Common Cold Remedies Debunked!

Omega-3 Pill
If you don't like or eat a lot of fish, pop an omega-3 supplement daily to reap the fatty acid's impressive immune-fortifying properties. Omega-3s increase the activity of phagocytes—cells that fight flu by eating up bacteria—according to a study by Britain's Institute of Human Nutrition and School of Medicine. Other research shows that omega-3s increase airflow and protect lungs from colds and respiratory infections.

Look for purified fish oil capsules that contain at least 1 g combined of EPA and DHA.

Astragalus
This Chinese root is shown to stimulate the white blood cells that fight infection, says Prevention advisor Andrew Weil, MD. A study published in 2007 found that astragalus appears to boost immunity in mice. And a pilot study suggests that the herb may have similar effects in people. However, keep in mind that astragalus may take 6 to 8 weeks to reach its full effect.

Echinacea
If taken at the start of a cold, this herb might shorten duration and severity of symptoms. But some brands don't contain the amount of echinacea listed on the label—and some formulas have none at all. Possible side effects include wheezing, rash, and diarrhea.

Vitamin D
This power nutrient may effectively boost immunity and help prevent colds, a Harvard study shows. People with the lowest vitamin D levels were 36% more likely to have upper respiratory infections, compared with those with the most D. (Asthma patients with low levels of D were nearly 6 times as likely to get sick as those with the greatest amounts.) Adequate amounts of D help produce cathelicidin, a protein with virus-killing qualities.

Since it's tough to get enough from sunlight or diet (fish and fortified dairy are the best sources), you'll need a supplement to attain optimal levels, says study author Carlos A. Camargo Jr., MD. Aim for at least 1,000 IU daily.

Cold-fX
Consider taking this supplement, which contains North American ginseng extract, when you feel a cold coming on. Subjects who took two daily capsules of Cold-fX (available online) caught half as many colds as a group taking a placebo, according to a study by the Center for Immunotherapy of Cancer and Infectious Diseases at the University of Connecticut. When they did get sick, their symptoms lasted less than half as long. This particular ginseng variety contains compounds that increase white blood cells and interleukins, proteins the immune system relies on.

Airborne
Experts say this supplement, a blend of blend of Zinc, Ginger, Echinacea and other vitamins, minerals, and herbs, does nothing to repel germs on an airplane or anywhere else. It also contains large amounts of vitamin A, which could be toxic if taken several times a day.

Zinc
The research on this mineral is conflicting. Still, "30 mg taken at the very start of a cold will shorten it by about half a day," says David L. Katz, MD, MPH, director of the Yale University Prevention Research Center. Look for Zicam or Cold-Eeze. By slowing the multiplication of the virus in the nose and throat, these products appear to shorten colds.

But don't overdo it. While even a slight deficiency in zinc, which is needed to produce white blood cells, can increase your risk of infection, more than 50 mg daily can suppress your immune system and block absorption of other essential minerals.

Vitamin C
There's certainly no downside to eating a lot of C-rich foods, such as red peppers and citrus fruits. But taking a vitamin for extra protection won't help. A 2007 review of 30 studies found no evidence that vitamin C supplementation prevents colds in the normal population. Plus, megadoses can cause kidney stones, upset stomach, and even internal bleeding in children.

How to Treat Blister?

So, you've got a blister. Now what? Doctors recommend you try to keep the blister intact. This means no popping -- no matter how tempting it may be. Remember, the blister is there to protect your skin. It guards your injured skin from coming into contact with bacteria and becoming infected. Cover it with a small bandage. If the blister is too big for a standard-sized bandage, cover it with a porous, nonstick gauze that will allow the blister to breathe.

Sometimes, though, a blister may be quite painful and even prohibit you from wearing any shoes at all. If you do need to drain the blister -- and this should be your last resort -- here's how to do it safely. (Please note: If you have poor circulation or diabetes, consult a doctor before self-treating a blister.)

To relieve a painful blister, you should drain the fluid but leave the skin intact. This isn't for the squeamish, we might add.

