Honey and lemon for a cough
A familiar warm drink, with limits worth knowing.
Evidence: Limited evidenceHealth & comfort
Traditions worth remembering. Advice worth checking.
A household handbook of remedies passed down in kitchens and gardens — each one set beside the guidance we could actually find, with the cautions stated plainly.
55 entries across eight categories.
Browse by category
Health & comfort
Kitchen-table comforts for coughs, throats and everyday complaints.
11 entries
Skin, hair & beauty
Old dressing-table habits, checked against dermatology guidance.
5 entries
Cleaning & home
Vinegar, bicarbonate of soda and the limits of a cupboard cleaner.
8 entries
Laundry & stains
What to reach for first when something lands on good fabric.
7 entries
Kitchen & food
Kitchen lore, and where freshness tricks stop short of food safety.
7 entries
Garden & plants
Compost heaps, seedlings and garden beliefs put to the test.
9 entries
Pests & insects
Traps and deterrents, alongside the tidying that does the real work.
4 entries
Pets & animals
Traditions about animals, weighed against veterinary welfare advice.
4 entries
From the collection
Salt-water gargling for a sore throat
A simple gargle mentioned in NHS self-care advice.
Evidence: Included in clinical self-care guidanceHealth & comfort
Toothpaste on spots
A familiar shortcut that can irritate skin.
Evidence: Evidence against this useAvoid this useSkin, hair & beauty
Petroleum jelly for chapped lips
A simple barrier for dry, cracked lips.
Evidence: Included in dermatology guidanceSkin, hair & beauty