Humans are attracted to natural things. That statement doesn't mean anything, because if you think about it, everything is natural. We're natural - we evolved on this planet - and anything we make is therefore natural. If beeswax, flax, and coconut oil are natural, then so are polycarbons, microplastics, and warfarin. However, most people make the distinction between man-made things and...other things. The exceptions appear to be almond milk, coconut sugar, and apple cider vinegar, which are man-made but people regard them as natural for some reason. And natural is good! It has to be, right? Look at this natural, green, luscious leaf (photo credit Macleay Grass Man). Isn't it beautiful? Doesn't it look clean, simple, and good? It must be
better for the body than all those nasty artificial chemicals.
Which leads me to discuss home remedies.
I grew up knowing that some foods had healing properties. In my family we relied on modern medicine for anything serious, but in general used peppermint tea or "natural" yoghurt for digestive upsets, ginger and licorice for sore throats, chamomile tea for insomnia, and Aloe vera for skin complaints. I still use many of these, and similar remedies I have picked up along the way, but whenever I have a real problem, I go to a real doctor - because the truth is that none of these remedies work very well, if at all. I'm not going to go through every natural remedy here, but below are some examples of remedies that are less effective than their popularity suggests.
All this sounds like conclusive evidence that peppermint is good for upset digestion, but it's not that simple. The above studies were using concentrated peppermint oil in enteric-coated or delayed-release capsules, which hold onto the good stuff till it reaches the intestines and can be delivered direct to where it's needed. Unfortunately, a cup of peppermint tea is a far cry from directly applied peppermint oil. Drinking peppermint tea for digestion is a bit like spooning Calpol into your bath and soaking in it for a headache: it isn't strong enough, and it's being applied to the wrong area. Since peppermint oil appears to be spasmolytic (relieve spasms in smooth muscle), applying it to your upper digestive tract will only calm the smooth muscle in your oesophagus, which can cause reflux as a side effect. However, since you'd have to consume at least 40g of whole peppermint leaves to get the same amount of oil as a dose of enteric coated capsules*, there's no harm in drinking peppermint tea in moderation. In fact, there is some evidence that it has a minor invigorating and memory-enhancing effect (the same study found chamomile tea to have a calming effect, so there may be something in that, too!).
Perhaps I was too hasty to disregard Aloe vera. Then again, perhaps not. Trawling the web for published clinical studies on the efficacy of Aloe vera for skin complaints brings up a grainy mush of odd little studies that are generally of poor quality. As expected, the general consensus is that there is no general consensus, due to lack of convincing research. As these reviews summarise, Aloe vera research shows some tantalising results indicating that it may be effective in some dermological situations, but the studies themselves are not convincing. Sample size, product ingredients, study and analysis design, and the potential for author bias are all concerns that need to be taken into account when analysing research.
For now, the popular topical use of Aloe vera is neither encouraged nor contraindicated by science. However, ingesting it may not be such a good idea: it is a laxative, and can be poisonous and carcinogenic even at moderate dosage.
Despite the questionable efficacy of many natural remedies, they remain popular. I see no harm in taking advantage of the placebo effect, as I do; however, these remedies must never be relied upon to work. If you're sick, you need to go to a real doctor. Aloe juice may soothe your itchy skin, but if you recommend it to someone whose child has severe eczema, you are harming that child by delaying them from receiving real treatment. In 2009 a little girl died from eczema because her parents tried to treat it "naturally". Furthermore, buying products sold as natural remedies puts money straight into the pockets of unregulated quacks who exploit vulnerable, desperate people.
In summary, there's no harm in using home remedies to make yourself feel better, and some of them may even have a mild effect. However, real medicine works better, and don't recommend anything to people who are really sick other than that they should see a real doctor.
*Based on one dose of two Colpermin capsules compared with peppermint leaves containing 2% peppermint oil. Peppermint leaves vary in their oil content, and 2% is a generous estimate.
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| Except that it's hemlock. |
Which leads me to discuss home remedies.
I grew up knowing that some foods had healing properties. In my family we relied on modern medicine for anything serious, but in general used peppermint tea or "natural" yoghurt for digestive upsets, ginger and licorice for sore throats, chamomile tea for insomnia, and Aloe vera for skin complaints. I still use many of these, and similar remedies I have picked up along the way, but whenever I have a real problem, I go to a real doctor - because the truth is that none of these remedies work very well, if at all. I'm not going to go through every natural remedy here, but below are some examples of remedies that are less effective than their popularity suggests.
