Grandma WAS A Health Hacker

Grandma may have been onto something with her homemade remedies.

Some of these time-tested health hacks really worked! Others were just plain silly. Here’s a look at some old-time health hacks that might

actually help, and some others that make no sense whatsoever:

SENSIBLE: Warm tea, honey and lemon for cough.A coat of honey may soothe inflamed tissues, while the acids in lemon and tea could help dissolve phlegm. Lemon peel may even have some antimicrobial properties.

SENSIBLE: Eat prunes to prevent constipation.

Prunes are filled with insoluble fiber and natural laxatives that can prevent and relieve

some constipation.

SENSIBLE: Gargle with salt water for sore throat.A randomized study showed that gargling briefly with salt water can reduce symptoms of sore throat by drawing out moisture from inflamed tissues and loosening abrasive mucous.

SENSIBLE: Chicken soup for colds.

A scientific study has shown that the ingredients in some chicken soup recipes had

an anti-inflammatory effect and thus may possibly reduce the symptoms of a cold.

SENSIBLE: Ice on the cheek near an aching tooth to relieve pain.Sudden cold may temporarily overwhelm some pain responses.

SORT OF SENSIBLE: Baking soda on bee stings.

Putting anything tingly or reactive on a bee sting may distract your attention from the immediate

pain. But there is mixed testimony and no evidence that baking soda reduces inflammation or swelling or reduces the toxicity of bee venom.

SILLY: Mustard plaster for bronchitis, etc.In Grandma’s day, powdered black mustard blended into a paste, layered in dressings and applied to the body was used to treat everything from chest ailments to gunshot wounds. But aside from dilating blood vessels at the site of application, it all added up to a lot of busywork. There’s no reliable evidence that mustard plaster has significant therapeutic value, and it could put you at risk for skin irritation and burning.

SILLY: Toothpaste to “dry out” pimples.Toothpaste is more likely to irritate your

pimples than cure them. Talk to a dermatologist to see if your pimples are treatable. Most

pimples just go away by themselves. And it could cause skin irritation.

SILLY: Scalp massage, olive oil or putting anything on your head to promote hair growth.Hair doesn’t grow in response to massage or the application of any substance you’re likely to find around the house. Minoxodyl is the only FDA-approved topical treatment for hair loss.

SILLY: Cucumber slices to reduce puffiness

around the eyes.Anything moist and chilly may possibly

reduce swelling around or under the eyes, but cucumber slices are no better than chilled tea

bags or anything similar at producing this mild and very temporary effect.

We Love You, Grandma, but …Some of Grandma’s health hacks are just placebos. They work because

we believe in them and because someone is paying attention to us and showing us that they care about how we feel. Or else because

the pain, cold or sore throat goes away by itself.

For serious health problems, there is no substitute for therapies and treatments backed by scientific evidence and delivered

by a qualified health professional.

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SOURCES:

Cohen HA, Rozen J, et al, “Effect of Honey on Nocturnal Cough and Sleep Quality: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Con-trolled Study,” Pediatrics. 2012 Sep;130(3):465-71.

Dhanavade MJ, Jalkute CB, et al, “Study Antimicrobial Activ-ity of Lemon (Citrus lemon L.) Peel Extract,” British Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology. 2(3): 119-122, 2011.

Joanna Briggs Institute, “Management of Constipation in Older Adults,” Best Practice. 12(7) 2008.

Satomura K, Kitamura T, “Prevention of Upper Respiratory Tract Infections by Gargling: A Randomized Trial,” American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2005 Nov;29(4):302-7

Rennard BO, Ertl RF, et al, “Chicken Soup Inhibits Neutrophil Chemotaxis In Vitro,” Chest. 2000, Oct;118(4):1150-7.

Ernst E, Fialka V, “Ice Freezes Pain? A Review of the Clini-cal Effectiveness of Analgesic Cold Therapy,” Journal of Pain Symptom Management. 1994 Jan; 9(1): 56-9.

clevelandclinic.org/HealthHub