Home Remedies
Is Listerine a First Aid Kit in a Bottle?
Some household staples are so versatile that people use them for nearly everything. Where would we be without baking soda and vinegar in the kitchen cupboard and Epsom salts or Vicks VapoRub in the ba…
Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) Relieved With Biofr…
There are some medical conditions that are surprisingly common but quite mysterious. You have probably heard of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Doctors now call it myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). The …
Turmeric Raises the Risk for Severe Nosebleeds a…
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 …
Preventing Sunburn from the Inside Out with Aspi…
Fifty years ago, it was hard to avoid sunburn. Sunscreens were crude. The most effective sun blocker, zinc oxide cream, went on ghostly white. It looked funny, though it did keep lifeguards from burni…
Will Saffron Delay Age-Related Macular Degenerat…
As people grow older, the retina of the eye may deteriorate. In particular, the central part of the retina, known as the macula, is very vulnerable. Age-related macular degeneration causes visual impa…
St. John’s Wort Can Lift Mood But May Dama…
About twenty years ago, people who were reluctant to take prescription antidepressants were excited to learn that the herbal medicine St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) could help alleviate mild t…
For Some Readers, Almonds Help Heartburn More Th…
Many people use over-the-counter acid-suppressing drugs to ease the uncomfortable symptoms of heartburn, indigestion or acid reflux. Medicines such as omeprazole (Prilosec OTC) or esomeprazole (Nexium…
Vinegar Stars as Surprising Antidote to Sting of…
Fire ants are an invasive species in the southern United States, gradually making their way northward. These aggressive ants live in colonies and they have a ferocious and painful sting that feels lik…
Should You Let Food Be Your Medicine?
While millions of people around the world struggle with overnutrition and obesity, older people living on their own are at risk for undernutrition. That, in turn, is associated with frailty and even c…
Can You Control Cholesterol Naturally?
Let's not arm wrestle about the cholesterol theory of heart disease. Most cardiologists believe LDL cholesterol is the culprit behind clogged coronary arteries. That's why they are very quick to presc…
Natural Approaches for Arthritis May Provide Rel…
Many readers have noticed that as they add more candles to their birthday cakes, their joints may get stiffer and become painful. Although over-the-counter pain relievers are popular, they do have sid…
Will Extra Vitamin C Prevent Colds?
This year, some people suffered from summer colds, although these respiratory infections appear to be more common in other seasons. Every winter, millions of people suffer with congestion, coughs, fev…
What Are the Best Remedies for Under-Breast Rash…
Women rarely talk about one delicate problem that many of them experience. It is especially common when the weather is warm and humid. These conditions favor the growth of yeast or fungus in skin fold…
DASH Diet, Not Processed Food, to Control Blood …
For nearly 30 years, nutrition scientists studying dietary outcomes have noted that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products can help people control their blood pr…
Natural Approaches Including Hot Pepper Solution…
Hair loss is hardly life-threatening, but it certainly can be distressing. Could polyphenol extracts from plants like green tea or grape seed counteract hair loss? That may sound silly, but a few stud…
Overcoming Stubborn Adult Acne by Changing Your …
Many people think of acne as a particularly adolescent affliction. While it is true that many teenagers suffer with the zits and blemishes of acne vulgaris, grown-ups are not immune to this condition.…
Cure Athlete’s Foot with Time-Honored Reme…
Have you checked out your toes lately? Look closely at the area between the toes to see whether there is red or peeling skin. If there is, you might have athlete’s foot, and you may find that the ar…
What Are the Risks of Glucosamine for Arthritis?
For decades, we have been agnostic about the use of glucosamine for arthritis. Some readers praised this dietary supplement while others denounced it. Studies have arrived at conflicting conclusions. …
Can Restricting Eating Time Help Control Blood S…
People at risk of developing type 2 diabetes may be able to reverse this process by restricting eating time to a nine-hour period every day. Other approaches that seem to rely on the same body process…
Will Cherry Juice or Melatonin Ease Arthritis Pa…
Whoever said "Growing older isn't for sissies!" probably had arthritis. Although it sometimes strikes younger people, the constant ache in knees and hips can make it hard for older adults to keep movi…
Nighttime Restless Legs Wreck Lives, Sleep, and …
Have you ever heard of Willis-Ekbom disease? Most people haven’t—even though millions live with it every day. Better known as restless legs syndrome (RLS), this condition is frequently dismissed o…
How Can You Make Plantar Warts Disappear?
