Q. I burned the heel of my hand with hot bacon grease. I immediately put it under cold running water and then remembered the soy sauce cure. I taped a paper towel soaked in soy sauce to my hand, and within 20 minutes all I had left was a mild sensitivity on that hand. Thanks.

A. Many people have found that soy sauce takes the pain and redness out of a burn if it is applied right after the cold water. We don’t know why it works, but we are convinced that it does!

Q. For the past 10 years, I’ve given half a coconut macaroon cookie to my greyhounds when they have diarrhea. It works every time, and the dogs love it.

A. Many readers have tried coconut to help control chronic diarrhea, and most seem to have success. You are not the first one to report that this remedy also can help dogs.

Q. A few weeks ago, I heard Listerine mentioned for jock itch. I didn’t have jock itch, but I was suffering from a very persistent case of athlete’s foot. I had used several over-the-counter medications for weeks, with no results. I daubed Listerine on my feet for three consecutive days, and the symptoms were all but gone.

I have since used Listerine on my feet once a week and have had no recurrence of athlete’s foot. Maybe it is just the alcohol content in the product, but whatever the active ingredient is, it works!

A. Listerine seems to be helpful against a range of common fungal skin infections, including dandruff as well as jock itch and athlete’s foot. We suspect that the antifungal activity of the herbal oils in Listerine (menthol, eucalyptol, thymol and methyl salicylate) may be responsible. The alcohol also may discourage fungal growth.

Q. I have heard that if you place pieces of eggplant in water for a couple of hours and then drink the water, it helps reduce cholesterol levels and blood pressure. Is this correct, or do I have to put the eggplant in the fridge for four days and drink a small amount daily?

A. Several years ago, a reader sent in the following remedy:

“Wash but don’t peel a medium eggplant. Dice it into 1-inch cubes.

“Place the cubes in a glass gallon jug and cover the eggplant with distilled water.

“Put the jug in the fridge for four days. Drink one ounce of the water per day, taking your blood pressure daily.

“After a week or so, the eggplant will begin to disintegrate; discard it but keep drinking the ounce of soaking water daily.”

Although eggplant is part of a dietary portfolio that lowers cholesterol (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, February 2005), Brazilian researchers have found that eggplant extract does not lower cholesterol. A recent analysis of eggplant compounds suggests that some may inhibit angiotensin-converter enzyme (ACE) and thus lower blood pressure (Bioresource Technology, May 2008).We don’t know if the eggplant soaking water will have that effect.

In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. E-mail them via their Web site:

www.PeoplesPharmacy.com

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