Remedies need some clarification

By DR. PETER H. GOTT

Newspaper Enterprise Association

DEAR DR. GOTT: I love your articles but I have some reservations about your home remedies, and wonder if you can answer my concerns:

1. How long do I have to take Certo and grape juice to see results for arthritis?

2. Can Certo be taken with any other juice? (I hate grape juice.)

3. Is there a time limit to using castor oil on arthritic joints?

4. What is the time limit on using Vicks for toenail fungus?

5. I'm sorry to say, the soap therapy for leg cramps didn't work.

DEAR READER:

1. I don't know. Judging from my readers' responses, the treatment should work in less than a week.

2. Not to my knowledge, but if you decide to experiment let me know the results.

3. Not to my knowledge, but -- as you know by now -- I rely on readers' assessments. Let me hear about your experiences.

4. There is no true limit: Use it until you are blue in the face. It took a year for the product to clear up my nail fungus, but clear it up it did. Be patient.

5. I, too, am sorry.

As for most home remedies that do not seem to work, I have to remind you that more established treatments are sometimes ineffective, too. I don't have a reason for this, except to point out that nothing in life is 100 percent perfect.