20 Strange Home Remedies That Work (And Why They Do)

Long before the nearest pharmacy was a short drive away, folks reached into the pantry and the garden when an ailment came calling. Many of those home remedies have been passed down over the years. Some are bunk, but many actually work, and a good number do the job without the unpleasant side effects of their store-bought counterparts. Here is a list of 20 simple, sometimes wacky, home remedies that use products found right in your kitchen, plus a few notes on using them sensibly.

20 Bizarre Home Remedies That Work

1. Cure cuticle infections with white vinegar

Whether you visited an overzealous manicurist or have a bad habit of chewing your fingers, you can treat torn-up, infected cuticles naturally. Submerge your fingers in a glass of equal parts distilled white vinegar and warm water for 15 minutes. Repeat once a day until the infection heals. White vinegar has antibacterial properties and helps reduce the infection in the nails. Vinegar earns its keep around the house, as our roundup of the powers of vinegar shows.

2. Get rid of hiccups with a spoonful of sugar

Swallowing a teaspoon or two of sugar is enough to help stimulate the vagus nerve, which resets it and stops the spasms that cause hiccups. Try these other hiccup remedies!

3. Remove warts with duct tape

Instead of getting an undesirable wart frozen off, apply a strip of duct tape to the affected area. Keep the tape on for three days, remove it, rub the wart with a pumice stone, and reapply with new tape. Repeat until the wart is completely gone. Duct tape is an inexpensive way to suffocate the skin virus and remove those unsightly bumps. It has been a Farmers’ Almanac tip for years.

4. “Beet” constipation

The natural soluble fiber in beetroot is your colon’s best friend. Eat some fresh-steamed beets, then drink the water they were steamed in. Be warned, the natural dye of the beets may cause your stools and urine to turn bright red, but it is perfectly harmless.

5. Potatoes for bug bites

Raw potatoes are claimed to have anti-itch and anti-inflammatory properties, perfect for relief from a bug bite. Make a potato poultice by grating a peeled potato and putting the shreds into a thin piece of cloth. Secure the contents with a rubber band and apply the poultice to your cleaned bite until the potato is dry. Clean the area with warm water and reapply with fresh poultice until the symptoms subside. See all the things potatoes can do!

6. “Drunken” raisins for joint pain relief

Your grandparents may have sworn by this one for joint pain. The vitamins from golden raisins mixed with the anti-inflammatory effects of the juniper berries used to make gin have been shown to help reduce swelling and ease arthritis pain. Soak golden raisins in gin overnight and eat ten daily.

7. Banana peels for poison ivy relief

Rubbing the inside of a banana peel against a poison ivy rash may provide some itch relief. The peels can also shine your shoes.

8. Celery for bad breath

Chewing on a celery stick or an apple can help dissipate bad breath. The rich fiber content increases saliva production, which washes away the bacteria-causing food particles and plaque behind bad breath.

9. Yams for hot flashes

Yams are not only tasty, they are a great source of antioxidants and nutrients that can decrease hot flashes and night sweats. Yams are thought to be a source of natural progesterone, relieving some menopausal symptoms. Note: yams and sweet potatoes are often confused, so be sure you are eating true yams. Here is how to tell the difference.

10. Nettles for hair loss

A cup of stinging nettle tea is a long-standing remedy for hair loss, and the capsule form works well too. The vitamins and minerals found in nettle leaves and roots are good for hair growth and maintenance. Pour boiling water over 4-6 nettle leaves in a mug and enjoy.

11. Remove splinters with baking soda

Rather than digging around with tweezers, apply a baking soda paste to swell the skin and draw a pesky splinter to the surface. Mix a small amount of baking soda and water to form a paste, apply it to the area, and cover with a bandage. After about 24 hours, the splinter should protrude enough to pull out easily with tweezers. If you have no luck, repeat. Baking soda is one of the most useful things in the cupboard, as our list of baking soda uses makes clear.

12. Alleviate headaches with a foot soak

Soaking your feet in hot water is an age-old trick for helping your head feel better. A hot-water foot bath draws blood to your feet, easing the pressure on the blood vessels in your head.

13. Aspirin for dandruff relief

Skip the dandruff shampoo and keep your flaking in check with aspirin. Aspirin contains the same active ingredient (salicylic acid) as many medicated dandruff shampoos. To make your own: add 1 tablespoon of crushed aspirin to your regular shampoo, suds up, and leave it in for 5-10 minutes before rinsing.

