The People's Perspective on Medicine, since 1976
Helping you to make informed decisions about both traditional and alternative treatments.
Lip Care Discount About to Disappear
Summer has just turned into fall on the calendar. In much of the country, the weather even agrees. So don't get left out in the cold this fall and winter with dry cracked lips. Stock up on our wonderf…
How Can You Keep Plantar Warts from Recurring?
Plantar warts occur on the soles of the feet. At first, you might not notice a plantar wart. Most of us don't inspect our soles regularly unless they hurt. Plantar warts often become painful to walk o…
What is a Fair Price for ED Drugs for Sex?
Erectile dysfunction is not considered a serious health problem by most insurance companies. That’s because few, if any, are willing to pay for ED drugs like sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis) …
Acupressure Wrist Bands Help You Get to Sleep
If you sleep well, you may not realize how lucky you are. Those who have difficulty sleeping are faced with a tough dilemma. Sleep deprivation is bad for your health, as many studies have shown. On th…
Will Statins Help or Harm 76-Year-Old Father?
Statins to lower cholesterol are a pillar of cardiological treatment. People with high cholesterol take medications like atorvastatin or simvastatin to reduce blood lipids and prevent heart attacks. T…
Drug Price Gouging Is Immoral
Are you angry about the ever-escalating cost of medicine? Here are some examples you may not be aware of. Humira (adalimumab) is highly advertised on TV. It is used to treat Crohn’s disease, ulcerat…
Are Cucumbers a Cure for Chronic Constipation?
Constipation is a common problem–so common, in fact, that a definition is needed. Otherwise, people may mean completely different things when they use the word "constipation." The usual definition i…
Aspirin at the First Hint of Aura Stops Migraine…
Migraines are debilitating headaches, usually affecting one side of the head with throbbing or pulsating pain. Some people get a warning in the form of a "prodrome" of symptoms that may occur a few da…
ASA Everyday | Will Aspirin Help or Harm You?
Americans have long been told that aspirin is “the wonder drug that works wonders.” Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid or ASA for short) was supposed to prevent heart attacks and strokes caused by bloo…
Show 1135: Who Do You Believe–the Experts or t…
Doctors have been advocating evidence-based medicine for a few decades, but a surprising amount of medical practice is based on tradition. How can you sort out the value of evidence-based medicine fro…
Can Curcumin Control Your Blood Sugar?
Most people experience a bump in blood sugar after they eat a meal containing carbohydrates. The body responds by secreting insulin to clear the blood sugar. Australian researchers wanted to see whe…
Do Turmeric Supplements Have a Downside?
The yellow spice turmeric is extremely popular both as a food ingredient and as a supplement. When it is used to flavor food like yellow mustard or curry, turmeric is considered safe. A case report de…
How Good Should You Feel About BPA Substitutes?
Over the last few decades, scientists have identified a large number of compounds that can mimic hormones like estrogen. These endocrine disruptors include bisphenol A, also known as BPA. Scientists h…
Do Mouth Microbes Help the Immune System?
Humans support a variety of microbes on our skin, in our digestive tracts and elsewhere. As a result, some observers have noted that there are more bacterial cells than human cells in our bodies. As w…
Will Cutting Salt Conscientiously Land You in th…
The American Heart Association has advice for people who want to keep their hearts healthy. It recommends exercising regularly, quitting smoking, eating plenty of vegetables and fruits, skipping junk …
Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) Relieved With Soap!
There are some medical conditions that are surprisingly common but quite mysterious. You have probably heard of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Doctors now call it myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). The …
Will Vicks VapoRub Ease Facial Pain?
We have been fascinated to hear lately from readers who have found unusual remedies. We have been writing for years about the possibility that soap can alleviate nighttime leg cramps. We were surpri…
Will You Risk a Heart Attack with Diclofenac Gel…
People with arthritis have a very difficult dilemma. The primary drugs used to treat joint pain are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Unfortunately, these arthritis medications can produc…
Can You Cool Your Hot Flashes with Maca?
Just because menopause is a natural part of life doesn't mean it is easy. Some women have intense hot flashes for only a few years, but others may suffer for a decade or more. Estrogen is the gold sta…
An Unexpected Way to Moisten Dry Nostrils
As the weather begins to turn from summer into fall, people may find that they have to start dealing with cool-season complaints. One of these is dry nostrils. We have frightened many people by warnin…
How Can You Use Beets for Better Blood Pressure?
With concerns about contaminated antihypertensive medications, many people are interested in ways to lower their blood pressure without drugs. There is a wide range of options: exercise, weight loss, …
Is Whole Fat Dairy (Milk, Cheese and Yogurt) Goo…
Cardiologists have been admonishing Americans to avoid saturated fat in the diet. Whole fat dairy products have been especially vilified. That is why skim milk, margarine and low-fat yogurt have becom…
Breaking Down a Prior Authorization
A prior authorization (PA) is common terminology in pharmacies, but I find it to be very confusing for our patients. Has this ever happened to you? You visit your doctor, discuss prescription options …
Statins Fail to Help Healthy Older People
Statin drugs that lower cholesterol are among the most important tools cardiologists have for preventing heart disease among middle-aged patients. Until recently, however, no one knew whether drugs su…
Show 1105: How to Keep Your Nails Healthy and Be…
Nails rarely get much medical attention. They just don’t seem as urgent as high blood pressure or diabetes. Despite this, nails are part of the way we present ourselves socially. Consequently, most …
Will Tai Ji Help Keep You from Falling?
Older people have a justified fear of falling. A broken hip often leads to disability or death. That’s why it is so important to prevent falls. A new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine sugges…
Should You Stop Taking Your Sleeping Pills?
Older individuals who take a benzodiazepine are more likely to experience falls. Medications like alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium) or lorazepam (Ativan) are frequently used as sleeping pills or f…
Was Aspirin to Blame for Leaky Heart Valve?
Nonprescription drugs don't always get the respect they deserve. Many over-the-counter medications have significant effects, for good or for ill. If you take anything day in and day out, you should di…
Can A Bar of Soap Stop a Cough or Laryngospasm?
We have been writing about the amazing power of soap to stop leg cramps, ease restless leg syndrome and control hand cramps for years. Initially these stories seemed too good to be true. And yet we ha…
Do You Have Any Idea Where Your Pills Are Made?
Do you swallow any pills in the morning? We would be surprised to learn that you don’t. Most Americans swallow a handful without even thinking. Let’s start with vitamins. Millions of people take B…