Home Remedies – Eight Common Items with Amazing Healing Properties

Home remedies are a marvelous way to ease the pain of headaches, arthritis or rashes without running to the doctor or even the supermarket. The next time you have a cut or burn, or are suffering from varicose veins, consider some of these marvelous items you probably already have in your pantry:

Olive Oil

It’s not just good in food, it’s also great for your health. This marvelous oil is loaded with vitamin E and other antioxidants. The monounsaturated fat in olive oil enhances your brainpower and lowers blood pressure. But even better, a study in Greece found that people who ate fresh vegetables and olive oil were less likely to get rheumatoid arthritis.

Vinegar

Vinegar is great for all sorts of skin ailments, including stings, bites and rashes. Dab it on with a cotton ball or add some to your bath water. The next time you have achy varicose veins, lie down, prop your feet up and lay a cheese cloth soaked with apple cider vinegar on your legs for 30 minutes twice a day. Combat dandruff by rinsing your hair with a mixture of 3 tablespoons of vinegar and a cup of water. Disinfect your counter tops and cutting boards by spraying them with vinegar and then following up with a 3 percent solution of hydrogen peroxide.

Honey

It truly is the miracle food, but be sure to find raw, locally produced honey for the best results. It is great for an energy boost. Mix one to three tablespoons of honey in a glass of water and drink it before your next work-out for extra energy. Then have some more water and honey afterwards to help your muscles recuperate. Honey will also boost a chemical in your brain that calms you down, so have honey the next time you are suffering from insomnia. A tablespoon of raw, locally produced honey a day will ease the symptoms of allergy and asthma by helping your body acclimate to the local pollen.

The next time you have diarrhea, fight the dehydration that comes with it by mixing half a teaspoon of honey with a pinch of salt in an eight-ounce glass of fruit juice. Then in a separate glass, stir one fourth of a teaspoon of baking soda in water. Alternate drinking these two beverages until both are gone. The next time you have constipation, mix one to three tablespoons of honey into a glass of warm water and drink it. Also, add honey topically to minor cuts and burns to protect your skin from infection, scarring and swelling. Raw honey will even help prevent tooth decay because it releases hydrogen peroxide and kills bacteria.

Baking Soda

Mix it into a paste with rubbing alcohol and apply to bug bites for quick and easy relief. A baking soda bath will also relieve itching. For indigestion, drink one half cup of water mixed with one half teaspoon of baking soda.

Garlic

It might not keep away the vampires, but it can prevent clogged arteries. The allicin in garlic helps fight colds and the flu by helping your body get rid of harmful toxins and boosting your immune system. However, if you are taking a blood thinner, check with your doctor before taking garlic.

Ginger

This is a good headache remedy. Use it in a foot bath to soak your headache away. Add one teaspoon to a plastic basin of water that is as hot as you can stand. Cover the basin with a heavy towel to keep the heat in and soak your feet for fifteen minutes, keeping your eyes closed and your muscles relaxed. For a migraine, add ginger powder to a glass of water. For nausea or seasickness, eat a chunk or two of candied or crystallized ginger every couple of hours. (you can find this in the baking section of most grocery stores). Ginger will also ease the inflammation of arthritis, but like garlic, you don’t want to combine ginger with warfarin or other blood-thinning medications.

Tea

I’m fair skinned and have used a tea bath for year to ease sunburn. Brew strong black tea, cool it down with ice and let it soak into your burn. The burn always fades by the next day without peeling. Drinking black tea may also knock out the viruses of colds and flu on contact. The antioxidants in tea will give you stronger bones and helps prevent tooth decay by flushing out the bacteria before it can stick to your teeth. The tannins in tea are an astringent that can tighten your skin, so apply cold, wet tea bags to your eyes to eliminate puffiness.

Witch Hazel

A great mixture to have on hand for bug bites is two drops of peppermint essential oil for every one ounce of witch hazel. Keep this in a cool, dark spot and dab it on your bite to ease the sting and itching. Witch hazel will also ease hemorrhoids. For best results, find it fresh. Boil 5 to 10 heaping teaspoons of finely chopped witch hazel in a cup of water for five or ten minutes, strain, and use as a poultice.

The Author:

Sue Merriam is author of the website, Organic Gardening and Homesteading. http://www.organic-gardening-and-homesteading.com