Don't Try This At Home: Five Home Remedies That Aren't

You might have heard about them from your mother or grandmother, you might have read about them in an old parenting book, or you might have stumbled upon them yourself. No matter what the source – here are five home “remedies” that really cause more harm than good.

Ear Candling

Ear candling has been marketed as a home remedy for people who have a build-up of ear wax that can cause itching or impair hearing. The theory is that if you light the candle-shaped beeswax cone, place it in your ear, and let the candle burn, you’ll be able to remove ear wax and other impurities from your ear.

But lighting a candle in your ear can be tricky – and dangerous. Dr. Jennifer Smullen, of the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston, reports that you can actually lose your hearing from ear candling. Other common injuries include burns in the ear canal or on the eardrum itself. She recommends simply wetting a tissue and using your finger to wipe wax away from the ear. If that doesn’t work – see a professional.

Whiskey for the Teething Baby

This has long been debunked as an effective home remedy. First, the consumption of alcohol can be very detrimental to the brain and the body of a young, teething child. Second, there is no numbing effect on the gums from whiskey (or any other alcohol).

Instead, try a plastic teething toy that can be placed in the freezer. The ice inside the toy will numb the gums and soothe the child.

Rubbing Butter on a Burn

While butter has a mild cooling effect on a burn, it tends to quickly melt due to body heat. In addition, because butter may not be sterile, you’re often risking infection by rubbing the butter on.

Instead, for a mild first or second degree burn, doctors recommend an over-the-counter antibiotic burn ointment and some ibuprofen.

Colloidal Silver

The internet has caused colloidal silver to become something of a mythic remedy – able to cure anything from infection to HIV to cancer. But, according to Ted Epperly, president-elect of the American Academy of Family Physicians, colloidal silver doesn’t cure any of these. In fact, it can be extremely costly. The most well-documented side effect is that it can turn your skin grayish-blue. But, the silver can also affect your kidneys, stomach, and brain as it deposits itself into the cells of these organs.

Colon Cleansing

Another word of mouth remedy is colon cleansing. Marketing has targeted the toxic effects that the colon’s contents can have on the body, claiming that flushing the colon will remedy some of your ailments. The fact of the matter, however is that the colon is designed to be a waste receptacle. Attempting to clean it out can disrupt your body’s electrolyte balance, causing dehydration and salt depletion. Over time, cleansing can even lead to heart failure.

Instead of using herbal remedies, you can cleanse your colon the natural way - incorporating more fruits and vegetables into your diet will increase your fiber intake.


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