholesterolforjointpainandarthritis

Cetaphil

Cherries

asfavoritefood#20forfibromyalgiasour,forgout

Cherryjuice

forarthritisforplantarfasciitis

Chewinggum

forheartburnsugar-free,diarrheaand

Chickensoup

forcoldsasfavoritefood#5recipes

Chinesemedicine

Chlorophylltablets

Chocolate

argininecontentcardiovascularbenefitsasfavoritefood#16

asheartburntriggerforhighbloodpressureasmigrainetriggerasrefluxtrigger

Chocolatechips,for

hiccups

Cinnamon

coumarininfordiabetesasfavoritefood#8forhighcholesterolandtriglyceridesforRaynaud’sdisease

Cinnamon-gingerdrink

Coconut

forcolitisconstipationandfordiarrheaasfavoritefood#7forirritablebowelsyndrome

Coconutmacarooncookies

Coconutoil

forliceforvaginaldryness

Coconutwater

Coffee

forasthmafordiabetesasfavoritefood#1heartburnandironabsorptionand

Coldkeys,fornosebleed

Coldsores

Colds

Colitis

Concordgrapejuice

Constipation

associatedwithirritablebowelsyndromecausedbyhypothyroidismfromcoconutindiverticulitishomeremedies

CornHuskersLotion

Cornmeal,fornailfungus

Cornstarch,forrosacea

Coughs

coughsyruprecipegingerremedy

Coumadin.SeeWarfarin

Coumarin

Crohn’sdisease

Curcumin

anti-inflammatorypropertiesanticancerpotentialantiviralpropertiesforarthritisbloodglucoseandbloodpressureandforbursitisforgoutforpsoriasis

Curry

asfavoritefood#23forgoutSeealsoTurmeric

Cutsandbruises

D

Dandruff

Dandruffshampoo

antifungalingredientsfornailfungusforskinfungus

DermaSmartclothing

Diabetes

footproblemsperipheralneuropathyskintagsVitaminDdeficiency

DiabetesDiet

Diarrhea

artificialsweetenersandassociatedwithdiverticulitisassociatedwithirritablebowelsyndromecoconutformagnesiumandprobioticsfor

Diet,acneandrosaceaand

DietaryApproachestoStop

Hypertension(DASH)diet

Dietarychanges,for

incontinence

Dietarydiscretion,for

diarrhea

Dietarytriggers,of

migraines

Dillpicklejuice

Diverticulitis

Dizziness

Dryskin

Ducttape,forwarts

E

Earpulling,forhiccups

EarlGreytea,ascauseofmusclecramps

Eczema

Epleymaneuvers

Equalsweetener,forjoint

painandarthritis

Exercise,forhighblood

pressure

F

Fennelseed

asfavoritefood#11fenneltearecipesforheartburnandgas

Fenugreek,fordiabetes

Feverblisters.SeeColdsores

Fiber,forconstipation

Fibromyalgia

Fishandfishoil

forbrainfunctioncardiovascularbenefitsfordiarrheaasfavoritefood#17forhighcholesterolandtriglyceridesforjointpainandarthritisformaculardegenerationinMediterraneandietomega-3fattyacidsforplantarfasciitisforpsoriasisandeczema

Flatulencecushion

Flaxseedoil

forconstipationforeczemaforpsoriasis

G

Garlic

anticancerpotentialasfavoritefood#24forhighbloodpressureforwarts

Gas

frombroccoliremedies

Gatorade,formuscleandlegcramps

Gin-soakedraisins

Ginger

forcoldsasfavoritefood#22forheartburnformigrainesfornauseaforvertigo

Gingertea

recipes

Gluten-freediet

forallergiesformigrainesformuscleandlegcramps

Goldenraisins

Gout

Grapejuice

forcoughsasfavoritefood#18forhighbloodpressureforhighcholesterol

forjointpainandarthritis

Grapeseedextract,forhigh

bloodpressure

Greenbeans,forcanker

sores

Greenolives,forhiccups

Greentea

anticancerpotentialforasthmacardiovascularbenefitsasfavoritefood#3forhighbloodpressureforshingles

H

Haircolor,walnutsand

Headachesandmigraines

Heartburnremedies

Hemorrhoids

Hiccups

Highbloodpressure

antihypertensivedrugsbeetsasremedyDASHdietgrapejuiceasremedysodiumrestrictionVitaminDdeficiencyand

