I received the following from an epal: A FEW MEDICAL TIPS FROM MEDSCAPE
Lemonade For Kidneystones Patients who form calcium oxalate kidney stones can benefit from drinking two glasses (16 oz) of lemonade a day. Lemon juice interferes with the formation of calcium oxalate-associated stones. Maalox For Chickenpox [why not poison ivy/oak or other weeping rashes? liz] Use Maalox suspension instead of calamine to soothe the itchiness caused by varicella. Maalox dries lesions faster than calamine and leaves only a fine powder residue. Moreover, it represents an alternative for parents who often confuse Caladryl and calamine. Administering Eye Drops to Children Rather than drip it into the open eye, have the child recline, then close their eyes. Administer the drops into the inner canthus of the eye, then ask the child to open their eyes. The medication will flow righ in with minimal waste. Sunburn Relief To relieve sunburn pain, brew a quart of strong black tea with no additives, then chill until cold. Dip washcloth in the tea, wring them out, and gently lay the cloths over the sunburned areas until they feel warm to the touch. Repeat applications until pain is relieved. Also prevents blistering and tans the reddened areas. Constipation Remedy Many adult patients suffer from chronic constipation. To decrease reliance on stool softeners and laxatives, non diabetic patients should eat 4 oz. pineapple daily. The enzyme in frozen, fresh, or canned pineapple promotes regularity, and is an affordable alternative to OTC remedies. [Canned fruit might not contain active enzymes, as they are usually deactivated by temps above 140 degrees. Also, aloe vera is an excellent supplement for people with constipation problems. One cap twice a week should do the trick. Liz] Breaking Pills for Odd Doses Take a round toothpick and lay it on the counter. Place the pill on top with the score lying face down, aligned with the toothpick's length. Press down. Pill should break cleanly. Ear Pain Relief Soak a washcloth in hot tap water or microwave a damp cloth. Stuff it into a coffee mug, then hold the opening of the mug against the ear like a telephone receiver. The moist heat penetrates well and provides dramatic relief. A styrofoam cup can also be used. Painless Injection Technique Warm the syringe contents to body temperature first by holding the syringe in your hand until warm. Use the minimum guage needle size necessary. Wait for alcohol to evaporate, gently stretch skin, and flick needle quickly through the stretched skin using a dart-throwing motion. This minimizes time cutaneous nerves are in contact with needle. Inject slowly. Withdraw needle quickly and briefly rub the skin briskly without pressure. Liz
