ARNICA DELIVERS SUPERIOR PAIN RELIEF
Flower power update: Arnica, an anti-inflammatory agent found in marigolds, has been shown to be more effective against arthritis when compared with ibuprofen. In a Swiss study, 204 people applied one remedy or the other in gel form to arthritic fingers: the arnica users reported greater levels of relief.
Rheurmatology Intern'l online 2/07.

FOLIC ACID MAY HELP HEARING
If you don't want to ask "Huh?" a lot as you get older, listen up — a B vitamin may help. Over 700 people in the Netherlands, where vitamin fortification isn't mandatory (unlike the U.S.), took either 800 mcg of folic acid or a placebo daily for three years; those in the first group showed less hearing loss.
Annals of Internal Medicine 1/2/07.

CREATINE: STRENGTH-BOOSTER FOR MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY?
The roughly 30 genetic disorders that fall under the term of "muscular dystrophy" involve damage to muscle proteins that results in weakness. Now research suggests that creatine, long a favorite amino acid among bodybuilders, may help; in 12 studies involving 266 individuals, creatine supplementation increased strength by an average of 8.5%.
Cochrane Database Issue 1, 2007