Home Remedies
Extra Vitamin D No Benefit for Kids with Colds
People with low levels of vitamin D appear more susceptible to upper respiratory tract infections (Zhang et al, PLOS One, Dec. 9, 2016) and even pneumonia (Haugen et al, Pediatric Research, online Jul…
Vinegar to the Rescue in Wasabi Crisis
If you have never had sushi, you might be surprised at the very sharp taste of the wasabi that is a frequent accompaniment. It can hit your nasal passages and sinuses with a wallop. Is there anything …
Will Coconut Macaroons Overcome Bad Diarrhea?
We rarely know the source of home remedies, but we have tracked one carefully. The late Donald Agar wrote to us from Pittsfield, Massachusetts, in 1998 to report a serendipitous discovery. He had foun…
Show 1086: Why Dogs Are Good for Babies’ H…
Dogs and Babies' Health: Most young kids love their dogs. New research shows that even babies too young to play with the pet benefit from a dog in the house. What is the story on pets as probiotics? …
Should You Be Drinking More Coffee?
Coffee lovers have a reason to celebrate their favorite beverage. Two new studies in the Annals of Internal Medicine confirm that people who drink more coffee live longer. Studies of People Who Drink…
Should You Take Vitamin D for Your Sunburn?
What do you do for a sunburn? Most people just suffer for several days, although some have favorite home remedies such as Listerine, Greek yogurt or green tea. Some research suggests that a diet rich…
Will Acupressure Bands Help You Fall Asleep?
When job stresses or money worries get to you, what do you do to fall asleep? Many people try taking a sleep aid, whether it's an OTC product like Tylenol PM or a prescription medication like zolpidem…
Will Herbal Oils Ease Arthritis Pain?
Many people have a very difficult time managing their arthritis pain. Perhaps they take NSAID drugs such as ibuprofen or naproxen. Although these medicines can help temporarily with pain relief, they …
Too Little Vitamin D Could Be Deadly
Low levels of vitamin D in the blood are linked to increased mortality. That is the conclusion of a large population-based Norwegian study. How did they discover that too little vitamin D might be dea…
What Can Prolotherapy Do for Sore Knees?
As Americans get older and grayer, we also have to cope with more joint pain. We swallow large quantities of anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs such as ibuprofen or naproxen). Many of us take supplements…
Soothing Dry Eyes with Warm Compresses
Dry eyes are an extremely common condition, and they can also be quite distressing. The eyes may feel constantly irritated, as though they had something in them. People with dry eyes don't seem to mak…
Will Olive Oil Protect Your Brain?
Extra-virgin olive oil might help protect your brain against Alzheimer disease. Epidemiologists have noted that people who follow a Mediterranean diet are less prone to cognitive decline. In one study…
Coconut for Crohn’s Supported by Science
In 1998 we received an intriguing letter from a reader of our syndicated newspaper column. Donald Agar, from Pittsfield, MA, contacted us to say he had finally overcome a long-standing battle with inf…
Can Acupuncture Help Urinary Incontinence?
Urinary incontinence is an embarrassing problem. No one wants to leak urine and wet their underwear, whether the problem is stress incontinence or urge incontinence. In stress incontinence, women may…
Is It True That Cannabidiol Oil Eases Pain?
Could people in pain use a component of cannabis as an unexpected remedy? Anything related to marijuana is often regarded with suspicion because of widespread recreational use of the plant. Nonetheles…
How Can You Make Plantar Warts Disappear?
Most warts don't hurt. However, a person with plantar warts, those that develop on the soles of the feet, may find walking painful. A dermatologist could perform surgery or cryotherapy (freezing), but…
How to Make Gin-Raisin Remedy
Would you like to alleviate arthritis pain without drugs? Many people would, especially when they learn about potential NSAID side effects such as bleeding ulcers or cardiovascular complications. But …
How to Ease RA Pain with Fish
Should you eat a sardine sandwich or tuna salad for lunch if you have rheumatoid arthritis? Surprisingly, fish on the menu might ease RA pain and joint inflammation. Fighting RA Pain with Fish: Resear…
Will Yoga Help Back Pain?
Lower back pain is common and debilitating. It is frequently treated with medications, but the American College of Physicians has issued new guidelines emphasizing nondrug approaches for acute lower b…
What Are the Natural Remedies for Gout?
