logoThe People's Perspective on Medicine
yellow mustard squeezing out of a bottleAcid RefluxJoe Graedon - September 14, 2023 - 13 comments

Do You Swallow a Spoonful of Mustard for Heartburn? Curcumin vs. PPIs

New research shows that curcumin (from turmeric) is as effective as the PPI omeprazole. Is that why a spoonful of mustard can ease heartburn?

Terry Graedon - August 21, 2023

Oolong Tea Healed Eczema

Terry Graedon - August 17, 2023

Diet and Exercise Can Help You Manage Diabetes

Terry Graedon - July 31, 2023

Pickle Juice to the Rescue

Cup of black coffee and two squares of dark chocolate on a tray
DiabetesTerry Graedon - July 31, 2023

What Are the Health Benefits of Coffee and Chocolate?

Learn about the health benefits of coffee and chocolate as well as tea. You don't have to feel guilty about your beverage!

pouring olive oil onto spoon over a slice of bread
Heart AttackJoe Graedon - July 27, 2023

Amazing Benefits from Half a Tablespoon of Olive Oil

The evidence keeps accumulating that as little as half a tablespoon of olive oil a day can have huge health benefits. Are you getting enough?

Box of golden raisins next to bottle of gin
ArthritisJoe Graedon - July 23, 2023

How to Make Gin-Soaked Raisins for Joint Pain

Step-by-step instructions for preparing and using gin-soaked raisins, a longtime reader-favorite home remedy for arthritis and joint pain.

glass of milk and chocolate chip cookies
Home RemediesJoe Graedon - July 9, 2023

Sugar and Milk Can Trigger Acne

Did you know that milk can trigger acne? Science now suggests that other foods, especially those high in sugar, may also promote acne.

cooking with olive oil
High Blood Pressure (hypertension)Terry Graedon - July 3, 2023

Do You Take Olive Oil for Your Blood Pressure?

Could extra virgin olive oil rich in plant phenols be a key to the benefits of the Mediterranean diet? Perhaps we should all take olive oil.

rows of yellow mustard on a store shelf
ArthritisJoe Graedon - June 19, 2023

Why Home Remedies Deserve Respect

Scientists love data! That is why they embrace drugs. Do home remedies deserve equal respect? There is surprising evidence that many work!

coconut cookies for Crohn's
DiarrheaTerry Graedon - June 12, 2023

Will Coconut Macaroons Overcome Bad Diarrhea?

Eating two coconut macaroons a day along with a cup of ginger tea solved the problem of serious diarrhea following gallbladder surgery.

sugar pouring
BedsoresTerry Graedon - June 12, 2023

Old-Fashioned Sugar Remedy Heals Persistent Wound

An old fashioned "sugar remedy" has shown promise in hard-to-treat-wounds. Dr. Richard Knutson refined the method in the mid 1970s.

Glass mug with tea in grass contains berries rich in flavanols
Home RemediesTerry Graedon - June 1, 2023

New Guidelines on Flavanols Can Help Improve Health

People who get 400 to 600 mg of flavanols in their daily diets are less likely to suffer from diabetes or cardiovascular problems.

White ramekin full of pickle relish
Home RemediesTerry Graedon - May 28, 2023

Pickle Relish Will Do in a Pinch Against Leg Cramps

Pickle juice is a classic home remedy for painful leg cramps, but pickle relish is an acceptable substitute.

doctor taking blood pressure reading
High Blood Pressure (hypertension)Joe Graedon - May 25, 2023

Picking a Diet That Lowers Blood Pressure

To choose a diet that lowers blood pressure, look to a very low carb diet with less than 35 g carbohydrate daily.

pitcher of grapefruit juice
Home RemediesTerry Graedon - May 21, 2023

Grapefruit Lowers Blood Pressure

Animal and human research suggests that grapefruit may have an impact on blood pressure. It can interact with many drugs, however.

older man shaving his face
BleedingJoe Graedon - May 1, 2023

Styptic Pencil: How Does It Work and Is It Safe?

What do you do when you cut yourself? Decades ago men used a styptic pencil to stop bleeding after shaving. What else can stop bleeding?

man with burning mouth syndrome breathing fire
Burning TongueTerry Graedon - May 1, 2023

Nutritional Support for Burning Mouth Syndrome

Although Burning Mouth Syndrome is mysterious, supplements of certain essential vitamins and minerals may help ease the pain.

grape juice with pectin, certo and grape juice
ArthritisTerry Graedon - April 24, 2023

Pectin and Grape Juice to Ease Sore Joints

Some people use home remedies such as pectin and grape juice instead of pain relievers to ease sore joints. Readers offer their own variations on the remedy.

