Quick news about health and medicine

Q: I started taking turmeric to help my psoriasis. Then I developed a severe rash and stopped.

My biggest concern is that I take Coumadin. When I went in for a routine blood test, my doctor told me that my blood was extremely thin. I was told to come in immediately for a vitamin-K shot to reverse this effect.

A: Thanks for alerting us to a potentially life-threatening interaction between Coumadin (warfarin) and turmeric. Another reader reported liver-enzyme elevation with this spice. These cases demonstrate that herbal remedies can have serious side effects or interactions and are not appropriate for everyone.

Q: My friend uses vinegar with water under her arms and says it keeps her dry and odor-free all day long, better than deodorant. I want to try it, but first I want to know if it is safe to use under your arms.

A: Some people soak their feet in a diluted vinegar solution (1 part water to 2 parts vinegar) to deter foot fungus. Perhaps the acid environment also discourages the bacteria that contribute to body odor.

As long as skin is unbroken (do NOT try this after shaving), we doubt that diluted vinegar would cause trouble. Nevertheless, test a small patch of skin first to make sure you will not react badly.

Q: I've been using Renova cream for wrinkles, and I wonder if using it in the summer will make my wrinkles worse. We go to the beach once in a while and go out in the sun every day. Should I stop using the cream in the summer?

A: The active ingredient in Renova, tretinoin, was originally developed as Retin-A to treat acne. Dermatologists discovered that this topical form of vitamin A also had the surprising side effect of smoothing fine wrinkles and reducing damage from sun exposure.

One problem with tretinoin is increased sensitivity to sunburn. A strong sunscreen, a hat and protective clothing are essential.

Frequent sun exposure causes premature aging, reversing the benefits of Renova. Please discuss this issue with your dermatologist.

Q: I have a problem with flatulence. I haven't been able to find any pattern in what I eat that might cause this, so I'm looking to you for help.

A: Some people are more susceptible to gas-producing foods than others. While beans are notorious, other foods, such as pretzels, bagels, broccoli and brussels sprouts, can be equally problematic. Milk sugar causes many people trouble. Such lactose intolerance often goes undetected because lactose is found in so many products (including pills).

Some readers report that natural products such as fennel-seed tea or Angostura bitters can help with flatulence.

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