Old wives’ wisdom works for UTIs

Q. Do you have any information about remedies for urinary-tract infections (UTI) besides antibiotics? There are lots of herbal concoctions on the Web with lengthy testimonials by people who feel their recurrent UTIs have been cured. Do you know of any studies using herbs? What about cranberry juice?

A. A few studies on herbs to treat UTIs have been conducted in places as far-flung as China and Nigeria. Although some of this research is interesting, the traditional herbs that were tested are not likely to be available in this country.

Cranberry juice, on the other hand, is easily accessible. Drinking cranberry juice to prevent urinary-tract infections was once considered an old wives’ tale. But recent research supports this folk wisdom. Both a liquid concentrate and a standardized powder have shown effectiveness in preliminary research.

Q. I saw an article about a person taking a combination of cinnamon, alpha-lipoic acid and chromium picolinate in place of Avandia for controlling type 2 diabetes.

I have read that Avandia can increase the risk for heart attacks. Are there any safer drugs or natural options available for diabetes?

A. Avandia (rosiglitazone) has become one of the most controversial drugs at the Food and Drug Administration. The agency is considering halting a study of its safety because of mounting fears about complications such as heart attacks, heart failure and bone loss.

Although natural approaches such as supplements and spices may be helpful, diabetes requires medical supervision.

Q. I am confused about finding bedbugs with the technique you described. Do you put the cooler in its plastic dish directly on top of the mattress? Does it have to be at night? Should the jug be upright or lying on its side?

I was in Africa and have been itching since my return. I do have small welts and don’t know what they are, so I am anxious to find out if my bed is infested.

A. Despite the name bedbug, these insects are not limited to the bed and can travel around the room. That’s why the “detector” developed by Rutgers scientists and described in Science News can be set up in a corner of the bedroom on the floor.

Here’s the technique: Bedbugs locate people by sensing carbon dioxide, so to trick them you will offer them a source of carbon dioxide. Two pounds of dry ice in a one-third-gallon cooler with a flip-up spout will do that. With the spout slightly open, the gas leaks out slowly. Place the cooler in a plastic pet-food dish and tape a piece of paper to the outside of the dish as a gangplank for the bedbugs to climb. Dusting the dish with talcum powder makes it hard for them to get out. Within 12 hours, there should be bedbugs in the bowl if you have them in the room.

For more information, visit www.Peoples-Pharmacy.com.

2010 King Features Syndicate Inc.