People's Pharmacy

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Colon Cleansing Can Be Overdone

Posting Date: 10/24/2005

Although guggul may interact with many prescription medications to make them less effective, Diovan would probably not be affected. Nevertheless, questionable effectiveness and the risk of a rash discourage us from recommending this herb for lowering cholesterol.

Q. I have read that tart cherry juice is good for gout and arthritis, but I hate the taste of sour cherries. What else can you recommend?

A. Another reader offered the following:

?I recommend CherryFlex, a low-carb pill that works well for arthritis and is much more convenient than drinking cherry juice.

?As a nurse I was skeptical when someone mentioned CherryFlex. Nevertheless, I tried it after the Vioxx disaster and have gotten good relief from arthritis.?

You can find CherryFlex Softgels in some groceries, health food stores or on the Web.

Q. I have taken first Zoloft then Paxil for mild depression. They caused a 20-pound weight gain. Is there anything for depression that doesn?t cause weight gain?

A. Wellbutrin (bupropion) may be less likely to cause weight gain than some other antidepressants. But if your depression is mild, you might also do well with counseling and some non-drug approaches.

Regular vigorous exercise can ease depression and has the advantage of improving fitness and weight control. An extract of St. John?s wort may help with mild to moderate depression and has not been linked to weight gain.

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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).

2005 King Features Syndicate, Inc.