Cough medicines, antibacterial wipes, whitening toothpaste... These daily necessities that appear in each of our homes are not well-known, and some are even harmful to health. The Daily Mail collects the medicines and daily necessities that are common in our lives and sees which ones are for you.
The British spend £2.5 billion a year on over-the-counter medicines and daily necessities in pharmacies and supermarkets, and this number is growing at a rate of 10% a year. However, there is more evidence that many medicines and daily chemicals are completely useless – some are even harmful to health.
Anthony Cox, a lecturer in clinical pharmacy at the University of Birmingham, said that pharmacists on the commercial street “spoof†consumers by selling these goods to make a profit. “Community pharmacists should stop selling over-the-counter drugs that have little utility,†he said in the Pharmaceutical Journal in August.
Even some of the most popular items lack scientific evidence to prove their utility. Below, we list some items that seem to be reliable, but they don't really work much.
cough medicine
Average annual sales: £96 million
What happens when people cough? Of course they will go out and buy some cough medicine. However, there is little scientific evidence that they will help you recover. Dr. Tim Ballard, vice chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners, said: "The medical evidence to prove the effectiveness of cough medicines is very weak and there is no evidence that they can shorten the duration of coughing."
Viral infection is the cause of most coughs. If your cough is caused by a viral infection, there is no way for you to recover quickly. You can only do this by waiting for the immune system to clear those viruses.
According to some articles, the Corcoran Collaborative Organization (a global consortium of biomedical experts) hosted 17 studies covering 2,876 adults and 8 studies covering 616 children in 2008. No strong evidence was found. Dextromethorphan or diphenhydramine (the main ingredient of over-the-counter cough medicine) can relieve cough.
Anthony Cox also warned that some expensive cough medicines may be harmful to health: "The combination of these drugs may be illogical - such as tinctures and antitussives, the former produces mucus, the latter inhibits the discharge of mucus. Impulsive. It may cause dizziness and nausea."
Descaling ear drops EAR-WAX REMOVER
Average annual sales: 7.8 million pounds
A bottle of pharmacist's recommended ear drops may contain ingredients that make you sound effective, such as glycerin, hydrogen peroxide, which helps soften and remove earwax. However, according to the Cochrane Collar ENT group, there is no medical clinical evidence to show that it is better than dropping water into the ear.
In 2009, Martin Burton, an otolaryngologist at Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, showed that saline and water are as effective as these over-the-counter drugs, and that the former is cheaper and more accessible.
Insect bite treatment cream INSECT-BITE CREAMS
Average annual sales: £1.4 million
There are many over-the-counter ointments and medicines used to relieve itching and swelling after insect bites, but there is no evidence that they really work. According to the 2012 article of the Bulletin of Drugs and Treatment, ointments containing analgesics or anesthetics, as well as antihistamines and preservatives, are only slightly effective, and suggesting that these chemically synthesized ointments may make the skin more sensitive.
Other products of the same function are steroid tablets, ointments such as hydrocortisone. But in addition to reactive skin diseases such as eczema, there is no scientific evidence to show their utility.
A can of common disinfectant cream can alleviate insect bite reactions in children and prevent infection.
Antibacterial soap and paper towel
Average annual sales: 239 million pounds
Antibacterial soaps can protect ourselves and our families from bacteria-causing diseases that seem like common sense, but science doesn't think so.
More than 40 years ago, the US Food and Drug Administration's research, as well as numerous independent studies, showed no evidence that triclosan (antibacterial ingredients in soaps, wipes, and hand sanitizers) is more healthful than older soaps. One of the most basic problems is that these soaps and wipes target bacteria rather than viruses, but the virus is the main cause of the disease. Scientifically proven that the most effective antibacterial method is to regularly absorb with ordinary soap and keep the daily food clean.
These antibacterial soaps and wipes can also cause health problems. The 2012 Allergy and Clinical Immunology article pointed out that children who have been exposed to triclosan for a long time have a greater chance of developing allergies, including peanut allergy and hay fever. This may be because these children use antibacterial soap box wipes to reduce contact and adaptation to bacteria. It is important that they develop their constantly improving immune system to adapt to potential sources of infection and allergens as they grow up.
Whitening toothpaste
Average annual sales: 60 million pounds
More than 40% of people use whitening toothpaste – even more than three times more expensive than regular toothpaste. This toothpaste achieves a whitening effect by bleaching and rubbing. However, the Cochrane Collaborative Oral Health Group announced that there is no clinical research support for this toothpaste. Some whitening toothpastes claim to use hydrogen peroxide as a bleaching agent to bleach stains. But Dr. Nigel Carter, CEO of the British Dental Health Organization, said: "Toothpastes sold in the EU contain only 0.1% hydrogen peroxide to ensure safety. At this dose, it is almost impossible to achieve bleaching. You have to brush your teeth at least 30 times to see the effect."
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