The People's Pharmacy®

Q. I've been using a Grecian Formula for my graying hair for years. It has lead acetate in it. I checked the FDA website. They say they tested it and approved it. The lead has me a bit concerned. Any... (Read More)

Early vitamin research identified vitamin D as the way to treat rickets, or malformed bones. More recent research confirms that vitamin D is indeed essential for strong healthy bones. But its effects go far beyond bone. Inadequate vitamin D has... (Read More)

When smart consumers want to buy a new car, a refrigerator or a computer, they often turn to an objective source such as Consumer Reports. They get ratings of various products and recommendations about the "best buy" for the money.... (Read More)

Q. My husband has had a setback in his Alzheimer's disease due to stress about my upcoming heart surgery. Recently, for the very first time, he ate Rainier cherries. The entire next day I was once again with the man... (Read More)

Q. As a Registered Nurse, I am often skeptical of herbs and home remedies. When I had a baby, I wanted to breastfeed, but I had a lot of problems with breast engorgement initially. My breasts were so swollen and... (Read More)

Q. You recently wrote about sugar for wound healing. I have been in veterinary medicine for 15 years. Several years ago we had a case of a dog that had been attacked by another dog. After initial surgery to repair... (Read More)

Q. I loved the recipe for persimmon tea to treat heartburn symptoms. I really like the idea of using food to take care of my ailments, and I've gotten good suggestions from your column. I sometimes clip them, but they... (Read More)

Americans have grown accustomed to hearing about acupuncture and herbs such as ginkgo from traditional Chinese medicine. But most have never heard of another ancient healing tradition, Ayurveda. Ayurvedic medicine comes from India, where its history stretches back thousands of... (Read More)

Imagine pain every time you pee. Then imagine having to go every 15 to 20 minutes. That's what it can be like to have IC, also known as interstitial cystitis. Although symptoms are similar to a urinary tract infection, IC... (Read More)

Q. I had a good laugh at the idea of putting soap under the sheet. Five weeks later, I am not laughing anymore. I have been on Requip for more than four years to treat restless legs syndrome (RLS). If... (Read More)

Q. What can you tell me about the pain reliever salsalate? My doctor says that it will not only help ease my arthritis pain but might help control my blood sugar. Diet has not controlled my borderline diabetes. A. Salsalate... (Read More)

We are pleased to announce our brand new book, Favorite Foods. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, gave this advice, "Let food be your medicine." Thousands of years later, it is truer than ever. Learn how foods can enhance your... (Read More)

Q. I've suffered from vaginal dryness for several years and found a great help by accident. I started taking omega-3 and vitamin E capsules every morning to help with my dry skin. Three weeks into this regimen, I noticed that... (Read More)

Q. I took bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) to handle my horrible hot flashes. After taking it for three months, I started having pains in my breasts. A mammogram did not show any problems, but the recommendation was made that... (Read More)

When an official with the American Cancer Society suggested recently that we expect too much from some screening tests, such as those for breast or prostate cancer, he got a lot of pushback. We get more insight on the utility... (Read More)