This Week in the HSI Forum Although dietary supplements and herbal remedies are far safer than pharmaceuticals, they should be treated with the same respect that you would give any prescription drug. We've discussed this many times in e-Alerts and Members Alerts, and a recent posting on the HSI Forum demonstrates just how diverse the reaction to a supplement can be. In a thread titled "Folic Acid & Nightmares" a member named Sherri writes: "I began having horrible nightmares a few months ago. It got to the point I dreaded going to sleep. It occurred to me that they started around the time I decided to take supplemental folic acid, B6 and B12 in addition to the tiny amounts in my multiple vitamin. I stopped taking these, and in about 3 days the nightmares also stopped. After about 10 days, I took one tablet of folic acid again, (no B6 or 12) and the nightmares came back immediately. If I take the B6 and 12 without the folic acid, I don't have the nightmares. So, it seems pretty clear to me that my problem is just with the folic acid." An HSI member named Lance responded to Sherri's posting with these comments: "Some people do display hypersensitivity to folic acid (any substance can cause hypersensitivity in a few individuals). Although folic acid has a low toxicity, toxicity can result if more than 15 mg per day is taken (or, in lesser amounts if you are hypersensitive). In such cases the following symptoms can occur: abdominal distension, flatulence (gas/wind), irritability, loss of appetite, nausea, over-activity, sleep disturbance and vivid dreams." Beyond folic acid, the Forum is full of interesting topics this week. In a thread about fire ants, members swap remedies for painful fire ant bites. Denise recommends tea tree oil. Susanna says that colloidal silver applied topically worked wonders for her young grandson. Hoss, who lives in Texas and knows a thing or two about fire ant bites, swears by WD40 (yes - the lubricant spray) to stop the pain. I wouldn't personally recommend WD40 for medicinal purposes, but then I don't have to worry too much about getting fire ant bites in Baltimore. Asking, "Where can I get flaxseeds?" a member named Cedy receives flaxseed information from Annie and Rosie. And the pros and cons of different brands of juicers are weighed by Marta, Lance, Chet and others - worth a look if you're in the market for a good juicer at a reasonable price. Other subjects discussed on the Forum this week include apple cider vinegar for weight loss, asthma, coral calcium, pilonidal cysts, and wobenzyme. And a popular thread with more than 80 postings, titled "Milk: the whole truth please!" provides a good follow-up to this past Wednesday's e-Alert about milk ("Skimming & Scamming" 3/19/03 - see below). Log on to our web site at www.hsibaltimore.com to add your comments, questions and suggestions, or to start a thread of your own. |
