Nobody is
nay saying the wonders of modern medicine-what would we do without a medication
like penicillin to treat infections? But, as it turns out, everyday items have
secret curing powers, too. Next time you don't want to fork over money to get a
common wart removed, consider using duct tape. Already popped two aspirin but
can't get rid of the headache? A pencil could do the trick. Below, get medical
explanations behind a few bizarre-albeit brilliant-MacGyver-esque home
remedies.
Duct Tape
to Remove Warts
In 2002,
a group of doctors compared duct tape's effectiveness with liquid nitrogen in
removing warts. After two months of wearing duct tape on a daily basis and
using a pumice stone about once a week to exfoliate the dead skin, 85 percent
of patients' warts were gone, whereas freezing only removed 60 percent.
"The question is whether there is something in the chemical adhesive
itself, or if the occlusion (suffocation) causes the destruction of the
wart," says New York City-based dermatologist, Robin Blum, MD. "The
other thinking is that the duct tape causes irritation, which stimulates our
body's immune cells to attack the wart.
Vapor Rub
to Cure Nail Fungus
While
there are no studies to prove coating infected toenails with vapor rub once or
twice a day is an effective treatment for nail fungus, a basic Internet search
results in a number of personal testaments to the medicinal ointment's
fungus-killing powers. "I've heard many patients say that vapor rub does
help, but I'm not exactly sure why," Dr. Blum admits. While some argue
it's the menthol in the balm that kills the fungus and others say it's the
smothering effect of the thick gel, if used consistently, vapor rub has been
shown to get rid of not just the fungus, but the infected toenail, too, which
will turn black and eventually fall off. When the new nail grows in, it should
be fungus-free.
Oatmeal
to Soothe Eczema
"This
is absolutely true, as oats have anti-inflammatory properties," Dr. Blum
says. Whether it's used as a paste or poured into a bath, most experts
recommend choosing colloidal (finely ground) oatmeal and soaking the affected
area for at least 15 minutes. In addition to reducing inflammation, oats are
thought to have an antihistamine effect, Dr. Blum says. By lowering levels of
histamine, which triggers inflammation as part of the immune system's recovery
response, she explains, oats prevent or reduce the redness.
Yogurt to
Cure Bad Breath
Bad
breath comes from a number of places, the two most common being the mouth and
the stomach. The neutralizing powers of yogurt and other probiotics treat the
latter cause. "Yogurt shouldn't have any effect at all on the bacteria
that live on the tongue because it's not there long enough," says Robert
Meltzer, MD, a New York City-based gastroenterologist and attending physician
at Lenox Hill Hospital. However, it likely has a neutralizing effect on the
acid that resides anywhere between the mouth and the stomach, including the
back of the throat and the esophagus, he explains. "I think almost any
milk product or food that contains live cultures would have the same
effect." While yogurt can get rid of bad breath that results from
gastrological conditions, like acid reflux, it won't have any real effect on
bad breath that is the product of gum, liver or lung disease, says Ohio-based
dentist Matthew Messina, DDS.
A
Spoonful of Sugar to Cure Hiccups
In 1971,
Edgar Engelman, MD, conducted a study to find out if a spoonful of sugar really
is an effective cure for hiccups. He assembled a group of 20 patients who had
been experiencing intractable hiccups for more than six hours, eight of whom
had had them anywhere from a full day to six weeks. Each of the test subjects
was given one teaspoon of white granulated sugar to swallow dry, and for 19 of
the 20 hiccup patients, the cure was immediate. André Dubois, MD, a
gastroenterologist in Bethesda, Maryland, noted in The Doctors Book of Home
Remedies that "the sugar is probably acting in the mouth to modify the
nervous impulses that would otherwise tell the muscles in the diaphragm to
contract spasmodically.
Bite a
Pencil to Cure a Headache
While
doctors aren't sure why we do it, clenching our teeth is a common side effect
of stress. According to Fred Sheftell, MD, director of the New England Center
for Headache in Stamford, Connecticut, when we clench up, we strain the muscle
that connects the jaw to the temples, which can trigger a tension headache. By
placing a pencil between our teeth-but not biting down-we relax our jaw muscles,
which eradicate tension and reduce pain. Just remember, the remedy really only
applies to tension headaches-not migraines or headaches caused by sinus
pressure, etc.
Olives
for Motion Sickness
According
to the National Library of Medicine, there are a number of symptoms that
present themselves as a result of motion sickness, including increased
salivation, which is the body's way of protecting the teeth from the high doses
of acid accompanied by vomit. Enter olives, which contain tannins that, when
released in the mouth, work to dry saliva-first eliminating the symptom and
then the body's instinct to follow suit. However, the treatment is only
effective during the early stages of nausea, when the salivation changes first
appear.
Gargle
Saltwater For A Sore Throat
When you
were a kid and had a sore throat, your mom likely made you gargle warm water
with salt in it...and she was definitely on to something. According to Douglas
Hoffman MD, PhD, author of the website The Medical Consumer's
Advocate, a sore throat is an inflammatory response of the infected tissues,
and the salt helps draw out the excess fluid to temporarily decrease swelling
and the pain it causes. Most remedies call for a ratio of 1 tablespoon salt to
8 ounces of water, but it's always better to opt for more salt rather than
less. Just keep in mind that you are treating the symptoms-not the illness. As
Dr. Hoffman notes on his website: "The relief is very real, but also tends
to be short-lived, since the gargle has done nothing to remove the cause of the
sore throat.
