The People’s Pharmacy
Q: Despite my natural attraction to mosquitos, I was unaware of the amazing “hot spoon” treatment for itch-causing bites until recently. When the bite is still fresh, warm a spoon in a glass of hot water or coffee, then use the spoon’s back to apply as much heat as possible to the bite. The heat from the spoon appears to neutralise the mosquito bite, considerably reducing the duration and degree of irritation. This has been a godsend during the last few summers!
A: The attractiveness of mosquitoes varies widely between persons. Their responses to the bites vary in strength. You and anyone who attract mosquitos should use insect repellent whenever you go outside.
The majority of people experience redness, irritation, and possibly a lump where a mosquito bit them. Experts believe this is a histamine-induced response to mosquito saliva. Some people, on the other hand, have a strong reaction to mosquito bites that lasts several weeks rather than days. Doctors refer to this condition as “skeeter syndrome.”
The hot water remedy for itchiness was first published in the textbook “Dermatology: Diagnosis and Treatment” over 50 years ago. It works by desensitising the skin’s itch-transmitting nerves. We believe the hot spoon approach uses the same system. The water and spoon should not be hot enough to burn the skin.
Nowadays, high-tech adaptations of this method are commercialised under the names Therapik, Bite Away, and Bite Helper. These are battery-powered devices that administer heat to itch-causing bug bites.
Q: My grandmother is now ninety-nine years old. She followed a recipe you printed out years ago. She said that it genuinely kept her joints moving and that it came from the Mayo Clinic. Could you please elaborate on this solution for me?
A: The Mayo Clinic was founded by brothers Charles and William Mayo, who are credited with proposing the cure you’re looking for. The components for the “black ball” recipe are olive oil, charcoal, glycerin, senna, slippery elm, dried raisins, and figs, regardless of whether they genuinely advised it.
We do not know whether or not this will reduce joint inflammation. Actually, we don’t recommend it because the senna in it is a severe laxative that shouldn’t be used too frequently.
However, our “eGuide to Alternatives for Arthritis” includes several at-home therapies for joint discomfort. You can find this online resource at PeoplesPharmacy.com by going to the Health eGuides page.
