Flaxseed helps psoriasis patient with fingernail issue
Q: I gave my husband 1,200 mg of flaxseed daily for his general health. Several months later we were very surprised to notice that his fingernails — which had been separated from their nail beds for over 25 years because of a psoriatic condition — had mended entirely. Is this a known remedy?
A: You may have stumbled onto something unique. We searched the medical literature and could find nothing linking flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) to the treatment of psoriasis.
There is evidence, though, that ground flaxseed or flaxseed oil has anti-inflammatory properties ( Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine, October 2017). One small study in the journal Skin Pharmacology and Physiology (online, Nov. 18, 2011) reported that supplementation with flaxseed oil led to decreases in skin sensitivity, roughness and scaling.
We won’t know whether flaxseed supplementation would translate into symptom improvements for people with psoriasis until a clinical trial is conducted.
Q: I am trying to find out how to purchase German Sambucha extra-strength cough medicine. It is the only thing that helped me when I was in Germany. I can’t find it anymore.
A: Your question threw us for a loop. We searched high and low for “Sambucha” and came up blank. There is something called sambuca. It is an Italian liqueur. It is sweet and tastes a lot like licorice. We’re pretty sure that is not what you are inquiring about.
Kombucha is a fermented tea beverage. It is made by using a yeast and bacteria culture. We doubt that is what you are seeking either.
We suspect you’re looking for the ingredient Sambucus nigra or Sambucus canadensis. These natural ingredients are known by the common name elderberry. There is evidence that elderberry extract has activity against viruses that cause both influenza and colds ( Journal of Functional Foods, March 2019; BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Feb. 25, 2011).
There are lots of sambucus (elderberry) products available in health-food stores, pharmacies and online. You can find capsules, syrups, gummies and lozenges. They may not mirror the German cough medicine you are seeking, but they may be helpful nevertheless.
Q: My husband read that celecoxib could reduce his number of nighttime trips to the bathroom. That has worked, but now he is complaining of stomach upset, and his blood pressure has inched up. He likes getting better sleep but not if celecoxib causes more problems. Do you have any safer suggestions?
A: There is scientific support that NSAIDs such as celecoxib (Celebrex) can help control hardto-treat nocturia (nighttime urination). In one small study, celecoxib reduced nighttime trips to the bathroom from 5.17 to 2.5 (Urology, October 2008).
NSAIDs such as celecoxib can increase the risk for indigestion, stomach pain, high blood pressure, heart failure, heart attacks and strokes. That makes such drugs inappropriate for a lot of people, especially when taken regularly.
Your husband may find that a handful of raisins before bedtime help with his nocturia. Many readers report improvement with this simple approach.
You can learn more about this and a beet-soup recipe for reducing nighttime urination in our eGuide to Favorite Home Remedies. It can be found in the Health Guide section at PeoplesPharmacy.com.