Salt in a sock is a recipe for earache relief

By SAMANTHA CRITCHELL

NEW YORK (AP) - As a pediatrician for nearly 30 years, Dr. Lillian Beard has, of course, tremendous respect for medicine and the people who practise it.

She acknowledges, though, that credence and credibility are also due to all the grandparents who give children honey when they have sore throats and cover insect bites with meat tenderizer or baking soda. For the new book Salt in Your Sock (and Other Tried-and-True Home Remedies) (Three Rivers Press), Beard compiled the tricks that her own patients have shared with her for treating everything from acne (wash face with granulated sugar, which acts as an exfoliating agent) to sinus problems (try a warm compress of ginger tea).

The salt-in-a-sock treatment that inspired the title can help alleviate an earache: heat a cup of salt in a frying pan until all the granules are hot; pour the heated salt into a sock and knot the end; test the warmth of the sock to make sure it's not hot enough to burn the skin; hold the sock against the painful ear.

"These are family recipes for wellness. . . . You ask, 'How do some of these practices survive the test of time?' The answer is, they work," Beard says.

Beard, who practises in Silver Spring, Md., and is an assistant professor at both the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences and Howard University College of Medicine, says over the years she has noticed many similarities among the remedies.

"Almost all relate to food. The 21st century medicine cabinet is the cupboard," she says.

For instance, garlic, which has anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal properties, was suggested as a cure for both athlete's foot and diaper rash. And several people told Beard stories of their grandmothers wearing garlic around their necks to protect them from communicable diseases.

"At the very least, this kept people away, and communicable diseases are usually passed by close contact," says Beard, a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, with a laugh.

While her book is aimed at parents with young children, the suggestions for symptom relief would work at any age. She even touches on joint pain, more likely to be a problem for adults than youngsters.

One of the tips for dealing with joint pain is to wear copper adornments, such as a bracelet or even copper wire around the wrist.

Beard says she's consulted rheumatologists on this one. Most of the joint specialists had heard of the copper treatment and said it seems to work although they can't document how or why. At the very least, Beard notes, wearing a bracelet certainly won't hurt.

The remedies in Salt in Your Sock aren't lab-tested, instead they are family-tested - and then vetted by Beard for potential medical complications. She flags a suggestion to use whipped egg yolks and sugar as an elixir for the common cold because raw eggs have a risk of carrying salmonella; Beard suggests using pasteurized eggs, such as an egg substitute.

And Beard is strongly against what in many cultures is a common practice - giving infants alcohol. Some people use a drop of bourbon or whisky to soothe babies' gums during teething and others whip up a hot toddy for a cough.

"Sure, the parents get a good night's sleep, but it's not good for the kids," she says.

Most home remedies treat symptoms but not the root of an illness or condition. Instead of using them as a substitute for a visit to the doctor's office or for medicine Beard urges parents to consider the treatments as a comfortable way to get through the night.

"These (remedies) aren't intended to replace sound medical advice - they are to complement sound medical advice," she says.

Beard says when parents do make the phone call to the doctor, they need to outline whatever home treatments have already been administered. "Don't be afraid of disapproval. We need full disclosure and we should share information both ways. . . . The parent is still the expert on their child."

Even beyond chicken soup, the kitchen can be a gold mine for parents looking to alleviate some of their children's ailments.

Dr. Lillian Beard, a Maryland pediatrician and author of Salt in Your Sock (and Other Tried-and-True Home Remedies) (Three Rivers Press) offers the following lists as household items that are helpful to have on hand when it comes to treating acne, earaches, nausea and other common childhood complains.

She cautions, though, that the Food and Drug Administration does not regulate herbs, which leaves the potential for misuse.

Also, Beard says, parents need to be aware of appropriate dosages of any medicine or home remedy depending on a child's age and size.

If there is ever any doubt or concern about a remedy, contact a doctor before using it, Beard recommends.

In the pantry:

- Ginger, fresh or powdered

- Fruit juice, only naturally sweetened

- Garlic

- Onions

- White potatoes

- Oatmeal

- Olive oil

- Cayenne pepper

- Yogurt with live cultures

- Black tea bags, such as orange pekoe or Earl Grey

- Horseradish or wasabi

- Baking soda

- Pineapple

- Limes

- Vinegar

- Honey

- Parsley

Natural medicinals

- Activated charcoal for food poisoning and gastrointestinal distress

- Aloe vera gel or juice for minor burns, cuts and scrapes

- Calendula cream for cuts, scrapes, skin irritations and bruises

- Chamomile tea, tincture and essential oil for stomachache, insomnia and relaxation

- Clove essential oil for teething and toothache

- Fennel tea or seeds for gas and stomachache

- Lavender essential oil for cuts, scrapes, insect bites, minor burns, insomnia and relaxation

- Marshmallow tea for sore throats and cough

- Tea tree oil for nail fungus, yeast infections and acne