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What we're really looking for are remedies that Mr. Briscoe Darling and his family might have used to cure a sore foot and such. If you know of any of those we'd love to hear them. We'll also take any Omen's that you might know. I think this could really be a fun thing so send 'em in to us.
DISCLAIMER: These are only Home Remedies that
others have found useful. They are in NO WAY intended to replace Professional
Medical Assistance when necessary. The TAGS Interactive Website maintains
no responsibility for these Remedies.
Animal Bites
Bee Stings
Burns
Chicken Pox
Diarrhea
Fever
Stomach Upset
Hiccups
Sore Throat
Bloody Nose
As soon as a bite has been occured, whether by a pet or a wild animal, a physician should be contacted. In the interim, apply continued pressure to the affected area until the bleeding stops. After the bleeding has stopped, cleanse the area with soap and water. Wash the wound carefully, and then soak it for ten or fifteen minutes in warm soapy water. To keep the area clean, loosely apply an adhesive bandage or gauze pad. Check your medical records to determine if he or she is current on their tetanus shots. Tetanus bacteria can be fatal in an open wound. Check the rabies records of the animal, if possible, to see that it has been vaccinated for rabies. If this is not possible, then call animal control. They will attempt to catch the animal and impound it for ten days. Animals infected with rabies can only pass on the virus if they are close to dying. If this is the case, then they will die within ten days, and precautions can be taken.
HOME REMEDY: : Ant bites
Comment: Mix baking soda and water into a thick paste. Apply to affected
areas. This will reduce the swelling and relieve the itch.
After stinging, honeybees and bumble bees leave the stinger in. The stinger has a venom sac attached to it, so the first step to take after being stung is to remove the stinger. Do not attempt to pull out the stinger. Doing so, may damage the venom sac and release more venom. Take a blunt edged object, such as the back of a knife blade, fingernail, or a credit card, and gently scrape the stinger, and then whisk it out. The next step is to clean the bite with soap and water. Keep the area very clean to avoid any infection. This area must be kept clean for several days. Wrap ice in a cloth and put on the sting for ten minutes to thirty minutes at a time. Avoid putting the ice directly on the skin to prevent freezing the skin. Repeat as needed. A paste of baking soda and water applied to the area can also help relieve the pain. An antihistamine such as Benadryl may lessen some of the side effects of the bee sting. Please make sure to give the correct dosage. Benadryl cream or spray could cause a reaction, so avoid using them. You can give acetaminophen for the pain. An underarm deodorant containing aluminum chlorohydrate will relieve pain and itching. Also, a dab of household ammonia on a cotton ball will help soothe the pain.
If the individual exhibits any of the following symptoms, seek immediate medical assistance:
Bee stings can be fatal for those who are allergic to them. Also, please do not assume that because they have been stung before with little effects that they cannot have an allergic reaction.
HOME REMEDY:
The best cure I found for bee stings is to rush to your nearest tobacco chewing
neighbor (hopefully his mouth will be full of the stuff already) ask him
to put a wad of it on the sting. Keep it on there for 10-15 minutes. It no
longer stings and there won't be no swelling either!! WORKS EV'RTIME
GARONTEED!!!!!!
HOME REMEDY:
Cut a baking potato in half and apply one of the halfs to the bite after
you have removed the stinger. Leave the potato on for at least 30 minutes.
Any serious burn requires immediate emergency care. However, if your skin is just a bit red, you can treat him or her at home. See the doctor immediately for the following situations:
For scalds and burns, apply cool compresses using wet washcloths to the area for ten or fifteen minutes. The cool water helps stop the burn from extending, and helps relieve the pain. Avoid ice. Do not add ice to the water. Ice or ice water will cause further damage to the skin. Administer acetaminophen for the pain. Please check the label for the correct dosage. Never put butter, grease, oil or any cream ointment on a burn. This only serves to hold the heat in the burned tissue, and worsens the burn. Gently cover the burn with a clean dry cloth such as a gauze pad. Leave blisters alone. Breaking the blisters may lead to infection. Monitor the burn until it is completely healed. If the area begins to redden or swell, or if it oozes or smells, see a doctor. These are signs of infection and need to be treated.
Chicken Pox is a relative harmless illness that strikes babies through to adults. It starts off with one tiny bump, shortly joined by others. Some of them may appear to be small clear water filled blisters. For about a week, the discomfort is ever present. First there may be a mild fever, than blisters, then itching, then scabbing. Under normal circumstances, once a child has had chicken pox, they are finished with it. Acetaminophen can be given for both the fever and the itching. Never give aspirin to a child with chicken pox. This has been linked to Reyes Syndrome, a potentially life threatening complication. Dress the individual lightly in cotton. Keep him or her as cool as possible. Another way to lower the temperature is to bathe them with a cool cloth, or lower them into a cool bath. If shivers occur, then the water is too cold. Colloidal oatmeal in baths can help soothe the itching. This is found at most drugstores as Aveeno. This makes the bathtub slippery, so be careful. Baking soda is also good for soothing the itching. In a full bath, use a full cup of baking soda. In a shallow bath, use half a cup. Spread the bath water over the affected areas with a washcloth. Trim fingernails as short as possible. Scratching with sharp and dirty nails can infect the sores, and lead to permanent scarring. If any of the sores look mildly infected, apply an antibiotic cream. However, if more than a few of the sores look this way, consult a doctor. Keep the individual fresh and clean. A daily shampoo and bath is necessary to keep the sores clean and prevent infection. Also, change their clothes often. An over the counter antihistamine such as Benadryl will help control the itching. Please ensure that you give the correct dosage. Avoid Benadryl cream or spray as they could cause a reaction. Calamine lotion with Phenol works well for chicken pox. Just apply this lotion to the pox, and not to large skins areas as this product is absorbed by the skin. Do not use this lotion more than the package directions instruct you to. Avoid topical hydrocortisone which may allow the pox to generate further. Also, for children with chicken pox, undue exposure to the sun must be avoided. The pox leaves the skin very susceptible to sunburn, even up to after a year after the chicken pox has gone. Apply sunscreen liberally when your child is going outdoors to play.
