Fantastico!

We asked Reader’s Digest editors around the world to share their popular home health treatments. Here are the ones that check out with scientific research

Reader’s Digest international editors share their favourite folk remedies.

1 PORTUGAL Garlic for Warts, Corns and Calluses

In Portugal, garlic isn’t just for f lavouring food. Many people use it to get rid of corns and calluses – the thickening and hardening of skin at pressure points on the hands and feet – and also warts – the small growths caused by the human papillomavirus, or HPV, that can occur anywhere on the body. In fact, research from 2005 published in the International

Journal of Dermatology showed that all warts treated with garlic extract disappeared within two weeks, and corns disappeared for 80 per cent of subjects after three weeks. Garlic capsules could also provide some overall antibiotic protection.

Evidence It Works: The main component of garlic, allicin, is said to have topical antibacterial effects. But be careful not to allow raw garlic to touch healthy skin for prolonged periods, as it can cause burning and irritation.

2 FRANCE Vinegar to Aid Digestion

French folklore has it that during a plague in the 17th century, a gang of four thieves would rob corpses yet never catch the plague themselves. Supposedly, rubbing a concoction of vinegar and herbs (including garlic, rosemary, sage, cinnamon, mint, camphor and more) on their heads and hands protected them. Today, the French vinaigre des

quatre voleurs (‘four thieves’ vinegar) has many uses, including as a type 2 diabetes treatment and an appetite suppressant.

Evidence It Works: Though more research is needed, studies have shown that vinegar can affect blood sugar levels by delaying the rate at which the stomach empties, which reduces the blood sugar spike after a meal. But if you have type 2 diabetes, talk to your doctor first, as the vinegar could drop your blood sugar too low.

Vinegar may also prevent overeating. A small Swedish study found that individuals who consumed vinegar with a meal reported feeling more satiated than those who didn’t. However, it’s best not to drink vinegar straight, as its acidity could damage tooth enamel. Instead, add one or two tablespoons to water or tea.

3 GERMANY Marigolds for Inflammation

Not only do Germans use marigolds (called calendula) as a topical treatment for insect bites, acne and dry skin, but they also have their own recipes for balms. Popular formulas include combining the flowers with warm pork fat, petroleum jelly, beeswax or olive oil and allowing the mixture to steep for a day or more.

Evidence It Works: High levels of antioxidants in the dried petals help prevent infection and reduce cell

damage caused by free radicals. For people with venous leg ulcers who were treated with either calendula ointment or saline solution dressings, the marigold-infused treatment helped ulcers heal faster. Laboratory and animal research have shown that the flowers contain anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial components and that they heal wounds by helping form new blood vessels and tissue.

4 NETHERLANDS Liquorice for Sore Throat

Liquorice- based past i l les called dropjes are as Dutch as wooden shoes, but while few farmers st i l l wear clogs, everybody eats dropjes, especially in the winter. They come in all shades of brown and black and can be sweet or salty. Evidence It Works: A 2013 randomised double- bl ind study of 236 people by the Medical University of Vienna found that patients who gargled with a liquorice solution before being intubated for surgery had fewer sore throats afterwards.

5 FINLAND Sauna for Circulation

Saunas are a way of life in Finland. In a country of 5.5 million people, there are an estimated 3.2

million saunas. Last year, UNESCO added Finnish saunas to its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage markers. Not bad for a 65°C (and higher) room designed to make you sweat. Evidence It Works: Finnish research published in JAMA Internal Medi

cine in 2015 showed that sitting in a sauna two to three times a week lowers the risk of dying from any cause by 24 per cent. Another study showed that 15 minutes a day in a sauna five days a week may help ease mild depression.

Sauna newbies should start with five or ten minutes; 20 minutes is the maximum. If you have heart disease or high or low blood pressure, speak to your doctor about whether a sauna is safe.

6 SLOVENIA Saint-John’s-Wort to Soothe Skin

Saint-John’s-wort is a plant with yellow flowers that’s native to Europe and other parts of the world. Slovenes mix it with olive oil to treat sunburn, insect bites and bruises.

Evidence It Works: A 2010 Iranian randomised double-blind clinical trial of 144 women published in the Journal of Alternative and Com

plementary Medicine showed that those who had undergone caesarean sections and applied a SaintJohn’s-wort ointment three times a day for 16 days had improved wound healing and less pain and scarring than those in the placebo and control groups. Animal studies out of Turkey in the past few years have shown that the plant heals wounds and burns; rats treated topically with Saint-John’s-wort four times a day experienced more rapid healing than those that weren’t.

