Q: I was appalled that your e-mail news recommended moderate alcohol (wine)…

…I saw no cautions that alcoholic beverages cause cancer. Alcohol use is a risk for even a healthy individual.

Q: Our 20-year-old daughter has always had painful menstruation. Recently the periods started to drag on for 2 weeks. A check-up at the gynecologist revealed nothing abnormal. But then he prescribed her birth control pills. She really has no intention of using those. What would you suggest she could do to help her problem?

Did you know that until last year most medical doctors (especially surgeons) worked 100 to 120 hours per week, 50 weeks per year for three to seven years after they graduate medical school? That’s not “up to” 100 to 120 hours a week, that’s actual hours worked.

It’s pretty much a given that every time you go to the doctor-no matter what the reason-they’re going to measure your blood pressure. But have you ever wondered how exactly those blood pressure pumps work? Well, when the doctor or nurse pumps the cuff tight around your arm, they’re using a column of glass-enclosed mercury to measure the pressure. The mercury gauge has been the most accurate way of measuring blood pressure for over a century. And since the mercury never comes into contact with the human body, it’s also very safe.

You may have seen the movie Medicine Man starring Sean Connery (in his post-James Bond days). The film’s plot involves a scientist working in the Amazon jungle who discovers a plant that can cure cancer. While we all know that movies are larger than life, Medicine Man actually wasn’t too far off. The jungles of South America do contain a largely untapped resource of healing plants. But luckily for us, information about some of these plants is gradually filtering through to the Western world-and not just via Hollywood. One plant in particular, cat’s claw (Uncaria tomentosa), has become widely adopted by Western herbal clinicians.

For years, the Boston area and particularly Harvard have taken a great deal of pride in their medical institutions. So much so, in fact, that they refer to themselves (only partly in jest) as the “Center of the Known Medical Universe.” But even if they do have overinflated egos, I’ll agree that some fairly amazing medical developments have come out of Harvard and the Boston area.

Last month, you read about different ways to protect your heart-a topic not making many headlines these days, but one that’s still critical to your health. This month, I’ve chosen another topic that you’re also not hearing much about lately (except in drug ads), even though it probably affects many of you on a daily basis: arthritis.

IN THIS ISSUE: Say goodbye to most arthritis pain for good in eight steps-or less; The center of the medical universe changes for the better-thanks to you!; The jungle’s secret for fighting colds, allergies, cancer, and more; The one place where mercury can help you; How long has your doctor been on his feet? (And why you should care); End a lifetime of painful periods in as little as two months; End a lifetime of painful periods in as little as two months