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Q. I’ve had IBS most of my life. When I lived overseas many years ago, a doctor prescribed peppermint oil capsules. They worked wonderfully and were available at pharmacies.

When I moved back to the United States, my doctor had never heard of peppermint oil. Back then, I couldn’t find it anywhere. I wish more U.S. doctors would recommend safe, natural and affordable products.

A. IBS stands for irritable bowel syndrome. Symptoms include stomachache, bloating, gas and either constipation or diarrhea. Both stress and certain foods may make symptoms worse.

Peppermint oil may alleviate abdominal cramps, and doctors in Europe sometimes prescribe it (Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift, October 2021). There are conflicting studies in the medical literature, however. Although a number conclude that enteric-coated peppermint oil is effective for abdominal discomfort, others indicate that it is no better than placebo (Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, March 2018; American Journal of Gastroenterology, Nov. 1, 2021).

Possible side effects include heartburn, nausea or stomachache. For the most part, however, enteric-coated peppermint oil capsules appear to be safe.

Q. I have arthritis, and my insurance would not pay for the prescription my doctor wrote. When I asked my pharmacist for a supplement to help my symptoms, he suggested glucosamine sulfate plus chondroitin sulfate plus MSM.

I took this twice a day for two weeks and then as my pain eased, I went to one a day. I couldn’t believe how well it helped my arthritic symptoms.

A. Thank you for sharing your experience. We have heard from other readers who have also found these dietary supplements to be helpful for joint pain. A small randomized, controlled trial showed that the combination of glucosamine-chondroitin with MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) was better than placebo or GC alone (Acta Medica Indonesiana, April 2017).

You can learn more about these supplements and other approaches to alleviating joint pain in our eGuide to Alternatives for Arthritis. This online resource can be found under the Health eGuides Tab at www.PeoplesPharmacy.com.

Q. Last year, my podiatrist told me that not all toenail infections are fungal in origin. Apparently, some toenail infections are bacterial instead.

For two weeks, I applied Neosporin + Pain Relief Ointment with a cotton swab to each infected toenail and the surrounding cuticle. After that, I reduced the application to weekly. It has been months now, and the disfiguring infection has disappeared and not returned.

A. For decades, we believed that most nail infections were caused by fungi (dermatophytes) such as Trichophyton rubrum or T. mentagrophytes. Other causes included Epidermophyton floccosum or the yeast Candida albicans.

More recently, however, dermatologists have learned that some nail infections may also have bacterial involvement (Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, March 1, 2021). Some readers have been reporting success with the antibiotics in Neosporin (neomycin, polymyxin B). Others tell us that Polysporin (bacitracin, polymyxin B) also works in some cases.

A dermatologist or podiatrist would need to identify the organisms causing a nail infection to recommend the most effective treatment.

Questions for Joe and Teresa Graedon can be emailed via their website: www.PeoplesPharmacy.com.

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In an alarming assessment, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told world leaders Tuesday that nations are “gridlocked in colossal global dysfunction” and aren’t ready or willing to tackle the major challenges that threaten the future of humanity and the fate of the planet. Speaking at the opening of the General Assembly’s annual top-level meeting, the U.N. chief pointed to the war in Ukraine, multiplying conflicts around the world, the climate emergency, the dire financial situation of developing countries, and recent reversals of progress on such U.N. goals as ending extreme poverty and providing quality education for all children.

Q. One of the drugs I need is very expensive. The pharmacist told me about a website that offered a coupon. When I did, my cost for a 90-day supply went from $500 to $30!

Adolescent biology, early morning classes and too much evening screen time are a few of the key drivers behind teen sleep deprivation.

There's an easy way to reduce your risk for dementia, heart disease and cancer: start walking. But where do you start? Find out how, and get more health news here.

New York City will lift its private-sector COVID-19 vaccine mandate on Nov. 1 but will continue to require city employees to be vaccinated against the virus. Mayor Eric Adams announced the relaxation of vaccine rules for private employers Tuesday. The city began requiring almost all private businesses to ban unvaccinated employees from the workplace in December 2021. The end of the mandate is another sign of the city’s gradual return to pre-pandemic norms after being devastated by the virus in 2020. Vaccination will still be required for municipal workers, including police officers, firefighters and teachers.

An influential health guidelines group says U.S. doctors should regularly screen adults for anxiety. It’s the first time the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has recommended anxiety screening in primary care for adults without symptoms. The report released Tuesday is open for public comment until Oct. 17. The group usually affirms its draft guidance. Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health complaints, affecting about 40% of U.S. women at some point in their lives and more than 1 in 4 men. The panel's guidance often determines insurance decisions.

President Biden’s suggestion the COVID-19 pandemic is over led to a backlash among some who say the comment is premature — and counterproductive.

Even if you're exhausted from pandemic-related vaccinations, it's still important to stay up to date on all of your shots.

President Bill Clinton says he is amazed by the massive response to the return of the Clinton Global Initiative. That's the meeting of international leaders from politics, business and philanthropy set to gather in New York for the first time since 2016. Interest in the two-day meeting – which convenes a broad spectrum of luminaries, was so large that the Clinton Foundation had to turn more than 1,000 potential attendees away. Clinton says there's a “longing” for people to get together and make good things happen. The initiative has helped people in more than 180 countries since it was established in 2005.

The White House is reaching out to local governments. It hosted officials from North Carolina on Thursday to highlight funding opportunities and hear firsthand how coronavirus relief, infrastructure dollars and other policies are faring in communities. A key message for the visit by North Carolina officials is the recovery in manufacturing. The event reflects new efforts to expand the use of the White House campus as pandemic restrictions have eased. But it’s also part of a larger effort to host municipal and county officials on a weekly basis from all 50 states. That outreach coincides with campaigning for November’s midterm elections as the White House tries to energize Democratic voters.

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