GRAEDONS | People's Herbal Pharmacy Battling constipation with jelly beans

Q. I read with interest and sympathy a letter about problems with constipation. I wanted to share something that has helped me.
After hearing some people complain that sugar-free jellybeans gave them diarrhea if eaten in quantity, I decided to try them to see if they would help my frequent constipation. I have found that if I eat 30 sugar-free jelly beans with a glass of water half an hour before bedtime, I stay regular. I hope this idea might help others with the same problem.
A. Thank you for the tip. Many people find that the sweeteners in sugar-free candy can cause diarrhea. How clever of you to turn that side effect to your advantage! Each person will have to experiment to find the right "dose."
Q. Years ago, my daughter had eight plantar warts on the bottoms of her feet. She could hardly walk, and I tried everything to no avail. A friend of mine suggested squeezing fresh lemon juice on them three or four times a day. We had nothing to lose, so we tried it. Those warts turned black and fell off so fast she was completely healed within four weeks. I hope this will help others.
A. Thanks for the fascinating suggestion. Here's another story: "We dealt with plantar warts in every way possible -- surgery and freezing -- plus the terrible pain that goes along with these treatments.
"My husband's golf partner gave us the best information that I had ever heard: IODINE. I painted my grandson's plantar wart with iodine morning and night for six weeks. It went away, with no pain, just patience. The cost was less than $2, compared with hundreds I spent on my other children."
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.