Nine Medical Myths Busted

Bring Your Own Bandages:  Medicines and Supplies to Have on Hand Before Disaster Strikes is now available on Amazon.  Read the reviews and see for yourself.

Disclaimer.  I am not a licensed health practitioner.  This is just another post on knowledge and understanding you might wish to acquire in advance of a disaster in case no higher care is available.  As long as our society is functioning, you should leave anything more substantial than applying a Band-Aid to the professionals.  No medication, including those available over the counter, should be taken without consulting a physician.  Information shared here is for educational and entertainment purposes only.  It is not medical advice nor a substitute for licensed medical care. 

Myths abound when it comes to medicine.  It's important to know the facts, because if medication is withheld or tossed out due to a misconception, lives could be at stake.

People allergic to seafood are also allergic to iodine.  This one is important because, in a nuclear event, individuals may need to take potassium iodide tablets or paint povidone-iodine on their skin.  Iodine is also used to clean wounds and treat water.  But because some physicians have believed and perpetuated the iodine and seafood allergy myth, naturally some individuals allergic to seafood are concerned about using iodine.  But the myth is just a myth.  Iodine is perfectly safe for people with a seafood allergy to use.  If this myth is a concern for you, addresses for three articles that discuss this issue are included in the list below.[1, 2, 3] 

Expired tetracycline becomes toxic.  Myths get spread among medical professionals just like everyone else.  The myth of expired tetracycline becoming toxic is traced to an anecdotal report of one person developing renal failure, which was attributed to the use of outdated tetracycline.  The condition is called Fanconi's syndrome and can occur due to numerous causes.  That anecdotal case in 1963 spawned this myth.  Since that time tetracycline and all tetracycline-related antibiotics have been reformulated.  According to The Medical Letter, a professional newsletter,

"The only report of human toxicity that may have been caused by chemical or physical degradation of a pharmaceutical product is renal tubular damage that was associated with the use of degraded tetracycline... Current tetracycline preparations have been reformulated with different fillers to minimize degradation and are unlikely to have this effect" (The Medical Letter, Vol. 44, Issue 1142, 28 October 2002).[4, 5]

We'll DIY penicillin when our supply runs out.  Let's be honest here.  Yes, Alexander Fleming isolated and manufactured penicillin in 1928.  Perhaps that primitive technology isn't beyond the ability of trained microbiologists or chemists today.  But a sterile lab is essential.  And beyond that, what Alexander Fleming isolated was low-grade stuff.  It wasn't particularly strong, and the urine of the patients it was used on had to be collected and filtered and treated so that the penicillin could be reused.  And it takes a long time to make it.  And the DIY stuff has a super short shelf life.  You have to start it before the patient needs it and the patient could be dead before you're done.  Those are a lot of obstacles to overcome.

Hand sanitizer lasts forever.  No, it doesn't.  The alcohol evaporates.  And the alcohol is what kills bacteria and viruses.  When you reach the expiry date on hand sanitizer, it's time to toss the hand sanitizer or repurpose it. 

Hand sanitizer is as good as washing with soap and water.  This is most definitely not true.  Hand sanitizing should never be substituted for good washing with soap and water.  If washing is not an option, hand sanitizer should be applied generously to dirt- and debris-free hands and rubbed in vigorously for at least two minutes.  Four minutes would be better.  But keep in mind that some microbes are totally impervious to hand sanitizer.

Wounds must be cleaned out with a disinfectant.  All wounds should be irrigated copiously, and more especially so when antibiotics are in short supply and nutrition and immune responses may not be ideal.  However, the disinfectants that kill bacteria and viruses also kill living tissue, which then becomes dead tissue that may give rise to infection.  Disinfectants should only be used to clean around a wound, never in.  The exception is the use of benzalkonium chloride in treating any bite from an animal that could possibly have rabies.  All puncture wounds and bites should be irrigated with water (or BZK, if warranted) for 10 minutes with gentle pressure.

Using a tourniquet means amputation.  No, tourniquets are used all the time in operating rooms today.  However, even if it did mean amputation, it's better to lose a limb than a life.  Tourniquets are only used when 30 minutes of constant direct pressure (no peeking every five minutes to check) has failed to stop bleeding.

