Smelly feet squelch sex life

Q. My wife has complained that I have very stinky feet. It’s putting her off sex and upsetting the children. What can I do?

A. Smelly feet often start out as sweaty feet. Then bacteria that live on skin get a foothold and create unpleasant odors.Strategies to dry out feet or discourage bacterial growth can be helpful. Tips we have received include using an antiperspirant on the feet, taking zinc or chlorophyll and using a foot powder containing fluffy tannic acid, talc and bentonite.Many readers recommend foot soaks of Epsom salts, baking soda or a strong tea solution. We are sending you our Guide to Solutions for Smelly Feet. Anyone else who would like this free guide will find it online at www.peoplespharmacy.com.

Q. I excitedly used the turmeric remedy you wrote about for my daughter’s warts. She has about 13 of them on her hands. She woke up yellow! The sheets are stained yellow, and so are her hands. Please tell readers this is a problem.

A. You are quite right that turmeric stains skin and clothing. The mother who wrote us earlier about using fresh turmeric on her daughter’s plantar wart cautioned: “I had her wear a sock to bed. Turmeric is neon-yellow and stains bedding.” We suggest that anyone who tries turmeric on warts cover the turmeric well with a secure bandage. Adding a sock or glove to the affected foot or hand is a good extra precaution.

Q. I am interested in trying a remedy you’ve written about for joint pain, Certo in juice. Must pectin be used only in grape or cherry juice? These drinks tend to be high in sugar, which I try to avoid. I can’t take artificial sweeteners.

A. We suspect that the anti-inflammatory compounds in grape or cherry juice may boost the effects of this remedy somewhat. Some readers have successfully used pomegranate juice. Unsweetened pomegranate juice is quite tart and very pricey.

We heard from another reader who found a different approach: “We can’t drink the fruit juice because of sugar problems, but have found the same relief by mixing a pouch of Certo along with two large boxes of sugar-free Jell-O and making a big bowl. We eat about half a cup of this Jell-O mix with our lunch each day, and it seems to work just fine for arthritis.” Sugar-free Jell-O contains artificial sweeteners, so it is not appropriate for you.

We encourage you to try mixing the Certo in a beverage you can drink and let us know if it works.

Q. You have written about using cornmeal for toenail fungus. According to Bob Webster, a South Texas gardening expert, the reason ground cornmeal works against fungus is because a fungus called Trichoderma grows on cornmeal. Trichoderma attacks and destroys other nonbeneficial fungi. Webster recommends covering the fungus-affected area with a cornmeal paste for one hour each day for seven to 10 days.

A. We’ve always wondered why cornmeal might fight nail fungus. There are more than 80 species of Trichoderma; the one used to control fungi that attack plants is T. harzianum.

2011 King Features Syndicate Inc.