Q. I have a comment regarding the lady whose sex drive doesn't match her husband's. Perhaps a better balance in household duties would create a better balance in their sex drives. She is exhausted from working all week and doing all the cooking, cleaning, and child care on the weekends. No wonder she doesn't have the energy! Grandpa needs to take a few things off her to-do list if he wants to have himself put on there! Maybe his energy level would match hers a little better that way, too.
A. You weren't the only one to react to the letter from the woman who felt overwhelmed by her husband's sex drive. Here is another reader's perspective:
"I read with interest the letter from the woman who wrote about her husband's high sex drive and her low one. Maybe her sex drive would improve if she came home from work, put her feet up and perhaps took a bath while her husband did the laundry and cooked dinner and then cleaned up the kitchen. But by then her husband would be asleep.
"She should get a checkup as you suggested, but I think the woman is just exhausted. When you are exhausted, the last thing you want is sex."
Q. My husband is taking a lot of medicines, including Lipitor and niacin for cholesterol control, atenolol for high blood pressure, prednisone for pain and Zoloft for depression. He is having memory problems as well as a lot of muscle weakness, pain and lack of energy. His balance is not good, and his doctor has diagnosed peripheral neuropathy. Could any of these problems be side effects from his medicine?
A. We cannot diagnose your husband's difficulties. Nevertheless, we have heard from hundreds of readers that statin-type cholesterol-lowering drugs may cause memory loss as well as muscle pain and weakness. Depression and nerve problems like peripheral neuropathy might also be drug-related.
We discuss these issues in far greater detail and offer some alternative treatments in our new book, "Best Choices From The People's Pharmacy" (Rodale). Information is available at www.peoplespharmacy.com or at your local public library.
The combination of niacin and a statin-type drug such as Lipitor might increase the risk of a serious reaction called rhabdomyolysis.
Your husband's doctor should be informed of his symptoms. Your husband also should ask his doctor about atenolol; its effectiveness as a blood pressure-lowering drug is controversial, and it may sometimes cause fatigue and depression.
Q. I love to eat hard-boiled eggs, but do not like the yolk. Do I get any type of benefit just eating the white of the egg? The dog gets the yolk!
A. Egg white provides high-quality, low-fat protein. Your dog is getting all the cholesterol, plus the other nutrients such as lutein found in egg yolks.
People's Herbal Pharmacy
Q. I am a diet-controlled diabetic. I would like your opinion of a water extract product of cinnamon (Cinnulin PF). Is it safe and effective for lowering blood sugar?
A. Data suggest that a component in cinnamon can indeed help control blood sugar. We worry that some of the cinnamon in the kitchen spice rack might be contaminated with coumarin, a compound that can be toxic to the liver when ingested in large amounts.
Because Cinnulin PF is a water-extracted cinnamon product, it appears to be safer than ordinary cinnamon. It is available in health-food stores or on the Web (www.cinnulinpf.com). You will need to monitor blood sugar carefully and remain under medical supervision while trying this dietary supplement.
Q. I have arthritis in my fingers, and I'm sure using the computer has compounded the pain. I can't take anti-inflammatory medication due to an ulcer, so would you suggest other supplements that might help?
A. There are many herbs and dietary supplements that can ease inflammation. One person offered the following: "The combination of boswellia and glucosamine-MSM replaces nonsteroidal pain relievers and works well for me.
"Nine years ago I was literally falling down occasionally because of the pain in my spine. I heard someone say that the herb boswellia had 'saved her life' because of back pain. That Saturday, I started boswellia. In two weeks the pain decreased, and after a month there was an enormous difference. At last I could sleep and I could walk. Several years later, the arthritis increased, and I added MSM, glucosamine and chondroitin. I take them with boswellia and get good relief."
Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist. Teresa Graedon holds a doctorate in medical anthropology and is a nutrition expert. E-mail them via their Web site: www.PeoplesPharmacy.com
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