Old-Fashioned Remedies That Are Scientifically-Proven to Work

When it comes to your health, some home remedies do actually work! Here are some old-fashioned tips backed by solid science, courtesy of MSN:

• The first old-fashioned remedy: Bleach eliminates nail fungus. In a study at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, bleach drastically slowed the growth of toenail fungus, reducing the thickness and yellowness of the nail. Be careful, straight bleach can burn! So, dilute one teaspoon of bleach in one cup of water, and use an eyedropper to squirt that mixture under the nail twice a day until your new nail grows in.


• Another home remedy that actually works: Rubbing antiperspirant on your feet prevents blisters. Dr. Ranella Hirsch is president of the American Society for Cosmetic Dermatology. She says that blisters are caused by sweaty skin rubbing inside your shoes. Since antiperspirant stops the sweat, it helps keep blisters from forming.


• You can treat burns with a tomato. Dr. Francesca Fusco of Mount Sinai Medical Center says that the lycopene in tomatoes is a natural anti-inflammatory - and can ease the pain and swelling of minor burns. The trick: Put a slice of tomato on a burn for five minutes twice a day.


• Crushed aspirin stops the pain and itching of insect bites. Why? Aspirin contains salicylic acid, an ingredient in acne medicine, which reduces pain, swelling and redness. The trick: Crush three aspirin in a few drops of water to make a paste. Spread on the bug bite for two minutes twice a day, and rinse with cool water.


• Finally, apple cider vinegar helps eliminate dandruff. Dr. Fusco says most dandruff is caused by an overgrowth of yeast on the skin, and because vinegar reduces the natural pH of your scalp, it creates an unfriendly environment for dandruff-causing yeast. The trick: Twice a week, add one-half cup of apple cider vinegar to one quart of water, and use it as a final rinse after you shampoo.