Letters - Health benefits of cinnamon

Good day, Dr Brown,

I have been suffering with swollen ankles for a while now. I've done all the necessary tests and there was nothing abnormal. It's not painful but quite unattractive, and I was wondering if the cinnamon twigs remedy is recommended. In addition, I do have endometriosis and fibroids. Will the tea work as well for those issues?

Good day, Reader,

Thank you for your question. Cinnamon twigs would, in fact, be helpful for all of the above. However, it is best used in mild to moderate cases, so the extent of its benefit is dependent on the severity of each of these issues.

From your question it seems you have been experiencing the swelling in your ankles for some time now, and it is in fact a little more than a mild swelling. So, while the cinnamon twigs may help some, you would be best served with a stronger herb(s), which I can recommend if given a little more information on your medical history.

Regarding the fibroid, my first question is, 'What is the size of the fibroid?' Cinnamon twig tea, taken twice daily, can help reduce small fibroids; however if we are dealing with a medium-size fibroid, then stronger herbs would most definitely be recommended. In the case of a large fibroid, surgery may be the best option.

With the endometriosis, if your symptoms are significant, for example, severe pain and heaviness in the pelvis, my recommendation would be to use stronger herbs, which again I can recommend with more information on your medical history.

Best Regards

Dr Tracey-Ann Brown

Oriental Medicine Physician

Send questions and comments to our health specialists at Your Health, c/o The Gleaner, 7 North Street, Kingston; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com. Unless otherwise indicated, letters and the specialists' responses are usually published.

Health trends

Yet another weight-management drug approved

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week approved Qsymia (phentermine and topiramate extended-release) as an addition to a reduced-calorie diet and exercise for chronic weight management. The drug is approved for use in adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater (obese) or adults with a BMI of 27 or greater (overweight) who have at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure (hypertension), Type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol (dyslipidemia).

BMI, which measures body fat based on an individual's weight and height, is used to define the obesity and overweight categories. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of adults in the United States are obese.

Qsymia is a combination of two FDA-approved drugs, phentermine and topiramate, in an extended-release formulation. Phentermine is indicated for short-term weight loss in overweight or obese adults who are exercising and eating a reduced calorie diet. Topiramate is indicated to treat certain types of seizures in people who have epilepsy and to prevent migraine headaches.

- Source: The US Food and Drug Administration

New colon-cleansing drug approved

On July 16, the US Food and Drug Administration approved Prepopik (sodium picosulfate, magnesium oxide and citric acid) to help cleanse the colon in adults preparing for colonoscopy.

One dose of Prepopik consists of two packets of powder, each dissolved in cold water and taken at separate times. Patients should take Prepopik the night before colonoscopy and the morning of colonoscopy (split-dose regimen). If this is not possible, patients may take Prepopik in the afternoon and evening before the colonoscopy (day-before regimen).

As part of this colon-cleansing regimen, patients taking Prepopik must consume additional fluids during and after use. Additional fluid intake is also important to reduce the risk of fluid and electrolyte imbalance. The most common side effects reported in adult patients taking Prepopik include nausea, headache and vomiting. The safety and effectiveness of Prepopik were established in two clinical studies, with about 1,200 adult patients scheduled to have a colonoscopy.

Source: The US Food and Drug Administration