Surprising & Unique Remedies
Unorthodox uses of many common household staples can solve an amazing range of simple health problems. Share your own discoveries.
Do You Know This Surprisingly Versatile “L…
One of the best things about writing a newspaper column or blog is that we learn fascinating things from you, our readers. Some time ago, we heard from one person about a versatile Lowcountry herb som…
Kick-Boxing Granny Wants Bruise Remedy
Some people bruise easier than others. This granny engages in an unusually vigorous sport. It's hardly surprising that she needs a bruise remedy! Q. I am a 70-year-old very healthy woman (still doing …
When Drugs Are Dangerous, Natural Remedies Ease …
People with arthritis often face a terrible dilemma because the medications that are most commonly used to ease stiffness and discomfort in the joints can have nasty side effects. NSAIDs such as diclo…
Does the Laxative Psyllium Really Lower Choleste…
Dietary fiber is almost universally acknowledged as beneficial. Diets rich in whole grains and vegetables that supply fiber seem to be associated with better cardiovascular health, better metabolic ba…
Tincture of Thyme Fended Off Cold
Physicians don't usually learn much in medical school about herbs, home remedies or even dietary supplements. As a result, they often tend to be skeptical of these unconventional approaches to healing…
Listerine, Vicks & Vinegar Curing Nail Fung…
Nail fungus is a common complaint. Often, people with this condition find it annoying and want to get rid of it. Prescription drugs to treat nail fungus (also called "onychomycosis") take a long time …
Is There a Problem Taking Melatonin to Sleep?
Chronic insomnia wears you down. It also contributes to a range of health problems, from high blood pressure to diabetes. But many of the medications people take to get to sleep are not intended for l…
What Are the Dangers of Peanut Butter to Cure Hi…
Doctors have a special term for hiccups–singultus. Involuntary contractions of the diaphragm forces air out of the lungs. When this happens, the diaphragm pulls the glottis in the voice box closed a…
Remedies Rout Jock Itch and Dandruff Simultaneou…
You have doubtless heard about the microbiome: trillions of bacteria, viruses and fungi live in our digestive tract. There are also bacteria and fungi (yeast) living on our scalp. Our skin is also swa…
Aromatherapy or Acupressure: Can a Sniff of Alco…
Have you ever experienced nausea? Who hasn’t? It’s a terrible feeling. It can be brought on by vertigo or medications. Cancer chemotherapy drugs are notorious for triggering unrelenting nausea and…
How to Overcome Symptoms of Low Thyroid Function…
Low thyroid function is a surprisingly common problem. The American Thyroid Association estimates that approximately 12 percent of American adults develops a thyroid condition at some point during the…
How to Manage Your Heartburn Without Drugs
The American diet seems designed to create digestive problems. We love fast food, which is low in fiber and high in processed carbs and fat. We also eat on the run. As a result, many people suffer fro…
Will Dandruff Shampoo Ease Your Jock Itch?
Human skin is home to an amazing array of organisms that are too tiny to see with the naked eye. Most of the time, these microbes get along well enough. But occasionally, their ecological system gets …
Stop Snoring by Singing During the Day
People have come up with a lot of remedies for snoring. Usually, the one most troubled by snoring is a bed partner who is awakened by the noise. Years ago, we heard that people would sew tennis balls …
Love It or Hate It, Petroleum Jelly Elicits Emot…
Petroleum jelly, also known as petrolatum, is a gooey mix of hydrocarbons that many people use for dry skin. Dermatologists sometimes recommend applying it after washing hands to seal in the moisture.…
Twins Demonstrate the Benefits of Vicks VapoRub …
When we first heard about putting Vicks VapoRub on the soles of the feet to calm a cough, we thought it was a little odd. In fact, the nurse who told us about it described this remedy as "wacky." None…
Will Honey and Chocolate Ease Your Cough?
