Do home remedies work? How would you know if drinking cranberry juice or taking cranberry capsules prevented a urinary tract infection? Double-blind, placebo-controlled trials published in journals like The Lancet, JAMA and the BMJ suggest benefit from drinking cranberry juice, but critics have called for more rigorous studies. There may never be enough research to satisfy the skeptics who doubt that emergency home remedies could ever have any value.
Will Black Pepper Stop Bleeding?
Sometimes, though, the effects of emergency home remedies are dramatic. You may not need a placebo-controlled trial if you use your eyes and common sense. We were impressed when we first heard about using black pepper on a cut. Nell Heard and her family were camping in Yellowstone, far from medical attention. A mug fell out of the RV cupboard and hit her brother-in-law Wendall on the head. The long shallow gash started to bleed profusely, but Wendall, a woodcarver, suggested sprinkling ground black pepper on it. This worked exceedingly well to stop the bleeding.
We hope most people will never face such emergencies. But it’s nice to know that simple remedies can often work wonders, whether it be a cut onion for a sting or a banana peel for a wart.
If you would like to know more about such simple solutions for a variety of health problems you may wish to consult our book, The People’s Pharmacy Quick & Handy Home Remedies from National Geographic. Wherever you go, you will have hundreds of affordable treatments for common conditions.
