# Set horns to swoggled: what did you not expect to work that actually does? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 3, 2014, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/set-horns-to-swoggled-what-did-you-not-expect-to-work-that-actually-does/677793 "2014-01-03T14:12:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/set-horns-to-swoggled-what-did-you-not-expect-to-work-that-actually-does/677793/21 "2014-01-03T22:40:03Z")
> [@Q.N.Jones](#): > > My insurers and I spent over $30,000 on my torticollis, TMJ, migraines, and ear pain issues. Doctors had few answers, and provided little relief. Physical therapy had almost no effect. I had two years of misery. > > I spent less than $500 on acupuncture treatments. Almost all of my TMJ symptoms are gone. My migraines are gone. My ear pain is gone. My neck has better range of motion now than I can ever remember having. Plus, afterwards, I feel really relaxed and loose, like I’ve had a great massage. > > I don’t care if it’s woo. It is cheaper and more effective than “real” medicine. my migraines were the result of other headaches that combined to form a perfect storm of pain. One of the techniques I used was moving an ice cube all over my neck, face and temples. ---
**Author:** ![LibrarySpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@LibrarySpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LibrarySpy)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/set-horns-to-swoggled-what-did-you-not-expect-to-work-that-actually-does/677793/22 "2014-01-03T23:19:50Z")
> [@Satchmo](#): > > try one Ibuprofen and one Tylenol rather than two of either. I did that when I had an earache and refused to go to the doctor. Good times. (turns out it was a massive fungal infection. My bad.) I have had rosacea for 20 years. I have tried antibiotics, prescription creams, non-prescription creams, sunblock, dandruff shampoo, everything. Laser surgery is next. Milk of magnesia is clearing that shit right up. Go figure. ---
**Author:** ![jharvey963](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/54ee81/32.png) [@jharvey963](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jharvey963)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/set-horns-to-swoggled-what-did-you-not-expect-to-work-that-actually-does/677793/23 "2014-01-03T23:21:03Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > So I’m scraping the bottom of the barrel here and tried [Sea Bands](http://www.amazon.com/Sea-Band-Adult-Wristband-Color-1-Pair/dp/B001F731N0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388757635&sr=8-1&keywords=sea+bands). Clearly woo-woo bullshit, but hey, it’s only six and half bucks worth of bullshit. They’re elastic bands with little plastic studs that are supposed to go over some dumbshit fakeass acupressure point on your wrist. All the pregnancy books mention them but they are clearly stupid, right? When I was learning to be a private pilot, a thing called a [Relief Band](http://www.reliefband.com/) was recommended to me. I was sceptical, like you were of the Sea Band, but it seemed to work. The Relief Band, unlike the Sea Band is battery operated. You place it over those “magic spots” on your wrist, and it periodically gives a small electric shock at that point. While this sounded like woo to me, I did some research and found that there were some apparently reputable scientific studies to back it up. Your Sea Band probably operates similarly to the Relief Band. J. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/set-horns-to-swoggled-what-did-you-not-expect-to-work-that-actually-does/677793/24 "2014-01-03T23:42:07Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > So I’ve got this killer morning sickness (ha. “Morning” sickness.), and nothing works on it. I don’t throw up, I just have this godawful full body malaise, you know? It scoffs at ginger Altoids. Peppermint tea? Ha. Saltines? Don’t even. My doctor prescribed Zofran, but I think I’m getting some unfortunate side effects from that so I’m trying to avoid taking it more than necessary. > > So I’m scraping the bottom of the barrel here and tried [Sea Bands](http://www.amazon.com/Sea-Band-Adult-Wristband-Color-1-Pair/dp/B001F731N0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388757635&sr=8-1&keywords=sea+bands). Clearly woo-woo bullshit, but hey, it’s only six and half bucks worth of bullshit. They’re elastic bands with little plastic studs that are supposed to go over some dumbshit fakeass acupressure point on your wrist. All the pregnancy books mention them but they are clearly stupid, right? > > They came yesterday and my husband was all “those aren’t _magnets_, are they? Are there crystals? Are they _tourmaline_?!” So