1.First, wash your hands and the blister with warm water and soap.
2.Swab the blister and area with iodine or rubbing alcohol.
3.Sterilize a clean and sharp needle by wiping it with rubbing alcohol.
4.Gently puncture the blister in a few spots near the blister edge. Let the fluid drain (applying very gentle pressure if necessary) and do not remove the overlying skin.
5.Immediately apply an antibiotic ointment to the area and cover with a bandage or gauze.
6.After several days, you can cut away the dead skin using sterilized scissors and tweezers.
7.Apply more ointment and a bandage or gauze.
8.Always call your doctor if you see signs of infection around a blister -- redness, pus, warm skin or increasing pain.

If you're already suffering from a blister, use a bandage or moleskin to protect it. Many brands carry bandages sized and shaped especially for high heeled and strappy shoes. Likewise, if you have a "problem area" that always seems to blister, nip it in the bud and place a moleskin or bandage on the area you're worried about.

Moisture is also big culprit in the formation of blisters. You can keep your feet dry by using powder or, in extreme cases, an anti-perspirant.

If, for whatever reason, you think blisters are unavoidable, try some of these measures. Take a page from runners and hikers. Use petroleum jelly or a similar lubricant wherever you think a blister is likely to form or has already formed. The lubrication will prevent further painful friction.

If your feet are sliding forward in your shoes, causing the shoe to rub against your heel as you walk, try some insoles or heel cushions. These keep your feet firmly in your shoes, eliminating rubbing and friction. Another thing to remember -- nobody's feet are the exact same size. One may be slightly bigger or wider than the other, leading to one normal foot and one blistered foot. Grippy insoles and heel cushions can help alleviate this problem for the ill-fitting foot.

Home Remedies For Insect Bites

- Mosquito Bites

-For mosquito bites apply lime juice diluted with water over the bite.
-You can also apply calamine lotion for mosquito bites.
-Apply a salt water solution or paste over the bite, this helps in relieving the itching problem.
-Mix one teaspoon baking soda in one glass of water and rub the solution with a cloth over the bite for 15 to 20 minutes.
-You can apply an antihistamine cream which relieves the itchiness from the bite.
-Applying rubbing alcohol over the bite helps to soothe the itch.
-Apply fresh damp mud on the bite. This can be used for bites similar to this like bug bites, chigger bites and others.
-Take an oat meal bath this will help to reduce the swelling and itchy feeling.
-Rub dry soap over the mosquito bite. It reduces the itchy feeling and the swelling.
-You can also use a banana peel which is to be used inside out. This provides relief from the bites.
-A mixture of pure olive oil and vinegar also helps in relieving the mosquito bite problem.
- Chigger Bites
-Apply clear nail polish on the bites, it provides you quick relief.
-You can rub bacon grease on the affected area as this provides quick relief from the chigger bites.
-Vicks Vapor Rub is another way to cure this problem. The petroleum chokes the chigger and methanol helps in relieving the itch.
-The mixture of camphor and phenol in mineral spirits also helps in shedding this problem.
-A hot water bath is an excellent way of dealing with this problem.
-Rubbing the affected area with Listerine also helps in alleviating this problem.
- Wasp Bites/ Wasp Stings
-First thing first, the bitten area should be cleaned with soap and water solution.
-You can apply a poultice of meat tenderizer or salt over the wasp sting as soon as possible. You can use half a teaspoon of any of the products with water and leave it over the bite for 30 minutes.
-You can use this remedy for wasp itch or wasp sting or fire ant bite. Household ammonia can be use as it helps to minimize the sting produced due to the bite.
- Other Bites
-You can use make a paste by mixing water with cornstarch. Apply this paste if you have been bitten by any poisonous insect like a spider. The paste helps in drawing out the poison from your body.
-You can wash the area with mild soap and water to remove the germs and other allergy provoking substances. This can be done for most of the bites like bug bites.
-A paste of baking soda and water works great for most bites.

Home Remedies for Sore Throats

Rest and Take It Easy
Common sense dictates staying in bed or at least resting when a sore throat's got you down. Taking it easy leaves more energy to fight the infection. If your sore throat doesn't require medical attention, rest will help get you back on the road to recovery.