Highcholesterol

Hightriglycerides

Honey

forcoughsforwoundcare

Honeyandvinegar

forconstipation

forjointpainandarthritis

Hotandspicysoup,for

migraines

Hotflashes

Hotpeppers

capsaicincontentasfavoritefood#14forheartburn

Hotwater

forbugbitesandstingsforplantarwarts

Hydrogenperoxide,fornail

fungus

Hypertension.SeeHigh

bloodpressure

I

Incontinence

Insomnia

Instantglue,foreczema

Iodine

fornailfungusforwarts

Irondeficiency

Irritablebowelsyndrome

J

Jointpain

K

Kegelexercises,for

incontinence

Keys,cold,fornosebleed

Kidneystones

Kiwi,forcankersores

L

L-lysine

forcankersoresforcoldsores

LEARNdiet

Legcramps.SeeMuscleand

legcramps

Lemonade

“hotlemonade”forkidneystones

Lice

Liquidbandage

Listerine,asremedyfor

antbitesblemishesbodyodordandrufflicenailfunguspsoriasisshinglesskinfungusstinkyfeetsunburnwarts

Low-carbdiet

acneandforeczemaforheartburnweightlossand

Lowglycemicindexdiet

Lutein,formaculardegeneration

M

Maculardegeneration

Magnesium,asremedyfor

constipationheadachesandmigraineshighbloodpressureinsomniamuscleandlegcrampsrestlesslegsyndrome

Magnets,forarthritis

Mayonnaise,forlice

Meattenderizer,forbug

bitesandstings

Mediterraneandiet

Migraines.SeeHeadachesandmigraines

Milkofmagnesia,as

remedyforacnebedsoresbodyodordandruffseborrheicdermatitis

Minerals

forhighbloodpressureformuscleandlegcramps

MiracleWhip,fordandruff

Motionsickness

Muirapuama

Muscleandlegcramps

Mustard

fordiabetesasfavoritefood#21formuscleandlegcramps

SeealsoYellowmustard

Mylanta,forcankersores

N

Nailfungus

Nausea

Nervepain

Netipots

Nettle,stinging

Nopalcactus,fordiabetes

Nosebleed

Noxema,foreczema

Nuts

argininecontentDASHdiethealthbenefitsMediterraneandietSeealsoAlmonds;Peanuts;Walnuts

O

Oatmeal,forhigh

cholesterol

Oliveoil,asremedyfor

dryskinvaginaldryness

Omega-3fattyacids

infishoilinwalnuts

Onion.SeeRawonion

Oolongtea

bloodsugarandforeczemaasfavoritefood#10forhighbloodpressure

Orangejuice,forkidney

stones

Ornishdiet

P

Papain

Papaya,forheartburn

Paper

drinkingthrough,forhiccupsnosebleedremedy

Peanuts

bloodlipidsandforhiccups

Pectin.SeeCerto

Peppermintoil

forgasforirritablebowelsyndrome

Periodiclimbmovement

disorder

Picklejuice

forhiccupsformuscleandlegcramps

Pineapple

asfavoritefood#6SeealsoBromelain

Pineapplejuice

forarthritisforhiccups

Plantstanolesters,forhigh

cholesterol

Plantarfasciitis

Plantarwarts

Pomegranate

anticancerpotentialasfavoritefood#4

Pomegranatejuice

fordiarrheaforhighbloodpressureforjointpainandarthritis

Potato,fortreatmentof

warts

Powerpudding,for

constipation

Prelief,forcankersores

Proanthocyanidins

Probiotics,asremedyfor

coldsandfludiarrheadiverticulitiseczemagasirritablebowelsyndrome

Prostatehealth

Psoriasis

Pycnogenol

foreczemaforhotflashes

Q

Questran,fordiarrhea

Quinine

R

Raisins,gin-soaked

Rawonion

forbugbitesandstings

juice,forburns

Raynaud’sdisease

Recipes

Anti-inflammatoryCurcuminScrambleCardamomGrilledChickenwithMangoLimeSauceChickenAdoboCholesterol-CombatingOatmealCoconutChickenSoupColeslawwithMintCrustlessCauliflowerandRedPepperQuicheDigestiveTeaFarmersMarketSaagFennelSeedTeaGingerPickleGingerTeaHelenGraedon’sChickenSoupHotToddyJoe’sBrain-BoostingSmoothieLentilNutLoafwithRedPepperSaucePersimmonPunchPescadoalCilantroRoastedGarlicSimpleSaladDressingSmoothieSolewithLemongrassRedBellPepperSaladThymeCoughSyrupT’sImmuno-tea

