<p>Some well-known home remedies for common childhood ailments are ineffective and potentially harmful, like putting butter on a burn. But others may have some scientific justification.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Among the latter is the so-called mother’s kiss, a remedy for removing foreign objects from a child’s nose, a rather frequent occurrence among children ages 2 to 5. The technique calls for a parent to press shut the child’s unaffected nostril with her finger, then place her mouth over the child’s and deliver a short but sharp puff of air to expel the object from the obstructed nostril.<br /><br />Elegant it is not. But the goal is to avoid a trip to the hospital and a potentially painful removal. The technique was first described 50 years ago by a New Jersey doctor, and this month, in a report published in The Canadian Medical Association Journal, it gained some credence.<br /><br />Reviewing the medical literature, the researchers pooled results from eight previous studies that had evaluated the efficacy and safety of the technique. They found that it was about 60 per cent effective, and unlikely in most instances to cause further injury or adverse events.<br /><br />Like many other folk remedies subjected to scientific scrutiny, the mother’s kiss seems to be a relatively cheap, safe and effective cure for a common problem, said Dr Lawrence Rosen, author of the new book “Treatment Alternatives for Children.”<br /><br />Rosen said parents could give the technique two attempts. If both fail, or if it is unclear what the object is and it cannot be seen, they should seek medical help, he said.<br /><br /><br />The verdict<br /><br />According to research, the “mother’s kiss” remedy appears safe and largely effective. <br /></p>
<p>Some well-known home remedies for common childhood ailments are ineffective and potentially harmful, like putting butter on a burn. But others may have some scientific justification.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Among the latter is the so-called mother’s kiss, a remedy for removing foreign objects from a child’s nose, a rather frequent occurrence among children ages 2 to 5. The technique calls for a parent to press shut the child’s unaffected nostril with her finger, then place her mouth over the child’s and deliver a short but sharp puff of air to expel the object from the obstructed nostril.<br /><br />Elegant it is not. But the goal is to avoid a trip to the hospital and a potentially painful removal. The technique was first described 50 years ago by a New Jersey doctor, and this month, in a report published in The Canadian Medical Association Journal, it gained some credence.<br /><br />Reviewing the medical literature, the researchers pooled results from eight previous studies that had evaluated the efficacy and safety of the technique. They found that it was about 60 per cent effective, and unlikely in most instances to cause further injury or adverse events.<br /><br />Like many other folk remedies subjected to scientific scrutiny, the mother’s kiss seems to be a relatively cheap, safe and effective cure for a common problem, said Dr Lawrence Rosen, author of the new book “Treatment Alternatives for Children.”<br /><br />Rosen said parents could give the technique two attempts. If both fail, or if it is unclear what the object is and it cannot be seen, they should seek medical help, he said.<br /><br /><br />The verdict<br /><br />According to research, the “mother’s kiss” remedy appears safe and largely effective. <br /></p>
