Old home remedies have gotten a bad
reputation since the rise of the male-dominated medical profession, but some of
those old time remedies are just as effective as modern medications. They have
even found their way into many of the products that we buy in the drug store.
Why pay more for something with a fancy name done up in a capsule when you can
find it for free growing in your garden, or buy it for a few cents in the
supermarket?
Ginger
Ginger can be used for both nausea and
heartburn. Eat a small piece of ginger to relieve your discomfort. Either fresh
or pickled ginger should work equally well.
Alternatively, make ginger tea by soaking a
piece of ginger in water that is almost boiling. Leave to steep and drink when
it is just warm. Add honey if desired.
Ginger tea either with or without honey is
also good for relieving the symptoms of a cold.
Home Remedies For Cold Sores (Fever
Blisters)
Cold sores, aka fever blisters, and other
types of herpes sores respond well to anything astringent. Lemon is one of the
best old fashioned natural remedies for a cold sore that you will find.
If you can, place a thin slice of lemon
over the area where you feel the itch of a cold sore starting. Hold it in place
with medical tape if necessary. Replace with a fresh slice every few hours. You
should soon find that the itching stops and the sore will not appear.
If the sore is on your face and this just
looks too weird, fill a small clean perfume bottle with freshly squeezed lemon
juice and spray it onto the area about once an hour.
You can also use apple cider vinegar in a
perfume bottle in the same way.
Note this must be done before the blister
breaks out. Never use lemon juice or vinegar directly on an open sore.
If your cold sore has already appeared, try
drinking the juice of one lemon mixed in a glass of warm water four times a day
between meals. You can also do this once a day for prevention - first thing in
the morning is best.
Fruit And Fiber For Constipation
Constipation can have many causes but the
most common are lack of fiber in the diet, lack of exercise and certain
medications. The doctor will not diagnose constipation unless you have not had
a BM for three days or more, but most of us feel uncomfortable before this
point and a healthy person eating plenty of fiber will have two or three BMs
every day.
Dried fruit is the classic traditional
remedy for constipation. Daily consumption of a bowl of figs, prunes, dates or
even raisins should sort out your regularity within a few days. Always soak the
fruit for 2-3 hours in warm water before eating. You can cook it if you wish.
Drink the juice as well as eating the rehydrated fruit.
For quick relief, take 2 to 4 teaspoons of
castor oil. This is another well known home remedy for constipation.
To avoid it happening again, increase your
consumption of fruit and vegetables to at least 5 portions every day and
preferably 10. Choose whole grain bread and brown rice over white varieties,
and drink plenty of water. Sometimes dehydration alone is responsible for the
problem.
Old home remedies can help with a wide
range of common ailments, but always see your doctor if the problem persists.
