First Aid Fixes that Doctors Use
Quick fixes, double-duty wonders and counter-intuitive tricks your family doctor knows—and a few things not to bother with.
By Corrie Pikul
Original Content | June 19, 2012 
Photo: Thinkstock
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Your doctor will be the first to tell you that you don't need hydrogen peroxide to clean a wound—in fact, it can destroy tissue and slow the healing process (instead, use soap and water to clean the area). But there are other reasons to keep hydrogen peroxide on hand. When squirted into the ear canal with a bulb syringe or eye dropper once or twice a week, it can be very effective at loosening ear wax and keeping ears clean; and when diluted with water, it can be used to disinfect toothbrushes. London has also used hydrogen peroxide to treat non-human family members. To de-skunk her pet terrier, she uses a chemist's recipe of one quart hydrogen peroxide, one quarter cup baking soda and a teaspoon of dishwashing detergent. Caution: When squirting hydrogen peroxide into your ears, be careful not to poke your eardrum with the syringe, and be prepared to hear the solution bubbling as it dissolves the wax. |
