Medical education is intense, expensive and focused on the idea of “evidence-based medicine” (EBM). The idea of home remedies is usually framed as outmoded, unscientific and potentially harmful.

If you ask physicians what treatments they recommend for hiccups, leg cramps or mild household burns, however, they have no Food and Drug Administration-approved pharmaceuticals to offer. These are common problems that affect almost everyone from time to time.

Modern medicine has virtually nothing to offer people who are in pain from muscle cramps. Doctors once prescribed quinine, but the FDA has prohibited that use of the drug.

The only medication the FDA has approved for persistent hiccups is the antipsychotic medicine chlorpromazine. It carries a black box warning in its prescribing information. Short-term side effects include sedation, dizziness, fainting, rapid heartbeat and changes in EKG.

Minor household burns rarely get medical care, but if you burn yourself in the kitchen, it hurts. What doctors recommend is first aid: Hold the burn under cold running water.

When medicine has nothing to offer, people want to help themselves. If there is a home remedy that might address their problem, they’ll try it. They are happy to share the results of their experiment.

Phil wrote about his experience with painful nighttime leg cramps: “Years ago, my uncle got extreme leg cramps in the night. He went to the fridge and ate two spoonfuls of mustard. By the time he got to bed, the cramps were gone. He said he’s been doing that for years.

“I, too, get extremely painful leg cramps. Not long after hearing this, I had an attack, made my way to the fridge, took a dose and literally within 1 minute, I could feel them starting to abate. They were totally gone by the time I was in bed. It’s worked every time without fail, many times a year.”

Teri has a different solution for nocturnal cramps: “I get occasional leg and foot cramps, especially in my left leg. I got a bar of soap, put it in a little cotton bag and placed it in bed by my feet.

“I have always taken mustard for cramping and while it works great, sometimes it can take several minutes to stop severe cramping completely. With the soap, the cramp just doesn’t start up. I have not had any cramping since I started doing this.”

There are dozens of hiccup remedies. Most people have a favorite that they insist is the best. Joan offers this remedy: “Eating 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar makes my hiccups go away immediately. I always keep a packet in my car for emergencies. Works every time.” This home remedy was actually tested by three doctors and published in the New England Journal of Medicine (Dec. 23, 1971).

Vic adds this time-honored approach: “Years ago, while eating in a restaurant, I started hiccupping badly. I asked a nearby bartender if he had any suggestions. He gave me a slice of lime with a few drops of Angostura Bitters and told me to suck on the lime. When I did so, the hiccups stopped immediately.”

Many people have found that soy sauce can ease the pain of a kitchen burn after cold water. Steven says: “This has been a miracle for me. It takes away the burn and prevents a blister. I told my dermatologist, and she laughed.”

Modern medicine has made impressive advances. But sometimes simple, accessible treatments with minimal side effects are what people need for common problems.