Doctors' Home Remedies: Ways to Use Stuff Around the House

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When you’re in a pinch, try these expert-suggested remedies—using things you already have around the house!

SKIN HOME REMEDIES
“Super glue is good for repairing small cracks in dry, thick skin, like on the fingertips or the heel. Just be careful not to bond your fingers together! The glue falls off after a few days, but feel free to reapply it as needed. Do not use it on wounds.”
—Wen

“Honey is a great first-aid ointment. It’s a natural [antibacterial product]. That’s why honey has such a long shelf life.”
—Brouhard

“Vegetable shortening [is] good for use on dry skin: easily spread, inexpensive, hypoallergenic and odor-free. Just apply thinly to affected areas and rub in.” (Not for the face; it may cause pimples.)
—Wen

“After peeling a cucumber, rub the inside of the peels on your face to soften and hydrate your skin.”
—Spencer

“Duct tape for warts—you may have heard of this one. It works especially well for those stubborn, bottom-of-the-foot warts. What you do is cut out a piece of duct tape just the size of the wart and stick it on there. Leave it alone until it comes off by itself—often a week or more. Repeat if necessary. You can shower as usual; just don’t scrub the tape off. It suffocates the wart. Don’t cut a piece bigger than the wart or you’ll suffocate normal skin too and end up with dead, white, prune skin where you don’t want it.”
—Spencer

Two ways to make a quick splint:

With a pillow: Wrap it around the injury. “You can use some sort of cloth—anything from an ace bandage to a pillowcase to a bed sheet—to secure the pillow above and below the injury.”
—Lynch

With a cardboard box: “Bend the cardboard into a tray, and set the arm or leg into it. Wrap or tape it into place.”
—Brouhard

“Make sure the victim can wiggle her fingers or toes before and after splinting her broken bone,” Brouhard cautions.

Lynch says only consider a do-it-yourself splint “if there’s no difficulty breathing or further life threats, including excessive bleeding.” The pillow splint won’t provide full support, he says, but could help relieve pain.

MEDICAL HOME REMEDIES
“Placing a teabag … where a tooth was removed can promote accelerated healing. The tannic acid in the tea is the contributing factor.”

—Knecht

“Tired of thick, yellow toenails? Use Vicks VapoRub. Apply a small amount to the nails every night at bedtime. It will take four to 10 months, but the nail will most likely return to normal, without you spending a ton of money or taking medicines that can irritate your liver. You do need to remove the nail polish from your nail before applying the VapoRub.”
—Grimes

“For stuffy nose/sinus conditions, a quick aid is shredded, peeled horseradish. A few short inhales of freshly ground horseradish will clear the sinuses. Be careful not to use too much or breathe in too strongly; you may get a tearful surprise. “Use a closable container to get multiple uses from the ground product. The vapors will diminish with time and exposure to air.”
—Bryan

“You can use a glass of milk to preserve a totally knocked-out tooth—not just a cracked piece. Time is of the essence, but it is possible for a dentist to place the tooth back into the socket. Find the knocked-out tooth and put it in milk to keep it moist. Be careful not to touch the root. Get to the dentist immediately.”
—Gross

How to Make Your Own Gym!

ARM WORK:

Broomstick: modified pull-ups. Rest the stick on the seats of two chairs. Lie underneath it with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Pull your chest up to it. —Williamson
Couch arms: pushups. “The farther back you step, the harder it is!” —Ricupero
Doorway: pushups. “Put one hand on each side.” —Vita
Coffee table, chair, ottomon or bed: triceps dips. —Vita

MULTI-USE:

Chair: pushups, knee lifts. (Seated, lift knees to chest. Targets stomach and core). —Dimmick
Wall: 90-degree squat holds and pushups. —Fox
Soccer ball or basketball: Use for pushups; pass back and forth or toss against the wall to work the chest; hold overhead while performing crunches; dribble to get the heart rate up. —Fox

FREE WEIGHTS:

Plastic bottles filled with water: 1 gallon is about 8 pounds. —Rubenstein
Large bag of dog food: Carry it up stairs. —Rubenstein
Sock filled with sand, beans or rice: Tie around ankle for leg lifts or glute kickbacks. —Fox
Tennis ball: Squeeze for grip strength. —Fox

STRETCHING AND MASSAGE:

Towel: “Wrap around foot to stretch calves or hamstrings. Hold overhead in both hands for overhead stretch.” Then bend to the side, lowering one arm and reaching the other over your head. Reverse to stretch the other side. —Fox
Tennis ball: Sit or lie on it and slowly roll it back and forth over tight muscle areas. Try the feet, calves, hamstrings and rear. For the upper back, “when you find the areas of greatest tension … rest your bodyweight over the ball so that it digs into the tense spot” for 30 to 60 seconds. Don’t roll directly on the spine. —Kerbel
Two tennis balls: Put them in a sock with a knot tied between. Place on the wall or floor. Position your lower or upper back on them with the knot where your spine is. (It shouldn’t press on the spine.) Use them for a roller massage. —Dimmick

“The fiber in apples is a natural cleanser and removes/reduces film build-up on teeth.” (They’re not a substitute for brushing, just a good option if you can’t.)
—Gross

THE EXPERTS

Rod Brouhard, EMT-P, paramedic, Modesto, Calif.; About.com’s Guide to First Aid

Dennis Bryan R.Ph., M.B.A., FAPhA, pharmacist, WBC Pharmacies Inc., Chicago, Ill.

Sara Dimmick, NSCA-CSCS, personal trainer, triathlon coach and owner, Physical Equilibrium, New York City, with online triathlon and marathon coaching

Becky Fox, ACE-CPT/GFI, personal trainer and owner, Fox Fitness, Knoxville, Tenn., and online

Jeffrey Gross, D.D.S., FAGD, board-certified general and cosmetic dentist, The Healthy Smile, Eastlake, Ohio

Yudi Kerbel, NASM-CPT, personal trainer, Performance University, Baltimore, Md.

Alex Knecht, CRDTS, board-certified dentist, Clear Creek Dental, Fort Collins, Colo.; dental expert, JustAnswer

Brian Lynch, NYS EMT-B (first lieutenant), Congers-Valley Cottage Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Congers, N.Y.

Jennifer Ricupero, AFAA-CPT, fitness and recreation manager, Green Mountain at Fox Run women's health retreat, Ludlow, Vt.

Irv Rubenstein, Ph.D., ACSM-CPT, NSCA-CSCS, ACE-CPT, personal trainer and owner, STEPS, Nashville, Tenn.

Peggy Spencer, M.D., board-certified family doctor, University of New Mexico Student Health And Counseling center; co-author, 50 Ways to Leave Your 40s

James B. Towry, D.O., board-certified dermatologist, Jonesboro, Ark.

Lynn Pesce Vita, NASM-CPT, fitness trainer, PumpOne online training

Stanley Wen, M.D., board-certified family doctor, Sage Health Family Medicine, Goodyear, Ariz.

Becky Williamson, M.S., ACSMHFI/CPT, AAHFRP-PRCS, fitness trainer and president, lifeSport Fitness, San Jose, Calif., specializing in Baby Boomer fitness

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Last updated and/or approved: August 2010. Original article appeared in July/August 2009 former print magazine. Bios current as of that issue. This health-care information is not meant as individual advice. Please see our disclaimer.