I reminded him this was all his goddamned fault in the first place and put them on. > > I went to bed and took the stupid things off, because you seriously aren’t expected to wear them 24 hours a day, right? They’re kind of itchy and really tight. > > Five minutes later I was _miserable_. I put them back on assuming, of course, that it was just a coincidence. > > Instant relief. (Not complete, but maybe 90% better.) > > Same thing when I took them off to shower this morning. > > If that’s the placebo effect, I will happily spend six and a half bucks on this particular placebo. (The thing is, I haven’t told most people at work, so it’s going to be hard to explain these ugly black wristband things. Also it’s hard to type in them.) I might _marry_ this placebo in one of those weird conservative slippery slope deals - “next thing you know women will be committing bigamy with a six dollar wristband!” If Sea Bands had mouths I’d kiss them on them. > > So what did you think was a total waste of time or money that turned out to really be great? Did you buy something As Seen On TV? Did your mother-in-law give you a “hey, throw this out for me” gift that you really love? On the one hand I’m firmly in the camp of ‘if it works it works’ when people say ‘that’s all in your head’ my response is ‘yeah, so, who cares as long as it works’. But I wanted to add that I’ve had to use Zofran a few times and IME the only way to get it to work was to take it every 6 (or whatever the doc says) hours like clockwork and it took probably 4 or 5 hours before it started working. The trick was to stay on it until I didn’t need it anymore, as soon as I stopped I felt sick again and it took hours for it to start working again. I don’t know what side effects you had (not that I’m asking) I’m just saying if you ever decide to try it again, make sure you’re giving it a fair shot, it really did work for me, it just took lot longer to get into my system then I expected. ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/set-horns-to-swoggled-what-did-you-not-expect-to-work-that-actually-does/677793/25 "2014-01-03T23:46:05Z")
Top Gear did the remote-locking/key fob thing several years ago, which was where I heard of it. Clarkson was able to nearly double the range at which he could unlock his Mercedes with the fob. They didn’t know how it worked, though. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/set-horns-to-swoggled-what-did-you-not-expect-to-work-that-actually-does/677793/26 "2014-01-03T23:50:35Z")
> [@chizzuk](#): > > Top Gear did the remote-locking/key fob thing several years ago, which was where I heard of it. Clarkson was able to nearly double the range at which he could unlock his Mercedes with the fob. They didn’t know how it worked, though. It worked for one of my cars as well. I don’t know if it doubled it, but it probably gave me another 10-20 feet. Not a big deal, but enough to impress your friends or make it easier in a parking lot. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2014, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/set-horns-to-swoggled-what-did-you-not-expect-to-work-that-actually-does/677793/27 "2014-01-04T00:04:43Z")
> [@gallows\_fodder](#): > > When I was a teenager, I discovered that Advil, Tylenol, and Motrin did nothing to take away the pain from menstrual cramps. It was like they were sugar pills. My cramps weren’t at “pass out or vomit from pain” level, but they were pretty dang bad and I suffered for years. Then a friend of mine suggested trying Aleve, and I was resistant for a while because how could it be any different from any of the other OTC pain medication I’d tried? > > But wouldn’t you know, it works! I don’t even have to take it before the pain starts – I can be in full-blown cramp agony, take two Aleve, and the pain is gone within 30 minutes and stays gone until the meds wear off in ~8 hours. It’s really improved the quality of my life during that week each month. This for me. I started taking it when it was still a prescription-only medication and my college’s student health service would give me free samples to get me through. Oh god, that stuff was damned near miraculous for otherwise-debilitating menstrual cramps. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2014, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/set-horns-to-swoggled-what-did-you-not-expect-to-work-that-actually-does/677793/28 "2014-01-04T00:10:04Z")
Head-On, apply directly to the forehead! Head-On, apply directly to the forehead! Head-On, apply directly to the forehead! Head-On, apply directly to the forehead! Head-On, apply directly to the forehead! ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2014, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/set-horns-to-swoggled-what-did-you-not-expect-to-work-that-actually-does/677793/29 "2014-01-04T00:31:31Z")
