Home Remedies

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Kerosene (coal oil) was the "drug of choice" for many situations in years past. It was used to treat head lice. The person's head would be rinsed with kerosene which then would be left in for a period of time. The kerosene would be washed out and the treatment repeated when necessary. The treatment worked, but kerosene (although generally nonirritating to the skin as other petroleum distillates are) does have a strong, offensive odor that lingers everywhere.

Kerosene has also been used for hemorrhoids. Using a rectal compress saturated with kerosene still can afford many people relief, especially for extremely irritated, external hemorrhoids occurring after childbirth.

The most common and beneficial use for kerosene is as a first aid antiseptic for cuts and scrapes. Applying kerosene to a cut helps stop the bleeding and prevent infection. It promotes healing and does not burn.

Kerosene is very good to use on animal skin problems. For horses and cows, using it on their hooves, when cracked, helps heal and prevent infection. It is also good for worming horses. About a l/2 cup per 600 pounds put in some sweet feed every 6 months works well. The horse has to be hungry though because they don't like the taste of the kerosene.

As a general antiseptic and first aid product, kerosene is handy to have around.

Discussion of cuts and scrapes and old time remedies would not be complete without speaking of the use of spiderweb. Spiderweb contains a substance that is very effective in stopping bleeding and preventing infection. Applying a wad of spiderweb to a fresh cut will stop the bleeding and has been used for that purpose for time immortal. (hehe....knew there were medicinal reasons not to clean my house!)

(Including sunburn, brush burns, scrapes and chemical burns) Keep cool water with a little vinegar added in it on the area until the burning stops. The pain may last from four to six hours but continue using the compresses or soaking until you are relieved. If the burn doesn't blister, Aloe Vera gel, fluoride toothpaste or any soothing medicated cream should help. After 24 to 48 hours, if blistering has occurred, cut the blisters off and wash with povidone-iodine solution (Betadine). Coat during the day with either Betadine Cream or Neosporin, Honey, or Aloe Vera Gel, and at night apply the cream and cover area with a moist burn pad such as Second Skin which should be covered with a gauze pad. These water-impregnated bandages enhance burn healing.

Brush burns and scrapes can be treated in the same fashion but initially, use cool water compresses without any vinegar, since vinegar will sting and cause burning to an open wound. (Cool water compresses cause stinging on a brush burn anyway, because a fresh scrape is very sensitive.) Use 3% Hydrogen Peroxide to disinfect and clean the area before applying the compresses. Continue to use the peroxide every hour or so to clean and disinfect and compress with the cool water afterwards until the burning stops. You can then treat it as a burn with the other recommendation. The area should be washed twice daily and any white, scabby material should be removed each time. Using the Perosice as an antiseptic before applying the burn cream is very beneficial. The burn should be raw after every washing. Rubbing the area rather than patting dry, although somewhat painful, will achieve this. (Sivadene Creme is still a prescription, at time of printing, but is very effective for pain and to promote healing.)

[Note: Honey has been used as a cure for burns since it was recommended by Aristotle. Honey retains heat, so the burn must first be cooled with cold running water or ice cubes, then honey applied to the burned area. Raw honey contains antibiotics, and promotes healing of burns leaving very few scars. Not that long ago, East Bloc medics used raw honey for burns and blisters on soldiers in the field. Miles]

Diarrhea or vomiting that lasts more than a day should always be evaluated by a health care professional.

Adults take Imodium A-D tabs. Children should take Pepto Bismol or Diasorb Liquid. Follow directions on bottles for various ages...For diarrhea that persists more than a few ours, children should get one, and adults two acidophilus capsules three or four times daily mixed in scraped apple or applesauce. If cramping, keep a heating pad on stomach. As long as nausea persists, chewing cracked ice and/or keeping a cold cloth or ice pack around one's throat helps to make the situation more bearable and reduces the vomiting. Eating crackers or ginger snap cookies is often good for nausea.

HONEY AND LEMON COUGH SYRUP

For Children: mix four ounces of honey, one ounce of lemon juice and one ounce of glycerin. Give one teaspoon every four hours alone or in combination with any other cough syrup you are giving the child. Do not give this to children under one year of age without contacting your physician.

Adults: mix four ounces honey, one ounce of glycerin, one ounce of lemon juice and two ounces SOUTHERN COMFORT. Take one tablespoon every four hours when needed for cough. Warming these makes them work more effectively, especially at bedtime.

WHEEZE AND CROUP

It is generally recommended that milk and milk products be avoided while a person is crouping or seriously congested. Diluted fruit juice, water or vegetable juice is better. While crouping, older children and adults should eat only soup and crackers. (In a large pot, place rice, cabbage, celery, garlic, onion, and a tablespoon of sage along with the chicken. Cover with water and boil all this until the chicken is done. Use salt and cayenne pepper to taste.) Rubbing the child's chest, back and under the feet with Mentholatum or Vicks Vaporub also gives symptomatic relief to nighttime croup or cough. You should put socks on the child's feet after using the rub. Wearing a flannel type pajama shirt seems to help the rub to be more effective on the back and chest. ..the house should be kept as cold as possible (and the child warmly covered). Heated air is the culprit in bringing on and making croup worse.

