Readers say bromelain has helped their bursitis
Q. I have bursitis in my hip. A friend said that she thought you once published a home remedy that helped.
A. Another reader recently took us to task for not recommending bromelain for bursitis: “This has worked for many people we know. In just a couple of days the pain is gone. Those who continued to take it for a week after that got rid of their bursitis.”
The enzyme bromelain is extracted from pineapple. Many animal studies have shown that it has anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity.
A clinical trial on people with painful arthritic hips found that bromelain (under the brand name Phlogenzym) was just as effective as the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac (Voltaren) (Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology, January-February 2006).
Q. When researching my master’s thesis for the preservation of a historic road, I hiked the old road with a local man.
We walked through a field of shoulder-high plants for about 50 yards when he turned to me and said, “I hope you’re not allergic to poison ivy, because this is a field of it.”
When I noticed a small spot on one hand starting to itch, the man pulled a weed along a hedgerow where he said it usually grows.
He crushed the weed to produce a small amount of liquid and rubbed it on the spot. Within 30 minutes, the spot was completely gone. Any ideas what the plant may be?
A. Many woodsmen and old-timers use jewelweed to treat poison ivy. It is said to work if the juice is applied within 15 minutes or so of exposure. Another plant that has traditionally been used against poison ivy is plantain.
Of course, the best defense is to avoid the three-leaved plant in the first place.
If that’s not possible, applying a barrier cream ahead of time can be helpful. IvyBlock, Ivy Shield and Tecnu are designed to keep irritating poison ivy resin away from the skin.
Washing with soap and water shortly after exposure also can help prevent a rash. Another product for washing the skin after exposure is Zanfel.
Q. I take more than a dozen medications for my heart and digestive tract. I know some of them cause constipation.
Could you please remind me about the proportions for the mixture of applesauce, wheat bran and prune juice that you have written about in your column?
I used this formula when I was in the hospital, and it really works! Do you have any other recommendations beside this Power Pudding recipe?
A. Quite a few drugs can cause constipation, so this is a tough problem for many people.
The Power Pudding recipe calls for 1 cup unprocessed bran, 1 cup applesauce and 3‚Ñ4 cup prune juice, mixed together.
Store the resulting stiff paste in the refrigerator. The dose is 1 tablespoon daily, washed down with lots of water.
Our Guide to Constipation contains this recipe along with one for dynamite pumpkin-bran muffins and our 10 tips to combat constipation.
Anyone who would like a copy, please send $2 in check or money order with a long (No. 10), stamped, self-addressed envelope to: Graedons’ People’s Pharmacy, No. GG-30, P.O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027. It also can be downloaded from our Web site: www.peoplespharmacy.com.
Q. Thanks for suggesting milk of magnesia as a deodorant. I tried it, and it works like a miracle. Vinegar did not, and it made me smell like sauerkraut besides.
A. Many readers report that milk of magnesia applied to the underarms reduces sweating and odor.
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 “Best Choices From The People’s Pharmacy” (Rodale Books).
2008 King Features Syndicate, Inc.