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Remedies for common health issues
Bad Breath No other natural remedy freshens bad breath as
well as parsley, says David Orlarsh, N.D., a naturopath
in Plymouth, N.H. This herbal food garnish is rich in chlorophyll,
a green plant compound that kills the bacteria that cause
bad odor. Nibble on a sprig after eating raw onions or garlic
or whenever your breath smells sour.
2 Blemishes
To
clear zits quickly, keep a small sealed jar of this natural
topical remedy on hand (it keeps for a few months): Combine
2 tablespoons of green clay, 1 tablespoon of goldenseal
powder (Hydratis canadensis), 2 to 3 drops of tea tree oil
(Melaleuca alternifolia), and enough water to form a paste.
Apply the paste to your blemish at bedtime and leave it
on all night. The clay dries up pore-clogging oil, and the
goldenseal and tea tree oil kill the bacteria that cause
infection.
3 Blisters
Don't
pop your blister, no matter how tempting it is. Doing so
increases the chance of infection. Instead, dab a cotton
ball dipped in plain old drugstore witch hazel (Hamamelis
virginiana) on the area at least four times a day, says
Brad Bongiovanni, N.D., a naturopath in Atlanta, Ga. Witch
hazel contains astringent tannins that dry up the fluid-filled
skin and relieve pain by increasing circulation. It also
contains alcohol, which is drying.
4 Body
Odor
If
your body odor persists despite good hygiene, your problem
may be clogged
pores. When your skin can't properly eliminate body wastes,
bad body odor
can result. Gently dry-brushing your skin just before every
shower
exfoliates the dead skin that traps those odor-causing wastes.
You'll find
body brushes in most drugstores. If you brush with long,
gentle strokes
moving toward your heart, you'll also improve circulation,
which will help
your body detoxify more efficiently. (This won't eliminate
your need for
deodorant, but you may be able to use less of it.)
5 Bruises
Experts
say the popular muscle soreness remedy Arnica is also your
best bet
for minimizing bruises and healing them fast. As soon as
you bump your knee
or other body part or notice a swelling or discoloration,
gently rub a
dollop of this homeopathic cream on it. Arnica shrinks inflammation
and
increases circulation to flush away the stagnant blood that
turns your skin
black and blue.
6 Burns
You
may know lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia)
best for its
soothing scent, but you can also use it to take the sting
out of a
first-degree burn (the kind you might get by touching a
hot pan). Not only
does this oil speed the healing process and prevent scarring,
Bongiovanni
says, but it also fights bacteria on vulnerable new skin.
Gently clean the
burn with soap and water first. Then combine one part pure
lavender
essential oil and three parts carrier oil, like almond or
olive oil, and
apply the mixture liberally to the burn at least three times
a day, leaving
the wound uncovered.
7 Canker
Sores
You
can once again eat spicy foods in comfort if you douse painful
canker
sores with raspberry leaf tea (Rubus idaeus). Steep 2 tablespoons
of dried
raspberry leaves in 1 cup boiling hot water until it cools.
Strain the tea,
and then swish a few mouthfuls for about one minute each
three times a day.
The tannins in this tea (which tastes a little like black
tea) reduce the
swelling and clean the sore so it can heal faster, explains
Andrea Candee, a
South Salem, N.Y.-based herbalist.
8 Chapped
Lips
First,
chuck your Chapstick. Conventional lip balms contain petroleum
and
sometimes alcohol, both of which dry the sensitive skin
on your lips.
Instead, moisturize and protect your parched, peeling lips
with castor oil.
Carry a small squeeze bottle of the oil and apply it with
your finger often
throughout the day. If you plan to be out in the sun, use
a natural
petroleum- and alcohol-free balm with an SPF of 15 a few
minutes after
rubbing in the castor oil.
9 Chest
Congestion
The
sweetness of your breath may suffer, but eating a plate
of curried,
sauteed onions on rice can really loosen congestion in your
chest. Lightly
saute two onions, sliced, and at least 1 teaspoon of curry
powder in 2
tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil until the onions are
soft. Onions
contain quercetin and sulfur, two plant compounds that break
up mucus and
increase circulation, explains Orlarsch. Curry also loosens
phlegm. And for
that breath? See remedy 1, page 48.
