Accidental poisonings are nothing new, and neither is trying to treat them at home. However, there is a problem with many historic and new self-treatment methods: they may cause more harm than the poison someone touched or ingested.
In this article, we’re going over common DIY treatments for poisonings and explaining why you shouldn’t do them. Ultimately, in any poisoning situation, call the Missouri Poison Center before taking matters into your own hands. Call 911 if someone is not breathing or is unconscious.
Making Someone Vomit
Should I induce vomiting if I swallowed poison?
No. If you or someone you know has swallowed something accidentally, vomiting is most likely not necessary. There are a few reasons for this.
Forced emesis has not been shown to be beneficial for people who have been poisoned. If someone swallowed a corrosive substance, forcing them to vomit doubles the chance their throat and mouth are burned, as those parts of the body will be exposed a second time.
Additionally, vomiting may cause someone to choke on the vomit, which may be very harmful if they swallowed something like gasoline. This is much worse than if they hadn’t vomited at all. Forced emesis may also harm someone if they have an underlying GI-tract issue.
Instead, call the Missouri Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222.
Why is ipecac syrup no longer over-the-counter?
Ipecac syrup is a drug that causes someone to vomit (emesis). It used to be over-the-counter and the standard first aid when someone poisoned themself. However, upon clinical and scientific review, medical professionals found that it causes more harm than good to make someone throw up. It is not a recommended standard of care according to the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology.
Can I use mustard water if I accidentally swallow something?
No. Some out-of-date reference materials suggest mixing a teaspoon or tablespoon of mustard in warm water to make someone throw up. The idea is that mustard is quite pungent and acidic, so drinking a pint of mustard water quickly could potentially trigger the vomit reflex in the stomach.
Beyond that, mustard does not neutralize poisons nor help with an overdose. Although mustard itself has several health benefits, none of these are useful in the event of a poisoning.
Can salt solutions treat poisonings?
No. This is another out-of-date treatment that has the potential to create a new problem: salt poisoning. In the effort to try to get someone to throw up, giving them a concentrated salt solution may bring the sodium levels in their body to dangerous levels. This may lead to seizures, coma, and other serious health issues.
What about using raw egg whites in the case of a poisoning?
Home poisoning treatments recommend using raw egg whites to induce vomiting and bind to the poison. The texture of egg whites may put off some people, and swallowing a lot at once may cause them to vomit. In reality, this is not helpful.
Additionally, it’s rumored that the protein in eggs will bind to poisons and stop them from causing harm. This isn’t true. In fact, consuming lots of raw eggs increases the likelihood of food poisoning, which will create a new problem on top of the first one.
Activated Charcoal
Should I use activated charcoal to neutralize a poison?
No. Activated charcoal should only be used in healthcare settings and not in the home. It is not the most effective when it comes to treating certain poisons and may create a false sense of security.
Additionally, if someone vomits after ingesting activated charcoal, they may inhale the vomit. This may enter the lungs and cause pneumonia.
We have a very detailed write-up on charcoal that we published during the rise in activated charcoal-infused foods (AKA “goth foods”). Read our detailed write-up on activated charcoal..
What is activated charcoal supposed to help with?
The idea is that it absorbs toxins in the body, like in the event of an accidental poisoning. However, charcoal may also absorb important medications and good bacteria in the gut. If the charcoal neutralizes critical medicine in the body, this may create more problems beyond the poisoning.
Can it help at all?
It may, depending on the circumstance. It’s best if it’s only used in medical settings. In the event of a poisoning, call the Missouri Poison Center instead of attempting to self-treat with charcoal. There is a lot of misinformation circulating about charcoal; do not assume it is a safe and effective home treatment.
Does milk, coffee, or tea help with poison?
Some vintage antidote charts recommend giving someone milk to drink to help dilute a poison. However, depending on what the person swallowed, drinking milk may coat and soothe the stomach. Always call the Poison Center for detailed recommendations.
Additionally, drinking black coffee used to be the rumored solution to alcohol intoxication and poisoning. Caffeine does not rid the body of substances like alcohol; only giving the body time to process out the alcohol can do that.
Tea, while it has many health benefits, is not an antidote to poison. The best thing to do in these situations is to call the Poison Center.
Final Thoughts
Many “poison cures” have been disproven and phased out over the years: From carrying around a rabbit’s foot, to blood-letting, to inducing vomiting. As medical researchers continue improving healthcare, new, better ways to care for others will emerge. Eventually, we may learn more and grow beyond what we know today. But it’s important to let go of what we know to not be effective care.
If you have any questions about outdated antidotes like raw egg whites, ipecac syrup, or black coffee, the Missouri Poison Center is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to take your call at 1-800-222-1222.
Not all medical advice online is reliable. Outdated remedies may still circulate in forums or blogs and they can be harmful. If you’re ever unsure, call the Poison Help line (1-800-222-1222) before trying anything. Medical experts are available 24/7 and can provide advice tailored to your exact situation.
Stay calm and quickly assess the situation. If the person is not breathing, unresponsive, or having a seizure, call 911 immediately. If they are awake and breathing, call the Missouri Poison Center for step-by-step guidance. Do not give them food, drink, or medicine until you have spoken with a professional.
In most cases, it’s best not to give anything by mouth until you’ve spoken with a poison specialist. The wrong liquid, food, or treatment can make things worse. There are rare exceptions, but those should only be determined by a professional.
Many “cures” for poison were passed down through family traditions, outdated first-aid manuals, or popular culture. Even though science has since disproven them, misinformation can linger for decades. This is why it’s important to verify first-aid steps with a poison control center rather than relying on old advice, the internet, or artificial intelligence (AI).
To get the fastest help, try to provide the following:
- The age and weight of the person affected
- What substance was involved (name, brand, strength, or container if available)
- How much was swallowed, inhaled, or touched
- When the exposure happened
This helps poison specialists give the most accurate, safe instructions right away.
Referencing content from this page? Please attribute the Missouri Poison Center with either of these links: https://missouripoisoncenter.org/ or https://missouripoisoncenter.org/outdated-poison-treatments/
Suggested APA citation:
Missouri Poison Center Trending Topics Blog. (2025, September 03). Don’t Do These Outdated Poisoning Treatments At Home. Missouri Poison Center. https://missouripoisoncenter.org/outdated-poison-treatments/