I love home remedies and have always felt that they actually work better than pharmaceuticals. They are typically cheap, easier to get your hands on (many can be found in your pantry), and rarely have negative side effects!
My love affair with tricks of the trade started with apple cider vinegar (ACV). For as long as I can remember, my grandmother preached the glories of this miracle drink as a remedy for everything from a stomach ache to stinky feet. We rolled our eyes and incessantly cracked ACV jokes behind her back. Need money to pay your bills? Having relationship problems? Drink apple cider vinegar!
In a desperate attempt to kick a cold, a couple of years ago I put the age old remedy to the test. My only disappointment? That I hadn't tried it sooner!
So, sip ACV warm with some water (1-2 tsp in a small glass of H2O) and lots of honey, and lemon if you have it, to ease the inflammation of a sore throat, to prevent bacteria infection of the tonsils, or to thin out mucous. For best results start sipping at the first sign of illness (tickly throat, post nasal drip, etc). For even better results have a glass once a week just for the heck of it... plus its great for your gut! I even use it diluted with water as a toner for my face! Works, well... beautifully!
ACV is amazing... a great blessing God has given us for natural good health. Pick up some high quality ACV from a health food store... the kind that still has the "mother" floating on top. Mmmm. Good stuff.
A few other remedies that I've had personal success with...
Garlic- a natural antibiotic and antifungal. Smells great too!- although your spouse may not agree. Have a cold that has turned sinus, tonsil, or respiratory infection? Chop up a few fresh cloves and swallow whole like a pill (or chew it if you can take it like a man). Garlic oil for an ear infection can be made my warming a clove in olive oil... or just place a half garlic clove just on the outside of the ear and hold in place with a cotton ball. Garlic is also the best treatment for a yeast infection! Forget the messy and expensive creams! Garlic is amazing!
Tea Tree Oil- This is hands-down the best essential oil to have in your medicine cabinet. The Apple Cider Vinegar of essential oils, if you will. This volatile oil is easily absorbed into the blood stream and lymph system when applied in a carrier oil (such as olive oil) in the neck and chest area. I've also used tea tree on Grace Louise's feet and chest during a cold. It also works well at treating a yeast diaper rash (again, mixed with a carrier oil and applied). Even one drop on a diaper can keep yeast at bay.
Cayenne Pepper (capsicum)- Capsicum works inside the body, as well as topically. Add to warm salt water and gargle for almost immediate relief for a sore throat. Ironically, it reduces inflammation.
Neti pot- There's a current joke on the Joy FM radio station about the neti pot. Apparently J.R. thinks that it was created as a practical joke to see if people would deliberately drown themselves. I'm a fan (both of the Joy FM and of the neti pot) and have had great success with this remedy for years. I use it at the first sign of a cold (again, post nasal drip and a tickly throat get me going every time). Who knew drowning yourself on a small scale could promote good health?!
Lymph massage- My most recent area of interest. I'm not sick often, but boy, this last cold threw me for a loop! I started feeling bad just days before my yoga certification training weekend. I rested Thursday and Friday, followed my remedies, and prayed for supernatural strength to make it through my class in Ft. Meyers. I had a great weekend (which reminds me, I should write about that experience...), but noticed the sore throat coming back Saturday night and then even more so Sunday evening. My glands were swollen severely and tender to the touch. I did some reading and started massaging with a tea tree oil blend Sunday night. I gave myself a mini anatomy lesson and then ensued an even longer lymph massage the next day. By Tuesday morning my glands were neither enlarged nor tender. This works, folks!
It is always my hope that sickness doesn't enter this home, but when it does, I've got a proven effective repertoire of remedies. Please share if you have any more to add!
