GRAEDONS | The People's Pharmacy Listerine mouthwash eases the itching of chigger bites

Q. I am intrigued by the unusual ways people use Listerine. Every summer, I am plagued with itchy chigger bites. After reading that Listerine could relieve shingles pain, I tried applying it to the bites.
This is the most helpful remedy I have ever used. The itching stopped immediately and did not resume. The bites healed quickly. Thanks for a terrific idea.
A. The herbal ingredients in Listerine (thymol, eucalyptol, menthol, methyl salicylate) have both anti-fungal and anti-itch properties. This might explain why applying Listerine mouthwash to the scalp or the skin can relieve dandruff or itching.
Dermatologists tell us that itching is an allergic reaction to the chiggers' secretions. Doctors sometimes prescribe a dab of a topical steroid such as Lidex or Temovate. If Listerine works, so much the better.
Q. I heard recently that ibuprofen counteracts the beneficial effect of daily aspirin for the heart. I have had angioplasty and take a baby aspirin a day.
I also take a lot of ibuprofen for a bad back. Other pain relievers don't work for me. Am I undoing the benefit of the aspirin?
A. Researchers are still debating this confusing interaction. Studies suggested that ibuprofen might counteract the blood-thinning action of aspirin, thereby undoing its heart-protective effects.
New research (Archives of Internal Medicine, April 26, 2004) compared the outcomes of patients on aspirin alone with those on aspirin plus ibuprofen. Those taking both drugs had 39 percent fewer heart attacks than those taking only aspirin.
Doctors aren't ready to recommend that people at risk of heart problems take both drugs. Discuss the new data with your physician to see if you need to worry about this combination.
Q. I have been on hormone replacement therapy for more than a decade. The latest advice is to take the lowest dose of HRT for the shortest time to relieve menopausal symptoms. My doctor says I can stop taking hormones anytime.
When I try to stop, I suffer disrupted sleep, night sweats and hot flashes. I also experience vaginal dryness and reduced libido. After a couple of weeks of misery, I start taking the pills again.
Do estrogen and testosterone replacement protect women from vaginal atrophy and loss of libido? Are natural hormones safer? I'd be interested in your information on black cohosh or other alternatives.
A. Many women find that hot flashes and sleep disruptions are as troublesome upon discontinuing estrogen as they were at menopause. To reduce discomfort, doctors may prescribe gradually decreasing doses of hormones over several months.
Testosterone might enhance libido, and estrogen helps combat dryness. Black cohosh has not been shown to enhance female sexuality, though it might relieve hot flashes for some.
For more information on herbal remedies and hormone replacement (including testosterone and progesterone), we are sending you our Guide to Estrogen: Benefits, Risks and Interactions. 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. W-49, P.O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027.
Although some people are promoting the use of "natural" or bio-identical hormones, there is little evidence that such products are safer than standard treatment.
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, NY 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.