Home Remedies That Work

We spend billions every year on over-the-counter health remedies for everything from poison ivy to aching muscles, but in some cases there's no need to shell out a lot of money to find relief. All you need to do is check your cupboards for some surprising home remedies.

1. Honey. Just one spoonful can help quiet a nighttime cough better than over-the-counter cough syrups or suppressants.  Honey coats and soothes an irritated throat to help calm repeated coughing. It is generally safe and can be used repeatedly as needed.   One thing to note:  honey does have a high sugar content which may be inappropriate for older adults with diabetes.

2. Liquid dish soap. If you come into contact with poison ivy or poison oak, washing the affected area with liquid dish soap within two hours of contact may prevent you from getting an itching red rash. Liquid dish-washing soap, which is formulated to remove oil, is a cost-effective way to get rid of the plant oil poison ivy leaves that causes a rash when it gets on your skin.

3. Ginger. Ginger can help reduce nausea and relieve motion sickness.  Some studies have shown that taking one gram of ginger an hour before surgery can reduce nausea and vomiting during the first 24 hours after surgery. In addition, people undergoing chemotherapy who take as little as one-quarter of a teaspoon of ginger daily for three days before chemo cut their nausea by 40 percent.

4. Baby shampoo. A half-and-half solution of baby shampoo and warm water is a simple, effective way to clean eyelids that are itchy, red or crusty. The condition could be blepharitis, a common eye problem in older adults. It can cause scaling and crustiness along the base of the eyelashes.  Gently cleaning the eyelid with a baby shampoo wash helps get rid of oil and bacteria but won't sting your eyes.  Try diluting a little baby shampoo with an equal amount of water twice a day, then gently rubbing the mixture with clean fingertips on the closed eyelid and along the eyelashes for one minute. Rinse well with water.

5. Menthol rub.  Applying mentholated ointments such as Vicks VapoRub has been shown to be a safe, cost-effective treatment for toenail fungus.  Applying Vicks to the affected nails once daily helped partially clear up fungus.  It is suggested to wipe the affected nails with a cotton ball soaked in white vinegar and then apply the Vicks.

6. Tart cherry juice.  This is one I use – it helps keep arthritis pain at bay because of its natural anti-inflammatory properties.  It also seems to reduce the joint inflammation that gout causes.   Tart cherry juice is higher in antioxidants than its sweeter cousins, the bing and black cherry.