Some home remedies are effective, but others have more of a placebo effect. In the following, we will examine some home remedies and their effectiveness. Some of these treatments are familiar to you, and you have probably tried them many times, but others may be new.
1. Epsom salt bath
Epsom salt or magnesium sulfate is different from table salt. Epsom salt is also called “bath salt” because it is commonly dissolved in bath water to relieve aches and cramps. There is no evidence that our bodies can absorb minerals through the skin, so you shouldn’t assume that bathing with Epsom salts is medicinal. A hot bath alone can relieve muscle aches and pains, and aromatic bath salts only make the relaxing experience of a hot bath more enjoyable.
2. Sweet boil for heartburn
If you suffer from heartburn or indigestion, taking an alkaline substance such as baking soda will reduce your symptoms. Of course, baking soda is not the best choice, as it may increase discomfort as it expands in the stomach. In addition, if you must avoid sodium in your diet, baking soda or “sodium bicarbonate” is not a suitable method. It is better to use over-the-counter antacids such as Aluminum MG for heartburn.
3. Vitamin C for colds
Many people take orange juice or vitamin C tablets when cold. However, there is no substantial evidence that vitamin C increases immunity. Maybe the cold period of those who take vitamin C regularly is a little shorter than others (only a few hours), but even in this case, starting to take vitamin C after the illness has no effect.
4. Warm milk for sleep
According to the American Sleep Foundation, warm milk “may” help you sleep. This is the most vital advice on drinking warm milk to improve sleep. Usually, drinking one glass of warm milk relaxes people, but it is not true that the amino acid tryptophan in milk causes sleepiness. Because the amount of tryptophan in milk is not high, there is no easy way for tryptophan to reach a place where it can send a sleepy message to the brain.
Another theory is that the power of warm milk lies in the connection it creates in our brains: because we think warm milk makes us sleepy, drinking it makes us tired.
5. Witch hazel for hemorrhoids
Hazelnut extract is an astringent, which means that after drying, it temporarily tightens the skin or other tissues. There is not much evidence that witch hazel is effective against hemorrhoids. Of course, according to the available evidence, it can reduce itching, pain, and bleeding.
Pour some witch hazel extracts on a cotton pad or a piece of toilet paper and apply it on the area. You can also buy wipes or pads soaked in witch hazel.
6. Ginger soda for nausea
Ginger ale may be a comforting drink when you feel like throwing up. But does it help relieve nausea?
There is some evidence that ginger root can help relieve nausea caused by pregnancy or after anesthesia. But it does not seem to be as effective in reducing nausea caused by the disease. In addition, there may be no or tiny real ginger root in ginger ale. Therefore, if ginger soda makes you feel better in the case of sickness, it is probably because of your idea about it and the placebo effect. That means you can drink another drink if you want.
7. Eating during cold and hunger during fever
This old notion goes back to when body fluids and functions were divided into “hot” and “cold.” Fever was classified as warm, and blood was believed to retain heat. Therefore, cupping and blood drawing were part of the fever treatment method. The idea of ”starvation” during fever also came from the same idea: cutting off the body’s fuel to reduce the heat of the fire. On the other hand, if you have a runny nose, it means you have a cold with entirely different treatments.
But today, we know that viruses cause colds, and fever is one of the body’s ways to react to viral or non-viral infections. Fever and cold can happen at the same time. In addition, we cannot reduce the fever by eating. So whether you have a fever or a cold, you should eat as usual to provide the nutrients your body needs.
8. Cranberry juice for urinary tract infection
It is said that cranberry juice can prevent and even cure urinary tract infections. However, research has not shown that cranberry juice can treat urinary tract infections. So if you feel burning, go to the doctor instead of the fruit shop. The role of cranberry juice in preventing urinary tract infections has not yet been confirmed. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists mentions this feature, but their most important recommendations to prevent urinary tract infections are simpler:
- drink enough water;
- Go to the bathroom when you need to;
- Wash the skin around the anus and genital area.
(Urinating after sex is also not on this list.)
