Coconut oil for vaginal dryness

Q. I’m a newlywed, and I have severe vaginal dryness all the time.

Everything there is so dry that it itches constantly, and it really hurts when my husband tries to touch me to “get things started.”

I tried using a moisturizer (Cetaphil), and it helps temporarily, but the relief is short-lived.

Could extra-virgin olive oil help me?

A. First, check with your gynecologist to make sure there is no infection causing the symptoms.

Oil may be helpful, but only if you and your husband are not using latex-barrier contraceptives. If you are, look for a water-based lubricant that would not destroy latex.

Olive oil is not the only option.

We heard recently from a reader in Great Britain: “My girlfriend and I have used pharmaceutical-grade coconut oil as a sexual lubricant for five years. It is inexpensive, pure, tasteless, odorless and glides beautifully. It also has fantastic antibacterial properties that discourage yeast infections and soothe delicate skin.”

For more details and a variety of other approaches to ease vaginal dryness, we are sending you our Guide to Menopause. 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 website: www.peoplespharmacy.com.

Q. I have diabetes and high blood pressure. My blood sugar is under control with insulin, and I am on Diovan for the blood pressure.

In the past few years, I have suffered with numbness and pain in my ankles, feet and toes. It had gotten so bad that I had to stop my half-hour daily walks.

Many years ago, I read that cayenne would improve circulation. I started with a low dose and worked my way up to a higher dose with no problems, but didn’t see any benefit.

I stopped taking cayenne about four years ago.

Last week, I started taking it again. I take six capsules a day. In just a few days, I noticed that the numbness and pain in my feet had greatly subsided. After a week, the discomfort in my ankles, feet and toes was nearly gone. I walked for 30 minutes today for the first time in a very long while without pain.

Cayenne must indeed have a powerful effect on circulation. Has anyone else had such an experience with cayenne?

A. The chemical in chili peppers that creates the hotness is called capsaicin. It has been used in topical arthritis rubs for decades. There also are creams and patches (Qutenza, Zostrix, etc.) containing capsaicin for shingles pain and diabetic neuropathy.

Some readers tell us that taking cayenne in juice helps ease their arthritis pain.

This is the first time we’ve heard of taking it orally for neuropathy.

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

2010 King Features Syndicate Inc.