Cabbage leaves relieve mastitis pain, swelling

Q. I used cabbage leaves to reduce the pain and swelling from mastitis when I breastfed my children. I heard about it from other mothers.

A cabbage leaf fits perfectly inside your bra. Replace it every few hours. If the problem continues, though, see your doctor, because mastitis can get very bad very quickly.

A. Cabbage leaves are a traditional remedy that midwives and nursing mothers have been using for decades (if not longer) to alleviate the pain from swollen breasts before the baby is taking very much milk. When scientists have studied the effect of cabbage leaves, they don’t find that they do any better than placebo. We don’t see that there is any harm in this old-fashioned approach, though, and it just might help some women.

Q. I would like information on home remedies for toenail fungus. I don’t care about my ugly nails, but they bother my wife.

A. Home remedies are generally low-cost and low-risk, even though they are not tested the way prescription drugs are. One involves swabbing the affected nails with hydrogen peroxide.

Tea tree oil and oregano oil are other options. Here is one reader’s experience: “Oil of oregano from the health-food store can get rid of toenail fungus if used consistently. I had it for more than 45 years in my big toe. My dermatologist told me it was impossible to get rid of since I’d had it for so long. It looked awful, but my manicurist told me about the oil of oregano, and it worked.”

Dilute vinegar soaks also may help: “After spending more than $500 on orthodox medical treatment to eliminate toenail fungus, only your recommended vinegar soak actually worked!”

We are sending you our Guide to Hair and Nail Care with more details on remedies for nail fungus. Anyone who would like a copy, please send $3 in check or money order with a long (No. 10), stamped (61 cents), self-addressed envelope to: Graedons’ People’s Pharmacy, No. H-31, P.O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027. It also can be downloaded for $2 from our Web site: www.peoplespharmacy.com.

Q. Is it true that coffee can help an asthma attack if you don’t have your medicine handy?

A. Caffeine acts somewhat like a traditional asthma medicine (theophylline). A review of the scientific literature says that caffeine modestly improves airway function for up to four hours (Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2001, No. 4).

Q. I have always had good cholesterol levels, but in 2007 I tried taking a glucosamine and chondroitin supplement for joint pain. After taking it for a few months, my total cholesterol went from 200 to 247!

I stopped taking the glucosamine and chondroitin immediately. Six months later, my cholesterol had dropped to 210.

Then in August 2008, I tried a highly advertised brand of glucosamine and chondroitin. By April, my cholesterol had jumped to 263. It has never been that high!

I have stopped the glucosamine and chondroitin again. Although I am pretty sure this was the cause for the increase in my lipid levels, I will have them rechecked in six months and let you know what happens.

A. You are not the first person to report that this popular arthritis combination appears to increase cholesterol levels. This has not been confirmed in scientific studies, but we suspect that some people are especially susceptible to this effect. You might wish to try some other approaches to ease joint pain. You can find many at www.peoplespharmacy.com.

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.”

2009 King Features Syndicate Inc.