Home Remedies to Avoid
Home Remedies to Avoid
By Vicki Salemi
From colon cleansing to controversial ways to calm a teething baby, here are some home remedies you definitely should not try.
Click through the gallery of pictures to see all the home remedies you should avoid. Note: You'll need to disable your pop-up blocker.
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Home Remedy Donts
Peroxide for cuts and scrapes
"When the skin isn't broken, using iodine or rubbing alcohol is great for killing bacteria. But when there's a cut, iodine, hydrogen peroxide and rubbing alcohol can be toxic to normal and healthy skin cells, impeding healing," says Dr. Neetee Gadgil, family physician with Memorial Hermann Healthcare System in Sugar Land, TX. The reason? The chemical reaction and bubbling that occurs when hydrogen peroxide hits the skin isn't only cleaning the wound -- it's killing healthy cells. It splits open red blood cells and releases their oxygen content. The most effective way to get rid of debris and bacteria without damaging healthy tissue is simply H2O.
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Mayonnaise/Vaseline for head lice
The home remedy of putting mayonnaise, Vaseline or even Listerine on the scalp and hair simply doesn't work, according to James Dom Dera, MD, FAAFP, assistant professor of family medicine at Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy. "It's a temporary solution to kill alive lice but the eggs can still hatch." Plus, he says smearing it on the scalp is not the best thing for the skin. "None of those remedies work. Ultimately the best solution is anti-lice medication."
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Whiskey for a teething baby
The old wives tale of applying whiskey to a teething baby's emerging tooth should literally be thrown out the window along with the whiskey, according to experts. "Alcohol in any amount isn't good for a baby," indicates Jacob Milbradt, PharmD of Mr. MedSaver.com. Ditch the whiskey in favor of ice, recommends Dr. Michael Finkelstein, holistic physician at SunRaven, a wellness center in Bedford, NY. "The smartest thing to use is ice. It will do the same thing that alcohol does and will do it well temporarily. It's safe."
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Butter for a burn
Don't let its cold sensation fool you. Butter is intended for food, not the skin. "Butter may be tempting to use for a burn by having a slight cooling effect but it tends to melt due to body heat and there is a risk of infection because it's not sterile," explains Dr.Gadgil. As for a much safer home remedy alternative? Dr. Finkelstein says the aloe plant is a natural remedy. "Squeeze out the gel from an aloe plant. It's great for burns in the home and kitchen." He says although butter may feel good at first because it's cold and oily, it basically suffocates the skin.
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Colon cleansing
Looking to cleanse toxins from your body through colon cleansing products? Another major home remedy no-no. "In fact, such procedures can result in dehydration, an electrolyte imbalance and even a perforated rectum," says Milbradt. Instead, the old-fashioned remedy of a healthy diet rich in nutrients, whole fruits and vegetables like apples, pears, broccoli and green, leafy vegetables will do a much better job. Dr. Finkelstein adds, "It's not about buying something on a shelf in a health food store. There's a much more skillful way regarding how to cleanse."
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Chlorine bleach for toenail fungus
When people believe using chlorine bleach will eradicate toenail fungus, they're actually doing damage to the skin. Plus, it's not really effective in treating the fungus. Instead, oral prescription-only antifungal medications work best. "The generic version of brand name Lamisil tablets can now be purchased for less than $15 per month at many pharmacies," says Milbradt. "Because this medication is so much more effective and is now so affordable, it makes little sense to try other remedies first."
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Ear candling
Inserting a candle-shaped beeswax cone in your ear, lighting a flame close to your ear and then removing the cone after the wick burns is not the safest or most effective way to get rid of ear wax. In addition to the dangers of lighting a flame close to your ear, you may also burn the ear drum, ear canal and lose some hearing in the process. To use your head when it comes to your ear, speak to a physician about over the counter ear drops to remove excess wax.
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Colloidal silver
While some people may believe colloidal silver can effectively treat a variety of illnesses ranging from infection to cancer, there may be drastic side effects. "Just think that the colloidal silver is a metal. Whenever any metal or mineral is used in treatment, it can deposit in the different organs such as the brain, kidneys, intestines and nerves," says Dr. Gadgil. In turn, the deposits interfere in organ function ultimately leading to toxicity and death. The take home message is steer clear of colloidal silver.
