This is one of the tastiest and most unusual home remedies we have ever collected. Donald Agar had suffered from Crohn's disease for many years. Diarrhea was a constant problem. By accident he discovered that Archway Coconut Macaroon cookies helped... (Read More)
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Home Remedies
Pediatrician Alan Greene discusses his thoughts on the safety and efficacy of using hand sanitizers for children to prevent colds and the flu. --------... (Read More)
When we read about this treatment for alopecia areata in the Archives of Dermatology (November 1998) we were astounded. The Scottish dermatologists stated that "Cedarwood, lavender, thyme, and rosemary oils have hair growth-promoting properties. These oils have been anecdotally used... (Read More)
This is one of the most bizarre discoveries we have ever heard about. A scientist noticed that when he got up out of his chair after watching a football game, his arthritis pain was greatly diminished. During the course of... (Read More)
A reader shared with us his novel approach for treating arthritis with a Aspertame (also known by the brand name NutraSweet®). --------... (Read More)
Q. When I first developed hemorrhoids I could hardly believe this was happening to me. I called my doctor and she suggested surgery, but I didn't want to go under the knife. A favorite book about foods that heal suggested... (Read More)
Warts are extremely susceptible to home remedies, and many have been developed for this common condition. One of our favorites is readily available at any grocery store. Tape a small piece of banana skin (with the fleshy side towards the... (Read More)
Thanks to Nell Heard and Wendall Dean for this contribution. Wendall is a wood-carver and scroller. His carving buddies always keep a packet of black pepper on hand for times when they cut themselves on sharp tools. Nell, her sister,... (Read More)
Q. Have you ever heard of using castor oil for bruises? My mother-in-law swears by this remedy. Whenever one of my kids bumps a knee, she rubs castor oil on it and there is never a bruise. A. Arnica... (Read More)
A competetive sprinter in his eighties shares his favorite home remedy for treating arthritis pain. --------... (Read More)
Q. I'm a 39-year-old woman in need of an herb that can decrease sex drive. I think you've written about this before, but I can't recall the herb you suggested. I'm in excellent health, taking only Flonase, Ortho Tri-Cyclen and... (Read More)
Cinnamon has been proven to help lower blood sugar, and can be helpful for people with type 2 Diabetes trying to manage their blood sugar. --------... (Read More)
Asthma can be a serious disease that requires medical management, not home remedies. But we mentioned in the first edition of "The People's Pharmacy®" that if you are caught without medicine, a couple of cups of strong coffee may help... (Read More)
Vaginal dryness is a common problem after menopause or certain cancer treatments. Finding an acceptable sexual lubricant can be a challenge. We heard from one couple who used an old-fashioned moisturizing hand lotion called Corn Huskers for twenty-five years. They... (Read More)
This listener shares her experience of using a home remedy consisting of cornmeal paste to cure her nail fungus. --------... (Read More)
Q. I have high blood pressure (about 180/80) and my doctor has prescribed nearly everything he can think of. We have tried over a dozen different medicines, with unacceptable results or side effects. I am currently taking Diovan which makes... (Read More)
Research on duct tape was published in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine (Oct. 2002). Parents were told to cover the wart with a piece of duct tape for six days. If it fell off, they were to replace... (Read More)
We have received numerous solutions for flatulence, but this one seems the most popular. A physician's wife wrote to tell us that her husband's serious gas problem was solved when he followed this advice from a Hungarian masseuse: 1 tablespoon... (Read More)
Flaxseed is rich in soluble fiber. One reader has found a way to utilize this property to prevent constipation: "I purchase flaxseed in bulk at a health food store for about $1.50 per pound. I put three quarts of water... (Read More)
We have received more mail about this "raisin remedy" than any other home remedy we have written about. We don't know how it got started or why it works, but many readers swear it relieves arthritis pain. Ingredients: golden raisins... (Read More)
We love this remedy and use it whenever we feel a cold coming on.It came to us from a radio listener in the hills of West Virginia but originated with her grandmother in India. Grind about half an inch of... (Read More)
One listener shares his experience using ginger to treat the symptoms of the common cold. Ginger is well known for its beneficial effects on the digestvie tract, but can also ease coughs and colds. --------... (Read More)
