Surprising & Unique Remedies
Unorthodox uses of many common household staples can solve an amazing range of simple health problems. Share your own discoveries.
Duct Tape Banished Big Wart
Q. I had an enormous plantar wart on the heel of my foot. I let it go for a long time because I read they can go away on their own, but it got to be about 2 inches across. I tried salicylic acid patch…
Applying Milk of Magnesia Helps Flakes
Q. You recently had an article about treating seborrheic dermatitis with milk of magnesia. My mom is wondering how much milk of magnesia she should take. A. Please tell your mother NOT to swallow milk…
Boudreaux’s Butt Paste Healed Buddy’…
Q. Boudreaux's Butt Paste caught my eye in your column about diaper rash. Our beagle Buddy was bruising his nose, grinding it to the quick as he went about burying treats, small toys and other objects…
Hospital Nights More Restful with Secret Soap Tr…
Q. I am a nurse and I have “secretly” used soap under the sheets of patients who struggle with restless leg syndrome (RLS). They all tell me the only nights that they get sleep and wake up…
Butt Paste for Diaper Rash
Q. You recently had an article about treating diaper rash. My granddaughter had a very bad one, and I used an over-the-counter cream called Boudreaux's Butt Paste. It is not expensive and it works rea…
Aloe Upset Digestive Tract
Q. I just started drinking two ounces of aloe a day to heal a stomach inflammation. I don’t like taking prescription acid suppressors, and they did not seem to be helping so I thought I would tr…
Many Home Remedies Focus on Fungus
Q. I have been diagnosed with dreaded toenail fungus. My doctor recommended an oral medication that is taken over several months, or even up to a year.This medication can cause liver damage, though, s…
Elmer’s Glue Soothes Scorched Skin
Q. Some time ago I heard an unusual home remedy on your radio show: using Elmer's glue to prevent blistering on a burned hand. I burned myself last night and initially iced my hand. Since I've never h…
Avoiding Allergens May Clear Eczema
Q. Do you have any home remedies for eczema and seborrheic dermatitis? I can no longer afford the creams that my doctor has prescribed. A. You may want to check for allergies. One reader shared her ex…
Electrolyte Replacement May Prevent Cramps
Have you ever experienced a muscle cramp? The pain can be excruciating. It is especially hard on athletes. We have heard from serious bike riders who are many miles from home and become incapacitated …
Home Remedy May Offer Pain Relief
Q. My husband and I are both suffering from arthritis pain. His knees hurt and I have problems with my thumbs and my hips. My doctor says hip replacement is in my future. We have tried glucosamine and…
Will Maalox Help Ease Diaper Rash?
Q. I love your column with the low-cost remedies. I have horrible eczema and my granddaughter has inherited it from me.My grandson has really BAD diaper rash. It is hard for him to walk, and he cries …
Cold Keys for Nosebleed
Q. Last week I developed a nosebleed that would not quit. After a couple days I went to an ear, nose and throat specialist. Even after following his advice, though, the nosebleed persisted. After five…
Drugs Can Cause Dreadful Constipation
Q. I take several medicines that I suspect may be contributing to uncomfortable constipation. They include Fosamax and calcium for bones and Lipitor for cholesterol.Please suggest something to provide…
Removing Super Glue with OFF!