WARTS

There also seems to be some psychological factors involved with wart disappearance especially in children. That is why "treating" the wart by rubbing it with a potato then burying the potato or make various marks on or around the wart, while at the same time having a serious or spiritual demeanor, is associated with wart disappearance. ....many wart will be gone within a two week period.

(A small piece of duct tape placed on a wart for a week, removed, the area cleaned, then replaced, has also been proven effective in the removal of warts.)

"HOME CURES FROM THE KITCHEN"

Common household items like vinegar, Epsom-salts, menthol - even ammonia and bleach - can often be used to cure common ailments.

Sometimes these cures can come from unexpected sources, such as ammonia, bleach and vinegar, which Duplantis calls the "big three".

"They are good for things that many people may not realize". Bleach has many topical uses, including in a mild solution for drying up poison ivy or soaking cure for athlete's foot. "Nothing on the market can touch it for athlete's foot", Duplantis says.

A variety of insect bites can be treated with ammonia, as well as bee and jelly fish stings. He said it is a natural neutralizer, almost instantly deadening the pain of a bite or sting. A similar effect can also be achieved with baking soda, another neutralizer.

Vinegar is a natural cleanser, and the body produces about one quart per day. Ingesting a little extra vinegar each day such as on salads, can be a benefit he said. People use vinegar to clean the stains out of coffee pots, so imagine what it could do for your insides, he said.

A similar preventive is wine. "A lot of older people would drink a glass of wine with every evening meal. If more people did that, they would have less stomach trouble, less stress and lower cholesterol."

"Home remedies are good, but like anything, you don't want to over do it. It can just make matters worse," Duplantis said.

Kerosene helps reduce the irritation of hemorrhoids and will help stop the bleeding and infection of a cut. While he does not list its use in his book, Duplantis said many people have used turpentine as an arthritis rub and even mixed it with honey and lemon for cough suppressant.

Duplantis believes that the best cure for sinus problems is menthol. He recommends a few menthol crystals in a cop of hot water, then breathe in the relief. "I sell a ton of menthol crystals," he said. "Everyone should have some in the house."

OTHER HOME REMEDIES

HEALING POWERS OF CRANBERRY & BAKING SODA

Some old wives' tales are harmful, some contain a kernel of truth, and some hit the nail right on the head. One old home remedy has been proven absolutely correct in recent scientific studies: Drinking cranberry juice can prevent bladder infection, also known as urinary tract infections (UTI'S). When water supplies are in question as to quality this is a potential problem.

A six month study of 153 percent of the women drinking cranberry juice developed infections compared to 28 percent of those not drinking cranberry juice. Among those who did get infections, the women drinking cranberry juice recovered more quickly than the others.

Only 15 percent of the women drinking cranberry juice developed infections compared to 28 percent of those not drinking cranberry juice. Among those who did get infections, the women drinking cranberry juice recovered more quickly than the others.

Most bladder infections require antibiotics prescribed by your doctor. However, promptly applied home remedies can sometimes prevent a bladder infection while it's early stages.

GIVE BACTERIA THE SLIP: For decades people have believed that cranberry juice can ward off or treat a bladder infection because of its acid content. While it's true that bacteria cannot grow very well in an acidic environment, that's not how cranberry juice works.

Cranberry juice actually prevents bacteria from clinging to the walls of the urinary tract. It makes your urinary walls too slippery for bacteria. Since the bacteria cannot hold on inside the body, they are less likely to cause an infection or make an existing infection worse.

Drink at least two 8 ounce glasses of cranberry juice at the first sign of a bladder infection to give bacteria the slip.

BAKING SODA & WATER

By drinking water, you may be able to flush the infection from your system before it gets a good grip.

Add a teaspoon of baking soda to a full glass of water to help relieve the painful burning sensation. Don't use baking soda for a long period of time or if you're sensitive to salt.

Don't use baking soda in your water and drink cranberry juice too. The two remedies cancel each other out.

Pregnant women should NOT under ANY circumstances drink baking soda and water. It will land them in the hospital.

Go to the bathroom every time you feel like it. Many people resist the urge to go to the bathroom when they have a bladder infection because of the painful burning they experience.

But the more you go to the bathroom, the quicker you'll be rid of those bothersome bacteria.

WARNING SIGNS OF A BLADDER INFECTION

a burning sensation when you urinate
a frequent urge to urinate even though you only eliminate small amounts of urine
a sense that your bladder is not completely empty even after you have gone to the bathroom
cloudy urine

If your symptoms don't improve within 24 hours or if you have bloody urine, pain in your lower back, fever, nausea or vomiting, see a doctor immediately. Bladder infections that are not treated properly can cause permanent kidney damage.

HEALING PROPERTIES OF GARLIC

Garlic actually fight off some infections that modern antibiotics can't kill. Extract of fresh garlic cloves kills or slows the growth of more than a dozen common bacteria.

