I asked her to stop taking her present medicine for a period of two weeks. At the time of her next visit, the blood pressure was at a mildly elevated level and she felt wonderful.

We both decided that the medication did not agree with her because it brought her pressure down below what was best for her. Her blood pressure simply needed to be a little higher than average. It gave her better circulation of blood without putting her at risk of stroke, heart attack, or blood clots. This is a good example of the very important need to individualize medical attention for each patient. The need, of course, is true for everyone who visits the doctor’s office for blood pressure or anything else.

There is no doubt that if moderate and severe hypertension is not treated, there is a definitely greater risk of heart and blood vessel disease, which includes stroke, congestive heart failure, heart attacks, and kidney failure. In the case of mildly elevated blood pressure, it may not be necessary to treat with medication at all.

In any case, whether mild, moderate, or severe, the very first thing you do about treatment includes weight control, salt limitation, avoidance of tobacco in any form, minimal alcohol and caffeine intake, regular exercise, and physical/mental relaxation. For mild/sometimes moderate high blood pressure, this may be all that’s needed. The expense of medication and concern about side effects, therefore, can be avoided.

If these measures do not work well enough, it is time to have medical help. At this point, one or a combination of drugs will be used starting with a diuretic (fluid tablet or capsule), then one of more combinations of a beta blocker, calcium antagonist, or ace inhibitor.

Keep in mind it can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months to achieve control. After that, you will need a periodic checkup with the doctor to know that your medication continues to work and that you are not having adverse reactions or side effects from the medicine.

If you get into a severe problem with a tightly stuffed nose, take a tad of horseradish by mouth every two or three hours. Stay away from sprays and drops which can make matters worse, unless it is just plain water or saline solution.

When your fingers develop those painful cracks around the nails, tips, and joints from cold temperatures and low humidity, cover them with plain adhesive tape 24 hours a day for two to three days. This will relieve pain and encourage quicker healing.

Watch for nose bleeds when cold dry air–both indoors and outdoors–dries out the mucous membranes. This bleeding is usually small and drippy and only occasionally heavy. Don’t panic. It is not at all likely due to high blood pressure. It is simply a small capillary that has broken open on the partition that separates the two nostrils.

Directing pressure on the side of the nose with your finger pressing against the septum on the bleeding side will almost always stop it. You may have to hold it for a few minutes and repeat it for a few hours or so. If too heavy or recurrent, your doctor can prescribe a hormone cream which toughens up the capillary walls so they won’t be so fragile.

Be on the alert for wintertime bronchial irritation and cough from the smoke of wood burning. If humidifying the air does not help and the problem is severe enough-especially for children, asthmatics, and emphysemics–it may be necessary to stop word burning for home heat.

A country remedy for the diarrhea of winter (and summer), intestinal viruses, and food indiscretions, is a small glass of water containing a teaspoon of baking soda and black pepper.

After more than 40 years of country doctoring, the best gargle for a sore throat is still a small glass of water, as hot as you can take it, that contains on-half teaspoon of salt, one-quarter teaspoon of baking soda, one-half dozen drops of tincture of Merthiolate, and two crushed aspirin tablets. Gargle with small amounts as far back in your mouth and throat as possible. Keep your throat relaxed as you gargle. Allow the vapors to breathe into your nose. Use the entire cup and repeat as often as necessary. Leave out any of the ingredients you may be allergic to.

This type of bleeding comes from the breaking open of small capillaries in the mucous membranes of the cartilage septum which divides the nose into two passageways. The cause of bleeding is due to a drying out of the membranes because of a lack of moisture in the air both inside and outside the home.

Bleeding is usually slight or moderate at most, for it comes from very small capillaries. Because of its location, bleeding can be stopped pretty easily by direct pressure with the finger pressed over the nostril on the involved side. Sometimes it is helpful for you to sit down, relax, and place cold compresses over your face and nose.

Many patients tell me about using petroleum jelly and antibiotic creams for nasal dryness. These things may help some, but are not really the best because they do not provide the moisture that mucous membranes need. Moisturizing the membranes is best accomplished by the use of water vapor or normal saline (salt solution) as a spray or drop.

When bleeding is very heavy or recurs often or does not respond well to your own attention, it is necessary to seek medical help. The doctor may have to cauterize the bleeding site with a chemical solution. Don’t be surprised if he also prescribes the hormone cream Premarin®. Yes, it is the female hormone that is used for the dryness of menopausal vaginitis. It is the best thing going for dryness of the mucous membranes wherever they are.

Be sure to moisten your home air with ample humidification regardless of the kind of heat source you have. Use an air cleaner, too–especially if you burn wood or have hot-air heat.

This is not place for the use of medicated nose drops or sprays. Aggravation of the problem is likely.

Dryness results from a lack of humidity in the outside area in association with cold temperatures and in the air inside our homes and workplaces because of warm temperatures from heating systems.

Effects on the eyes can lead to irritation, itching, discomfort, and susceptibility to infection.

