Toenail fungus
Section titled “Toenail fungus”Did you know that the current medications for toenail fungus have an effectiveness rate between 65 and 77%? And that, if you are one of the lucky 77%, the fungus will recur within an average of three years? Well, those are the facts as reported in "Pharmacoeconomic Analysis of the new oral anti-fungal agents used to treat toenail onychomycosis in the USA" (International Journal of Dermatology Sept 1999 supplement 2 page 53) Further, the treatment costs over $1000 for each person cured, which includes the medication, laboratory tests to be sure you are suffering no side-effects, and physician visits for monitoring side-effects. That works out to over a dollar for each day that you can expect your toenails to be free of fungus.
Together with Don Hoglund at Don's Pharmacy, we've developed a topical solution that is much more economical than oral meds or other topicals. We haven't collected statistics, but I've yet to find anyone who doesn't respond to it to one degree or another. It is a mixture of terbinafine (a prescription anti-fungal), DMSO (a penetrating agent whose unique properties you need to be aware of), and Melaleuca oil (Tea-tree oil, an natural anti-fungal agent). You paint it onto the affected toenails daily for several months. We have worked with a number of such agents over the years and I think this time we've found something valuable for almost everyone with this all-too-common problem.
Chronic Ear Infections
Section titled “Chronic Ear Infections”This isn't such a common problem as the toenail fungus, but there are people who have chronic infection of the ear canal. The ear canal will weep, may be slightly swollen, and can from time-to-time flare up into a more severe infection. The common treatment is Cortisporin® eardrops, which sometimes work well and sometimes don't. An ear-nose-throat specialist at UCLA developed a more effective treatment.
The treatment involves puffing powder into the ear with a bulb insufflator. The powder combines five different agents to eliminate fungi and harmful bacteria. Once you've eliminated the infection, you can use the insufflator to puff boric acid into your ears from time-to-time. This is to prevent or treat further infection. This works"way better" than previous methods.
DoctorTalk about Cholesterol
Section titled “DoctorTalk about Cholesterol”Watch for our show DoctorTalk on PTTV Channel 42 on Wednesday March 12th at 6:30 on "Cholesterol: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly." Our shows occur in rotation on Channel 42 Wednesdays at 6:30; or you can come watch one in our video room at the office.
3/28/04