In This Issue:

This Week on PeoplesPharmacy.com
Featured Q&A
Featured Home Remedy
Diet Pill Dinged for Causing Depression
Oats May Cause Itches
Eating Fish Delays Cognitive Decline in Elderly
Airplane Noise Raises Blood Pressure
Stressful Life Events Increase Risk of Heart Disease
Chinese Children Suffer Obesity and Diabetes
Low Levels of Vitamin B12 Associated with Cognitive Decline

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New! Free Podcast Of The People's Pharmacy Radio Show

Miss the People's Pharmacy radio show last week? Now you can download our podcast! Every week we'll post the radio show as a free audio podcast. You can subscribe to our podcast using a program such as iTunes, and receive it automatically each week. Or you can visit our website and download a particular show you want to hear again. Each People's Pharmacy radio show is a 1 hour audio file which will be posted on Mondays.

Click here to download the podcast of last week's show, 657 Indoor Air Pollution:
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/shows/PP-657.mp3
Click here to learn more or subscribe to our podcasts:
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/podcast/

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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: 634 The Art of Diagnosis
Solving medical mysteries has been turned into entertainment on TV's popular series "House." Dr. Gregory House may be a curmudgeon, but somehow he manages to unravel the disparate threads of a patient's story just in time to save a life, and complete the episode. In real life, the drama may not be compressed into such a short time, but the outcome is just as important. Our guest, Dr. Lisa Sanders, writes the column on Diagnosis in The New York Times Sunday magazine section. She tells us how doctors think when they need to figure out what is wrong.
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/radio_shows/634_the_art_of_diagnosis.asp

Solutions For Split Fingertips
Q. When the skin on my fingertips cracks open, the splits are painful and take a long time to heal. I went to a dermatologist for a series of different pills and lotions but nothing has worked. This problem seems...
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/herb_home_remedy_qa/solutions_for_split_fingertips.php

Laxative Fights Underarm Odor
Q. I have had a problem with underarm odor for the past several months. It occurs even when I am not active. I use an antibacterial soap and have increased the strength of my antiperspirants. First I switched to Mitchum...
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/herb_home_remedy_qa/laxative_fights_underarm_odor.php

Cheap Drugs May Be No Bargain
“Made in America” used to be both a sign of quality and a source of pride. But Americans care much more about saving money. That’s why so many of our consumer products—from clothes to electronics to toys—are coming from China...
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/editorial/cheap_drugs_may_be_no_bargain.php

Washing Hands Doesn't Kill Germs
Q. With flu season and MRSA staph infection upon us, we are urged to wash our hands frequently, usually “with warm soapy water.” My memories of Bacteriology 101 some 50 years ago aren’t crystal clear, but I can’t recall that...
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/pharmacy_qa/washing_hands_doesnt_kill_germs.php

Treating Stinky Feet
Q. Is there any home remedy or over-the-counter product that will permanently eliminate the strong odor of my husband's smelly feet? Bathing them daily does not help. A. Smelly feet may not be a sign of poor hygiene. Instead, the...
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/herb_home_remedy_qa/treating_stinky_feet.php

Listerine For Warts?
Q. My daughter had several plantar warts on her sole. We treated them with duct tape for several months with limited success. Listerine has been used for eliminating fungus, so I thought it might also kill wart viruses. I put...
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/herb_home_remedy_qa/listerine_for_warts.php

Annoyances Of Drug Advertising
Q. I find many prescription drug commercials to be totally inappropriate. My kids and I are watching TV when suddenly we see a commercial for Cialis for erectile dysfunction. I am also fed up with all these intials! ED, RLS?...
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/pharmacy_qa/annoyances_of_drug_advertising.php

Benefits Of Resveratrol Without Overdoing It On Wine
Q. I’ve read that resveratrol is good for us, but I don’t know the right dose. I know it is found in red wine, but more than one glass a day is over my limit. Are there any other sources...
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/herb_home_remedy_qa/benefits_of_resveratrol_without_overdoing_it_on_wine.php

Don't Give Kids Bourbon For Cough
Q. I think you do your readers a disservice by failing to mention a very old but effective cough suppressant. The pediatrician told my mother about it in 1960, and I have used it on myself and for my own...
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/herb_home_remedy_qa/dont_give_kids_bourbon_for_cough.php

Inhaled Insulin Becomes Billion Dollar Blunder
Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer recently announced it will stop selling Exubera, a relatively new inhaled insulin product. The tab for this marketing mistake is $2.8 billion, one of the biggest boondoggles in the history of the industry. Exubera is not being...
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/editorial/inhaled_insulin_becomes_billion_dollar_blunder.php

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Featured Q & A

Aspirin Triggers Tinnitus
Q. Several years ago I developed tinnitus from taking aspirin. Once I stopped taking it the ringing in my ears stopped, but I think people should know about this side effect.

A. Thank you for reminding everyone that aspirin can cause tinnitus. This side effect is uncommon except at high doses, but it deserves prompt medical attention.

