The People's Pharmacy® with Joe and Terry Graedon

Health Headlines 2/22/07

Newsletter February 22, 2008

In This Issue:

This Week on PeoplesPharmacy.com
Featured Q&A
Featured Home Remedy
Manufacturing Problems May Cause Heparin Shortage
Cancer Drug May Help Multiple Sclerosis
Probiotics Reduce Respiratory Illness
Probiotics Dangerous in Pancreatitis
Airport Noise Boosts Blood Pressure
Black Pepper May Help Correct Skin Condition

---

New! People's Pharmacy Video!

Now you can learn about home remedies and treatments for common health problems with video featuring Joe and Terry Graedon! We'll post a new video each week. Click here to view this week's video, Home Remedies for Cough:
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/video/home_remedies_for_cough.php
Or you can view all our videos on our Youtube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/PeoplesPharmacy

---

Free Podcast Of The People's Pharmacy Radio Show

Miss the People's Pharmacy radio show last week? Download our podcast! Every week we post the radio show as a free audio podcast. You can subscribe to our podcast using a program such as iTunes, or 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, 668 Men's Health:
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/free_podcast/668_mens_health_podcast.php
Click here to learn more or subscribe to our podcasts:
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/podcast/

---

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 29% discount off the list price of $34.95.

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.

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

---

This Week on PeoplesPharmacy.com:

This Week's Radio Show: 669 UltraLongevity
Living a long time is appealing, but only if the extra years can be healthy ones. Dr. Mark Liponis, medical director of the Canyon Ranch Resorts, says paying attention to the immune system can make a big difference. We discuss...
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/radio_shows/669_ultralongevity.php

Solutions For Vaginal Dryness
Q. I am a 55-year-old female suffering from hot flashes, vaginal dryness and loss of libido. Sexual intercourse is uncomfortable. I used to look forward to making love with my husband, but it is hard to enjoy anything that hurts....
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/herb_home_remedy_qa/solutions_for_vaginal_dryness.php

Can GI Problems Interfere With Thyroid Medication?
Q. I have suffered with stomach pain and reflux for a long time. I have tried Zantac and Pepcid without much success. I am now taking Prevacid that my doctor prescribed to control excess acid. Even after an increase in...
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/pharmacy_qa/can_gi_problems_interfere_with_thyroid_medication_.php

Natural Alternatives To Getting Rid Of Roaches
Q. In the next few days I will be moving into a new house. The current resident tells me roaches are a problem. He offered to "bomb" the place with insecticide, but that will not work for me. What are...
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/herb_home_remedy_qa/natural_alternatives_to_getting_rid_of_roaches.php

Bar Soap For Hand Cramps
Q. I have horrible hand cramps which can occur at almost any time. Nothing my doctor has prescribed has helped. Is there a home remedy I can try? A. You may laugh at this suggestion. There is absolutely no scientific...
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/herb_home_remedy_qa/bar_soap_for_hand_cramps.php

Beware Of Drug Name Mix-Ups
What’s in a name? According to William Shakespeare, not much: “That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” In this famous line, Juliet complains that it is Romeo’s name that keeps them apart because...
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/editorial/beware_of_drug_name_mixups.php

Mouthwash Turned Feet Blue
Q. When I needed treatment for toenail fungus, my doctor suggested I soak my toes in Listerine for 30 minutes a night for thirty days. I sent my husband to Costco for a giant jug of Listerine. He returned with...
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/pharmacy_qa/mouthwash_turned_feet_blue.php

Is Your Soap Clean?
Q. Is bar soap a possible source of bacteria? Is it better to use liquid soap? A. Soggy bar soap can become contaminated with bacteria. But not all liquid soap is free of germs. Microbiologist Charles Gerba, PhD, has found...
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/pharmacy_qa/is_your_soap_clean_.php

Untangling The News About Zetia
Q. There was a lot of hoopla recently about the drug Zetia. I called my doctor, who told me to continue taking it, but if it's not doing anything good for my high cholesterol, why bother? A pharmacist told me...
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/pharmacy_qa/untangling_the_news_about_zetia.php

Coconut Macaroons For IBS
Q. Thank you so much for writing about IBS and coconut macaroon cookies. IT WORKS. I suffered with chronic diarrhea for years and have been healed for the last two years. A. We’re always pleased to hear about success with...
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/herb_home_remedy_qa/coconut_macaroons_for_ibs.php

Does Grapefruit Increase The Risk Of Breast Cancer?
Q. I just read that grapefruit increases the risk of breast cancer. What gives? I always thought fruits and vegetables prevented cancer. A. One study showed that grapefruit raises estrogen levels in postmenopausal women. Higher estrogen is associated with greater...
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/pharmacy_qa/does_grapefruit_increase_the_risk_of_breast_cancer.php

---

Featured Q & A

Is Testosterone an Aphrodisiac?
Q. When we were first married, my husband and I had a great sex life. I love him as much as ever, but I am not as interested in sex as I used to be. He's been very patient, but this must be frustrating for him too.

He heard on the radio that testosterone can improve a woman's libido. I am leery of taking hormones. Is this drug safe?

A. Doctors have long known that testosterone can increase some women's sexual desire. But possible side effects such as deepened voice, development of facial hair and lower beneficial HDL cholesterol may discourage regular use.

