Curry helped lower high blood pressure

Q. I accidentally learned that turmeric could help reduce my high blood pressure. It went from 160/80 to 140/60 after eating an Indian meal of curry.

After I made this discovery, my nutritionist daughter advised me to use 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric daily. I add it to a small clove of garlic and blend it with fruits in a soy shake I make daily. I have now lost weight, and my blood pressure runs about 109 to 120/65.

A. What an interesting discovery. We don’t think doctors will prescribe curry, but rodent research suggests that curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, can lower blood pressure (Journal of Clinical Investigation, March 2008).

Turmeric is the yellow spice used in curry and yellow mustard. Although yours is the first report on using this spice for hypertension, readers have found a number of other uses for it. We have included their stories about arthritis, bursitis, diabetes, gout, leg cramps and psoriasis in our new book, “Favorite Home Remedies From The People’s Pharmacy” (online at www.peoplespharmacy.com).

Some people may be allergic to turmeric. This herb also may interact with the blood thinner Coumadin (warfarin).

Q. I’ve suffered with Raynaud’s disease in my hands for two years. There is no underlying cause for it, such as lupus.

My doctor has prescribed various blood pressure medicines that are supposed to work for this condition, but nothing seems to help. Is there a natural remedy that might help? Would acupuncture possibly work? Any suggestions would be most appreciated, as cold weather makes it very hard for me to function.

A. People with Raynaud’s syndrome really suffer in the winter. In this condition, blood vessels in the hands and feet constrict. Fingers may turn white or blue and be painful or numb. The colder the temperature, the worse the symptoms.

Acupuncture may be somewhat helpful. One small study found that acupuncture reduced attacks by 63 percent, compared with a 27 percent reduction in the control patients (Journal of Internal Medicine, February 1997). A reader of this column reported that taking cinnamon capsules alleviated her Raynaud’s symptoms. In Chinese medicine, both cinnamon and astragalus have been used for circulatory problems of this sort.

Q. I received a list of “helpful hints” in an e-mail recently stating that if you have arthritis or joint pain, you should spray WD-40 on it. Could this possibly be true? It seems that it might be more harmful than good.

A. WD-40 is made of petroleum products and is designed to lubricate stiff or squeaky metal hinges or joints. People have tried putting it on their own stiff joints, but we cannot recommend this tactic. There have been reports of people developing chemical pneumonitis, an inflammation of the lungs, after accidentally inhaling WD-40.

A physician told us several years ago that a patient of his developed muscle breakdown after repeatedly applying WD-40 to his joints. He had to be hospitalized.

XIn 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. Their newest book is “Favorite Home Remedies From The People’s Pharmacy.”

2008 King Features Syndicate Inc.