Redbushtea.See

Rooibostea

Redcloversalve,for

rosacea

Redwine

inMediterraneandietasmigrainetriggerproanthocyanidins

Redyeastrice,forhigh

cholesterol

Restlesslegsyndrome

Ricediet

Rooibostea,forallergies

Rosacea

Rubbingalcohol

forbodyodorfornailfungus

S

Sage,ground,forcuts

Salinesolution,forsinusitis

Salt,bloodpressureand

Sauerkraut,forcankersores

Sea-Bands

Sex/libido

Shingles

Sinusitis

Skinfungus

Skintags

Sloegin,forjointpainand

arthritis

Soapunderbottomsheet

forarthritisforlegcrampsforrestlesslegsyndrome

Sodiumlaurylsulfate

Sourcherries,forgoutandarthritis

Soysauce,forburns

St.John’swort,forhot

flashes

Steviasweetener,forhigh

bloodpressure

Stingingnettle

forallergiesforincontinence

Stinkyfeet

Stypticpencils,forcanker

sores

Sugar,forwoundcare

Sugar-freegum

Sugar-freesweets,for

constipation

Sunburnandsunrash

T

Tea

asheartburntriggerherbal,forinsomniaforhighbloodpressureironabsorptionandrecipesforstinkyfeetSee also Black tea; Earl Grey tea; Ginger tea; Green tea; Oolong tea;Rooibostea

Teatreeoil,fornailfungus

Testosterone

Thread,forskintags

Thyme,forcoughs

Tonicwater,formuscleandlegcramps

Toothpaste

forbugbitesandstingssodiumlaurylsulfatein

Turmeric,asremedyfor

arthritisbackpainbursitisdiabetesdigestiveproblemsgouthighbloodpressureirritablebowelsyndromemuscleandlegcrampsnervepainpsoriasiswarts

U

UdderlySmoothUdderCream

Uricacid,ingout

Urinarytractinfections

Urine,asremedyfor

nailfungusstinkyfeet

V

V8juice,formuscleandleg

cramps

Vaginaldryness

Vanillaextract,forburns

Vertigo

VicksVapoRub

forfireantbitesfornailfungusonsolesoffeet,forcoughs

Vinegar,asremedyfor

athlete’sfootbodyodor

bugbitesandstingsdandruffdiabetesdryskinheartburnhiccupshighcholesterolmuscleandlegcrampsnailfungusrosaceawartsSeealsoHoneyandvinegar

VitaminB12,nervepainand

VitaminC,forsunburn

VitaminD

deficiencyforfibromyalgiaforjointpainandarthritisformaculardegenerationfromsunexposure

VitaminEoil,fornail

fungus

Vitex

Vodka,forbodyodor

W

Walnutoil

Walnuts

asfavoritefood#19forhighcholesterolomega-3fattyacidspreventivehealthbenefits

Warfarin(Coumadin),

interactionwithcoumarincurcumin/turmeric

papain

Warts

Weightloss

DASHdietwithgreentealow-carbdietlowglycemicindexdietricediet

Woundcare

Y

Yams,forhotflashes

Yeastinfections

Yellowmustard

Yogurt,asfavoritefood#9

Yogurt,probiotic,as

remedyforcoldsandfludiarrheadiverticulitisgasirritablebowelsyndrome

Yohimbine

Z

Zinc

forcoughsformaculardegenerationforstinkyfeet

Zincoxide

forbodyodorinsunblockers

Zincpyrithione

ZoneDiet

THEPEOPLE’SPHARMACYQUICK&HANDYHOMEREMEDIES

JoeandTerryGraedon

PUBLISHEDBYTHENATIONALGEOGRAPHICSOCIETY

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IMPORTANTNOTETOREADERS

Thisbookisnotasubstituteforthemedicaladviceorcareofaphysicianorotherhealthcareprofessional.Thereadermustconsultaphysicianinmattersrelatingtohisorherhealth,especiallywithregardtoanysignsorsymptomsthatmayrequirediagnosisormedicalattention.Anyhealthproblemsthatdonot get better promptlyor getworse shouldbe evaluatedby an appropriateclinicianandtreatedproperly.

Home remedies are rarely tested in a scientificmanner.They shouldnotbeconsideredasubstituteforpropermedicalcare.Thereadershouldnotassumethatthehomeremediesdiscussedinthisbookaresafeinallsituations.Everytreatmenthasthepotentialtocausesomesideeffectsforsomepeople.

Ifyoususpect thatyouor someoneyoucare for is experiencinganadversereaction from an herb, drug, dietary supplement, or home remedy, pleaseconsultaknowledgeablehealthprofessionalimmediately.

Throughoutthisbook,theauthorsmakereferencestospecificproductswhoseeffectshavebeenreportedtothembyreaders,listeners,andwebsitevisitors.Inpublishingthisbook,theNationalGeographicSocietydoesnotendorsetheuseofanyspecificbrandsorproducts.

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LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData

Graedon,Joe.Thepeople’spharmacyquick&handyhomeremedies/JoeGraedon,TerryGraedon.

p.cm.

Index.

ISBN:978-1-4262-0840-9

1.Herbs—Therapeuticuse.2.Dietarysupplements.3.Alternativemedicine.I. Graedon, Teresa, 1947-II. Title. III. Title: People’s pharmacy quick andhandyhomeremedies.

RM666.H33G6932011615’.321—dc22

2010051751