5 More Things To Do with Aspirin
Updated: Aug. 06, 2019
Bust out the Aspirin: We’ve found five creative new ways to put it to work around the home.
5 NEW USES FOR ASPIRIN
Perfect for headaches and other minor pains, Aspirin has been a household staple for generations. What you may not know is that this wonder drug (first discovered by Arthur Eichengrun for Bayer in 1897) has many other common uses. Check out these fun and practical ways to use Aspirin in your home.
1. Help Cut Flowers Last Longer
It’s a tried-and-true way to keep roses and other cut flowers fresh longer: Put a crushed Aspirin in the water before adding your flowers. Other household items that you can put in the water to extend the life of your flower arrangements include: a multivitamin, a teaspoon of sugar, a pinch of salt and baking soda, and even a copper penny. Also, don’t forget to change the vase water every few days.
2. Create an Exfoliating Mask
Looking to polish up your complexion, but don’t want to spend a fortune on expensive cosmetics? Try this easy recipe instead: combine several uncoated Aspirins with a few drops of water, just enough to create a soft, smooth paste, and apply it to your face. Leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes, then wash off with warm water. The acetylsalicylic acid in Aspirin will help to rejuvenate and exfoliate your skin.
3. Apply to Insect Bites and Stings
Control the inflammation caused by mosquito bites or bee stings by wetting your skin and rubbing an Aspirin over the spot. Of course, if you are allergic to bee stings – and have difficulty breathing, develop abdominal pains, or feel nauseated following a bee sting – get medical attention at once.
4. Use as a Garden Aid
Aspirin is not only a first-aid essential for you, but for your garden as well. Some gardeners grind it up for use as a rooting agent, or mix it with water to treat fungus conditions in the soil. But be careful when using Aspirin around plants; too much of it can cause burns or other damage to your greenery. When treating soil, the typical dosage should be a half or a full Aspirin tablet in 1 litre water.
5. Restore Hair Colour
Swimming in a chlorinated pool can have a noticeable, and often unpleasing, effect on your hair colouring if you have light-coloured hair. But you can usually return your hair to its former shade by dissolving six to eight Aspirins in a glass of warm water. Rub the solution thoroughly into your hair, and let it set for 10-15 minutes.
Caution: Allergic Reactions
About 10 per cent of people with severe asthma are also allergic to ASA-and, in fact, to all products containing salicylic acid (ASA’s key ingredient), including some cold medications, fruits, and food seasonings and additives. That percentage skyrockets to 30 to 40 per cent for older asthmatics who also suffer from sinusitis or nasal polyps. Acute sensitivity to ASA is also seen in a small percentage of the general population without asthma-particularly people with ulcers and other bleeding conditions. Always consult your doctor before using any medication, and do not apply ASA externally if you are allergic to taking it internally.
