Q. My 37-year-old daughter has battled canker sores her entire life. It’s not unusual for her to have more than 10 at a time. She’s tried a lot of different treatments over the years with little success.
Recently she had a baby and did not have one sore the entire pregnancy. Six weeks after delivering, the sores came back in full force. Her doctor prescribed oral corticosteroid, which cleared her mouth sores up temporarily. They returned as soon as the steroids wore off. Incidentally, she is a nurse but she has yet to find any help. She’s willing to try a home remedy if you can suggest one.
A. The medical term for canker sores is aphthous ulcers. Doctors don’t know what causes them or why some people are especially susceptible. They can show up after you’ve bitten your cheek or for no apparent reason. A bad case can make it hard for a person to eat or talk.
If there is no underlying medical problem, sauerkraut juice is a home remedy worth considering. A tablespoon of juice gets swished around the mouth a few times a day and then swallowed. One doctor who, like your daughter, suffered recurrent severe canker sores was skeptical when we suggested this, but found it worked extremely well. He was so pleased he and his chemist son are doing some research on its ingredients.
If sauerkraut juice is too weird or unpalatable, there are a few other options. Some readers recommend a pinch of alum on the sore; others prefer tannin or instant iced tea. L-lysine and acidophilus supplements from the health food store also have their supporters.
Q. I have been eating two or three pounds of carrots a week for a few months. My skin is turning orange, and it is more noticeable on my palms and the soles of my feet. Does beta-carotene affect this coloration? Would my body flush this substance out of my system if I quit eating carrots now?
A. People who eat a lot of carrots or drink carrot juice regularly may notice their skin developing an orange tinge from the beta-carotene. As far as we know, this is not dangerous. The color should disappear gradually as you cut back on carrot consumption.
Q. Recently, after my first pedicure ever, I got fungus on both big toenails. Is there a good home remedy to try?
A. There are lots of home remedies, including dilute vinegar soaks, tea tree oil and vitamin E used topically. The most popular, however is Vicks VapoRub.
One reader reported, “I decided to try Vicks on my two big toes, which were so ugly and discolored I wouldn’t even wear sandals. What wonderful results! My right toe has almost completely cleared up and my left (which was worse) is clearing up also.
“My mother rubbed Vicks on my chest when I had colds as a child, but I never heard of any other benefits. Has anyone ever written a pamphlet on the ‘cures’ of Vicks Vaporub? I’d certainly like one.”
We wrote a pamphlet on Unique Uses for Vicks and collected home remedies for fungus in our Guide to Nail Care. Anyone who would like copies, please send $3 in check or money order with a long (no. 10) stamped (60 cents), self-addressed envelope: Graedons’ People’s Pharmacy, No. HV-376, P. O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027.
Not everyone with nail fungus benefits from Vicks. But even expensive prescription anti-fungal drugs don’t work in every case
