GRAEDONS | People's Herbal Pharmacy Indian spice tumeric can help clear psoriasis

Q. Have you ever heard of any remedies for psoriasis? So far nothing the doctor prescribed has worked.
A. Psoriasis is a condition in which skin cells turn over too quickly, causing flakes and redness. There are many prescription drugs for the condition, but simple approaches like sun exposure sometimes help.One reader had good results with turmeric: "I read about turmeric for treating psoriasis, so I tried it. Various shampoos, conditioners and topical solutions suggested by my doctor and then a dermatologist didn't work. Most of those were smelly, inconvenient and expensive. But that would not have mattered had they helped my problem. "My scalp was itchy, and I had flakes everywhere, even my seat belt. On the last visit to my doctor, he said I just needed to be diligent with the treatments -- the psoriasis would never truly go away. "Not so! The turmeric worked wonders for me. I first tried spoonfuls of it, but that got old fast. I switched to capsules, taking one (453 mg) twice daily. After less than a month my scalp cleared up."I still take one capsule a day, and I can once again wear black. That had been out of the question for a long time. " Turmeric has anti-inflammatory action, and preliminary studies suggest that it may be helpful against psoriasis. Some people experience digestive upset from the Indian spice.
Q. I am an active, healthy woman. I've recently begun having unexplained muscle aches and joint pains, and I can't figure out why. I take diltiazem for blood pressure and Mevacor to control cholesterol and triglycerides.
My neck hurts, my shoulders hurt and when I sit for a while and try to get up, I feel achy. Could Mevacor be doing this? If so, are there any less expensive alternatives I could talk over with my doctor?
A. Some people do experience muscle aches or joint pain while taking statin-type medications such as Mevacor (lovastatin), Crestor (rosuvastatin), Lipitor (atorvastatin) and Zocor (simvastatin). Please discuss these symptoms with your physician, as they could be quite serious.You may want to talk to him about a soluble fiber such as psyllium, which can lower cholesterol a little bit. Niacin, fish oil and drugs like cholestyramine or gemfibrozil may also help.
We are sending you our Guide to Cholesterol and Heart Health, with more details on such approaches.
Q. Do alcohol-gel hand-cleaners disinfect hands better than soap-and-water hand-washing? What about antibacterial liquid soaps?
A. The most comprehensive study of hand-washing (American Journal of Infectious Control, March 2005) shows that old-fashioned soap and water is best for ridding hands of viruses. Antimicrobial soap and water works well against bacteria. If soap and water are not available, alcohol gel will do in a pinch.
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 peoplespharmacy@gmail.com or via their Web site: www.peoplespharmacy.org.
& copy; 2005 King Features Syndicate Inc.