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Natural Remedies

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Secret (Natural) Ingredient: Surprising New Uses for Olive Oil

Earache relief
Warm olive oil can soothe your child’s (or your) achy ear, says Rachel Lewis, MD, a pediatrician at Columbia University Medical Center. (Note: Only for kids 2 and up.) Use a syringe to place 2 to 4 drops of warm oil in ear (5 to 10 in your own). Follow up with doctor.


Stainless steel polish
Stainless steel appliances are magnets for fingerprint smudges. Make those marks vanish by applying a very light layer of olive oil with a soft cloth in a circular motion, says Catherine Houska, consultant to the Specialty Steel Association.


Dry-hair conditioner
Revive damaged hair with this treatment from John Masters of John Masters Organics hair- and skin-care lines: Saturate hair with extra-virgin olive oil, then wrap with a warm towel for 20 minutes. Shampoo, rinse, and condition if needed.


Skin soother
Olive oil’s essential fatty acids are a natural Rx for rough elbows, hands, and cuticles, says dermatologist Lisa Donofrio, MD, of the Yale University School of Medicine. Nightly, rub a small amount of the extra-virgin variety into parched skin.


By Susan Hall


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Last Updated: April 16, 2009
Filed Under: Natural Remedies
Also Tagged: , ,

Comments (12)

The following content represents the opinions of Health.com users. It is not editorially reviewed for medical or factual accuracy. It does not constitute medical advice. See your doctor for medical advice.
  • btinshacker

    1234

  • Fawn

    My mother and grandmother have been using this for years!! The doctors use to say, dont use those old wives things – they’re dangerous – now that I’m older, I am really embracing many of the old wives ways to use natural items from the ‘ old country ‘ – its just a matter of time before the scientific world gives 500+ years of use the golden seal.

  • Helen

    I have used 1/2 cup of honey with the juice of 2 lemons, warmed on the stove until you can stir the lemon into the honey cool and used for bad colds and pnemonia, I stops the bronicial cough almost instantly and will not hurt you, not for children under 1 yr.

  • raman

    i hav heard dat olive oil promotes hair growth .is dat true?

  • beth

    http://www.iheartoliveoil.com/

    I just buy my products from this site. Everything has EVOO in it.

  • Kevin

    I make soap from cheap store brand olive oil. It is about half the price of regular soap, plus you can super fat it (add extra oil that won’t be turned into soap) and use it in the winter to keep from getting dry skin. I used to have to use lotion all of the time. I don’t any more. Soap making is pretty easy once you know how. Look it up on google and youtube.

  • yolisyoni

    Actually, The only I didn’t know about olive oil is that you can use it as Stainless steel polish. my family has been using all the other uses for years.

  • Simple Health Exerci

    Hi oil lovers far n’wide … yes some of these oldie worldie remedies have been used so successfully over the years but not handed down because of the culture of the quick pill fix … it would be such a cool topic to research and share more info like this

    All my best to you and your natural remedies
    Phillip skinner

  • erin

    I read a lot of “quick facts” that are often repeated but these I had not heard before. Thanks for the insight! The ear ache fact is especially helpful.

    Erin http://www.piecesofe.blogspot.com

  • cal orey

    Surprise? I’m not surprised. These surprise olive oil remedies are in my book, The Healing Powers of Olive Oil–and dozens more confirm that these ancient home cures can and do work, past and present.
    http://www.calorey.com

  • cal orey

    Calm your fears a littl about contracting Swine Flu. Take a look at http://www.calorey.blogspot.com — I share a bit of history, natural remedies and the plague of the Middle Ages.

  • Danny@thescri.be

    How are these ‘new’ uses?

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