Treating Narcolepsy Is TrickyPosting Date: 10/10/2005 Q. Are there any natural treatments for narcolepsy and cataplexy? A. Narcolepsy is a condition in which people fall asleep suddenly during waking hours. If they lose muscle control, it is called cataplexy. Some narcoleptics fall asleep and collapse while crossing the street. There are no natural remedies for this serious ailment, unless you consider gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB). This compound is made in very small quantities by the body. Doctors can now prescribe it by the name Xyrem. It helps control narcolepsy by fostering restorative sleep. GHB has been abused so access to Xyrem is tightly controlled. Q. I had nosebleeds from infancy to late puberty. An uncle of my mother gave her this trick. He served in the Army in WW I, so it goes way back. Take some brown paper (from a shopping bag), fold it into a double strip about an inch and a half long by one quarter inch and place it in the front of the mouth as far up as you can, so it applies pressure above the jaw bone and just under the nose. It will stop a torrent in a minute or so. It is quicker than cold keys on the back of the neck. A. We?ve heard of this remedy before but we cannot explain how it would work any more than we can explain how keys dropped down the back of the neck would stop a nosebleed. Another treatment is Nosebleeds QR (800-722-7559 or www.biolife.com). It contains hydrophilic polymer and potassium salt and is sold without a prescription in drugstores. Any nosebleed that continues requires medical attention. Q. In February, I had an endoscopic exam to stretch my esophagus. During that exam, my doctor found a duodenal ulcer. He determined that the Aleve I was taking every day for joint pain was responsible. I heard that turmeric was an anti-inflammatory and I started taking one capsule a day. It is helping as much as the Aleve. What can you tell me about turmeric? Related Stories |
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