Mom always had her favorite home remedies — didn’t everyone’s mom believe in the power of chicken soup over a cold? — and scientists have actually proved that some of her favorite home remedies are as helpful as she believed. These traditional remedies, passed down for generations, have held up to scientific scrutiny:
Honey for coughs. Not only has honey been proved to be a good cough suppressant, a 2007 study printed in Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine found that a teaspoon of honey calmed the coughs of children with upper respiratory infections and helped them sleep better than over-the-counter cough medicines. In addition, honey is less expensive than cough medicines and has none of the side effects like dizziness and sleepiness. Darker honeys, like buckwheat, have more antioxidants than lighter honeys, say experts. Children under the age of 1 shouldn’t be given honey because of the risk of botulism.
Aloe vera for burns. Gel from the aloe vera plant has been used for centuries to treat burns, and modern research is backing up the plant's ability to heal burns and soothe scrapes. A 2009 study found that aloe cream healed second-degree burns in less than 16 days while a common antibacterial cream (silver sulfadiazine) took 19 days. “There are factors in aloe that help the cells regenerate and heal faster,” Dr. Lawrence D. Rosen, a pediatrician at the Whole Child Center in Oradell, N.J., told the New York Times.
Cranberries for urinary problems. American Indians used cranberries to fight infections long before Europeans came ashore. Modern scientists have found that cranberries are unique in their ability to keep bacteria from sticking to bladder walls. A daily glass of cranberry juice or cranberry capsules reduces bladder infections, especially in women who have them often. A new study from the Worchester Polytechnic Institute found that the beneficial substances in cranberry could begin protecting against urinary tract infections within eight hours.
Saltwater for a stuffy nose. Nasal saline irrigation, in which salt water is used to rinse the nasal passages, has long been a remedy to relieve the misery of a stuffy nose. Twenty-first century medicine has scientifically proved it to be a cheap, safe, and effective remedy for clogged noses caused by sinusitis, allergies, and other maladies. You can buy a sinus irrigation kit at your local pharmacy.
Staying warm to ward off colds. Mom always insisted that we bundle up when temperatures plummeted, but scientists always snickered. The laugh's been on them since a 2005 British study indicated that being cold might actually lead to developing a cold. Researchers at the Common Cold Center in Cardiff believe that when a person’s extremities are chilled, the blood vessels in the nose narrow, limiting the amount of disease-fighting white blood cells in the nose, the body’s first defense against viruses.
Chicken soup for colds. Mom was right on target; chicken soup really does fight the common cold. Studies show that mom’s favorite home remedy may be an anti-inflammatory, helping fight cold symptoms. Steam from the hot soup also helps decongest stuffy sinuses by helping them drain. Soup also helps prevent dehydration, and it eases sore throats better than just plain hot water, according to Mount Sinai researchers in Miami.
Peppermint for headaches. A placebo-controlled study published in February found that migraine patients who used oil of peppermint and menthol applied topically had less pain or were pain-free more often than those who were given a placebo. And a German study found that after 15 minutes, a preparation of 10 percent peppermint oil reduced pain as well as acetaminophen.
An additional study found that peppermint oil applied to the temples, jaw, and back of the neck relieves headaches. In addition, breathing in the soothing aroma of peppermint tea can ease symptoms, especially if your headache is caused by sinus pressure.
Ginger for motion sickness. Ginger has been used for many years to soothe queasy stomachs. One trial of 80 novice sailors who were prone to motion sickness found that ginger significantly reduced their symptoms, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. As a bonus, ginger didn't cause any of the side effects, including drowsiness, associated with prescription and nonprescription meds that fight motion sickness.
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