Thursday, October 27, 2005
Q. I have a friend who is convinced that constipation causes cancer. She is fanatic about cleansing her colon regularly.
Not only does she use an enema a couple of times a week, but she also drinks laxative tea containing senna all the time. She is constantly running to the bathroom.
This just doesn't seem natural to me, but she insists that it rids her body of toxins. Are there any dangers to colon cleansing?
A. Regular use of laxatives and enemas is not advisable, because the colon may lose its ability to empty normally.
Even though it is natural, senna is harsh and can irritate the lower digestive tract. Diarrhea can lead to mineral imbalance.
Constipation can be caused by many things, including medications, thyroid problems and diabetes. The best way to prevent problems is to treat the cause.
We are sending you our Guide to Constipation, with tips for natural solutions that do not involve laxatives or enemas, plus a discussion of colon cleansing.
Q. I would like to start taking guggul to lower cholesterol, but I saw on your Web site that it might lower the effectiveness of certain prescription medications. I take Diovan for high blood pressure. Would guggul pose a risk?
A. Guggul is extracted from the resin of a myrrh tree. It has been used in the ayurvedic medicine of India for more than 2,000 years to treat inflammation, atherosclerosis and obesity.
Animal research and some human studies suggested that this herb might lower cholesterol. A well-controlled trial published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (Aug. 13, 2003) contradicted those results.
Guggul did not lower total cholesterol and actually raised bad LDL cholesterol compared with placebo. Some patients also developed a rash from this compound.
Although guggul may interact with many prescription medications to make them less effective, Diovan would probably not be affected. Nevertheless, questionable effectiveness and the risk of a rash discourage us from recommending this herb for lowering cholesterol.
Q. I have read that tart cherry juice is good for gout and arthritis, but I hate the taste of sour cherries. What else can you recommend?
A. Another reader offered the following:
"I recommend CherryFlex, a low-carb pill that works well for arthritis and is much more convenient than drinking cherry juice.
"As a nurse, I was skeptical when someone mentioned CherryFlex. Nevertheless, I tried it after the Vioxx disaster and have gotten good relief from arthritis."
You can find CherryFlex Softgels in some groceries, health-food stores or on the Web.
Q. I have taken first Zoloft, then Paxil for mild depression. They caused a 20-pound weight gain. Is there anything for depression that doesn't cause weight gain?
A. Wellbutrin (bupropion) may be less likely to cause weight gain than some other antidepressants. But if your depression is mild, you might also do well with counseling and some nondrug approaches.
Regular vigorous exercise can ease depression and has the advantage of improving fitness and weight control.
An extract of St. John's wort may help with mild to moderate depression and has not been linked to weight gain.
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.