Home remedies soothe ailing bodies
Campus Times
May 16, 2003
Making a simple exfoliating mask to scrub off dead cells and to make
skin feel smoother can be as easy as opening your cupboards. Honey, sugar
oats and a little bit of water are some common household ingredients that
can be used to make such a mask.
With all of the major stressers out there, it is no wonder some students,
faculty and staff here feel they must pay a bundle to cure such things like
head and body aches, colds, burns and of course, one of the more unsightly
bothers of today's superficial world yellow teeth.
Oddly enough, many often forget to look at the contents of their own
refrigerators or pantries to cure their ailments.
Senior Amy Wolf said she usually spends more than $20 on just cold medicines
alone.
Her must-have list includes cough drops, tissue, medicine and vitamins.
"If I had the wealth of knowledge about home remedies, then I would
be able to use household ingredients to cure small ailments instead of driving
to the supermarket and buying Affrin, Dayquil and all that other stuff,"
Wolf said.
Dr. Vijay Prakash, a pediatrician currently practicing in India, lists
many easy steps to make home remedies on his Web site, http://dr-vijayprakash.hypermart.net.
Among Dr. Prakash's suggestions is a make-your-own nose spray with
the mixture of teaspoon table salt with 4 ml lukewarm water.
He also recommends garlic juice and a teaspoonful of onion juice diluted
in a cup of water to help cold sufferers.
With the aim of "promoting the age-old household remedies which
have been in use for a long time," Dr. Prakash's Web site offers recipes
he has discovered through his personal experience.
"Please note that every individual reacts in a different way, and
therefore, a remedy which may be helpful to one individual may not find
favor with others," Dr. Prakash said in his Web site.
To cure coughing fits, mix lime juice, brandy or ginger juice to honey,
he said. For headaches caused by tension, infection or allergy, try avoiding
cheese, chocolate, citrus fruit and red wine, he suggested.
Nurse Jennifer Labajo, who works for Mission Hospital in Los Angeles,
said she knows that certain home remedies work.
"When you have allergies, they say you can just take a teaspoonful
of sugar, and it will go away," Labajo said. "At first I didn't
believe it, but then I saw some of my patients try it, and their hives or
whatever just went away."
Tipking.com is another Web site where one can find or offer home remedies.
According to "Jennifer and Christina," who contributed to
the site and whose last name could not be found, using baking soda once
a week when brushing your teeth really works to remove stains.
On yet another Web site, http://kitchen.robbiehaf.com, visitors are able to relate their
experiences in using Robbie Haf's listed remedies.
Haf's blemished skin mask, which includes lemon juice, oatmeal and tomatoes,
received mixed reviews, though some users claimed that the mask left skin
feeling softer than usual.
Dr. Alan Greene, president of Health Internet Ethics and recognized
by "Advance for Health Information Executives," is founder of
his Web site, www.drgreene.com.
Although Dr. Greene specializes in pediatrics, he did recommend that
chicken soup is a proven cure for common respiratory illnesses.
Used since the 12th century, chicken soup's salt and the provided hydration
cause it to be very effective in anti-inflammatory medicine, he said.
The above are just some easier approaches for minor day-to-day health
problems, Dr. Prakash said.
"It is interesting what things (you have) at home could cure,"
Labajo said.
