I have battled toenail fungus off and on for the past 25 years. I have tried all sorts of OTC and prescription topical medicines, including Lamisil.
I decided to try two of the remedies I read about in your column. I applied hydrogen peroxide with a cotton ball to my toenails after I bathed daily. Then I applied Vicks VapoRub to my feet and toenails and put on socks to sleep in. Within a month, I had no more toenail fungus.
Toenail fungus can be tough to treat. Prescription medicines such as Lamisil are expensive and require medical monitoring for liver problems and other potential side effects. Success with home remedies like the ones you are using requires patience and persistence. Not everyone will benefit, but we are pleased that the remedies are working for you.
I would like some information about cherries for a friend who suffers from arthritis and gout.
A small study in the Journal of Nutrition (June 2003) suggested that sweet cherries could lower uric-acid levels that cause gout. The researchers also observed that "cherries may inhibit inflammatory pathways."
Readers have been telling us that sour cherries (fresh, dried, frozen, juice or CherryFlex pills) can ease gout attacks and arthritis pain. Here is one recent account:
"I tried the cherry juice after reading about it in your column. I now get out of bed without back pain (after less than a month). I have sciatica, along with other back issues, and arthritis in both knees. I can do stairs again.
"On top of that, I asked our vet if I could give it to our dog. He said yes, as the worst it would do is give her the runs, but to give her half a dose. I give her two cherry concentrate capsules a day, and she is now running again after only two weeks."
When I moved to Texas, I was told to keep meat tenderizer -- the kind with papaya extract in it -- on hand for bee stings, scorpions and fire ants. Add a little water to a scant handful of tenderizer and put the paste on the sting immediately. It works.
The papaya extract in meat tenderizer breaks down proteins, including the proteins in stings. It is a time-honored treatment for bee and wasp stings. Scorpion stings might be too serious for home remedies. If a child is stung, medical attention would be prudent.
My husband suffered with jock itch for a long time. He would use medicine to clear it up, but it always returned. Then he tried applying antiperspirant daily to the affected areas, and this solved the problem.
Jock itch is caused by fungus that thrives around moisture. The antiperspirant probably keeps his skin dry and discourages fungal growth.
I have read about combining something called Certo with grape juice for arthritis pain. I suffer something awful and have never heard of Certo. My pharmacist was no help.
Is it an herb, a home remedy, a drug or a plant? How does it work on arthritis? Also, how can Certo be purchased and where?
Certo is liquid plant pectin. Home canners use it to thicken jams and jellies. It can be found in most grocery stores in the canning-supplies department.
We have no idea why the combination of grape juice and Certo seems to be helpful for joint pain. There are various recipes for this remedy. One is to mix 1 tablespoon of Certo in 8 ounces of grape juice daily.
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: PeoplesPharmacy.com.