Osteoporosis and natural remedies:

Those of you who were paying attention may have noticed that the herb maca was mentioned in the first health query as a good natural anti-depressant that also happened to increase the user's libido. This is not so surprising, perhaps, because maca is recognized as an aphrodisiac in Peru. It was also mentioned by a reader last week who wondered if it was a safe, and effective, way of protecting against osteoporosis. One reader says it is a 'fantastic' alternative to HRT (sounds like it did wonders for her married life, too), while another recommends using natural progesterone cream, as this is proven to improve bone density. Even Argos stocks the stuff, apparently. Another woman tells us that she already takes 'the most effective product in the world to guard against osteoporosis'. Tantalisingly, she won't tell us what it is unless we phone her (and say: "The red squirrel is jumpy in Prague this spring"?)