Surprising & Unique Remedies
Unorthodox uses of many common household staples can solve an amazing range of simple health problems. Share your own discoveries.
Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) Relieved With Soap!
There are some medical conditions that are surprisingly common but quite mysterious. You have probably heard of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Doctors now call it myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). The …
Will Vicks VapoRub Ease Facial Pain?
We have been fascinated to hear lately from readers who have found unusual remedies. We have been writing for years about the possibility that soap can alleviate nighttime leg cramps. We were surpri…
Will Tai Ji Help Keep You from Falling?
Older people have a justified fear of falling. A broken hip often leads to disability or death. That’s why it is so important to prevent falls. A new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine sugges…
Can A Bar of Soap Stop a Cough or Laryngospasm?
We have been writing about the amazing power of soap to stop leg cramps, ease restless leg syndrome and control hand cramps for years. Initially these stories seemed too good to be true. And yet we ha…
Should You Smear Milk of Magnesia on Your Rosace…
People with the skin condition rosacea often feel frustrated. To alleviate the redness of the condition, they may try over-the-counter and prescription medications. Many people report that they don't …
What Is Ayurvedic Medicine and How Does it Work?
By Jennifer Rioux, PhD, AD, C-IAYT, AYT For people who are interested in learning more about Ayurvedic medicine, the traditional medicine of the Indian subcontinent, we offer this guest post by Jennif…
How to Use Soap in Bed for Nighttime Leg Cramps
If you suffer from leg cramps that wake you up at night, you've no doubt sought some way to prevent them. Some people have been advised to take minerals such as magnesium or potassium to ward off leg …
Show 1101: How You Can Use Essential Oils for Be…
Plant-based oils often carry the scent of the plant. Plants may use them to attract insects, but people have found numerous uses for them as well. Some can be used in skin care, while others may be us…
More Indications for Medical Marijuana in Connec…
Although many physicians are skeptical of its benefits, medical marijuana is gradually gaining acceptance. Medical marijuana in Connecticut was already approved for several serious conditions, includi…
Is Urine a Good Remedy for Toenail Fungus?
Experimenting with a military recommendation for preventing athlete's foot led one reader to conclude that it is also an effective remedy for toenail fungus. Still, it is a bit controversial, probably…
Will Stinging Nettle Banish Your Cold Sores?
Most adults have been exposed at some point to the virus that causes cold sores, herpes simplex (HSV1). Not everyone reacts by developing recurrent cold sores, but those who do would love a way to get…
Will Soy Sauce Cool Your Burn?
Lifting a lid or grabbing a pan are opportunities to get burned. On the other hand, cooking is a pleasure as well as a means to eat well and control your own diet. So rather than avoid the kitchen, ma…
Will Milk of Magnesia on Your Face Ease Rosacea?
Rosacea may start with easy blushing and flushing and proceed to constant (or near-constant) redness across the cheeks. With this, people may get bumps that look like pimples but are not. There are me…
How Does Meat Tenderizer Ease the Pain of Stings…
If you've ever been stung by a wasp, you know something about pain. Not only does the sting hurt immediately, but it can also swell up and be painful and itchy for several days. Look for relief in you…
Should You Munch Crickets to Benefit Your Microb…
You may not think that crickets sound like a tasty snack, but a new study suggests they could be a healthy one. In many parts of the world, however, people are delighted when insects are on the menu. …
Will Aromas Help You Avoid Motion Sickness?
Plenty of people get seasick on a boat or carsick in a vehicle. There are medications that can help folks avoid motion sickness, but some individuals find that these drugs can lead to confusion or oth…
Can You Solve Your Foot Odor Problem with Vinega…
Do you have smelly feet? Many people are embarrassed to take off their shoes because of the resulting odor. You might be looking for a way to solve your foot odor problem with home remedies. Readers h…
How to Use Olive Oil to Overcome Lice
Head lice are not particularly dangerous, but they are extremely unpleasant. When they persist despite multiple treatments, people may become very frustrated. Some parents are concerned about having t…
Soap Under the Sheet Can Prevent Nocturnal Leg C…
Nocturnal leg cramps really get in the way of a good night's sleep. You might be sound asleep, possibly even dreaming, and bam! You wake up with a horrible charlie horse or, even worse, an iron-hard m…
Can Castor Oil Clear Your Toenail Fungus?