A lot of people allergic to penicillin will also be allergic to cephalosporins (i.e., Keflex).  The myth is that 10% of people allergic to penicillin will also have cross-reactivity to cephalosporins like Keflex.  The reality is that the number is less than 1%.[6]

Rubbing alcohol is an effective fever reducer.  Well, actually, that is true.  Applying rubbing alcohol to the skin will help reduce a fever.  It may also kill the patient, especially if the patient is young.   One of the basic tenets of medicine is to first, "Do no harm." And using rubbing alcohol to reduce a fever can most definitely be harmful. Remember, alcohol can poison the body by drinking, by absorption through the skin, or by inhaling the vapors. When alcohol is rubbed on the body to reduce a fever, that alcohol is absorbed into the body at a toxic level. The vapors are also inhaled by the patient. Using rubbing alcohol to lower a temperature was common practice through much of the last century. Unfortunately, the practice persists with some physicians, even with increasing numbers of cases of alcohol poisoning causing coma and death, especially in infants and small children.[7]

I'm sure there are many more medical myths out there.  Feel free to post them in the comments below.  As always, this information is just for your entertainment.  Use it only as a springboard for doing your own research. 

Links to related posts: 
Hand Sanitizer
Tetracycline at TEOTWAWKI
Iodine 
Penicillin
DIY Penicillin--Do You Really Want to Go There?
Allergic to Penicillin?  What Are the Options?
Skin Preps and Washes--When to Use Rubbing Alcohol, Betadine, Hibiclens, Etc. and Why
Tourniquets
Rubbing Alcohol--What You Want and How to Use It 

For further reading:
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16541971 
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18261505 
[3] https://acaai.org/resources/connect/ask-allergist/shellfish-allergy-related-iodine
[4] Cynthia Koelker, Armageddon Medicine, 467.
[5] Survival and Austere Medicine, 3rd Edition, 211.
[6] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21742459/
[7] https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/article-abstract/513331

Soda and Saltine Crackers

Every once in a while when chatting with likeminded preparedness type people, someone mentions something about wanting to learn to make crackers.  They've either never tried, or have tried and failed, and then never tried again.
No, it's not time to breathe a sigh of relief because you finally have a food storage recipe for making crackers.  Yes, these are crackers, but they are not Krispy or Premium.  Sadly, they aren't even close.

And I really tried.  Honestly.

I tried the recipes with all-purpose flour and with soft white wheat, which is supposed to work better for making crackers and cookies.  No matter what recipe I tried, the texture just isn't there.  The dough is difficult to roll as thin as it needs to be for really crispy crackers.  A pasta machine would make this process a whole lot faster and easier and may be worth considering if you really want crackers.  However, don't be deceived.  These are not going to taste like store-bought.  They will not have the right texture.

The flavor of the soda crackers is just fine.  However, they go immediately soggy in soup.  They'll work to be eaten on the side. 

Soda Crackers
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup + 1 tablespoon sour milk (add 1/2 teaspoon vinegar or lemon juice to milk and let sit 5 minutes)

Combine dry ingredients in a medium mixing bowl.  Cut in butter and then add sour milk.  Knead the dough one or two minutes.  Divide dough into two pieces.  Roll each piece out thin on a cookie sheet, going to the very edges of the pan.  Cut into squares and prick with a fork.  Bake at 400 degrees about 9 minutes, or until the edges are a golden brown.


Saltine Crackers
2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter
2/3 cup milk
1 egg white, beaten


Combine dry ingredients in a medium mixing bowl.  Cut in butter and then add milk.  Knead the dough one or two minutes.  Divide dough into two pieces.  Roll each piece out thin on a cookie sheet, going to the very edges of the pan.  Cut into squares and prick with a fork.  Brush the tops with the egg white and sprinkle liberally with salt.  Bake at 350 degrees about 18 minutes, or until the edges are a golden brown.

Review:  OK, the family split 50-50 on these two different recipes.  With more butter and less milk, the soda crackers roll out easier.  The texture is a bit reminiscent of pie crust.  The women liked this one better.  The saltine crackers are harder.  The men liked them better.

So now you have these two options for something akin to saltines.  They honestly don't taste bad.  I finished up the batch I liked better and my son happily took the other batch up to his tiny house to snack on.  Are they going to be worth my time and effort post-collapse?  I don't think so.  Each batch took about two hours, start to finish, not including clean-up.  That's a lot of time when time may be quite precious and when other forms of bread will taste better and take less time.  But who knows?  Maybe I would want to make them for a grandchild.  But for my own adult children?  Sorry, guys, not happenin'.

Learning to Like Lentils

Over the past year, I’ve tried a few surprisingly tasty lentil recipes.  Professor’s Pasta Lentilese was so good that I bought 10 pounds of lentils to start working them into our diet.  Unfortunately, the Lentil Veggie Soup that I tried next wasn’t all that remarkable.  It left a sad taste in my mouth. 

And then Blueberry Girl either found this recipe or made it up; I’m not sure which.  She creates all kinds of fabulous food. 

