The Hindu Business Line : Quick fix, right at home

A staple of
natural medicine, they are cheap and fast, often work just as well as a drugstore fix, and may be as near as your spice cabinet, refrigerator, or laundry room.

Here are some doctor-approved home remedies that cure back pain, headaches, insomnia, and much more. Home remedies are a staple of natural medicine. They are cheap and fast, often work just as well as a drugstore fix, and may be as near as your spice cabinet, refrigerator, or laundry room.

Sore throat

Mix together a clove bud, which is antiseptic and fights infection, with 1/4 teaspoon powdered ginger (or 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger) and 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon — the latter two because of their anti-inflammatory properties. Infuse the tea in 2 cups boiling water, and for every cup, stir in 2 teaspoons soothing and sweet raw honey.

Sip throughout the day until your throat settles down.

Dandruff

Douse it with a cup of antioxidant-packed green tea, which will naturally exfoliate dry flakes without dehydrating skin. Steep two bags of green tea in 1 cup hot water for 20 minutes to overnight. Once it has cooled, massage the strong tea into your scalp.

Pimples

Treat them with tea tree oil and witch hazel, both of which have antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. As soon as you feel a pimple forming, dot either tonic on the area twice a day for 2 or 3 days. Never use rubbing alcohol because that only dries out and irritates skin without having any effect on the bacteria that cause acne.

Sunburn

Take a lukewarm bath with 1 cup added ground oatmeal (grind it with a mortar and pestle; instant oatmeal works fine), 1 cup whole milk, 2 tablespoons honey, and 2 tablespoons aloe vera gel. Oatmeal is anti-inflammatory, honey is antiseptic, milk’s proteins and fats soothe skin, and aloe numbs pain. Afterward, moisturise with a cream containing hydrating shea butter and aloe.

Diarrhoea

Drink a cup of chamomile tea. The herb has an antispasmodic effect that stops contractions in the lower intestine.

Flatulence

Sip one cup hot water steeped with 1 teaspoon caraway seeds, which stifle the enzymatic action that causes gas.

Warts

Clean the area. Then cut a piece of duct tape to a size slightly bigger than the wart. Apply the duct tape to the site and rub into place. Every three days, remove the tape and file down dead skin with a pumice stone or nail file. Repeat until the wart disappears. Chemicals in the tape suffocate and kill the wart.

Supplements: The Essential 8

These are the natural fixes experts trust. Follow label directions and use them to:

Get Energized

Ginseng

All varieties of ginseng stimulate the release of an adrenal hormone called ACTH, which increases alertness and physical performance. Look for products that contain 4 -5 per cent ginsenosides, the root’s active ingredient. Caveat: Do not use ginseng if you’re taking antibiotics or the blood thinner warfarin.

Guarana

The seeds from this Brazilian shrub boost memory, mood, and alertness. Caveat: Because guarana contains caffeine, do not use if you have high blood pressure or a heart condition.

Beat Pain And Inflammation

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Found in fish oils and flaxseed, omega-3s effectively tamp down inflammation and pain. Caveat: Because omega-3s thin the blood, do not use if you’re already taking a daily aspirin or warfarin. Capsaicina compound found in hot peppers, capsaicin soothes sore muscles by first stimulating, and then decreasing, pain signals.

Improve Digestion And Regularity

Psyllium Husks

Taken with at least 8 ounces of water or juice as a fibre powder, psyllium aids in the absorption of food and prevents constipation by absorbing liquid in the intestines, making a softer stool that’s easier to pass. Caveat: Use as part of a daily wellness regimen; do not use if you have stomach pain, nausea, or vomiting.

Ginger

The active ingredients in gingerroot can calm queasiness and relieve indigestion and excessive gas.

Boost Immunity probiotics

A Swedish study found that employees given “healthy” bacteria supplements every day missed less work because of illness than those given none.

Andrographis

Our natural-health advisor, James Duke, vouches for this Asian plant’s ability to prevent colds or curtail their symptoms.

New York Times News Service

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