Useful Natural Home Remedies For What's Ailing You......;-)

Do you have a medicine cabinet full of chemically leaching tubes, jars and packets of medicines?  Probably so.  I know I did!  I never thought about these products filling up our landfills, and also leaking into our soil underneath until I started becoming 'green smart.'  

The products themselves have accumulated over the years in thousands of households and I am sure have served their purpose healing many cuts, burns, headaches, fevers and colds, but whatever happened to the old home remedies our distant relatives used - that did work?  Once again the big corporations

and pharmaceutical companies have taken over into our medicine cabinets! 

Now I will say I love my herbs and products I can find at my Health Food Store, but even then you need to read your labels and observe the container it is in.  Remember, Health Food Stores don't just carry organic products.  Additionally, plastic containers can leak harmful chemicals, so glass is always better when buying any type of food, or health product (For more information on Plastics, see my previous blog).  Before going to my local Health Food Store, I always see what is available around my home.   Below is a helpful list of items I use when there is an injury or ailment.  Many of these were also used by my mother and grandmother:

Aloe Vera - Plant you can purchase at a nursery.  Just break a piece off and use.  Wonderful for any type of minor wounds, burns, and sunburns.

Chamomile - An herb you can purchase at the grocer or Health Food Store.  This is used as an anti-inflammatory, digestive aid, and good for rashes (even diaper rash).

Echinacea - This is a wonderful herb product which can be found in capsule form, purchased at the Health Food Store.  I use this religiously as a preventive antibiotic.  If there is a cold or flu in our home I am taking my Echinacea to help my immune system. 

Eucalyptus Oil - You can purchase this at the Health Food Store (glass bottle).  This is wonderful and potent for an antibiotic.  It is wonderful for treating colds, sinus infections (I get these often) when used as a steam inhaled.

Ginger - This can be purchase at the grocer or Health Food Store as a capsule or tea bag.  It is wonderful for gas-relieving ailments or upset stomachs.  It also helps relieves some motion sickness.

Honey, Lemon & Whiskey - Now I am not a ‘drinker', however this a potent remedy for the the sore throat ailment, which my grandmother and mother used.  A tablespoon of honey, a bite of lemon and a shot of whiskey will sooth the sore throat, and help you rest for the night! 

Lavender - As an oil, which you can find at the Health Food Store, Lavender offers relief from a sting or itching due to an insect.  Use undiluted on the skin or in a bath.  Lavender is also wonderful for relaxation and can be found in bath oils or tea.

Peppermint - As an oil or tea, both found at the Health Food Store, Peppermint is wonderful as a menthol that can calm an upset stomach, and clearing sinus cavities.

Tea Tree Oil - This great product found at the Health Food Store, has an anti-fungal and antiseptic properties, making is fantastic for athletes foots (which I used on my son), minor wounds, insect repellent, and also head lice.  In some cases it may cause a minor rash on very sensitive skin.

Tiger Balm - This would be found at the Health Food Store in a salve form.  I have used this many times rubbing on my forehead for headaches.  It is also wonderful in helping muscle cramps.

Witch Hazel - This is a good old product used for many, many years as a astringent and antiseptic.  It is good for insect bites and many skin irritations.                 

There are many other wonderful home remedy solutions and good place to look around is of course on the Internet.  A very informative website I use on occasion is http://www.grannymed.com under ‘home remedies'.  Another website I have found interesting is http://www.altnature.com, because I can see pictures of the herb flowers and plants with information on how they are beneficial.  There are many advertisements on this site, but I just overlook that and use it for quick research.  There are many great herbal and natural remedy websites on the Internet, just put in some key words on what you are looking for.  If you do find yourself at the grocer, or Heath Food Store,  please always remember to read the labels (ingredients) and try to purchase in glass containers only (when available).

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