‘Yuck’ factor prevents use of treatment

Q. When one of our sons was 9 months old, almost 50 years ago, he had earaches. At the time, antibiotics were prescribed. Soon afterward, he developed diarrhea and became so dehydrated that he was hospitalized for IV fluid replacement. After several days, he was discharged, but within a week, the same thing occurred, and he was again hospitalized with IV fluids.

Our family doctor figured something odd was going on, so he checked into the literature about similar situations. He concluded that what had happened to our son was that his vital good flora — or “bugs,” as he called it — had been killed off by the antibiotic. We needed to replace those “bugs.” That was done. I recall the brownish liquid that was fed him by mouth. No one said what it was, just “good bugs.” He was cured within days.

After listening to your radio show, I am guessing that what he got is what you say is done in Europe, ingesting bugs recovered from healthy “poop.” I don’t think I will tell him what it was that made him well!

A. The “yuck” factor has kept this approach from becoming widely used in the U.S. Some antibiotics kill the bacteria that normally live in the gut and keep it healthy. As a result, hostile bacteria such as C. difficile can take over, leading to persistent and potentially life-threatening diarrhea.

A recent editorial on the treatment of C diff infections stated: “Probiotic therapy ranges from the aesthetically very acceptable but probably ineffective use of probiotic drinks and supplements to the less aesthetically acceptable but probably effective fecal transplantation” (New England Journal of Medicine, Jan. 21, 2010). Thanks for sharing your experience from half a century ago.

Q. What is a safe home remedy for severe night sweats and hot flashes? I am burning up and sleepless.

A. There are enough alternatives that you should be able to tailor something that will work for you. The first step is to keep your bedroom cool. Make sure you exercise regularly. Research shows that active women have less trouble with hot flashes. Herbal products such as Pycnogenol (pine bark extract), Remifemin (black cohosh extract) or St. John’s wort (hypericum extract) may be helpful (Menopause, February 2010).

We are sending you our Guide to Menopause, with a discussion of prescription products as well as numerous nondrug approaches for these symptoms. 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. W-50, P.O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027. It also can be downloaded for $2 from our Web site: www.peoplespharmacy.com.

Q. In a message on your site, the mother of a 14-year-old boy with chronic hives suggested vitamin C. I’ve been searching for a cure for hives, as they have been plaguing my husband for years now.

We can’t believe the results he has gotten within just a few days from this simple remedy. He takes 500 mg of vitamin C twice a day.

He used to get huge welts all over and scratch and itch terribly. I want to thank that mom for sharing her great information. If it weren’t for that, my husband would still be keeping me up at night and, worst of all, suffering needlessly.

A. We are always delighted when a remedy one reader has found useful also helps others.

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 Foods From The People’s Pharmacy: Mother Nature’s Medicine.”

2010 King Features Syndicate Inc.