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. I have prostate cancer. I heard on the local news that pomegranate juice might lower PSA. Is there any scientific research to back this up?
A. A group of scientists in Marburg, Germany, has been investigating the effects of pomegranate juice and its components on prostate cancer cells. Because this is laboratory research ("in vitro" or cell culture research), it has no bearing on PSA (prostate-specific antigen), a marker for prostate cancer.
Their studies show that pomegranate juice inhibits the growth and discourages the migration of prostate cancer cells. They concluded: "Overall, this study demonstrates significant antitumor activity of pomegranate-derived materials against human prostate cancer." (Journal of Medicinal Food, Fall 2004). Follow-up studies have confirmed this.
Recent research shows that PSA is not a fool-proof indicator of prostate cancer (JAMA, July 6, 2005). There are no clinical studies to show that drinking pomegranate juice will help you overcome prostate cancer, but the existing science suggests it won't hurt and might help.
Q. Several months ago I went to my neurologist for my yearly physical and told
him about a problem I had with my legs "jumping" at night and waking me up. He gave me the technical name for it and wrote me a prescription for Mirapex.
I then told him I had read in your column about putting a bar of soap in the bed, so he told me to try the soap and fill the prescription if it didn't work. I still have the unfilled prescription sitting on my bathroom vanity. When we went on a trip to Yellowstone, I took my soap along and slept fine every night we were gone.
A. This home remedy mystifies us, but we have heard from many readers like you. The risk of unwrapping a fresh bar of soap and putting it under the bottom sheet where the legs will be is almost zero. The cost is far less than a prescription.
We have collected such home remedies for restless legs and leg cramps in our Guide to Leg Pain. Anyone who would like a copy, please send $2 in check or money order with a long (no. 10) stamped (60 cents), self-addressed envelope: Graedons' The People's Pharmacy®, No. RLS-5, P. O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027.
If home remedies do not work, the FDA has just approved the prescription drug Requip for restless legs.
Q. Your readers often ask about help for falling asleep easily. It's a good thing I was safely seated on my own sofa when I first sipped a cup of "Calm" tea from the Tazo company. I was soon stretched out and napping comfortably.
I now use this blend whenever I want to relax. It is difficult not to doze off.
I'm not pushing the Tazo brand. The blend contains chamomile, hibiscus, spearmint, lemongrass, rose petals, blackberry, sarsaparilla, lemon balm, licorice and natural flavors. When I drink chamomile tea for indigestion, it doesn't put me to sleep. I leave it to you to figure out the magic.
A. Thanks for the tip. Other readers will surely want to try this tasty blend.
Chamomile is traditionally considered a mild sleep aid. Perhaps the secret is in the combination of other mildly relaxing herbs, such as lemon balm. Hops, valerian and passionflower are other herbs used for relaxation and sleep, and might be found in other tea combinations.
