Allow me to tell you about my experience with heartburn, which I have had for a very long time. Last year I started using a toothpaste that contains baking soda. Since then my heartburn is gone. If I change toothpaste, the heartburn comes back, so it's not a coincidence.
I brush my teeth three times a day. Even though I don't swallow the toothpaste, I think a little of it gets into my stomach, and the baking soda neutralizes the stomach acid. Could that be true?
Baking soda (half a teaspoon in 4 ounces of water) is a tried-and-true remedy for heartburn. Alka-Seltzer, long used for stomach upset, contains sodium bicarbonate, the compound in baking soda. Whether you'd get enough baking soda from your toothpaste to actually neutralize stomach acid is hard to tell, but thanks for sharing your success.
I have a question about taking thalidomide to fight cancer. Doesn't thalidomide cause birth defects? I would like to know more about the safety and side effects of thalidomide when it is used against cancer.
Thalidomide was one of the most notorious drugs of the 20th century because it was responsible for thousands of horrible birth defects. But now it is being investigated as a possible treatment for cancer.
It regulates immune cell responses and blocks the development of new blood vessels. Both properties could be beneficial against certain cancers, such as multiple myeloma, a blood cancer that is hard to treat. It is also being tested in cancers that affect the brain, breast, lungs and skin.
In addition to the risk of severe birth defects, thalidomide can cause tingling or numbness in the hands and feet. Drowsiness can interfere with driving ability. Anyone considering thalidomide must discuss its benefits and risks in depth with the prescribing physician.
A dear friend of mine started taking Paxil two years ago when his mother died. It was supposed to help him through a hard time, but he hasn't been able to get off this drug. Every time he stops, even for a day, he says it feels like water sloshing around in his head. He also complains of dizziness, nausea and sweating. It is so disconcerting, he has to go back on Paxil immediately.
For months now he has had difficulty sleeping and takes Tylenol PM, which makes him groggy in the morning. Then he drinks coffee to get going, and that makes him jittery. He wants to get off this roller coaster, but his doctor seems unconcerned. Please help.
Paxil and similar antidepressants such as Zoloft and Effexor can cause a withdrawal problem if they are stopped suddenly. Gradual tapering with medical supervision is crucial.
These medications have been associated with anxiety and insomnia. Using over-the-counter sleeping pills with the antihistamine diphenhydramine (Nytol, Sominex, Tylenol PM) might leave some folks feeling spacey in the morning.
We are sending you our "Guide to Getting a Good Night's Sleep" and "Guide to Antidepressant Pros & Cons" for more detailed information on stopping drugs like Paxil and overcoming insomnia without sleeping pills. Others who would like copies should send $2 in check or money order with a long (No. 10), stamped, self-addressed envelope to: Graedons' People's Pharmacy, No. IX-74, P.O. Box 52027, Durham, N.C. 27717-2027.
I have rosacea, a skin condition that gives me a red nose and cheeks. My dermatologist says it can only be treated by taking tetracycline, which upsets my stomach. After a few weeks on the antibiotic, the rosacea gets better. But when I stop this drug, the redness comes back.
My neighbor told me he had heard that taking two full tablespoons of salsa daily would control rosacea. I started on salsa a month ago, just as the rosacea was returning. The salsa seems to have held the condition off, because my nose is not red or itching as it usually does. Have you ever heard of this treatment before? It's hard to believe something that tastes so good could be good medicine.
Rosacea (pronounced row-ZAY-sha) can cause redness and little pimples on the face, especially the cheeks and nose. While antibiotics can help, they aren't a perfect solution for everyone.
Doctors usually tell rosacea patients to avoid anything that could dilate blood vessels, including hot beverages, alcohol and spicy foods. But your experience with salsa is intriguing.
We have heard from people who have eaten hot salsa for skin problems such as psoriasis and eczema, but this is the first time anyone has suggested using it for rosacea. Capsaicin, the ingredient in hot peppers that gives them a zing, has been tested topically for other skin conditions. Please let us know if it continues to work.
I had been taking St. John's wort for a few years when I was asked to participate in a double-blind study of Lipitor and Pravachol. I am now taking one of them or a placebo to see if these drugs can reverse the effects of high cholesterol.
A few months ago I read an article suggesting that St. John's wort might reduce the effectiveness of these cholesterol-lowering drugs. The people conducting my study don't know anything about such interactions. Can you shed some light on this for me?
I would like to continue taking St. John's wort because it keeps me from getting depressed. I don't want to take statin drugs if the herb will cancel out their effects, but I would really prefer to take both.
St. John's wort might lower the effectiveness of some cholesterol-lowering drugs, such as Lipitor, Zocor and Mevacor. This herb affects enzymes that process many medications, lowering blood levels of the drugs. Although no cases have been reported yet in the medical literature, you are right to be concerned. Pravachol probably would not be affected because it is metabolized differently.
We are sending you our "Guide to St. John's Wort," "Guide to Heart Health" and "Guide to Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs," which will give you further details on interactions, side effects and alternatives for keeping cholesterol under control. Others who would like a copy should send $3 in check or money order with a long (No. 10), stamped (57 cents), self-addressed envelope to: Graedons' People's Pharmacy, No. CLV-275, P.O. Box 52027, Durham, N.C. 27717-2027.
I had a fingernail that split to the quick from fungus. My doctor said there was nothing he could do to help.
My daughter, a registered nurse, suggested putting tea tree oil on the nail. This did the trick perfectly.
Thanks for reminding us that this oil from Australia has antifungal properties. Other readers have also had success using tea tree oil on nail fungus, though some people are allergic to it.
Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist. Teresa Graedon holds a doctorate in medical anthropology and is a nutrition expert. Write to them in care of King Features Syndicate, 235 E. 45th St., New York, N.Y. 10017, or e-mail them via their Web site, www.peoplespharmacy.com.
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