46 User Reviews
| 5 star (38) | 83% | |
| 3 star (2) | 4% | |
| 1 star (2) | 4% | |
 (4) |
9% |
★★★★★
Alum
★★★★★
Anyhow, what we do to treat a cankersore is merely moisten a Q-tip, and dip it in a very small amount of alum mixed with a teaspoon of warm water. After the alum is on for a few minutes, just rinse your mouth because the alum is very bitter. People also use alum as a mouthwash and to treat gum disease or aching teeth. It's used to treat eczema itching, and styes as well. I'm sure the solution would need to be much milder for use on the eyes, or as a mouthwash, or in treating eczema. Anyway, I hope others might want to mention their experiences with using this common household ingredient. Mariana
(Ten Mile, Tn Usa)
12/23/2011
ALUM us Aluminum Sulfate, ole folks like me made the mistake of using it to make pickles and other canned goods, crisp. All we did is put Aluminum in our brains, which brings on dememtia. I don't have a clue about the use of alum on your skin. Do not use Alum for internal consumption. We all are savvy about transdermal therapy. What you put on your skin goes into your body. Why do you think the chelation clinics are full of auto mechanics who washed parts in leaded gasoline. Now they are trying to get the lead our of their body.
Good people there are lots of good intentioned folks posting on this site. Some just don't have a clue. Pay attention.
========ROBERT HENRY=============
(San Francisco, Ca)
01/20/2012
(Waconia, Minnesota)
01/26/2012
★★★★★
(Gippsland, Australia)
01/26/2012
(Dover, Usa)
02/12/2012
(Gippsland, Australia)
02/13/2012
(Austin, Mn)
04/26/2012
Alum
★★★★★
Alum
★★★★★
I never get canker sores, but a few days ago, I got itchy red hives on my torso as well as 6 canker sores under my tongue and my cheeks. I've had several surgeries but have never been in such pain in my life! So bizarre that such a little thing can cause so much discomfort.
Anyway, after reading the comments, I tried Alum and so far it's amazing. It has really numbed the canker sores. I can eat!!
My only caution is because it does numb so well, be aware not to bite your cheek accidently. I did that and another canker sore developed; but the overall relief is so worth it.
Alum
★★★★★
I had a canker sore on my tongue for three days that was hurting so much, I couldn't eat or talk. I stumbled upon this thread in my google search for remedies and this was the first time I'd ever heard of alum.
I went to the grocery store, picked some up (in the spice aisle) and went straight home. I dipped a wet Q-tip in the alum and applied it directly to the sore on my tongue. Yes, it stung, but not horrendously (and certainly not as bad as fingernail polish remover --- cannot believe I admitted I did that). There was some drool and whatnot, and fifteen minute later my tongue was throbbing.
I dissolved an asprin directly onto my tongue and SERIOUSLY? THE PAIN ALMOST COMPLETELY WENT AWAY.
I woke up this morning and while the sore is still there, and even bigger, IT DOESN'T HURT.
After dealing with intensely painful canker sores for almost 30 years, I cannot even begin to tell you how happy this makes me. I feel like alum is going to change my life for the better. I know this sounds ridiculous, but one bad canker sore can seriously ruin your week.
THANK YOU EVERYONE!
Alum
★★★☆☆
BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
I might have to call my doctor for painkillers - this is almost unbearable (yes I have a low threshhold for pain)
(San Francisco, Ca Usa)
12/02/2011
★☆☆☆☆
It may be that I discovered this information too late, but I tried the alum solution repeatedly on my latest canker sore (haven't been able to talk or eat pain-free for 5 days now) and it seemed to make it a little worse. It certainly didn't help, although it wasn't as painful as some of the posts here warned it might be. I would have to vote Nay for this one.
(City, Us)
12/07/2011
Alum
★★★★★
I used to use a prescription paste which I haven't been able to get out here (Kenalog in Orabase? I think) which worked wonders and would quite literally get rid of my sores overnight. Since I've been unable to get that prescription filled, I needed a different remedy, so I went with alum. My only quip with alum is that it tastes NAAAAASTY. Seriously, if you swallow it, you will probably vomit. Bitter, awful, disgusting taste--BUT it works like a dream on canker sores and dries them out after a few applications. I usually daub a bit on the sore with a wet Q-tip, then let it sit there and dry for about five minutes before rinsing out my mouth and/or brushing my teeth (because the taste just sticks to your tongue). The more stubborn sores still take a few days to go away, but the alum seems to alleviate the pain and bring down the swelling and the size of the sore almost immediately. I highly recommend this remedy -- just remember not to swallow or spit it out before your five minutes are up.
