Really stinky feet? Here are several possible solutions

Q. I have the worst-smelling feet I have ever encountered. I have tried everything to get rid of the odor, and nothing works.

I am a welder and have to wear steel-toe boots. I put odor-fighting insoles in them. They work for a week, and then the smell is back again. My girlfriend always tells me that they are really bad, and they are.

I wash my feet when I get home from work, and three hours later they are really STINKY again. Is there anything I can do get rid of this horrible problem?

A. Such a persistent smell may be caused by bacteria or fungi that have taken up residence on your feet. We have been collecting remedies for this problem for decades. Here are some favorites:

Military veterans have reported that urinating on the feet in the shower is a tried-and-true (and cheap) approach. Others tell us that foot soaks with baking soda, dilute vinegar or Listerine can also help. A waitress reported that Campho-Phenique “worked wonders.”

We are sending you our Guide to Solutions for Smelly Feet. It also can be downloaded for free from our Web site: www.peoplespharmacy.com.

Q. My brother-in-law has had diarrhea since radiation treatment on his prostate burned his colon. He has suffered demoralizing daily diarrhea.

I told him to try coconut macaroons to battle the diarrhea, and they worked for him. He is elated. He’s actually planning on taking some extended driving trips, which he didn’t dare try before.

He takes two cookies a day. He IS diabetic, so my sister makes him a batch that is sugar-free.

A. We first learned about coconut macaroons calming chronic diarrhea from Donald Agar of Pittsfield, Mass. He reported his results, and many others have benefited since.

Macaroons are easy to find and offer a fairly consistent dose of coconut. We think that coconut is the active ingredient, though, so your brother-in-law could skip the cookies that are not on his diet and just eat a teaspoon or so of unsweetened coconut. He’ll have to figure out the effective dose.

Q. You recently suggested that glucosamine and chondroitin are not effective for mild to moderate knee arthritis. Your assessment was sadly incomplete.

In the study you cited, you failed to report that patients with moderate-to-severe knee pain did receive substantial benefit from this dietary supplement.

A. You have summarized one of the most curious findings of the GAIT trial (New England Journal of Medicine, Feb. 23, 2006). This large, placebo-controlled study found that people with more severe knee pain got modest benefit from glucosamine and chondroitin. Overall, however, the authors concluded that “the supplements were not shown to be effective.”

A more recent study did not show that glucosamine was better than placebo for mild hip arthritis (Annals of Internal Medicine, Feb. 19, 2008). Some readers find these supplements are helpful, but the research is not encouraging.

Anyone who is interested in more details about glucosamine and chondroitin, MSM, SAMe, acupuncture and other natural approaches to treating arthritis will find “Best Choices From The People’s Pharmacy” helpful. This book is available in libraries, bookstores and online at www.peoplespharmacy.com.

Q. I am surprised that I have never seen pineapple juice mentioned in your column as a cure for hiccups. It works with one sip!

A. Thanks for mentioning it. We’ve heard that pineapple juice can reduce joint pain, but you are the first to report that it cures hiccups.

X In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of The Vindicator or e-mail them via their Web site: www.PeoplesPharmacy.com.

2008 King Features Syndicate Inc.