People's Pharmacy

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Cinnamon Lowers Cholesterol

Posting Date: 11/08/2004

Q. I have been amused to read about the use of Vicks VapoRub to fight toenail fungus. My elbows were very scaly and getting uncomfortable to lean on. Since scaly skin might be a sign of fungus and I had VapoRub on hand, I thought I'd try it.

It?s been two months and the elbows are about 85 percent better, but here is the really cool thing. I am an artist. Since I turned 50, my fingertips would split and bleed whenever I handled paper, worked in the garden or washed too often. It was almost impossible to put any kind of pressure on my fingers. I was wearing bandages on my fingertips and feeling debilitated.

Since treating my elbows for fungus, my hands have stopped splitting and bleeding. They had been so sore I had trouble doing any fine finger work. I conclude my fingers must also have had a fungal infection and the oils in the VapoRub have helped my skin stay whole.

A. We don?t know if fungus would cause your scaly elbows or cracked split fingertips. The volatile oils in Vicks VapoRub do seem to have some anti-fungal action. Vicks contains petrolatum, which is also an effective moisturizer.

We are sending you our Guides to Skin Care & Unique Uses for Vicks for other inexpensive ways to combat dry, cracked skin. Anyone who would like copies may send $2 and a long (#10) self-addressed, stamped (60 cents) envelope to: Graedon?s People?s Pharmacy, Dept. SVi-276, P. O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027.

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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).

2004 King Features Syndicate, Inc.