Home remedies often safer than prescriptions

July 10, 2007

The Asbury Park Press,Asbury Park,NJ*

BY JOE GRAEDON

AND TERESA GRAEDON

AID=/20070710/LIFE11/707100339/1006/LIFE

Most doctors dismiss home remedies as unscientific at best or

harmful at worst. They have a hard time understanding why anyone

would choose an unproven folk treatment over a Food and Drug

Administration-approved prescription drug.

Several years ago, a furious podiatrist chastised us for writing

about remedies for toenail fungus: " There are real, doctor-

prescribed, FDA-approved, clinically tested medications to treat

toenail fungus. These include topical Penlac or oral Lamisil or

Sporanox. I have successfully treated hundreds of patients with

these drugs.

" The unproven treatments you mentioned are little more than urban

legends. In 23 years in practice I have never seen even one patient

who has responded favorably to Vicks VapoRub or dilute vinegar

soaks. Don't make me waste time dispelling these myths. "

While the podiatrist is correct that there are prescription drugs

for nail fungus, he didn't mention that these drugs are often quite

expensive. The oral medicines also have side effects.

Lamisil, for example, may cost as much as $1,200 for a full course

of treatment (12 weeks). Sporanox can run more than $1,600. Both

drugs can be toxic to the liver and require medical monitoring. They

can also cause digestive upset, rash or headache.

Neither drug is foolproof against nail fungus. According to the

manufacturer of Sporanox, the success rate is 35 percent. That's

hardly anything to shout about.

Is it any wonder that people consider a remedy like Vicks VapoRub?

The familiar blue jar costs under $9 and lasts for months.

It won't work for everyone, but a small study at Michigan State

University found that daily applications of Vicks VapoRub cleared

nail fungus in 32 of 85 patients. That's as good as Sporanox at less

than 1 percent of the price.

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