Q
I’m a paramedic and also work in an OB (obstetrics) unit. A little Vicks under the nostrils helps a lot with nausea. I’ve never had a new dad get sick or faint when he’s used it. I believe more people become nauseated due to smells than sights, and Vicks very effectively blocks the odors.
A
You are not the first person to share this unusual use for Vicks VapoRub. A forensic crime-scene detective reported that a dab of Vicks under his nose helped block noxious odors. A surprising trick to quell a cough involves Vicks on the feet.
Q
I had plantar warts on the bottoms of my feet for close to five years. Nothing worked. Then one day the doctor decided to prescribe an experimental treatment called Tagamet. It took this heartburn medicine about two months to work completely, but my warts finally went away.
A
Although scientific studies have produced mixed results when it comes to Tagamet (cimetidine), we have heard from many others who believe this oral heartburn drug really works. Many have tried every home remedy and dermatologist-prescribed treatment in the book, only to find that Tagamet was the final answer.
Q
During a recent stay in the hospital, while swallowing pills I mentioned to the nurse that I had a dread of having a large pill getting stuck in my throat. She explained that the right way to swallow is to lower your chin down toward your chest. That position opens up the esophagus and allows the pill to slide down smoothly. It worked!
A
We have collected several pill-swallowing tricks through the years. The one you describe helps most, but not all, people with a pill-swallowing problem.
In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Send questions to them via peoplespharmacy.com.
