Some Home Remedies in Grandma's Day

goodknight · Feb 14, 2005

I wouldn't use the toothpaste on a burn. A burn nurse told me that it's VERY BAD. Something about trapping heat, increasing infection, and dehydrating effects.

One that does work is sugar on a wound. It'll scab over with in a day or two.

James Huffman · Feb 14, 2005

Drinking two glasses of Gatorade can relieve headache pain almost immediately -- without the unpleasant side effects caused by traditional "pain relievers."

In many instances, simple headache is a function of mild dehydration. Two glasses of water will do the trick ... without the nasty taste of Gatorade :-)

Jim Huffman, RN, who doesn't "get" Gatorade ....

NurseFirst · Feb 14, 2005

Did You Know That?
Before you head to the drugstore for a high-priced inhaler filled with mysterious chemicals, try chewing on a couple of curiously strong Altoids peppermints. They'll clear up your stuffed nose.
Smart splinter remover...just pour a drop of Elmer's Glue-All over the splinter, let dry, and peel the dried glue off the skin. The splinter sticks to the dried glue.

I always favored hot & sour soup for stuffed up noses! Jalapenos can work, too!

If you put the nail polish on the glasses in your screws you're giving up the ability to change the lense...your local optician will be happy to sell you a new frame :)

I really like the splinter remover, though. That's cute.

NurseFirst

happthearts · Feb 14, 2005

Vick to the neck and chest helps you breath when your really stuffed up .

When I was an aide in the 70 they used maalox and sugar for decubs.You would clean with stearle water debride the decub , and make a paste of sugar and maalox and stearle packing leaveing it just long enough until it dryed useing a heat lamp then removed the packing .and apply a dressing .It seemed to work,on decubs of 11/2 the best and under the decubs just seemed to dry up. I think one reason hospitials stopped doing this is the nurse had to stand there the whole to avoid burning the Pt.with the heat lamp.

The doc ordered a brandy and milk to thin bloodclots in My legs I don't know if it helped the blood clots But I sure slept like a rock.

That same doc ordered Brandy and liptons tea for the start of a bad cough .Hey that one worked it got rid of the cough.

One that works great when your inner ear is out of of wack Hang upside down They had over medicated me when I went in for surgary and my inner ear was way off couldn't walk without falling over They tried meds everything.I was this way 3 mts .Then a friend told that her mother had something similar with post surgary and I should try hanging upside down So I did off the edge of my bed .I would try it several times a day For about 3 days My longest time was on the 3 day about 4 minutes all of a sudden i felt a SLUSH like a draining drain sound ,but inside my head and I had no more problem with my inner ear.

My sister did this also and it worked for her as well when she had surgary.

P_RN, ADN, RN · Feb 14, 2005

Back in the 30's my mother was bitten on her upper arm by a German Shepherd. It bled profusely. The neighborhood "medicine woman NYC/Bronx" took cabbage leaves and wrapped her arm with them. The bleeding stopped quickly Mama said. Just recently I read that something in cabbage does in fact stop bleeding....Vitamin K I guess.

I've also heard that a poultice of cabbage leaves will take discoloration out of a bruise.

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Feb 14, 2005

I work with the geriatrics, but I am afraid mine are quite spoiled and have forgotten all these wonderful home remidies for simple probelms. Heck, today I had to go investigate a pimple that a lady scratched on her rear because it bled and she was in a panic, and another lady demanding to go to the ED because her eyebrow itched something fierce and she thought she would get an eye infection! Uhgggg, what ever happened to common sence?!?!? Nope, they have a nurse on duty 24/7 and I get calls about hangnails, small abrasions, pimples, bruises, and only I can cure them...sheesh! I guess as long as they know they have a nurse on duty..they don't have to think, just call her in...UHGGGGGGG!!!!!!! I am only one nurse to 150 folks, and gets too much with these complaints all shift..and yes, each one feels they are a priority. Oh well! (and it is so sad...they get charged way too much for me to go into their rooms for these types of probelms...they don't need that ).

So I do wind up using so many of these little tricks to remind my residents that they too can do simple nursing like they once did for their families! I ask "what would you have done for your kids if they complained of this?" and they tell me all sort of NEAT stuff! And I kinda wink at them and they get it (mind you...only things like slivers or pimple scratches they are over reacting too...).

I love these things!!!!!!!

Some of my favs were, Lice: coat your head in mayo or baby oil (and I have heard conditioner) and leave on for an hour...then rinse. That will kill the adults..then you have to nit pick the eggs/larva (no way around that one). Works like a charm..sadly my kids have gotten it and I had to do this...worked!

Cough/sore throat...lemon, honey, chamomile tea, and a little burbon...sorry but this old favorite does work! Many of my residents don't drink, so I take out the burbon part (yeah like I have burbon..LOL!) and it still seems to work if taken more frequently! Plus it helps with hydration :) (IE the reason for an herbal tea with no caffeine...still is a diuretic, but not as bad without caffeine).

Constipation: Prune juice of course, but most won't touch the stuff (I don't blame them I won't either) but sometimes I can get them to eat prunes with those orange or lemon flavored coatings...but anyway..hot pad on lower back, tea (tea is my answer for so much now), and a rocking motion every 5 minutes or so in a comfy chair! Beats an enema if it works, and it has had great results! Sometimes soothing music helps too.

Dry eyes: Warm packs with eyes shut..using..what else...herbal tea bags! Also helps with conjunctivits pain/redness, or dry crusty lids :). Oh yeah...and helps the bags under eyes as well .

