Listerine lauded as fungus fighter

Q. I have a Ph.D. in mycology [study of fungi] and probably picked up my toenail fungus on a research visit to the tropics. I heard a physician on one of your radio shows note that Listerine was used to eliminate the fungus.

Since I understand fungi pretty well, that made sense. I used a less-expensive Listerine equivalent and soaked my infected toe for 10 minutes once a day. I did this for only three weeks, but within a month my toenail gradually started to grow out healthy.

I have begun this procedure again for a different toenail that is more severely affected. I will probably try to do this daily for six weeks. I can’t believe my doctor wanted me to take a pill with dangerous side effects! I know he doesn’t understand fungi, and I do.

A. Old-fashioned amber Listerine contains alcohol and herbal oils that appear to have antifungal activity.

Others have reported success with this and other foot treatments (cornmeal, vinegar, peroxide, Vicks VapoRub and oregano oil) for fighting nail fungus.

We are sending you our Guide to Hair and Nail Care with details about these and other fungus fighters.

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.

Another reader wrote: “My doctor will not prescribe any pills for fungus. He says they’re too expensive, take too long and have bad side effects. Plus the fungus frequently comes back even with such medicine.

“The treatment that blew me away [and I don’t have a clue why it works, but it does] is the one using cornmeal in tepid water.”

Q. Acetaminophen is perceived as an extremely safe pain reliever for both children and adults.

More people should realize that this drug has numerous risks, including asthma and hearing loss. Even though the Food and Drug Administration knows about the problems with acetaminophen, it has not done enough to alert the public to the dangers.

Please warn your readers.

A. Although acetaminophen is an effective pain reliever that does not irritate the digestive tract, it does have some side effects. Too much can be toxic to the liver.

An analysis of nearly 20 studies involving more than 400,000 subjects concluded that regular use of acetaminophen does seem to be linked to a higher likelihood of asthma (Chest, November 2009).

A recent study in the American Journal of Medicine (March 2010) suggests that long-term use of acetaminophen is linked with hearing loss, especially in men under 50 years of age.

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. Their newest book is “Favorite Foods From The People’s Pharmacy: Mother Nature’s Medicine.”

2010 King Features Syndicate Inc.