Q: Valerian gives me horrible nightmares. I work in a health food store and have heard similar complaints from several of my customers. Other people swear by it, though.

Passionflower helps me relax and get to sleep without any nightmares. People with insomnia might also find chamomile helpful.

A: “Vivid dreams” were the most common valerian side effects reported in one pilot study (Phytotherapy Research, September 2001). Many volunteers had no side effects with this herbal treatment, however. Chamomile, passionflower, lemon balm and lavender may all help people sleep better.

A steady bedtime and a regular routine for relaxing can ease sleeping problems, too.

Q: For years, I suffered from sinusitis and hay fever. It started at age 38 as seasonal allergies, progressed to summer colds and then to yearlong sniffling.

It became intolerable. I was eating lots of dairy, especially milk and cheese. When I read about the dairy connection, I cut it out of my diet.

Magically, my allergies abated. Gradually I learned that baked goods also caused flare-ups, so I dropped them, too (many contain milk or whey).

Now I need no over-the-counter allergy pills. I used to take cetirizine, but it caused brain fog. Once I stopped it, that also cleared up. Now, if I wake up with an itchy throat or stuffiness, I take stinging nettles and a quercetin supplement. That offers immediate relief!

A: Many people have heard about quercetin because of COVID-19. This natural flavonoid has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity as well as antiviral properties (Pharmaceuticals, September 2022).

Scientific evidence suggests that quercetin supplements could also be helpful against allergies (European Review for Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, June 2022). In addition to quercetin, curcumin, resveratrol and EGCG from green tea seem to calm mast cells and reduce allergy symptoms (Cells, Nov. 10, 2023).

Stinging nettle may also alleviate allergies (Molecules, April 12, 2024). It seems to affect a range of relevant pathways.

Q: Putting liquid bandage on my skin tags removed them quickly. None of them have returned. I told my dermatologist, and she was intrigued.

A: Skin tags are benign fleshy growths. Dermatologists frequently remove them with freezing or minor surgery. They often warn people not to treat them at home by tying a thin thread or dental floss tightly around the base. This might lead to inflammation or infection.

Other readers have also used liquid bandage, clear nail polish or instant glue. Why such topical products work is a bit mysterious.

A new option for do-it-yourselfers is Dr. Scholl’s Freeze Away Skin Tag Remover. This over-the-counter product contains dimethyl ether, propane and isobutane to generate cold, known as cryotherapy. Freezing tissue destroys the skin tag, and it should fall off within a week or two.

Q: You have written about underbreast rash, and I wanted to share a solution. A lot of the women in my walking group use an anti-friction stick on their inner thighs to keep from chafing as they walk or run. You put it on just like deodorant.

Several women in this group mentioned using it under their breasts, too. Popular brands include Body Glide and Gold Bond.

When I use this in the morning under my breasts, I don’t have a problem with rashes. This can also be used for “stomach folds.”

A: Underbreast rash, also known by the technical term inframammary intertrigo, is especially troublesome during hot, humid weather. Sweating seems to make the problem worse. “Intertrigo” refers to rubbing, so it makes sense that avoiding friction would help (StatPearls, Sept. 19, 2022).

We appreciate you sharing the anti-chafing approach.

In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Send questions to them via www.peoplespharmacy.com.