South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
Cilantro may offer relief for those dealing with psoriasis
Q: I have a bad case of psoriasis all over my legs, plus a little on my scalp and buttocks. When I read about cilantro for psoriasis on your website, I started eating lots of it. At this point, I’ve seen great improvement. I would say that I’m 70% healed. If it keeps on working, I am willing to eat cilantro until my skin is clear. I was feeling depressed because medicines weren’t working. A: Several years ago, we heard from a reader about this remedy for psoriasis. Here’s his method: “I have been using this as needed for more than 10 years. When I first notice small red patches, usually on my legs, I get two bunches of cilantro leaves and eat them over the next three days or so. The red spots go away.”
Unfortunately, we could find no clinical trials of cilantro against psoriasis back then. We still can’t, although it does seem to reduce inflammation (Inflammopharmacology, August 2022). There are people who can’t stand the taste of cilantro, but for those who tolerate or like it, this remedy might be worth trying.
Q: My husband takes several prescription medicines. He also has Type 2 diabetes.
Our pharmacist called and suggested he take a cholesterol-lowering medication to help prevent heart problems. She even offered to call his primary care physician to speak about it. He told her he had been on statins previously but discontinued them several years ago because of side effects. That ended the conversation. Are you familiar with this type of phone call? It left me wondering if she were a conscientious pharmacist or an employee marketing drugs. I’d appreciate your thoughts since this has never happened before.
A: Guidelines push physicians to prescribe statins to virtually every man over the age of 63. They are also supposed to prescribe statins to people with Type 2 diabetes, even though such drugs may raise blood sugar.
Health care organizations are encouraging pharmacists to contact patients directly (Pharmacy, February 2022). That might explain the call.
Q: I was prescribed amiodarone for intermittent self-limiting atrial fib after cardiac stent implantation. Within four months, I felt like the walking dead. Fortunately, the cardiac rehab nurse noticed my symptoms and called the cardiologist. She bawled him out, and I was off amiodarone that day.
When I later stopped by the pharmacy, I told the pharmacist I was off amiodarone. He said,“Your body is already thanking you.”Why don’t doctors warn you about potential side effects?
A: Perhaps the cardiologist worried that if he told you about amiodarone side effects, you would be reluctant to take it. A black box warning in the prescribing information says that only patients with life-threatening irregular heart rhythms should take amiodarone, because it causes serious toxicity for the lungs and the liver.
We have heard from many readers that the drug led to irreversible pulmonary fibrosis. Symptoms can include shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing up blood. In addition, amiodarone can interfere with normal thyroid function and damage nerves, leading to pain and visual problems. Paradoxically, this drug can sometimes make heart rhythm disturbances worse. We’re pleased that the nurse was looking out for your best interests.