Gout is a miserable condition. It causes intense, excruciating pain, redness and swelling in one or more joints. Often, the pain may start at the base of the big toe, but other joints frequently hurt…
What Is the Risk of Red Yeast Rice?
One of the pillars of heart disease prevention is keeping blood fats, especially cholesterol, under control. But doctors don't always agree on the best way to achieve this goal. Most recommend a healt…
Is Lowering Cholesterol with Saturated Fats a Pa…
If you have been paying attention, you are no doubt aware that saturated fats like butter or coconut oil are a dietary no-no. The theory is that these fats, which are solid at room temperature, can cl…
What Will Ease Painful Hemorrhoids After Giving …
Women have to make a lot of adjustments right after giving birth. Their bodies change dramatically in that process. While many of the alterations are nature's way of helping a mother nurture the infa…
Are Olive Oil and Wine Really Good for You?
Independent research has shown that both olive oil and wine appear to protect people from cardiovascular disease. For example, a recent review pointed out that red wine, in particular, contains polyph…
How Good Is Pharmaceutical-Grade Chondroitin?
In the US, chondroitin sulfate is usually sold as a dietary supplement and taken in conjunction with glucosamine to treat arthritis pain. Most well-controlled trials in this country have shown that th…
What Are the Best Remedies for Under-Breast Rash…
Women rarely talk about one delicate problem that many of them experience. It is especially common at this time of year because of warm, humid weather. These conditions favor the growth of fungus unde…
Will Acupuncture Relieve Your Arthritic Knee Pai…
People with chronic arthritis are faced with a terrible choice: do they suffer from pain every day, or do they take pain relievers with scary side effects? Unfortunately, the pain medications used …
Does Chocolate Really Help Your Heart?
The Danish Diet, Cancer and Health Study has turned up an interesting observation: people who eat chocolate are less likely to develop atrial fibrillation, a heart rhythm abnormality that affects betw…
Can You Lower Blood Sugar with Cinnamon?
You've no doubt heard that type 2 diabetes has reached epidemic levels in this country and many others. That means that millions more people have pre-diabetes, blood sugar that is headed in the wron…
How to Use Lavender Oil to Calm Restless Legs
Restless legs don't sound particularly serious, but the overwhelming urge to move the legs every few minutes or so can prevent a good night's sleep. The sensation can be extremely unpleasant. Usually,…
Can You Safely Take Fish Oil with Blood Thinners…
Many of us make a clear distinction between the drugs we take and the vitamins or supplements we use. It seems logical enough for our brains, but our bodies don't recognize categories like that. An…
Why You Should Exercise and Eat Right, Now
We've all been told that we should exercise and eat right. Research to be reported at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting shows that a healthy lifestyle matters. That's true even after a…
How Will Beetroot Juice Help Your Heart?
Beet juice has developed quite a reputation over the past few decades. Researchers have discovered that it lowers blood pressure and improves athletic endurance. Canadian scientists demonstrated that…
Could Tai Chi Help You Overcome Insomnia?
Up to 30 percent of women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer have trouble sleeping. They may be understandably worried about their condition and unable to sleep for that reason. Lying awake ca…
Will Overdosing on Vitamin B6 Cause Irreversible…
Most people think of vitamins as benign nutrients. If a little is good then a "lottle" is better. In other words, the more the merrier. Most of the time people do not get into trouble if they take a l…
Will a Gluten-Free Diet Help Your Heartburn Symp…
Judging from the popularity of medicines like esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid) and omeprazole (Prilosec), heartburn symptoms are extremely common. Is there a better way to prevent the re…
Will Chlorophyll Capsules Make Underarms Smell S…
In the ongoing search for ways to control body odor, people have invented some creative solutions. One of the most unusual is swallowing supplemental chlorophyll every day. Is this a good idea? Chlor…
Why Don’t Vitamin D Supplements Work as Ex…
If you are taking big doses of vitamin D in the hopes of staving off all sorts of health problems, you may be disappointed. Most research has not demonstrated that taking high doses of vitamin D suppl…
Is Clever Home Remedy for Insomnia Hurting Your …
We love simple approaches to common problems, so when we heard about a clever home remedy for insomnia we were intrigued. The approach takes advantage of an acupressure point that is supposed to help …
Will Simple Remedies Get Rid of Your Ugly Toenai…
Nail fungus is an extremely common complaint. It makes toenails thick, yellow and ugly. Infected nails may be so thick that trimming them is a chore. Dermatologists assure us that for most people nai…