In today’s time more and more people are trying home remedies to fight common ailments such as colds, digestive issues, and toothaches.
You may think that home remedies are better than prescription and over-the-counter drugs. However, not all home remedies are safe or effective. Some could end up doing more harm than good.
So, you should always make sure that you are using the right home treatment. Here are some popular home remedies that can put you in danger.
Putting Butter Or Oil On Burns
Whenever you get a minor burn, the first thing you should do is to run cool water over the affected area for about 20 minutes. This will cool down the skin. It will soothe the burn, and prevent further injury. Use cool, not cold water or ice, as extreme cold can injure the tissue even more.
Some people may suggest applying butter or oil on the burn. Don’t do that as it can slow down the cooling process.
Using Toothpaste To Treat Acne And Cold Sores
It is a very common home remedy people try to treat their acne. The baking soda in toothpaste can help dry out a pimple or cold sore. But the other ingredients may irritate your skin, especially your lips. Ingredients like alcohol, menthol, and hydrogen peroxide in toothpaste can irritate the skin more than they can help it.
Gargling With Mouthwash To Treat Sore Throat
The viral infections often cause sore throats and common cold or flu. So, gargling with mouthwash to treat a sore throat doesn’t sound very effective. Sore throat causes inflammation in the throat and mouthwash will irritate it even more.
The best thing you can do to treat cold is to take plenty of rest and stay hydrated by drinking lots of water.
Using Whiskey As A Toothache Treatment
This home remedy may excite many but it may not be much effective as whiskey has very little anesthetic properties. Trying this treatment won’t do any direct damage. It may cause just delay in getting the right treatment and thus worsen the pain.
Taking Castor Oil To Induce Labour
Using Castor oil for inducing labor has been quite common for the past few years. This oil is rich in ricinoleic acid, which has a strong laxative effect. This is the reason why castor oil is sometimes prescribed for relieving constipation and emptying the intestines before a bowel examination or surgery. However, there is no such strong evidence to support claims that castor oil can help to induce labor.
