Prevention Magazine Editors - The Doctors Book of Home Remedies

15 Remedies for Smoother Skin

11 Ways to Conquer Unhealthy Behaviors

9 Ways to Out the Spots

15 Ways to Alleviate the
Symptoms

17 Soothing Solutions

10 Long-Life Strategies to
Protect the Heart

19 Ways to Control Excessive
Worrying

29 Steps to Better Breathing

18 Ways to Get Rid of It

22 Pain-Free Ideas

15 Ways to Overcome It

6 Options for Sleep-Through Nights

11 Steps to Banish the Burps

28 Hints to Relieve the Pain

10 Ways to Clear Up the Bruise

20 Hints to Stop the Hurt

12 Ways to Feel Fresh and Clean

14 Tips to Stop an Infection

19 Ways to Reduce Soreness

22 Problem-Free Nursing Ideas

10 Tips to Stop the Cough

10 Healing Ideas

25 Paths to Renewal

15 Treatments for Minor Accidents

15 Ways to Ease Your Pain

17 Ways to Smooth and Soothe

17 Ways to Ease the Sting

17 Coping Techniques

12 Ways to Rub It Out

23 Soothing Tips

14 Tips to Stop the Dryness

32 Remedies to Win the Battle

20 Tips to Halt Herpes Simplex

12 Ideas to Quiet the Cries

10 Remedies for Pinkeye

20 Solutions to a Common
Problem

21 Throat-Soothing Strategies

22 Ways to Soothe a Sore

18 Tips to Stop Flaking

20 Ideas for a More Secure Smile

34 Mood Lifters

29 Clear-Skin Remedies

55 Ways to Steady Blood Sugar

9 Easy Solutions

27 Strategies to Deal with It

17 Self-Care Techniques

18 Tips to Stop the Spinning

14 Moistening Ideas

16 Mouthwatering Solutions

10 Cold-Weather Options

25 Ways to Stop the Pain

4 Steps to Clean Ears

22 Tips for Easy Breathing

12 Secrets for Success

10 Tips to Avoid It

30 Hints for a High-Energy Life

10 Cooling Tactics

8 Gas-Reducing Ideas

20 Remedies to Beat the Bug

26 Solutions for Food Flu

16 Feet Treats

15 Deodorizing Secrets

19 Safeguards against the Cold

19 Managing Strategies

23 Ways to Stop Gum Disease

18 Coping Ideas

22 Bad Hair Day Fixes

19 Ways to Deal with the Day After

32 Hints to Head Off the Pain

26 Ways to Put Out the Fire

24 Tactics to Stave Off Trouble

20 Tips to Find Relief

18 Home-Tested Cures

26 Pressure-Lowering
Strategies

31 Steps to Total Control

10 Ways to Stop the Itch

11 Soothers for Seethers

13 Ways to Put Out the Fire

18 Tips to Gain Control

16 Ways to Get a Baby on Board

11 Ways to Get a Clean Shave

7 Feet-Treating Methods

23 Steps to a Good Nights Sleep

19 Coping Suggestions

17 Hints for Arriving Alert

18 Ways to Handle the Hurt

9 Soothing Ideas

13 Ways to Make It Easier to Swallow

8 Tips to Ease the Pain

11 Soothing Strategies

21 Ways to Forget Less

16 Ways to Embrace the Change

13 Ways to Counteract Queasiness

19 Quick-Action Cures

37 Ways to Relief

14 Strengthening Secrets

12 Nail Remedies

7 Ridge Reducers

15 Stomach-Soothing Solutions

29 Ways to Get the Kinks Out

10 Ways to Deal with the Dark

15 Hints to Stop the Flow

15 Neutralizing Solutions

7 Restoratives for a
Shine-Free Face

25 Ways to End the Ache

19 Ways to Preserve Bone Strength

14 Remedies to Keep It at Bay

11 Coping Measures

6 Cooling Treatments

15 Itch Relievers

26 Ways to Treat the Symptoms

18 Gland Helpers

21 Skin-Soothing Remedies

15 Skin-Salving Solutions

27 Toasty Tips

20 Calming Techniques

15 Tips for a More Pleasant Drive

12 Face-Saving Steps

14 Ways to Decrease the Damage

17 Strategies to Knock Out
Nerve Pain

12 Steps to a Brighter Outlook

15 Tips to Combat the Pain

11 Ways to Soothe Sore Legs

6 Ways to Avoid the Nuisance

13 Infection Fighters

13 Tips for a Silent Night

14 Ways to Put Out the Fire

7 Ways to Get Them Out

17 Self-Care Strategies

23 Tips to Ease Tension

24 Cooling Treatments

13 Ways to Calm a Rapid
Heartbeat

9 Ways to Soothe the Pain

21 Ideas to Ease the
Discomfort

10 Soothing Remedies

19 Ways to Cope with the Din

11 Tips for Pain Relief

11 Brightening Ideas

12 Tips for Quick Relief

19 Germ-Fighting Strategies

16 Helpers and Healers

20 Healing Secrets

34 Ways to Win the Battle of the Bulge

17 Age-Defying Secrets

We cant pinpoint the exact moment in human history when home remedies came to be, but we imagine a scenario something like this: A crude hammer, fashioned from a stone, landed on an unfortunately placed finger. Throbbing pain ensued, perhaps accompanied by the muttering of a prehistoric blue streak. Our handyman ancestor may not have had access to a gel pack, but he would have instinctively sought relief in another wayby plunging his hand into a nearby cool stream, for example, or simply rubbing his finger until it felt better. Not very sophisticated, by todays standards, but it did the trick!

Whatever their origin, home remedies have stood the test of time. They grew from necessity, when formal medical care either didnt exist or wasnt widely available to everyone. Our forebears made do by using whatever they had on hand to treat their various ills, then sharing what worked through word of mouth.

The amazing thing about home remedies is that they have not just survived but thrived through the evolution of modern medicine. Despite all of the marvelous advances that have transformed how we treat illness and injury, home remedies tend to be our go-to choice for all but the most severe conditions. Its easy to understand why: Theyre inexpensive (even free!), theyre convenient, and most important, they work.

For this book, weve defined a home remedy as one that you can use on your own, with materials that youre likely to have at your disposal. Youve got hundreds of tips and techniques to choose from, as youll see in the pages that follow. The vast majority of the remedies come from interviews with M.D.s and other health professionals, all experts in their respective fields. Theyve helped us to separate the proverbial wheat from the chaff in creating the definitive home remedy resource for your bookshelf.

As our expert panelists would tell you, while certain remedies have been validated by clinical research, for many others the proof comes from the laboratory of real life. In other words, we dont know why theyre effective; they just are. Indeed, a good number of them have found their way into our doctors clinical practices.