12 Highly Effective Home Remedies to Steal from Grandma
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Your grandma didn't have the Internet to search for cures when her family was sick, but she did have a lot of home-grown knowledge. "Not all of Grandma's remedies were successful or are recommended nowadays," says Kris Deeter, MD, FAAP, a pediatric intensivist at Pediatric Critical Care of South Florida and Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital in Hollywood, Florida. "But many have been studied and proven useful in offering relief for common health conditions."
Try these home remedies Grandma may have used next time you're under the weather:
Colds
Cook up a pot of grandma's chicken soup. A study in the journal Chest showed that homemade chicken soup may contain a number of substances with a mild anti-inflammatory effect that could help reduce cold symptoms. Plus, heat might help ease congestion by increasing mucus flow.
Sore Throats
You may wrinkle your nose at the taste, but Grandma was right on track with this remedy: Gargle as needed with ¼ to ½ teaspoon of salt dissolved in an 8-ounce glass of warm water to temporarily soothe a sore throat, suggests the Mayo Clinic. One study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that gargling may even help prevent upper respiratory tract infections.
Stuffy Noses
Reviews of clinical studies show that nasal irrigation offers modest relief for stuffy noses, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). "Try a saline rinse or a neti pot twice a day when you're stuffed up," says Sakina Bajowala, MD, an allergist and immunologist in North Aurora, Illinois. "Use distilled or sterile water to make the saline rinse, and clean the device regularly."
Sunburns
Grandma always had fresh milk in her kitchen, and you probablydo, too. "Apply a cold milk compress. The milk proteins have anti-inflammatoryeffects," says Arielle Kauvar, MD, director of New York Laser & Skin Careand clinical professor of dermatology at New York University School ofMedicine. "Soak a face cloth in a bowl of equal parts milk and water plus icecubes." Hold in place for 10 to 15 minutes for two to three hours.
Poison Ivy
To soothe the itchy rash, apply a cloth soaked in Burow's solution (an old-time astringent still found at most drugstores) for 10 to 15 minutes two to three times a day as needed, suggests Kauvar. Burow's solution has a cooling and drying effect that's especially useful during the blistering stage.
Nausea
Grandmas have been recommending this one forever: Cut four to five slices of fresh ginger about the thickness of a dime. Pour boiling water over them and let steep in a cup for about one to three minutes. "Add a little brown sugar, and sip to relieve nausea," says Jeff Gould, licensed acupuncturist at Johns Hopkins Integrated Medicine and Digestive Center in Lutherville, Maryland.
Urinary Tract Infections
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, there's some evidence that unsweetened cranberry juice may decrease the risk of getting a urinary tract infection (UTI), though it's not effective as a treatment for an existing UTI. Deeter suggests a glass per day to change the pH in the bladder to make it less friendly to bacterial growth.
Bug Bites
Simply rub an ice cube over the bite to reduce itchiness and swelling, or use Burow's compresses, for 10 to 15 minutes.
Fevers
"A fever is not the enemy. It's your body trying to kill thevirus or bacteria," says Deeter. But if you're miserable, she suggests alukewarm bath or holding cool compresses on the forehead or under the armpitsto bring down your temperature like grandma used to do for fevers.
Coughs
A few clinical studies have shown that a teaspoon of honey30 minutes before bedtime may reduce coughs in kids older than age two, and arecent review of randomized clinical trials showed that honey may be betterthan no treatment or placebo in reducing the frequency of cough.
Burns
Your grandma may have kept an aloe vera plant handy near thekitchen. According to NCCIH, early studies show that aloe vera gel may helpheal burns. First, run the burn under cool water. Then apply fresh aloe veragel. "Break off a piece of the leaf from the plant and gently dab what's insideon the burn," says Deeter. The bottled gel also is fine to use if you don'thave the plant.
Eczema and Dry Skin
Oatmeal isn't just for grandma's famous cookies. Studies inthe Journal of Drugs in Dermatologyconfirm its moisturizing and anti-inflammatory properties for itchy skinconditions. Make a poultice of ¼ cup ground oatmeal and milk; apply to roughspots such as elbows and knees and leave on a few minutes, says Deeter. Or trya less messy alternative: Soak in a lukewarm bath of colloidal (pulverized) oats, which can be found at most drugstores.
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