7 SPAIN Olive Oil to Soften Earwax

Spain produces more olive oil than any country in the world. Among its non- culinary uses, the Spanish (and others) warm it and use it to dissolve earwax.

Evidence It Works: A University of Southampton review of 26 clinical trials found that earwax softeners, including olive oil, are effective, and that side effects are rare. Nevertheless, it’s recommended that you check with your doctor before attempting self-treatment of ear issues.

8 BRAZIL Marcela for Coughs

Marcela ( Achyrocline satureioides) is a plant in the daisy family. Brazilians steep it to make a bitter tea to alleviate coughs.

Evidence It Works: A 2014 review of several studies published in the Brazilian Journal of Pharmacognosy found that marcela appears to be antispasmodic and helps relieve coughs.

9&10 MEXICO Arnica for Bruising; Aloe Vera for Burns

Arnica, from the sunflower family, is sometimes called a mountain daisy and is a popular anti-inf lammatory in Mexico for treating bruises, sprains, rheumatism and varicose veins. For burns, Mexicans have long turned to aloe, or sábila in Spanish, which grows in the wild there.

Evidence It Works: A 2013 review of 174 people with hand arthritis found that arnica gel improved pain and function in the hand as effectively as ibuprofen gel. As arnica can be poisonous, it should not be taken by mouth.

A review of four studies from Asia published in the journal Burns concluded that the gel inside aloe leaves can accelerate healing of minor burns several days faster than conventional medication.

11 MALAYSIA Papaya for Digestive Health

Tropical papayas are very popular in Southeast Asia – and so popular in Malaysia that they are an unofficial national fruit. The fruit is also prized as a go-to to help digestion, for everything from an upset stomach to constipation to food poisoning.

Evidence It Works: A study from Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria published in the Journal of Me

dicinal Food found that papaya fights intestinal parasites. When researchers gave a papaya seed preparation to children who tested positive for intestinal parasites, it was shown to have antimicrobial activity and treated parasitic infections without harmful side effects.

A double- blind placebo- controlled trial, published in the journal Neuroendocrinology Letters in 2013, showed that volunteers with digestive complaints such as bloating and constipation had significant improvements after ingesting a papaya pulp supplement. The fruit is also rich in vitamin C and high in water and fibre content, which regulates bowel activity.

12 NEW ZEALAND Manuka Honey for Almost Anything

For centuries, New Zealand’s Maori community has relied on the leaves and bark from the manuka tree for its antibacterial and wound-healing properties. Today, Kiwis use manuka honey to boost their immune systems and for more specific ailments such as sore throats and general inf lammation. Manuka’s curative properties have become so highly touted that there’s a thriving industry for fake manuka honey. The

genuine product is labelled UMF for Unique Manuka Factor.

Evidence It Works: Research at Cardiff University showed that components of manuka honey can stimulate immune cells, increasing our ability to fight bacteria and viruses. It’s especially effective against a strain of

Streptococcus. Other studies have shown that its antimutagenic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory qualities may improve dental health.

13 AUSTRALIA Eucalyptus Oil to Clear Sinuses

If you’ve ever walked past a eucalyptus tree on a rainy day, you’ll have noticed that the tree gives off a distinctive, almost medicinal scent. The oil of this Australian native was first used to alleviate nasal congestion and other mild respiratory ailments. Every Aussie household knows how to treat a cold; just add a few drops of eucalyptus oil to steaming hot water and inhale the fumes. Eucalyptus oil is also a common ingredient in overthe-counter cough drops.

Evidence It Works: In a randomised double-blind trial of 152 people published in the Laryngoscope in 2009, German researchers found that the main component of eucalyptus oil – 1,8-cineole, or eucalyptol – was effective and safe for treating sinusitis, helping clear mucus and nasal blockages. A South Korean study published in 2016 found that essential oils, including 1,8-cineole, alleviated symptoms of respiratory disease and inflammation. Of 54 people aged 20 to 60, those who inhaled the oils for five minutes twice daily over seven days also had better sleep versus those who inhaled a placebo. Don’t ingest eucalyptus oil though, and avoid applying it directly to your skin; if it’s undiluted, it could cause irritation.