UTI: CHILLED cranberry juice and watch the kind too...many cranberry juices are only 20% juice...so you will have to drink a ton. Hard for folks that can't stand the taste, but I find most folks actually like it with crushed ice and very cold (not so tangy this way). I am so going to test out the alka seltzer though!!!! Cranberry also come in gel caps .

Chronic yeast infections...acidophilus in their milk, yogurt or dairy (you can find them..look on the lables..they are added in some brands), or even gel caps in healthfood stores. Take orally..LOL! Tinactin also works well if it is in a skin fold but not on open areas..kinda burns!

Sore feet and corns/bunions: good old epson salt soaks twice a day with nice hot water...not only good, but very refreshing and your patient will feel sooooo spoiled! Good time to trim those nails too :).

Keep them comming guys..I love it!!!!!!!!!! Sometimes I find the old remedies are sometimes the most practical and really work!!!!!!!!

suebird3 · Feb 14, 2005

Has anyone ever tried alum to stop bleeding? :idea: I have an over zealous Sun conure who will "protect" my husband.....I have had quite a few "nips" that responded well to alum. Blood coags quickly,and scabs quite nicely.

James Huffman · Feb 14, 2005

Some of my favs were, Lice: coat your head in mayo or baby oil (and I have heard conditioner) and leave on for an hour...then rinse. That will kill the adults..then you have to nit pick the eggs/larva (no way around that one). Works like a charm..sadly my kids have gotten it and I had to do this...worked!

I don't this is yet approved for sale, but I heard the other morning on the radio about a treatment that does NOT require picking out the eggs, etc. The stuff is applied to the hair, then blow dried, and after an hour, the victim showers it off, and everything is supposed to come out with it. In the meantime, I guess we'll have to stick with mayo... :-)

Jim Huffman, RN

Bekahlynn · Feb 14, 2005

eating a big spoonful of peanut butter gets rid of my hiccups every time!!:)

.

loriangel14, RN · Feb 15, 2005

Raw potato works wonders on insect bites. I had a bee sting once on my upper lip and it was the size of a grape in minutes. I cut a potato in half and applied it to the area and it took the swelling down in about an hour. You have to keep cutting a slice off the potato every time it gets dry.

CCU NRS · Feb 16, 2005

Did You Know That? Drinking two glasses of Gatorade can relieve headache pain almost immediately -- without the unpleasant side effects caused by traditional "pain relievers."
Did you know that Colgate toothpaste makes an excellent salve for burns.
Before you head to the drugstore for a high-priced inhaler filled with mysterious chemicals, try chewing on a couple of curiously strong Altoids peppermints. They'll clear up your stuffed nose.
Achy muscles from a bout of the flu? Mix 1 Tablespoon of horseradish in 1 cup of olive oil. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes, then apply it as a massage oil, for instant relief for aching muscles.
Sore throat? Just mix 1/4 cup of vinegar with
1/4 cup of honey and take 1 tablespoon six times a day. The vinegar kills the bacteria.
Cure urinary tract infections with Alka-Seltzer. Just dissolve two tablets in a glass of water and drink it at the onset of the symptoms. Alka-Seltzer begins eliminating urinary tract infections almost instantly -- even though the product was never been advertised for this use.
Honey remedy for skin blemishes... Cover the blemish with a dab of honey and place a Band-Aid over it. Honey kills the bacteria, keeps the skin sterile, and speeds healing. Works overnight.
Listerine therapy for toenail fungus... Get rid of unsightly toenail fungus by soaking your toes in Listerine mouthwash. The powerful antiseptic leaves your toenails looking healthy again.
Easy eyeglass protection... To prevent the screws in eyeglasses from loosening, apply a small drop of Maybelline Crystal Clear nail polish to the threads of the screws before tightening them.
Coca-Cola cure for rust... Forget those expensive rust removers. Just saturate an abrasive sponge with Coca Cola and scrub the rust stain. The phosphoric acid in the coke is what gets the job done.
Cleaning liquid that doubles as bug killer... If menacing bees, wasps, hornets, or yellow jackets get in your home and you can't find the insecticide, try a spray of Formula 409. Insects drop to the ground instantly.
Smart splinter remover...just pour a drop of Elmer's Glue-All over the splinter, let dry, and peel the dried glue off the skin. The splinter sticks to the dried glue.
Hunt's tomato paste boil cure...cover the boil with Hunt's tomato paste as a compress. The acids from the tomatoes soothe the pain and bring the boil to a head.
Balm for broken blisters...To disinfect a broken blister, dab on a few drops of Listerine... a powerful antiseptic.
Heinz vinegar to heal bruises... Soak a cotton ball in white vinegar and apply it to the bruise for
1 hour. The vinegar reduces the blueness and speeds up the healing process.
Kills fleas instantly. Dawn dish washing liquid does the trick. Add a few drops to your dog's bath and shampoo the animal thoroughly. Rinse well to avoid skin irritations. Goodbye fleas.
Rainy day cure for dog odor... Next time your dog comes in from the rain, simply wipe down the animal with Bounce or any dryer sheet, instantly making your dog smell springtime fresh.
Eliminate ear mites... All it takes is a few drops of Wesson corn oil in your cat's ear. Massage it in, then clean with a cotton ball. Repeat daily for 3 days. The oil soothes the cat's skin, smothers the mites, and accelerates healing.
Quaker Oats for fast pain relief....It's not for breakfast anymore! Mix 2 cups of Quaker Oats and 1 cup of water in a bowl and warm in the microwave for 1 minute, cool slightly, and apply the mixture to your hands for soothing relief from arthritis pain.

I got this as an email the other day, it is pretty neat