Six Uncommon Cures

woman eating cherry

Courtesy of Men's Health

Strange yet totally effective solutions to your most ailments

Zap Bad Breath with Blue Light
Duct tape has hundreds of uses, but apparently researchers at Hebrew University Hadassah School of Dental Medicine felt that fixing a malodorous mouth shouldn't be one of them. So they experimented with other, less restrictive ways to stop the stench, including shining some light on the problem. In a study reported in the Journal of Medical Microbiology, the scientists exposed saliva samples to various wavelengths of light and then conducted a sniff test. The winner: blue light--by a nose.

"It induces the production of oxygen radicals, which are harmful to anaerobic bacteria, the producers of bad breath," says study author Nir Sterer, D.M.D., Ph.D.

Make it work for you:Until researchers develop a safe, handheld blue-light device, you'll need to get creative. To that end, try replacing the lightbulbs over your bathroom sink with a set of GE Reveal bulbs ($4)--they give off the necessary bug-bashing rays. Then just complete your normal twice-a-day routine--floss, brush, scrape, gargle. Whatever light that manages to filter into your mouth may help your halitosis, and it won't hurt--unless you stand on your tiptoes and bare your teeth to the bulbs; prolonged, close-up exposure to blue light has the potential to harm sensitive gum tissue.

Use Cherries to Mend Muscle
Recover from hefting 200 pounds of iron by lifting 12 ounces of cherry juice. In an 8-day study of weight-training men, University of Vermont researchers discovered that those who imbibed a tall glass of a cherry-juice blend twice a day retained more strength (18 percent) and experienced faster pain relief (1 day sooner) than men who downed cherry-flavored Kool-Aid. A concentration of inflammation-fighting antioxidants inside cherries helps erase the ache, says Declan Connolly, Ph.D., the study author. "They minimize the microscopic muscle tears that occur during forceful contraction."

Make it work for you: Normally, calorie considerations would argue for chewing your cherries instead of drinking them. Only problem is that you'd have to eat dozens of cherries to realize the anti-inflammatory effect of one glass of the juice, which Connolly points out is really all anyone should need to feel results. What is important, however, is the timing of your imbibing. "It's best to drink it after lifting or any time you do a higher-intensity workout," he says. Look for a brand made with "red tart cherries" but without added sugar, such as Organic Just Tart Cherry from R.W. Knudsen ($5), or CherryPharm, expected early this fall.

Fix an Enlarged Prostate with Botox
Physiologically speaking, an expanding gland and frown lines have nothing in common, except that the former can cause the latter. But recent research in the British Journal of Urology International shows that when men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) were given Botox injections in their prostates, most experienced a 30 percent improvement in their symptoms, including a reduced urge to urinate and an easier time of things when they did. Botox is believed to help beat BPH by blocking key nerves that contribute to the prostate's runaway cell production. In addition, the effects of a single injection last for a year, says study author Michael Chancellor, M.D., which is about three times the duration of Botox-corrected crow's-feet.

Make it work for you: "Botox is a good option for younger men who don't want to take a pill or have surgery," says Dr. Chancellor, adding that both can cause side effects ranging from fatigue to erectile dysfunction. "And even though it's an off-label use, more and more doctors are being trained to do it." (Ask your urologist about prostate botulinum-toxin therapy.) Obviously, it's harder to hit a target below the belt than one on someone's face, which is why doctors use ultrasound to help guide needle into gland. "It sounds worse than it really is--you can be off playing golf the same afternoon," says Dr. Chancellor.

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