Tart cherry juice led to sweet night’s sleep

Q. I don’t remember now if I read this here or elsewhere, but I recently learned that drinking cherry juice before bedtime ensures a sound night’s sleep. It works for me and for the friends I have told about it.

A. Thank you for sharing your success story. It is quite possible that you read about cherry juice for insomnia in The People’s Pharmacy. We have been writing about the benefits of cherry juice for years.

The most recent research, published in the American Journal of Therapeutics (online, March 27, 2017), concluded that “Cherry juice increased sleep time and sleep efficiency.” Ingredients in Montmorency tart cherry juice reduce inflammation and increase tryptophan levels in the body. That may contribute to its sleep-promoting activity.

You can learn more about cherry juice and other nondrug approaches for overcoming insomnia in our online digital “Guide to Getting a Good Night’s Sleep.” It is available at peoplespharmacy.com.

Q. Years ago, I was getting cold sore after cold sore after cold sore. Then I read about trigger foods and realized that the cashews I was enjoying probably were a big source of the problem.

I began taking L-lysine daily. I later read that one shouldn’t take it all the time. So I now go easy on my trigger foods and just take some L-lysine if I feel a cold sore coming or if I eat some chocolate or nuts. This seems to work for me.

A. The idea of reducing cold sore susceptibility by reducing arginine intake and increasing lysine goes back to the early 1980s (Chemotherapy, 1981). A small placebo-controlled trial found that L-lysine supplements reduced the number of cold sores and their severity and duration (Dermatologica, 1987).

Although cashews are not technically nuts, they are rich sources of the amino acid arginine. So it makes sense for you to exercise restraint when consuming cashews.

Q. I get cracked skin on the tips of my thumbs every winter. I’ve been using an age-old remedy that my father told me about years ago: ichthammol ointment.

It’s a dark, oily drawing salve that can be used for many skin problems. At night, I apply the ichthammol ointment to the cracked skin and then cover it with a bandage. In the morning my thumbs are better and the pain is gone.

If you can’t find ichthammol, ask your pharmacist to order it for you.

A. Thanks for sharing your story about an old-fashioned salve. Ichthammol is derived from shale oil. It used to be prescribed for treating skin problems like psoriasis, eczema, seborrheic dermatitis and boils (International Journal of Dermatology, July 2010). We discovered that this coal tar product also is used for dogs and horses. It can be ordered online.

Another greasy option is A & D Ointment. One reader wrote: “Finally, I tried A & D Ointment — yes, the same ointment used on babies’ bottoms — and it works! The cracked thumb on my right hand that usually is split most of the winter finally healed.

“I only use it every few days. Another benefit is that it is not expensive. I know A & D Ointment has a base of cod liver oil. Yes, it’s oily, but I leave it on about five minutes and then wipe off what little remains. Most of it has absorbed by then. It’s the best thing I have tried.”

This story was originally published November 20, 2017 at 5:24 PM with the headline "Tart cherry juice led to sweet night’s sleep."