Cut onion relieves wasp sting

Q. I love wasps, bees, mud daubers and anything else that flies and buzzes. My friends call me a “bee charmer.” I’m the one who carries them outside to fly free.

When I was reaching for a log on the woodpile today, though, I accidentally trapped one between my finger and a falling log.

It stung me and caused excruciating pain. My hand also started inflating.

I searched online and found your Web site. A cut onion on the sting worked in 20 minutes to stop the swelling and ease the pain.

I don’t blame the wasp. I will continue to protect them, but I’ll check a log before picking it up.

A. We first heard about using a cut onion on a sting about 20 years ago. A reader had learned this trick from his German neighbor.

We checked with world-renowned onion chemist Dr. Eric Block of the State University of New York at Albany. He agreed that a fresh-cut onion might ease the pain of an insect sting because an ingredient in onions breaks down the chemicals responsible for inflammation and discomfort.

Other readers have used fresh onion juice to soothe the pain from a minor kitchen burn.

Q. I have arthritis in my hands and my back. I heard that gin-soaked raisins would help the pain.

Is that true, and if so, what is the recipe and the dose?

A. The only way to know if gin-soaked raisins will work for you is to try them. People respond in varied ways to home remedies.

In a shallow pan, barely cover golden raisins with gin. Let them sit until the gin has evaporated. Then eat nine raisins a day.

It may take a few weeks to see results.

Here is one testimonial:

“I have had rheumatoid arthritis [RA] in my knees for years, and it was difficult to get up out of a chair or sofa. After one month on gin and golden raisins, I am completely free of knee pain, though it has not relieved my spinal stenosis.”

Nearly a year later, the same person reported, “I am still on the raisins and love them. Not only did gin-soaked raisins rid my knees of RA, but now the RA is also gone from my left shoulder.”

This is amazing, and my doctors are interested.”

We are sending you our Guide to Alternatives for Arthritis with more details on using gin-soaked raisins and other home remedies to relieve joint pain.

Anyone who would like a copy, please send $3 in check or money order with a long (No. 10), stamped (61 cents), self-addressed envelope to: Graedons’ People’s Pharmacy, No. AA-2, P.O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027.

It also can be downloaded for $2 from our Web site: www.peoplespharmacy.com.

Q. When my kids came home with lice, I spent a lot of money buying lice shampoos. We tried the mayonnaise treatment, too. I scrubbed the house, cleaned the carpets, boiled the combs and hairbrushes and put pillows and stuffed toys in bags.

I took my kids outside on the deck, swathed them in sheets and combed their hair and eyebrows out with that tiny nit comb.

They didn’t have their friends over because I was afraid of passing the lice on.

After all that, I read in your column about using original amber Listerine. We drenched our hair, covered our scalps with shower caps and left the Listerine on for two hours.

That was the END of the LICE! Not only did Listerine bring relief, we didn’t have any nit problems after treatment.

A. Others also report success with Listerine for lice. Some people may find this too irritating if left on for two hours.

XIn their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of The Vindicator or e-mail them via their Web site: www.PeoplesPharmacy.com. Their newest book is “Favorite Home Remedies From The People’s Pharmacy.”

2009 King Features Syndicate Inc.