The People's Perspective on Medicine, since 1976
Helping you to make informed decisions about both traditional and alternative treatments.
Rub on Heat from Peppers to Ease Pain in Hands
People have been suffering with arthritis since the dawn of humankind. Painful joints and stiffness can slow a person down considerably. And arthritis pain in hands makes it difficult to accomplish ev…
Thyroid Medicine You Can Take with Breakfast
Many people don't realize that coffee and several other foods may partially block absorption of the thyroid medicine Synthroid (Benvenga et al, Thyroid, March 2008). Over-the-counter medicines such as…
Show 1098: Are You Taking Too Many Prescriptions…
Consumer Reports recently had a cover story on "Too Many Meds? America's Love Affair with Prescription Medication." It turns out that half of American adults take at least one prescription drug. Actua…
Are You Addicted to Indoor Tanning?
Can indoor tanning be addicting? Most people think of tanning beds as a cosmetic indulgence. But new research suggests that some young women with depression find indoor tanning especially appealing (M…
Are New Cancer Drugs Worth Their Price?
New cancer drugs have been welcomed as breakthroughs. They often come with a hefty price tag. Many cost over $100,000 a year. That might be justified if there were solid evidence that they save lives.…
Flu Shots Fail to Protect Kids with Leukemia
This is the time of year when everyone is supposed to get a flu shot. The vaccination is supposed to protect people who are particularly vulnerable to influenza. Kids with leukemia fit into that categ…
How Good Is Aspirin Against Cancer in New Study?
In 1993 we published a book with Tom Ferguson, MD, called The Aspirin Handbook (Bantam Books). In it we pointed out that there was an impressive amount of research supporting the beneficial effects of…
Training the Brain Helps You Hear What People Sa…
Have you ever strained to understand what someone is saying in a noisy restaurant? Even people with hearing aids can have difficulty following a conversation when there is a great deal of background n…
Lasting Sexual Problems Ruined a Marriage
How long do side effects persist? Usually, we expect all the activity from a medicine, both good and bad, to disappear within a short time after we stop taking it. But that is not always the case. Som…
Licorice Oil Calms the Heat of Fire Ant Stings
What do you do for fire ant stings? As fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) push further north, many more people will have occasion to treat the pain of their stings. Some readers are enthusiastic about vin…
Olive Juice Cures Muscle Cramps like Magic
We have written extensively about muscle cramps over the years. Physicians have no FDA-approved drugs for this problem. As a result, people have searched high and low for home remedies. They have rang…
Can You Control Cholesterol Naturally?
Let's not arm wrestle about the cholesterol theory of heart disease. Most cardiologists believe LDL cholesterol is the culprit behind clogged coronary arteries. But there are other cardiologists who h…
Is It Safe to Use a Sauna If You Have High Blood…
Sauna baths are popular in Scandinavian countries. People there appreciate the strong contrast between the extreme dry heat of the sauna and the cold outside. Classically, when people emerge from the …
Jock Itch Treatments for Men and Women
When most people think of jock itch they imagine young men wearing athletic supporters. In other words, jock straps. These undergarments support the crown jewels while running, biking or engaging in o…
Are Your Medicines Depriving You of Folate?
Vitamin B9, or folate, is crucial for the normal development of human embryos. That is why pregnant women and those who may become pregnant are urged to take at least 400 mcg daily of folic acid, the …
How to Balance Quitting Smoking with Chantix Vs.…
Have ever heard the expression "Between the devil and the deep blue sea"? That's the dilemma smokers face when trying to quit cigarettes. Quitting smoking with Chantix (varenicline) can pose some sig…
Soap for RLS When Taking Long Flights
Have you ever read a real soap story? No, we're not talking about soap operas. These were TV dramas frequently sponsored by soap manufacturers. The soap stories we're talking about have to do with usi…
Show 1097: What Can Be Done to Help When the Pro…
Although lifespans have been increasing, so has the burden of chronic disease. When a person is diagnosed with a serious illness such as cancer, cirrhosis, kidney disease, heart failure or Parkinson's…
PPI Side Effects Continue to Scare Us To Death
Have you ever met people who have a hard time admitting they might have made a mistake? Such individuals defend their decisions and actions no matter what the consequences. It feels to us as if the Fo…
How Potassium Rich Foods Help Your Heart Stay He…
If you want a healthy heart, fill your plate with potassium rich foods, especially vegetables. That seems to be the message from an important new study in mice (Sun et al, JCI Insight, Oct. 5, 2017). …
Will the Coming Flu Season Be Vicious?
Experts are warning that the coming flu season could be a doozy. That's because Australia is just wrapping up their winter with a dreadful influenza experience. Compared to last year, there were far m…
Do Tea Drinkers Have Better Weight Control?
Research in mice hints that tea drinkers might find it easier to lose weight than those choosing other beverages. Green tea has a reputation as aiding in weight loss (Turkozu & Tek, Critical Revie…
Are Older People Taking the Wrong Medicines?
Many senior citizens may be taking the wrong medicines. Those who can least defend themselves-those with cognitive difficulties or dementia-may be running the greatest risk. Are People with Dementia B…
Can You Combine Red Yeast Rice with Atorvastat…
Some people believe in what we call the "lottle" principal. If a little is good then a "lottle" must be better. This is especially true when it comes to "natural" remedies. Red yeast rice (RYR) has be…
Should You Take NasalCrom for Your Seasonal Alle…
Were your allergies ferocious this fall? Pollen counts may be falling, but many people would still welcome advice on how to cope with hay fever and other seasonal allergies. Decongestant sprays work q…
Are You Crazy to Keep Soap Under the Sheets?
If you found a bar of soap under the sheets on your bed, you might be startled. Of course, if you've been reading The People's Pharmacy, you'll know immediately what that soap is doing there. Many peo…
Rejecting the Idea of Antidepressants and Suicid…
There is a common belief that most depressed patients feel helpless and hopeless. The thinking goes that overwhelming sadness and debilitating despair lead to lethargy and immobilization. Health profe…
How to Raise Vitamin D with Sunshine and Cod Liv…
Vitamin D is known as the sunshine vitamin because we make it when ultraviolet light from the sun strikes the skin. This compound behaves like a hormone. Numerous physiological functions depend heavil…
How to Prevent Migraine Headaches with Brain Fre…
Migraine headaches are torture. In addition to pain that seems to worsen with every heartbeat, sufferers often describe disturbing visual changes, nausea, sensitivity to light, sound and smell as well…
What Is the Other Side of the Opioid Crisis?
The opioid crisis keeps accelerating. While watching NBC News last night we saw yet another heartbreaking story about the devastating impact opioids are having across America. Three people in Dayton,…