Useful Home Remedies That Never Fail

Karla Robinson, MD

Many can recall advice that was given by a mom, grandmother, or other motherly figure as to how to stay healthy, treat a minor illness, or diagnose just about anything.  But I think it is safe to say that most people wonder if there is any truth to these “old wives’ tales”.  Well, as it turns out, many of these home remedies do have some value. 

As always, it is necessary to seek the advice of a medical professional for the diagnosis and treatment of any illness.  However, we have listed a few proven home remedies that may help improve your symptoms. 

*Please seek your physician’s advice before trying any of these remedies.

Stomach Upset:  Nausea, abdominal cramps, bloating and gassiness, is a reality for many in this country.  Sometimes in isolation, and other times chronic as in the case of
irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), these symptoms have been known to improve with peppermint.  Peppermint oil in the form of capsules or tea has  been proven to settle an upset stomach.  There is a caveat however.  Peppermint isn’t helpful for all causes of stomach upset.  It actually worsens the symptoms of heartburn.  Peppermint relaxes the sphincter that prevents acid in the stomach from flowing into the esophagus.  This leads to a worsening of the symptoms of heartburn.   It is therefore advised to use peppermint in all other cases of stomach upset, but to avoid it when heartburn is present.

Nosebleeds:  Common in the winter months, and when the air is dry, nosebleed can be a big problem in many households.  But there is a quick and easy way to stop the flow of most minor nosebleeds.  Placing a cold item to the back of the neck has been proven to shorten the time of nosebleeds significantly.  Often tried with a cold ring of keys or other metal, ice, or a cold washcloth, any sudden cold jolt to the back of the neck
seems to work.

Wounds, burns, and cold sores:  You might wonder how all of these ailments can be cured with one item.  Well, it appears that raw honey does the trick.  When placed on minor cuts, scrapes, or burns the honey helps to decrease the pain and can prevent blistering.  It has also been known to decrease the inflammation associated with cold sores and speed the healing process.  It is important to try this remedy at the first sign of a cold sore for best results. 

*Please note that honey can NOT be given to infants under the age of 1 due to the risk of botulism-a severe and potentially life threatening illness.

Colds:  It is estimated that there are over 1 billion colds in the U.S every year, affecting millions of people.  The good news is that there may be a home remedy to help curb the symptoms and get you back on your feet in no time.  It appears that fresh ginger root can cut the length of symptoms down to 2-3 days at the most.  Best tolerated in tea, fresh ginger root can be ground, added to boiling water and steeped for several minutes.  After straining the clear liquid and adding a bit of sweetener, you are well on your way to feeling better fast.

Diabetes, High Cholesterol:  20% of African Americans suffer from diabetes, and it is estimated that almost 50% have elevated cholesterol.  It is now thought that a simple spice may help.  Research has continued to uncover the benefits of cinnamon in improving blood sugar and cholesterol levels.  Known best for decreasing LDL, triglyceride levels, and blood glucose levels, cinnamon has been shown to improve these levels by up to 30% in Type 2 diabetics.   According to the studies, one to six grams of ground cinnamon, or 80mg of cinnamon extract each day may be beneficial.