Selenium, in excess, can straighten hair, diminish nails and prove toxic
PEOPLE'S PHARMACY
First, my hair's texture changed from wavy to straight. Then my fingernails began to deteriorate. Finally, I read in your column that too much selenium in the diet could affect hair and nails adversely. At the time, I was taking a supplement that contained selenium along with the lecithin I wanted. I immediately switched to a lecithin-only supplement. After about six months, my nails began to recover. And my hair has become wavy again.
Selenium is an essential mineral, but in excess it can be toxic. Loss of hair and nails has occurred among Chinese people whose diets are naturally high in selenium and in Americans taking supplements with too much selenium. The tolerable upper limit is around 400 micrograms daily. Brazil nuts are high in selenium, and an ounce (roughly half a dozen) provides 800 micrograms. Overindulging regularly could lead to selenium toxicity.
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I have been diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease. My symptom is a gagging-reflexive cough. I found out that I get relief from the cough by sucking on dried cloves. I eat two to four a day.
Dentists have used clove oil topically for pain relief, and some Eastern medical traditions suggest that cloves can be helpful against heartburn and cough. We would discourage you from eating cloves daily, however, as some data suggest that an ingredient in clove oil (eugenol) may alter DNA (Mutagenesis, May 2006).
Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist, and Teresa Graedon is an expert in medical anthropology and nutrition.
www.peoplespharmacy.com