This is a lovely story from a retired nurse describing one of our favorite home remedies for treating arthritis. --------... (Read More)
Dermatologist Amy Wechsler talks with us about hair loss, including treating hair loss in women. --------... (Read More)
Here’s a remedy that goes back generations. We can’t explain or vouch for it…but it has been popular for a long time to promote regularity. A reader shared the following : "I have always had problems with regularity and recently... (Read More)
Q. I have been using honey as an ointment to prevent and treat skin infections for years. Not only does it work for cuts and scrapes, but it also works on herpes cold sores, cutting down on the length and... (Read More)
Hot peppers and spicy food like salsas could provide relief from the discomforts of Psoriasis. --------... (Read More)
One reader shares his story of using spicy hot gumbo soup to stop a migraine cold. --------... (Read More)
We discovered this technique in the book Dermatology: Diagnosis and Treatment* and have been using it ever since we wrote it up in the first edition of "The People's Pharmacy®." Moderate itching (the sort of thing you get from a... (Read More)
Dermatologist Amy Wechsler explains the efficacy of laser hair removal. --------... (Read More)
Pediatrician Alan Greene addresses some concerns about the safety of sunscreens for children, and discusses the safest ingredients to look for when choosing a sunscreen for children. --------... (Read More)
Pediatrician Alan Greene talks us through the most current thinking about the potential risk of Aspirin, Reye's Syndrome, and what the best options are for treating pain and fever in children. --------... (Read More)
Put orange juice (8 oz? unspecified) and a diced banana or peach into a 16 oz jar, cap tightly and shake. Then add 1/3 cup raw rolled oats and 1 Tablespoon ground flax meal. Cap once again, shake, let sit... (Read More)
Q. I want to thank you for saving me from a most embarrassing situation. I am president of a small corporation and we were making a pitch to an important client. I had been suffering from a cold for about... (Read More)
A gentleman called in to our public radio show with an amazing story about Listerine mixed with baby oil. His veterinarian had recommended this combination for relieving itchy spots on his Dobermans and horses. He found that it worked and... (Read More)
A horse lover shared the following formula she used on the mane and tail of her filly: 1/3 Listerine (original formula) 1/3 baby oil and 1/3 water Put in a spray bottle, shake well and spray it on. This is... (Read More)
We have heard from several readers that Listerine can be helpful in preventing lice infestations. We recently received this testimonial from a reader: "The best way to prevent head lice is old-fashioned Listerine Antiseptic Mouthrinse. We were in the Army... (Read More)
A reader offered the following suggestion for getting rid of nail fungus: “I cured my toenail fungus using a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and Listerine. I combined them in a quart jar with a screw-on lid and used a clean... (Read More)
The meat tenderizer trick was our very first home remedy in the original edition of The People's Pharmacy®.* We stumbled across it in the Journal of the American Medical Association.** Dr. Harry L. Arnold of the American Health Institute suggested... (Read More)
Q. I have been plagued with nummular eczema for years. It does not respond to Benadryl, prednisone or any kind of topical cortisone ointment. I read in your column about some doctors in Japan who had people with eczema drink... (Read More)
A listener shares her own personal recipe and technique to make a Passion Flower extract to treat her husbands insomnia. --------... (Read More)
A listener to our radio show called in the following recipe his Philippine-American girlfriend taught him. He says eating this chicken once a week keeps colds away. We don't know about that, but it might keep everyone else away as... (Read More)
Pediatrician Alan Greene gives us his top three recommendations for pro-active ways to deal with Eczmea. --------... (Read More)
Recipe 1 cup applesauce 1 cup coarse, unprocessed bran 3/4 cup prune juice Mix all the ingredients together. They will turn into a pasty, stiff glop about the consistency of peanut butter. After mixing, it should be kept refrigerated. Take... (Read More)
This home remedy for arthritis pain has generated almost as much mail as the gin and raisins. One newspaper column reader related that her grandmother had been using it as long ago as 1945. Purchase Certo in the canning section... (Read More)
We roared with laughter when we read the letter from a woman who told us that her uncle's little terrier had cured his long-standing case of athlete's foot. Every evening when he got home, he would take off his shoes... (Read More)