A persistent cough can be hard to manage. Lots of people would like to find a remedy, and some individuals have found sweet ways to calm a nasty cough. Would you believe honey and chocolate could ease…
Can Turmeric Milk Remedy Relieve Hip Bursitis Pa…
If you have ever had to endure hip bursitis pain, you can appreciate the problem. One reader found turmeric milk mixed with cinnamon and cayenne pepper can be used for a remedy that was surprisingly e…
Skeptic Discovers Benefit of Soap for Neuropathy
Do you suffer from nerve pain? This type of pain can be quite difficult to treat. Medications such as gabapentin (Neurontin) or pregabalin (Lyrica) may ease the discomfort, especially at first. Howeve…
Why Don’t Doctors Like to Prescribe Desicc…
e The thyroid gland is small and unassuming and doesn't usually command a lot of attention. When it misbehaves, though, its owner suffers. That happens more often than you might imagine. The American …
Vicks on the Soles of Your Feet Is Better Than D…
On Paul Simon's Grammy award winning album "Graceland" is an amazing song titled "Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes." Take a moment to watch it being performed with Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Link to e…
Show 1415: Can Home Remedies Help Overcome Cold …
This week, Joe & Terry invite listeners to share their favorite home remedies for colds. No one expects a remedy to shorten the duration of a cold–although perhaps one or two could! But many may…
Will Your Cracked Fingertips Heal With Manuka Ho…
In the winter, many people suffer from dry skin. Beyond that, their painfully cracked fingertips may interfere with typing, buttoning clothes or doing any other fine tasks. Some people have developed …
Can Holding Your Breath Stop Painful Foot Cramps…
Have you often been awakened by painful foot cramps? This is a most unpleasant experience. Some people find that stretching the toes back toward the knee is enough to stop the cramp; they may not even…
Do You Soothe Cracked Fingertips With Lip Balm?
In the winter, when air gets dry, a lot of people have trouble with cracked fingertips. Experts also urge us to wash our hands frequently, which makes fingertips even more vulnerable. Dermatologists f…
Vicks vs. Itch: Why VapoRub Eases Poison Ivy Itc…
Did you know that Vicks VapoRub has been around for more than a century? It can be found all over the world. We have been collecting Unique Uses for Vicks for decades. Here is one that we never heard …
What Is Blackseed Oil Good For?
As Americans grow disenchanted with pharmaceuticals, they have become interested in botanical medicines. Many of these come from different medical traditions. Scientists may not have devoted much time…
Will DMSO Ease Your Aching Knees?
What do you know about DMSO? This chemical solvent, dimethyl sulfoxide, was discovered more than 150 years ago. By the mid to late 1960s, people were experimenting with potential medical applications.…
Can Vicks VapoRub on Your Soles Calm Your Cough?
Sometimes a cough can linger on long after the respiratory infection that triggered it has vanished. What do you do for such a cough? We have heard from a surprising number of people that smearing Vic…
Natural Approaches for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is common and challenging to treat. People who have IBS may feel incredibly frustrated because often doctors tell them there is no observable problem. All the same, they…
Simple Home Remedy for Gingivitis
Gingivitis, the technical term for inflammation of the gums, can be a serious problem. Research has linked it to elevated or hard-to-control blood pressure. Not surprisingly, people with gingivitis ar…
Desperate for Help With Recurrent Cold Sores
Have you been troubled with recurrent cold sores? The herpes simplex virus (HSV1) that causes cold sores, aka fever blisters, never really goes away, but it can go into hiding for months or longer. If…
Soap Under the Sheet Can Prevent Nocturnal Leg C…
Nocturnal leg cramps really get in the way of a good night's sleep. You might be sound asleep, possibly even dreaming, and bam! You wake up with a horrible charlie horse or, even worse, an iron-hard m…
Secret Brazilian Remedy for Solving Underarm Odo…
Over 18 years ago, we received a message from a reader who was traveling in Brazil. She had left home without her deodorant. The weather was hot and humid. She was afraid that her underarm odor was ov…
How Does Acupuncture Work?
Acupuncture has a long history. in traditional Chinese medicine, but many Western health practitioners are skeptical of its benefits. Without a mechanism they understand, they just can't imagine how c…
How Can You Get Rid of Terrible Nail Fungus?
Nail fungus (onychomycosis in doctor-talk) is a very common problem. Most health care providers don't consider it serious, although some readers have told us that terrible nail fungus can make nails …
Is There Science to Support Alternative Treatmen…
Psoriasis sucks. It is a condition that causes red, dry, scaly, itchy skin patches. There is no cure. The causes are mysterious. Scientists believe that an overactive immune system is the culprit. For…
What Can You Do to Get Rid of Toenail Fungus?
If you have noticed that your toenails are thick and yellow, you are not alone. Nail fungus affects a lot of people, so we are glad that we can offer some popular remedies for nail fungus. People may …
Show 1399: Why Are Patients Using Magic Mushroom…
This week, we talk with a sociologist and a neurologist about the extremely painful condition known as cluster headaches. The sociologist has studied how patients have sought out relief that the medic…
Can Mindfulness Help You Manage Chronic Pain?
People in chronic pain often feel abandoned by the medical profession, especially as physicians cut back on prescribing opioids. They may be interested in some nondrug approaches that could help the…