Best Home Remedies

Friday, December 23rd, 2011 at 1:12 am

The best home remedies are those that have been passed down from generation to generation since they’ve already been tried, tested and considered safe and effective. While many people suffer from unpleasant side effects when taking prescription drugs, there are many natural solutions that may relieve your every day ailments.

They may be folk remedies, but they do work for many people with ailments such as joint pain, sinus, mouth sores, stress, colds and many more. The alternative therapies listed below are just some of the best home remedies.

STRESS

Aromatherapy. Studies demonstrate that scents have a direct effect on the brain and can drastically change your mood. Aromatherapy is just one of the most effective stress relieving methods. Essential oils such as jasmine, clary sage, frankincense, rose and vanilla are particularly good for calming and relaxation. Aromatherapists usually recommend filling a spray bottle with distilled water and adding six drops of any of these oils per one ounce of water. Shake well, close your eyes and gently spray your face. You can also put one or two oil drops in a cotton ball, store it in a small bottle and sniff as needed.

JOINT PAIN

Castor Oil. My grandmother used to suffer from arthritis and she claimed she got great relief by applying castor oil compresses to the affected joint. I later found out that castor oil is considered a good pain remedy for rheumatoid arthritis and it is commonly used by alternative medicine to relieve back and joint pain, so granny was right.

Alternative medicine doctors suggest wraping the affected joint with a 8″X11″ cloth saturated with castor oil and covering it with plastic wrap for a few hours. Grandma used to do this before going to bed and she said her pain was gone in the morning.

BEST HOME COLD REMEDIES

Ginger-Lemon Tea. By boiling a peeled, thinly sliced, two-inch piece of ginger root in two cups of water, bringing it to a simmer for five to seven minutes, straining it and adding honey and the juice of half a lemon, you not only get the medicinal benefits of ginger, but also a great tasting drink that prevents mucus build up if taken one cup every three hours.

Garlic. Everyone knows chicken soup is great for relieving cold symptoms, but do you want to make it even more powerful? Mince a couple of raw garlic cloves on top of your soup. Garlic is known to fight off infection since it has antiviral properties and as such, it is a powerful natural antibiotic and a good decongestant. Herbalists consider garlic one of the most effective home remedies.

Marjoram Gargles. It is believed marjoram is a pain reliever and anti-bacterial herb. I have actually tried this herb on a chest cold. I putt a teaspoon of the dried herb in a cup and added hot water, let it stand until lukewarm, strained it and gargled with it. I was almost overwhelmed by its sharp and spicy flavor, but I was happy that it cleared and relieved my sore throat.

SINUS RELIEF

Thyme Leaves. My sister is a sinus sufferer, but hates neti pots. So when her sinus congestion gets unbearable, she ads a heaping teaspoon of dried thyme leaves to a quart of boiling water. She pours it into a bowl, drapes a big towel over her head, places her head 12 inches above the bowl and inhales the steam for five to eight minutes. She claims this clears her congestion right away. When I did a research on thyme, I found out this herb has decongestant and antiseptic properties.

CANKER/MOUTH SORE HOME REMEDY

Tea. Because it is believed that canker sores may be caused by a fungus, virus or a bacteria, the German group of scientists known as Commission E recommends treating these painful mouth sores with tannin, better known as tannic acid. Tannic acid is the main compound in tea and it is said to be antiviral and antibacterial. It is reportedly good for relieving minor mouth and throat inflammation.

Myrrh Powder. Regular tea is a good source of tannin, but the herb known as myrrh is highly recommended by herbalists since it contains high tannic acid. Many herbalists recommend opening a myrrh capsule and dabbing a little powder on the sore. Alternately, some people make tea from other tannin-rich herbs such as raspberry or peppermint and place the used tea bag in the affected area.