Surprising & Unique Remedies
Unorthodox uses of many common household staples can solve an amazing range of simple health problems. Share your own discoveries.
Stinky Feet Disrupt Household Harmony
Q. My husband's feet stink sooo bad that it actually puts me in a bad mood! He showers daily and uses foot powder in his boots, but it does NOT help.I'm tired of the house smelling like rotten…
Science Supports Honey to Heal Wounds
Q. I work with animals. Yesterday we had a dog rip out her stitches to a point where closure was not an option. Our veterinarian placed honey on a dressing and bandaged up our little beagle. Today the…
Oatmeal and Barley Lower Cholesterol
Q. Oatmeal and barley have lowered my cholesterol significantly. How does it work?A. Oatmeal and barley are rich sources of soluble fiber. They bind to cholesterol in the digestive tract and keep it f…
Certo in Juice Alleviates Joint Pain
Q. I read in your column that someone used "Certo" in juice to relieve painful arthritis in the hands. Is this the pectin with which one makes jelly? I did buy some and started putting a tablespoon in…
Does Aluminum Cause Alzheimer’s or Breast …
Q. I have heard about a link between aluminum in antiperspirants and breast cancer. I have also read that aluminum may be associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Every antiperspirant I have checked…
Stings Ease Arthritis Pain
Q. I was stung on my left leg five times by yellow jackets. I have osteoarthritis in my left knee, and the pain has been gone since I was stung. I'm hoping that it will last! If I had a choice, though…
Getting Rid Of Gas
Q. I am in good health and take Toprol for blood pressure, Crestor for cholesterol and Evista to prevent osteoporosis. My problem is smelly gas. I have so much that it is very embarrassing when I work…
Can Milk of Magnesia Make Acne Disappear?
Q. I am 44 years old and have had acne since I was a teenager. Dermatologists have prescribed countless antibiotics, including Cleocin-T, to no avail. Birth control pills worked, but when I stopped th…
Milk of Magnesia Makes Light Of Body Odor
Q. Thanks for suggesting milk of magnesia as a deodorant. I tried it and it works like a miracle. Vinegar did not, and made me smell like sauerkraut besides. A. Many readers report that milk of magnes…
Getting Rid Of Constipation
Q. I take more than a dozen medications for my heart and digestive tract. I know some of them cause constipation. Could you please remind me about the proportions for the mixture of applesauce, wheat …
Poison Ivy-Fighting Plant?
Q. When researching my master’s thesis for the preservation of a historic road, I hiked the old road with a local man. We walked through a field of shoulder-high plants for about 50 yards when h…
Kissing Chiggers Goodbye
Q. It is now time for yard work and gardening and the chiggers are out. How can we keep them off? A. Spray DEET insect repellant on shoes and socks or get flowers of sulfur from your pharmacy, garden …
Can Quinine Kill?
Q. My niece told me that drinking tonic water helped her restless legs syndrome. I tried sipping some before I went to bed, and it helps. After I read in your column that the FDA bars doctors from pre…
Natural Remedies For Migraine
Q. One of your readers requested natural recommendations for migraines. I had tried many migraine treatments. Then I developed wheat intolerance, and since quitting grains (wheat, rye, barley, oats), …
How Much Certo For Getting Rid Of Joint Pain?
Q. My husband swears by golden raisins soaked in gin for arthritis pain. I don't like the taste and read about pomegranate juice with Certo in your column. How much Certo should I use to a glass (8 ou…
Listerine For Soothing Sun Rash?
Q. I often get a very itchy sun rash when I first go on holidays. Listerine calms it down so I can sleep and soon clears it. It also soothed an allergic reaction after a massage. I don’t travel …
Bringing Germs Into The House On Bare Feet
Q. My daughter's husband and two sons are barefoot guys. They walk all around the house and outside in the gardens in their bare feet. When they come in they put their feet on upholstered furniture, s…
Doing Away With Skin Tags
Q. What is the home remedy for getting rid of skin tags on the neck? A. Dermatologists can remove skin tags surgically. Some readers of this column also report success with a liquid bandage called New…
Alternatives to Blood Pressure Control
Q. I have high blood pressure and would like a natural way to lower it. I have tried the herb hawthorn but it doesn't seem to do much. I would really appreciate any information you can send me. A. Haw…
Getting Rid Of Funky Fumes The Natural Way
Q. I live in a warm, humid climate and I haven't been able to find a commercial deodorant that keeps odor at bay all day. I tried a deodorant crystal and found that it worked beautifully, but I de…
Getting Rid Of Leg Cramps
Q. I have tried just about everything for leg cramps and have found nothing that helps. My doctor has me on Lyrica and potassium, hoping that might help. It hasn't. I was awakened three times last nig…
Stinging Nettle For Urinary Drip?
