HEALTH TALK: Some home remedy no-no’s

Some home remedies like cornstarch and water on bee sting work just fine, but other do-it-yourself techniques can mean trouble. For example, do you really think you should be cleansing your colon from the comfort of your home? Or removing wax from your ear by holding a lit candle inches from your head?

Let’s look at five home remedies that should NOT be attempted at home.

HOME REMEDY NO-NO NUMBER 1: EAR CANDLING

Earwax is a natural lubricant for the ear. It waterproofs the ear and it has an acidic pH, which helps in preventing infections.

Given the benefits of earwax to the body, why would you want to remove it?

It’s uncommon, but some people do have a buildup of wax that causes itching and impaired hearing – and that’s where ear candling comes in. It’s marketed as an easy at-home solution for people with this problem. You take a candle-shaped beeswax cone, placing it in the ear, lighting it, and after the wick burns down, removing the cone, along with earwax and other impurities.

The thing is, lighting a flame inches from your ear isn’t exactly easy and can, in fact, be dangerous. Burns can occur on the eardrum and in the ear canal – you can lose your hearing. Why not start with a tissue around finger to wipe excess wax from the outer part of the ear.

If that doesn’t work, see your doctor or ENT specialist for help. Over-the-counter ear drops are available, but talk to your doctor first before putting anything in your ear.

This ear-candle remedy is more common in places like the U.S., while we are more accustomed to Q-Tips. These are a no-no too, and certainly hairpins and such things.

The next are also more common in the U.S., but take heed anyway.

HOME REMEDY NO-NO NUMBER 2: WHISKEY FOR TEETHING BABY.

Teething babies tend to cry and parents might try anything to get them to stop, including whiskey.

Children should NOT be consuming alcohol. And secondly, whiskey has no real numbing effect on the gums as the teeth are coming up. So put the whiskey bottle away and reach for the freezer instead. Chilling a toy in the freezer and giving it to the child works wonders. The cooling effect on the gum will both soothe and numb it.

Or, if the child is old enough, use a sugarless ice pop.

Teething has been a concern to parents for centuries. It can cause salivation, irritability, and problems with sleep. If symptoms are severe, see a doctor.

The same goes for adults. Toothache or gum tenderness will not be helped by whiskey. Instead, a cavity deep in the tooth or a gum infection could be causing the pain. Time to see a dentist.

HOME REMEDY NO-NO NUMBER 3: BUTTER FOR A BURN

While you may think that butter makes everything better, remember this applies to food, not burns. It may, in fact, not even be true for food.

Butter might offer modest value for a burn by having a slight cooling effect, but it tends to melt due to body heat and there is a risk of infection because it is not sterile.

For mild to moderate first-degree burns and second degree burns limited to an area no larger than 3 inches in diameter, an over-the-counter antibiotic burn ointment is recommended. Apply it to the burned skin, and keep it covered for cleanliness. Ibuprofen or Paracetamol/Tylenol helps to alleviate pain.

Cool tap water may also help, but only in the first minute after you’re burned. The damage is already done after this. If you’re near a tap, let water run over the burn for at least five minutes.

Other burn no-no’s: Toothpaste offers no benefit except a slight cooling effect, and infection again is a concern. Ice doesn’t help and could make matters worse.

If a burn is deep enough, it can cause loss of sensation around the wound. So ice can compound the problem by adding frostbite to the burn because you can’t tell that it hurts.

You should worry about a burn and seek help if you have a fever; if you have moderate to sever pain or no pain at all as a result of a third-degree burn; or if there is increasing redness around the wound.

HOME REMEDY NO-NO NUMBER 4: COLLOIDAL SILVER

Hype, word of mouth and the Internet are causing some people to believe colloidal silver is good to treat a range of infections and diseases.

People believe that colloidal silver can treat fungal infections, TB, HIV, herpes and even cancer by boosting the immune system. They are wrong, and the consequence of their mistake can be costly.

Colloidal silver has adverse effects on the skin, but the kidneys, stomach, brain, and nervous system are also affected. Silver is deposited into the cells of these organs, possibly causing cell damage and cell death, leading to organ failure.

The effects are toxic and cumulative, and worse, they’re irreversible.

Try to ignore the hype and talk to a health care provider about the proper ways to treat infections and diseases.

HOME REMEDY NO-NO- NUMBER 5: HOME COLON CLEANSING

We hear much about the toxic effects on the contents of the colon on the body. But that’s a fallacy. And I’ve actually written a whole article on this topic before.

There are claims out there that people’s colons are filled with toxic waste matter and that the solution is to flush them out with herbs, probiotics, special diets, enemas, or laxatives.

The fact of the matter is that the colon is a waste receptacle. Its function is to let fecal material pass out of the body, naturally.

Trying to cleanse your colon in the comfort of your home can disrupt your body’s electrolyte balance, causing dehydration and salt depletion. Over time, frequent colon cleansing can even lead to anemia, malnutrition, and heart failure.

Rather than cleaning your colon on your own, start by increasing your fiber intake by eating more fruits and vegetables, or by adding supplement to your diet – 38 grams for men and 25 grams for women 50 and younger – every day.

If you’re still feeling constipated and uncomfortable, see your doctor or a gastroenterologist.

See you next week.