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Featured Home Remedy

Vicks Foils Squirrels
I am 80 years old so I am very familiar with Vicks VapoRub. Here is a use that will not cure you of anything, but it might make you feel better.

I have a bird feeder that the squirrels used to raid. Since the feeder sits on a pole I thought if the pole were greasy they couldn't climb it. I thought I would make it smell bad to them, too. I put Vicks VapoRub on the pole and for the past four years I have delighted in watching squirrels sit at the bottom of the pole, look up and satisfy themselves with what the birds throw out.

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

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Health Headlines:

Diet Pill Dinged for Causing Depression
A new diet pill called rimonabant has come under increased scrutiny because of psychiatric side effects. Danish researchers reviewed data from four previous studies and concluded that weight loss was significant. People taking rimonabant lost about 10 pounds more in a year than those on placebo. But they also experienced more anxiety and depression. People who suffered from depression or anxiety were not included in the studies and might react even more strongly to the drug. At this time, rimonabant is not approved for use in the United States, although it is available in Europe. This new review in The Lancet is not likely to improve the drug's chances for FDA approval anytime soon.
[The Lancet, Nov. 15, 2007]
http://www.thelancet.com/audio

Oats May Cause Itches
Eczema is a common problem in children, and the cause is often perplexing. A French study suggests that oat proteins frequently used as ingredients in skin lotion may be responsible for some children's itchy rashes. Nearly one-third of 300 youngsters tested had a positive skin reaction to oats, identified by skin patch or skin prick tests. Some children were also tested with food challenges. Three fourths of the kids with oat sensitivities had been treated with oat containing moisturizers, and the parents had no idea that oats were a problem. The scientists recommend that oat-containing skin products not be used on babies less than two years old, since they may be susceptible to sensitization.
[Allergy, Nov., 2007]
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1398-9995.2007.01527.x

Eating Fish Delays Cognitive Decline in Elderly
An old wives' tale holds that fish is brain food. Perhaps the old wives were Eskimos or Scandinavians who ate fish their entire lives. Two new studies suggest that people who eat fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids may retain better brain function as they age. One study was conducted in a West Norwegian population. People ages 70 to 74 were given cognitive tests and asked about their fish consumption. Those who ate less than 10 g of fish daily did worse on the tests. The other study, conducted in the Netherlands, measured blood levels of omega 3 fats and compared baseline cognitive test scores to those after three years. Those with higher blood levels were less likely to show declines in their scores. Better studies are needed to confirm the value of fish in slowing cognitive decline, but in the meantime, a few weekly meals of fish are good for the heart and might help the brain as well.
[American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Nov., 2007]
http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/86/5/1470
http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/86/5/1479

Airplane Noise Raises Blood Pressure
Noise, especially from airplanes taking off and landing may be harmful to your health. Swedish researchers followed over 2000 men for roughly 10 years. Those who lived near an airport were more susceptible to hypertension. The men who were exposed to the highest levels of noise were one-fifth more likely to be diagnosed with high blood pressure. The investigators speculate that loud sounds create stress that makes it much harder to relax or get a good night's sleep.
[Epidemiology, November 2007]

Stressful Life Events Increase Risk of Heart Disease
Noise isn't the only source of stress. A new study of nearly 7,000 men and women followed for 20 years suggests that the more sources of stress in a person's life, the more likely he or she is to develop heart diseases. The researchers considered a variety of stressors such as divorce, death of a spouse, unemployment or high anxiety. People who had one stressor were 28 percent more likely to be diagnosed with heart problems. Those who had two or three challenging life events were 56 percent more likely to have heart problems. And when people had four or more stressors going on at the same time, their risk nearly tripled. The effect was especially strong for women.
[Psychosomatic Medicine, October 2007]
http://www.psychosomaticmedicine.org/cgi/content/abstract/69/8/748

Chinese Children Suffer Obesity and Diabetes
American children are not the only ones who are suffering from obesity and Type-2 diabetes. Reports from China suggest that the incidence of obesity is growing rapidly and along with it comes Type-2 diabetes. A survey of over 17,000 children between the ages of 8 and 18 in Beijing found that one fifth were obese and more than 2 percent had diabetes. This problem is increasing at an alarming rate. Researchers speculate that China's economic boom allows families to buy more food, which in turn contributes to the overweight problem.

Low Levels of Vitamin B12 Associated with Cognitive Decline
Evidence is accumulating that vitamin B12 is essential to maintain strong cognitive function as people age. Researchers at Oxford University in England studied more than 1500 people 65 and over for 10 years. Those who had the lowest levels of vitamin B12 in their blood were 50 percent more likely to demonstrate cognitive decline on tests of mental function. The scientists suggest that correcting a vitamin B12 deficiency would be prudent, but they point out that it is too soon to say whether adding B12 supplements would protect otherwise healthy senior citizens.
[American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Nov., 2007]
http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/86/5/1384