People's Pharmacy

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Cinnamon-Ginger Drink Fights Heartburn

Posting Date: 02/28/2005

When my hair started thinning, that was the last straw. An endocrinologist diagnosed me as "borderline" hypothyroid and put me on Armour thyroid. I have more energy and my sex drive is improved. Will my other symptoms go away? How long will it take for my hair to grow back?

A. A sluggish thyroid gland can account for a wide range of symptoms, including hair loss, dry skin, fatigue, depression, high cholesterol levels and constipation. In a case reported in The Lancet (Feb. 5-11, 2005), hair growth recovered dramatically with six months of treatment for thyroid insufficiency. The patient?s blood pressure and cholesterol levels also dropped, with no treatment other than levothyroxine.

We are sending you our Guide to Thyroid Hormones so that you can understand the tests your doctor uses to monitor your condition and consider the pros and cons of Armour vs. Synthroid or Levoxyl. Anyone who would like a copy, please send $3 in check or money order with a long (no. 10) stamped (60 cents), self-addressed envelope: Graedons' People's Pharmacy, No. T-4, P. O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027.

Q. I?ve read that licorice can cause salt retention, excess potassium loss and elevated blood pressure. Is the Italian liqueur Anisette flavored by licorice?

A. Anisette may taste like licorice, but it is flavored with anise. There should be no licorice-like danger.

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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).