If you feel like you're going to catch a cold or the flu, chow down on a clove or two of garlic. If you catch an infection in its very early stage, you may not even get sick. Raw garlic seems to fight infections better than cooked garlic, but cooked garlic is good for you too. Cooked garlic may be better at protecting against heart disease. If you are bothered by garlic odor you can take the supplement tablets with an enteric coating. This coating protects the garlic, preventing it from dissolving until it reaches the intestines.

Kwai is one brand that has produced positive results in several clinical trials.

CLEAR UP CHEST CONGESTION WITH GARLIC

Garlic can also be helpful in clearing up chest congestion that often accompanies respiratory infections. Try this chest clearing ointment you can make yourself:

Peel and mince seven garlic cloves. Put them into a pint-sized fruit jar; add enough shortening to cover the minced cloves. Place open jar into a pan of boiling water and let boil for three hours.

For extra effectiveness, add 1/8 teaspoon of eucalyptus oil to the melted shortening. Cool, cover and store. Rub ointment on the chest, stomach and back. Cover with a heavy bath towel. Garlic has been called the "jewel among vegetables." What a perfect description for an herb that can help you keep your most priceless possession, your health, in sparkling form.

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"SARS" VIRUS can live on surfaces, just like anthrax spores. One good home remedy for killing those viruses is listed below...if it works on something as hardy as an anthrax spore, it should work on the SARS virus.

Anthrax spores can be killed quite readily in several ways available to citizens. Anthrax spores are killed by a combination of heat and moisture. Letter mail can be sterilized by simply using a steam iron set on "linen" and using a lot of steam while pressing the letters, then disinfecting the ironing surface with the solution mentioned below.

Area or surface disinfection of anthrax spores can be accomplished by using an acidic bleach solution. For counter tops and exposed surface sterilization purposes, an acidic bleach solution can be applied with a sponge or towel, but be sure to wear latex gloves. If the acidic bleach solution is used in a plastic pressure garden sprayer for outside use, this solution would also sterilize driveways, vehicles, etc. Just remember that the solution should be cleaned off any exposed surfaces after 10 or 15 minutes by flushing repeatedly with water, as almost nothing is more prone to cause rusting on any metal surface than this oxidization solution. Soap may be used in the cleaning solution as a surfacent, but DO NOT use any product containing ammonia on or with a bleach solution!

The following disinfecting solution was discovered by Norman Miner, a microbiologist and owner at MicroChem Laboratory in Fort Worth, Texas, specializing in germicidal chemistry. He and some scientists there were looking for something common that would kill bacillis anthracis and other assorted nasties. According to Miner, this solution kills bacillus subtilis, which is the most resistant of all bacillis spores -- even more so than anthrax. The solution wiped out b. subtilis within one minute. This was the wet spore test. They then ground up the b. subtilis and dried it. The solution killed all the spores within ten minutes. This solution supposedly kills everything from anthrax to Ebola to smallpox to anything else you can think of. The "trick" is the acidified bleach, which changes the normal pH of the HOCl and super-powers it.

The composition is:

1 cup (8 oz) bleach
1 1/2 gallons (6 quarts) water
1 1/2 cups 5% vinegar

Mix the bleach and water, then add the vinegar. Use a plastic bucket if possible, and stir with a stainless steel utensil or a wooden stick. This is a highly reactive oxidizer, so a reactive metal such as an aluminum pot should NOT be used.

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MORE HOME REMEDIES FROM ANGIE, THE "CAJUN QUEEN"

HEADACHE PAIN:

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

BURNS:

Did you know that Colgate toothpaste makes an excellent salve for burns.

STUFFED NOSE:

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:

Achy muscles from a bout of the flu? Mix 1 Tablespoon of horseradish in 1/2 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:

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.

URINARY TRACT INFECTION:

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.

PUFFY EYES:

Eliminate puffiness under your eyes..... All you need is a dab of Preparation H, carefully rubbed into the skin, avoiding the eyes. The hemorrhoid ointment acts as a vasoconstrictor, relieving the swelling instantly.

SKIN BLEMISHES:

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.

TOENAIL FUNGUS:

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.

EYEGLASS PROTECTION:

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.

RUST REMOVER:

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.

BUG KILLER:

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.

SPLINTER REMOVER:

Smart splinter remover..... just pour a drop of Elmers Glue-all over the splinter, let dry, and peel the dried glue off the skin. The splinter sticks to the dried glue.

CURE FOR BOILS:

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.

BLISTER BALM:

Balm for broken blisters..... To disinfect a broken blister, dab on a few drops of Listerine.... a powerful antiseptic.

HEAL BRUISES:

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.

FLEA KILLER:

Kill fleas instantly. Dawn dishwashing 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!

DOG ODOR:

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.

EAR MITES:

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.

HAIRBALL REMOVER:

Vaseline cure for hairballs..... To prevent troublesome hairballs, apply a dollop of vaseline petroleum jelly to your cat's nose. The cat will lick off the jelly, lubricating any hair in its stomach so it can pass easily through the digestive system.

ARTHRITIS PAIN REMOVER:

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.

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[Obviously there are no guarantees or warrantees expressed or implied with any home remedy. Use cautiously and at your own risk. The foregoing was provided purely for informational purposes, and we assume no liability for any use whatever. I hope this disclaimer makes all the lawyers happy!]

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