Alum
★★★★★
Alum
★★★★★
Thought I might help those of you who are suffering with cold sores etc. As a child I 'suffered' with this malady on occassion. When ever it happened, I would tell my mom and she would immediately reach into the kitchen spices for the alum. This is the new information which I have not seen on any site thus far. Before using the alum mom would put a small amount on a disposable piece of metal (usually the top removed from a can of vegetables) and heat the alum to the point where all the moisture is driven from the alum powder. At this point the alum will crystallize on the can lid (This is what I learned to call burnt alum). Allow to cool. Once the crystallized alum has cooled, take a spoon and crush the burnt alum and apply as described elsewhere. As mentioned alum is an astringent, and the value of this process is to improve the astingent properties of the alum. As with those who have used this remedy regularly, I also had complete relief within two days.
Alum
★★★☆☆
BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
OH MY GOD - it hurt like nobody's business which I could tolerate, but then for the next hour it made my entire jaw, neck and ear area throb with terrible pain which I could not tolerate. I ended up taking pain relievers and going to bed several hours early just to stop the pain with sleep. I have not been in such agonizing pain for many years. It felt like a migraine and an earache and a toothache all at once.
However, today my canker sore has been very tender but noticeably less painful (i've also been on pain meds all day because I'm a bit scarred by what happened last night). The sore also seems to be healing. I honestly am not sure if I can recommend the alum or not, given the positive effects today and the horrible effects last night.
(Chandler, Az)
09/02/2010
I have the alum on my canker sores now, so we'll see. But last night I placed an asprin pill on each of the 2 cankers that I have in my mouth; seriously just hold it on top of the sore, between your cheek and gum until it just begins to dissolve, then spit it out and rinse. This totally numbs it for like 12 hours, then apply the alum because it barely stings at all. Hope the alum does the trick! :o)
Alum
(Redondo Beach, Ca, USA)
11/07/2009
Okay, so I get canker sores every so often, esp. when I don't get enough sleep. This particular monster sore on my lower lip started when I severely bit into my lower lip TWICE on the same spot a week ago. No signs of healing. And they usually do after a week. Not this one. So someone suggested Alum. A quick search online brings me here where there is a lot of positive feedback. So I put the Alum on and like the above post, the pain is pretty intense. Tears are leaking involuntarily out of my eyes. 5 minutes go by and I rinse it off. It's now about 30 min after and the sore feels like it's twice the previous size. Totally swollen. And it's throbbing like no tomorrow. If it gets better, I'll be shocked, but I will report if it does in the morning.
(Shingle Springs, Ca, U.S.A.)
11/07/2009
Alum
★★★★★
Alum
★☆☆☆☆
WARNING!
EC: More about this here: http://www.ochef.com/1080.htm
(St louis, MO)
02/14/2009
Alum has nothing to do with alumnium; how on earth do you labor under that delusion?
EC: Best answer we could find on the alum used in cooking:
"Alum is a salt that in chemistry is a combination of an alkali metal, such as sodium, potassium, or ammonium and a trivalent metal, such as aluminum, iron, or chromium. The most common form, potassium aluminum sulfate, or potash alum, is one form that has been used in food processing. Another, sodium aluminum sulfate, is an ingredient in commercially produced baking powder. (Have you never noticed the faint metallic taste in baking powder? It comes from the alum.)
The potassium-based alum has been used to produce crisp cucumber and watermelon-rind pickles as well as maraschino cherries, where the aluminum ions strengthen the fruits' cell-wall pectins.
Alum is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a food additive, but in large quantities — well, an ounce or more — it is toxic to humans. As a result, efforts have been made and are being made to wean us of our alum dependency. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says that if good quality produce and modern canning methods are employed, there is no need to use alum to bolster the crispness of our pickles and cherries. In any event, t"he department says, even if alum is used to soak the pickles, it should not be used in the final pickling liquid.
(Grand Rapids, MI)
06/01/2009
Alum
★★★★★
I did that twice the first day, and again twice on the second day. It never hurt at all, and it got a little larger at first, but then started receding, and now 4 days later, its basically gone! I'm so happy with the Alum cure! I used to spend a whole week in agony thinking there was no way to help it- I love this website!
Alum
★★★★★
