People’s pharmacy

For decades, the mechanism for this unexpected response was unknown. Then scientists discovered that some people process this drug very quickly and convert it to a compound that causes excitation in the brain (CNS Spectrums, February 2008).

Melatonin also is metabolized by the same enzyme system, suggesting that it may not be your best choice as a sleep aid. We are sending you our Guide to Getting a Good Night’s Sleep with our suggestions for do’s and don’ts, as well as herbal helpers, magnesium, acupressure and the timing of light exposure. Anyone who would like a copy, please send $3 in check or money order with a long (No. 10), stamped (70 cents), self-addressed envelope to: Graedons’ People’s Pharmacy, No. I-70, P.O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027. It also can be downloaded for $2 from our website: www.peoplespharmacy.com.

Q: My teenage daughter has always had a problem with large stool, cantaloupe-size, that clog the toilet. She would only have a bowel movement every couple of weeks. We kept paint-stirring sticks under the sink so she’d be able to break them up and flush the toilet.

In addition to loading her diet with fruits and veggies, I’d end up giving her stool-softener laxatives. Then my mother mentioned that she had found probiotics helpful when she had a similar problem.

I bought a bottle of probiotics (Ultimate Flora, in the refrigerated section), and after a few days she became regular. Her stool gradually became smaller, and now it is a normal size, and she no longer needs to use the paint stirrers.

The probiotics are a bit pricey, but when we ran out it wasn’t long before she was back to a cantaloupe in the toilet bowl. The probiotics on the shelf without refrigeration don’t work at all. We hope this helps another family.

A: We trust your daughter has seen a doctor about her digestive difficulties. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that help to re-establish a healthy balance of microorganisms in the digestive tract. They are sometimes recommended for improving bowel function, although more studies are needed (Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility, July 2011).

You are right to emphasize refrigerated probiotics, which also should be stored under refrigeration at home. These are more likely to provide the anticipated numbers of healthful microbes.

Q: I am an avid tennis player, but my knee is giving me trouble, probably because of arthritis. I stopped playing for a week, but I am desperate to get back on the courts. My tennis partners suggested cortisone injections, but when I asked my doctor about these shots, he was not enthusiastic. He wants me to give it a rest for a few more weeks. I am tempted to find another doctor who will cooperate. Your thoughts?

A: Pay attention to your doctor. A Danish study of 100 people found no benefit to a corticosteroid shot in the painful knee prior to exercise (JAMA Internal Medicine, June 2015).

Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers on their website www.PeoplesPharmacy.com. Their newest book is “Top Screwups Doctors Make and How to Avoid Them.”