Natural Remedies for Common Ailments
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Not every ailment that lays you low requires a trip to the medicine cabinet for a pill or dose of liquid antibiotics. Very often, a natural remedy can be a fast and easy solution. For example, a sore throat or even an annoying case of acid reflux can be treated with common household items you probably keep on hand all the time.
“Natural remedies are gaining in popularity as people become more frustrated with the cost and potential side effects that are associated with pharmaceuticals,” says Russell Faust, M.D., Ph.D., a physician and board member of the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine.
Some herbal solutions have proven effective for thousands of years, but precision can be an issue (strength and dosing can vary between batches and manufacturers. “And because of the possibility that a natural remedy may interact with a drug you’re already taking, always consult with your healthcare provider before trying anything new,” he says. The next time you have aches or pains, consider one of these four natural remedies.
Sore throat: Got a tickle that just won’t quit? Or do family members or co-workers seem to be ‘coming down with something’? “Try this soothing, immune-boosting tea to ease the pain of a sore throat,” recommends Dr. Faust.
Peel and chop 2 heaping tablespoons of fresh ginger (explore it HERE) and place in a heatproof cup or bowl. Boil 2 cups of water, let it cool down for about a minute and then pour it over the ginger. After this mixture has steeped for two minutes, halve a lemon and squeeze both pieces into the ginger water, along with a shake or two of cayenne pepper. Sweeten to taste with honey, stir to combine and sip.
Acid reflux: That telltale burning in the back of your throat is enough to put you off eating for the rest of the day (tomorrow, too!). A quick fix can be found in a simple cup of tea. Barley grass HERE, which has been grown and consumed for thousands of years, contains anti-inflammatory agents and antioxidants. Prepared as a tea, this natural remedy is very soothing for a case of reflux. Or try chamomile or fennel seed tea — both of which are packed with bioflavonoids that are also anti-inflammatories.
Nausea: An upset stomach is no laughing matter, so thank goodness for ginger. This knobby root has an excellent track record when it comes to battling morning sickness, motion sickness and post-operative nausea. To make this remedy, chop fresh ginger root and steep it in hot water. You can add sweetener to this and drink it like a tea or freeze the ginger water and then suck on the cubes.
Allergies: Pollen, pet dander, ragweed and all kinds of flowers can conspire to block and inflame your nose. Saline nasal sprays like this one help clear mucus from the passageways in your nose, allowing you to breathe free once more. To make your own, mix a couple of teaspoons of kosher salt with one quart of distilled or sterile water. Add a teaspoon of baking soda to this solution and mix again and then flush your nose using a bulb syringe or a Neti pot HERE.
Written by: Jennifer Kelly Geddes
I like finding all sorts of natural remedies and you know, I do use ginger quite a bit! Thanks for this. I will now have to look for it.
I use a similar method to a neti pot, but I do it in the shower. It’s not pleasant, but it keeps my allergies at bay.
These are some really great remedies! My mother-in-law is constantly telling me about all of the amazing benefits of garlic and using a Neti pot. She swears by using a Neti pot!
These are some great tips to have a printed copy at home. My husband always prefer natural remedies & we have used fresh ginger for sore throat before. I love the suggestions given for Acid Reflux & I am going to give it a try for my brother.
I am so all over natural remedies. To really boose the ginger, cayenne sore throat cure, I add a slice or two of fresh garlic and lemon. It stinks but it really works.
These are some great natural remedies for ailments. I am trying to do more natural things, and these all sound great.
Oh these are much needed remedies! Half of them I would have never thought of so thanks!!
we use a lot of lemon and ginger around here
I love using ginger for home remedies.. sadly, with my gallbladder I can’t take it as much as I’d like but its really some amazing stuff!
I have heard tons good about ginger. I like to use natural remedies when I can. It’s so much better for us.
I’ve always preferred using natural remedies for common ailments. I remember giving my son garlic and lemon juice when he had food poisoning. I’ve also used ginger for sore throat.
We go through ginger so much espoecially during Winter. That’s proven to work for us so I always make ginger ta during cold season.
I try to use natural remedies instead of pills whenever possible. My grandmother used a tea made of Tilia flowers to treat different ailments and it worked really well!
I’ve read and heard amazing reviews on using a neti pit to clear sinus problems. I just couldn’t get myself to try it. But anyways, I love ginger! Works wonders!
I love using home remedies rather than shop bought medication. The root ginger is a great tip especially for a sore throat, will be using that from now on. For acid reflux I always find a glass of milk works wonders for me too.
These are great home remedies. May I also mention gargling with a warm water and salt solution is a good remedy for sore throat. For mosquito bites, my mom used to get a small piece of ginger and pound it then rubs it on the insect bite. It relieves the itch and decreases the swelling.
I love Ginger and Lemon as natural remedy. My family always use all natural ingredients. We build a good immune system
I love ginger, as it has helped me with a lot of sicknesses. My favorite way of incorporating in my daily diet is juicing it.
I reach for the saline solution when I feel a sinus infection brewing. I take enough medications and I’m trying to avoid decongestants since they raise your blood pressure.
I like to use natural remedies instead of medications and love the use of the ginger it is great for colds and now I know it is also for allergies.
I need to get back to a nedi pot with allergy season here
I know that everyone who uses a netty pot, says it works great. I just can’t seem to get myself to give it a whirl!
I bought a Neti-Pot last allergy season, but never had to use it because I found relief with saline and steam.
Oh we’re going to have to try some of these. It sounds like it would be a good idea to have some ginger on hand.
This is the first time I heard about the Neti Pot. We have a slew of allergy sufferers at home and we could use this.
I haven’t heard of this, but I definitely need it in my life. I have allergies every morning and this looks like the right meds for it.
I had to take ginger when I was pregnant, the nausea is unreal. Sounds like it’s a great thing to eat all around.
Thanks so much for sharing this! I’d much rather go natural whenever I can. It’s so much better for me.
I love ginger is good for almost anything, thanks for the great natural post! 😀
Haven’t heard of Neti Pot for allergies. I prefer using natural remedies if it’s milk and tolerable. I actually use garlic and ginger on bruises and itchy skin. My daughter always get bruises from playing so we always have them in stock.
I have heard great things about using a neti pot, but I have yet to try it. I know it works for a ton of people.