Potato an old-fashioned home remedy for warts
Q: I had a wart on my thumb and another on one of my toes for the longest time, so I tried rubbing a potato on them. Keeping a piece under a bandage overnight worked within a few weeks. The warts slowly turned black and then faded away.
I definitely recommend this. It’s much cheaper and less painful than going to a dermatologist to have them removed or frozen off. By the way, that doesn’t always ensure they won’t come back.
A: Potato therapy has not been documented in the dermatological literature. That said, this is a popular old-fashioned home remedy for warts.
We have collected dozens of wart remedies over the decades. What works for one person isn’t always successful for someone else. As you point out, even surgery or cryotherapy (freezing) may not offer a permanent solution for everyone.
Q: When I read your article about irritable bladder, I didn’t see any mention of coffee ingestion. I used to drink two large cups of very strong coffee every morning. Then I came down with bladder irritation, and now I can’t drink coffee at all.
A: Many people with this condition, also known as bladder pain syndrome or interstitial cystitis, have trouble with acidic beverages such as citrus juices, coffee, tea or carbonated beverages (BJU International, June 2012). On the other hand, they may find their symptoms improve when they take sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) or calcium glycerophosphate (Prelief ). These compounds can help neutralize acid in food.
Q: Do you have any remedies for low blood pressure?
A: Doctors usually worry far more about high blood pressure, but low blood pressure can cause symptoms such as dizziness, brain fog, fatigue, blurred vision, nausea and fainting. Some people experience these symptoms when they stand up suddenly (orthostatic hypotension).
There is growing recognition of a condition called postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), in which low blood pressure makes the heart race. Doctors are reporting that POTS may be part of a post-COVID syndrome (Immunologic Research, March 30, 2021).
Doctors often recommend nondrug approaches to treat low blood pressure. They include eating more salt, drinking more fluid and wearing compression hose to keep blood from pooling in the legs. In severe cases, physicians may prescribe midodrine (ProAmatine, Orvaten). This drug squeezes blood vessels to raise blood pressure. Patients must not lie down after taking it, as the drug can cause low blood pressure in such a situation.
Q: I read on your website that soap can help muscle pain. I have had trouble with muscle cramps on my forehead. So I took a bar of Irish Spring and wet it, then rubbed it on my forehead. This is a really weird remedy, but it did help resolve the cramping pain.
A: We’ve not heard of forehead muscle cramps before. Many readers have written about using soap against nighttime leg cramps, while others have used soap to combat hand cramps. You might not even have to wet the soap to get the benefit for your forehead pain. People with hand cramps simply hold a bar of soap in the affected hand.