Athlete’s foot cure

Q. It’s been 10 years since I have had any athlete’s foot problem. I’ve always wondered why, especially since my husband gets severe athlete’s foot pretty frequently.

After reading your website, I think I have my answer. Ten years ago, I got my little Chihuahua Zena, and six years ago Zoey, another Chihuahua, joined us. They love licking my feet, and I find it soothing.

Obviously, my husband has not shared in the relaxing experience of having two small dogs lick his feet. So being the wonderful wife and partner that I am, I can’t wait to show my loving husband this article.

I think this would work best as a preventive measure and not to cure a severe outbreak.

A. Nearly 20 years ago we received a letter from a reader about his uncle: “When my uncle came home in the evenings, he would remove his shoes and socks, and put his feet on a hassock while reading the paper. The dog always went to him immediately and licked his feet all over, especially between the toes. After about three months, he noticed that the athlete’s foot which had plagued him for most of his adult life had gone away!”

We warned readers not to allow dogs to lick skin with open wounds. That’s because dogs carry bacteria in their mouths that could cause infection. We also have been scolded by a vet tech who said that licking people’s feet could make the dog sick.

Because there are effective antifungal medications, we suggest you not rely on your pooch but rather on your pharmacy for effective athlete’s foot treatment.

Q. What’s the best way to introduce capsaicin to my diet? I chopped up a habanero pepper, and that was not a good idea at all!

I’m interested in the fact that it may help with blood pressure issues. I currently take lisinopril. Would cayenne pepper pills help?

A. You really started with the big gun! Habanero peppers are among the hottest available. We assume that the one you tried was just too hot to handle, either for your taste buds or your fingers, or both.

There is increasing research showing that capsaicin improves endothelial function, a fancy way of saying it increases blood vessel flexibility (Open Heart, June 17, 2015). That can lower blood pressure. In addition, its action on a transient receptor potential channel, TRPV1, reduces inflammation in the lining of the blood vessels (Atherosclerosis, May 2017).

If you enjoy the taste of hot chili peppers, you could add salsa or hot sauce to your meals. If you don’t, you might want to take cayenne pepper pills.

Q. I am going in for simultaneous knee replacements soon. I had to find something to stop my nighttime trips to the bathroom so I don’t fall.

Your idea of eating raisins seems to be working. I eat 10 in the morning and 10 at night, and I’ve slept better than I have in years.

A. We have heard from a surprising number of readers that eating raisins in the evening can reduce bathroom trips at night. We have no idea why this might work.

Some people report that beets also are helpful for reduce urination at night. That may be because compounds in beets help relax smooth muscle.

2017 King Features Syndicate Inc.