Shea butter fights foot fungus

Q. I have used raw shea butter to deal with athlete’s foot and jock itch.

I originally started using raw shea butter to help with plaque psoriasis, which I’ve had for more than 39 years. It works to eliminate the plaque buildup and reduce skin redness. I also found that shea butter works on eczema and rosacea, which crop up most often in the winter months. It also helps promote the healing process for cuts and scratches I get doing yardwork.

A. Although we could find no clinical studies demonstrating antifungal effectiveness of shea butter, some microbiologists have conducted animal research showing that shea-butter extract is active against certain skin fungi (Science International, Vol. 25, No. 1, 2013). Both athlete’s foot and jock itch are caused by fungus on the skin.

Shea butter is derived from an African tree, Vitellaria paradoxa. Apparently it is used in many African countries for medicinal purposes. It is a popular moisturizing ingredient.

Q. I read your article about home remedies for leg cramps. I am 75 and suffered with severe leg cramps since I was a teenager until about eight years ago.

Then I read an article about using common household mustard to treat the problem. One night my feet were cramping so bad that they almost curled double, and I could not straighten them out. I struggled to get to the kitchen, where I consumed a teaspoonful of mustard. To my amazement, the cramps disappeared within two minutes.

This cure works every time I get cramps, sometimes within 30 seconds. Cramps usually strike at night after extreme sweating and physical exertion. Also, my feet cramp so badly in cold water that I cannot swim.

Mustard is my cure. I think I read that mustard contains turmeric and that might explain the benefit.

A. We are glad to hear that swallowing a teaspoon of yellow mustard eases your leg cramps so quickly. You are not the only reader to report this.

We, too, suspect that turmeric might be behind mustard’s power against cramps. Mustard also contains vinegar, and vinegar can alleviate these muscle spasms (Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, May 2010).

We have written about many home remedies for leg cramps, including the infamous soap in bed, in our Guide to Leg Pain. It can be downloaded for $2 from our website: www.peoplespharmacy.com.

Q. I am writing in response to your reader with the condition of granuloma annulare. After visiting numerous doctors and trying many treatments, I have found that taking two apple-cider vinegar tablets each day works to keep this rash at bay. The vinegar also keeps my skin soft, and the tablets are inexpensive.

A. Granuloma annulare (GA) is a round, reddish rash that most often occurs on the hands, legs or feet. It is not contagious, but it can look funky.

There may be an immune-system connection to GA, but doctors are uncertain as to the cause. They often prefer not to treat it, since it is considered a benign condition that eventually goes away on its own.

Some readers have found that applying vinegar topically can help calm the rash. You are the first to report that taking vinegar tablets orally also helps.

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