9. Ice for bruises
If your leg has just hit something hard and you’re sure it’s going to bruise, applying ice will help reduce the swelling and extent of the bruise.
10. Chamomile tea for better sleep
Although many believe that chamomile tea improves sleep, little evidence supports this claim. According to 6 researchers in 2019, it was found that chamomile improved the quality of people’s sleep, but it did not cause people with insomnia to sleep more. If chamomile tea is relaxing for you, enjoy drinking it. But if it doesn’t seem to affect the quality of your sleep, it’s probably ineffective.
11. Cucumber slices for puffy eyes
Placing cucumber slices on the eyes is a symbolic beauty treatment, but no clinical evidence supports it. Cucumber has many nutritious chemical compounds, such as vitamin C, but is the amount of these compounds enough to affect local use? It isn’t peculiar.
All we are doing by putting cucumber slices on our eyes is putting something cool and moist on our eyes. This makes us feel good and may reduce the puffiness of the eyes temporarily. If you don’t want to waste a cucumber, place a cooling gel pack or wet towel over your eyes instead.
12. Aloe vera for burns
Lotions containing aloe vera relieve burns, but does aloe vera do anything special? The results of the research are not definitive. Aloe vera can be an excellent alternative to other burn ointments. (In situations where these ointments are not available.) Aloe vera creates a moist coating on the wound that helps it heal.
According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, the best treatment for a minor burn is to soak the burn in cool water for 20 minutes. Then you can use aloe vera cream or antibiotic ointment. See a doctor if the burn is deep, blistered, or in a sensitive area such as the face or genitals.
13. Apple cider vinegar to treat poison ivy
There are many home remedies for poison ivy, but the best is to wash with urushiol (the plant’s irritant oil). Dishwashing liquid or ordinary soap is enough to remove the oil from the skin. Just be careful not to transfer the oil to your hands or other surfaces while washing. If possible, put your clothes in the washing machine. Fortunately, skin rashes appear a few hours after contact with the plant. Therefore, it is better to take a shower instead of home treatment.
Should you pour apple cider vinegar on your body immediately after contact with the plant? No! Because vinegar does not help to remove the oil and may even spread it. If a rash appears, you can use calamine ointment, hydrocortisone cream, colloidal oatmeal, cold compresses, and antihistamines, according to the American Dermatology Association.
14. Sex to relieve menstrual cramps
Many people have claimed that sex relieves their menstrual cramps. They have tried this method, and it has been effective, but there is no research to prove this claim. Doctors usually say that endorphins or oxytocin from orgasm can potentially relieve pain. But oxytocin also increases muscle cramps, so you shouldn’t expect this treatment to be completely effective. Sometimes intercourse itself causes muscle cramps, especially if the cervix is touched during intercourse. This is one of the treatments that you have to try yourself and see the results.
15. Holding your breath to stop the hiccups
Clinical research on hiccups focuses on people with recurrent or intractable episodes. The situation of these people is not necessarily like the rest of us; Hiccups are usually caused by another medical problem, such as heartburn or even a tumor that irritates the vagus nerve. Usually, treatment of that medical problem causes the hiccups to stop.
There is no evidence that home remedies for hiccups are effective in typical cases. A 2015 review of hiccups treatments identify a few treatments that seem to work, at least sometimes:
- Breathing maneuvers such as holding your breath or breathing into a paper envelope;
- Stimulation of the vagus nerve, such as a cold face or being scared by another person (placing frozen meat on the chest probably has a similar effect);
- Nasopharyngeal stimulation or nasopharyngeal area, such as inhaling ammonia or pouring vinegar on the nose.
We do not know if these methods are effective or not. You can try them next time you have hiccups.
you say
In this article, the effects of some home remedies were investigated based on scientific evidence and research. Of course, it cannot be said that it is wrong if something is not scientifically proven. But the influence of suggestion and placebo cannot be ignored either. What is your opinion? Have you ever tried any of these methods? Did they work for you and solve your problem? What other home remedies do you have experience using?
Warning! This article is only for educational purposes; to use it, it is necessary to consult a doctor or specialist.
