Unusual home remedies for everyday ailments

In times of pain and discomfort, painkillers and ointments are often the go-to option for most patients. 

But when you’ve run out, or conventional medicines aren’t working, it might be time to turn to some extreme home remedies.

While many home remedies – like treating a cough with ginger, honey and lemon – are completely run-of-the-mill, others can be rather unusual. We’ve rounded up some of the weirdest home remedies that work surprisingly well.

Onion socks for fever

The concept of onion socks may sound peculiar, but some people swear by this age-old remedy for reducing fever. To try this remedy, thinly slice onions and place them on the soles of your feet, securing them with socks before bedtime. Proponents claim that the onion’s natural compounds can help draw out toxins and reduce fever symptoms overnight.

Listerine for feet

Sure, this mouthwash can work wonders at keeping plaque at bay and freshening your breath – but did you know you can also use it on other areas of your body than your mouth? Some people swear by it as a foot bath ingredient: simply soak your feet in Listerine for around 10-15 minutes every day and you could see improvements to your feet’s blisters; it’s also been known to help with fungal nail infections.

Yoghurt for bad breath

Yoghurt isn’t just tasty: it can also help keep bad breath at bay. The “good” live-bacteria in yoghurt has been shown to suppress the “bad” bacteria that causes bad breath by creating an unhealthy environment in which they’re unable to flourish. Make sure it’s sugar-free yoghurt though, as this will help both your breath and your teeth.

Yoghurt has other uses too. If you’re suffering from constipation, yoghurt could help ease your digestive distress – again, thanks to that good bacteria. It’s also known to be a good way to soothe the pain of vaginal yeast infections or thrush.

Duct Tape for warts

Warts are a common annoyance, but the solution might be lurking in your toolbox. The humble duct tape has gained fame as an unconventional remedy for warts. By covering the wart with duct tape, proponents claim that it starves the wart of oxygen, eventually causing it to disappear. While scientific evidence is limited, many swear by this peculiar method.

Vodka for feet

Save the good stuff for your cocktail cupboard. But if you’ve got the end of a cheap bottle of vodka sitting at the back of your cabinet, use it on your feet instead. Soak a flannel in vodka, wipe your sweaty feet with it and test the results. You should notice a significant drop in the levels of stinkiness coming from your toes.

Pencils for a headache

Perhaps the weirdest home remedy on this list: pencils really do have the power to ease headaches. Often headaches can be caused when you hold tension in your jaw or clench your teeth together. Biting a pencil stops you from doing this and helps you relax your muscles. Just don’t bite down too hard, or you won’t get the taste of lead out of your mouth.

Sugar

A spoonful of sugar… helps the hiccups go away, apparently. Swallowing dry sugar is supposed to affect your nerve endings, and helps stop the spasms in your diaphragm that cause hiccups. Again, show restraint here: consuming too much sugar does have serious health risks. But on occasion, it can bring you relief from hiccups quickly too. If you prefer, a spoonful of peanut butter also works to relive hiccups.

While these unusual home remedies may raise eyebrows, many people find them to be surprisingly effective. It’s important to note that these remedies are not substitutes for professional medical advice, and individuals should consult healthcare professionals for serious health concerns. Nevertheless, exploring the world of unconventional remedies adds a touch of intrigue to the rich tapestry of traditional health practices.

Do you live by any unusual home remedies?