General Home Remedies

What is a home remedy?

Do you want the short answer, the long answer or the right answer? While it is true that the simplistic answer is simply “a remedy made at home,” there is more to it than that. Taking an aspirin for a headache or an antihistamine for allergies is fairly simple, but you can do so much more than that. In fact, there are probably many things around your house that can step up to the plate as a home remedy.

Meat tenderizer: When I was growing up, an insect bite that itched was often treated with meat tenderizer to stop the itching. It is made into a solution with water and gently dabbed on the bite to relieve the itch. For particularly itchy bites, a paste may be more effective. Be careful not to take the top off the bite when applying, as that could increase the likelihood of infections.

Parsley: Ever wonder why sprigs of parsley grace your plate at some restaurants? Nowadays it’s referred to as a garnish, but the original purpose was as a breath freshener. For breath problems related to your recent dinner, raw parsley is probably enough. However, for more complex problems, a tea made from the herb may be more useful.

If you have bad breath that does not respond to usual over the counter products (including herbal remedies like parsley) it is possible that it is a sign of a more serious problem. Stomach and lung disorders may cause bad breath, as well as serious dental problems.

Tea tree oil: While this is not necessarily in every medicine cabinet yet, it has so many uses it should be. There are several fungal problems tea tree oil may help with, including athlete’s foot. It can be used straight, mixed with aloe or even other oils. It should be applied for a minimum of two weeks to be sure the fungus is gone.

Peppermint: This is one of my favorite herbs. Depending on what’s needed and how it is prepared, it can do a number of things. It’s very good for upset stomachs, particularly when one has overeaten. As a tea or in a candy, it can soothe a sore throat and ease a cough. It can also help stimulate you when you are tired and still need to stay awake. That can be accomplished both by ingestion and as aromatherapy.

It is unwise to use oil of peppermint around young children. It is so strong, it can affect their breathing and has on occasion been deadly.