When the skin of the ear canals is affected, itching, pain, and infection can result and may involve accumulation of normal wax to the point of blockage.

Dryness of the nose can result in stuffiness, difficulty breathing, and bleeding. Resistance to infection is also lowered.

Dryness of the mouth and throat causes discomfort, difficulty swallowing, and a weakness for virus and bacterial infections.

Some of these effects are also brought about by medications such as those used for high blood pressure, heart disease, and nervousness. In children and young people, enlarged tonsils and adenoids can contribute also.

The effects of low humidity on the skin often result in dryness and scaling of the skin, itching, rashes, and infections such as impetigo.

Many of the problems can be prevented or minimized by maintaining a reasonable humidity level in the home. This can be achieved by any one of a wide variety of humidifiers that range from large, fully automatic, free-standing units and furnace duct attachments, to open pans and crocks set at several different places throughout the house.

For some of the elderly among us, there is help in the form of artificial tears and artificial saliva. The use of nasal water sprays can be very comforting for any of us regardless of age.

Itching of the skin can be relieved by over-the-counter medications such as Benadryl® capsules and liquid.

Skin dryness can be treated by your own use of bath oils and lubricating creams. Avoidance of detergent soaps also can be helpful.

Make sure you drink enough water to keep your skin moist from the inside out.

When there is a question of cause for itching and dryness other than the factors discussed above, such as internal of local disease conditions, it is then that you seek help from your doctor and pharmacist.

It is a multi-symptom multi-system disorder and the primary symptoms are pain and fatigue. It has been identified or interrelated with chronic pain syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Many and varied treatments have been used by various health care providers. These range from symptomatic treatment using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines, antidepressants, and tranquilizers. Many alternatives have also been used such as acupressure, acupuncture, acutouch, chelation, hypnosis, and a variety of mental and physical relaxation techniques. Trigger point injections, spray and stretch, and massage therapy are also used.

A particular recent protocol that has been created and promoted by Dr. St. Amand is the use of guaifenesin. This can be very successful when the patient is willing to do what it takes in order to prove the protocol’s effectiveness. This means the patient needs to be persistent and not become impatient while following the guaifenesin treatment. They should not go on and off the guaifenesin, but take it steadily. They also must not be quick to get discouraged by the breakthrough of symptoms as the dose is increased. When the protocol is followed, there is a very good success rate for improvement that can last indefinitely.

Another aspect of fibromyalgia is its close association with hypoglycemia. This brings into play the matter of a low-carbohydrate diet. If the diet is followed carefully with good compliance, it can have a very helpful effect on the symptoms of fibromyalgia. As time goes on and there is enough improvement, the diet can become less rigid. All this information can be found in Dr. St. Amand’s book, What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Fibromyalgia.

Another important aspect when using guaifenesin is to avoid salicylates in medications, herbs, cosmetics, and skin care items.

When symptoms (such as headaches, depression, etc.) become severe enough and interfere with activities of daily living to a great degree, they can be managed with specific medications to bring relief.

Some people and doctors get discouraged with the whole idea of what fibromyalgia is and what it isn’t and throw up their hands in resignation. It is important for the patient to arm themselves with as much information as they can find and accept fibromyalgia for what it is. Again, any prominent and particularly distressing symptoms can be treated for relief.

I must say that, now that I have become familiar enough with it, guaifenesin is my treatment of choice when it comes to fibromyalgia. Since I connected with Dr. St. Amand in 1997, I have seen a number of patients become greatly improved after following the protocol correctly and long enough. When one sees cases like that, it becomes pretty impressive.

For more information on Dr. John Hipps, the Country Doctor, visit The Country Doctor website.

Please consult your physician before pursuing any course of treatment.

Herpes labialis occurs on or near the lips and nostrils. Herpes genitalis occurs in the genital area, and herpes zoster may occur anywhere on the body.

The word herpes means “creeping skin disease” and although the rash of these three conditions looks similar, they are very different as to their cause and what they mean. Eruption in all cases is in the form of a small blister–either single or in small patches. They resemble “pimples” except that the fluid they contain is clear rather than pus-filled. They also resemble the eruption of chicken pox except for being smaller.

All herpes eruptions are painful, inflamed, and sometimes itchy.

Cold sores or fever blisters are the most common of the herpetic infections and occur as a first-time infection in early childhood. After the initial episode clears, the virus remains buried inside the cells of the skin around the lips and nostrils. Active eruption can recur any time thereafter for a lifetime as the result of some kind of stress on the body.

Some people will have flare ups with a feverish illness of any kind, with nervousness, menstrual periods, and exposure to sun, wind, surgical anesthesia, or with the trauma of dental procedures. When sun and wind is a common precipitator, the use of a sunscreen lotion will be preventive.

When the eruption is mild, you can treat it with an over-the-counter ointment. The blister can also be painted frequently with tincture of benzoin that helps it to dry and heal more quickly. It is sometimes necessary to use cool compresses followed by a steroid cream for severe eruption.

