By: Terry Graedon November 21, 2024 9 Comments
    Show 1409: From Hippocrates to Hypocrisy: The Hi…

    This Saturday morning, November 23, 2024, an expert from Australia helps us examine the hidden risks of healthcare. Healthcare providers have the best of intentions, but they simply cannot truly uphol…

    By: Joe Graedon November 13, 2024 81 Comments
    Busting Myths and Offering Unique Leg Cramp Reme…

    Have you suffered from muscle cramps after exercise or overnight? Many readers have shared unusual leg cramp remedies over the years. We recently came across a study supporting the use of a supplement…

    By: Joe Graedon August 26, 2024 22 Comments
    Can CoQ10 Prevent Statin-Associated Muscle Sympt…

    Did you know that doctors have a name for statin-associated muscle symptoms? It’s called SAMS. You would be surprised how much controversy exists around this adverse reaction. Many clinical trials s…

    By: Terry Graedon May 27, 2024 28 Comments
    Can Tonic Water Banish Your Muscle Cramp Pain?

    What do you do for muscle cramp pain? Some people use massage, and others swallow a spoonful of yellow mustard. Even though pharmacies are busting at the seams with medications, there is not one singl…

    By: Terry Graedon February 22, 2024 8 Comments
    Show 1375: The Science Supporting Home Remedies

    This week, Joe and Terry Graedon entertain your questions and stories about home remedies. What do you do for leg cramps or heartburn? Call in your favorites at 888-472-3366 between 7 and 8 am EST, or…

    By: Joe Graedon February 4, 2024 31 Comments
    How Safe Are Topical NSAIDs Like Voltaren Gel?

    When the FDA allowed drug companies to sell NSAIDs over the counter we were concerned. That's because drugs like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, etc) and naproxen (Aleve) came with some pretty serious si…

    By: Joe Graedon October 9, 2023 267 Comments
    Can Statins Cause Debilitating Muscle Pain?

    At our last review, statins remain among the most prescribed drugs in the United States. Atorvastatin (Lipitor) was big # 1. Over 26 million people take this drug daily. More than 114 million prescrip…

    By: Joe Graedon June 26, 2023 56 Comments
    Statin Smackdown Challenged by Angry Cardiologis…

    We have been writing about statin-type cholesterol-lowering drugs for 36 years. Even before the FDA approved lovastatin (Mevacor) on September 1, 1987, we wrote that the drug “demonstrated almost un…

    By: Joe Graedon March 27, 2023 163 Comments
    Statin Side Effects Are All In Your Head! Really…

    Statin enthusiasts are committed to convincing patients that these cholesterol-lowering drugs do not cause side effects. The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) published statin guid…

    By: Terry Graedon December 8, 2022 16 Comments
    Show 1298: The Health Benefits of Tart Cherries …

    In our nationally syndicated radio show this week, we talk with two scientists who have been studying how eating cherries affects our physiology. Both are experts in sports medicine who have done some…

    By: Joe Graedon May 30, 2022 101 Comments
    Unexpected Benefits and Risks of the Moderna Vac…

    When most people think of COVID vaccines, all they are interested in is how well they will protect them from being hospitalized with COVID-19. After all, that is why these shots were invented. We now …

    By: Joe Graedon May 16, 2022 56 Comments
    Is Magnesium a Miracle Mineral?

    The body needs minerals to function. Without adequate levels of sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium we would perish. Doctors often encourage patients to cut back on sodium and increase calcium. P…

    By: Joe Graedon March 14, 2022 50 Comments
    Doctors and Patients Confused About Statins and …

    Tens of millions of people take statins such as atorvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin and simvastatin. Most physicians acknowledge that they have patients who complain about muscle pain …

    By: Terry Graedon January 17, 2022 8 Comments
    Will a Big Dose of Vitamin D Give You Leg Cramps…

    What have you heard about vitamin D? Maybe you recognize this compound by its popular nickname, the "sunshine vitamin." It is called that because human skin makes this hormone when it is exposed to su…

    By: Terry Graedon November 15, 2021 13 Comments
    Will CBD for Pain Make You Fail the Marijuana Te…

    One lesson learned from the terrible opioid crisis of the past few years: a lot of Americans are in a lot of pain. With doctors increasingly reluctant to prescribe narcotics for pain relief, people ar…

    By: Terry Graedon October 1, 2020 3 Comments
    Can COVID-19 Symptoms Last for Weeks?

