Some home remedies work just right for treating an ailment such as a bee-sting, burn, etc but you can be fooled easily without even getting to know about them properly. Experts claim that one should investigate into the effectiveness and suitability of the remedy with a doctor before trying it at home.
Top 5 Home Remedies Guaranteed to Fool You
Listed below are some 5 home remedies which should not be tried at home, say experts when reviewed by the WebMD team:
Ear Candling to Remove Ear Wax
Experts state that ear candling is a difficult and dangerous way to remove wax from the ears. After all, the function of ear wax is to protect the ears from infection. However, ear wax can be cleaned by safer means like over-the-counter ear drops, oil, tissue paper, etc. Even then people choose to use the beeswax cone which is lit close to the ears for clearing the wax out of the ears. Jennifer Smullen, an instructor in the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston is of the opinion that ear candling has led to severe consequences like burning the ear canal and the eardrum.
Whiskey for Comforting the Gums of a Teething Baby
Experts believe that whiskey is one of the most atrocious means that parents resort to comfort a teething baby for who suffers gum pain. Stanley Alexander, a DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine) in the Tufts University claims that whiskey is not healthy for a child and neither does it help in numbing the gums. Stanley says that the best remedy to provide comfort to your baby’s gum is to freeze a teething toy for the baby to chew on.
Butter for Burns
Robert Sheridan from the Massachusetts General Hospital states that butter can be best applied to foods but not to skin burns. Butter certainly has a soothing effect just as toothpaste has on a burn but both do not help in curing the problem at all. Sheridan suggests over-the-counter antibiotic ointments to treat skin burns if the area affected can be categorized a first or second degree burn which is larger than 3 inches of the area affected. Sheridan also explains that butter provides a cooling effect initially but eventually melts due to body heat and can cause infections because it is not germ-free.
Colloidal Silver Can Cure Infections and Diseases
Experts claim that there are many people who believe that colloidal silver can cure them off fungal skin infections or even cancer. Ted Epperly, MD from the American Academy of Family Physicians is of the opinion that silver can not only make the skin greyish blue in color but can also affect the cells and damage organs permanently like the stomach, kidneys or the brain.
Home cleansing of colon
Some experts are of the opinion that colon collects a lot of waste matter, which can be cleared off with herbs, diets, laxatives, etc. Robert Siegel, MD from the American College of Gastroenterology claims that the colon is nothing but a waste container that allows the fecal matter to pass out of the human system. Siegel agrees with other experts that constant cleaning of the colon can cause dehydration or loss of salt from the body and can also make the body more vulnerable to heart failures, anemia and malnutrition. Increasing one’s fiber diet with fruits and vegetables can help solve the problem of colon otherwise in more severe cases Siegel suggests that a doctor should be consulted with to treat conditions of constipation and uneasiness.
Reported Side Effects of Misleading Remedies
| Remedy | Reported Side Effects | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Ear Candling | Burns, ear canal blockage, perforated eardrum | High |
| Whiskey on Gums | Alcohol poisoning, delayed speech development | High |
| Butter on Burns | Infection, prolonged healing, blistering | Medium |
| Colloidal Silver | Argyria (blue-grey skin), kidney/liver damage | High |
| Colon Cleansing | Dehydration, electrolyte loss, bowel perforation | High |
Table: Common Misconceptions vs. Medical Facts
| Misconception | Why People Believe It | Medical Fact |
|---|---|---|
| Ear wax is dirty and must be removed frequently | Ear wax looks unclean and feels uncomfortable | Ear wax protects ears from bacteria and dust; it clears itself naturally |
| Alcohol helps numb pain in babies | Alcohol numbs skin in adults; assumed to work for infants too | Even small doses of alcohol are harmful for babies’ developing brains |
| Butter and toothpaste soothe burns | They feel cool initially and are always handy | They trap heat and increase infection risk; use sterile ointments instead |
| Natural = Safe (e.g., colloidal silver) | “Natural” products are marketed as harmless and powerful | Not all natural products are safe or effective; silver can be toxic |
| Colon cleanses are necessary for detox | Health fads promote the idea of internal “cleansing” | Your body already detoxes via liver and kidneys; over-cleansing is harmful |
Keep away from the above 5 home remedies that fool you and consult a doctor to get over problems with effective, reliable and suitable solutions.