Ginger for motion sickness and sore throats
Ginger has traditionally been used for a wide variety of complaints, so it has to be medicinal, right? Well...sort of. I get motion sickness, and I also get fed up of people asking me if I've tried ginger. Ginger has been studied extensively as an antiemetic (vomit stopper) but researchers still can't decide if it works or not because the results are conflicting. Some studies say it works, and one study found it worked better than Dramamine (an over-the-counter antiemetic). This ancient study still gets cited despite many subsequent studies finding no such effect. Ginger may have unreliable antiemetic properties for some people, and it appears to be effective for morning sickness (see here for a review of studies), though it shouldn't be taken long-term during pregnancy. As for my childhood use of ginger to fight a sore throat, there's some evidence it has anti-inflammatory properties, in rats and individual cells and tissues. However, there is no conclusive evidence from clinical trials that ginger works better than common, standard antiemetics and anti-inflammatories, so don't rely on ginger as a medicine.Peppermint tea for stomach upsets
Peppermint tastes refreshing, even if you're feeling a bit full or bloated - hence after dinner mints. But can it really quell your upset stomach? There is a fair bit of evidence for the amazing digestive healing powers of peppermint oil: it can inhibit stomach acid secretion, calm the smooth muscle of the digestive tract, and reduce the severity of irritable bowel syndrome symptoms.All this sounds like conclusive evidence that peppermint is good for upset digestion, but it's not that simple. The above studies were using concentrated peppermint oil in enteric-coated or delayed-release capsules, which hold onto the good stuff till it reaches the intestines and can be delivered direct to where it's needed. Unfortunately, a cup of peppermint tea is a far cry from directly applied peppermint oil. Drinking peppermint tea for digestion is a bit like spooning Calpol into your bath and soaking in it for a headache: it isn't strong enough, and it's being applied to the wrong area. Since peppermint oil appears to be spasmolytic (relieve spasms in smooth muscle), applying it to your upper digestive tract will only calm the smooth muscle in your oesophagus, which can cause reflux as a side effect. However, since you'd have to consume at least 40g of whole peppermint leaves to get the same amount of oil as a dose of enteric coated capsules*, there's no harm in drinking peppermint tea in moderation. In fact, there is some evidence that it has a minor invigorating and memory-enhancing effect (the same study found chamomile tea to have a calming effect, so there may be something in that, too!).
Aloe vera for the skin
At some point in my childhood, everyone suddenly started using Aloe vera juice to treat skin complaints. Previously, they had used aqueous cream or commercial lotions, depending on the problem, but suddenly Aloe vera was a one-stop panacea for all things epidermal. Burns, acne, sunburn, cuts - if you weren't sure what to put on it, you just used Aloe anyway. However, the first time I rubbed a slimy leaf on my skin, it gave me a red, itchy rash. From then on, I regarded the Aloe plant with distrust and contempt. I remember rubbing it into a horse's sunburnt nose and wondering if it did anything at all.Perhaps I was too hasty to disregard Aloe vera. Then again, perhaps not. Trawling the web for published clinical studies on the efficacy of Aloe vera for skin complaints brings up a grainy mush of odd little studies that are generally of poor quality. As expected, the general consensus is that there is no general consensus, due to lack of convincing research. As these reviews summarise, Aloe vera research shows some tantalising results indicating that it may be effective in some dermological situations, but the studies themselves are not convincing. Sample size, product ingredients, study and analysis design, and the potential for author bias are all concerns that need to be taken into account when analysing research.
For now, the popular topical use of Aloe vera is neither encouraged nor contraindicated by science. However, ingesting it may not be such a good idea: it is a laxative, and can be poisonous and carcinogenic even at moderate dosage.
Despite the questionable efficacy of many natural remedies, they remain popular. I see no harm in taking advantage of the placebo effect, as I do; however, these remedies must never be relied upon to work. If you're sick, you need to go to a real doctor. Aloe juice may soothe your itchy skin, but if you recommend it to someone whose child has severe eczema, you are harming that child by delaying them from receiving real treatment. In 2009 a little girl died from eczema because her parents tried to treat it "naturally". Furthermore, buying products sold as natural remedies puts money straight into the pockets of unregulated quacks who exploit vulnerable, desperate people.
In summary, there's no harm in using home remedies to make yourself feel better, and some of them may even have a mild effect. However, real medicine works better, and don't recommend anything to people who are really sick other than that they should see a real doctor.
*Based on one dose of two Colpermin capsules compared with peppermint leaves containing 2% peppermint oil. Peppermint leaves vary in their oil content, and 2% is a generous estimate.
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