Not me but my dad … My dad is a migraine sufferer but they only come in spurts, years apart. He hadn’t had them in forever when suddenly they started again. They always come on violently at night and make him pukey-sick for a few hours until they just go away. He’s seen his doctor about them and gotten several kinds of pills or whatnot. They help but they don’t help immediately. I had read here, I think, that using a Neti pot can help a migraine. So I begged him to start using one while he’s in the throes of a migraine. Turns out it totally works! Instead of lasting hours, his migraines go away within about 20 minutes if he uses the Neti pot. Not sure if it works for everyone (seems like everyone has a different migraine experience) but I try to let everyone know about this “secret” remedy. I get so mad when people are like “Oh I could never pour water up my nose!” but would rather spend hours in agony. Argh - just try it! Anyway, I use the Neti pot daily myself (not for migraines) and it seems to keep my sinus problems at bay. I guess I was skeptical when my mom first mentioned it a few years ago (She’s a fan of Dr. Oz) but now I’m afraid to not use it, lest I wake up stuffy! ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2014, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/set-horns-to-swoggled-what-did-you-not-expect-to-work-that-actually-does/677793/30 "2014-01-04T00:35:03Z")
Something you could try to test it would be to get another similar bracelet without the studs and see if it alleviates your symptoms. Maybe have someone encircle your wrist with their fingers for 15 minutes. Stuff like that. Of course, if you don’t want to know, I wouldn’t blame you! ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2014, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/set-horns-to-swoggled-what-did-you-not-expect-to-work-that-actually-does/677793/31 "2014-01-04T01:25:51Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Science! > [@JohnT](#): > > I don’t know, but… SCIENCE! > > (I’ll see if I can get an answer this weekend.) I salute your dedication! ---
**Author:** ![bobkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@bobkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobkitty)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2014, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/set-horns-to-swoggled-what-did-you-not-expect-to-work-that-actually-does/677793/32 "2014-01-04T01:44:07Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > I’d be curious to find out if this worked as well if you got on your knees before holding it to your head. IOW, I wonder if it’s just the head height at which you’re holding the fob vs. at your hip that’s doing it, or if you got even better results holding it above your head. Both my boyfriend and I hold the fob at our temple to amplify it (after having seen it on Top Gear). When we first tried it, my boyfriend couldn’t resist doing a variety of tests, including just holding the fob up over his head. Nothing worked as well (or as far) as the to-the-temple version. So it’s not a height thing. I’m ok with “SCIENCE!” as the reason it works. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2014, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/set-horns-to-swoggled-what-did-you-not-expect-to-work-that-actually-does/677793/33 "2014-01-04T03:16:46Z")
Joey, the Zofran does seem to work just fine, but it gives me stomach cramps instead of the nausea. So, you know, it depends on just how bad the nausea is. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2014, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/set-horns-to-swoggled-what-did-you-not-expect-to-work-that-actually-does/677793/34 "2014-01-04T03:47:06Z")
I got a little item for folding shirts and sweaters that I love - it folds everything to the same size so they stack nice and neatly. As for accupressure and placebos - they (both?) work. It may be the same phenomenon, it may be two different mechanisms we have not yet identified, or it may be … your special pain angel. As for “woo” - as a scientist I always tried to keep an open mind, until a friend massaged my muscles to (I think) realign the magnetic lines, to alleviate chronic neck pain. Since then, I have been a vocal proponent of non-standard therapies with unknown mechanisms (i.e. “woo”). Except, of course, “herbal” supplements by shady companies; read the FDA warning letters, please, before you start taking anything beyond well-known supplements by reputable companies. ---