Lentil and Rice Mexican Breakfast

½ cup cooked rice

½ cup cooked lentils

½ cup Ro-tel

1/3 cup shredded Colby-Jack cheese

1-2 tablespoons Greek yogurt

½ teaspoon garlic powder

¼ teaspoon cumin

Pinch cayenne

Pinch chili powder

Pinch black pepper

Drain Ro-tel and place it in a small saucepan.  Over low heat, cook off the remaining liquid.  Then increase heat to medium and add the lentil-rice mix and cheese.  While this warms, in a small bowl combine the yogurt and spices.  When the cheese is melted and the rice and lentils warmed, spoon the dressing over the top and serve. 

Family reviews:  Really easy to make and tastes fabulous. 

 

Chocolate Lentil Muffins

3/8 cup lentils

1 cup water

¾ cup sugar

½ cup oil

2 large eggs

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup whole wheat flour

2 tablespoons cocoa powder

¾ teaspoon baking soda

¼ teaspoon salt

Chocolate chips or chopped nuts, optional

Preheat oven to 350°F.  Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners or grease with cooking oil spray.

In a small saucepan, bring the lentils and water to a boil.  Cover, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.  Drain, reserving the liquid.  Add 2 tablespoons of the reserved liquid and the lentils to a food processor and puree.  Set aside.

In a small bowl, beat the sugar, oil, and eggs.  Stir in the vanilla and add to the lentils.  Mix for 1 minute.  Add the flour, baking soda, and salt, and beat for 2 minutes on high.  Pour into prepared muffin tin.  Sprinkle with chocolate chips or nuts, if desired.  Bake 15-20 minutes, or until muffins test done.  Makes 12 muffins.

Family reviews:  True confessions time.  This recipe came from the American Pulse Association.  The only change I made was to sprinkle chocolate chips or nuts on top.  I served them to Aaron and the missionaries who came to dinner the other night.  The missionaries said they tasted fine.  As soon as they were gone Aaron did everything short of claiming to have been poisoned.  It was a little ridiculous.  However, I did have to concede that they weren’t very sweet.  Aaron could have been deceived by the fact that they were called cupcakes.  Perhaps muffins would be slightly more truthful.  Becky and I both thought they tasted just fine, although most people would prefer a little more sugar.  They would have been fabulous with frosting or ice cream.  No one would guess they are made with lentils and whole wheat.  I absolutely loved that they (well, I only had one) didn’t spike my blood sugars. 

 

Links to related posts:

Pasta Lentilese 

Lentil Veggie Soup 

May Quickies—Medicine

Sunburn

Home remedies for sunburn abound.  There are probably 40 herbs to choose from right here on the blog.  (Oops, just checked.  Only 14.  But I suspect there might be a few more in Armageddon Pharmacy.)  OK, so there aren’t as many as I thought there were.  That makes this little tidbit all the more intriguing, especially now that we’ll be spending more time in the summer sun for the next few months. 

Researchers demonstrated that a single high dose of Vitamin D3 (50,000-200,000 IU) administered 1 hour after a sunburn reduces redness and skin inflammation in human test subjects.[1]  It was also shown that the effects were dose-dependent, with those persons receiving the higher doses also enjoying greater benefits.[2]  Scientists caution, however, that people shouldn’t start taking massive doses of vitamin D3 just yet.  There is still much to learn about how vitamin D3 affects the body. 

Anecdotal reports indicate that while castor oil applied to sunburned skin excels at removing the redness, aloe vera is better at alleviating the pain.  Distilled white vinegar dabbed on the skin is also effective.  At night, just before going to bed, an Epsom salt bath with peppermint tea or essential oil is quite soothing. 

Tickborne Diseases of the United States

As stated on the website, Tickborne Diseases of the United States is a reference manual for healthcare providers.  The 52 pages provide information on the recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of tickborne diseases that occur in the US (and also a few that occur abroad).  Full-color photos help identify the various rashes, lesions, and ticks, and incident maps shed light on where the diseases and ticks occur.  It is a terrific resource for those living in tick country.  Does everybody need it?  I’m not convinced.  You know that I’m a fairly cautious person who prefers to be prepared for everything.  The printer is less than 10 feet away from me, and I have plenty of ink and paper.  And I just can’t persuade myself to print a copy.  Yes, we do get a few ticks here in Nevada, but they don’t appear to be the ones carrying disease.  Now if I were still back in Missouri, I’d probably print a copy for everyone in the family, especially one son who is a tick magnet.  (Rhymes with chick magnet, but not nearly as exciting, so I’m told.)

