Health remedies from around the world

Eel Soda

Forget Red Bull. In Japan, Unagi-Nobori soda isn't your ordinary energy drink --this tonic is infused with eel extract. Eating eel is believed to deliver extra energy during the dog days of summer. Think it sounds fishy? Daphne Miller, author of 'The Jungle Effect' says that "eel is a great source of vitamin A, D and E as well as omega-3 fats. Unfortunately, much like the energy drinks that are marketed here in the U.S., any nutritious upside to the drink is far outweighed by all the sugar, caffeine, food coloring and other additives," she says. The bottom line? If you want to get health benefits from eel, eat the sea animal instead of the soda.

Potato Halves for Headaches

A health tip from South of the Border? Rubbing potato halves on foreheads to relieve headaches. Is there any truth to this treatment? "A potato has lipoic acid, an antioxidant that may help," says Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D., and medical director of the Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers. "Most likely rubbing anything wet, cool and firm over the muscles where the headache is coming from, while believing it will help, can work."

Cigar Smoke for Back Pain

Does rubbing cigar smoke on a sufferer's back help relief pain? Some practitioners in Central America believe it does, but our expert, Moore, disagrees that smoke can get to the real cause of this problem. "No way," he says. "Back pain is ninety percent muscle spasm and ten percent based on spinal root pain."

Fish for Exfoliation

In Malaysia, spa-goers have been undergoing a unique exfoliation process incorporating fish. People immerse themselves in tanks and allow a unique breed of fish to nibble away at their dead skin. Although it sounds pretty crazy, this treatment might not be so out-there after all. "This could be effective since there are a lot of fish that clean and preen other mammals," says Moore.

Vegemite for Healthy Births

You've probably heard of the Australian favorite, vegemite: a dark brown food paste made from yeast extract used primarily as a spread on bread and crackers. What you may not know is that eating is considered by some to prevent birth defects. "It is a rich source of B vitamins and chromium but one serving has only twenty-five percent of the recommended daily amount of folate," says Miller. Studies show that folate is critical in ensuring healthy brain formation in babies. "It is fine for women who are pregnant or who are planning a pregnancy to take brewer's yeast plus a daily prenatal vitamin, but I would not recommend that they take this instead of a prenatal vitamin," Miller says.

Frog Skin for Diabetes

Researchers from the University of Ulster and United Arab Emirates University have been experimenting with skin secretions from a South American shrinking frog, which they believe could be used to treat type 2 diabetes. Apparently a compound from the frog which grows when they're tadpoles stimulates insulin release.

Leech Therapy for Tissue Damage

The ancient ritual of placing leeches on an affected part of the body practiced in Egypt and medieval Europe is being embraced once again by modern medicine. When leeches bite a person, their saliva helps promote blood flow to damaged tissue, while preventing clotting. Leech therapy has helped surgeons in the reattachment of limbs and breast reconstruction. As long as leeches are clean and raised in a sterile environment, the treatment is considered safe, says Ann Engelland, pediatrician and adolescent medicine specialist.