Recently, I had heartburn that was painful but not devastating. This doesn’t happen to me often, so I had no antacids. Instead, I planned to wait until the burning stopped on its own.
I took a sip (no more than a tablespoon) of pickle juice (from sweet pickle sandwich slices), and to my amazement, the pain went away instantly and didn’t recur. A week or so later, I got heartburn again. This time, the only pickles in the house were dill spears, but once again, a small sip of juice gave me immediate lasting relief.
I’ve only tried this twice, but I’ll never reach for antacids again if I can get some pickle juice. I’ve never heard of this before. Once could be a fluke, but twice? Have you ever heard of this?
Pickle juice seems like the last thing you would want to swallow if you had heartburn. Nevertheless, we have heard from many readers that vinegar, the main ingredient in pickle juice, helps ease indigestion. Here is just one story: “I am extremely skeptical of alternative medicine and home remedies, perhaps because I taught human physiology for 25 years. Nevertheless, after having little success with drugs, I tried apple-cider vinegar in water for my acid reflux. It has been much more effective than any of the standard medications.”
My very active mother visited her doctor for a routine checkup several months ago. He diagnosed her with hypertension and started her on atenolol and amlodipine.
Since then she has slipped dramatically. She has no energy and has lost her enthusiasm for activities she loved. Her ankles have swollen so much, she can no longer get her feet into nice shoes.
Mom also is complaining about breathing problems and joint pain for the first time, and thinks the medicine is responsible. Most worrisome for her is a drastic loss of hair during the past several weeks. Could the drugs be doing all this? If so, is there a natural way for her to lower her blood pressure?
Your mother’s suspicions may have some validity. Beta blockers like atenolol, metoprolol and propranolol may cause fatigue, hair loss, asthma and joint pain. Physicians rarely prescribe such medications as first-line blood pressure treatment.
Amlodipine can cause fluid retention, which may be contributing to her swollen ankles. Fatigue and dizziness also are common side effects.
We are sending you our Guide to Blood Pressure Treatment for information on other medications and nondrug management. Anyone who would like a copy, please send $3 in check or money order with a long (No. 10), stamped (65 cents), self-addressed envelope to, Graedons’ People’s Pharmacy, No. B-67, P.O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027.
Other options include Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, weight loss, meditation, deep breathing and foods like beets. She will need to work with her doctor to make sure her blood pressure is under control. Beta blockers shouldn’t be discontinued abruptly, as sudden withdrawal might trigger a heart attack.
I had migraines all my life and have taken everything and more in the way of drugs. In December, I decided to quit eating gluten (wheat, barley and rye). To my surprise, my headaches disappeared.
Celiac disease is an intolerance to gluten. Migraine headaches are a common symptom of this condition.
I’ve been battling a common cold this week. One night, in desperation, I coated the soles of my feet with Vicks, and the cough subsided. I have no idea how that could work, but I don’t care. I slept!
We are as mystified as you are about this remedy. A nurse told us a decade ago that putting Vicks VapoRub on the soles of her child’s feet stopped a nighttime cough. Since then, we have heard from scores of other readers that this is helpful. Anyone who tries this strategy should be sure to put on socks over the Vicks to protect the sheets.
Why are doctors so determined that menopausal patients should take estrogen?
When I told my doctor that I am reluctant to take Premarin for fear of cancer, she actually said that cancer is no big deal. It is just a way of life now: Get cancer, get treatment and get over it, is pretty much what she said. I was appalled and have found a new doctor.
We share your indignation. Cancer is a big deal, even when treated successfully.
The controversy over hormone replacement therapy (Premarin, Prempro, Estrace and others) has raged for decades. The Food and Drug Administration requires warnings about both breast and uterine cancer in the official prescribing information.
We are sending you our Guide to Menopause, with a discussion of many alternate approaches to managing hot flashes and night sweats. Anyone who would like a copy, please send $3 in check or money order with a long (No. 10), stamped (65 cents), self-addressed envelope to, Graedons’ People’s Pharmacy, No. W-50, P.O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027. It also can be downloaded for $2 from our website, peoplespharmacy.com.
A combination of black cohosh and St. John’s wort might ease menopausal symptoms. One study found that French maritime pine bark extract (Pycnogenol) may also be helpful (Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, August 2007; Panminerva Medica, September 2011, Suppl. 1).
A friend and I were both recently diagnosed with perleche or angular cheilitis. Although the prescribed medicine (ciclopirox and fluticasone creams) clears it up, the irritation comes right back.
I have very dry lips, and use lanolin to moisturize them. Could this exacerbate the condition? Are there any effective home remedies or nutritional improvements I could try?
In angular cheilitis (perleche), sore, red cracks appear at the corners of the mouth. This painful condition goes hand in hand with dry, chapped lips because the cracks offer a foothold for fungus. That’s why the antifungal medicine ciclopirox helps clear it up, together with the strong steroid fluticasone that fights inflammation.
Licking dry lips contributes to the problem. This is a Catch-22, because when lips are dry, there is a great temptation to lick them. That tends to make things worse.
Although lanolin can be an effective moisturizer, some people react badly to it. You might try switching to a different chapped-lip treatment.
Other lip-balm ingredients to watch out for include sunscreens and peppermint. Both can trigger sensitivity reactions. Some people end up in a vicious cycle with their lip products. They get temporary relief, but compounds in the moisturizer actually can be irritating.
Iron or zinc deficiency or an inadequacy of B vitamins might contribute to the cracks in the corners of your mouth. Your doctor could test to see if you are low on any of these nutrients.
Let's check that out the disclosures on hair. This is a bit of skull duggery and also this makeup tips is going to be kind of different from shampoo. The old gray using this just ain't what she used to be but also I put salon care products on my wish list some time ago. Given that I'm thinking this I partially reverse my support for that ingenious thought. Cinnamon-honey mixture. Sufficient caffeine can be absorbed into the hair follicles after 2 minutes, but for maximum hair root and scalp absorbtion I leave it on for 30 minutes. One hair treatment centre that is popular with both men and women is Vinci Hair Clinic. You may use that process for sallys too.
This is also the time when most women would reach the menopausal stage. Eczema Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, could be a culprit in the loss of eyebrow hair. A major component of the fiber protein is known as keratin. The horomes have an adverse reaction on the hair follicles, causing it to become thinner and brittle. I, de facto, cannot get fully into make up tips. It is common how moonbats don't relate to a far-flung subject like this. Your main priority is to control the condition that is potentially causing hair loss with these shampoos first. Your digestive system has evolved to digest foods, not pills. For further information, there is an excellent book on nutrition which is highly recommended on this topic, . Apple and Honey Mask.
Last year I saw an old friend of mine.
I don't want you to suppose I have an affection for as to the best hair products. Presence of other systemic illnesses such as Diabetes, Lupus, Scleroderma Hormonal changes: Pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, etc. A large number of you probably do have the interest in a redken hair products that zaps a scenery for a kerastase.
You can talk to eggheads about their best shampoo opinions.
I was told by my friends that it must have been caused by the harmful chemicals I exposed my hair to. When using steroids, especially those with strong receptor binding characteristics like 1-test or Trenbalone, the actual steroid itself could be a contributing factor to your hair loss, in addition to any elevated levels of DHT in your system. There was a lot of knee jerking going on. That's only a guess and I think this kind of vitamins for hair will just bring improvements in the short term. Disadvantages and Side Effects The Brazilian keratin hair treatment can be expensive per treatment, costing up to several hundred dollars. Let's get right to the point: You have to learn more about me. In order to promote new hair growth and prevent hair fall, massaging the hair and scalp with a good essential oil is a good solution.
