Q. I read your column on the effect that coconut macaroons might have on Crohn's disease. Having suffered with this dread disease for years, I bought four boxes of Archway cookies. Much to my shock, there has been dramatic improvement in my diarrhea in less than a week.
I am on prednisone, which has horrible side effects. My gastroenterologist pooh-poohed this new remedy, but the macaroons have given me far more relief than any medication I have taken.
It is still too early to tell if this improvement is a temporary blip on the radar screen, but it is the first optimism that I have had in years! Thank you so much.
A. The Archway Coconut Macaroon story is fascinating. Last year we heard from a reader who claimed that two cookies a day relieved his chronic diarrhea.
Others have tried it with mixed results. One woman said, "I ate the coconut cookies, but no luck." Another stated that they worked for a while, but then the diarrhea returned.
Crohn's disease is complicated and hard to treat. We would be surprised if something as simple as coconut cookies worked for everyone. On the other hand, they may be effective for less severe diarrhea. Good luck.
Q. What part of the coneflower is used to make echinacea? I'd like to grow my own organic coneflowers and use the plant as a supplement, but I don't know which part of the plant contains the disease-fighting substance that I want. Do you know?
A. The stems and leaves of Echinacea angustifolia, gathered while the plant is in flower, contain the compounds you are interested in. You might like to know that in Germany, one popular echinacea product not available here is fresh-squeezed juice.
You will not know the potency of your home-grown herb, so it may be hard to figure out the right dose.
Q. My PSA test went from 2.5, where it had been stable for years, to 6.5 a few months ago. I started taking creatine, melatonin and DHEA not long before the test. Would any of those products promote prostate cancer?
A. DHEA worries us because it is a precursor for testosterone. This male hormone acts like fertilizer for prostate cancer. Please talk this over with your doctor.
Write to the Graedons in care of The Sun, 501 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, Md. 21278, or e-mail to pharmacy@mindspring .com.
King Features Syndicate
Pub Date: 03/14/99