Nov 23, 2009 7:44 pm US/Eastern
HealthWatch: The Dangers Of At-Home Remedies
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
When it comes to your health, taking the do-it-yourself approach may come with risks.
Everyone's tried some home remedies, and many work just fine – but there are also several do-it-yourself health techniques that can spell trouble. Any treatment you try should make you better, not worse, and with that in mind, the following are several treatments you should avoid.
Life is just too hectic to run to the doctor for every little ailment, but it's critical to know when to say no to home remedies as well. While some are safe and do the trick, others can be ineffective or even downright dangerous.
At the top of that list is giving whiskey to a teething baby.
"The whiskey goes into the system of the baby, into their liver," Dr. Albert Levy, of Beth Israel Hospital, said. "It's giving alcohol to a baby. Even in minute quantities, don't forget that the baby is also minute."
A better approach is to place a teething toy in the freezer. The cold feeling on the gums is much more effective than alcohol.
"I've tried butter on a burn, which occurs quite often in my kitchen, and usually it has temporary relief," patient Linda Levy said.
Burns are one of the top ailments we try to cure at home, but butter – and another top remedy, toothpaste – can open the wound up to infection.
Severe burns require emergency care. One sign of a third degree burn is that you may not have pain at all, and fever and persistent redness are also warning signals.
For mild burns, use cool water immediately, then apply an over-the-counter antibiotic cream.
"I was at a spa, and the spa technician said, 'have you ever had your ears candled,' and I said no," Michelle Leone said.
Ear candling – the process of removing wax using an open flame – can cause serious injuries, especially when done at home.
"The risks are well-known – you can lose your hearing, you can burn yourself," Dr. Levy said. "I think it's so crazy to do on your own."
A little soap and water in the shower is almost always more than enough.
Home colon-cleansing is usually unnecessary, and can even be dangerous.
"You may have consequences such as dehydration, you may lose your electrolytes, you lose your normal bacteria," Levy said.
Increasing your fiber intake, through eating fruits and vegetables and drinking plenty of water, should keep your intestinal track running smoothly.
One home remedy that has been given science's stamp of approval is chicken soup for a cold. Not only are fluids important when battling a respiratory infection, new research shows the soup actually has an anti-inflammatory effect on the body, helping ease aches and pains.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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