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Yellow mustard to take the sting out of sunburns
In order to take the sting out of sunburns, steer clear of yellow mustard. "Non-prescription products that are intended to be used to treat sunburns are your best bet," says Milbradt. "Not only do these products contain effective drugs, but they also have the proper directions for use that will allow you to utilize them in the best manner possible." Another option? Sunburn prevention of course, "Make sure to apply an appropriate sunscreen whenever you'll be at risk for a sunburn and don't forget to reapply it as often as necessary."
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Hmoonpie924 10:11:20 AM Aug 13 2009
WHEN I WAS 7YRS. OF AGE MY COUSIN CAME AND I CONTACTED THE LICE HEAD LICE. FROM HER. MY MOM WASHED MY HAIR IN KEROSENE . I HAD THE PRETTIEST BLACK HAIR AND CURLY. A GOOD SHINE. AND NO LICE. I WOULD NOT RECCOMEND IT THOUGH. SHE NEVER CAME BACK.
Donyang2010 11:58:01 PM Jul 29 2009
I'm not buying the part about peroxide being bad for cuts. It cleans the wound and after the initial sting, it makes the cut feel much better. It also seems to accelerate the healing, as I have used both peroxide and soap and water on cuts. This is from my boyfrined i met a famouse dating club ......Cougar matching c o m........ it bring together olde women and younge men looking for love.
Homer51106 07:27:18 AM Jun 05 2009
LONG STORY ,BRIEF VERSION...At a military hospital in Georgia , I had a military doctor pour a pint of peroxide into an open abdominal surgery wound..He ran from the room because I was screaming in agony ..The stuff remained in the wound and after a few days ,it had burned holes throughout my intestines (fistulas) .. Another mililtary doctor cared for me in the hospital for months and saved my life..The doctor who harmed me never told the staff or his fellow doctors what he had done but after a few weeks he did come back to my room and apologize.. Get ready folks , government healthcare is on it's way..
Homer51106 07:25:12 AM Jun 05 2009
LONG STORY ,BRIEF VERSION...At a military hospital in Georgia , I had a military doctor pour a pint of peroxide into an open abdominal surgery wound..He ran from the room because I was screaming in agony ..The stuff remained in the wound and after a few days ,it had burned holes throughout my intestines (fistulas) .. Another mililtary doctor cared for me in the hospital for months and saved my life..The doctor who harmed me never told the staff or his fellow doctors what he had done but after a few weeks he did come back to my room and apologize.. Get ready folks , government healthcare is on it's way..
newkirkb52 06:49:18 AM Jun 05 2009
Its very true that HIV virus can not tolerate H2O2 nor for that matter can the cancer cell .H202 is a very potent reactive radical . In fact one of the results of ionizing radiation in the treatment of cancer is the production of H2O2 and is instrumental in destroying the cancer cell . The public should be more aware of this .
newkirkb52 06:29:36 AM Jun 05 2009
very surprised and interested to read the comment of ( nitrocw 01:15:39 AM Jun 05 2009 ) . He is absolutely correct in saying that HIV can not live in oxygen .And i would like to add that CANCER cells can not also live in( H2O2 hydrogen peroxide ). It is very well known that one results of ionizing radiation used in treating cancer is the production of hydrogen peroxide , which results in the destruction of the cancer cell. The cancer cell is a facultative cell . The cancer cell produces it's energy primarily by means of fermentation because it cannot tolerate excessive oxygen . NITROCW is also correct that doctors do not want you to know this nor does the government . But when you are as big as Magic Johnson you find out that research has hidden this information for 20 years away in their little safe boxes ... sad that the multi-naiional drug companies have held these secrets for so long .
RRPG101 05:56:03 AM Jun 05 2009
When my brother and i where little and he got a cut I would piss on it and he 'd feel a lot better. trust me it works !!
Cmyarea 05:53:39 AM Jun 05 2009
I don't know where AOL found that doctor, pouring WATER on a cut is proper treatment ? Maybe in the third world, but WATER, not even soap and water. This seems like BAD medical advice. He we have the money in this country to disenfect wounds. jWhats next ? Pouring urine ? Rub with cow dung ?This country is going way downhill when medical advice like this is given out by so called MD's .
BowLegLewie 05:39:47 AM Jun 05 2009
I got a in-expensive way to whiten your teeth and it works great take some Peroxide and baking soda and mix it in a bowl or lower rim glass and make a paste of it and use it as another version of toothpaste but when you get through hold in your mouth for 2 minutes at a time and when you get done just rinse it out. If you want something to ease the taste just get a dab of toothpaste and put in the paste to give it a different taste. Do this once or twice a week for as long as you like you will start to see the difference in shades in about 2 weeks