When the eruption happens often (every month or so) and is very troublesome, your doctor may recommend an injection of prednisone or the like. This will get you through a severe case much quicker and prevent recurrences for many months. It has no harmful side effects when used with good judgment and common sense.

It is sometimes associated with loss of hearing, a plugged or blocked sensation in the ear, and lightheadedness or dizziness.

Anyone of any age can experience tinnitus for brief periods of time, but when it persists, it becomes necessary to do something about it.

Tinnitus comes about because something has gone wrong in the auditory system, a system that includes the outer ear, lobe, and canal; the ear drum and middle ear bones; the inner ear, which is the center for balance and hearing; the auditory nerve and the hearing center in the back of the brain.

Some of the more common causes of tinnitus include middle ear infection, perforated drums, wax buildup in the canal, eustachianitis, allergy, head injury, rumors, tobacco, excessive use of alcohol, certain medications, injury to the inner ear by loud noise and the deteriorating effects of aging.

Your family doctor can help you get to the bottom of the problem and its treatment. When he cannot, he will refer you to an ear specialist (an otologist) or an ear, nose, and throat specialist (an MD otolaryngologist). Don’t be too quick to go to a hearing aid store if you also have trouble with your hearing. There may be a lot more to it than defective hearing and an expensive aid may not be the answer for your tinnitus.

If your tinnitus is not correctable by medical treatment or surgery, don’t despair. There are some non-medical ways of relieving the problem.

Avoid loud noises as much as possible. Gunshots, jet engines, jackhammers, chain saws, industrial machinery, and loud music can cause the problem to begin with and will aggravate it when due to any of the other causes.

Reduce your intake of alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, and aspirin. Be sure that any medications you are taking do not affect the ear as a side effect.

Since stress aggravates tinnitus, the various types of relaxation techniques are helpful. Biofeedback, hypnosis, and acupuncture can also be helpful.

There are also times when a hearing aid works for those with both tinnitus and decreased hearing. The sounds that the aid picks up from the environment can reduce or eliminate ringing.

A device on the market–called a tinnitus masker–is worn like a hearing aid. It emits a low humming noise like a breeze through the trees–a sound that is familiar and pleasant and is easily ignored, thereby masking out the ringing.

The vein is a thin-walled vessel compared to an artery and when subject to physical stress around it or from the inside, it will begin to bulge. This pressure weakens the walls and slows the flow of blood onward to the heart. As the process gradually worsens, the vein will become prominent and twisted under the skin. Blood flow becomes more stagnant and the vessel is subject to inflammation, infection and sometimes rupture. At this point, phlebitis has occurred and clots may develop which then may become loose to circulate into the lungs, brain and other organs where a serious complication can take place.

This problem occurs commonly in the vaginal area in the presence of the downward pressure of pregnancy and delivery. It commonly occurs in the legs with both male and female. There is an inherited tendency for varicose veins. Other causes include overweight and obesity, long-time standing, long-time sitting with legs crossed, and lack of sufficient exercise of the legs. Another common place for varicose veins to occur is in the anal and lower rectal areas where they are called hemorrhoids. Chronic constipation and diarrhea helps to bring this on. When bleeding and clotting occurs, it is often sufficiently severe to require prompt medical attention.

Superficial varicose veins are more a cosmetic problem unless enlarged and extensive. Support stockings help to prevent worsening. So also does avoidance of prolonged standing as much as possible. When sufficiently symptomatic veins can be shrunk by injections or removed by stripping. When superficial and deep veins become swollen, inflamed and tender prompt medical attention is needed to treat phlebitis and its possible complications.

In his 384-page book, The Country Doctor Alive and Well, Dr. Hipps shares his experiences of being a country doctor – whether in the mountains of Pennsylvania, the Ethiopian escarpment, or with the Black Foot people of the Dakotas. Written with warmth and wit, this book is both entertaining and informative. Fly with the Doctor as he learns to pilot a helicopter. Ride with him through the scenic Appalachian Mountains as he makes house calls. Experience what it was like as a floating medical unit in the South Pacific during World War II.The characters are charming and the stories are full of humor and adventure. If you are interested in home remedies, the Interludes located between each chapter are full of medical wisdom, commonsense thinking, self care information, and alternative medicine options.Learn three quick fixes to stop insect bites from itching.
Find out what one of the best remedies for dry skin is.
Sour cream as a home remedy? You might be surprised.
You can easily make your own soapless skin cleanser.

John G. Hipps MD has practiced medicine for over 40 years in the mountain country of Pennsylvania, with Native Americans in the Dakotas, and in Africa as a medical missionary.  It is during this lifetime of experience that he has developed and perfected the philosophy of “the country doctor attitude.” 

He currently lives in Emporium, Pennsylvania, where he practices consulting in the fields of Environmental and Occupational Medicine. Dr. Hipps specializes in multiple chemical sensitivities, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, and is available for second opinions and Social Security medical evaluations. Dr. Hipps is also available for seminars and speaking engagements.

Contact Dr. Hipps here.