People's Pharmacy

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Old-Fashioned Listerine Has New Uses

Posting Date: 10/31/2005

?I now keep a large bottle of Listerine on hand and each time I work in the garden, I slosh it on any exposed skin and then shower. If I forget, I start itching but I use it immediately. Even if I?m starting to break out, the rash clears up in a day or two instead of the usual three weeks.

?For $4.99 I have a year?s supply that works instantly versus the $80 (plus doctor?s visit), three weeks of constant itching, blisters and slow healing that I used to go through three or four times a summer.?

Readers praise Listerine for relieving a wide variety of other skin conditions. Some tell us that full-strength Listerine massaged into the scalp can ease itchy dandruff or even psoriasis.

The combination of thymol, eucalyptol, methyl salicylate and menthol in an alcohol base may have antifungal activity. That could explain why others report that original formula Listerine works against nail fungus, athlete?s foot, jock itch and ?trucker?s bottom? (whatever that is).

It?s hard to imagine how a product that has been around for so long continues to generate such loyalty and excitement. Even though the FDA has not given its blessing for these unusual uses, many people still find Listerine beneficial, despite the memorable aroma.

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Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist. Teresa Graedon holds a doctorate in medical anthropology and is a nutrition expert. Their syndicated radio show can be heard on public radio. 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.

2005 King Features Syndicate, Inc.