In a small preliminary study, Dutch researchers reported on a different way to use testosterone. A double-blind trial published in the Archives of General Psychiatry (Feb. 2000, pages 149-153) found that small doses of testosterone (0.5 mg) given under the tongue led women to experience significantly more "sexual lust" and "genital arousal" three to four and a half hours later.

The researchers used a form of testosterone that is not available in the United States. The low dose and occasional use should minimize the risk of side effects, however. Further research might lead a manufacturer to offer such a formulation, but the FDA has considered and rejected one testosterone formulation to treat low libido in women.

---

Featured Home Remedy

Vinegar Soak Helps Fight Nail Fungus
A professional foot care nurse who sees around 200 patients each month recommends adding a cup of cider vinegar to a warm water foot bath and soaking for 10 minutes daily. "The solution seeps up under the nail, reaching the affected area better than some of the painted on remedies which are sold over the counter."

This nurse also alerted us to the value of Vicks VapoRub applied daily on and around the nail. She says it "gradually penetrates the affected nail, softening the debris, and enables easier removal while it seems to prevent fungal invasion into the newly emerging nail."

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

---

Health Headlines:

Manufacturing Problems May Cause Heparin Shortage
A life-saving anticoagulant called heparin could be in short supply because of manufacturing problems. This injectable medicine prevents blood clots and is used prior to certain types of heart surgery and kidney dialysis. The manufacturer, Baxter, has recalled multiple-dose vials because of reports of nausea, vomiting, excessive sweating, difficulty breathing and shock. Hundreds have apparently been affected and at least four people have died. Questions have been raised about possible contamination in the manufacturing process. Some of the raw materials came from China. Although Baxter has inspected the Chinese plant, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not. Since Baxter makes about half of the one million multiple-dose vials of heparin that are sold each month in the U.S., there is likely to be a shortage in coming months.

Cancer Drug May Help Multiple Sclerosis
The biotech drug Rituxan is used to treat non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and rheumatoid arthritis. Now researchers report that this drug may also play a valuable role in slowing the progression of multiple sclerosis. Investigators gave MS patients two infusions at two week intervals. That short course of therapy produced positive results that lasted almost one year. Nervous system lesions improved noticeably within a few months of the infusion. Only half as many patients getting Rituxan suffered relapses compared to placebo. The researchers warn that it is still premature to start prescribing Rituxan for MS patients. Nevertheless, this prelimary research is encouraging.
[New England Journal of Medicine, Feb. 2008]
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/358/7/676

Probiotics Reduce Respiratory Illness
Probiotics have been getting a lot of attention lately for treating digestive problems and eczema and boosting immunity against respiratory tract infections. Probiotics are good bacteria that can be found in live yogurt cultures and dietary supplements. A small study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine reports that the probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum may reduce the severity and duration of respiratory tract infections in long distance runners. Twenty elite athletes were randomized to receive either placebo pills or probiotics for one month. Those taking probiotics experienced far fewer days of respiratory illness compared to athletes taking placebos...30 days compared to more than 70 days. Those taking probiotics also had less serious symptoms. The investigators concluded that probiotics appear to improve immunity against infection.
[Online Feb 13, Br J Sports Med 2008]
http://press.psprings.co.uk/bjsm/february/sm44628.pdf

Probiotics Dangerous in Pancreatitis
As exciting as the news may be about probiotics, they may not be for everyone. Dutch researchers report that these so-called good bacteria may be fatal for patients suffering with severe pancreatitis. In this study of nearly 300 people with acute pancreatitis, half received placebo and half were administered probiotics. Although the number of infections in each group was roughly comparable, 24 people subjects in the probiotic group died compared to only 9 who were given placebos. Although the investigators could not explain why probiotics might pose such a risk, they cautioned that patients with severe pancreatitis or others with organ failure who are on feeding tubes should probably not receive such supplements.
[The Lancet, Feb 14, 2008]

Airport Noise Boosts Blood Pressure
Excessive noise could be bad for your health. European scientists studied nearly 5,000 people who lived near major airports. Those who were exposed to airplane noise at night were 14 percent more likely to have hypertension. The investigators also measured blood pressure and noise in 140 volunteers who lived near busy airports like Heathrow. They found that a rising decibel level also triggered a rise in blood pressure, even when the subjects were sleeping. Airplanes had the biggest impact, though snoring partners also have an effect on blood pressure levels. People who live in a noisy environment may need to invest in soundproofing to protect the quality of their sleep and their blood pressure.
[European Heart Journal, online Feb. 12, 2008]

Black Pepper May Help Correct Skin Condition
Vitiligo is a mysterious condition in which the skin loses pigment. It is most visible in people with darker colored skin. Hands and face are often affected. Scientists think that vitiligo is in part an auto-immune condition affecting 1 to 2 percent of the population. There have been no really successful treatments to this point. Now British researchers are studying a compound from black pepper called piperine. Investigators put this chemical on depigmented mouse skin and were able to stimulate repigmentation. Research in humans is needed to determine whether piperine will eventually provide a safe and effective treatment for vitiligo.
[British Journal of Dermatology, Feb. 14 online 2008]

Tags:

Bookmark/Share: