Surprising & Unique Remedies
Unorthodox uses of many common household staples can solve an amazing range of simple health problems. Share your own discoveries.
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…
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. At this time, anxiety about infection or job insecurity may be keeping …
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…
The Best Soap Story Ever!
We do not know why so many health professionals are offended by home remedies in general and soap in particular. The idea that putting a bar of soap under the bottom sheet of the bed to combat leg cra…
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 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…
Will Soap Under Sheets Help Your Leg Cramps?
Have you ever leapt out of bed in the middle of the night with a terrible pain in your calf or your hamstring? Nocturnal leg cramps can really wreck a night's sleep. Some people are quite susceptible …
Do People With Low Thyroid Prefer Double Hormone…
Judging by the number of prescriptions dispensed annually, hypothyroidism is one of the most common medical conditions in the country. Doctors usually treat this low thyroid condition by prescribing l…
How Can You Remove Warts With Duct Tape?
If you've ever tried to remove warts from your own skin or from a child's, you know that they can be capricious. Sometimes they will disappear quickly after you apply salicylic acid. That's the standa…
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…
Why Does Vicks VapoRub Help Against Some Nail Fu…
Home remedies are rarely studied in double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. As a result, we don't often have scientific research to show how well-or not-they may work. It is unusual for us to have a …
How Can You Use Dandruff Shampoo to Ease Eczema?
Eczema is a term used to describe skin that is itchy and red. The inflamed areas may show up as dry, cracked skin, or they may have rash-like bumps that weep when they are scratched. Backs of knees an…
Tai Chi Can Help Control Waist Size
Expanding waistlines are not attractive, but they're not just a cosmetic problem. Big bellies, also known as “central obesity” or "abdominal adiposity," are often linked with high blood pressure, …
When Do You Get the Most Benefit from a Workout?
It's no secret that exercise is good for your health. Research has shown that physical activity can help reduce the risk of dementia as well helping to control depression, diabetes and high blood pres…
How Does Meat Tenderizer Ease the Pain of Stings…
If you've ever been stung by a wasp or a bee, you know something about pain. Not only does the sting hurt immediately, but it can also swell up and be painful and itchy for several days. Look for reli…
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…
How Can You Use Turmeric to Ease Gout Pain?
Gout is a very painful condition in which uric acid in the bloodstream precipitates out into the joints. They become extremely red and inflamed and very tender to the touch. While certain medications …
Will Saffron Extract Help You Sleep Better?
People with insomnia face a difficult dilemma. Could saffron extract help overcome it? The Insomniac's Dilemma: On the one hand, insomniacs hear that if they don't sleep, they may develop diabetes, hy…
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…
New Study Shows Cocoa Compounds May Help Improve…
Many people find cocoa brings back fond memories of childhood. Mom often put a marshmallow in a mug of cocoa for a special treat. The flavor was divine. However, this favorite treat might have been a …
Will You Do Better on Armour Thyroid?
Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland can't produce enough thyroid hormones to keep metabolism normal throughout the body. This problem is surprisingly common, affecting nearly 5 pe…
It’s Too Soon to Treat COVID-19 With Herbs
As the pandemic wears on, and cases rise ominously in many places, some readers wish for natural approaches to manage the disease. Vaccination is very good (though not perfect) for preventing infectio…
Can You Smear Liquid Soap on Your Legs to Get RL…
Do you suffer from Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)? The medical term for this condition is Willis-Ekbom disease, named after the Swedish doctor who studied it. Dr. Ekbom didn't come up with a great cure …
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…
Raspberry Powder to Help Diarrhea from IBS
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a miserable condition. Although doctors can find no good explanation, IBS inflicts abdominal pain, gas, cramping, bloating and either diarrhea or constipation. Occasi…
Show 1194: How You Can Discover the Joy of Movem…
Do your New Year’s resolutions include getting more exercise? By now, everybody knows exercise is good for us. But a lot of people view it as a chore or a bore instead of a delight. How can you expe…
Will Arthritic Dog Benefit from Boswellia?
Is it safe to share your favorite joint remedy with your arthritic dog? That question is important, since dogs should never take at least one popular arthritis remedy for humans–gin-soaked raisins. …
How to Use Listerine to Treat Adult Acne
You may imagine, as many people do, that most teenagers have acne and that they grow out of it. In actuality, many adults struggle with acne. Is it possible to use a peculiar remedy, like the mouthwas…
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…