14. Vodka for smelly feet

Vodka is effective at “taking the edge off” of pungent foot odors. Its high alcohol content kills bacteria while drying up moisture. Add some vodka to a spray bottle and spritz your shoes between uses. If you would rather mix up a drink with your vodka, rubbing alcohol can be used instead.

15. Strawberries for whiter teeth

Strawberries contain malic acid, a natural tooth-whitening agent. Crush a fresh strawberry to a pulp, then mix it with 1 teaspoon of baking soda until blended. Spread the mixture onto your teeth, leave it on for 5 minutes, then rinse. Strawberries also contain natural sugar, so be sure to brush afterward.

16. Ease tinnitus with nature sounds

Digitally produced sounds that mimic nature and water have been shown to provide some relief from tinnitus. Plenty of white-noise machines offer nature-sound settings, or you can download a nature-sounds app on your phone to do the trick.

17. Apricots for good digestion

Dried apricots are a good source of soluble fiber, which feeds your healthy gut bacteria and may boost digestive health. Try popping a few of these tasty treats after dinner to keep things moving in the right direction.

18. Listerine® for blisters

Listerine was originally developed in 1879 as a surgical antiseptic designed to kill germs. More commonly used to treat bad breath today, it is also good for battling blisters. Moisten a cotton ball with Listerine and dab it onto the blister three times a day until it dries up.

19. Garlic for athlete’s foot fungus

The health benefits of garlic are nothing new, but did you know it can even treat the fungus behind athlete’s foot? Mince some garlic cloves, mix them with olive oil, and dab the mixture onto the affected areas, being sure to get between your toes. Rinse.

20. Treat acne with coconut oil

Coconut oil’s versatile health benefits are nothing new, having been around since the 1800s, but it may also help those with acne. Coconut oil contains lauric acid, which has antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal properties. Apply it to your skin, rub it in with your fingertips, rinse with warm water, and wipe your face with a hot, steamy cloth.

How to Use These Home Remedies Wisely

Folk remedies are part tradition and part trial-and-error, and they are no substitute for a doctor’s care. Use your own judgment. Patch-test anything you put on your skin, watch for allergies to foods like strawberries or nettle, and keep ingredients like vinegar, garlic, and crushed aspirin well away from your eyes. The “drunken” raisins call for gin and the smelly-feet trick uses vodka, so skip those if alcohol is a concern for you. For a plain-English overview of how plant-based remedies are studied and what is known about their safety, the National Library of Medicine’s MedlinePlus guide to herbal medicine is a sensible place to start. If a symptom is severe, lingers, or keeps coming back, or if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medication, check with a doctor before trying a remedy at home. Do what is best for you and your family.

Strange Home Remedies: Frequently Asked Questions

Do home remedies actually work?

Some do, some are bunk. Many of these pantry remedies have been passed down for generations, and several have a sensible basis: white vinegar is antibacterial, aspirin shares its active ingredient (salicylic acid) with dandruff shampoo, and soluble fiber in beets and apricots aids digestion. They are best for everyday, minor complaints. Use your judgment and see a doctor for anything serious.

What is a good home remedy for hiccups?

Swallow a teaspoon or two of sugar. It helps stimulate the vagus nerve, which resets it and stops the spasms that cause hiccups. It is one of the easiest tricks on this list since most kitchens have sugar on hand.

How does duct tape remove a wart?

Apply a strip of duct tape to the wart and keep it on for three days. Remove it, rub the area with a pumice stone, then reapply with new tape, repeating until the wart is gone. The tape is thought to suffocate the skin virus. It is an inexpensive alternative to having a wart frozen off.

Can you really use household items to whiten teeth?

Strawberries contain malic acid, a natural tooth-whitening agent. Crush one strawberry, mix it with 1 teaspoon of baking soda, spread it on your teeth for 5 minutes, then rinse. Strawberries also contain natural sugar, so brush afterward to protect the enamel.

Are these home remedies safe to try?

Most are gentle, but use common sense. Patch-test anything that goes on your skin, watch for food allergies, and keep vinegar, garlic, and crushed aspirin out of your eyes. The “drunken” raisins and the smelly-feet remedy use alcohol, so skip those if that is a concern. If a symptom is severe or lasting, or you are pregnant, nursing, or on medication, talk to a doctor first.

When should I see a doctor instead of using a home remedy?

See a doctor if a symptom is severe, does not improve, or keeps returning, if you notice signs of infection like spreading redness or swelling, or if you are unsure what is wrong. Home remedies suit everyday, minor complaints. They are not a replacement for medical care, so do what is best for you and your family.