The People's Perspective on Medicine, since 1976
Helping you to make informed decisions about both traditional and alternative treatments.
An Unexpected Trick For Curing Hiccups
We have been collecting hiccup remedies for more than 45 years. The first one was written up in the New England Journal of Medicine (Dec. 23, 1971). A physician experimented with granulated whit…
Can You Use Beer to Wash Off Poison Ivy?
If you spend time outdoors in wild places, you have undoubtedly encountered poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac. You'll find it worthwhile to learn what these plants look like so you can avoid an i…
Amitriptyline for Sleep problems Is a Bad Idea
Amitriptyline (Elavil) is a very old antidepressant. It was first marketed in the U.S. in 1961. Amitriptyline has one FDA-approved indication: “For the relief of symptoms of depression.” For reaso…
Will Canela Cinnamon Help Control Blood Sugar?
Many people struggle with insulin resistance and some may not even realize it. In this condition, the pancreas produces insulin, sometimes lots of insulin, but the cells stop responding well to this c…
Safe Ways of Dealing with Swimmer’s Ear
Q. Do you know of any good, safe ways of dealing with swimmer's ear? I can usually feel it coming on (often within a couple days of clearing out ear wax or swimming in a lake or pond). I’d like to b…
Is the FDA’s Definition of Safe a Lie?
The Food and Drug Administration insists that its focus is on making sure all drugs are “safe and effective. For example, this headline from the FDA’s website says it all: “The FDA's Drug …
What Are the Alternatives to Colonoscopy?
Colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death among American adults. If it is detected early, before it spreads, colorectal cancer can be treat…
Is the Salt in Prepared Foods Iodized?
Iodine is essential for thyroid function, which is why many countries add iodine to their salt. Much, but not all, of the salt sold in the supermarket for home use is iodized. But what about the salt …
Pomegranate Power Enhances Mitochondria and Cell…
The ancient Chinese believed that Pomegranates had anti-aging properties. They might have been right. Swiss scientists have identified a metabolite of compounds found in pomegranates. It is called uro…
Show 1170: What Makes Your Immune System an Eleg…
Have you ever wondered how your immune system manages to ward off infections? This "elegant defense" is sometimes described as though it were an army fending off all invaders, but that metaphor can be…
A New Carcinogen DMF Discovered in Valsartan BP …
And now there are FOUR potential carcinogens found in blood pressure medicines called ARBs (angiotensin receptor blockers). For almost a year, Americans have faced repeated recalls of BP pills like ir…
Forget Vitamin D Supplements for Heart Disease
Vitamin D supplements disappoint again. That’s the conclusion of a meta-analysis published in JAMA Cardiology this week. The researchers noted that many epidemiological studies have linked low vitam…
How Do You Feed Your Microbiota?
Scientists know that the community of microbes that lives in your digestive tract is unique to you (your microbiota). They hypothesize that if you want to stay healthy, you have to keep the community …
Will Hot Water Help You Move Your Bowels?
In years past, people put a lot of emphasis on regularity. They thought a bathroom visit every day, preferably first thing in the morning, was essential to good health. Some folks had their favorite t…
Vitamin B12 Deficiency Can Cause Cognitive Probl…
As people grow older, they may begin to have difficulty with memory or complex cognitive tasks. The family might chalk the problem up to encroaching dementia due to aging. In some cases, though, cogni…
Will Soy Sauce Ease Your Burn Pain?
If you have ever had hot liquid splash on your hand accidentally, you've looked for a burn remedy. Holding the singed fingers under cold tap water is the recommended first aid, but it may ease your bu…
Why Aren’t Docs Outraged by Inadequate Generic…
Doctors, pharmacists and nurses are directly responsible for patient care. They prescribe, dispense and oversee treatment. Why aren’t they more concerned about generic drug quality? We are confounde…
How Can You Prevent Tick Bites?
As we move into summertime and look forward to outdoor activities such as biking, hiking and camping, people start to worry about Lyme disease. While this infection can be serious, it is not the only …
Decongestant Spray Addiction is Hard to Kick
When your nose is stopped up because of a cold or allergies, you feel awful. Breathing through your mouth when you are trying to sleep can be especially challenging. It’s hardly surprising that peop…
Generic Furosemide Disappoints | How to Afford L…
Ask any doctor about the importance of furosemide (Lasix) and you are likely to get an earful. The FDA approved this diuretic in 1966. It is considered an essential medicine by the World Health Organi…
Show 1169: What Are the Problems with Generic Dr…
You may not be aware that the vast majority of medications Americans take are generic drugs. This helps hold down the costs that patients have to pay, especially if you are taking one of the medicines…
PPIs are Safe! New Study Contradicts Prior Resea…
Prepare for whiplash. Last week we reported on a large VA study using medical records from 150,000 veterans (BMJ, May 30, 2019). It showed that people taking proton pump inhibitors to suppress s…
Warfarin and Green Leafy Vegetables Can Be OK
For decades, patients taking the anticoagulant warfarin, known by the brand name Coumadin, have been admonished to be very careful about consuming foods rich in vitamin K. That’s because too much vi…
Diabetes Risk No Lower with Vitamin D Supplement…
People with very low levels of vitamin D are known to be at higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes. A study demonstrates that vitamin D supplements don’t alter diabetes risk (New England Journal…
Could TV On All Night Make You Gain Weight?
Do you leave the TV on in your bedroom overnight? Data from the Sister Study suggests you might want to turn it off (JAMA Internal Medicine, online June 10, 2019). What Does the Sister Study Say About…
Will Soaking in a Hot Tub Ease Your PAD Pain?
Just as plaque can clog the arteries leading to the heart to cause coronary artery disease (CAD), it can also narrow arteries in legs, arms and elsewhere in the body. Doctors term this peripheral arte…
Dermatologists Are Unhappy with PediatricianR…
Many parents become so frustrated dealing with lice infestations that they are tempted to pull their own hair out. Some parents are concerned about having to use insecticides repeatedly. As lice devel…
Doctor Wants Alternative Treatment for Sore Knee…
Have you ever had sore knees? It makes it hard to climb stairs. Even walking can be a challenge when your knees hurt. Most people take NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like celecoxib (Cel…
Is Celecoxib Safe To Prevent Nighttime Urination…
There is nothing more annoying than waking up in the middle of the night with a strong urge to pee. Well, actually there is. Waking up to discover that you have had an accident in bed is uncomfortable…
Will Flaxseed Save Nails Damaged from Psoriasis?
Many people assume that ugly nails indicate a fungal infection of the nail bed. While this is frequently a reasonable conclusion, psoriasis can also cause nails to become discolored, crumble or separa…