Q: My fingers were cracked and bleeding every winter for years. Nothing helped.

After reading some of the suggestions on your website, I decided to try Vicks VapoRub. What a relief! My fingers are almost completely healed, and it has only been about four days. Vicks took the pain away immediately.

A: Other readers have reported similar success with Vicks VapoRub. This product contains essential oils in a petrolatum base. Because it’s greasy, we suggest wearing gloves while treating fingertips.

Q: For about a decade, I wondered about the efficacy of gin-soaked raisins. I was waiting for the pain in my thumbs and wrists to get bad enough that I felt I needed to try that remedy.

After several years of having to be careful of my hand position while sleeping, I tried the raisins. This was a week before I saw a doctor. After two days, my pain was reduced by about 90%. I shared this with the doctor, who validated my experience. He had heard it before and accepted it as a treatment that works for some folk.

After 10 months, I still sleep without the need to be aware of my hand positioning.

A: We first heard about the gin-raisin remedy for arthritis pain over 30 years ago. We have never seen a clinical trial of this popular approach, but we have received hundreds of testimonials similar to yours.

Q: I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis several years ago and was prescribed Enbrel and methotrexate. I was on these meds for over 10 years. Sometimes my doctor would add cortisone injections in sore joints.

I saw an article on statin side effects and stopped pravastatin to see if it made a difference. My “rheumatoid arthritis” magically disappeared.

A: Thank you for sharing your experience. We found one study linking statin use to the risk of rheumatoid arthritis (Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, May 2012). More recent reviews of the medical literature report no such association (PLoS One, July 23, 2024). There is even some research to suggest that the anti-inflammatory activity of statins might be helpful.

Statins, including pravastatin, can cause symptoms of arthritis and increase levels of antinuclear antibodies. Doctors use this as a marker for autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis. That may help explain your misdiagnosis and recovery after stopping statins.

Q: I have a problem with erectile dysfunction. I understand this is related to reduced circulation. Is there anything new that can improve blood flow to the penis?

A: There is a new topical over-the-counter gel called Eroxon. It is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration but it is FDA “cleared” as a device rather than a drug (Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics, Nov. 11, 2024). Theoretically, this might be a choice for men who cannot take a medicine like sildenafil (Viagra) or tadalafil (Cialis) because of the potential for interactions or side effects. Apparently, the gel’s cooling and warming sensations increase blood flow.

Q: I read that melatonin might relieve acid reflux. I have been taking Prilosec for several years for GERD. Would melatonin improve the effectiveness of a drug like Prilosec?

A: A randomized controlled trial compared omeprazole (Prilosec) plus melatonin to omeprazole plus placebo (Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology, December 2023). Heartburn pain and frequency were lower among those taking melatonin with omeprazole. There were no serious adverse effects.

Additional evidence suggests that melatonin might help protect the tissues of the esophagus (International Journal of Molecular Sciences, July 13, 2018). Since the development of esophageal cancer is the most serious potential consequence of long-lasting GERD, such protection might be valuable.

In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Send questions to them via www.peoplespharmacy.com.