Ask Lucy

Ask Lucy Archive

Dear Lucy: Is drinking honey with hot water bad for your health? —Honey Do Or Honey Don’t?

Dear Lucy: I’m taking lorazepam, as prescribed by my primary care physician. Should I be concerned about long-term side effects? —Somewhat Anxious

Dear Lucy: Is it safe to use Vicks VapoRub daily for many months to try and cure a toenail fungus? I’ve seen lots of lay literature talking about this as a home remedy for toenail fungus; however, I could only find one scientific article. This article didn’t mention doing bloodwork or otherwise confirming the safety of the product when used in this off-label fashion, and it also was not a blinded, controlled study.  And how about the safety of other home remedies, such as soaking feet in vinegar or Listerine daily or twice daily for 10–30 minutes?  —Vic

Dear Lucy: I’ve heard that aluminum deposits have been found in the brains of people who have died of Alzheimer's disease. Will using underarm deodorants or antiperspirants with aluminum compounds cause aluminum to enter the body? Also, will wearing pierced earrings made of silver introduce silver into the body? —Heavy Metal