Thursday, August 19, 2004
Q. I was surprised that in a recent column you seemed unfamiliar with using mustard for leg cramps. Last year you recommended that very same remedy.
My mother has leg cramps almost every night. Because of your earlier column on yellow mustard, I got a huge supply of individually wrapped mustard packets. She keeps them on her night stand and in her purse. When a leg cramp starts, she eats the mustard, and the cramp disappears immediately.
She got a cramp recently in a doctor's office. Since she had used all her packets up, I asked the nurse to get some mustard from the break room. She'd never heard of the remedy but was impressed when the cramp went away.
A. Thanks for reminding us of the earlier story: "A friend of ours uses plain mustard for leg cramps. She swallows a teaspoonful of mustard to relieve the pain whenever she gets leg cramps. This home remedy works so well for her that she carries packets of mustard wherever she goes."
As far as we can tell, no one has done research to show that yellow mustard works against leg cramps. But your mother's experience suggests that this home remedy has merit.
Q. My doctor suggested I use milk of magnesia to combat constipation. I can't stand the taste, though. Since the main ingredient is magnesium, I'm trying magnesium capsules instead.
I take anywhere from 2,000 to 2,500 mg a day several times a week, but I wonder about side effects. Are there any long-term health issues from high doses of magnesium? I already know it causes loose, watery stools. Does it cause damage to any other organs?
A. Each teaspoon of milk of magnesia contains 400 mg of magnesium hydroxide. That means the maximum daily dose (4 tablespoons) could reach 4,800 mg. Although magnesium is critical for muscle function and heart health, too much can cause problems. Diarrhea, nausea and stomach cramps are the most common symptoms of excess. People with kidney problems should avoid extra magnesium, as it could lead to serious toxicity.
Q. My doctor told me that niacin is as effective as prescription statin drugs in lowering cholesterol. Is this really true? Can you send me information about niacin or other natural approaches to reducing cholesterol?
A. As effective as niacin is at lowering cholesterol, it is hard to match statins like Zocor or Lipitor. Niacin can help raise good HDL cholesterol and is less expensive than such prescriptions. Because it can elevate liver enzymes, a doctor should supervise niacin therapy.
We are sending you our Guide to Cholesterol & amp; Heart Health for more information about benefits and risks of niacin, along with other natural approaches. Anyone who would like a copy, please send $2 in check or money order with a long (No. 10), stamped (60 cents), self-addressed envelope to: Graedons' People's Pharmacy, No. C-8, P.O. Box 52027, Durham, N.C. 27717-2027.
Q. Is there a natural way to rid oneself of lice? The lice shampoos I have seen all have a lot of scary warnings. Please help!
A. One natural remedy is called HairClean 1-2-3. It contains coconut oil, anise oil and ylang ylang oil in an alcohol base. It's sold in health food stores and small pharmacies. The manufacturer can be reached at (800) 448-1448 or online at www.hairclean.com.
XIn their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of King Features Syndicate, 888 Seventh Ave., New York, N.Y. 10019, or e-mail them at pharmacy@mindspring.com or via their Web site: www.peoplespharmacy.org. Their newest book is "The People's Pharmacy Guide to Home and Herbal Remedies" (St. Martin's Press).
& copy; 2004 King Features Syndicate, Inc.