10 Home Remedies That Really Do Work

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There are so many products on the market today that don’t do what they say they are going to do. We plunk down our hard-earned money only to find that the product is not soothing our migraine headache, alleviating our eczema, and not treating our dandruff.

Well, the good news is many of the old-fashioned remedies that keep popping up really do work. You may have a friend who will tell you what her grandmother used to do but we tend to blow it off because we want the new and improved version that we know is going to work. It looks like the remedies that have been floating around for years are still around for good reason. The following home remedies have been proven to work and some even have scientific backing. At the very least, before you run off to the store to buy the newest remedy, try one of these first, you may be surprised – and glad you did!

1. Ginger relieves nausea

It’s no coincidence that if you have an upset stomach someone will suggest you sip on some ginger ale. The power of the ginger root has long been effective in easing the effects of nausea. Today it can help pregnant women deal with morning sickness and has been able to help reduce the after effects that many cancer patients are left with after undergoing chemotherapy sessions.

2. The healing properties of honey

While you may think of honey as just a delicious accompaniment to homemade biscuits, the truth of the matter is the health benefits of honey have been recognized for centuries by the Indians, Egyptians, Chinese and Africans. While it is no longer is used to treat an amputation, a study several years that was published a pediatrics journal found that it can reduce the severity of a child’s cough. Give the child a spoonful of honey a half-hour before he goes to bed and his cough will become much less frequent. Honey has also been used to treat problem skin and aid in wound care recovery when applied topically.

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3. Aspirin can help get rid of dandruff

You may be surprised to learn that an aspirin is made up of the same ingredient that is used to treat acne: salicylic acid. A board-certified dermatologist from California suggests adding a tablespoon of aspirin that has been finely crushed up into your shampoo and leave it on your head for up to 10 minutes to get rid of your dandruff.

4. Can duct tape remove warts and skin tags?

While many a dedicated handyman swears that duct tape can handle just about everything, it was scientifically proven to be more effective in removing warts than the procedure that involved having them frozen off. The adhesive in the tape has been found to have a toxic reaction to the wart causing it to fall off. The procedure can take up to 2 months but make sure you change the tape every 2 – 3 days. You can also try the same method to get rid of those pesky skin tags.

5. Ice can stop a migraine in its tracks

If you feel a migraine coming on, instead of reaching for the pill bottle, grab a small bag of ice and set it on the back of your neck or at your temples. A board-certified neurologist from the Headache Institute at Mount Sinai Roosevelt has found that after 10 to 15 minutes the blood vessels that receive the pain signals from the nerves will be numb. It also reduces the constriction of these blood vessels which contribute to a migraine.

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6. Licorice and peppermint can quickly resolve indigestion

The next time you are suffering from indigestion from that big bowl of chili you just ate you might want to suck on a peppermint candy or enjoy a piece of licorice. Both have been found to bring quick relief by increasing the production of mucus and relaxing the sphincter muscle in the esophagus.

7. Vodka can eliminate foot odor

You don’t really have to use vodka to treat your stinky feet. Regular rubbing alcohol will achieve the same results. The alcohol takes on the fungus that creates the bad odors, kills the bacteria, and eliminates the moisture that creates these odors in the first place. Just dab your feet with the alcohol in the morning and you will be odor-free before you know it.

8. Use sugar to get rid of your hiccups

It looks like not only will a spoonful of sugar help the medicine go down, it will get rid of your hiccups within minutes. It looks like the sugar helps to soothe the nerve muscles that direct the diaphragm to keep contracting to create the hiccups. (Now you can tell your friend to stop trying to scare the hiccups out of you!).

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9. Hydrogen peroxide – an easy way to prevent an ear infection

Using a Q-tip has been found to actually push ear wax further into the ear canal. A more effective way to remove the wax, and reduce the potential for an ear infection, is to put a capful of hydrogen peroxide in your ear and let it work it’s magic for the next 5 to 10 minutes. The peroxide will get rid of any bacteria that may be hanging around in your ear while it softens up the earwax for easy removal. In fact, all you have to do is lie on your side when putting in the peroxide and hold a tissue over your ear to catch the wax when you sit up.

10. White vinegar is effective in treating toe nail fungus

There are so many ointments on the market that promise to kill that nasty fungus that many people suffer from on their toenails. Instead of paying for solutions that really don’t work, all you need is a clear plastic container.

Start by filling it with white vinegar and soak your foot in it for 15 minutes a day. You can reuse the vinegar and you will see the end of this fungus once and for all.

References:

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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