May 9, 2008 5:45 pm US/Eastern
Do Home Remedies Cure Health Problems?
(KDKA)
People have been trying home-made concoctions to cure health problems since the beginning of the human race.
Now, KDKA's Health Editor Dr. Maria Simbra is looking at the effectiveness of some of the more popular home remedies.
Uncontrollable Crying or Colic: "Some people think it's related to migraine," says Dr. Ray Pitetti, from Children's Hospital. "Some people think it's related to gas."
No one really knows why it happens, but some parents will try anything.
Experts say that some people have made the observation that if you give diluted chamomile tea it will have a soothing effect.
In studies, the effective dose was too large to be practical, but a four ounce dose is generally safe.
Halitosis or Bad breath:
"Stomach digestion could be one of the causes for bad breath," says Dr. Alene Dalesio, a dentist at Children's Hospital.
Medical experts say one way to fix stomach digestion is with Aloe Vera juice, which is available at any local drug store.
It takes a few weeks to work, along with daily brushing and flossing. Doctors say to also beware because it can act as a laxative.
"You want to use it in moderation, probably no more than two to three times a day, and no more than two to four ounces each time you use it," says Dr. Dalesio.
The biggest hurdle, for some people can be the taste.
"You may want to mix it with apple juice or water, just to dilute the taste," Dr. Dalesio adds.
Cough: Doctors say people have been using honey for cough and sore throat for a very long time and there has actually been several studies done.
In studies comparing it to cough syrup with Dextromethophan, doctors say honey came out the winner.
Warts:
The common wart covered up with duct tape could go away, but it could just go away anyway.
"When you look at these studies closely, the percentage of patients who improved on duct tape was pretty much the same as the percentage of patients who improved on nothing," says Dr. Robin Gehris, a dermatologist at Children's Hosptial.
The good news is that it is not harmful to try this home remedy, and there are things that could done to help it work better.
"We tell patients to use it in conjunction with another over-the-counter preparation," says Dr. Gehris.
And the duct tape keeps the medicine from rubbing off.
Here are some other home remedies: Aloe Vera can soothe a burn, but doctors warn to be careful with this one because some people are allergic to this, and you can get a nasty rash.
Also Crisco can be used for itchy, flaky Eczema, and so can many other things from Vaseline to medicated creams and lotions.
Ginger has been used for centuries for morning sickness. In a study of almost 300 women, doctors say about half of them had less nausea and vomiting if they took either vitamin B6 or ginger.
As with any new treatment, you'll want to check with your doctor first to make sure you won't be doing more harm than good.
More: 
Prevention Magazine
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