Grilled lean white meat chicken breast with green and red peppers.
DiabetesTerry Graedon - April 20, 2023

Best Diet for People with Diabetes Is Low in Carbs

Randomized controlled trials show that people following a meal plan low in carbs were better able to lose weight and control blood sugar.

Ceylon cinnamon sticks
DiabetesTerry Graedon - April 17, 2023

Can You Lower Blood Sugar with Cinnamon?

Both Ceylon and cassia cinnamon can help lower blood sugar, but Ceylon cinnamon is safer because it does not have coumarin.

will colorful fresh beets benefit eyesight?
High Blood Pressure (hypertension)Terry Graedon - April 10, 2023

How Can You Use Beets for Better Blood Pressure?

Scientists have shown that you can consume beets for better blood pressure. Does it matter if they are cooked or juiced?

a glass of elderberry juice and elderberries
Home RemediesTerry Graedon - April 10, 2023

Can Elderberry Juice Really Fight Flu Virus?

Elderberry juice can keep influenza virus from infecting cells and also keep the flu virus from replicating.

close up of blueberries
AgingTerry Graedon - March 30, 2023

Do Blueberries Help Older People with Memory?

Numerous studies show that anthocyanins in blueberries help lower systolic blood pressure and improve cognitive performance of impaired individuals.

cup and saucer, coffee beans and French press for preparing unfiltered coffee
Heart AttackTerry Graedon - March 27, 2023

Is It Unhealthy to Drink Unfiltered Coffee?

Unfiltered coffee prepared by boiling or French press methods can raise cholesterol. Filtered coffee has numerous health benefits.

beets
High Blood Pressure (hypertension)Joe Graedon - March 20, 2023

Beet Juice Was Better Than a Drug for Lowering Blood Pressure

Beet juice drunk daily has been shown to lower blood pressure even in people with hypertension. Don't like beets? How about beet lemonade?

cabbage head
HeartburnTerry Graedon - March 13, 2023

Cabbage Juice Remedy Cured Chronic Heartburn

Drinking cabbage juice three times a day for a month is a home remedy that helped one reader overcome symptoms of heartburn.

wart on finger of left hand
Home RemediesJoe Graedon - March 13, 2023

10 Favorite Wart Remedies That Work!

We've been collecting wart remedies for 50+ years. The challenge: topical vs. systemic treatment. We offer LOTS of options including Tagamet!

a jar of pickles provides pickle juice to treat muscle cramps
Home RemediesJoe Graedon - March 12, 2023

Pickle Juice Perfect for Restless Foot

Some readers use soap under the bottom sheet, while others find a sip of pickle juice perfect for easing restless leg syndrome.

cinnamon sticks and ground cinnamon offers health benefits
CinnamonJoe Graedon - March 2, 2023

Cinnamon Offers Health Benefits but Also Carries Serious Risks

Find out about the pros and cons of a spice. Cinnamon offers health benefits, but be wary of potential health risks. How can you use it wisely?

toilet paper
Alternative HealthJoe Graedon - March 2, 2023

Power Pudding Is Nurses’ Secret Weapon Against Constipation

When all else fails, nurses often resort to a constipation remedy called "Power Pudding." It contains bran, applesauce and prune juice.

Miniature toilet bowl with red and white laxative pills
ConstipationJoe Graedon - February 23, 2023

How Can You Get Off the Laxative Merry-Go-Round?

Have you ever felt the need for a laxative? These medications are popular, but there are downsides to regular use.

woman with knee and joint pain
Alternative HealthJoe Graedon - February 13, 2023

When Drugs Are Dangerous, Natural Remedies Ease Arthritis Pain

If you have ever wondered what to do to ease arthritis pain besides taking a pill, it's possible that a home remedy might just do the trick.

latte in a cup with foam art
Heart AttackTerry Graedon - February 2, 2023

Is Coffee Really Bad for You?

Studies show that coffee drinkers are less likely to get heart failure or die of heart disease. Unfiltered coffee, though, is bad for you.

dried prunes, dried plums
Home RemediesJoe Graedon - January 30, 2023

Eating Prunes Can Reduce Inflammation and Improve Bone Health

Researchers find that eating prunes (4-6 a day) could be good for your bones! Prunes have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity.

bowl of turmeric spice with anti-inflammatory activity
Alzheimer’s DiseaseJoe Graedon - January 16, 2023

Black Pepper Boosts Turmeric’s Benefits

Getting turmeric and its active ingredient curcumin into the bloodstream may require special formulations to maximize turmeric's benefits.