Consult your doctor if:
Diarrhea can simply result from too much fruit juice or fiber, but usually it is caused by a virus. Diarrhea can be dangerous as the loss of fluids, coupled with the usual accompanying fever can lead to dehydration. Diarrhea can be taken care of at home, but because it can have life threatening side effects, or can be a symptom of a serious illness, you should always call a Doctor at it's onset.
Have your child drink as much as possible when he or she gets diarrhea. Sucking ice pops and crushes ice will help. Try to get your child to drink clear liquids such as ginger ale, and rehydration liquids sold in stores. Once your child gets hungry, then resume feeding him or her. Bananas, toast, rice and applesauce are good choices, but allow your child to eat whatever he wants, except for milk or milk products. A lot of children have problems digesting milk when they are ill. Cut back on the fruit juice and fruit too which can cause diarrhea.
You should call the Doctor immediately if:
Fevers do not always require medical care, but there are certain situations in which it is best to consult with a Doctor. If you have any concerns about fever. you should call the Doctor, but definitely call him if the individual:
Try lowering the fever by giving acetaminophen. Check the package for the correct dosage. If it is for a child and the child is under two, consult a Doctor. Never give a feverish child aspirin as this has been linked to a serious brain and liver ailment called Reye's syndrome. Giving a warm sponge bath for twenty minutes can help lower his or her fever. Place the individual into a tub of tepid water and sponge the water over the arms, legs, and body. It is the evaporation of the water which produces a cooling effect. Do not use cold water as this may cause shivers. Shivering will raise the body temperature, and thus defeat the whole purpose. You can also sponge the individual on a towel in the bed from a basin if moving to a tub is not possible. Note: Children with fevers breathe faster than normal which makes them lose more fluid. With vomiting and/or diarrhea, even more fluid is lost. Keep feeding fluids. Make the drinks cool not hot, and keep giving frequent small amounts. Avoid colas, teas, or coffee. These encourage fluid loss. Dress them lightly. Overdressing your, and bundling him or her under a blanket makes the fever worse. If the individual does not want to eat, then do not force them to eat.. For children who have had viruses or upset stomachs, light foods such as crackers and toast are preferable. Fruit juices contribute to diarrhea so try to steer clear of them.
THIS IS A HOME REMEDY, that I use when my stomach feels kind of queezy. It is not recommended by any doctor, just something I heard of, passed down by generations. Take a teaspoon full of dill pickle juice. It usually works every time for me. For example if I feel like I have a stomach bug. Hope it works for you. (submitted by: Ellie Walker)
Ailment: Vomiting
Comment: When a stomach virus gets the best of you, try my great-grandmother's
remedy. She was known for her home remedies, and even assisted the local
doctor on house calls.
Take about 2 cups of blackberries, add about 1/2 cups sugar. Cook until a juice forms. Sip the juice, slowly. If you are having trouble keeping food on your stomach, this will really help, and you will be back to work in no time!!
A glass of water is a sure fire cure for hiccups if taken properly. You must take a full glass of water, blow all of the air out of your lungs, hold your nose and drink like crazy. You should be able to get five or six good gulps before the lack of air makes you gasp.
It's not comfortable and certianly not pretty, but after your life-saving gasp for air your hiccups should be gone. I've NEVER had it fail, but if hiccups persist for an extended period you may want to seek medical attention. (submitted by: Jim)
Another usually sure cure for hiccups is a teaspoon of sugar. Salt would work, too. Simply put the sugar back in your mouth as far as you can (without choking yourself) and swallow it as dry as possible. (submitted by: "Mister Dave")
HOME REMEDY:
Get a small glass of water. Take one small stick or three book matches and
light them. while they are still flaming up, dunk them in the water. Drink
some of the water right away. A small amount will do. This works 99.99% of
the time.
Gargle some warm salty water. Make the water as warm as you can stand, but don't scald your mouth. Add at least a tsp. of table salt. Really makes the throat feel good.
For those who sometimes get that uncontrollable bloody nose everytime the seasons change. Once again consult your nearest snuff dipping friend, and put a pinch in your upper lip, the pressure given to the upper lip with its proximity to the nose relieves the pressure from the nose causing the bleeding to stop. I have done this EVERYTIME I get a nosebleed and it always works, if the bleeding persists, consult your local physician.