Which Natural Remedies Really Work

Will placing a tea bag on a cold sore make it disappear? Can you ease hot flashes with herbs? And does putting yogurt on your nether parts have a prayer of curing a yeast infection?

It used to be that you'd hear about these kinds of home remedies from your mom. These days, they're touted on websites, blogs and online forums. In fact, 61 percent of American adults turn to the Internet to find help in treating what's ailing them, a 2009 study reveals.

But do these natural moves actually work -- and, just as important, could they do more harm than good? Health asked medical experts to weigh in on the internet's most popular home cures.

1 of 7

The online claim: Yogurt can stop a yeast infection

1 of 8

First Slide

Previous Slide

@

Is it true? No Yeast infections -- and their symptoms, from intense vaginal itchiness to cottage cheese-like discharge -- are caused by an overgrowth of the fungus candida. Because studies show that yogurt can promote the growth of healthier strains of bacteria in the stomach and intestines, people have long assumed it might also keep candida in check. And that rumor keeps circulating, thanks to the internet. Unfortunately, "no study shows conclusively that eating yogurt cures or even lessens the severity of yeast infections," says Michele G. Curtis, M.D., professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston. Neither will douching with yogurt, or (yikes!) dipping a tampon in the stuff, freezing it, and inserting it -- a remedy suggested on some websites. In fact, douching can cause yeast infections, Curtis says, especially if you're using yogurt; its sugars could actually help yeast grow. If you're sure you have a yeast infection, based on a past experience, Curtis recommends using an over-the-counter medication, such as Monistat. But, she points out, "everything that itches is not yeast!" So see your gyno when in doubt: That itching might actually be bacterial vaginosis, for instance, which requires treatment with antibiotics. More from Health.com: Get Flawless Skin Naturally Can Supplements Ease Menopause Symptoms? 10 Ways To Get Rid Of PMS

Sobbing families identify Swiss bus crash victims

Panetta: Syria Military Intervention For U.S. 'Has No Simple Answers'

Bruce Beresford-Redman Murder Case: TV Producer In Mexico To Face Charges In Wife's Death

Story Of The Decade (2001-2010): Your Final Picks

Arizona Tornado 2010: Rare Twisters Hit Flagstaff Area (PHOTOS, VIDEO)

Marisa Miller Splits From Victoria's Secret: Report (PHOTOS)

Is it true? No

Yeast infections -- and their symptoms, from intense vaginal itchiness to cottage cheese-like discharge -- are caused by an overgrowth of the fungus candida. Because studies show that yogurt can promote the growth of healthier strains of bacteria in the stomach and intestines, people have long assumed it might also keep candida in check. And that rumor keeps circulating, thanks to the internet.

Unfortunately, "no study shows conclusively that eating yogurt cures or even lessens the severity of yeast infections," says Michele G. Curtis, M.D., professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston.

Neither will douching with yogurt, or (yikes!) dipping a tampon in the stuff, freezing it, and inserting it -- a remedy suggested on some websites. In fact, douching can cause yeast infections, Curtis says, especially if you're using yogurt; its sugars could actually help yeast grow.

If you're sure you have a yeast infection, based on a past experience, Curtis recommends using an over-the-counter medication, such as Monistat. But, she points out, "everything that itches is not yeast!" So see your gyno when in doubt: That itching might actually be bacterial vaginosis, for instance, which requires treatment with antibiotics.

More from Health.com:

Get Flawless Skin Naturally

Can Supplements Ease Menopause Symptoms?

10 Ways To Get Rid Of PMS

comments(87)

Total comments: 87 | Post a Comment

1 of 8

Rate This Remedy

Rank #2  |  Average: 4

Not so helpful I would try this!

• 
  1
• 
  2
• 
  3
• 
  4
• 
  5
• 
  6
• 
  7
• 
  8
• 
  9
• 
  10

Top 5 Remedies

loading...

Top 5 Remedies

UserName

 | Become a fan

Picked These as the Top 5 Slides in the Slideshow

loading...

Top User Slides

← Prev|Next →

 | Become a fan

Picked These as the Top 5 Slides in the Slideshow

loading...

Users who voted on this slide

← Prev|Next →

loading...

Comments

[westcoastprog]

09:22 PM on 05/16/2011

Ocean Spray has corn syrup in it!!! Instead, get Lakewood brand NOT FROM CONCENTRATE. Organic is about $3 more.

[CrookWatch]

03:11 AM on 05/16/2011

I don't really see a lot here as "cures" just ways to alter symptoms. Finding the underlying cause is what cures are based on. Take for example the yeast infection issue and look at it this way and ask yourself, yeast thrives in a body pushed to an acidic state. Molds and fungus thrive there too. So the question is how can you change this acid state? Don't put these acids in your body and restore the blood to a pH of 7.365 which is the healthy value for blood. The yeast, molds and fungus can't live in a more alkaline blood stream. Stay away from coffee, soda especially. Learn to eat healthy and most issues just disappear. Drink alkaline water with pH of 8.5 or higher. Important, it takes 20 parts of alkaline to neutralize 1 part acid so drink at least 3 quarts of alkaline water a day.

[CAELadyJane50]

12:50 AM on 05/10/2011

Pineapple juice is good for reducing the swollen glands in the neck when starting a cold, which worked for me.

