Published August 16, 2008
Dear Readers,
This column is your column with folk remedies sent in by you. Don’t e-mail me if your loved one starts to take on the essence of garlic bread or you catch your neighbor digging up your flowerbed! -Suzy
“It wasn’t passed down from my grandma, but I hope you’ll print this anyway because it works. I had severe arthritis and now the pain is almost completely gone. I do two things: The first thing is I wash a potato and slice it up (keep the skin on); then I soak the potato overnight in a bowl of fresh cold water. In the morning, I drink a cup of the potato juice. I also take baths in sea salt, about a half cup of sea salt added to my bathwater. Amazing!”
— P.E., Lodi, Calif.
“I had the worst case of smelly feet until someone told me to soak my feet in warm water with some apple cider vinegar. I do that twice a week, and I sprinkle baking soda in my shoes; no more odor.” — E.P., Gainesville, Fla.
“This is cheap and easy. When you feel a cold sore coming on, rub an ice cube on the area for 15 minutes. Afterwards, dip your finger in table salt and press the spot for a few more minutes.” — K.T., Fort Lauderdale, Florida
“If you get a nagging wet cough and have to spit a lot, drink hyssop tea. Squeeze a little lemon into it and some honey. This will loosen all the phlegm.” — S.C., Decatur, Ill.
“I used to have warts and my sister recently got rid of them with marigolds. She had a garden of these plants and she cut the stems, squeezed out the sap and applied it to my warts. Like magic, they eventually disappeared.”
— N.G., Dallas
“As a teenager, I had acne. Mom made me rub peeled garlic cloves right on the pimples three times a day. This worked very well, but people thought I had bad breath!” — Y.D., Tulsa
“I had carpal tunnel pain and I found some relief from you! In a recent column, you gave a recipe for ginger tea (for stomach upset and nausea) and I began drinking this because I had chronic bowel problems. It worked for that, and interestingly, I noticed that I could type again, and even reduce my ibuprofen dosage. Then I started wearing a magnetic bracelet that I bought at the health food store, and now I am 100% better!” —J.P., New York City
Here’s the recipe for tea: Grate a teaspoon of fresh ginger into hot water with lemon and honey, add 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder spice. Steep it, strain it then drink.
“For bad breath, eat one avocado every day. It’s better with salt and lemon on it if you can’t eat it straight. I believe it cleans the liver and stomach.”
— B.W., Sanibel, Fla.
Suzy Cohen, has been a licensed pharmacist for over 30 years and believes the best approach to chronic illness is a combination of natural medicine and conventional. She founded her own dietary supplement company specializing in custom-formulas, some of which have patents. With a special focus on functional medicine, thyroid health and drug nutrient depletion, Suzy is the author of several related books including Thyroid Healthy, Drug Muggers, Diabetes Without Drugs, and a nationally syndicated column.
