We are all familiar, superstitious or not, of certain "wives tales" that have been passed on from generation to generation but the below actually have the seal of approval from real health experts.
CHILLI HELPS FIGHT INDIGESTION
As a lover of chilli I say yaay to this one! Researchers in Italy studied a small group of 30 people who suffered from indigestion and found that those who took chili pepper pills before meals had a whopping 60% reduction in their symptoms after five weeks. The key ingredient for this result is capsacin which blocks the production of a neurotransmitter called Substance P (very mysterious) that transmits pain signals from the nerves to the brain.
BATHING IN BLEACH SOOTHES ECZEMA
While it sounds crazy, a Dr Amy Paller who conducted a trial in the USA found that by using one teaspoon of bleach for every 4.55L/1 gallon of water in the bath that sufferers found relief. The assumption is that the eczema flare-ups are triggered by a strongly associated relationship with the bacteria Staphylococcus which the bleach essentially kills. It is so effective that it has essentially become standard treatment in the US. Still it is advised to talk to you doctor before you try it and never use more bleach that recommended. Participants in the trial only bathed in this mixture twice a week only. I wonder if it bleaches the body hair too ;-)
COLD SHOWERS MAKE YOU HAPPY
I would never participate is such a study but apparently a trial at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of medicine in the US studied subjects with mild depression and found that when they took one or two cold showers daily their mood improved. I wonder if that was because they were happy to get out of the cold water?!? Apparently the right answer is, is that the cold revs up mood-boosting endorphins and due to the high density of cold receptors in our skin, cold showers send a large amount of electrical nerve impulses from the peripheral nerve endings to the brain which could have an anti-depressive effect.
CLENCHING YOUR FISTS MAKES TAKING MEDICINES EASIER
Sounds bizarre but the next time you need to swallow something nasty focus your mind on the benefits, clench your fist, take your water and swallow!
STICKING A FINGER IN YOUR EAR HELPS RELIEVES COUGHING
Next time you get a niggling tickle in your throat just pop your finger in your ear (gently nothing crazy please) and wiggle it around. The nerves in the throat are connected to the ear via the Alderman's nerve that also goes into the ear so by doing this you can soothe the nerve and save your throat from a lot of uncomfortable coughing.
Do you know of any weird home remedies that really work? Why not send me a message via my comment box - I would love to hear from you!