By: Joe Graedon August 21, 2024 25 Comments
    Black Pepper to Stop Bleeding; Traumagel for Sev…

    There's bleeding and then there's BLEEDING! For minor cuts and scratches there are lots of strategies that can work. Readers have been reporting for decades that black pepper can be helpful for minor …

    By: Terry Graedon October 30, 2023 3 Comments
    Had a Tooth Pulled? Stop Bleeding with Tea Bags

    If you have ever had a tooth pulled, you know that the bleeding right afterward can be disconcerting and bothersome. While we have written about using ground black pepper to stop bleeding if you cut y…

    By: Joe Graedon May 1, 2023 12 Comments
    Styptic Pencil: How Does It Work and Is It Safe?

    Have you ever heard of a styptic pencil? Most young people today have no idea what such a thing is. Even a lot of older people are clueless. First and foremost, it is not a writing instrument! It is s…

    By: Terry Graedon October 10, 2021 24 Comments
    Can You Stop Bleeding with Black Pepper?

    We have been collecting home remedies for more than 40 years. One of the most unusual came to us from Nell Heard, who told us about a camping trip to Yellowstone National Park. She went with her siste…

    By: Terry Graedon August 17, 2020 4 Comments
    Will Pectin and Grape Juice Make Bleeding Worse?

    Could a home remedy interact with a common OTC drug to make bleeding worse? Doctors might have a tough time figuring out exactly what a patient was drinking, eating or taking that led to excessive ble…

    By: Joe Graedon January 27, 2020 20 Comments
    Bleeding Ulcers from Aspirin Can Be Life Threate…

    We are big fans of aspirin. We think it is a drug that doesn’t get the respect it deserves, partly because it is available without a prescription and partly because it is so inexpensive. That said, …

    By: Joe Graedon September 23, 2019 15 Comments
    Is There an Antidote for Xarelto or Eliquis Blee…

    It used to be that if someone were taking an anticoagulant to prevent blood clots there wasn’t much that could be done if the patient began bleeding badly. That is probably why Johnson & Johnson…

    By: Joe Graedon July 1, 2019 3 Comments
    Reversing the Admonition to Avoid Vitamin K with…

    I was taught decades ago that if patients were taking the anticoagulant warfarin (Coumadin), they would need to avoid green leafy vegetables! That’s because greens are great sources of vitamin K. By…

    By: Terry Graedon January 21, 2019 9 Comments
    Will Pain Reliever Interact with Anticoagulant?

    Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are among the most popular pills in the drugstore. People can buy them without a prescription and use them to treat nearly any type of pain. Although the …

    By: Terry Graedon November 19, 2018 12 Comments
    Should You Pour Black Pepper on Your Cut?

    Who knows where home remedies come from? Most of the time, their history is untraceable. Who first thought to pour black pepper on a cut to staunch the bleeding? We have no idea. If you search the int…

    By: Joe Graedon November 5, 2018 13 Comments
    Aspirin and Ulcers: A Potentially Deadly Reactio…

    We like aspirin. It’s inexpensive and as effective as any other OTC pain reliever on the market. Millions take it or another NSAID (ibuprofen or naproxen) every day. They swallow such pills to ease …

    By: Terry Graedon October 22, 2018 26 Comments
    Is Black Pepper Better Than Styptic Pencil for C…

    Do you have a favorite home remedy to stop bleeding? Many people insist that pouring ground black pepper on a cut stops the bleeding more quickly. Is black pepper better than other approaches to stopp…

    By: Joe Graedon October 1, 2018 20 Comments
    Can You Stop Aspirin Suddenly Without Risking a …

    A major controversy in medicine has to do with the value of aspirin. This inexpensive drug has been available for more than 100 years. It remains a gold-standard pain reliever and fever reducer. No ot…

    By: Joe Graedon March 5, 2018 12 Comments
    Is Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and Warfarin A Scary …

    People who have to take a blood thinner like warfarin (Coumadin) are caught in a terrible double bind. If they have pain, they have surprisingly few options. That's because NSAIDs like ibuprofen (Advi…

    By: Joe Graedon October 5, 2017 15 Comments
    Will Stopping Aspirin Lead to A Heart Attack?

    Many people take low dose aspirin, usually 81 mg, to prevent cardiovascular complications. Doctors frequently prescribe aspirin after a patient has had a heart attack or after a stent has been placed …

    By: Terry Graedon April 26, 2017 2 Comments
    Ice on the Face Could Counteract Shock

    EMTs and other first responders may be getting an old tool to use in a new way. A simple bag of ice water may be able to counteract shock. Research reported at the Experimental Biology 2017 meeting de…

    By: Terry Graedon June 13, 2016 5 Comments
    Do You Need to Stop Your Anticoagulant Before a …

    Doctors frequently advise people to stop taking certain medicines prior to surgery or an invasive intervention like a biopsy. Anticoagulant drugs are especially likely to trigger such a warning, sinc…

    By: Joe Graedon May 23, 2016 31 Comments
    Did Turmeric Cause a Frightening Nosebleed?

    We often write about the benefits of natural remedies. That's because there is a surprising amount of very good research supporting plant-based therapies. Despite a common belief among many health pro…

    By: Terry Graedon November 9, 2015 4 Comments
    Afrin Nasal Spray Helped Stop Persistent Bleedin…

    There are a number of home remedies that readers have found helpful in staunching bleeding from a simple cut. If you look this website over, you will find many testimonials to the ability of ground bl…

    By: Joe Graedon October 19, 2015 53 Comments
    Turmeric Raises the Risk for Severe Bleeding

    We commend any effort to control health problems with nondrug approaches such as food choice, exercise, meditation, stress relief and so on. But we caution that it is critical to understand that even…

    By: Joe Graedon August 10, 2015 1 Comments
    Pot Marigold Leaves Stop Cuts from Bleeding

    Cuts and scrapes that bleed are part of everyday life. Direct pressure and a bandage are the recommended first aid. When a bad cut won't stop bleeding-or when any cut is spurting blood, indicating an …

    By: Terry Graedon July 20, 2014 25 Comments
    Was Xarelto Responsible for Lethal Internal Blee…

    Do you know what adverse reactions your medication might cause? Doctors might prescribe one of the newer anticoagulants such as rivaroxaban (Xarelto) without stressing that there are potentially dead…

    By: Terry Graedon June 30, 2014 17 Comments
    Black Pepper Saved Her Husband’s Life in a…

    People stare at us in amazement when we say that black pepper can stop bleeding from a household cut. The first thing they want to know is how much it hurts: almost not at all. The second thing is how…

    By: Terry Graedon April 22, 2013 7 Comments
    WoundSeal Helps Stop Bleeding

    Have you ever cut yourself in the kitchen? Who hasn't! Maybe you have nicked yourself while shaving? Did you reach for the toilet paper? It doesn't work all that well. If you are taking an anticoagula…

    By: Terry Graedon April 16, 2012 4 Comments
    Seaweed Stops Bleeding

    Q. Some time ago you mentioned that coffee grounds can stop bleeding from cuts in the kitchen. I have another alternative that I learned at a cooking class. I cut my finger within the first couple min…