Most warts don't hurt. However, a person with plantar warts, those that develop on the soles of the feet, may find walking painful. A dermatologist could perform surgery or cryotherapy (freezing), but…
Skin Fungus Succumbs to Household Products You M…
It's that time of year. Your body's natural reaction to heat and humidity is to sweat because when moisture evaporates it cools the skin. But that moisture may leave you vulnerable to skin fungus. Dep…
What Can You Use for Psoriasis If You Can’…
Although no one knows precisely what causes psoriasis, most experts believe this skin condition gets worse when the immune system is especially stressed. Skin cell growth goes into overdrive, and cell…
How Well Do Probiotic Supplements or Vitamin D H…
Vitamin D has a reputation for building strong bones, so you might expect that taking supplements would help fight osteoporosis. Unfortunately, a study published many years ago in JAMA suggests that m…
Prolotherapy: Can a Little Inflammation Help Joi…
Have you ever heard of "Prolotherapy"? I didn't think so. It's not an approach most physical therapists or orthopedic specialists learn about during their residencies. Prolotherapy is based on an ide…
Yellow Jacket Stings Ease Arthritis Pain
Most of us take whatever measures we can to avoid getting stung. Yellow jacket stings are particularly painful. Moreover, unlike honeybees that sacrifice their lives with a single sting, yellow jacket…
How Can a Man Tell if He Needs More Testosterone…
Historically, the FDA has been quite clear that it does not approve routine prescribing of testosterone, even if men have low levels of this hormone. Here was the official word from the feds: "None of…
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…
Apple Cider Vinegar Is a Weird Remedy for Heartb…
Do you have a favorite remedy for heartburn? Some people rely on drugstore antacids such as Tums or Maalox. Others take medication such as cimetidine (Tagamet) or omeprazole (Prilosec). But plenty of …
Why Grandma Was Right About Vegetables
Your grandmother may have told you to eat your vegetables. Ours certainly urged us to do so. If she did, she was right. Vegetables and fruits are good sources of flavanols, plant compounds that appear…
Will Bromelain from Pineapple Ease Aching Joints…
What can you do for the aching joints of arthritis or the sore muscles and soft tissue of fibromyalgia? Many sufferers are caught in a difficult dilemma: without relief for the pain, they have trouble…
Can Quercetin Control Your Allergy Symptoms?
Many allergy sufferers may be wishing they had a way to prevent the misery of sneezing and sniffling without relying on antihistamines or decongestants. One reader made a serendipitous discovery: quer…
How to Ease Arthritic Knees with Natural Remedie…
Osteoarthritis puts its victims in a dreadful double bind. The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that are the standard pain relievers for arthritis, such as diclofenac (Voltaren), ibuprofe…
What Are the Health Benefits of Coffee and Choco…
Americans have a puritanical streak. This way of thinking suggests that if something hurts or tastes bad, it must be good for you. Conversely, if it tastes good, you might conclude it's bad for you. T…
Glucosamine and Dementia: Could An Arthritis Sup…
For decades, glucosamine has been one of the most popular dietary supplements for osteoarthritis. Many people take glucosamine sulfate alone or together with chondroitin in hopes of easing joint pain …
Could Fat from Fish Be Good for Your Brain?
The old wives used to claim that fish is brain food. Little by little, scientists are catching up to this idea. The popularity of fish oil has varied over the years, but several studies suggest benefi…
Black Licorice Has a Dangerous Dark Side
Licorice has been around for thousands of years. The plant (Glycyrrhiza glabra) from which it is derived was found in the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs and was treasured by healers in the ancient Middle …
Is Sunshine the Best Source for Vitamin D?
Vitamin D has long been known as the sunshine vitamin because skin creates this hormone when exposed to ultraviolet light. However, winter in northern latitudes does not allow much vitamin D to be cre…
Can Mindfulness Help You Lose Weight?
Mindfulness, the practice of paying attention to your own thoughts and feelings in the moment, has been praised as a way for people to manage stress. It has also been studied as a way to manage major …