People's Pharmacy

For more up-to-date information on drugs, herbs and home remedies visit The People's Pharmacy Home Site at peoplespharmacy.us

Curry Powder Clears Skin Condition

Posting Date: 09/01/2003

We are sending you our Guides to Nail Care and Unique Uses for Vicks with many suggestions on treating fungus. 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.

Testimonials suggest that applying Vicks on and around the affected nails twice daily is best. It can take months for toenails to grow out, so be patient. This remedy does not work for everyone.

Q. Friends who go to Mexico each year tell me they take nopal capsules to lower cholesterol and sugar in the blood. (They have type-2 diabetes.) Apparently this herb is popular in Mexico. Do you have an opinion on nopales for these conditions?

A. We recently heard from a physician that one of his type-2 diabetic patients was able to get control of his blood sugar by drinking a tea made from nopal cactus in addition to his medicine.

Nopal is prickly pear (Opuntia) and has been studied in Mexico for its ability to lower blood glucose and cholesterol. Research in animals shows it can be effective, but a human study had to use high doses of nopal capsules to produce results.

No one should substitute nopal capsules for diabetes or cholesterol medicine. Diabetics must monitor blood sugar closely if they add any non-standard remedy to their regimen.

* * *

In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of this newspaper or e-mail them via their Web site: www.PeoplesPharmacy.org. Their newest book is The People's Pharmacy Guide to Home and Herbal Remedies (St. Martin's Press).