Good grease: Castor oil can treat toenail fungus
Q: Rather than a question, I offer a note about toenail fungus treatment. I have treated my toenails with Listerine for a few years, but saw only slight improvement. A couple of months ago, I started applying castor oil to my toenails after showering. The improvement was clear within a few days.
I continue to apply castor oil to my toenails once or twice a week. My toes and feet haven’t looked so good in years. I hope this helps someone else.
A:
We could find no scientific research to support the use of castor oil (Ricinus communis) against nail fungus. The leaves of this plant, however, have been shown to possess both antibacterial and antifungal activity (BMC Research Notes, Dec. 1, 2017).
Castor oil is greasy. Applying this oil to the toenails could be messy. Be careful not to slip.
There are many other home remedies for nail fungus that readers may find helpful, including Listerine and white vinegar soaks, topical hydrogen peroxide, cornmeal, tea tree oil and white iodine. To learn more about these and other nail fungus treatments, you may want to read our book “Quick & Handy Home Remedies.” It is available at your local library or at peoplespharmacy.com.
Q: After using an OTC lice treatment, I still saw live bugs in my daughter’s hair. Ugh! I went looking for other options.
I found Dr. Dale Pearlman’s article on a way to suffocate lice. He has a website with complete instructions on the “Nuvo Method.” This tells exactly how to use Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser. Timing is important, and three treatments at oneweek intervals are required. The site can be accessed at nuvoforheadlice.com.
I wish I had found this method right away. I have shared it with numerous friends!
A:
Dermatologist Dale Pearlman conducted two open trials on this approach (not randomized, placebo-controlled or double-blind). He published the results demonstrating a 96 percent cure rate in Pediatrics (September 2004).
He recommends soaking the hair with Cetaphil and then using a blow-dryer to “shrinkwrap” the lice. The dried cleanser is left on the hair and scalp for at least eight hours.
Many over-the-counter lice products have lost their effectiveness. Researchers have noted that lice have developed resistance to ingredients such as permethrin (Clinical Microbiology and Infection, April 2012).
We also have heard from many readers that soaking the hair in amber Listerine can kill live lice. This treatment requires nit combing to be effective, however. Like the Cetaphil approach, it will require regular retreatment until all lice are eliminated.
Q: I use almonds to stop heartburn. After years of being on Prilosec and thinking there was no way off it, I took the plunge and stopped. I keep almonds with me wherever I go.
At home I also drink aloe vera juice and take licorice root pills (DGL). Every once in a while, I have to take a Zantac, but not often.
A:
Scientists writing in the World Journal of Gastroenterology (March 14, 2011) characterize almonds as a traditional heartburn remedy in Israel. We haven’t seen any studies on whether eating a few almonds actually helps heartburn, but scores of readers attest that it does. An extract of licorice has been shown to ease indigestion (Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Volume 2012). DGL is a safer version of licorice because the glycyrrhizin that can raise blood pressure has been removed.
Q: It seems to me that sunscreens may prevent burning, but I’m not sure they prevent skin cancer. The incidence of all types of skin cancer has increased since sunscreens were introduced.
I also worry that people who shun the sun completely may be missing out on vitamin D. I’ve read that this vitamin helps keep cancers (even skin cancers) from developing. Can you help with this puzzle?
A:
Consistent sunscreen use is a pillar of public health campaigns for preventing skin cancer. However, the evidence upon which this recommendation is based is surprisingly skimpy (Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, July 25, 2016). Although highly effective sunscreens have been available for decades, skin cancer rates have been rising.
A meta-analysis of 29 studies showed no significant association between skin cancer and sunscreen use (European Journal of Dermatology, April 1, 2018). As the authors write: “While the current evidence suggests no increased risk of skin cancer related to sunscreen use, this systematic review does not confirm the expected protective benefits of sunscreen against skin cancer in the general population.”
That isn’t the way it is supposed to work. We would have expected a significant inverse association — the more sunscreen used, the less skin cancer. It still makes sense to protect yourself from sunburn, which is painful as well as dangerous.