Lifestyle

11 natural home remedies for common ailments (that actually work!)

Jan 27, 2016

Have you woken up feeling sore, sick or just generally unwell? It can happen to even the healthiest of us. While seeing the doctor is often our first point of call, there are so many ways you can quell sickness or pains at home, naturally.

Obviously, if you are truly unwell and need immediate medical attention, then you should see your doctor.

Otherwise, here’s 11 of the best all-natural, expert-recommended ways to treat ailments quickly, safely, and effectively at home.

1. Quell nausea

It may sound a bit strange but frozen ginger chips are very effective in curing nausea. Simply infuse fresh ginger in hot water and strain, then freeze in ice cube trays.

Crush the cubes and suck throughout the day.

2. Soothe a sore throat

Twice a daily, gargle a solution of six pressed garlic cloves mixed into a glass of warm (not hot) water. It might sound and smell a little funky, but fresh garlic juice has antimicrobial properties that fight pain-causing bacteria.

3. Calm a cough

Eat a square or two of dark chocolate/cacao. Researchers found that chocolate’s theobromine compound is more effective than codeine at suppressing persistent coughs.

4. Relax a stiff neck

If you are experiencing a stiff neck, you needn’t take pain killers. All you need to do is use contrast hydrotherapy, which is a quick blast of hot, then cold water. In the shower, first run hot water over your neck for 20 seconds to increase blood flow, then switch to cold for 10 seconds to constrict blood flow. Alternate three times, always ending with cold. This will loosen up your neck every time.

5. Prevent vomiting

On the verge of throwing up? Make a run for the medicine cabinet and grab isopropyl alcohol and douse a cotton pad. Hold it up to your nose, and take a few deep breaths. According to a recent study, emergency room patients who inhaled the isopropyl alcohol–saturated pads saw a 50% reduction in nausea.

6. Stop a toothache

A 2006 study published in The Journal of Dentistry shows that clove oil is just as effective at relieving tooth pain as other pain medications. Just dab a cotton swab with a small amount of clove oil and apply it to the area that hurts. Within a couple of minutes it should go numb.

7. Get rid of dandruff

Dandruff is notoriously difficult to treat and while many products say they can get rid of this scalp condition, few actually do. A study showed that tea tree oil is one of the most effective ways to fight dandruff – try mixing a drop of tea tree oil into your shampoo to see if it helps you.

8. Treat Urinary Tract Infections

When you have a UTI, mix ¼ teaspoon of baking soda in a cup of water and drink. Drink this mixture once a day in addition to naturally sweetened or unsweetened cranberry juice. Baking soda makes the bladder environment alkaline, which helps prevent the bacteria from multiplying.

9. Soften calluses and corns

This homemade licorice paste can soften hardened skin. Mix a few drops of licorice root extract in a teaspoon of honey and rub onto the rough areas of your feet.

10. Remove haemorrhoids

This often uncomfortable condition occurs when veins around the anus or just inside the anus become inflamed. If constipation is the cause of these piles, you may just need to increase your fibre and water intake. Aloe vera gel can help to heal haemorrhoids – simply apply the gel and leave on. Repeat daily.

11. Stop a nose bleed

Apply several drops of apple cider vinegar to a cotton ball and insert in the affected nostril.