Prick Up Your Ears for Hiccup Cure

Q. I have a hiccup cure that I’ve used all my life and passed on to my kids: Have someone stand behind you and pull straight up on your ears while you take sips of water. I do this by myself by taking a mouthful of water and swallowing it in small amounts while pulling up on my ears. I kid you not, it works every time!

A. We have collected dozens of hiccup remedies over the years but have never heard of this one. It is similar to a remedy in which the hiccupper drinks water while someone stands behind him and pushes on the little flaps (tragus) at the front of the ears.

Q. About a year ago you had a recipe for arthritis from a football player. He mixed a teaspoon of half apple cider vinegar, half honey in a glass of water with a teaspoon of orange powder.

I’d really like to try this remedy but I cannot find orange powder. Did he mean Tang?

A. We recently heard from the reader who told us he got this recipe from a former owner of the Dallas Cowboys. The mysterious orange powder is nothing more than orange-flavored Knox Gelatin. At age 81, he says that this formula still keeps his stiff knuckles flexible.

Q. I used to get urinary tract infections or yeast infections every other month. Then I changed my diet and cut out sugar, white flour and starches like potatoes or rice. Since then I have had only one urinary tract infection.

I've lost 20 pounds and my eczema is 99 percent better. I only have a flare-up when I have cake or milk chocolate. I am still surprised that diet can have such an effect on the system. Other people with eczema or seborrheic dermatitis might benefit the way I did.

A. There is not much research linking a high carbohydrate diet to urinary tract infections or eczema. On the other hand, reducing the amount of sugar, starch and refined carbohydrate seems like a simple enough experiment. If it works for some people with such hard-to-treat conditions, it might be worth the trouble. Thanks for sharing your interesting story.

Q. I developed atrial fibrillation last year and was told Coumadin (warfarin) was essential to prevent a stroke. My doctor warned me against eating broccoli and spinach, two foods that I really love. He also told me to stop vitamins, minerals and supplements.

I used to take Coenzyme Q-10, garlic and fish oil, but have reluctantly given them up. I would like to start taking ginkgo to improve circulation. Would that be a problem? Do you have a list of foods and herbs that I should avoid?

A. The blood thinner Coumadin interacts dangerously with dozens of drugs, foods and herbs. Ginkgo would be a mistake for the same reason as garlic or ginger. In combination with Coumadin, any of them might increase your risk of bleeding.

Your doctor is concerned that the vitamin K in broccoli and spinach could counteract the effects of Coumadin. But you may not have to give up on such vegetables as long as you maintain a steady intake of vitamin K. Check with your doctor about reintroducing these vegetables and monitoring your blood.

We are sending you our Guides to Herbal Remedies, Coumadin and Drug and Food Interactions with a list of vitamin K content of foods so that you can manage diet and supplements safely. Anyone who would like copies, please send $3 in check or money order with a long (no. 10) stamped (63 cents), self-addressed envelope: Graedons' The People's Pharmacy®, No. FED-192, P. O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027.