Vitamin, Mineral & Herb Remedies
Dietary supplements can be surprisingly helpful for many common disorders. There is substantial science supporting the use of herbs, vitamins, minerals and other supplements.
Can Quercetin Control Your Allergy Symptoms?
Many allergy sufferers may be wishing they had a way to prevent the misery of sneezing and sniffling without relying on antihistamines or decongestants. One reader made a serendipitous discovery: quer…
Peppermint and Probiotics for IBS
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is common, affecting 7 to 16 percent of the population in the US (JAMA, March 2, 2021). This diagnosis often frustrates both patients and physicians. People experiencing…
Can You Prevent Alzheimer Disease with L-Lysine?
Intriguing research suggests that the dementia we call Alzheimer disease may sometimes be triggered by a common infection: herpes virus. Although the story is not yet complete, the brain's immune resp…
Will Precious Saffron Save Your Eyesight?
A diagnosis of a chronic condition that could lead to a severely diminished quality of life is terrifying. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) can result in a significant loss of vision. Consequent…
Is Cinnamon Toxic to the Liver?
How do you know when an herb, spice or supplement is safe? It makes sense to do some reading on anything you are planning to take before you begin swallowing it. Many people are taking cinnamon to con…
Probiotic Can Help Prevent C. Diff Due to Antibi…
Have you ever experienced a bad bout of diarrhea after finishing a course of antibiotics? This reaction is not uncommon. Now, researchers are beginning to recognize that often this problem is caused b…
How to Prevent and Stop the Itch of Mosquito Bit…
Some people are mosquito magnets. They attract mosquitoes like honey draws flies. A bunch of people can be sitting around the back yard enjoying themselves and not being bothered by mosquitoes. That 
Excess Vitamin Caused Neuropathy
Most people who take supplements expect that their health will improve as a result. However, we have heard from numerous people who have found, to their chagrin, that the supplement they take has actu…
Flip Flops on Fish Oil: Omega 3 Fats DO Have Hea…
Are you fed up with flip flops? The latest U-turn on dietary supplements has to do with omega 3 fats. There was a time when Americans were told that the golden footballs containing some kind of fish o…
Does Vitamin D Help Prevent Colorectal Cancer?
Colorectal cancer rates declined starting in the mid 1980s. That may have been due in part because of regular screening through colonoscopy. Lately, though, that trend has reversed, especially among y…
Will Yohimbine Offer Help Against ED or Is It To…
Even before there was a practice of medicine, people noticed the effects of herbs that they might consume. Did it cause diarrhea? Perhaps, they reasoned, it might be good as a purge. If the man consum…
Show 1425: How Can You Combine Supplements, Herb…
This week, two pharmacists describe why you should check with a pharmacist about possible problems when you combine supplements, herbs and medicines. In some cases, a supplement might interfere with y…
What Can Help You Stay Sharp as You Age?
Do you know how to stay healthy? Chances are you are aware that exercise and diet are keystones of good health throughout your life. You and your health care provider may also be paying attention to y…
Will Pumpkin Seed Oil Help Your Urinary Problem?
How often do you have to get up at night to visit the bathroom? Some people sleep through the night with no difficulty but others have their sleep disrupted because they need to urinate every few hour…
Will Rosemary and Turmeric Help Your Arthritis P…
People with arthritis pain face a difficult dilemma. Arthritis is a chronic condition, but the usual NSAID pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB) and naproxen (Aleve) should be used only …
Will Bromelain from Pineapple Ease Aching Joints…
What can you do for the aching joints of arthritis or the sore muscles and soft tissue of fibromyalgia? Many sufferers are caught in a difficult dilemma: without relief for the pain, they have trouble…
Could a Magnesium Supplement Conquer Your Leg Cr…
Nighttime leg cramps can be quite a challenge. They may well wake you with pain in the middle of the night, and easing the pain can take time. We have written about a number of home remedies that may …
A Hidden Risk: Could Excess Vitamin B6 Damage Ne…
Whether you utilize pharmaceutical medicines or look to natural remedies such as vitamins and minerals, you must make sure the treatment is not worse than the ailment. People who consult health care p…
New Guidelines on Flavanols Can Help Improve Hea…
For generations, children have been urged to eat their fruits and vegetables. Perhaps you were told the same thing. As an adult, you may have been advised to “follow a plant-rich diet.” Scientists…
Turmeric Raises the Risk for Severe Bleeding
We commend any effort to control health problems with nondrug approaches such as food choice, exercise, meditation, stress relief and so on. But we caution that it is critical to understand that even …
Should You Take Calcium Supplements for Leg Cram…
Many people complain that they are often awakened by severe nighttime leg cramps. They may have tender muscles in the morning as a consequence, but the biggest problem is the pain along with the sleep…
Should You Be Taking Vitamin Supplements?
