The People's Pharmacy

The People's Pharmacy focuses on empowering individuals to make knowledgeable choices regarding their health. We offer resources through our books, a syndicated column in newspapers, a radio program, and our website.

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Articles

Flip Flops on Fish Oil: Omega 3 Fats DO Have Heart Benefits!

1 week ago | peoplespharmacy.com | Joe Graedon

Are you fed up with flip flops? The latest U-turn on dietary supplements has to do with omega 3 fats. There was a time when Americans were told that the golden footballs containing some kind of fish oil would be good for them. Then they were told it would not protect the heart and might raise blood sugar levels or increase the risk for a bleeding stroke.
Is the RED ALERT Over or Just Lipstick on a Toxic Pigment?

1 week ago | peoplespharmacy.com | Joe Graedon

We have been concerned about artificial food colors for decades. In the 1970s pediatrician Dr. Benjamin Feingold warned that foods with these dyes might make kids with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) worse. In the 1980s concerns were raised about Red Dye No. 3 (erythosine) and its potential relationship to cancer. On January 15, 2025 the FDA suggested that it would finally take action on Red No. 3.
Kick-Boxing Granny Wants Bruise Remedy

1 week ago | peoplespharmacy.com | Joe Graedon

Some people bruise easier than others. This granny engages in an unusually vigorous sport. It’s hardly surprising that she needs a bruise remedy!Q. I am a 70-year-old very healthy woman (still doing kick boxing and aerobics). However, I sustain very ugly bruises, especially on my hands and arms. I take Cozaar, verapamil and Estratab. I also take rutin, which is supposed to help the bruising though it does not seem to make much difference. Do you have any suggestions? A.
Is Death Just Another Ignorable Drug Side Effect?

2 weeks ago | peoplespharmacy.com | Joe Graedon

Would you stay on an airplane if the fight attendant announced that the captain had discovered a few problems with the landing gear and that there was a small chance the plane might not land safely? My guess is that a lot of people would opt to get off before takeoff. Why, then, do so many people ignore drug commercials that list death as a potential drug side effect? Your odds of being in an airplane crash are less than 1 in 6 million.
Cancer Breakthrough? Jemperli vs. Surgery for Some Patients

2 weeks ago | peoplespharmacy.com | Joe Graedon

We rarely, if ever, write the words “cancer breakthrough.” That’s because such treatments are few and far between. But a report in the New England Journal of Medicine (April 27, 2025) has us excited. That’s because the authors have done some elegant research and have demonstrated surprisingly positive results. A journalist we respect, Gina Kolata, of the New York Times is also careful when writing about a potential cancer breakthrough.
Could Aggressive Blood Pressure Control Save Your Brain?

3 weeks ago | peoplespharmacy.com | Joe Graedon

A new study suggests that aggressive blood pressure control may have benefits for cognitive function. That is the conclusion of a large Chinese study published in Nature Medicine, April 21, 2025. There were about 30,000 participants randomized by rural village. All hypertensive patients received blood pressure medications, but half of the villages were randomized to receive more intensive treatment.
The Hidden Cancer Costs of CT Scans

4 weeks ago | peoplespharmacy.com | Joe Graedon

Are doctors overusing Computed Tomography Imaging? CT or “CAT” scans were performed over 90 million times in 2023. That’s according to a study just published in JAMA Internal Medicine, April 14, 2025. The name CAT scan sounds innocuous, but in fact it represents ionizing radiation, similar to X-rays. According to these researchers, those CT scans will likely lead to more than 100,000 future cancers. Don’t get me wrong, though. There are times when such imaging is absolutely essential.
Hidden Hazards of MRIs

1 month ago | peoplespharmacy.com | Joe Graedon

Have you ever had an MRI to diagnose osteoarthritis of the hip or check for cancer or an aneurysm? MRI or magnetic resonance imaging is considered much safer than CT scans that require ionizing radiation. MRIs do not use ionizing radiation. They can be an effective way to detect problems, especially in soft tissue. Doctors may use them to diagnose a stroke or or joint problem. In 2015, experts estimated that 20 million MRIs were conducted in the U.S. each year.
Nicotine Patch for Alzheimer’s-Could Nicotine Help You Remember?

1 month ago | peoplespharmacy.com | Joe Graedon |Alzheimer’s disease

For decades researchers have considered nicotine a serious health problem. It is, after all, the addicting compound in cigarettes and other tobacco products. Humans have apparently been using tobacco as a drug for over 12,000 years (Nature Human Behavior, Feb. 2022). It has been smoked, snuffed and chewed. More recently, drug companies have created the nicotine patch. It is supposed to help people stop smoking. Could it also help people who are suffering from Alzheimer disease?
How to Eat Your Way to Lower Cholesterol

1 month ago | peoplespharmacy.com | Joe Graedon

Doctors frequently tell their patients with elevated cholesterol levels to change their diet. The problem is that people rarely get specific details about what to eat. They are told what not to eat. That usually boils down to avoiding saturated fat. Is there a better cholesterol-lowering diet plan? One reader found a food that seemed to help quite a bit. Could Golden Milk Lower Cholesterol? Q. I’ve been on statins for decades, experiencing side effects with every one I’ve tried.