Q. This time of year, when the weather is bad and there isn't much sunlight, I get really down in the dumps. I have found that St. John's wort can help me out of my funk and it doesn't ruin... (Read More)
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Vitamin/Herb Q&A
Q. I am curious about the health value of cinnamon. A year ago, I ran across a Web site suggesting cinnamon to reduce bad LDL cholesterol in people with type 2 diabetes. I do not have this disease, but I... (Read More)
Q. I have had six surgical procedures in as many months, the last being a quadruple bypass. My memory and cognitive thinking has diminished considerably, and I'm wondering if gingko biloba will help that. A. During bypass surgery a machine... (Read More)
Q. I am 49 and had a bone density scan done since osteoporosis runs on my mother's side of the family. The results showed that I have borderline osteoporosis. I am now taking Fosamax, calcium supplements and estrogen. I am... (Read More)
Q. Our family is going on a two-week vacation to the beach. I read in your column that there is a problem with St. John's wort and the sun. I am reluctant to stop taking this herb because it has... (Read More)
Q. I am a clinical pharmacist and know very well the potential adverse effects of the chronic use of NSAIDs. That is why I have avoided ibuprofen and other such agents. I saw my primary care provider for a physical... (Read More)
Q. My son has molluscum on his back. The dermatologist says he can scrape it off but that might leave some scarring. He also said it will go away by itself in about two years. Is there a natural remedy... (Read More)
Q. My father and his mother both had psoriasis on their shins and elbows, so when I developed this problem at age 50, I thought I was just stuck with it. I started filling gel caps with cooking grade turmeric... (Read More)
Q. I hope you can help me because my career is on the line. I was recently promoted to a position which requires me to make periodic presentations to our senior staff and to other organizations. The problem is that... (Read More)
Q. My husband has suffered from high blood pressure and high cholesterol for years. HCTZ and fosinopril (Monopril) control his hypertension and Vytorin has lowered his cholesterol. Since starting the drugs, he's had trouble with impotence. He refuses to see... (Read More)
Q. I am a 51-year-old female who has been plagued with persistent eczema. The skin on my hands was always red, itchy, cracked and often bleeding. My hands were always covered with bandages or gauze. Dermatologists prescribed cortisone creams of... (Read More)
Q. I have been a widow for 10 years and am terribly annoyed by needs I cannot satisfy. Masturbation just increases my sexual desire. I am too embarrassed to talk to my doctor about this. I know it sounds ridiculous... (Read More)
Q. My husband and I drink linden blossom tea for nasal and chest congestion. It is the only way we can sleep soundly when we have a cold. We are both very sensitive to most medications, but we've never had... (Read More)
Q. I was intrigued to read that stinging nettle can be used for allergies and enlarged prostate. I do not suffer from those conditions, but years ago we carefully picked wild stinging nettles with clippers, dropping the nettles into a... (Read More)
Q. You told a concerned grandmother that her 16-year-old grandson's breast enlargement might be due to marijuana. I can only wonder what you were smoking! Contrary to government propaganda, marijuana has NOT been linked to breast development in anybody. Too... (Read More)
Q. When I was a teenager I had a brief bout with acne. A friend of my mother said I should take baker's yeast. I took it for two weeks and it cleared up my skin. I hated the taste,... (Read More)
Q. I have been eating two cloves of raw garlic every day at my evening meal. It may be a coincidence, but I have not had a cold in over 10 years and I don't get sick for any other... (Read More)
Q. I have been fighting congestive heart failure since I had a serious heart attack 10 years ago. I saw a mention of the benefits of D-ribose for people with heart failure. I have found this supplement a lifesaver for... (Read More)
Q. I was excited to read about canker sores in your column. They are also called aphthous ulcers. I have suffered for many years with extremely painful mouth ulcers. I read a magazine article that mentioned a study done at... (Read More)
Q. I began taking celery seed extract capsules six months ago for gout. Within a day, all my foot pain was gone. A blood test six weeks later showed normal levels of uric acid. I take two capsules each morning.... (Read More)
Q. You have been writing about problems with heartburn drugs. A prominent naturopathic doctor told me to use DGL. I take one tab twice per day and have not had any heartburn since starting this regimen. This is excellent information... (Read More)
Q. I have had restless legs and Charlie horse cramps for years and tried everything I could. I did not want to take the prescription drugs I see advertised and found something else that works. I take a magnesium tablet... (Read More)
Q. In a message on your site, the mother of a 14-year-old boy with chronic hives suggested vitamin C. I've been searching for a cure for hives, as they have been plaguing my husband for years now. We can't believe... (Read More)
Q. I take several medications, so I was pleased to learn that the herb milk thistle may reduce the liver toxicity of certain drugs. I am very conscious of maintaining healthy liver function. When purchasing the herb, however, I got... (Read More)
Q. Recently I heard a suggestion that niacin would be better and cheaper than Vytorin for lowering cholesterol. I know there has not been an extensive study on this. I exercise and watch my diet pretty well and wonder if... (Read More)
Q. My son is a vegetarian. As far as I know, he sometimes eats eggs or cheese, but not fish or any kind of meat. He's very picky about what he eats and has been anorexic in the past. Can... (Read More)
Q. The inside of my mouth became very sensitive to salt, acid and anything spicy. When my wife looked, she said it looked like thrush. I went to my dentist to have it checked out. After a visual assessment and... (Read More)
Q. I have read in your column that Pycnogenol may be helpful for hot flashes. Now a major warehouse club is selling it as a powerful antioxidant that is supposed to have beneficial effects on cardiovascular health, osteoarthritis, skin care,... (Read More)
Q. Recently I started taking resveratrol supplements because they are supposed to be good for you. Then I developed severe ankle pain and swelling, much like tendinitis. I was shocked to learn that resveratrol can cause this side effect. I've... (Read More)
Q. I found out recently that the hair loss I've been experiencing over the last couple of years was directly attributable to Vitamin A. I was taking 25,000 IU a day of Vitamin A in my daily vitamin pill. Apparently... (Read More)