Weird Home Remedies That Really Do Work!

Nurses General Nursing

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Does anybody have any they would like to share?

Here are some of mine:

Whenever my grandmother had leg cramps, she would wrap her leg very tightly in saran wrap. It worked like a charm.

If your hair is greying at the roots and you don't have time to dye it, rub ground coffee (of course only for brunettes) into the roots. They will cover up enough grey untill you have time to get your hair done.

Itching like crazy? Take out the vinegar and pour on itchy spots. You might smell bad, but at least the itching stops.

I know their are a lot more, but my brain how ceased to recall any more at this time.

How about yours?

THANKS :)

Jules

:D

What a great thread!

Lots of mosquito bite remedies here but I am surprised not to see the one that I believe is the most effective of all, and it's an EVP. Concentrated heat!

There are several ways to apply heat to an itchy bite. The idea is to apply heat that is uncomfortably hot, but not to the point of burning yourself obviously.

One way is to use the back of a hot spoon

Another way is to blow a hair dryer onto the spot

I have had 100% relief from applying heat to even the most maddening of itchy bites, the kind that go on for days and days. The relief is immediate and permanent.

I'm not sure whether the mechanism of action is through overwhelming the nerve endings, or if it has something to do with denaturing the protein irritant. But it works. The key is heat that is uncomfortably warm, applied for as long as you can tolerate it, usually 5 seconds or so is enough.

The amount of heat needed will NOT be enough to leave redness or pain behind, just a feeling of warmth.

My hiccup remedy is to eat a spoonful of sugar. And it has to go down fast. When my kids had hiccups I would give them a teaspoon of sugar and tell them swallow it now! - faster... faster! It always worked :)

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Specializes in Neuroscience.

I just heard this one, but people swear it works.

If you have a bad sunburn, take a brown paper bag, soak it in vinegar, and place on sunburned skin. Let it dry. Apparently it takes the burn and redness out. Who knew?

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
Vernors ginger ale. No other brand works to make you feel better when you've got the flu.

I beg to differ as I prefer Canada Dry!

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).

I do lot's of remedy's from a book called the Lost Ways - It's basically a Survival handbook on how to use nature in a disaster. Marigold tea for stomach cramps and nausea, ginger tea for the same. All kinds of poultices from various plants and spices. You can put ground Black pepper on a cut and it will clot.

Hppy

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Just plain old SPIT on your fingertip, then applied to a mosquito bite.

Cucumber slices applied to your forehead for a headache.

Way back in the early days of enteric formulas, we used to give plain yogurt in some water via NGT for diarrhea. Formulas weren't as varied as today, so diarrhea was a freq problem.

I freq take yogurt when I start ABT. I like it better than the probiotics.

I use Chapstick for those little PAINFUL fingertip cracks. Every time you wash your hands, make Suzy Chapstick happy!

Re that eyeball pressure while holding your breath - isn't that something akin to a Valsalva manuever??? Yeah, it should stop the hiccups :)

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Specializes in Hospice.

I didn't read through all of them, so I hope I'm not repeating something. Bacon fat draws out splinters. Just put a piece of the fat on the splinter before you goo to bed, cover it up and the splinter will be out when you wake up.

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Just plain old SPIT on your fingertip, then applied to a mosquito bite.

This also works wonderfully for a sty on the eye. Brush your teeth really well, then use a strong mouthwash like Listerine. Then put some saliva on your finger and put it on the sty over and over throughout the day. Works like a charm.

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Love all of these, I may need to put a few in my little book of tricks :)

Ones I've used:

Squirt your breast milk in your babies weepy eye

Vicks on feet covered by socks to cure cough

Gargle w salt water for sore throat

1 tsp of corn syrup to constipated child

Vinegar on sunburns

Vinegar and/or tea bag soak for athletes foot

Arnica oil to ease a bruise

Vinegar rinse for your hair strips chemicals and leaves it shiny and soft

Bananas for growing pains

Udder balm for cattle on your sore, cracked hands

I'm sure I have more but my mind is in "nightshift" mode...lol

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