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.
Supplements Stopped Seasonal Sneezing
Q. Can vitamin D and turmeric in combination have an impact on allergy and asthma? I suffer from both allergies and asthma, and I am usually miserable in the spring.I started taking 2,000 IU of vitami…
L-Lysine Against Shingles and Cold Sores
Q. In a recent column you answered a question about L-lysine and shingles. I have been taking L-lysine for various forms of herpes for over 20 years, and it has kept me virtually outbreak-free. It is …
Supplements Suppress Arthritis Symptoms
Q. I’ve been reading about people unable to take NSAIDs like ibuprofen or naproxen for arthritis pain. I want to share a solution I devised for my mother.The doctor diagnosed her with two types …
Frankincense as Aid for Cysts
Q. Do you have any information on natural treatments for a sore ganglion cyst on the wrist? I have been using a wrap-around brace on my wrist and would prefer to handle this without medication or surg…
L-Lysine Against Shingles
Q. After chemo treatment, I had two bouts with shingles. Knowing that this is a herpes virus, I treated myself with L-lysine as I often do for cold sores. The discomfort and rash disappeared in less t…
Magnesium Counters Calcium’s Constipating …
Q. I have suffered with constipation for many years, despite regular prune juice and Metamucil. Since I read in your column that my calcium supplement might be constipating, I have been following your…
Kudzu Root Helps Conquer Alcohol Craving
Q. I grew up with a parent who was dependent on alcohol. I find myself struggling with cravings for alcohol also. While alcohol doesn't interfere with my daily life, I don't like the cycle of abstaini…
Supplements Associated with Better Vision
Q. In 2003 I started taking CoQ10 and flaxseed oil capsules. Five months later my vision improved, and within the year I stopped using glasses completely.I wore glasses for 40 years, bifocals for 15 o…
Vitamin Averts Chronic Migraines
Q. Thank you for writing about taking vitamin B2 on a daily basis to prevent migraine headaches. I have suffered from them for 17 years and have been to many medical doctors, including two neurologist…
Wild Salmon Provides Vitamin D
Q. Is there vitamin D in wild salmon? We live in Alaska and eat king salmon about twice a week. We also take vitamin D3 since there is so little sunlight here during the winter. Would that be too much…
St. John’s Wort Improved Mother’s Mo…
Q. Ten years ago my mom moved in with us. She was 87 and not getting around well any more. Her blood pressure was high and the meds she was taking weren't helping, and she had a stroke three weeks…
Ginkgo Improved Penmanship
Q. My mother had memory loss for about two years before she died. She didn't have Alzheimer’s, but it became fairly serious and I put her on ginkgo biloba.Both my dad and I noticed an effect…
Home Remedy May Offer Pain Relief
Q. My husband and I are both suffering from arthritis pain. His knees hurt and I have problems with my thumbs and my hips. My doctor says hip replacement is in my future. We have tried glucosamine and…
Swedish Herbal Remedy Conquered Cold
Q. I live in Sweden and work from home, so I rarely come down with colds. However, the other day I got a whopper--a sore throat, a horrible runny nose and a really bad cough, so I decided to try Kan J…
Will Zinc Ward Off Colds?
Q. A few friends have mentioned that taking zinc helps to ward off colds and flu. Is there any validity to that?A. The evidence on zinc is inconclusive. There have been more than more than 10 well-con…
Grape Seed Extract against Raynaud’s
Q. I suffered from Raynaud's disease for many years. My doctor suggested I take grape seed extract tablets. I take two a day. They are not expensive and can be purchased at any health store. Best of a…
Drugs Can Cause Dreadful Constipation
Q. I take several medicines that I suspect may be contributing to uncomfortable constipation. They include Fosamax and calcium for bones and Lipitor for cholesterol.Please suggest something to provide…
Do Glucosamine and Chondroitin Raise Cholesterol…
Q. I read a letter in your column from a person whose cholesterol went from 180 to over 300 after taking glucosamine and chondroitin for sore knees. I think it is not the glucosamine, but the chondroi…
Zinc Oxide Cream for Hemorrhoids
Q. You recently had a story in which a person reported that zinc oxide worked for hemorrhoids. This made me laugh and brought back the memory of a dear family friend who has been dead for more than 45…
Stevia Sweetener Lowers Blood Pressure
Q. In your book, Best Choices from The People's Pharmacy, you said that the no-calorie sweetener Stevia rebaudiana was not approved for use in the United States. I have some great news for you!I f…
Does Glucosamine Raise Cholesterol?
