Surprising & Unique Remedies
Unorthodox uses of many common household staples can solve an amazing range of simple health problems. Share your own discoveries.
Can Washing Your Face with Selsun Blue Overcome …
Rosacea can cause easy flushing and a persistently red face. In some cases, people develop little red bumps on the skin that resemble acne, although they aren't actually pimples. Eventually, the nose …
Dancer Delights in Fungus-Free Toenails
Nail fungus is very common, affecting toenails more often than fingernails. Thirty years ago or so, doctors often advised their patients to ignore toenail fungus. They would point out that, although t…
How to Fight Fungus with a Sock Soak
Have you ever had to fight fungus on your feet? The infection may show up between your toes or spread over the soles. To get rid of it, you may have tried an antifungal lotion or cream, such as clotri…
Will Magic Mushroom Compound Ease Depression?
Psilocybin is the psychoactive compound in hallucinogenic mushrooms. Humans have used this magic mushroom compound in rituals for thousands of years. The compound alters sensory perceptions and even t…
Why Do Cough Lozenges Ease Indigestion?
Heartburn is hardly a new phenomenon. Humans have probably had to contend with indigestion for as long as the species has existed. Still, it often seems as though 21st century Americans suffer more of…
What Is the Magic with Concord Grape Juice?
Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot. Most people experience the pain predominantly in the heel, especially first thing in the morning. The usual t…
How to Stop a Cold Sore with an Herb
Whether you call them cold sores or fever blisters, these lesions may pop up when you get sick. A respiratory tract infection or exposure to wind or sun may bring them out. No one knows exactly why a …
Can Ginkgo Help Stroke Survivors Keep Their Wits…
Ginkgo biloba has long been a popular herb in China. It is credited with promoting memory and fighting dementia, although most studies using a German extract of the tree have not provided convincing r…
Painful Fingertip Cracks Heal Quickly with Liqui…
When the weather turns cold and heating dries out the air, many people suffer painful fingertip cracks. When the skin of thumbs and fingers cracks, simple tasks like buttoning a shirt, typing a messag…
People with Parkinson’s Benefit from High-…
Patients with the movement disorder called Parkinson’s disease often develop resistance to treatment after several years. Unfortunately, the usual consequence is worsening symptoms that make daily l…
Will Melatonin Under Your Tongue Ease Insomnia?
Millions of Americans suffer with insomnia. They have trouble falling asleep, or they wake in the middle of the night and toss and turn when they can't get back to sleep. When they stumble out of bed …
Twins Demonstrate the Benefits of Vicks VapoRub …
When we first heard about putting Vicks VapoRub on the soles of the feet to calm a cough, we thought it was a little odd. In fact, the nurse who told us about it described this remedy as "wacky." None…
Why Put Soap Under Your Bottom Sheet?
Sometimes we come across a remedy or recommendation that, at first blush, doesn't seem to make any sense. That certainly was the response from many of our readers when we wrote about putting soap unde…
How to Lower Blood Pressure Without Drugs
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, does not give out many warning signs. You can't usually feel whether your blood pressure is high or low, and as a result it can creep upwards sometimes without yo…
Can You Prevent Cold Sores by Avoiding Cashews?
Cold sores, also known as fever blisters, are part of the body's reaction to herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Although the vast majority of us have been exposed to HSV-1, not everyone gets blister…
Can You Heal Sore Fingertips with Salve?
Every year, we hear from people who suffer during cold weather with sore fingertips that are cracked or even split open. This condition makes it difficult to fasten buttons, handle pen and paper, mani…
Understanding Ayurvedic Medical Practice and Pro…
For people who are interested in learning more about Ayurvedic medicine, the traditional medicine of the Indian subcontinent, we offer this guest post by Jennifer Rioux, PhD. She is a Doctor of Ayurv…
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…
Is There Science to Support Vinegar for Reflux?
We love home remedies, but most are based on people's experience and don't have any truly scientific explanation for why or how they work. That is why we get excited when we encounter a possible reaso…
Will Smearing Greek Yogurt on the Face Ease Flak…
Have you ever heard of seborrheic dermatitis? This skin condition resembles dandruff on the face. Probably the cause of both conditions is an overgrowth of the yeast that normally co-exists with other…
FDA Reverses Its Stand on Soy Health Claims
Since 1999, food manufacturers have been allowed to make heart health claims for foods containing soy protein. This was based on the idea that soy protein might lower LDL cholesterol, which in turn sh…
Don’t Overdose on Black Licorice!
The FDA has a warning for anyone whose Halloween trick-or-treat bag is brimming with black licorice. According to the agency, eating too much black licorice, about two ounces a day, can disrupt heart…
Will Milk of Magnesia Help Rosacea?
Rosacea is a skin condition that causes easy flushing of the face and then lasting redness on the cheeks, chin, nose or forehead. There may be bumps that resemble pimples-although they aren't actually…
What Is Blackseed Oil Good For?
As Americans grow disenchanted with pharmaceuticals, they have become interested in botanical medicines. Many of these come from different medical traditions. Scientists may not have devoted much time…
Rub on Heat from Peppers to Ease Pain in Hands
People have been suffering with arthritis since the dawn of humankind. Painful joints and stiffness can slow a person down considerably. And arthritis pain in hands makes it difficult to accomplish ev…
Licorice Oil Calms the Heat of Fire Ant Stings
What do you do for fire ant stings? As fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) push further north, many more people will have occasion to treat the pain of their stings. Some readers are enthusiastic about vin…
Are You Crazy to Keep Soap Under the Sheets?
If you found a bar of soap under the sheets on your bed, you might be startled. Of course, if you've been reading The People's Pharmacy, you'll know immediately what that soap is doing there. Many peo…
How to Lift Worry Along with Weights
Lifting weights makes your muscles stronger; it may also make you feel less anxious. Can you really lift worry off your shoulders as you do your weight-lifting routine? Studies Show Weight-Lifting Hel…
When Should You Worry About Hiccups?
Have you ever had hiccups? Almost everyone has. They can be annoying, embarrassing and uncomfortable, but hiccups generally go away on their own. When hiccups last for more than two days, though, they…
Can Acupressure Arm Bands Help with Sleep Proble…
Many individuals who have sleep problems from time to time would rather solve them without resorting to sleeping pills. After all, prescription sleeping pills can be habit-forming. Even OTC sleep aids…
Will You Fail a Drug Test If You Take CBD Oil?
More than half of the states in the US now have some provision for the medical use of marijuana. In addition, 18 states have specific legislation about cannabidiol oil (CBD oil). In most cases, these …
Should You Smear Chili Oil on Your Psoriasis?
Every once in a while, a reader comes up with a home remedy that surprises us. Although we have often written about capsaicin, the essence of hot chili peppers, we've never imagined using chili oil an…
Why Was Aleve Better Than Tylenol for Bed-Wettin…
Bed-wetting is not just a child's problem. Enuresis, as it is known medically, can also affect older people. Doctors sometimes prescribe anticholinergic drugs such as oxybutynin (Ditropan, Oxytrol) an…
Veterans Find Yoga Improves Their Moods
Many people think yoga appeals primarily to women. But a new study from the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center should put that myth to rest. A group of veterans discovered that yoga improve…
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 …
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…
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…