Q. My husband got Super Glue on his glasses. (Don't ask!) We tried everything to get it off until I read on your Web site about using the insect repellent DEET. I sprayed OFF out of the can on them. O…
Home Remedy Resource
Q. I loved the recipe you gave for fennel tea to relieve a sore throat and sinus problems. Is there a book that would have similar home remedies, like teas for common symptoms? I have been searching f…
Strange Solutions for Smelly Feet
Q. My 17-year-old granddaughter has a problem with smelly feet. My son uses strong medicine from a podiatrist, which is probably inappropriate for her. Any home remedies?A. Readers of this column love…
Castor Oil Is Inexpensive Nail Remedy
Q. I was having trouble with my nails. Although I tried a number of remedies, some very expensive, nothing seemed to work. Then my daughter told me to try castor oil.I put it on my nails and leave it …
Don’t Use WD-40 on Stiff Joints
Q. I received a list of “helpful hints” in an email recently stating that if you have arthritis or joint pain, you should spray WD-40 on it. Could this possibly be true? It seems that it m…
Favorite Home Remedies for Family
Q. I love reading about various inexpensive home remedies in your column. I often intend to cut something out of the paper and save it, but too often I get my mind on something else and I lose the inf…
Common Laxative Solves Acne Problem
Q. As a teenager, I was blessed with relatively few blemishes. Now in my mid-20s, I have developed large deep pimples that heal slowly and have eroded my self-esteem. I had tried everything from expen…
Listerine to Fight Fungal Infection
Q. For years I have had a yeast infection under my breasts, under my arms and in the groin. Nothing works. I know other women have this problem. I would be grateful for any remedies that might help. A…
Overcoming Constipation from Home Remedy
Q. I found that Certo and grape juice really works for my arthritis. However, it seems to make me constipated. Do you have any ideas to counteract the constipation so I can keep taking the Certo and g…
Listerine Conquers Athlete’s Foot
Q. A few weeks ago I heard Listerine mentioned for jock itch. I didn't have jock itch, but I was suffering from a very persistent case of athlete's foot. I had used several over-the-counter medication…
Zinc Oxide Cream for Hemorrhoids
Q. Someone wrote to you about using zinc oxide as a deodorant. I tried it but it didn't work for me. At the same time my hemorrhoids were burning and itching, and even Preparation H didn't seem to hel…
Finding Natural Approaches to ADD
Q. I have a 17-year-old son that I have suspected for years has a mild form of ADD. He tells me he seems to be bombarded with information like hundreds of highways leading to his brain at one time. He…
Natural Products for Male Potency
Q. I would like to know if there are any herbs used for penis enlargement. I am interested in natural approaches to growing body hair and improving potency. A. Despite extravagant claims that pills ca…
Raisins in Gin to Ease Arthritis
Q. My husband is very interested in the remedy with raisins in gin. He is really suffering with arthritis in both knees. He takes ibuprofen or naproxen but neither helps that much. He has seen an ort…
Lowering Cholesterol Without Statin Drugs
Q. My cholesterol is high but I cannot tolerate statin-type drugs. My doctor has prescribed Lipitor, Zocor and Crestor. They all make my muscles and joints hurt. Now he wants to prescribe Vytorin. I a…
Does Toothpaste Trigger Canker Sores?
Q. I used to have continuous terrible canker sores. I discovered that my toothpaste was the culprit. Since I brush my teeth daily, it was a never-ending cycle. There is an ingredient in all the name b…
Getting Rid of Skin Tags
Q. I have several little skin tags in my armpits. Is there anything that can be put on them so they will go away? I do not want to pay a doctor to cut them off.A. Dermatologists can easily remove skin…
Will Lavender Enlarge Boys’ Breasts?
Q. Is it true that lavender oil can increase female hormones in men and boys? If so, shouldn’t there be a warning on soaps, shampoos and shower gels? A lot of personal care products have lavende…
Can Certo Work for Arthritis Pain?
Q. I have started taking Certo and grape juice for my arthritis but wondered if you can use Certo in other juices, such as cranberry, orange or apple and get similar results? A. There is no scientific…
Listerine’s Skin Benefits Date back to 192…
Q. There is an ad in a vintage Good Housekeeping magazine from October 1927 where Listerine mouthwash is recommended for women with bad skin. I find that nothing is really new and that Listerine has b…
Diaper Cream Doubles As Deodorant
Q. Years ago I was suffering with sensitivity to all underarm deodorants on the market. I found an alternative product at the health food store and bought it, though it was dreadfully expensive ($12).…
Tea Soak for Stinky Feet
Q. A reader was worried about her husband’s stinky feet. The sure fire way to cure this is to soak his feet in a strong tea solution. Boil a quart of water, add 6 or 7 regular tea bags and let t…
Popular OTC Sleep Aid Triggered Hallucination
Q. An elderly relative was struggling with insomnia and tried Tylenol PM. She took it for several days and developed severe psychological side effects, including hallucinations. Not only was she space…
Vinegar and Baking Soda Eases Pain of Sting
Q. I used the combination of apple cider vinegar and baking soda on a wasp sting and felt instant relief. The foaming action should amuse children who have been frightened by the sting.A. When you com…
Duct Tape Treatment Cures Some Warts
Q. My husband's doctor told him to put duct tape on his foot to get rid of plantar warts. Do you just cut a small piece and place it on the wart? How long does it take?A. The duct tape treatment f…
Neti Pot for Preventing Sinus Troubles
Q. My friend, my daughter-in-law and I have been able to stop all our prescription nasal sprays and inhalers for sinus problems and allergies since using a neti pot daily! I get bronchitis easily, but…