**Author:** ![DummyGladHands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2014, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/set-horns-to-swoggled-what-did-you-not-expect-to-work-that-actually-does/677793/35 "2014-01-04T03:57:43Z")
Another Shout Out for Shout Color Catchers. When I was first widowed, I was dismayed at the thought of separating so little laundry. A friend told me about these, and doubtful as I was, they work! Now I just pitch everything in at once, well, not towels. Taught the BF about them and he was astonished!! ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2014, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/set-horns-to-swoggled-what-did-you-not-expect-to-work-that-actually-does/677793/36 "2014-01-04T04:52:34Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > For me, it’s the “bouncing dead battery” thing. > > Someone passes along a :FW:FW:FW of a stupid idea, if a battery bounces, it’s dead, if it fails to bounce it’s still good. > > I mean, really, what is this stupid crap? Then I tried it and damn if it doesn’t work. Never heard that, but this gives me a sudden brilliant idea: The same test should work to distinguish a hard-boiled egg from a raw egg! ---
**Author:** ![iftheresaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecae2f/32.png) [@iftheresaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iftheresaway)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2014, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/set-horns-to-swoggled-what-did-you-not-expect-to-work-that-actually-does/677793/37 "2014-01-04T05:32:10Z")
A couple of months ago, I was hanging out with my baby in our downstairs living room area, which I’d chosen because he was new to walking and it’s the only carpeted area in the house. We’d spent some time shopping earlier in the day, just to get out of the house, and he was fiddling with a new bottle of nail polish I bought as a special treat for myself. “No biggie,” thought I, “what can happen? I’m two feet away and those are durable little bottles.” So of course a second later I hear a tinkly crunching noise and my little angel has a fistful of glass shards and is is standing in a pool of sparkly purple nail polish on a small patch of white carpet only a moth or two older than he was. I grabbed and de-glassed the baby, then tossed him into the crib and immediately started trying everything google and I could come up with to fix the carpet. Nothing worked. Defeated, I texted my husband that the new carpet was ruined. When he came home home, he said that one of the old guys at work told him Windex would work. I was skeptical, but what was the worst that could happen? We’d ruin our new purple-spotted carpet by adding hints of Windex Blue? Well, I’ll be god-damned if the Windex didn’t get out every last speck of nail polish. Absolutely no trace it ever happened, and again, we’re talking WHITE carpet. No clue why it works, but I can highly recommend the Windex treatment for all your nail-polish-related carpet stains. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2014, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/set-horns-to-swoggled-what-did-you-not-expect-to-work-that-actually-does/677793/38 "2014-01-04T06:34:42Z")
Glad to hear sea bands are working for you. But if not, here’s something else you can try. I’m a guy so morning sickness isn’t an issue but when my stomach is nauseous I find that eggnog settles it down. It’s in season now so you can give it a try if the sea band conks out. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2014, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/set-horns-to-swoggled-what-did-you-not-expect-to-work-that-actually-does/677793/39 "2014-01-04T06:38:46Z")
My contribution for something that shouldn’t work but apparently does are those ultrasonic mice repellers. I know the scientific tests say they don’t work. But I use to have an apartment with mice and I plugged a couple of them in and I never saw another mouse. ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2014, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/set-horns-to-swoggled-what-did-you-not-expect-to-work-that-actually-does/677793/40 "2014-01-04T06:43:57Z")
Rescue Remedy. _looks embarrassed_ Even worse, I get good results with Bach’s. I know that stuff is expensive water, and its probably just me getting calmer because I’m doing something to calm the critters down, but that shit really works for me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/set-horns-to-swoggled-what-did-you-not-expect-to-work-that-actually-does/677793.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/set-horns-to-swoggled-what-did-you-not-expect-to-work-that-actually-does/677793.md?page=3)