Some ‘relaxing’ herbal tea blends can cause grogginess
Q: I had a recent experience with teas for relaxation and sleep. I received a gift of a package of herbal tea that contained some herbs that are supposed to be relaxing.
I had never seen any effect until I had a cup that I made stronger than usual. Fortunately, I was at home. After an hour or so, I felt groggy and could not maintain a normal conversation. You might include a warning that these natural products can sometimes be quite sedating. A: Thank you for reminding us that some herbal products, including tea blends, can be sedating. That means people should avoid driving or operating machinery after taking such supplements or drinking that type of tea.
Herbs that are often promoted for relaxation, stress relief or sleep include valerian root, passionflower, lemon balm and Ashwagandha.
Q: All through high school, I suffered from cold sores. This continued until I discovered L-lysine as a young adult. Since I started taking it daily, I’ve had no more cold sores. If I run out and miss a day or two, I get tingling and even a small cold sore. I immediately get my refill of L-lysine, and the cold sore goes away. I’m not aware of any ill effects from L-lysine. It has been a great help for cold sores. A:
Physicians often prescribe antiviral drugs such as acyclovir, valacyclovir or famciclovir. These drugs speed the healing of herpes infections, including cold sores.
Hundreds of readers report that taking L-lysine at the first tingle of a cold
sore can also be highly effective. Some people, like you, report that this supplement can also prevent an attack.
Q: More than a year ago, I had a rough case of COVID-19. Afterward, I noticed my thumbnails began to grow in oddly. They developed deep dips and raises across the nail, like waves in the sea. It’s been 14 months, and my nails are still half wavy, half normal. Was the cause COVID-19? A:
It certainly sounds like you have a case of COVID19 nails. Illness, especially with a fever or microvascular involvement, can result in horizontal ridges across the nails called Beau’s lines.
You are not the only person to have noticed such changes following COVID-19. Doctors have suggested that they may help serve as diagnostic clues (Skin Appendage Disorders, Aug. 17, 2021).
The good news is that your nails are already starting to grow out normally. Nails grow slowly, so you will have to be patient. Your COVID-19 nails should eventually disappear.
You may want to mention this the next time you see your health care provider.
Q: I’m not interested in taking a statin to lower my cholesterol. Someone said berberine could help but I don’t know much about this supplement. What is it and is it worth taking? A:
Berberine is a compound made by a number of plants, including Oregon grape holly (Berberis aquifolium) and barberry (Berberis vulgaris). Such plants have long been used in Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine.
A pilot study tested berberine supplements for three months (Minerva Gastroenterology, Oct. 19, 2023). They lowered total cholesterol and increased HDL cholesterol significantly. Triglycerides dropped and COQ10 levels were unchanged. Volunteers did not report side effects, but we don’t have data on long-term use.