The People's Perspective on Medicine, since 1976
Helping you to make informed decisions about both traditional and alternative treatments.
Show 1166: How Can You Manage the Misery of Seas…
Do you sniffle through spring or feel crummy in the fall? Many people suffer with seasonal allergies, and trying to figure out which medicines make sense is no easy task. To start with, how do you kno…
Did The FDA Bury Details About Defective Medical…
The Food and Drug Administration has come under scrutiny for its approval and oversight of medical devices. In particular, metal-on-metal hip implants, plastic mesh for pelvic surgery, surgical staple…
Do Pharmacists Like Pills More Than Prevention?
I’m more interested in prevention than pills. Does that statement make me Public Enemy Number One in the world of pharmacy, and persona non grata to my colleagues? Or are there in fact a large numbe…
Will CBD Help Opioid Addicts Kick Their Habits?
Cannabidiol, known as CBD, may help opioid addicts kick their habits. Many people are enthusiastic about this compound derived from Cannabis. It is showing up in all kinds of products, mostly without …
How Risky Is It to Eat an Egg?
How risky is it to eat an egg? For decades, we’ve been warned to avoid eggs, especially yolks. We should stick with egg white omelets if we persist in consuming them at all. The idea is that egg yol…
FREE Shipping from The People’s Pharmacy
It's no wonder that people are sometimes frustrated by shipping costs. The United States Postal Service raised its rates again at the beginning of this year. Visitors to our website have frequently re…
Is Juice as Bad for Your Health as Soda?
Choosing healthful foods and beverages has become increasingly controversial. For years, nutrition experts recommended a breakfast of cold cereal, toast with margarine and a glass of orange juice. We …
Cure Your Athlete’s Foot with Time-Honored…
Have you checked out your toes lately? Look closely at the area between the toes to see whether there is red or peeling skin. If there is, you might have athlete’s foot, and you may find that the ar…
Can You Avoid Skin Damage Without Sunscreen?
It comes as a great shock to learn that sunscreen gets under your skin. Most people assume that what you put on your skin stays on your skin. Wrong! FDA researchers wrote in JAMA (May 6, 2019) t…
Turmeric Lowered Cholesterol Raised by Glucosami…
The cholesterol hypothesis has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years. Although most cardiologists are convinced that cholesterol is the enemy and must be aggressively controlled, there are a …
Sonic Slush, Brain Freeze and Migraine Relief
Have you ever had a really bad headache? What about a migraine? We know that the last thing a person with a major migraine would want to do is add to the misery by inducing brain freeze. And yet we ha…
Is There a Link Between Thyroid and Cholesterol?
Low thyroid function is extremely common. In fact, levothyroxine, the hormone used to treat an underactive thyroid gland, is the most frequently prescribed medication in the US. Many people are aware …
Could Pineapple Juice Ease Your Gout Flareups?
Gout is a common and painful condition in which joints become inflamed and exquisitely sensitive to touch. A gout sufferer may not even be able to bear the weight of a sheet over a swollen toe. High l…
Is Dupixent a Super Solution for Bad Eczema?
Most people with eczema find it intensely frustrating. They itch, and their skin is often red with swollen patches. Medications may help soothe the irritation, but most patients don't know why they su…
Show 1165: Can Your Doctor’s Positive Attitude…
We all prefer to interact with people who are friendly, supportive and helpful. But when it comes to health care providers, does “bedside manner” really make a difference? Or is a doctor’s posit…
Billion Dollar Settlement for People with Bad Hi…
Another week, another BIG settlement! Actually, there was one big settlement in the medical device industry regarding bad hip implants and an even bigger award in a jury trial involving the weed kille…
Will Eating Your Vegetables Ward Off Heart Failu…
Many studies have shown that the DASH diet can help people lower their blood pressure. Now, researchers have found that individuals who follow DASH diet guidelines also reduce their risk of developing…
Why Americans Don’t Trust the Pharmaceutical I…
Both brand name drug companies and generic drug manufacturers have earned the distrust of the American public. In just the last week we have learned about another lawsuit filed against some of the lea…
Should You Read Your Doctor’s Visit Notes?
Many if not most health systems and doctors’ offices around the country have adopted electronic medical records. As a result, patients can access appointment information, pay their bills, check thei…
Generic Drugs Hammered | Are AUTHORIZED Generics…
This has been a very bad week for generic drug manufacturers and the FDA. Here are just a few of the stories that have made headlines. “A New Book Argues That Generic Drugs Are Poisoning Us” (New …
Is it Safe to Get Vitamin D From the Sun?
Before there were vitamin D pills, humans made this essential nutrient whenever their skin was exposed to sunlight. Nowadays, dermatologists warn us that any sun exposure is bad for our skin. They are…
How to Substitute Powdered Pectin in Arthritis R…
Because arthritis is so common, people have invented dozens if not scores of home remedies. Scientists have not done studies on most of these approaches, but that won't stop people from trying them. O…
What Took the FDA So Long to Warn About Z-Drug D…
The Food and Drug Administration seems to take great pride in approving new drugs. Last year was “An All-Time Record, And A Watershed,” according to Forbes (Jan. 14, 2019). The FDA shattered…
Can Antibiotic Help Post-Colonoscopy Problems?
Colonoscopies save lives. The procedure in which a gastroenterologist examines the lining of the colon for pre-cancerous growths called polyps allows for early detection of colon cancer. In addition, …
Will Special SLS-Free Toothpaste Prevent Canker …
Do you pay attention to the kind of toothpaste you use, beyond the flavor? The American Dental Association wants you to use a toothpaste with fluoride because it prevents cavities. Some readers take a…
Are Pecans Good for Your Heart?
Have you ever wondered whether your favorite food is good for your heart? If your favorite foods include ice cream and cookies, you don't have to wonder. The answer is a clear no. If you love oatmeal …
Are People In Pain Committing Suicide For Lack o…
Everyone knows we are in the middle of an opioid epidemic. Hardly a day goes by without a headline or a TV news story about a tragic overdose death. There is no question that far too many people have …
Popular Sleeping Pills Get FDA’s Black Box War…
The Food and Drug Administration has issued a black box warning for the most popular sleeping pills on the market. This is the heaviest tool in the FDA’s toolkit, short of banning a medicine outrigh…
Show 1164: Will We Win the Race Against Emerging…
Dr. Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928, after observing horrific lethal infections on the battlefields of the first World War. It was the first antibiotic to defeat a wide range of terrif…
For Blocked Arteries, Is Surgery More Effective …
Coronary artery bypass grafting, known as CABG for short, is more effective than stents in some cases. Scientists reached this somewhat surprising conclusion by studying the records of over 1,600 hear…