The People's Pharmacy

Q: My friend's granddaughter just had a baby. She's not breastfeeding, and she is very uncomfortable with swollen, leaking breasts. Her doctor told her to wear two sports bras and fill them with cabbage leaves!

A: We first heard of this approach to easing the pain of breast engorgement from a reader: "When my baby was born two months ago, I had planned to breast-feed. I was unable to do so, and as a result my breasts became swollen and extremely painful.

"The lactation specialist at my OB/GYN office suggested that I apply raw cabbage leaves to my breasts, wear a form-fitting bra and replace the leaves throughout the day as they wilt. I didn't believe her, but I was so desperate for relief from the pain that I tried it anyway.

"After just one day, I had very little pain, throbbing or fever in my breasts, and within three days my breasts had returned to their natural state. I don't know what healing properties cabbage possesses, but it worked!"

However, a recent review of studies of cabbage leaves for breast engorgement show that they didn't work any better than placebo. Taking a Chinese herbal medicine called Danzen did work, and so did a pineapple extract called bromelain/trypsin.

Q: I am a teacher, and my fifth-graders catch and spread a lot of colds. To try to stay healthy, I wash my hands dozens of times a day. As a result, my knuckles are raw, and my nails are a mess. Is there an affordable way to fight dry skin?

A: Some people find that alcohol-based hand gels might actually be less drying than soap and water. Regardless of what you use for washing, you need to use a strong moisturizer afterward. Petroleum jelly is one of the cheapest, but also messiest.

Prescription Lac-Hydrin (12 percent) is pricey but highly effective for really dry skin. Inexpensive alternatives include Bag Balm, Udder Cream and Hoofmaker. All of these can now be found in many pharmacies.

Q: My father has had trouble getting his blood pressure under control. His doctor has him on atenolol, reserpine, Accupril, Norvasc and hydrochlorothiazide. Dad is terribly depressed and can barely drag himself out of bed. So his doctor prescribed Lexapro. Isn't this too much medication?

A: Reserpine is notorious for causing severe depression. Treating it with an antidepressant like Lexapro is not logical.

A recent meta-analysis of atenolol in The Lancet (Nov. 6, 2004) "cast doubts on atenolol as a suitable drug for hypertensive patients." It may cause fatigue, dizziness or depression in some patients. But such blood-pressure medication should never be stopped suddenly.

Your father should discuss his symptoms with his doctor.

In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them c/o King Features Syndicate, 888 Seventh Ave., New York, NY 10019, or e-mail them at pharmacy@mindspring.com or via their Web site: www.peoplespharmacy.org