Surprising & Unique Remedies
Unorthodox uses of many common household staples can solve an amazing range of simple health problems. Share your own discoveries.
How to Prevent and Stop the Itch of Mosquito Bit…
Some people are mosquito magnets. They attract mosquitoes like honey draws flies. A bunch of people can be sitting around the back yard enjoying themselves and not being bothered by mosquitoes. That 
Grated Apple and Toast Calm Kids’ Diarrhea
Loose stools are a common problem among babies and toddlers, and parents often search for simple effective treatments. When kids' diarrhea is severe, doctors usually recommend oral rehydration with a …
Brain Freeze Breaks Migraine Cycle
Could an ice cream headache help interrupt a migraine or a cycle of migraines? For years, doctors thought there was no relationship whatsoever between the two types of headaches (Bird, MacGregor &…
Castor Oil Helped Prevent Knee Surgery
Castor oil is an old-time remedy. The oil comes from the seeds of the Ricinus communis plant, which has been used for thousands of years. The ancient Egyptians used castor oil in their lamps because i…
Will Urine Cure Nail Fungus & Athlete’…
For many years, readers were eager to share their home remedies for toenail fungus. During much of that time, doctors had little to offer patients who wanted to clear this unsightly infection. The pre…
Will Sniffing Alcohol Ease Nausea After Surgery?
Most of the time when we learn about an unusual home remedy, we have no idea how or even whether it works. So we were thrilled last year when we came across an actual placebo-controlled trial of sniff…
Psilocybin from Mushrooms Can Ease Depression
Psilocybin is the psychoactive compound in hallucinogenic mushrooms. Humans have used this magic mushroom compound in rituals for thousands of years. The compound alters sensory perceptions and even t…
Walking at Home Can Help Ease Leg Pain from Peri…
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a condition in which the arteries of the limbs narrow. As a result, they become unable to deliver adequate blood flow to the muscles. The typical symptoms are severe…
Show 1297: How Chimps Treat Wounds Sheds Light o…
In our nationally syndicated radio show we are live this week for the first time in more than two years. First, we speak with biologist Simone Pika about her very interesting observations of chimpanze…
Many Remedies May Rout Jock Itch
Our skin is swarming with microbes we can't see. Most of them are beneficial, or at least not harmful. Occasionally, however, one species or another gets a bit out of hand. That's what we think is hap…
Vicks VapoRub for Treating Toenail Fungus
About 25 years ago we heard from Jane, a foot care nurse in Massachusetts. She traveled the state taking care of patients with diabetes and other conditions that create all sorts of foot and nail prob…
Will Taking Ashwagandha Help You Fall Asleep?
Lots of people have trouble sleeping. They may take medications to overcome insomnia but worry about the potential side effects. For the last few years, anxiety about infection or job insecurity has k…
Removing a Splinter Without Tears
Do you have a favorite trick for removing a splinter? Many families have a "traditional" approach to this common medical problem that may have been handed down for at least a generation or two. But th…
Can You Use Oil of Oregano With Confidence?
For years, readers have been telling us that they use oil of oregano as an antifungal or antimicrobial agent. Scientists have found data to support this use. For example, oregano oil applied topically…
How to Ease Restless Legs Syndrome with Soap Und…
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological condition in which a person feels an irresistible urge to move the legs. The movement can temporarily ease restless legs syndrome. Moving relieves an unc…
Will Boosting Your Step Count Save Your Life?
How many steps do you take a day? During the pandemic, stay-at-home orders might have made it difficult to take a nice long walk and get your step count up. However, a systematic review shows that fit…
How Would You Know If Home Remedies Work?
Ask most health professionals about home remedies and you are likely to get a disparaging reaction. Such treatments are relegated to the dustbin of old wives’ tales: quaint but ineffective. Physicia…
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…
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…
Can You Use Coconut Oil to Ease Vaginal Dryness?
Say "menopause" and most people will immediately think of hot flashes. While they certainly can be disturbing, there are many other symptoms that women may find equally troublesome. One is vaginal dis…
Too Much Potassium Poses Danger
We refer to potassium as the "Goldilocks"Â mineral. That's because too much potassium or too little can cause serious health problems. Potassium needs to be "just right." Normally, the body handles p…
Painful Cracked Lips Linked to Digestive Disorde…
From time to time, we hear from people with painful cracked lips looking for an explanation and, hopefully, a way to address the problem. If the cracks have appeared at the corners of the mouth, as th…
Will Soy Sauce Ease Your Burn Pain?
If you have ever had hot liquid splash on your hand accidentally, you've looked for a burn remedy. Holding the singed fingers under cold tap water is the recommended first aid, but it may ease your bu…
Can You Cure Your Plantar Warts with Hot Water?
Plantar warts are those that appear on the soles of the feet. You might catch the human papillomavirus that causes plantar warts if you go barefoot in a shared locker room or swimming pool area. Likew…
Warning–Don’t Use Bleach to Treat At…
People are aware that bleach (sodium hypochlorite) has powerful cleaning power. They use this familiar household product to remove stains from sheets, towels and white clothes. Some also use diluted b…
Can Science Explain How Hot Water Stops Itch?
We have been writing for many years about a simple remedy that works extremely well. At first, we knew merely that heat could relieve itching. We had no idea why hot water stops itch instantly. Over t…
How to Use Soap in Bed for Nighttime Leg Cramps
If you suffer from leg cramps that wake you up at night, you've no doubt sought some way to prevent them. Some people have been advised to take minerals such as magnesium or potassium to ward off leg …
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…
Laxative Helps Remove Earwax
Over 15 years ago a listener to our syndicated public radio show sent us a question about ear wax (cerumen). This person wanted to know why putting a laxative in the ear helps remove earwax: Q. I was …
How Plants Like Thyme and Oregano Make Cancer-Fi…
Researchers at Purdue University have unraveled just how plants like thyme and oregano make some of their bioactive compounds. Thymol, carvacrol and thymohydroquinone provide the characteristic flavor…
When Should You Worry About Hiccups?
Have you ever had hiccups? Almost everyone has. They can be annoying, embarrassing and uncomfortable, but hiccups generally go away on their own. When hiccups last for more than two days, though, they…
Is Quinine in Tonic Water Safe?
Quinine is bitter. It gives tonic water a distinctive flavor. People who love gin and tonic savor the unique bite of this drink, especially if you throw in a lime or lemon wedge. Quinine also has medi…
Can We Help With Your Holiday Shopping?
Holiday shopping can be quite a challenge, and this year is not an exception. In addition to making your list and pairing gifts to recipients, there's the quandary–is it safe to venture out to the m…
Does Berberine Protect Against Prostate Cancer?
Berberine is a fascinating compound. It is one of the key constituents of the Oregon grape holly plant (Mahonia aquifolium). Traditionally, this natural compound was used to treat digestive disorders …
Is Vicks Dangerous Against Hemorrhoids?
We are always astonished at the remedies people use to treat hemorrhoids. We once made the mistake of sharing one of those remedies on public television. Ooops! We are stating for the record: Do Not P…
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 fungus under the breasts tha…
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…
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…
Will CBD for Pain Make You Fail the Marijuana Te…
One lesson learned from the terrible opioid crisis of the past few years: a lot of Americans are in a lot of pain. With doctors increasingly reluctant to prescribe narcotics for pain relief, people ar…
Have You Tried Elderberry to Ease Your Cold Symp…
What is your favorite cold remedy? Sometimes people rely on drugstore products, but they may not be aware of the potential side effects from a multi-symptom cold product. As a result, we frequently pr…