Beware, Knox can glue your mouth shut

February 7, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

Q. I’ve had some arthritis in my left index finger. The treatments I tried helped a little, but didn’t resolve it. I’ve heard that a packet of Knox unflavored gelatin twice a day dissolved in the beverage of your choice can be helpful, but might take up to six weeks to be effective. I take it with tomato juice.

DON’T ever get in a hurry and just dump the packet of granules in your mouth and head out the door. It combines with saliva to create an EXTREMELY powerful glue inside your mouth. Your mouth AND lips will get glued firmly together, and it will take you 20 minutes or so of dedicated work to get your mouth pried back open again.

This is certainly going to entertain your co-workers, but I really think you might suffocate if you had a cold and couldn’t breathe through your nose. I’m an EMT (emergency medical technician), and you need to trust me on this. You will not be able to speak, so we might not figure out you have glued your own mouth shut. That could make it difficult to come up with an effective solution before you are dead.

A. Thanks for the warning! This sounds as if it comes from personal experience.

Several years ago, a reader shared an arthritis remedy he learned from a former owner of the Dallas Cowboys. He mixes equal amounts of apple-cider vinegar and honey. One teaspoon of this mixture is added to 6 ounces of water along with a teaspoon of Knox orange gelatin for the daily dose. Taking the gelatin in liquid won’t glue your mouth shut.

We include this and dozens of other arthritis remedies in our book “Best Choices From The People’s Pharmacy.” It is available from libraries, bookstores or online at www.peoplespharmacy.com.

Q. I’ve heard that consuming too much cinnamon can be harmful, but what, exactly, is the acceptable limit? I eat two tablespoons on my cereal each morning just because I like the flavor and I don’t need added sugar. Is that too much?

A. Some cinnamon (Chinese or cassia cinnamon) is contaminated with a natural compound called coumarin. In excess, this can harm the liver of sensitive individuals. Coumarin also may interact with blood thinners like Coumadin (warfarin) to increase the risk of bleeding.

Two tablespoons of cinnamon daily is a very big dose. You should have your liver enzymes checked when you see your doctor. People who use cinnamon to help lower blood sugar take one- quarter to one-half teaspoon before meals.

Unfortunately, cassia cinnamon is not labeled with the amount of coumarin it contains. This makes it hard for consumers to tell how much they are getting (Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry online, Jan. 16, 2008).

Q. Thank you so much for writing (a long while back) about IBS and coconut macaroon cookies. IT WORKS. I suffered with chronic diarrhea for years and have been healed for the past two years.

A. We’re always pleased to hear about success with home remedies. Donald Agar wrote us nearly 10 years ago to report that two Archway Coconut Macaroon cookies a day banished the chronic diarrhea he suffered as a consequence of Crohn’s disease.

We have heard from other readers that coconut helps combat diarrhea. You can read stories from people who have tried it at www.peoplespharmacy.com. Not everyone who suffers with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) benefits from coconut macaroons, however.

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.