Vitamins were among the most exciting discoveries of the early 20th century. Since then, however, doctors have been expressing a lot of skepticism about the value of taking vitamin supplements. A pron…
Vitamin C Strikes Back in Combatting the Common …
Modern medicine has been unkind to Dr. Linus Pauling. Even though he is the only scientist in the world to have received two unshared Nobel Prizes, a lot of nutritionists and medical experts have crit…
Zinc for the Common Cold
People have been searching for a cure for the common cold for centuries. To date, we have seen nothing that actually overcomes cold viruses the way antibiotics conquer bacteria. (By the way, antibioti…
Probiotics for Children with Eczema
Eczema is a chronic skin condition that causes inflammation and itching. It often starts quite early in life, so parents end up in a quandary: do they expose their babies to potent medications or do t…
Will Garlic Ward Off Colds?
As the days grow shorter and the weather colder, many of us are looking for ways to ward off colds. Some families have strong traditions that they have used to try to avoid sniffles and sneezes. Perha…
Do Turmeric Supplements Have a Downside?
The yellow spice turmeric is extremely popular both as a food ingredient and as a supplement. When it is used to flavor food like yellow mustard or curry, turmeric is considered safe. Some case report…
Should You Take Vitamin D Supplements for Strong…
Vitamin D is essential for strong bones. When young children don’t get enough vitamin D, they can develop a bone deformity called rickets. This nutrient acts as a hormone in the body. It is vital fo…
Where Can You Find Vitamin C in Food?
Are you getting your vitamins? Trying to stay healthy to avoid infection with COVID-19 is prompting some people to take a closer look at their diets. Do you need to make some changes to ensure you are…
Is There Anything to the Pycnogenol Hype?
Dietary supplements can go through fads. One year, there is a lot of enthusiasm for the supplement du jour. The next year, you hear nothing about it. Part of that is driven by the research–or lack t…
Will SAMe Combat Depression?
A dietary supplement called SAMe, also known as S-Adenosyl Methionine, may be helpful against resistant depression. SAMe is available without prescription and has long been used to relieve arthritis p…
Natural Approaches for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is common and challenging to treat. People who have IBS may feel incredibly frustrated because often doctors tell them there is no observable problem. All the same, they…
Turmeric and Curcumin for Arthritis
Turmeric and its most active ingredient curcumin have gotten plenty of attention for their anti-inflammatory properties. We have heard from readers that this yellow spice used in curry powder and must…
Will Krill Oil Reduce Your Risk of Heart Disease…
Could fish oil reduce your risk of heart disease? This question has been puzzling scientists for decades. Some studies have shown benefit, while others have been inconclusive (Circulation, April 11, 2…
High Doses of Vitamin B6 Could Cause Nerve Damag…
What happens when you take high doses of vitamin B6? A deficiency of this crucial nutrient has been linked to nerve damage, particularly nerve pain. But scientists are unsure if supplements help. More…
What Supplements Could Help Ease IBS Symptoms?
Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is a frustrating diagnosis. Doctors describe it as a "functional" GI disorder, meaning that they can't find any physiological reason for the patient's suffering. None…
How to Use Magnesium to Get to Sleep
Americans aren't getting enough sleep. Shift work, late night television and various health problems such as sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome can all contribute to inadequate rest. Sleep depriva…
Could Calcium Supplements Be Bad for You?
People who take calcium supplements are more likely to end up with calcium in their arteries. That is the conclusion from a study that took 10 years to complete (Journal of the American Heart Associat…
Are There Natural Ways to Reduce Allergy Symptom…
The CDC estimates that roughly 60 million Americans suffer with runny nose, sneezing and nasal congestion during the course of the year. For many of these, the culprit is seasonal allergens such as po…
Can You Overdose on Vitamin D?
Doctors generally assume that North Americans are so well nourished that they never need to worry about supplements. In fact, they sometimes fuss that people who take vitamin pills could overdose on …