Tickborne Diseases of the United States  https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/hcp/data-research/tickborne-disease-reference-guide/index.html

Ketogenic Diet and Fluconazole

This last quickie for today concerns the effect a ketogenic diet combined with fluconazole has on fungal infections.  Mice were infected with Candida albicans and provided a ketogenic diet (75% of calories from fat, 20% from protein, less than 5% from carbohydrates), and then treated with fluconazole to eliminate the infection.  Results showed that the infection resolved much more quickly in those mice on the ketogenic diet.  Of course, research in this area is still preliminary and the work was conducted on mice.  It isn’t known whether the ketogenic diet would have an effect with chronic fungal infections.[3]

Links to related posts:

The Medicinal Uses of Epsom Salts

Ketogenic Dieters after the Collapse 

Fluconazole for Yeast Infections 

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[1] Scott JF, et al., Vitamin D as a Therapeutic Option for Sunburn: Clinical and Biologic Implications. DNA Cell Biol. 2017 Nov;36(11), https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5684656/ (accessed 19 May 2026).

[2] Case Western Reserve University, Science Daily, 6 July 2017, https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/07/170706125020.htm (accessed 19 May 2026).

[3] Palmucci JR, et al., A ketogenic diet enhances fluconazole efficacy in murine models of systemic fungal infection. mBio. 2024 May 8;15(5), https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11077957/ (accessed 20 May 2026).

Osteoporosis

Here’s yet another common condition barely mentioned in off-grid medicine texts, and yet it affects 20% of women over the age of 50 and 4% of men.[1]  This silent condition develops when new bone tissue production doesn’t keep up with the loss of old bone tissue.[2]  As a result, bones become more brittle and fragile, increasing our risk for disabling fractures.

Conventional treatment for osteoporosis management and prevention includes medication, exercise, and a healthy diet.[3]

Symptoms

In the early stages, osteoporosis is usually unnoticed.  There is no fever, pain, or discomfort to warrant seeking medical care.[4]  However, loss of height and stooped posture suggest a loss in bone density.[5] [6]  Usually, however, symptoms don’t come to light until a bone is easily fractured or there is back pain that is later determined to be caused by a compression fracture in the spine.[7] [8]

Advanced osteoporosis increases the risk of compression fractures, which can occur in the course of everyday life, even with sitting or rolling over in bed.[9] [10]  Osteoporosis-related fractures occur most often in the wrist, hip, and spine.[11] [12] 

Risk factors

·       Post-menopausal woman[13] [14] [15] 

·       Being white or Asian[16]

·       Family history of osteoporosis or hip fractures[17] [18] 

·       Age, over 50 years[19]

·       Small body frame[20] [21] 

·       Vitamin D deficiency[22] [23] 

·       Hormone levels, too little estrogen or testosterone[24]

·       Thyroid hormone, too much (natural or synthetic) contributes to bone loss[25] [26] 

·       Too much hormone from the parathyroid or adrenal glands also contributes to bone loss[27]

Diet

·       Low calcium intake, even in younger years, plays a significant role[28]

·       Eating disorders[29]

·       Gastrointestinal surgery, including those aimed at weight loss or treating medical conditions[30] [31] 

Medications

Medications implicated in osteoporosis include:

·       Anti-seizure[32]

·       Diuretics[33] 

·       Gastric reflux[34] [35] 

·      Steroids, long-term use of corticosteroids like prednisone and cortisone, whether taken by mouth or injection, disturbs the bone rebuilding process[36] [37] 

·       Transplant rejection[38]

Medical conditions

·       Ankylosing spondylitis[39] 

·       Arthritis[40]

·       Cancer[41]

·       Celiac[42] [43] 

·       Diabetes[44] 

·       Inflammatory bowel disease[45] [46] 

·       Kidney or liver disease[47]

·       Multiple myeloma[48] [49] 

·       Rheumatoid arthritis[50] 

Lifestyle choices

·       Alcohol use, more than two drinks per day[51] [52] 

·       Sedentary life[53] [54] 

·       Tobacco use[55] [56] 

Prevention

·       Good nutrition[57]

·      Calcium, individuals aged 18-50 need 1000 mg per day.  Women need 1200 per day when they turn 50, men when they turn 70.[58]

·       Vitamin D, 600 IU per day, increases to 800 IU per day at the age of 70.  Up to 4000 IU per day is safe, those living at northern latitudes and/or with limited sun exposure need more than the minimum.[59]

·       Regular exercise, including a mix of strength training, balance exercises, and weight-bearing[60] [61] 

·       Healthy lifestyle[62]

Herbal and alternative therapies

·       Chrysanthemum^[63]

·       Magnesium oil[64]

·       Mormon tea[65]

·       Onion[66]

·       Russian olive[67]

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[1] Zia Sherrell, How common is osteoporosis, Medical News Today, 6 January 2023, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-common-is-osteoporosis#summary (accessed 10 February 2026).