Q. I have a urinary drip that used to require wearing heavy pads. My doctor prescribed Oxytrol and then Detrol. Both medicines made my eyes, mouth and throat unbearably dry. I started taking stinging …
Baking Soda Banishes Pain From Sting
Q. A wasp stung me today on the inside of my thumb. I called NHS Direct for advice. Then I logged onto your website and found the method of bicarbonated soda and vinegar. It worked really well! Ten mi…
Castor Oil For Curbing Muscle Pain?
Q. For about 20 years, I had chronic pain from a muscle knotted up in my back. I tried unsuccessfully to address it with adjustments from a chiropractor. A massage therapist recently recommended apply…
Trick For Treating Cold Sores
Q. I get cold sores occasionally, and for years have taken L-lysine tablets as soon as I feel one coming on. I continue to take several tablets a day for a few days until all signs of a cold sore are …
Banishing Hot Flashes
Q. I have a condition (Wegener's Granulomatosis) that had made me miserable for years and stumped several doctors. The symptom that troubled me was like hot flashes, but instead of flashing they were …
Dog Lovers Love Listerine Remedy
Q. The solution of equal parts Listerine, baby oil and water for dogs' hot spots is the most fantastic remedy I've read about in a long time! The minute my dogs start "worrying" a spot, I get out my s…
Thyroid Treatment Made Restless Legs Worse
Q. I have severe restless leg syndrome (RLS), but it has been controlled with diazepam. Recently the doctor diagnosed me with an underactive thyroid condition and prescribed levothyroxine. It really m…
Why Cold Keys Stop Nosebleeds
Q. When I was a kid, I would get very bad nosebleeds. If nothing else worked, my mother would get out her keys and drop them down the back of my neck. I wish I knew why it worked it worked so well. A.…
Does Arthritis Remedy Affect Cholesterol?
Q. After dieting and exercising hard for the last year I managed to get my cholesterol down from over 260 to below 220. Then sore joints led me to take glucosamine and chondroitin. Now my cholesterol …
Can Glucosamine And Chondroitin Help With Knee P…
Q. You recently suggested that glucosamine and chondroitin are not effective for mild to moderate knee arthritis. Your assessment was sadly incomplete. In the study you cited, you failed to report tha…
Steel-Toe Boots Make Feet Stink
Q. I have the worst-smelling feet I have ever encountered. I have tried everything to get rid of the odor and nothing works. I am a welder and have to wear steel-toe boots. I put odor-fighting insoles…
Natural Approaches May Ease Migraines
Q. I am 29 and have been suffering from migraine headaches since I was 12 years old. I have seen countless neurologists who have prescribed every drug under the sun. Nothing has worked to keep them fr…
Soap Remedy Stirs Controversy
Some home remedies seem logical. Soaking fungus-infected toes in a footbath containing dilute vinegar and old-fashioned amber Listerine makes some sense. After all, fungus hates acid and the herbal oi…
Knocking Out Bruises With Castor Oil
Q. Whenever my children hurt themselves, the first thing I reached for was the castor oil. My mother-in-law's uncle was a boxer and always used castor oil after a boxing match to prevent hematomas and…
Special Recipe For Getting Rid of Constipation
Q. Thanks for publishing the mixture of applesauce, bran and prune juice to counteract constipation. I never knew the exact quantities required. We used it in the nursing home where I worked as a nurs…
Remedies For Getting Rid Of Athlete’s Foot
Q. Do you know of a home remedy for athlete's foot? I have had a fungus between the fourth and fifth toe for quite a while. I was using Lamisil AT but it does not work well for me. The doctor also gav…
Don’t Put Kerosene On Your Hair
Q. I read your suggestions for the treatment of head lice. Why doesn't anyone ever mention the remedy that really works and works fast? Kerosene. Comb it through the hair for about five minutes. I…
Soap For Restless Legs and PLMD
Q. I have severe periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD). I have used Sinemet and Mirapex separately during the last 8 years, but stopped each due to side effects. I am currently unmedicated and misera…
Magnets For Pain?
Q. My husband says that his magnetic bracelet helps his arthritis pain. What do you have to say about that? Would it also help fibromyalgia? Are there side effects? A. A few randomized studies suggest…