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Q. I've suffered with restless leg syndrome for years. I finally found something that works and I can't sleep without it. My secret is Biofreeze, which you can get almost anywhere.
Each night, I put it on my wrists and ankles before getting into bed. With this, I sleep through the night. It has been a lifesaver for me, and I believe it could help lots of people.
A. Thanks for sharing your discovery. We were disappointed to find no studies on topical menthol (the active ingredient in Biofreeze products) for restless legs. We suspect it may be working through transient receptor potential (TRP) channels at the nerve-muscle junction.
Menthol activates TRPM8 channels, which also sense cold temperatures (Journal of the American Chemical Society, July 15, 2026). TRP channels act rapidly in circumstances ranging from leg cramps to heartburn and headaches.
Q. Last year, my internist wanted to put me on statins. I met with two different cardiologists who also wanted me on statins. I asked both if I could lower my cholesterol with diet. They, like my internist, said diet wouldn't work.
I asked the physician assistant if I would be able to get off the statin once I started. She replied that once you are on a statin, you are always on it.
I got the prescription filled. But before I took it, I googled it. The side effects worried me. I have prediabetes and the statin could make that worse.
A friend recommended her dietitian, and I followed the recommended meal plans. They included a lot of steel-cut oatmeal with flaxseeds.
I also switched my primary care physician. In about a month, my total cholesterol had gone from 236 to 185. My LDL went from 160 to 111. My triglycerides went from 152 to 109. I have lost 22 pounds. I believe it was the dietitian's meal plans that worked for me. Food is medicine!
A. Diet can make a difference for many people. Years ago, we heard from a reader who lowered her LDL cholesterol by 44 points in five weeks by changing her eating pattern to avoid spikes in blood sugar. To do that, she eliminated refined carbohydrates, ate a high-protein breakfast, added soluble fiber to most meals and focused on fish.
Readers can learn more about this approach and many other preventive strategies in our "eGuide to Cholesterol Control & Heart Health."
This online resource can be found under the Health eGuide tab at www.PeoplesPharmacy.com.
Q. I hadn't had a nosebleed in all my adult life until last year when I got two within four days. Then there were none for months, until suddenly I had six nosebleeds from the same nostril within two weeks. The doctor cauterized the bleed and scanned for tumors, and the whole story repeated three months later.
I came to the conclusion that maybe my daily intake of curcumin (15,800 milligrams of turmeric) could be contributing. I've stopped taking it, and so far, 10 weeks in, I haven't had another bleed. I hope that cutting out the curcumin has solved the problem.
A. We have heard from other readers that taking curcumin, an active component of turmeric, can predispose people to nosebleeds. Its anticoagulant potential has been confirmed scientifically (BMB Reports, April 2012). The dose of turmeric you report taking is far above the usual amount.
In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of King Features, 300 W. 57th Street, 41st Floor, New York, NY 10019, or email them via their website: www.PeoplesPharmacy.com. Their newest book is "Top Screwups Doctors Make and How to Avoid Them."