[2] Osteoporosis, Cleveland Clinic, 26 November 2025, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4443-osteoporosis (accessed 10 February 2026).

[3] Osteoporosis, Mayo Clinic, 17 December 2025, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/osteoporosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351968 (accessed 10 February 2026).

[4] Osteoporosis, Cleveland Clinic.

[5] Osteoporosis, Mayo Clinic.

[6] Osteoporosis, Cleveland Clinic.

[7] Osteoporosis, Mayo Clinic.

[8] Osteoporosis, Cleveland Clinic.

[9] Cynthia Koelker, Armageddon Medicine, 2012, 272, 315, 383.

[10] Joseph Alton, et al., Survival Medicine Handbook, 2021, 335.

[11] Osteoporosis, Mayo Clinic.

[12] Osteoporosis, Cleveland Clinic.

[13] Koelker, 412.

[14] Osteoporosis, Mayo Clinic.

[15] Osteoporosis, Cleveland Clinic.

[16] Osteoporosis, Mayo Clinic.

[17] Osteoporosis, Mayo Clinic.

[18] Osteoporosis, Cleveland Clinic.

[19] Osteoporosis, Mayo Clinic.

[20] Osteoporosis, Mayo Clinic.

[21] Osteoporosis, Cleveland Clinic.

[22] Koelker, 50.

[23] Osteoporosis, Cleveland Clinic.

[24] Osteoporosis, Mayo Clinic.

[25] Osteoporosis, Mayo Clinic.

[26] Osteoporosis, Cleveland Clinic.

[27] Osteoporosis, Mayo Clinic.

[28] Osteoporosis, Mayo Clinic.

[29] Osteoporosis, Mayo Clinic.

[30] Osteoporosis, Mayo Clinic.

[31] Osteoporosis, Cleveland Clinic.

[32] Osteoporosis, Mayo Clinic.

[33] Osteoporosis, Cleveland Clinic.

[34] Osteoporosis, Mayo Clinic.

[35] Osteoporosis, Cleveland.

[36] Osteoporosis, Mayo Clinic.

[37] Osteoporosis, Cleveland Clinic.

[38] Osteoporosis, Mayo Clinic.

[39] Osteoporosis, Cleveland Clinic.

[40] Osteoporosis, Mayo Clinic.

[41] Osteoporosis, Mayo Clinic.

[42] Osteoporosis, Mayo Clinic.

[43] Osteoporosis, Cleveland Clinic.

[44] Osteoporosis, Cleveland Clinic.

[45] Osteoporosis, Mayo Clinic.

[46] Osteoporosis, Cleveland.

[47] Osteoporosis, Mayo Clinic.

[48] Osteoporosis, Mayo Clinic.

[49] Osteoporosis, Cleveland Clinic.

[50] Osteoporosis, Cleveland Clinic.

[51] Osteoporosis, Mayo Clinic.

[52] Osteoporosis, Cleveland Clinic.

[53] Osteoporosis, Mayo Clinic.

[54] Osteoporosis, Cleveland Clinic.

[55] Osteoporosis, Mayo Clinic.

[56] Osteoporosis, Cleveland Clinic.

[57] Osteoporosis, Mayo Clinic.

[58] Osteoporosis, Mayo Clinic.

[59] Osteoporosis, Mayo Clinic.

[60] Osteoporosis, Mayo Clinic.

[61] Osteoporosis, Cleveland Clinic.

[62] Osteoporosis, Mayo Clinic.

[63] Jong Min Baek, et al., Dual Effect of Chrysanthemum indicum Extract to Stimulate Osteoblast Differentiation and Inhibit Osteoclast Formation and Resorption In Vitro, Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2014, https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2014/176049/ (accessed 10 February 2026).

[64] Magnesium, National Institutes of Health, https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/ (accessed 10 February 2026).

[65] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 167.

[66] YY Law, et al., Consumption of onion juice modulates oxidative stress and attenuates the risk of bone disorders in middle-aged and post-menopausal healthy subjects, Food and Function, February 2016, Vol 7 No 2, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26686359/ (accessed 10 February 2026).

[67] M Farzaei, et al., A comprehensive review on phytochemical and pharmacological aspects of Eleagnus angustifolia L., Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, November 2015, Vol 67 No 11, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jphp.12442 (accessed 10 February 2026).