We all have probably tried some of our grandmother’s home made remedies. Chances are you’ve already used a homemade pomade, herbal tea, essential oils, or plant-based supplements as medicine. Not yet? Time to give it a try!
Here are some natural remedies backed by science, that I’ve used for a few years now for my family’s health. They absolutely help with everyday problems. No need to rely on over-the-counter medicines…
1. Acne treatment for teenagers: baking soda and lemon
This baking-soda-and-lemon pomade targets specific pimples that appear on the face. It works much better than many lotions and creams found in the market, which are full of chemical ingredients.
To prepare it, you will only need to mix 2 teaspoons of baking soda with a few drops of fresh lemon juice (just enough drops to make a thick paste). This pomade can be directly applied to pimples and left on for 20 minutes before thoroughly washing off.
2. Sore throat? Try sage tea!
Many recipes use natural ingredients to cure and relief a sore throat. This sage tea is my favourite. Sage helps with sore throats, as this herb has antiseptic and antibiotic properties that make it an excellent medicine.
Simply pour 1 cup of water which just has been boiled over one handful of fresh sage leaves. Cover, let it steep for about 15 minutes and strain. After cooling down, it can also be used as a gargle. To boost the healing effect, add a tablespoon of honey and a few drops of lemon to the sage tea.
3. Peppermint oil for headaches
I was pleasantly surprised the first time I used peppermint oil to cure a headache. According to a few studies, peppermint essential oil cools the skin, numbing the pain of a tension headache as well as acetaminophen does.
Use a few drops of peppermint oil to gently rub your temples and forehead. Close your eyes for five to ten minutes and relax. It works wonders, and you will feel your headache disappear, or at least the pain will reduce considerably in a short time. In case you’re prompt to skin irritation, you can mix the drops of peppermint oil with a few drops of any carrier oil, such as coconut or olive oil.
4. … and for blocked noses
Once again, peppermint oil is the star of this recipe. All you need to unblock your nose and sleep better is to place a couple of drops of peppermint oil in the palm of your hand. Then rub the hands together, and with cupped hands deeply inhale and exhale a few times, until you feel you can freely breathe through your nose. Repeat it as many times a day as you need. You can also add a handful of (pepper)mint leaves in a litre of boiled water and inhale the steam to clear your blocked nose.
5. A honey drink to cure coughs
Honey has many health benefits and relieves coughing. For your cough recipe, boil some water and add around 30 grams of fresh ginger slices. Add 2 teaspoons of honey in the ginger tea and 1 teaspoon of turmeric. Ginger and turmeric have anti-inflammatory properties that will ease a dry cough. Drink this mixture once or twice a day. It will really help to calm your cough and eventually get rid of it.
6. Lemon zest for nausea and upset stomachs
If your stomach isn’t feeling so great after a meal, try this extremely simple recipe that’s surprisingly effective and requires only two ingredients. All you will need is to do is boil water with some lemon zest. Once the water starts to boil, turn off the stove, remove the lemon zest, and drink the hot water. The lemon zest water will increase the digestion process and relieve the pain and nausea feeling. If you can handle the flavour, you can also add 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to your lemon water to give your drink a boost.
7. Mouth ulcers… baking soda and turmeric
Mouth ulcers are not serious and usually clear up on their own, but they can be quite painful. Although they can heal on their own without treatment, there are a few simple home remedies that can help speed up the healing process and relieve the pain.
The first one is to apply a smooth paste of baking soda, turmeric, and water to the blister, wait five minutes and rinse it off.
Secondly, apply a paste of turmeric mixed with water three to four times a day to speed up the healing process.
Lastly, a very effective home remedy for mouth ulcers is to mix one tablespoon apple cider vinegar and a pinch of salt in half a cup of warm water. Swish this in your mouth for a couple of minutes, and then rinse it with warm water. Do this twice a day till the swelling subsides. The vinegar’s acidity will help kill ulcer-causing bacteria.
8. Sore muscles? Sooth them with cayenne powder cream!
Some over-the-counter muscle pain relievers use capsaicin as an ingredient to treat sore muscles. The good news is that you won’t need to rely on medicines, as it’s found in abundance in cayenne peppers.
Among the many proven health benefits of cayenne peppers, scientists have discovered that it also helps relieve and diminish muscle pain when applied directly to the skin.
Make a thick cream by mixing 3 tablespoons of cayenne powder (it can also be substituted by jalapeño peppers) with 1 cup of coconut oil. Simmer the mixture on low fire for 5 minutes, remove from the heat and pour into a glass container. Let it firm up and massage onto your skin when it’s cooled down.
Please use wisely!
While most of the recipes above are backed by scientific studies as beneficial, make sure to use home remedies wisely. Natural remedies usually don’t have any significant side effects, but some people can be sensitive to any of the ingredients mentioned above or have an allergic reaction to them.
It’s also important to point out that all recipes above are for the treatment of simple illnesses. If symptoms persist or are severe for more than a couple of weeks, it’s always better to seek medical advice.
