Vitamin, Mineral & Herb Remedies
Dietary supplements can be surprisingly helpful for many common disorders. There is substantial science supporting the use of herbs, vitamins, minerals and other supplements.
Decaf Coffee Pills Hard to Find
Q. I have never been a coffee drinker. I don't enjoy its taste (though I realize that's heresy to millions) and I can't handle the caffeine because of an irregular heartbeat. But I've heard that coffe…
Probiotic Eased Dandruff
Q. I read that scientists think that dandruff may result from a yeast infection. I believe this has proven true for me. I was plagued with flakes and the persistent itching was my nemesis. I tried all…
Public Speaking Phobia Dissolves with Herbs
Q. I have been a middle school teacher for 37 years. I have never had a problem speaking to my students or their parents, but otherwise public speaking turns me to Jell-O. I recently needed to give a …
Supplements Soothe Winter Itch
Q. I suffer from "winter itch" which has been getting progressively worse each winter. I began taking a biotin supplement and a turmeric capsule daily. Much to my surprise, my winter itch was almost n…
Selenium No Protection against Lung Cancer
The antioxidant mineral selenium was thought to provide protection against cancer. Those hopes have been dashed by a new study from Denmark. Researchers followed over 3,000 older men for 16 years. Blo…
Is Magnesium a Wonder Supplement?
Q. I have been taking a magnesium supplement (300 mg of magnesium oxide daily) for a while to combat terrible leg cramps that wake me up in the middle of the night. It has been an incredible help (Mag…
Vitamin E Boosts Risk of Prostate Cancer a Bit
A new study of 35,000 men suggests that men might want to cut back on vitamin E pills. That's because the SELECT trial showed that men getting 400 IU of vitamin E daily had a 17 percent increased risk…
Vitamins Don’t Save Women’s Lives
A large study of midwestern women found that several vitamin and mineral supplements were associated with an increased rate of death over 20 years. The Iowa Women's Health Study included almost 40,000…
Saw Palmetto Extract Ineffective for Prostate Sy…
Saw palmetto is a popular supplement for men with symptoms of prostate enlargement. The botanical extract has a reputation for easing symptoms such as frequent or difficult urination. According to a n…
Probiotics to Ward Off Colds
Probiotics may help children as well as grownups fight off colds and other upper respiratory tract infections. That's the conclusion of a new analysis of 14 randomized controlled studies carried out a…
Vitamin B12 Helps Preserve Brain Power
Low levels of vitamin B12 may put older people at risk for cognitive decline. Researchers in Chicago studied more than 500 volunteers for over six years. Their mental function was assessed through tes…
Can Herb Counter Memory Loss After Surgery?
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 t…
How Safe Are Bio-Identical Hormones?
Q. I am surprised and disappointed by your answer to the lady asking for help with her hot flashes. Her doctor took her off hormones because of serious side effects, and she was suffering. You should …
Does Tea Increase The Risk For Osteoporosis?
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 suppleme…
St. John’s Wort Not Safe In The Sun
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 drama…
Overcoming Irregular Heart Rhythms
Q. I heard on your radio show a woman who is concerned about irregular heart rhythms after drinking caffeinated beverages. I have trouble with this as well. When I want to drink coffee or tea, I take …
No Buzz for Vitamin B1
Q. I have found vitamin B1 to be an effective deterrent for mosquito bites. I was recently in an area where I got multiple mosquito bites daily that itched unbearably. I developed open sores from scra…
Vitamin (Benfotiamine) Reverses Nerve Pain
Q. I heard a caller on your radio show talk about a vitamin for peripheral neuropathy and restless leg syndrome. What is it? Can you tell me more? Benfotiamine for Neuropathy: A. The compound is benfo…
Leucine Lowers Blood Sugar
A small adjustment to the diet may help prevent a condition called prediabetes. The research was done at the Joslin Clinic in mice. Mice put on a high-fat diet and given twice their usual amount of th…
Pharmacist Gets Relief from Indian Herb
What can you do for the aches and stiffness of arthritis? Nearly all of the pain relievers that people may use have significant drawbacks if they are taken daily. That is no doubt why so many people …
Vitamin D Levels Low in Canadian Winters
Vitamin D has been known as the sunshine vitamin because the body can make it upon exposure to sunlight. But what about people who live in northern climates where sunlight is insufficient in the winte…
Treating Molluscum
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 remed…
Turmeric for Psoriasis
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 …
Is Ginseng an Aphrodisiac?
Q. This has been a very hard year at work. The company restructured and quite a few people were laid off. The rest of us are under a lot of pressure to do more. Last winter everything seemed so bleak …
Will B Vitamins Keep Mosquitoes From Biting?
Q. Years ago my father heard that large doses of B vitamins (sorry, I don't remember which ones) would repel mosquitoes. Apparently it changed the smell of his skin because my mother commented that he…
Minerals for Sweet Dreams
Q. I've struggled with insomnia for more than 20 years. I broke my Ambien habit by taking Citracal and magnesium plus valerian about 45 minutes before bedtime. This has been great for the past six mon…
Can Herbs Save Career From Stage Fright?
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 p…
Cinnamon for Blood Sugar
Q. I am concerned about using cinnamon to stabilize blood sugar because I've never seen a reference as to which type of cinnamon works. There are several different types of cinnamon that come from dif…
Risks of Natural Licorice
Q. You told a reader that fennel tastes like licorice but has none of the dangers. I was not aware that licorice had any dangers. I read years ago that it's good for people with high blood pressure. W…
Confused About Vitamin D Dose
Q. The label on my multivitamin says 400 IU of vitamin D3 is the daily recommended amount. In a recent column, Dr. Oz said men over 60 years old (like me) should take 1,000 IU of D3 daily. A doctor fr…
Could St. John’s Wort Make Her Spacey?
Q. My friend (a doctor) has been taking St. John's wort. She recently bought a different brand while she was out of town and continued taking one in the morning and one at night. I called her to confi…
Chinese Herb Helps Painful Fingers
Q. An article in the paper asked for help with Raynaud's phenomenon. About a year ago I read in your column that a man had good luck with astragalus root for this problem. I tried it and within days i…
Lowering Cholesterol Painlessly
Q. A year ago my doctor said my cholesterol was way too high and wanted me to take simvastatin to lower it. Instead I made some changes. I ate oatmeal every morning and quit taking the glucosamine and…
Magnesium Supplement Relieved Rosacea
Q. I am intrigued by the report that washing with an Epsom salt solution (magnesium sulfate) could ease rosacea. I have suffered from this skin condition all my adult life. I took antibiotics and Accu…
Would Bananas Help Cold Fingers?
Q. My son has Raynaud's phenomenon, which is very painful when it is cold. I heard that eating more bananas and potatoes could help because of the magnesium in them. The mineral is supposed to relax c…
Problems with Supplement Reliability
Q. In a recent column, a reader wanted to avoid medication and you mentioned red yeast rice to lower cholesterol. I was surprised to read this, since red yeast rice has the same active ingredient as p…
Persistent Eczema Relieved with Borage Oil
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. D…
Woman Desperate to Diminish Sexual Desires
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 sou…
Babies Do Better with Adequate Vitamin D
Low levels of vitamin D have been linked to a higher risk of infections in adults. A new study from New Zealand shows there is also a connection for newborn babies. In the study, umbilical cord blood …
Soy Supplements May Be Safe
There is an ongoing controversy about the safety of long-term soy supplementation for menopausal women. Isoflavones found in soy have some estrogenic activity and are often taken to relieve symptoms s…