People's Pharmacy

For more up-to-date information on drugs, herbs and home remedies visit The People's Pharmacy Home Site at peoplespharmacy.us

Should You Smear Vitamin E On Scars?

Posting Date: 12/12/2005

Q. In an article on your Web site you suggest Bag Balm for dry, red hands. Would this work on rough, dry heels as well? Would it stain the sheets if you used it at bedtime?

A. Bag Balm was originally developed to protect cows? udders from chapping. It contains an antiseptic in a lanolin and petroleum jelly base. While Bag Balm might help rough, dry feet, it is quite greasy and is likely to stain sheets unless you wear socks to bed.

Udder Cream is another veterinary product that crossed over to the human market as a moisturizer. Udderly Smooth Foot Cream is a new product that is not greasy like Bag Balm. It was developed specifically for moisturizing feet.

Q. I am 52, going through menopause and getting good relief from black cohosh. I was distressed to read in your column that this herb could be toxic to the liver. How dangerous is it?

A. There are several reports of liver toxicity associated with black cohosh in the medical literature. We suspect this reaction is uncommon, however. A study of 300 women in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology (May, 2005) reported ?no serious adverse events? with black cohosh, including liver enzymes.

* * *

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.com. Their newest book is The People's Pharmacy Guide to Home and Herbal Remedies (St. Martin's Press).

2005 King Features Syndicate, Inc.