Lavender and tea tree oil disrupt male hormones

Q. I’m wondering if men should be using lavender. Many articles I’ve read state that lavender is a male hormone disruptor.

A. Lavender and tea tree oil were investigated as hormone disruptors when doctors noticed breast development in three little boys who had been using soap, shampoo, styling gel or lotion that contained lavender and, in one case, tea tree oil (New England Journal of Medicine, Feb. 1, 2007).

An investigation of hormone activity found that both lavender and tea tree oil activate estrogen receptors much as estradiol does (Hormones, July-September 2010). In addition, both oils block male hormones, suggesting that you are right: It probably makes sense for men to be cautious about utilizing products containing lavender or tea tree oil.

Q. I would like to tell others what has helped me. My doctor told me I am riddled with osteoarthritis. He didn’t have a magic bullet for me, but suggested I might try massage.

I have been getting a full-body massage every two weeks since and have thrown away all the pain pills, narcotics included, plus the pain patches. It has been such a relief!

A. The medications that are prescribed for osteoarthritis leave a lot to be desired. NSAIDs can be hard on the stomach and the cardiovascular system. Narcotics have a whole set of other disadvantages.

Nondrug approaches such as massage, water therapies and supervised exercise can be helpful in maintaining joint function and reducing pain. Thanks for sharing your success. Each person will need to find the approach that works best.

Q. I’m confused about cinnamon. I thought it was supposed to be good for you, but you recently wrote that it could be bad. What kind of cinnamon is good, and what is it good for?

A. The initial research on the effects of cinnamon demonstrated that common (cassia) cinnamon could reduce blood sugar, triglycerides and cholesterol (Diabetes Care, December 2003).

Because cassia cinnamon, also called Chinese cinnamon, sometimes contains a natural compound, coumarin, that can damage the liver, we have warned people to use a water-based extract by taking capsules or adding cinnamon to coffee grounds in a filter. Coumarin is not water-soluble, while the active compounds are.

It was not clear whether Ceylon cinnamon would have any effect on blood sugar. A recent study shows, however, that an extract of Ceylon cinnamon (which is free of coumarin) can prevent blood-sugar spikes after a meal (BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Sept. 23, 2014). The authors conclude that this could “help to reduce the risks of developing metabolic disorders.”

Q. You two provide so much wonderful information. I’ll read something you’ve written and I really intend to cut it out of the paper, but before I do it gets lost or I get my mind on something else, and I lose the information.

I’d like to know if you all have put this material in book form. If you haven’t written a book, please do.

A. Thank you for your kind words. We have actually written 19 books in the past 40 years. One that you may find especially relevant is called “The People’s Pharmacy Quick and Handy Home Remedies” (National Geographic). You can find it at www.PeoplesPharmacy.com.

2015 King Features Syndicate Inc.