10
Constipation
If
you don't like prunes, you have another option for constipation
relief.
Dried figs work just as well as prunes. They contain soluble
and insoluble
fiber, both of which flush out your intestines. In fact,
five figs supply at
least 20 percent of your daily fiber requirement, more than
almost any other
fruit. Nibble on four or five at the first sign of constipation
and drink at
least one glass of water. If you don't get results within
three hours, eat a
couple more every three hours until you do.
11
Corns
Soften
this thick, callused skin with a little castor oil, recommends
Bongiovanni. Apply a drop of oil to the corn with your finger
first thing in
the morning, as soon as you get home from work, and right
before bed. Cover
the corn with a Band-Aid before putting on socks and shoes.
You should see
slow and steady improvement over several weeks.
12
Cough
Licorice
(Glycyrrhiza glabra) may be best known as a candy, but as
a tea it
can lick a lingering cough. Steep a licorice root tea bag
or 1 teaspoon of
the loose dried root in 1 cup boiling hot water for five
minutes, and drink
up to three mugs of it throughout the day. Your cough should
improve right
away, but you can continue to drink three cups a day for
up to three days.
Licorice can raise your blood pressure, so don't drink it
if you have
hypertension or diabetes.
13
Cuts
The
antioxidant power that makes vitamin E so good for your
heart also
speeds the healing of minor cuts. Simply prick a vitamin
E capsule with a
sterile needle and squeeze the oil onto your cut at least
three times a day.
Cover it with a Band-Aid if it's a serious wound. Be sure
to choose natural
vitamin E (d-alpha tocopherol), Orlarsch says. Research
shows that it has
more antioxidant power than synthetic vitamin E.
14
Dandruff
To
clear up dandruff you need to counter the cause of the problem:
your
scalp's acidic pH level. To restore your scalp's natural
alkaline pH level,
first wash and condition your hair. Then, while still in
the shower or bath,
pour a cup of apple cider vinegar on your head and rinse
with water.
15
Diarrhea
It
may seem counterintuitive, but to clear up diarrhea you
may need more
bacteria--good bacteria, that is. Diarrhea can be a sign
of an imbalance of
good and bad bacteria in your intestines. Taking probiotic
supplements
corrects that imbalance, Bongiovanni says. Look for a brand
that contains
six to eight strains of live organisms, including Lactobacillus
acidophilus
and Bifidobacter. Bongiovanni recommends taking enough supplements
to get 20
billion live organisms a day (this may be a large number
of capsules). You
should see improvement in one or two days; if you don't,
see a doctor.
16
Dizziness
A common
kitchen spice can stop a case of the spins. Simply drop
a pinch of
cayenne into a glass of warm water and sip. The warmth of
the water and the
heat of the cayenne cause your body to pump more blood and
oxygen to your
brain, which makes you feel clearheaded and steady. If you
continue to
experience bouts of dizziness, see your doctor.
17
Dry Eyes
You'll
need to shed a few tears to remedy a case of dry eyes. And
the
easiest way to stimulate your tearing action is to apply
moist heat to your
eyelids. Dip a small towel or washcloth in warm water, wring
it out, lie
down, close your eyes, and put the cloth over your lids
for 15 minutes. Do
this two or three times a day or as needed.
18
Dry Skin
Almond
and grapeseed oil are the quickest fixes for dry skin. They
soak into
your skin faster than creamy moisturizers. If your skin
is extra dry and
rough, opt for thicker oils like castor and avocado. If
you're prone to
breakouts, try filtered jojoba oil. Spread a thin coat of
whichever oil you
choose to the dry areas twice a day.
19
Earache
Ease
the pain and pressure of an ear infection with a store-bought
blend of
mullein (Verbascum densiflorum) and garlic (Allium sativum)
infused oils,
advises Tukwila, Wash.-based naturopath Eric Yarnell, N.D.
These oils kill
pain and fight bacteria. Before bed, warm the drops. One
way to do that is
by placing the bottle in your armpit for 45 seconds. Tilt
your head and
squeeze 5 drops into the infected ear and then place a cotton
ball in your
ear for a few minutes to keep the drops from running out.
You should
experience immediate relief.