Q. I’ve always had low cholesterol, but it has been rising for the past few years. First it went from 180 to 233, and then to 363.I tried to figure out what might be responsible and realized I h…
Cinnamon Warms Cold Fingers
Q. I've suffered with Raynaud’s disease in my hands for two years. There is no underlying cause for it such as lupus.My doctor has prescribed various blood pressure medicines that are suppos…
Curry Lowered High Blood Pressure
Q. I accidentally learned that turmeric could help reduce my high blood pressure. It went from 160/80 to 140/60 after eating an Indian meal of curry. After I made this discovery, my nutritionist daugh…
Fish Oil for Health
Q. My husband and I are 55 and 53. We detest seafood and do not eat it. With all the news we've been hearing about the benefits of eating fish, is there a supplement we should add to our diet?A. T…
Grape Juice and Certo Keeps Him Running
The best advice we hear about aging gracefully and joyfully is keep moving! Not only is mobility a pleasure in its own right, it can also help maintain range of motion in joints that could otherwise g…
African Sex Herb Has Side Effects
Q. In a recent column, you mentioned that yohimbe might be useful in treating impotence. Speaking from personal experience rather than extensive knowledge of the literature, yohimbe treats only what t…
Health Hazards of Natural Licorice
Q. What health concerns may be related to eating a lot of black licorice, especially for children?A. Natural black licorice contains glycyrrhizin. Regular consumption of this compound can have serious…
Finding Natural Approaches to ADD
Q. I have a 17-year-old son that I have suspected for years has a mild form of ADD. He tells me he seems to be bombarded with information like hundreds of highways leading to his brain at one time. He…
Pycnogenol for Hot Flashes
Q. Does Pycnogenol contain estrogen? I would like to try it for my hot flashes but my doctor said I shouldn't take it if it contained estrogen.A. There is no estrogen in Pycnogenol. This extract o…
Natural Products for Male Potency
Q. I would like to know if there are any herbs used for penis enlargement. I am interested in natural approaches to growing body hair and improving potency. A. Despite extravagant claims that pills ca…
Selenium Excess and Hair Texture
Q. You have saved my sanity! I've always enjoyed your column, but never needed your advice until last year. I had been suffering in silence as my hair changed its texture from wavy to straight. Then m…
Dietary Supplement Offers Relief from Intersitia…
Q. I suffer from interstitial cystitis. I have tried prescription drugs, acupuncture and a dietary supplement called CystoProtek. I heard that Botox might be helpful in relieving symptoms. What are yo…
Lowering Cholesterol Without Statin Drugs
Q. My cholesterol is high but I cannot tolerate statin-type drugs. My doctor has prescribed Lipitor, Zocor and Crestor. They all make my muscles and joints hurt. Now he wants to prescribe Vytorin. I a…
Calcium Was Constipation Culprit
Q. I know the desperation some of your readers feel about constipation because I suffered the same problem for years. Those who haven't experienced this problem have no idea of its severity. I tried i…
Video Games or Vitamin D?
There was a time when children played outdoors. Not only did they go outside for recess, but they spent long summer days and many afternoons during the school year playing in the backyard or on the pl…
Popular OTC Sleep Aid Triggered Hallucination
Q. An elderly relative was struggling with insomnia and tried Tylenol PM. She took it for several days and developed severe psychological side effects, including hallucinations. Not only was she space…
Tea and Iron Absorption
Q. Does drinking tea limit iron absorption? I usually have a cup of black decaffeinated tea in the morning after taking my vitamins (and Slow Fe, an iron pill). I drink several glasses of iced tea thr…
Vitamin D Vanquished His Joint Pain
Q. I have been struggling with joint pain and just found out that my vitamin D level is really low. My doctor put me on a megadose of 50,000 IU (international units) each week for 8 weeks. Then I will…
Turmeric to Ease Psoriasis
[audio wav="https://www.peoplespharmacy.com/wp-content/uploads/PP_Marlene-MN-psoriasis.wav"][/audio] A radio listener shares her stepfather's experience with turmeric for his severe psoriasis.…
Sunshine Vitamin Dazzles Scientists
Imagine a wonder drug that could reduce your risk of developing arthritis, high blood pressure, many common cancers, diabetes, depression and heart disease. What would it be worth? If drug companies c…