In This Issue:

This Week on PeoplesPharmacy.com
Featured Q&A
Featured Home Remedy
Diet Pop Doesn't Protect Health
Vitamin D And Blood Pressure
Mercury Hazards From Sushi
New Yorkers High In Mercury
Less Hormone Use Leads To Lower Breast Cancer Rates

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Best Choices from The People's Pharmacy

We are pleased to announce a new edition of our book, Best Choices from The People's Pharmacy. Best Choices is filled with natural healing approaches for dozens of common conditions including:

• arthritis
• high blood pressure
• constipation
• insomnia
• diabetes
• leg cramps
• headaches
• menopause
• heartburn
• nail fungus
• high cholesterol
• osteoporosis

We also rate prescription drugs so you can get the best buys for your money. Best Choices is packed with remedies that will surprise you, statistics that will shock you, ratings to help assess your treatment options and drug information that could save your life. Purchases from the web site receive over a 25% discount off the list price of $31.95.

This special edition (524 pages) is not available in any bookstore. It contains an expansion of our People's Pharmacy Favorite Picks (home remedies) and a new chapter on Desert Island Drugs and Dietary Supplements. Some of the country's leading experts have contributed their insights on the best treatments for what ails you. This edition is not in stores or on other Internet sites. It is only available from Rodale Books and directly from The People's Pharmacy. We ship book orders Media Mail (5-10 day delivery expected).

http://ppcart.fountainshosting.com/p-249-best-choices-from-the-peoples-pharmacy.aspx

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This Week on PeoplesPharmacy.com:

This Week's Radio Show: 643 Eye Care Alternatives
The eyes may be the windows to the soul, but they are also a reflection of our health. Common causes of vision loss include glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration. New research suggests that nutrition can help prevent age-related macular degeneration. We'll explore prevention and treatment for cataracts, glaucoma and dry eyes as well.
http://ppcart.fountainshosting.com/p-307-643-eye-care-alternatives.aspx

Thyroid Treatment Linked to Osteoporosis
Q. I have been on thyroid hormone replacement for more than 20 years. Now I have been diagnosed with osteoporosis.My doctor prescribed Fosamax and then Actonel. I have heard that such drugs can cause jaw bone deterioration. This happened to...
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/pharmacy_qa/thyroid_treatment_linked_to_osteoporosis.asp

Cherries May Help Ease Joint Pain
Q. I would like some info about cherries for a friend who suffers from arthritis and gout. A. A small study in the Journal of Nutrition (June, 2003) suggested that sweet cherries could lower uric acid levels that cause gout...
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/herb_home_remedy_qa/cherries_may_help_ease_joint_pain.asp

Meat Tenderizer Against Stings
Q. Let's talk about the crawling wasps and hornets of the American Southwest--fire ants and scorpions. These critters give a wallop of a bite or sting without the warning of a buzz. Years ago, when I moved to Texas with...
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/herb_home_remedy_qa/meat_tenderizer_against_stings.asp

Stay Safe in the Hospital
A trip to the emergency room is stressful. The only reason you go is because of a health crisis. These days you almost have to be at death's doorstep to make a trip to the ER. That's because the waits...
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/editorial/stay_safe_in_the_hospital.asp

Solving the Expiration Date Puzzle
Q. I read your column about a person concerned about a prescription that was a couple of months past its use-by date. Whenever I receive a prescription from a pharmacy, I ask for the date on the bottle the medication...
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/pharmacy_qa/solving_the_expiration_date_puzzle.asp

Listerine Fights Blemishes
Q. Several years ago I noticed that gum irritations healed more quickly after I used Listerine. I decided to try it on facial blemishes. If it is applied as soon as a blemish begins, the spot fades quickly without becoming...
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/herb_home_remedy_qa/listerine_fights_blemishes.asp

FDA Nixes Weight Loss Pill
Q. Months ago I heard about a new prescription drug for weight loss that also lowered cholesterol and blood sugar levels. It was awaiting approval. Has it become available? A. The drug is rimonabant. Although it is now available in...
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/pharmacy_qa/fda_nixes_weight_loss_pill_.asp

Hormone Research Creates Confusion
Q. I am totally confused about hormone therapy. I used to take Premarin to keep my bones stronger and reduce the risk of a heart attack. Then a friend who is a nurse pleaded with me to stop taking hormones...
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/herb_home_remedy_qa/hormone_research_creates_confusion.asp

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Featured Q & A

Caffeine Withdrawal Causes Misery
Q. I have been under intense pressure at work lately and coffee helped me muster the energy to complete the project on deadline. I have become addicted to caffeine.

Now that work has eased off, I have tried to cut back on caffeine, but I get horrible headaches and feel disoriented. My concentration is no good until I have a cup of coffee. How can I break this habit?

A. You are describing classic caffeine withdrawal symptoms. One reader shared his experience:

"I'd drink coffee all week at the office. Since I didn't care for it all that much I would drink something else on weekends. Sunday I'd come down with a splitting headache and nausea.

