Learn About Home Remedies for 7 Common Illnesses
Everyday illnesses such as sunburn, bites and nasal congestion are frustrating — and they occur all too commonly. The good news is that there are homemade treatments that can be effectively used to treat these low-level illnesses.
The benefits of using home remedies are multiple. First, making use of ingredients that you already have in your home could be more cost-effective than paying for a prescription. Additionally, if used in conjunction with your doctor’s advised treatments, you may be able to rid yourself of symptoms more quickly.
And finally, the natural, herbal ingredients found in these remedies are better for your body, particularly for those who have allergies or adverse reactions to drug-based treatments.
The following offers a selection of simple remedies you can make at home. Where possible, a range of options have been provided, to ensure there is something to suit all needs.
Sunburn Home Remedies
It is an easy and common mistake to forget to apply enough sunscreen. Yet, when treated by a doctor, sunburn can require ongoing treatment with costly medicated creams.
By far the most effective natural remedy available is the gel of an aloe vera plant. Cut a leaf from the plant and apply the gel found in the center of the leaf to the burned area. Leave it to absorb for one hour before washing it off. This method should be carried out twice a day until the damaged skin has sufficiently recovered.
Alternatively, place a clean cotton ball into a solution of half-vinegar and half-water. When applied to the skin directly after irritation occurs, you will experience rapid pain relief. Honey can also provide relief from the unpleasant burning sensation, and given its antiseptic qualities, it will also allow it to heal more quickly.
Home Remedies for Bites and Stings
You may be surprised to learn that something as simple as an everyday skin cleanser can be usefully applied to not just ant and mosquito bites, but even to bee stings. The antacids contained in cleansers have been found to kill the acids in the sting, thereby easing tingling and aggravation.
Another great homemade remedy is cider vinegar and baking soda, which, when mixed, reduces inflammation and eases the pain of most common bites and stings.
Heartburn Home Remedies
There are many over-the-counter solutions for heartburn, but they can be costly and may have unpleasant side effects. Dissolving a teaspoon of baking soda into a cup of water makes for a natural antacid, and is therefore a good alternative solution.
Bananas, eaten either fresh or dried, provide your body with a natural antacid, too.
Furthermore, eating meals that contain ginger, eating ginger raw after a meal or consuming ginger as part of an herbal tea, has also been found to combat the constricting pain of heartburn.
Diarrhea Home Remedies
Diarrhea can leave your body feeling depleted within a matter of hours, and it is worth knowing what remedies you can create from around the house.
The bacterial cultures found in yogurt restrain the impact and development of the diarrhea-causing bacteria, therefore effectively controlling the upset.
Mixing fenugreek seeds with a cup’s worth of cottage cheese is another easy and successful cure. Similarly, coconut water will revitalize you more quickly than plain water.
Eczema Home Remedies
Many eczema sufferers endure the pain in silence, or seek the support of a physician who may prescribe highly chemical topical treatments. An alternative solution is to place an ice pack on the skin, or simply wrap ice cubes in a plastic sack or a clean napkin. Both methods will reduce the urge to itch.
Additionally, rubbing corn starch into a paste and applying liberally offers immediate relief. You can also add corn starch to your shower gel for ongoing benefits.
Earache Home Remedies
A great home remedy for an earache is to combine one crushed garlic clove with a teaspoon of sesame oil. Once gently warmed, add some drops of this solution to the ear in question, and then keep your head in a resting position for 10 minutes to allow it to fully submerge the area. The heat will melt any buildup of ear wax contributing to the problem, while the garlic soothes the pain.
Home Remedies for Coughs
The frequency with which antibiotics are prescribed in today’s society is causing us to resist their positive effects. As such, trying natural alternatives first is a good idea for long-term health.
Lemon, ginger and honey are all celebrated for their effective natural treatment of coughs and sore throats. The combination of these three ingredients will relieve the throat, as well as clear bodily fluid in order to control the cough. Enjoy them as part of a hot tea, either with premade herbal teabags or by dropping some slices of lemon, a section of root ginger and a teaspoon of honey into hot water.
Having a hot shower and slowly breathing in the steam can also be effective for clearing fluid from your chest during a chest cold. For irritating dry coughs, try hot water with a pinch of salt, or chew on basil leaves, both of which can help with incessant coughing fits.