Gargle
Gargle with turmeric. Try this gargle to calm a cranky throat. Mix together 1 cup hot water, 1/2 teaspoon turmeric and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Gargle with the mixture twice a day. If you're not good with the gargle, mix 1/2 teaspoon turmeric in 1 cup hot milk and drink. Turmeric stains clothing, so be careful when mixing and gargling.

Gargle with warm saltwater. If you can gargle without gagging, make a saline solution by adding 1/2 teaspoon salt to a cup of very warm water. Yes, when your mother told you to gargle with saltwater, she knew what she was talking about. It cuts phlegm and reduces inflammation. Dissolve 1/2 teaspoon salt in 1/2 cup warm water, and gargle every three to four hours.

Gargle with Listerine. Another good gargling fluid is Listerine mouthwash. If you share the product with anyone else in your household, don't drink straight from the bottle; instead, pour a small amount into a cup (and don't share that, either).


Drink Cider Vinegar
This sore throat cure is found in several different remedies. Some doctors still swear that it is surprisingly palatable and works wonders. (Do not give it -- or any other honey-containing food or beverage -- to children under two years of age. Honey can carry a bacterium that can cause a kind of food poisoning called infant botulism and may also cause allergic reactions in very young children.)


1 tablespoon honey, any kind


1 tablespoon vinegar, preferably apple-cider vinegar


8 ounces hot water
Mix all the ingredients together in a mug and sip slowly (but don't let it get cold). Use as often as desired.

For gargling: You'll need 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 cup cider vinegar, and 1 cup warm water. Dissolve the salt in the vinegar, then mix in the water. Gargle every 15 minutes as necessary.

Use Citrus
Sip lemon juice. Mix 1 tablespoon each of honey and lemon juice in 1 cup warm water and sip away.

Drink lime juice. Combine 1 spoonful with a spoonful of honey and take as often as needed for a sore throat.


Eat a Juicebar
Juice bars are cold and soothing to a hot throat. Don't suck, though. Sucking may irritate the throat even more. Simply let small pieces melt in your mouth.


Drink Hot Liquid
Especially if you're not good at gargling, drink hot fluids, such as coffee, tea or hot lemonade. Coating the tissue in your throat with warm liquid provides a benefit similar to applying hot packs to infected skin. (And sipping hot tea is more pleasant than trying to swallow a hot pack.)

To make a soothing tea, use a spoonful of marjoram steeped in a cup of boiling water for 10 minutes. Strain, then sweeten to taste with honey.


Grab Some Candy
Think of a sore throat as an excuse to indulge your sweet tooth, since some doctors say that sugar can help soothe a sore throat and the ticklish cough that may come with it. If nothing else, sucking on hard candy -- in the sugar-free variety -- can help keep your mouth and throat moist, which will make you feel more comfortable

Keep The Fluid Coming
Drink as much fluid as possible -- at least eight to 10 8-ounce glasses per day. Keeping your throat well lubricated with soothing liquids can prevent it from becoming dry and irritated and may even help banish the infection faster.

Suck On Garlic
This Amish remedy can treat or prevent sore throats. Peel a fresh clove, slice it in half, and place 1 piece in each cheek. Suck on the garlic like a cough drop. Occasionally, crush your teeth against the garlic, not to bite it in half, but to release its allicin, a chemical that can kill the bacteria that causes strep.

Home Remedies for Hiccups

Some of the home remedies for hiccups are as follows Hold your breath, Gargle with water, Place an ice bag on the diaphragm for sometime, Sip ice water quickly, Close your eyes and gently press your eye balls, Drink a glass of soda water quickly, Eat some sugar, Eat one tbsp peanut butter,

Olive oil

Eczema

Soothe flareups by applying olive oil directly to the irritated area.Packed with antioxidants that can reduce the inflammation associated with eczema, olive oil is the basis for many moisturizers; when used alone, it lacks chemical irritants you may find in store-bought creams. As a bonus, olive oil’s antioxidants help prevent and repair damage that can lead to wrinkles and brown spots.

Rub 1 teaspoon per square inch of skin, which creates a seal that prevents skin from drying out. For serious cases, cover oil-slathered skin with plastic wrap overnight to lock moisture in.