In today’s world our first reaction to any ailment is often to reach for the medicine cabinet or head off to the pharmacy for something to help. But all these modern medicines, painkillers and creams aren’t necessarily good for us. Indeed, although we seem to be in danger of forgetting about them, many natural cures work very well and have been used for thousands of years. And it may surprise you to learn that you can find much of what you need in your kitchen. Here are just a few example of natural kitchen cures:
Natural kitchen cures
Upset tummy
An upset stomach which results in prolonged vomiting or diarrhoea can leave you dehydrated because of all the fluid and salts that you lose.
A good way to treat this and re-hydrate yourself is to drink rice water.
Simply wash and then boil some rice (any type, it doesn’t matter) in water with a pinch of salt added to it.
Boil the rice for about twenty minutes to half an hour until the water turns milky. Then strain the rice, collecting the water. Let the water cool and then store it in a lidded glass jar. The rice water should keep in your fridge for about 4 days.
Drink your rice water throughout the day while your stomach is still upset.
Headaches and migraines
A great natural way of dealing with the pain caused by headaches and even migraines is to use aloe vera. This plant is found in many homes and has long been used for medicinal purposes, especially for treating skin conditions.
It has anti-inflammatory properties and also helps to lower cholesterol. In addition to these properties though, it is also a muscle relaxant. And muscle relaxation is very beneficial when it comes to treating headaches and migraines, because many of them are the result of muscle spasms.
So the next time you’re suffering from a headache, try splitting a leaf from your aloe vera plant. This will reveal the gel in the leaves which you can then scrape off and rub on your hands and face. You can read a detailed guide on how to split the leaves of an aloe vera plant here: How to harvest fresh aloe gel.
Enlarged prostate
Many men’s prostate gland starts to get bigger as they enter middle age and beyond. This can leave them needing to urinate more often, feeling as though they need to urinate because their bladder feels full, and can cause problems with a reduction in urine flow.
Sometimes surgery is needed to fix the problem, but for those men with mild symptoms pumpkin seeds offer a great natural alternative to conventional medicine.
The oil in the pumpkin seeds interacts with cells in the body and helps to reduce the growth rate of the prostate.
So if you know a male friend or relative who’s suffering from the effects of an enlarged prostate, tell them to try eating a handful of pumpkin seeds each day.
Eczema
Eczema is an irritating and itchy skin condition that can be treated with a number of natural remedies, including essential oils.
But did you know that oats contain ingredients that can reduce itching and also moisturize your skin?
So, strange as it might seem, bathing in oats can be a real help when it comes to alleviating eczema.
I’m not suggesting you should bathe directly in the oats, of course, which would make rather a mess! Instead, take a new pair of tights and fill them with the oats. Then place the tights round the taps on the bath, so that as you run the bath the water runs through the oats in the tights.
Then bathe in this “oat-enhanced” bath water for about fifteen to twenty minutes. You should notice a real difference in your skin.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Gastroesophageal reflux disease is more commonly known as acid reflux.
Your stomach’s contents are very acidic and if they get up into your oesophagus you can suffer from really bad burning pains.
This can happen if you eat too much so that your stomach is too full. When this happens, the valve at the top of your stomach which is meant to stop the contents escaping can be forced open.
And some people are unlucky enough to have a faulty valve, so they suffer from acid reflux much more often.
Bicarbonate of soda is found in most kitchens, and happens to be alkaline. This means it can help to neutralize the acid in your stomach.
It obviously won’t cure the problem, but if you’re suffering and you have nothing else to use and the pharmacy is closed, bicarbonate of soda can give you temporary relief from what can be a very painful condition.
Measure out a level teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda and pour into a glass of water. Stir the water to dissolve the bicarbonate of soda and then drink it.
It should be stressed that this is only for temporary relief, and if you consistently suffer from acid reflux, you should visit a doctor.
Summary
These are just some of the natural kitchen cures you can take advantage of. As always, let me know in the comments section below about your favorite remedies using everyday items you have in your home.
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