Dandruff Shampoo May Ease Jock Itch
Q. Are there natural ways to keep jock itch from returning? My husband has been using Lotrimin cream or other antifungals daily for about 3 years. Within 2 or 3 days of stopping the cream, the rash al…
#516 Update on Children’s Health
There's no question that parenting is one of the most important--and most challenging--jobs most of us face. We'll sort through the hype with a modern-day Dr. Spock to find out what really matters for…
Can Drug Turn White Hair Black?
Q. I am a naturally blonde woman, age 57, taking Zocor and Zetia to lower my cholesterol. Since starting Zetia (about 6 months ago), I am sprouting a head of black hair. Where I used to find white mix…
New Drug Warnings Require Vigilance
If you've ever watched TV commercials for drugs like Viagra, Vioxx or Zocor, you know that they present such medications in a very appealing light. Actors smile and seem to be having such a wonderful …
Silver May Turn Children Gray
Q. My daughter and her husband make their own formulation of colloidal silver. They think this mixture protects them against the flu and other infections because it provides a natural boost to the imm…
#491 New Advances in Men’s Sexual Health
Viagra is a household name. Now there are other drugs for erectile dysfunction. How well do Levitra and Cialis work? What other options are available? Testosterone replacement therapy is becoming incr…
Can Viagra Reverse Effexor Effect
Q. I have heard that premature ejaculation is a common problem. I suffer just the opposite: delayed ejaculation. It can take me 20 or 30 minutes and this is far too long for my wife. This has become a…
The Dark Side Of Statins
Bill Clinton's recent bypass surgery has captured a lot of attention. Some commentators publicly rebuked the former president for his fondness for fast food and cigars and for stopping his cholesterol…
Turmeric-Flavored Eggs Fight Arthritis
Q. After reading about turmeric in your column, I started using one teaspoon in my scrambled eggs each morning. My arthritis has greatly improved, and I have far less pain when I walk. I work in my ya…
#515 Makeover Madness
Reality shows featuring makeovers have become extremely popular on TV. Do these appeal mainly to people's fantasies, or are Americans becoming obsessed with perfection? We'll find out what risks are e…
Grapefruit Juice Saves Money On Medicine
Q. I noticed your comment on grapefruit juice raising blood levels of some medications. This is true, but as a medical doctor I purposely use it to increase absorption of an expensive drug. A. Grapefr…
Old Approaches To Depression Are Coming Back
Depression can be a devastating, even life-threatening, disorder. Sadness, loss of appetite, trouble sleeping, low energy and reluctance to socialize are just some of the symptoms of major depression.…
No Relish For Mustard Remedy
Q. Some time ago I read about a common kitchen condiment that was supposed to be good for severe leg cramps. Now I can't recall what it was. Can you help? A. The remedy in question involved a teaspoon…
#514 Ultraprevention
Are you really taking as good care of your health as you think? Many chronic diseases start with inflammation you may not even know you have. Our guests will tell you how to combat inflammation and ma…
Low Carb Diet Might Help Daughter’s Acne
Q. My 14-year-old daughter has had moderate acne for nearly two years. There are always five to ten small pimples on her forehead, and now she has ten to twenty pimples on her cheeks as well. Clearasi…
Plan Ahead To Fight Flu Effectively
Last year's flu season is a distant memory. But in a few months the flu will be back, and no one knows how bad it will be. The experts overreacted last year because influenza struck early. Public heal…
Can Castor Oil Grow Hair?
Q. At 62 years old, my hair is thinning, especially on the crown. Both my grandfathers were bald in their 70s, so this doesn't surprise me much. Yesterday, a woman I don't know stopped me in a parking…
#513 Keeping Skin Healthy
The skin is the largest, and the most visible, organ in the body. And from time to time, nearly everyone has an issue about skin, from acne to athlete's foot. Some wrinkle creams are well worth the in…
Hair Pulling Treatment Has Weird Side Effect
Q. My daughter has been suffering from trichotillomania for five years. Drugs like Zoloft, Zyprexa and Celexa have been only mildly successful. She has been on a combination of Celexa and Risperdal fo…
States Challenge Rules On Canadian Drugs
States don't often declare war on the federal government. But several are on the verge of battle over the issue of importing prescription drugs from Canada. The governor of Vermont plans to sue FDA fo…
Noxema Provides Help For Hemmorrhoids
Q. I enjoy reading about Noxzema in your column. I have used this product on my hemorrhoids for years. I used to work for General Motors as a power fork truck driver. I sat on leather seat, sweating, …
#512 Health News Update
The cholesterol-lowering drug Zocor is very effective at lowering cholesterol, especially at high doses. But in a new study higher doses did not prevent heart attacks as well as had been hoped. We'll …
Stinging Insects Hold Reader Hostage
Q. I have a deadly allergy to bee, hornet and wasp stings. I am 52 years old and have no medical insurance so I cannot get the shots needed to desensitize myself from this allergy. I am a virtual pris…
Careless Prescribing Puts Elders At Risk
Doctors know better than to prescribe certain dangerous drugs to pregnant women. Medications like thalidomide (Thalomid) or isotretinon (Accutane) can cause tragic birth defects. The ulcer medicine mi…
Vitamin E Won’t Prevent Heart Problems
Q. My husband had bypass surgery five years ago, and last year he had two stents put in. The heart doctor asked if he were taking vitamin E. We said he'd taken it for years, and the doctor said to sto…
#511 Preventing Medical Mishaps
A new study suggests that as many as 200,000 people die each year in hospitals because of medical errors. How can you protect yourself or a loved one from such a catastrophe? Our guests will provide p…
Bleeding Ulcer Blamed On Pain Reliever
Q. At 98, my mother lived in a nursing home but was in good health overall. One night after I visited, I got a call from the home saying she was "out of it." That was odd, but by the time I got back t…
Medical Mistakes Still Take Too Many Lives
In 1999 the prestigious Institute of Medicine (IOM) shook the medical community to its foundation. The IOM estimated that almost 100,000 Americans die in hospitals every year as a consequence of error…
Mustard Alleviates Mom’s Leg Cramps
Some remedies maintain their popularity for years and years. We received this letter back in 2004, when we were just getting used to the idea that swallowing a spoonful of yellow mustard alleviates a …
#510 Health News Update
For many months, there has been controversy over the safety and effectiveness of popular antidepressants for children and teenagers. A study in this week's JAMA (August 18, 2004) shows that Prozac wor…