Q: Can cleansing mixtures detoxify the liver and organs? If so, which ones?
A: Many people use cleansing diets (mixtures) as a form of detoxification. My favorite is the Master Cleanse (the lemonade fast), but this is not based on randomized controlled trials. Trials have been conducted on the effectiveness of fasting then resuming a strictly vegetarian diet for people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. These studies have demonstrated favorable results for decreasing pain. I believe that any diet that temporarily eliminates difficult-to-digest items (meats, dairy and grains) gives your system a break and may improve how you feel. Maintaining a sensible whole-foods, plant-based diet thereafter is the key to maintaining that healthy feeling.
Q: In the September-October 2004 issue, you referred to black cohosh (Remifemin®), soy and vitamin E as effective remedies for hot flashes. I've been taking the lowest dose of Premarin for two years following hysterectomy surgery. I would like to discontinue the Premarin and try a more natural approach. Could you suggest the best approach to switch from the hormone replacement pill to a more natural (holistic) approach?
A: I strongly recommend a slow taper of the Premarin. This should be stretched out over a period of two to three months. During this time, you should break the pill into halves and quarters. Take ¾ pill for 2-3 weeks, ½ pill for 2-3 weeks and ¼ pill for 2-3 weeks. Increase soy in your diet and supplement with vitamin E (natural, 400iu) and evening primrose oil during your taper. Monitor your symptoms, and add black cohosh if needed.
Q: I am a 72-year-old male whose cholesterol was measured at 233 a couple of years ago. I had read about garlic studies showing it possibly could lower one’s cholesterol, and I started taking garlic supplements in June 2002. One year later, my cholesterol was 188, a drop of 45 points! I changed nothing else in my lifestyle except taking the garlic. Could I be the exception to the modest effect (10-20 point lowering) you mentioned in your column in the September-October 2004 issue?
A: Yes, you are the exception! I have never seen such a drastic drop in cholesterol with garlic, and that is also not reflected in the studies done on garlic and cholesterol. That being said, everyone reacts slightly differently to most things. You happen to be lucky!
Disclaimer: The information contained in this column is not meant to diagnose or treat any condition. Seek the advice of a medical professional before making any changes to your diet, supplements or medication.
Tanya Edwards, M.D., M.Ed., is the Medical Director for the Center for Integrative Medicine and is a staff member in the Department of Family Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic. As a Family Practice physician, she sees patients at the Cleveland Clinic Independence Family Health Center, and will begin wellness consultations at the new Cleveland Clinic Wellness Center. For the past seven years, she has been teaching complementary and alternative medicine courses at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.