For acne, keeping hands off the face at all times except when applying soap and water helps. Also, cleaning all telephones and cellphones with 70-90% rubbing alcohol and not letting the phone touch the skin on face prevents acne from recurring.

Eating an orange or grapefruit every morning and evening during cold weather prevents colds for me. Drinking 100% orange juice or grapefruit juice does not work.

Wearing 100% cotton panties cured the yeast problem for me.

[112068s]

10:30 PM on 05/03/2011

Many women worldwide suffer from recurrent yeast infections.
This disease is caused by a microorganism called candida albicans.
A this infection symptoms such as: strong vaginal odor, vaginal discharge, painful sex, severe itching and skin rashes and many other.
If this condition is treated soon and it is allowed to spread it may become very uncomfortable and cause even more pain to the infected.
Therefore, finding a good Treatment for Yeast that will be a rapid and sustained relief.


Treatment for Yeast

[onionboy]

04:12 PM on 05/02/2011

If you have a UTI...do NOT drink the cranberry juice unless you're already on antibiotics. The juice might help with symptoms, but that could just mask an exacerbation of the infection. Then you go along for weeks dealing with the symptoms and never dealing with the problem. Long term UTIs can have serious implications.

[beauley]

07:15 AM on 04/30/2011

Just stay away from foods containing hydrogenated oils.
Ever since food processing manufacturers realized they could extend the use of many vegetable oils by injecting hydrogen into them, the birth of hydrogenation was born.
Hydrogenated Oils: How Bad Are They for Us?
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5979182/hydrogenated_oils_how_bad_are_they.html?cat=5

[purifyne ltd]

06:33 AM on 04/30/2011

Purifyne detox is a valuable tool to improve your health and overall wellbeing.
goto purifyne.com for more details

[No War With Iran]

09:32 PM on 04/29/2011

Haven't "they" also recently determined that zinc does shorten the common cold?

[odyssey58]

09:16 PM on 04/29/2011

"If left alone, cold sores usually clear up in a few weeks--but who wants to wait?"

A few weeks!!! I had one last week for a few DAYS. At the first tingle I used Novitra, a homeopathic ointment and took an extra dose of Vitamin D (5000 IU). No one should have to suffer for weeks with a cold sore.

[fnygy]

08:04 PM on 04/29/2011

Trouble with this remedy is that it usually includes a ton of added sugar or sugar substitute. Better to make cranberry sauce (keep some cranberries frozen in your fridge) with a low glycemic sweetener like agave or coconut crystals.

[catbite]

08:13 PM on 04/28/2011

If I get put on anti-biotics, eating yogurt prevents yeast infections. This is my own personal clinical trial. Also, tea tree oil helps blemishes. Cranberry juice, I've had luck sometimes.

But, calcium pills made a huge difference for my menstrual trauma. Cut back on cramps big time.

[Grace Nasri]

05:06 PM on 04/28/2011

Interesting article on natural remedies. If anyone is interested in finding natural remedies for any specific ailments, visit FindTheBest's Natural Remedies comparison App, which can be found here: http://natural-remedies.findthebest.com/

[tgd]

02:57 PM on 05/01/2011

Great link. Thanks!

[Barringtonmorr]

04:17 PM on 04/28/2011

I was eating yogurt when i read the about yeast infections. It killed my snack.

[dubbleplusgood]

09:29 PM on 04/28/2011

i got the urge to bake muffins.

[Barringtonmorr]

10:34 PM on 04/28/2011

LOL

[merrylee]

04:01 PM on 04/28/2011

about a month ago, my husband started having horrible headaches at the same time every day - come to find out he suffers from something called Cluster Headache (wiki it, really horrible pain with hit or miss effectiveness of treatments)

anyhoo, while waiting for a doc appointment we have been doing some reading - and found some sufferers have had some relief from natural products containing Capsicum ( the stuff that makes hot peppers hot) went to the local drug store and found SinusBuster™ (there are other Capsicum based products out there) sure enough, he took some the moment he felt the next headache starting and it stopped the intensity within one minute - simply amazing !

we are still going to see the Doc, but it's quite likely she will prescribe $360+/mo Imitrex self injection regimen - and Imitrex has been shown to do liver damage over time - so we are extremely grateful to have stumbled across this remedy

[ddanimal]

01:12 AM on 05/01/2011

Psilocybe mushrooms cure cluster headaches. Google it.

[nikto]

03:56 PM on 04/28/2011

Dicing-up a piece of ginger root and boiling it in water for a 1/2-hour yields a tea that relieves acid-reflux/stomach burning as well or better than many drugstore remedies, including prescription ones.

The mucus-like "goo" taken from a stem of Aloe Vera plant, when rubbed on a bug bite, rash, scratch or other skin irritatation, provides relief as good or better than commercial "anti-itch" cream or similar products. And when theAloe vera dries, it fades away cleanly to a almost nothing, much like hand deodorizers evaporate.

Ofcourse Cannabis is the ultimate cure for insomnia that is known to medicine.
Cannabis also relieves pain from menstrual cramps better than any other remedy (according to several women I have known).
Cannabis relieves nerve pain, joint pain, ocular pain resulting from excessive eye-fluid pressure,
nervous tension/stress, loss of appetite, nausea, and a number of other maladies.

Many commercial remedies are overrated and are either limited in effectiveness, or carry
unwanted side-effects.

That's just the truth.