Does milk really help against heartburn?
Milk has a brief suppressive effect on stomach acid. For persistent symptoms, common antacid medicines work considerably better.
In a laboratory model using an artificial stomach, cold milk neutralised acid just as well as a common pharmacy product. That sounds impressive, but what happens in a real human stomach is a different story.
Milk does neutralise stomach acid for a short time, but that effect does not last long. Early studies in people already showed that single doses of milk suppressed the acid for only a brief period. The 'milk diet', in which patients with a stomach ulcer were given milk continuously, was eventually abandoned because it worked insufficiently and modern medicines proved far more effective.
Full-fat milk and fermented milk do slow gastric emptying. That is a different effect from inhibiting acid production, and it says nothing about whether symptoms are structurally reduced by it.
In the case of acid reflux, milk as a treatment has historically had only a modest and short-lived effect. Medicines that counteract the production of stomach acid, available through your GP or pharmacist, are considerably more effective. If you regularly suffer from acid reflux, discuss this with your doctor or pharmacist, because persistent symptoms deserve a proper diagnosis and treatment.
This answer is based on a laboratory study using an artificial stomach, two review articles and two smaller clinical studies. The clinical studies are historical in nature and concern the use of milk as a therapy for stomach ulcers and acid reflux. None of the sources provides evidence that milk structurally relieves heartburn symptoms in people. The researchers describe the milk diet as an abandoned approach that proved inferior to drug-based treatment.
What actually helps with chronic lower back pain?
Strength and stabilisation exercises have the strongest evidence base for chronic lower back pain. If those do not help enough, pain relievers that also reduce inflammation are the first step. Opioids and surgery can almost always be avoided.
Does oil pulling (rinsing your mouth with oil) actually work?
Oil pulling has preliminary indications of a modest effect on gums and plaque, but the evidence is still too weak to recommend it as a full alternative to chlorhexidine. As a supplement to brushing and flossing it is probably not harmful, but do not expect miracles.
What really keeps your mouth and gums healthy?
Daily brushing supplemented with interdental brushes is the best foundation for a healthy mouth; if you have diabetes, regular gum care pays extra dividends for your blood sugar.
Does mewing really work for a sharper jawline?
There is no clinical evidence that mewing improves the jawline in adults. Serious tongue-exercise therapy does exist, but is intended for functional problems such as abnormal swallowing, not for cosmetic purposes.
What helps against osteoarthritis (joint degeneration)?
Supervised exercise therapy and diclofenac gel have the strongest evidence base in osteoarthritis. Paracetamol and opioids work less well than many people think; discuss medication choices with your doctor, especially if you have heart or stomach complaints.
Can oestrogen cream help with urinary tract inflammation?
Vaginal oestrogen cream clearly reduces the risk of recurring urinary tract infections in women after the menopause, and applying it around the urethra works just as well as inserting it deeper. Discuss it with your doctor, as the treatment is not yet officially approved for this purpose everywhere.