Thursday, February 16, 2012
Q. I have had toenail fungus for many years and have tried all the remedies you’ve written about without success - until now. At the same time of day, for more than 21 days, I soaked my toes and feet in a 1:1 ratio of white vinegar and generic Listerine.
I have NO toenail fungus and maintain this status by using tea tree oil on my nails. I hope this formula might help others.
A. Getting rid of nail fungus often requires patience. It can take months for a toenail to grow out fungus-free. What works for one person may be totally ineffective for another.
We are delighted that you have had success with the vinegar-and-Listerine mixture. Many readers also report success with this approach. There are other testimonials about a variety of nail-fungus remedies at www.peoplespharmacy.com.
Q. For the record, one kiwi is a marvelous thing for me. A single kiwi reverses a mouth sore, and a couple will send it into oblivion! Thanks for offering that tip some time ago.
A. We first heard about the value of kiwi for canker sores in 1999: “I have suffered with mouth ulcers all my life. I have tried many home remedies, over-the-counter cures and a few prescriptions. Eating one kiwi cures my canker sores as fast as the prescription steroid cream, and the kiwi doesn’t come with warnings about the danger of putting it in your mouth.”
We still don’t know why kiwi can help mouth ulcers, but it is simple and safe enough to try.
Q. I have been a pharmacist since 1978 and began reading your column only because patients came in asking for peculiar products after reading your articles. Many times they would get the names wrong or would just ask “Do you have that stuff the Graedons mentioned in the paper?” So, I needed to read your weekly articles to assist my customers.
I must admit that I was very much the skeptic at first, due to my pharmacy education, which emphasized the typical drug-based, study-based approach. However, I have seen so many repeat testimonials from your readers that I became curious about many of the remedies.
I discovered that my skepticism was misplaced. I’ve tried many remedies on my children and myself, and have achieved positive results.
I now recommend your website when people come into the pharmacy. Keep up the good work, no matter how many feathers you ruffle!
A. Thank you so much for your open-minded approach to healing. Like you, we value double-blind, placebo-controlled trials and effective medications. But we also appreciate people’s experiences.
We are sending you a copy of our book from National Geographic, “The People’s Pharmacy Quick and Handy Home Remedies.” It is a collection of many of the most popular nondrug treatments for common ailments. Others will find it in libraries, bookstores and online at www.peoplespharmacy.com.
In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of this newspaper or email them via their Web site: www.PeoplesPharmacy.com.
2012 King Features Syndicate, Inc.