Natural Cures and Remedies

These remedies were forwarded to me from my godmother, Nena Wiley. I am not sure if she compiled them, but i think she did. Just to give credit where it is due. I have added my own additional comments at the end of the sections marked with (*...). Of course, this is all my opinion and experiences and does not replace medical advice. You should always try to research stuff if you are not sure how to use it efficiently and correctly.

Happy Health!

Home Remedies

Indigestion and Heartburn
The belching, bloat, and heartburn caused by indigestion comes about because you don't have enough stomach acid to do the job right. A spoonful or two of apple cider vinegar will help break down the excess food that is causing you trouble and bring your stomach back to balance.
(*I've been trying to tell everyone this for years. Acid Reflux is actually just an official disease term that pharmaceutical companies came up with so they could create and sell a prescription for indigestion and heartburn. Once you begin taking prescriptions for such "diseases" as this, you will very likely then develop other "conditions" or "side effects" that need to be treated by yet another prescription, etc, etc. It all equals up to big $ for the pharmaceutical industries, and you pay the bill. All that said, there are many natural remedies available for most of the modern day "diseases" we have if you are willing to do a little research and save yourself a trip to the doctor : ) Google these books: Prescription For Natural Cures; Prescription For Nutritional Healing; Natural Cures "They" Don't Want You to Know About & More Natural "Cures" Revealed, both by Kevin Trudeau; Essential Oil Desk Reference Book. I have all of these books and would love to help you by looking things up for you or possibly lending them out (i refer to them regularly so it would have to be short ; )

Sore Throat
Sore, scratchy throats are usually a sign of a cold or flu coming on, so you don't want to ignore this symptom, but you can relieve the pain by gargling with warm salt water a few times a day and then drinking a soothing honey-lemon tea.
(*Young Living sells a product called Thieves Spray which the intended us is for sanitizing surfaces. However, if you spray the back of your throat it will stop the soreness, i have used it. Also, if you get a diagnosis of Strep Throat from the doc or think you might have it, spray this 2 or 3 times a day until relieved. I have heard this works great, almost instantly.)

Sore Muscles and Bruises
Save the day with a tube of arnica cream. The humble arnica flower makes an incredible cream that no medicine cabinet should be without. Use it immediately to speed up the healing of bruises, sprains, sore muscles, and other general aches.

Stop Bleeding
You'd think it would burn, but a sprinkle of cayenne pepper on a cut will quickly stop the bleeding and actually relieve the pain.
(*Cypress essential oil also will stop bleeding)

Ear Infections
Put a few drops of garlic oil or white vinegar into your ear canal and lay down on the opposite side to let those drops do their work. Garlic and vinegar create an environment that won't support the bacteria causing the infection. Repeat a few times a day until the symptoms disappear.
(*I have a recipe for this purpose to make up ahead of time and use at the 1st symptom but will post it later.)

Burns
Rinse first with cold water, then immediately apply aloe vera gel to the burn. If you don't have aloe in the house, slice a potato and rub its cool, soothing juices all over the burn. And honey, with its antibacterial properties, is also good topical ointment. If you can catch the burn immediately, mustard is also reportedly a great salve.

Athlete's Foot
Air your feet, soak them in salty water, wash them with garlic juice, or soak them with diluted white or apple cider vinegar. Be persistent, consistent and diligent: do it a few times a day and stick with it until at least a week after you think the symptoms are gone! Fungus excels at hiding out and coming back when you least expect it.

Rashes and Allergies
Try green tea, which contains compounds with antihistamine properties. You'll need to drink 2-3 cups a day to get the full effect.

Acne and Sensitive Skin
Wash your face with oatmeal. It's a gentle exfoliant and draws out oil and impurities.

Flatulence
Try taking a digestive enzyme with your meals. You can find these at any health food store. In the meantime, make use of digestive spices such as ginger, anise, peppermint, coriander and dill. You can make tea with these ingredients or incorporate them into your food.

Headache and Migraine
For instant relief, rub the meat of a pickled plum (Aka Ume in Japanese, Chamoy in Spanish) on your forehead. For milder headaches rub a fresh cut lemon or lime on your forehead. Try rubbing peppermint or lavender oil on your temples and the base of your neck; sniffing these oils may also help. Feverfew is a good herbal remedy for headaches. Have a little caffeine by way of green tea, and don't forget to use an ice pack for 20 minutes to dull the throbbing.
(*Peppermint essential oil placed on your thumb and pushed into the roof of your mouth for a few seconds, is sometimes effective too. I have also heard that headaches can be relieved by just drinking lots of water. A head ache can signal dehydration.)

Dandruff
Many people swear by rubbing aloe vera gel onto the scalp (leave it on for twenty minutes than rinse it out). This will certainly help with dry, itchy scalp. Another remedy is a rinse with apple cider vinegar.
(*I have used apple cider vinegar many times as a conditioner. I am amazed at how well it detangles and softens your hair. Of course it does leave a smell, which is why i don't always use it, because my hubby hates the smell of vinegar ;)

Nausea
The classic cure for nausea or carsickness is ginger tea or candied ginger. You can chew on the stuff raw, but it's so spicy and strong it might just make you feel worse. Sniffing real peppermint or lavender oil can also help.
(*Car sickness or upset tummy can easily be relieved by putting one drop of peppermint oil in a small amount of water and drinking it. This is safe for children as long as you are sure they do not have a reaction to peppermint (ie can use peppermint toothpaste or has eaten a peppermint and not had a reaction))

Constipation
Drink more water and eat more fruit and salads. Drinking a few teaspoons of olive oil mixed with a bit of orange or (diluted) lemon juice can help things get moving. Another surefire remedy is 1/4 teaspoon of Epsom salts drunk in 1/2 a glass of water.

Toothache
To reduce swelling and pain while you wait for your dentist appointment, try putting a few drops of clove oil on your tooth and gums, and bite down on a smashed piece of garlic (which has excellent antibacterial properties).