Q. I know your column is not official medical advice, but doesn’t it bother you at all to promote witchcraft like black pepper for bleeding? You haven’t provided one scintilla of solid evidence to support it.
As a physician, I find some of your remedies make for entertaining reading, but it seems that professional integrity has drifted to the sidelines.
A. We understand your skepticism since home remedies are rarely tested in a scientific manner. Nevertheless, most people can tell instantly whether a cut stops bleeding after applying ground black pepper.
We have received many stories from readers such as this one: “I cut a half moon gouge in my index finger with my new knife. It bled like crazy until I remembered the black pepper treatment. I poured plenty on and it stopped the pain and the bleeding. I have NO scarring.”
For those who prefer drugstore treatments, QuikClot Sport and QR Powder are available to stop bleeding. Anyone who appreciates home remedies will find many more in our book, Favorite Home Remedies (online at www.peoplespharmacy.com). A serious cut that won’t stop bleeding requires medical attention.
