Remember back in the day when Mom and Grandma seem to have a home remedy for everything? Much of that folk wisdom has been replaced by over-the-counter medicines, but it turns out that some of those old cures are just as effective as anything from the drug store. Try out one of these home remedies and see for yourself!
Ginger is one of the most impressive home remedies. The spicy warmth is especially good for nausea. That might be why folks reach for ginger ale when they’re feeling under the weather! Grate some fresh ginger into a cup of hot water and drink it. Or, if you’d prefer, chew on a piece of crystallized ginger instead.
If your eyes are feeling puffy, don’t reach for cucumber slices or expensive masks. Just steep a couple of teabags in hot water for a few minutes to saturate the leaves, then chill them in the freezer. Once the teabags are nice and cool, lay down and place them over your closed eyes. In about 10 minutes, the tannins in the tea will have you feeling bright-eyed and much less puffy.
Colder weather usually leads to chapped lips. But before you pick up lip balm, try olive oil. Researchers compared the two and found that olive oil works at least as well as even pricy lip balms. Put a little oil on your finger and dab it around your lips to moisturize dry skin.
Most of us get colds once or twice a year. The nasty viral infections clog up sinuses and make us feel stuffed up, sniffling, and generally gross. You know what will blast through that? Any combination of honey, lemon, ginger, cayenne, and garlic.
For a soothing tea, combine honey lemon, and ginger. And for a sinus-clearing broth, add ginger, cayenne, and garlic to chicken stock. Throw in a little shredded chicken and some noodles or rice, and you’ve got yourself the perfect food for when you have a cold.
When you start hiccupping and can’t stop, here’s a cure that really works. Researchers found that eating a spoonful of regular granulated sugar can stop hiccups immediately. They think it’s because the work involved in swallowing the sugar stops your vagus nerve from making your diaphragm spasm.
If there’s anything in this world that can’t be cleaned by some combination of vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice, I’ve yet to encounter it. For feet that are a little too pungent, try soaking them for 20 minutes in a mixture of 1 part vinegar to 2 parts warm water. Add a few drops of essential oil to mask the smell of the vinegar. Tea tree and peppermint makes for an invigorating combo, while lavender is more relaxing.
