Green Olives Ease Hiccup Woes

Q. I have been meaning to write you about this for a long time. I have used one or two green olives for hiccups for many years, as have all my family members.

I don't know why it works, it just does. It stops them almost immediately. It even worked on a friend who had been through surgery and had suffered for three weeks until I gave him an olive. Have you ever run across anyone else who has used this? I'm rather curious as to why it works.

A. We have been collecting hiccup remedies for more than 30 years but this is the first time we have heard of using green olives. Most hiccup remedies work by stimulating the phrenic nerve at the top of the hard palate. Chewing crushed ice or swallowing a spoonful of granulated sugar or ice cream seems to interrupt the hiccup reflex. Perhaps the green olives work on a similar principle.

Q. I have begun to take mineral oil because of repeated episodes of dry pellet-like stool. What, if any, are the problems of taking a tablespoon of mineral oil each night?

A. Mineral oil is an effective stool softener, but it can interfere with the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. If you took it every night, you might develop low levels or even deficiencies of vitamins A, D, E or K.

A safer alternative for this problem is docusate. It can be found as Colace or house brands. Do not combine docusate with mineral oil since it could lead to complications.

Q. I am interested in the formula for the gin and raisin remedy for arthritis. How much of each make a batch, and how many would I take each day?

A. This recipe calls for golden raisins. Empty a box into a shallow bowl, then pour just enough gin over them to cover them. Allow the gin to evaporate, a process that may take as long as a week. Then keep them in a covered container and eat nine raisins daily.

Although there is no logical explanation, this remedy seems to work for many people. A word of warning: people who are allergic to sulfites must steer clear of golden raisins, which have sulfites added to keep them light-colored. One person experienced a swollen tongue due to this allergy.

We are sending you our Guide to Home Remedies with recipes for this and other approaches to arthritis. Anyone who would like a copy, please send $2 in check or money order with a long (no. 10) stamped (63 cents), self-addressed envelope: Graedons' People's Pharmacy, No. R-1, P. O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027. It can also be downloaded for $2 from the Website: www.peoplespharmacy.com.

Q. I know the experts say black cohosh is ineffective for hot flashes, but personally I wouldn’t be without it! I am not one to take supplements without good reason, so periodically I stop taking them to see if they really make a difference.

Within 24 hours of ceasing black cohosh, sizzling hot flashes are back with a vengeance! As soon as I restart the capsules, the problem ceases. I wonder if any of the experts have experienced hot flashes themselves. Maybe this would affect their outlook.

A. A study reported recently in the Annals of Internal Medicine (Dec. 19, 2006) found that a standardized black cohosh extract offered no benefit over placebo for symptoms of menopause. Other randomized studies support your observation that black cohosh is helpful against hot flashes.