In the May issue, Joan said her husband doesn’t 
want to use deodorants with aluminum and asked for suggestions. A dentist in San Francisco, California, 
recommends applying plain baking soda as one would talcum powder. Lida Soper, Carlisle, Kentucky, combines 2 tablespoons cornstarch, 2 tablespoons baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon talc powder, places the mixture in a clean spice jar with holes in the lid, and sprinkles it on 
a small powder puff to use. Joy Urrutia, West Chicago, Illinois, suggests Ombra roll-on deodorant with chamomile oil (ombraproducts.com or 800-559-7498). Virginia Bennett, Puyallup, Washington, and her grandsons 
purchase Queen Helene deodorant with tea tree oil at 
a local health store, and Sue Bada says Lafe’s Natural & Organic deodorant stone with mineral salts (lafes.com) is moistened before using, and proceeds support breast cancer awareness and prevention.

In the March issue, Dick Rupp asked for help with a persistent mouth sore that tests show is not cancerous. Helen Dillard, Holladay, Utah, and Lila Rose, Yakima, Washington, report that inexpensive and widely 
available generic lysine supplements cleared up their mouth sores. Miriam Nielsen, Edmonds, Washington, says generic herbal supplements of white oak bark work great for her. She opens a capsule and places 
the powder directly on the lesion several times a day and at bedtime.

Readers Respond to Avoiding Aluminum and Treating Mouth Sores The Saturday Evening Post

Many years ago, your column about lysine solved my problem with mouth sores. Now I would like to return the favor. June Jordan, in the September/October 2008 issue, wrote about her hands cramping. There is a simple solution: I was having leg cramps at night, and a friend told me about putting a bar of soap between the sheets where my legs rest. Lo and behold, the cramps disappeared within two or three minutes.

Last night, I awoke with my right fingers curling up in a cramp. I tried the “soap treatment” and went back to sleep. In the morning, my fingers were uncurled and pain-free. My pharmacist was unable to tell me what ingredient in soap would stop muscle cramps. Might you be able to solve the mystery? Your comments would be greatly appreciated—your column is invaluable to me.

Josy

Dr. Dr. SerVaas,

In response to the lady who has hand cramps when taking calcium. I too get severe muscle cramps in my legs when I take calcium supplements. I haven’t found an answer other than to not take calcium supplements and get my calcium from food sources. I just wanted Ms. Jordan to know she isn’t alone.

S.

We may never know why soap may help relieve muscle cramps. Should we ever experience the problem, however, we will probably give it a try. Loyal Post readers like you are among our best sources of remedies that may work.

Lysine is an inexpensive and safe amino acid. To treat mouth sores caused by the herpes simplex virus, the late Dr. Richard Griffith recommended a daily lysine dose of 500 milligrams per 22 pounds of body weight. Lesser amounts help avoid outbreaks. Lysine supplements are not known to interact with medications.

For more about lysine, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Lysine, 1100 Waterway Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46202

Send your letters to Medical Mailbox, 1100 Waterway Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46202 or e-mail: medicalmailbox@satevepost.org.

Please include your mailing address. Medical Mailbox and From the Pharmacy supplements the advice of your health care provider, whom you should consult for personal medical problems.

The Benefits of Lysine The Saturday Evening Post