One of the strangest remedies we have ever heard of involves sauerkraut juice against canker sores. Take a tablespoon of sauerkraut juice in your mouth and swish it around morning and night, then swallow it. Do this twice a day... (Read More)
People use all sorts of remedies for bee or wasp stings. Some swear by tobacco juice, but that is getting hard to come by as the habit of chewing tobacco is fading (along with cigarette smoking). Others prefer mud or... (Read More)
There is now a prescription drug (Requip) to treat RLS (restless leg syndrome). The only problem is that some people fall asleep during the day. This could be risky if they are behind the wheel. As far as we can... (Read More)
An Airborne Ranger shares with us his experience of being burned during a training excercise, and what the Special Forces medic used to treat him might surprise you. --------... (Read More)
Hiccups are rarely serious, but they certainly can be annoying. There are dozens of remedies from holding your breath to drinking water from the far side of a glass. This is one we have been talking about since 1976. It's... (Read More)
There are so many wart remedies it is hard to know where to start or stop. Castor oil applications are highly recommended by our readers. But one of the few treatments that have actually been tested is taking Tagamet. This... (Read More)
Sweaty hands can be embarrassing, and sweaty feet can lead to foot odor and increase the risk of athlete's foot. One dermatologist we consulted offered the following home remedy: Boil five tea bags in a quart of water for five... (Read More)
Purple concord grape juice has some anit-clotting effects and can inhibt inflamitory compounds in the blood. It can aslo produce a modest increase in good HDL cholesterol. Dr. Jane Friedman at Boston University School of Medicine explains her study on... (Read More)
Dermatologist Amy Wechsler shares with us her advice on treating dry and chapped lips. She disusses what causes chapped lips, and what to avoid to prevent becoming dependent on lip balm. --------... (Read More)
Dermatologist Dr. Amy Wechsler discusses with us the most effective ways to treat the excessive sweating known as Hyperhidrosis. --------... (Read More)
Dermatologist Amy Wechsler shares her tips for treating oily skin. --------... (Read More)
Dermatologist Amy Wechsler discusses with us her favorite ways to remove warts. --------... (Read More)
Turmeric and its most active ingredient curcumin have gotten attention for their anti-inflammatory properties. We have heard from readers that this yellow spice used in curry powder and mustard can help alleviate arthritis pain. One reader offered the following experience.... (Read More)
A radio listener shares her stepfather's experience with Turmeric for his severe Psoriasis. --------... (Read More)
The People's Pharmacy® radio show is made possible in part by Redex Industries, makers of Udder Cream, Udderly Smooth Hand and Body Lotion, and the new COUNTRY CREAM.aids for dry, chapped skin. 800-345-7339 . The website is: http://www.uddercream.com... (Read More)
Pediatrician Alan Greene dicusses some unique ways to treat head lice without using harsh pesitcides. --------... (Read More)
Anyone who has ever had to give a talk in front of a large audience knows that anxiety can be paralyzing. One woman had to give up a career as a musician because her stage fright was incapacitating. Even after... (Read More)
This home remedy has gotten us into a lot of trouble. In recent years lice have seemingly become resistant to over-the-counter lice shampoos, which has left families desperate for relief. One mother wrote that a pediatric dermatologist, Neil Prose, M.D.,... (Read More)
A foot care nurse shares her experience with Vicks® VapoRub® for treating toenail fungus. --------... (Read More)
One listener shares her experience of using Vicks® VapoRub® in a novel way to treat her severe and chronic cough. --------... (Read More)
There are so many uses for vinegar it boggles the mind. An otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat specialist) recommended rinsing the ear with the following solution: one part vinegar to five parts tepid water. He suggested putting drops in the... (Read More)
Almost all antiperspirants contain aluminum, in one form or another. It is hard to say at this time whether we absorb any of that aluminum into our systems and even if we did, whether it would be harmful. Nonetheless, some... (Read More)
Here is another doctor-recommended home remedy. Russell Copelan, M.D., wrote about this one in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.* He suggests adhering a tiny piece of salicylic acid plaster (the kind used to treat warts) over a... (Read More)
Dermatologist Amy Wechsler tells us about some warning signs that should send you to see a dermatologist right away. --------... (Read More)