    After a recovery, how long do COVID-19 symptoms last? Although we are now about ten months into this pandemic, we simply don't have enough information to answer that question definitively. Researchers…

    By: Joe Graedon December 16, 2019 17 Comments
    Statins Can Cause Myositis: A Serious Statin Sid…

    Here's a question for you. What is the difference between myopathy, myalgia and myositis? We're not surprised that you don't have an easy answer. We bet a lot of health professionals would have troubl…

    By: Terry Graedon October 28, 2019 1 Comments
    Could Pomegranate Juice React Badly with Crestor…

    Do you know which foods might react badly with your medications? You might not, especially if your pharmacist didn't give you specific information. When you look online, you can find conflicting infor…

    By: Terry Graedon October 14, 2019 12 Comments
    How Liquid Soap Gives Quick Relief from Leg Spas…

    If you have ever had leg cramps, you know that these muscle spasms can be extremely painful. There is no standard medical treatment for this problem, partly because the cause is not well understood (E…

    By: Joe Graedon October 7, 2019 1 Comments
    Simvastatin and Muscle Pain: Beware Rhabdomyolys…

    No one argues that statin-type cholesterol-lowering drugs like atorvastatin, simvastatin or rosuvastatin can cause muscle pain (myalgia). What is controversial, though, is how common this complication…

    By: Joe Graedon August 2, 2018 58 Comments
    Do Statins Cause Myositis? A Devastating Muscle …

    For years we have been receiving tragic stories from readers of our syndicated newspaper column and visitors to our website. They reported a debilitating myositis muscle condition after taking statins…

    By: Joe Graedon January 11, 2018 1 Comments
    Do Ibuprofen Side Effects Include Hormone Imbala…

    Pain relievers like ibuprofen are “the most commonly used over-the-counter drugs worldwide (Nature Reviews Endocrinology, July, 2016). People assume that if the FDA permits OTC sale, such products m…

    By: Joe Graedon October 16, 2017 7 Comments
    Olive Juice Cures Muscle Cramps like Magic

    We have written extensively about muscle cramps over the years. Physicians have no FDA-approved drugs for this problem. As a result, people have searched high and low for home remedies. They have rang…

    By: Joe Graedon March 13, 2017 24 Comments
    Do Statin Side Effects Make It Harder To Exercis…

    Regular exercise is considered essential for good health. The benefits include weight control, diabetes prevention, blood sugar management, blood lipid control, improved mood, better sleep and a reduc…

    By: Joe Graedon January 23, 2017 24 Comments
    Do Simvastatin Side Effects Include Diabetes and…

    Many physicians tell us that even if statins increase the risk for diabetes, the drug benefits far outweigh any increase in blood glucose. But diabetes is a challenging condition to treat. Then there …

    By: Terry Graedon June 30, 2016 3 Comments
    How to Fight Sore Muscles with Powdered Cherries

    In previous studies, tart cherries or Montmorency cherry juice improved performance and helped marathon runners recover faster (Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, online May 11…

    By: Terry Graedon February 17, 2014 34 Comments
    How Long Do Drug Side Effects Last? For Some, Pe…

    When most physicians prescribe medications, they may not realize they could be in danger of violating the Hippocratic principle to first do no harm. That's because virtually every drug has the potenti…

    By: Terry Graedon December 30, 2013 33 Comments
    Does Your Turmeric Supplement Fall Short? Many D…

    Q. I heard somewhere that turmeric is an anti-inflammatory agent. I cannot find a reference for the dosage. I am wondering which turmeric to try. I am a 52-year-old female runner with a persistently s…

    By: Terry Graedon August 26, 2013 61 Comments
    Severe Muscle Weakness Improves After Stopping S…

    Q. I am 44 years old and took simvastatin for five years. I was very active and full of energy before taking simvastatin. Gradually, I lost strength in my body, especially in my left leg. I could hard…

    By: Terry Graedon August 22, 2013 4 Comments
    Ice Bath No Benefit for Sore Muscles

    Athletes have long been advised to ice their sore muscles and joints after a strenuous workout. A new study from the University of New Hampshire suggests that such a regimen may not be all that effect…

    By: Terry Graedon March 8, 2012 3 Comments
    Cocoa Boosts Muscle Mitochondria

    A clinical trial at the University of California, San Diego, revealed a new benefit of dark chocolate. Five people with type 2 diabetes and advanced heart failure had the mitochondria in their muscles…

    By: Terry Graedon February 9, 2012 9 Comments
    Massage Reduces Muscle Inflammation

    Athletes appreciate the relaxation provided by a good massage. A study from McMaster University in Canada has demonstrated that people suffering with chronic inflammation can also benefit greatly. A 1…

    By: Terry Graedon August 19, 2007 31 Comments
    Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs and Muscle Pain

    Q. I have read about how people experience muscle pain with Zetia and statin-type cholesterol drugs. That happened to me as well. My doctor prescribed TriCor instead and it has lowered my cholesterol …