Reader’s Digest Canada – September 2019

(overly hot water or a long soak could

backfire by drying out your skin).

MILK OF MAGNESIA

FOR CANKER SORES

Advertised during the 1930s as a means

of minimizing, “to an amazing extent,”

the after-effects of steady smoking,

which supposedly included “head dull-

ness” and “heaviness across the eyes,”

this magnesium hydroxide–filled syrup

(or tablet) is still available over-the-

counter and works as an antacid or

laxative. You can also dab it on a canker

sore a few times a day, which might

ease pain and promote healing. Canker

sores and their causes can be rather

mysterious to medical scientists, but

this treatment may work by coating the

blemish and protecting it against irri-

tation. Even if you do nothing except

bear it, the sore will usually clear up

within two weeks.

PRUNES FOR

CONSTIPATION

A randomized controlled trial con-

cluded that prunes were even more

effective than psyllium (the type of

fibre sold in Metamucil) for relieving

mild to moderate constipation. This

2011 study was conducted at the Uni-

versity of Iowa Carver College of Med-

icine but was partly sponsored by the

California Prune Board and must be

considered with that in mind.

reader’s digest

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