No Doctor? No Problem!

Here are four research-backed DIY medical treatments that may keep you out of the doctor’s office next year.

1. Apply snake oil to arthritis inflammation

A traditional Chinese remedy in the 1800s was to apply water-snake oil to aching joints. The substance is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which is able to reduce swelling. Researchers at the University of Benin, in Nigeria, studied the effect of boa-constrictor oil on reducing ear inflammation in mice compared to the standard treatment of hydrocortisone. They found the snake oil was more effective. Image credit.

2. Herbal lotion for eczema

This home remedy is now a booming business called “Pure Potions Skin Salvation.” It was discovered by a mother in England and is now recognized by the United Kingdom’s National Health Service as clinically effective. The mother needed a treatment for her baby daughter’s eczema after none of the doctor-prescribed treatments worked. She experimented with herbs known for gentle and calming effects and finally settled on a formula for beeswax-based lotion that cleared her daughter’s symptoms.

3. Beats for the brain

Music can help you change your mood, encourage movement, and help plants grow. Now, according to a study done at the University of Finland, music can also help stroke patients recover. The study had a group of patients listen to music or audiobooks for one to two hours a day for two months in addition to typical stroke rehab exercises. The music group experienced less depressed and confused moods, had increased awareness, more positive emotions, and an increased ability to perform cognitive tasks.

4. Passing on a rollercoaster

Dr. David Wartinger, a urologist at Michigan State University, took a backpack filled with a 3D-printed kidney containing urine and kidney stones on a rollercoaster after hearing patients describe passing kidney stones when they were on theme park rides. He published his findings showing the amazing results. He recommends those trying to pass a kidney stone while on a rollercoaster sit in the back of the ride which offered a 64 percent passage rate (with a 100 percent passage rate for kidney stones located in the upper chamber). Might be a cheaper way to treat a kidney stone.

Disclosure: I am not a healthcare professional; please consult your doctor before trying any of the treatments above.