"I wasted thousands of dollars with drugs and doctors trying to figure out what was going on. I finally linked the caffeine withdrawal to the headaches, eliminated it entirely and have not suffered this agony since then."

Cutting back gradually on caffeine might help. Substituting decaf for half your regular coffee is one approach. Tea contains only a third as much caffeine as coffee, so alternating with tea is another approach.

Easing off coffee makes sense. According to Dr. James Lane of Duke University, the amount of caffeine in two cups of coffee in the morning combined with the same amount at lunch (500 mg total) can elevate stress hormones and blood pressure into the evening.

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Featured Home Remedy

Vinegar Soaks Away Nail Fungus
Some time ago you answered a question about vinegar for fungus infections. Indeed, dilute vinegar soaks work effectively for controlling fungus in toenails and fingernails.

I am a professional footcare nurse who sees about 200 clients per month. I find a large percentage are plagued with fungus in their nails. Many have used expensive prescription medications without relief; often for long periods of time.

Since learning about the vinegar remedy (a few years ago) I have shared the information, and asked my clients to make sure there were no medical contraindications before using it. Daily vinegar footbaths are essential for this remedy to work effectively. It takes months for the new nail to grow out completely, and during this time, the old diseased nail may gradually be trimmed away. When they see the new healthy nail coming into view, they realize this works. (I personally know a lot of happy new fungus free clients.)

You can read more home remedies on our website:
http://www.peoplespharmacy.org/archives/home_remedies/index.asp

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Health Headlines:

Diet Pop Doesn't Protect Health
Diet soft drinks offer no advantage over regular soda pop. Millions of people regularly consume diet sodas on the assumption that avoiding calories is good for their health. But a new study published in Circulation, the Journal of the American Heart Association, calls into question this belief. Investigators studied more than 2400 people living in Framingham, Massachusetts. This is a group that has been carefully monitored for decades to determine how lifestyle and eating habits affect the risk of heart disease. In this particular analysis, the scientists found that people who drank at least one soft drink a day, regardless of its calorie content, were at 44 percent higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome over the next four years. This condition is associated with bigger bellies, higher blood pressure, blood sugar, triglycerides and cholesterol levels. It frequently leads to an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease. There are competing hypotheses to explain this surprising observation. Some people speculate that soda drinkers may have less healthy lifestyles regardless of whether they choose diet drinks or regular soft drinks. Others suggest that sweetened drinks increase the craving for sweet-tasting foods. That can lead to more calories. Still another idea is that drinking a large amount of liquid at meal time may throw the appetite control sensor off. The lead researcher for the study advises, "Consume in moderation and stayed tuned for more research."
[Circulation, July 24, 2007]

Vitamin D And Blood Pressure
One of the largest diet and health surveys of recent years is called NHANES, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Thousands of American adults have been tracked for many years. A new analysis of the data shows that people with low levels of vitamin D are more likely to have high blood pressure. African Americans tended to have the lowest levels of this nutrient circulating in their bloodstreams. Skin makes vitamin D when it is exposed to sunlight. Skin pigmentation can interfere with adequate vitamin D production. The investigators point out that vitamin D is also available as an affordable supplement. Since it is also crucial for strong bones and the prevention of many cancers, it makes sense to get adequate levels of vitamin D to also help control blood pressure.
[American Journal of Hypertension, July 2007]

Mercury Hazards From Sushi
Sushi has long been popular in Japan but in recent years it has become a favorite food for sophisticated Americans. This treat usually includes raw fish and tuna is one of the most popular offerings. Now, concerns are growing that our love of tuna in sushi may be contributing to elevated mercury levels in Americans. The FDA does little testing for mercury in fish and it is hard to track fresh tuna before it hits sushi bars. The FDA warns pregnant women to limit their intake of tuna, but the rest of us may also be getting more mercury than we bargain for if we frequently indulge in sushi.

New Yorkers High In Mercury
Speaking of mercury, a new report shows that 25 percent of adults in New York City have elevated levels of this heavy metal in their bodies. The New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene said its results do not suggest a serious health risk for adults, but may pose a problem for developing fetuses and newborns. The more fish people eat, the greater the likelihood their mercury levels would be elevated. Those who consumed seafood more than four times a week averaged mercury levels above the safety threshold. Swordfish, sushi-grade tuna and fish caught in the Hudson River were all relatively high in mercury.

Less Hormone Use Leads To Lower Breast Cancer Rates
Several months ago scientists reported a dramatic drop in breast cancer rates that coincided with a reduction in the use of hormone replacement therapy. Some scientists concluded that the sudden decline in HRT exposure was the likely explanation. Others, however, countered that the reduction in breast cancer cases might be attributed to fewer women getting mammograms. Fewer mammograms could mean that fewer tumors are detected. Now, researchers from Kaiser Permanente in Portland, Oregon report that mammography rates in their area did not change, but breast cancer rates still went down. They conclude that this drop in cancer is best explained by reduced use of hormones by menopausal women.
[JNCI, July, 2007]

An expert FDA panel has just recommended that the osteoporosis drug Evista be approved for preventing breast cancer. This compound blocks estrogen in the breast while mimicking estrogen in bone.