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Vicks Helps Relieve Persistent Cough

Posting Date: 05/09/2005

A. Canadian scientists found that a diet containing almonds can help reduce cholesterol (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, February 2005). The diet is also rich in soluble fiber (including oats, barley, psyllium and vegetables like okra and eggplant), cholesterol-lowering margarine and soy milk and meat substitutes.

People who stuck to this diet were able to get their cholesterol down by an average of 30 percent. So if you can handle almonds, this diet would be a good approach to lowering your cholesterol. People ate approximately an ounce of nuts daily.

Q. I have a Siberian Husky who loves to "play" with skunks. I have tried bathing her in tomato juice. This works, but it is very messy, and leaves the dog smelling of tomato, with a hint of skunk. My pooch has white fur that tends to stain an orange-pink color.

Here?s a remedy that works even better. Take 1/2 cup Goop (the degreaser mechanics use to clean their hands), 1/3 cup Dawn dish detergent and 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide. Work this mixture into the fur and let it sit a few minutes. Then rinse well. Repeat as needed. Be careful not to get it into your pet?s eyes!

Veterinarians have said that the degreaser is the key. It is the oil that holds the skunk?s smell.

A. Thanks for the tip. Some dog owners will be grateful.

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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).