What can you do to get rid of your toenail fungus? Many readers have wrestled with that question, and some have discovered ingenious solutions. Here is one we hadn't encountered before. Castor Oil to …
How to Fight Lice with Cetaphil Cleanser
Nobody likes lice. Unlike other unpopular biting bugs such as fleas and mosquitoes, lice don't carry dangerous diseases. But they have become resistant to many of the compounds that were once effectiv…
Show 1129: Is Complementary Medicine Good for Ch…
Complementary medicine has become popular in the US. Many people pay out of pocket for treatment by Ayurveda practitioners, massage therapists or chiropractors. Others take a range of herbs and other …
Can Acupuncture Help Your Joint Pain?
Can acupuncture help your joint pain? The answer might be yes, if you are a woman being treated for breast cancer. Many postmenopausal women with breast cancer may receive aromatase inhibitors such as…
Why Would Vicks VapoRub Soothe Poison Ivy Itch?
Did you know that Vicks VapoRub has been around for more than a century? It can be found all over the world. We have been collecting Unique Uses fo Vicks for decades. Here is one that we never heard b…
Can a Chinese Fungus Help You Sleep Better?
Millions of people have trouble sleeping. For some, the main problem is falling asleep. Others report difficulty staying asleep. One reader who wakes up too early and can't fall back to sleep wonders …
Can Cod Liver Oil Relieve Your Knee Pain?
Knee osteoarthritis can really interfere with mobility. Doctors prescribe pain relievers such as diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren) or meloxicam (Mobic), but patients should not take such NSAID medicatio…
Will Listerine Soothe Your Itchy Eczema?
Atopic dermatitis is an overreaction of the immune system that results in itchy eczema. People who are prone to hay fever or asthma are also more susceptible to this condition that produces red bumps …
Soy Sauce to the Rescue to Cool a Burn
What do you do for a burn? First aid experts recommend dousing the burned skin in cold water, and so do we. That stops the heat and prevents further damage. However, to cool a burn and ease the pain a…
Will Castor Oil Get Rid of Skin Tags?
Skin tags are not dangerous, but they can be annoying. These benign growths are usually small, and often occur in underarms, on the neck or near skin folds. Dermatologists can remove them surgically, …
Will Apple Cider Vinegar Relieve Gout Pain?
Gout can cause excruciating pain. In this condition, uric acid builds up in the bloodstream until the crystals precipitate out in a joint and cause swelling, redness and extreme tenderness. While doct…
Will Chiropractic Care Help You Recover from Bac…
Back pain is common, but doctors disagree about the best treatment. Often, physicians recommend that sufferers take pain relievers and let nature take its course to recovery. Patients sometimes consid…
Can You Boost Your Bone Density with Exercise?
Weakened bones with low bone density put a person at risk for fracture. When an older person breaks a hip, the consequences can be devastating. As a result, it makes sense to look for ways to boost yo…
Can You Fight Bacteria with Viruses?
Antibiotic resistance has become a global concern. But Mother Nature has come up with a fascinating option for overcoming bacterial infection: viruses that fight bacteria. Using Viruses to Fight Bacte…
Should You Have a Blue Thumb to Be Pain Free?
Gentian violet is an old but versatile medication. It was created in the 19th century, and although it is a bright blue dye, it was never used to color cloth or products. Its applications were strictl…
How Can You Find Quinine for Leg Cramps?
When a common remedy becomes unavailable, people often become creative. They find new ways to address the problem. That is what many folks have needed to do once the FDA took quinine for leg cramps of…
How to Ease Migraine Pain without Prescriptions
I truly sympathize with those who suffer from chronic migraines. While I occasionally have a mild headache, only once do I think I may have experienced something even close to migraine pain. When I ha…
Will Dandruff Shampoo Ease Your Jock Itch?
Human skin is home to an amazing array of organisms that are too tiny to see with the naked eye. Most of the time, these microbes get along well enough. But occasionally, their ecological system gets …
Will Your Hiccups Go Away If You Reach and Sip?
Have you ever tried to make hiccups go away with a home remedy? There are dozens, at least! Some sound entirely plausible, while others appear quite improbable. They all have one thing in common: a fe…
Easy Ways to Prevent Swimmer’s Ear
In many parts of the country, Memorial Day marks the beginning of summer and swim season. Avid swimmers can't wait to jump into the pool, lake or river. But this activity can lead to infections in the…
Raw Onion to Quell Pain of Sting
You may have simple ingredients in your kitchen cupboard that can ease pain in an emergency. Perhaps you have read about using soy sauce or yellow mustard to cool the pain of a burn. No doubt you are …