Meds or alternatives for hand tremors?

DEAR DR. GOTT: Can you tell me if there is a safe and effective home remedy for hand tremors? My father is 69 years old and has stopped going to his doctor for his monthly B12 shots, which were given to reduce his hand tremors. I advised him to try drinking six to eight ounces of warm sage tea up to three times a day, but can you recommend something else that will work for him?

DEAR READER: While there is a genetic tendency, no one knows why tremors exist; however, they represent an abnormal communication between specific areas of the brain.
[Read more...]

Can B12 Help Bell’S Palsy Symptoms?

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I would like to tell you about my experience with an annoying condition, called Bell’s palsy, while on a tour in Italy.

I had been riding near an open window on our bus and woke up the next morning with partial facial paralysis (drooping cheek, mouth and more). My father had died of a stroke a few years before and some of his symptoms were similar so I became worried. Our tour director immediately took me to a doctor in the town we had spent the night in where I was diagnosed with Bell’s palsy.

It was explained to me that if I left it untreated, the affected nerve might die and cause a permanent drooping and weakness. I was then given a massive dose of vitamin B12 by injection. The doctor suggested to me that I have two more shots at six day intervals which I did. Within six weeks, the symptoms were completely gone. [Read more...]

Daily Column

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I am an 82-year-old lady who wants to praise the vitamin B6 that I take daily. A year ago the fingers of my right hand were numb and I had a terrible time picking up small objects. My son said a friend had a wrist problem and after taking B6 it went away. I tried it and my fingers are just fine. I’ve been clear for over a year now.

DEAR READER:
Vitamin B6 is an extremely important water soluble vitamin required for more than 100 enzymes associated with protein metabolism. Our nervous and immune systems require the vitamin to function properly, it helps make hemoglobin and is needed for the conversion of an amino acid known as tryptophan to niacin within the body. It helps maintain blood sugars and convert stored carbohydrates and other nutrients to sugar when inadequate calories are consumed. [Read more...]

Daily Column

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I never miss your column and have received some very good advice from you and your readers. A while ago a reader wrote in with a recommendation for hair loss. Since I was starting to have problems with thinning hair I decided to try it and write you with my results as you requested. The products were TreSemme Silk Protein Healthy Volume Shampoo and TreSemme Vitamin E Conditioner.

They work great! My hair has started to come back thicker, stronger and healthier than before. I also use TreSemme hair spray and have found that it is not sticky like other products and doesn’t alter the beneficial effects of the shampoo and conditioner. I would like to thank the reader for the suggestion and you for being brave enough to print it in your column. Thank you!

DEAR READER:
I have had several letters similar to yours from readers who have success with [Read more...]

Daily Column

DEAR DR. GOTT:
How much vitamin B can a person take each day? My doctor can’t even answer this question. I’m taking Centrum Silver each day and recently bought a vegetarian product at a health store that contains 10 mg or 333% DV of vitamin B.

DEAR READER:
B vitamins are essential to help release energy from carbohydrates, fat and protein. I can understand why your physician cannot give an explicit answer to your question because the human body stores several years worth of B12, so a deficiency is quite rare unless a condition such as pernicious anemia or a strict vegetarian or vegan diet leads to a deficient state. B12 is also harmless in larger quantities (up to 1000+ mcgs) and is given as an energy boost to some individuals, (working more as a placebo). B6 is obtained from diet or through supplements. The recommended daily allowance is 1.5 mg per day. [Read more...]