GRAEDONS | People's Herbal Pharmacy Some find that mint aggravates heartburn

Q. Several years ago, I was experiencing serious heartburn. I had always enjoyed chewing mint gum, and as the symptoms got worse, I chewed more and more. I thought chewing gum was helping the problem.
When I went in to see the doctor, I was shocked to learn the mint was making things worse. I went cold turkey off mint, and my symptoms disappeared completely in less than two months. I hope you can let people know that mint can contribute to this common problem.
A. Heartburn is caused by acid from the stomach splashing up into the esophagus. Normally, a ring of muscle (the lower esophageal sphincter) keeps acid where it belongs. When the muscle relaxes, it can lead to acid reflux.
Mint, chocolate, alcohol, tobacco, fatty food and prescription drugs such as Valium (diazepam), progesterone and nitroglycerin can all relax the sphincter. Avoiding such triggers can help control heartburn.
Although mint is problematic, chewing gum actually can help heartburn symptoms. It stimulates saliva, which can help wash acid back down into the stomach.
Q. I just read in your column about lowering cholesterol with Metamucil. To lower my cholesterol, should I take it three times daily as listed on the package, or is it just one dose daily?
My cholesterol is high, over 220. I cannot take Lipitor or any other statin drugs because they make the muscles in my legs and arms too weak and sore. I also take glucosamine with chondroitin for arthritis.
A. Metamucil and many similar products contain psyllium seed. This soluble fiber can lower cholesterol, although the results are less dramatic than those achieved with statin drugs. The dose is the same as the dose recommended for regularity.
Statin drugs such as Zocor or Lipitor are extremely popular, but they are not the only ways to get cholesterol under control. The B vitamin niacin in high doses is also effective. And fish oil can help protect the arteries from atherosclerosis.
We are sending you our guide to cholesterol and heart health, with more information on psyllium, fish oil and natural approaches to cholesterol control. 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.
Some people report that glucosamine and chondroitin raise cholesterol. You might want to try a different approach to arthritis and see if your cholesterol drops.
Q. I was diagnosed with interstitial cystitis three years ago. None of the treatments I've tried has worked, and I have had four or more episodes of severe pain weekly, with frequency of urination.
Several months ago, I noticed that I had no symptoms the afternoon after eating asparagus and none the next day. So I ate asparagus every day for two weeks. My symptoms have disappeared except for occasional discomfort, which is relieved by eating asparagus. Has anyone else reported such an experience?
A. Asparagus has been used in folk medicine for a variety of purposes. A fair amount is known about its chemistry, but clinical trials are sparse. We have not heard before that eating this vegetable eases the pain of interstitial cystitis, so we don't know if this effect will apply to others.
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.
& copy; 2004, King Features Syndicate Inc.