Home health remedies that work, calm a cough, prevent colds

4. BABY SHAMPOO. A half-and-half solution of baby shampoo and warm water is a simple, effective way to clean eyelids that are itchy, red or crusty. The condition could be blepharitis, a

common eye problem in older adults. It can cause scaling and crustiness along the base of the eyelashes. Gently cleaning the eyelid with a baby shampoo wash helps get rid of oil and bacteria

but won't sting your eyes. Try diluting a little baby shampoo with an equal amount of water twice a day, then gently rubbing the mixture with clean fingertips on the closed eyelid and

along the eyelashes for one minute. Rinse well with water. Philip Hagen, M.D., medical editor of the _Mayo Clinic Book of Home Remedies_, cautions that baby shampoo should only be used on

the lid, and never on the surface of the eye. 5. MENTHOL RUB. Applying mentholated ointments such as strong-smelling Vicks VapoRub has been shown to be a safe, cost-effective treatment for

toenail fungus, often more effective than over-the-counter products. Home health remedies are as close as your cupboard and, in some cases, more effective than over-the-counter products.

Photo by Nola Lopez A small study this year found that applying Vicks to the affected nails once daily helped 15 of 18 adults either cure or partially clear up their fungus. Sally Stroud,

professor of nursing at the Medical University of South Carolina, says Vicks is easy to apply and worth trying "before turning to more costly alternatives." Stroud also suggests

first wiping the affected nails with a cotton ball soaked in white vinegar, then applying the VapoRub. 6. TART CHERRY JUICE. Drinking tart cherry juice can help prevent gout attacks, relieve

muscle soreness after exercise, and possibly help with arthritis pain because of its natural anti-inflammatory properties. Gout expert Naomi Schlesinger, M.D., says the juice seems to

reduce the joint inflammation that gout causes. Schlesinger led a study that found patients who took a tablespoon of tart cherry juice concentrate twice a day for four months cut the

frequency of their gout attacks in half. More than a third remained gout attack-free. Other studies have shown that drinking tart cherry juice daily helps runners reduce muscle soreness and

reduces inflammation in overweight patients. Unlike its sweeter cousins, the Bing and black cherry, the tart cherry is bright red and higher in antioxidants. 7. WITCH HAZEL. Witch hazel is

derived from the leaves and twigs of a flowering shrub. For more than a century, the clear, refined extract has been used as an astringent to help tighten the skin and relieve inflammation.

It is the main ingredient in commercial hemorrhoid pads, used to relieve mild itching and irritation, but you can do the same at home with pads you moisten with witch hazel, according to

Hagen. For even more relief, use chilled witch hazel. 8. WATER. Daily gargling with plain tap water can help cut the number of colds and respiratory infections you get, as well as relieve

symptoms if you're already sick.