Favorite Home Remedies: Dozens of amazing treatments for over 45 common health conditions. With drug costs through the roof, why not give a home remedy a try? Only $12.95 +s/h
Guide to Home Remedies: Learn to make your own low-cost remedies at home for only $2
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Q. What can you recommend for dog flatulence? It is so smelly and in the winter we can't put the dog outside at night.
A. Look for CurTail. When drops are added to food, they control pet gas with the same enzyme (alpha galactosidase) found in Beano for humans. CurTail is sold at pet supply stores, or call 800-994-4711.
Q. My whole family has been suffering with colds and flu this winter. No sooner does one child recover than another gets sick.
The kids hate taking cough medicine and we read in your column it doesn't work that well for children. What else can we do for congestion and those awful nighttime coughs?
A. Ginger tea with honey can be great for coughs and congestion. Animal research suggests that compounds in ginger may be as effective as the most common ingredient in over-the-counter cough remedies.
Thyme tea is also an excellent cough remedy. It can be sweetened to taste to make it more palatable for a child. This herb has been used for centuries to calm coughs.
For nighttime cough, our favorite trick is to apply a coating of Vicks VapoRub to the soles of the feet. Put socks on to protect the sheets.
We are sending you our Guides to Cold Remedies & Unique Uses for Vicks with more information on this old-fashioned remedy and other ways to fight colds. Anyone who would like copies, please send $3 in check or money order with a long (no. 10) stamped (60 cents), self-addressed envelope: Graedons' People's Pharmacy, No. QVi-276, P. O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027.
Q. Can fish oil help depression? Does it interact with antidepressants?
A. Depression requires medical supervision. Counseling is as effective as some medication. Other approaches may include vigorous exercise, exposure to sunshine and fish oil.
One study in the Archives of General Psychiatry (Oct. 2002) found that one gram of EPA daily was effective in people who had not responded to standard therapy.
Fish oil also improves cardiovascular health by helping stabilize heart rhythms and reducing the risk of blood clots. This anti-clotting effect, however, may increase the risk of bleeding, especially in combination with anticoagulants. Some antidepressants may also increase the risk of hemorrhage, so please check with your physician before adding fish oil to your regimen.
Q. I have had Raynaud's for years. When I could not get a flu shot this fall, I began taking the Chinese herb astragalus to boost my immune system. I took 3 pills a day (470 mg each) and within a few days I noticed that I had almost no more symptoms of Raynaud's. It is 98 percent gone. I can even pick up ice cubes without my fingers turning white.
No doctor has ever told me there was any relief for this very inconvenient and painful problem.
A. In Raynaud's, cold temperatures or emotional stress trigger vasoconstriction of the fingers and toes. As a consequence, they turn white or even blue and become painful.
Astragalus root has been used in China for centuries to boost the immune system and improve circulation. This herb is considered helpful for combating colds and flu. Animal research suggests that astragalus may improve circulation, which is a problem with Raynaud's.
Astragalus is not well known outside of traditional Chinese medicine. Thanks for sharing your fascinating discovery.
