I used to workin an office where every two months we’d get a visit from Gus.

Gus was the bug guy. He was very friendly, so we all liked him just fine. But we hated to see him at the reception desk.

He always stunk up the place.

Dear Pharmacist,

My neighbor swears by apple cider vinegar and every time I complain about my health, she rants about the vinegar.  I haven’t tried it, but I have to say she looks fairly healthy and never gets sick.  Do you think there’s something to it? 

--P.B.,  Lodi, California

Dear Pharmacist,

I have painful arthritis (psoriatic) and I heard that my medicine can cause cancer on the news.  I am afraid of it being recalled because I need my Enbrel.

--D.T. Seattle, Washington

"It's my arthritis, dear. I can't knit or play piano anymore." "I don't remember the last time I went jogging. The arthritis is so bad." Do these statements sound familiar? If so, you're typical of millions of Americans who suffer from an inflammatory condition such as arthritis, or who have helplessly watched the suffering of arthritic parents or grandparents.

First of all, please recognize that this document is NOT intended to be a comprehensive or exhaustive analysis of apple cider vinegar. However you can help add to the current understanding of this topic by adding your own comments at the bottom of this page.

New research shows that pynogenol, an extract from pine bark, significantly decreases pain and inflammation related to arthritis.  The study followed 156 patients with painful arthritis of the knee; 77 were given 100mg of pycnogenol per day, while the remaining 79 were given a placebo. 

Have you had your goji berries today? Personally, I love adding 1-2 tablespoons of dried goji berries to power up my morning smoothies. Natively grown in central China, this reddish-orange fruit commonly referred to as the goji berry is actually the wolfberry, Lycium barbarum.

Dear Pharmacist,

I watched Montel Williams talk about his multiple sclerosis on Oprah. He described a knife-like, burning pain in his legs similar to what I experience. Since I’ve started taking the vitamin B12 you suggested in Chapter 15 of your Drug Muggers book, my pain has lessened. What other suggestions do you have for people with MS?

J.P.

--Seattle, Washington

It may sound strange, but it’s true.

Osteoarthritis (a degenerative joint disease) and rheumatoid arthritis (an autoimmune disease) are two entirely different diseases, but they can be treated in much the same way. This is because certain principles will start a cascade of healing in your body, no matter what the problem is.