Introduction:
Natural remedies are often easy to use, effective, and
affordable — and they have few known side effects. You can probably find some
of them in your kitchen cupboard right now.
Headache
Remedy: Magnesium Glycinate
Magnesium
glycinate is remarkably effective for headaches. It’s a combination of
magnesium and glycine, an amino acid that binds to the mineral and carries it
to your cells.
Low blood
levels of magnesium have been linked to headaches and migraines. “Magnesium is
calming for the nervous system and easily tolerated. It also supports serotonin
production, a neurotransmitter involved in the onset of migraines.
Nausea and Sickness
Remedy: Ginger
Thousands
of years ago, Chinese sailors chewed gingerroot to relieve their seasickness
Ginger
naturally increases tone and motility in the GI tract, helping digestion —
unlike the conventional bismuth-subsalicylate antacid, which mainly coats the
stomach for temporary relief.
Next time
you’re nauseated, try sipping ginger tea, or try grating some fresh ginger into
a green smoothie.
Acid Reflux
Remedy: Apple-Cider Vinegar and Digestive Bitters
Sometimes
it seems there’s little apple-cider vinegar cannot do. Recent studies suggest
it can help regulate blood sugar and build good gut bacteria. It is recommended
as an effective solution for heartburn, along with another age-old remedy:
digestive bitters.
Digestive
bitters and apple-cider vinegar help stimulate digestive juices in the gut,
making the digestive system function more efficiently, Diet and gut health are
often at the root of heartburn, so correcting the gut and removing foods that
cause inflammation and heartburn is usually the best way to heal.
Constipation
Remedy: Magnesium Citrate
The
causes of chronic constipation are many, and it’s important to address the root
issues — dehydration, food intolerances, lack of dietary fibre, irregular
eating and sleeping patterns, and sedentary behaviours.
A
combination of magnesium and citric acid, the supplement relaxes your
intestines and pulls water into them. “This particular form of magnesium is
stimulating on the bowels.
Sore Muscles
Remedy: Arnica
The
anti-inflammatory properties of this meadow flower have been easing aches and
pains since the middle Ages. Arnica is still used widely in Germany, where
researchers have shown it to be an effective remedy for muscle aches, sprains,
and joint pain and swelling. Studies in the United States have found it as
reliable as NSAIDs at relieving pain from osteoarthritis in the hands.
Arnica
gels and creams are considered safe; a mild allergic rash is the only potential
side effect. The remedy is also available in the form of sublingual homeopathic
pills.
Meanwhile,
if you’re often achy, stretching and hydration may be the answer, says Lester.
“Our bodies will often course-correct when we get back to the basics, which are
highly underrated.”
Joint Pain
Remedy: Curcumin
Turmeric
has been used in curries as well as traditional Indian and Chinese medicine for
centuries. Curcumin, the twisty root’s yellow phyto-chemical, has emerged as a
popular remedy in recent years after studies revealed its anti-inflammatory,
antioxidant, and antimicrobial qualities.
Curcumin
eases joint pain by inhibiting the body’s inflammatory-response mediators.
Those who
suffer chronic joint pain may find substantial relief by avoiding gluten,
dairy, and sugar, as well as making other dietary adjustments. Essential fatty
acids can also help.
Earache
Remedy: Garlic Mullein Herbal Eardrops
A paediatric
study found that natural eardrops containing the herb mullein are just as
effective as anaesthetic drops for reducing pain. To help prevent chronic
earaches, avoid dairy, gluten, and sugar. Monitor vitamin-D levels, fatty-acid deficiencies,
and stress levels — and be sure to keep some garlic mullein drops on hand.
Sleeplessness
Remedy: Lavender oil
You might
associate the smell of this herb with a fragrant backyard garden, but the
anxiety and insomnia-relieving effects of lavender essential oil are potent and
well-documented. Research has found that it can help induce sleep and help
people sleep more deeply.
Bed
(while the bulb is still cool), or get an essential-oil diffuser for your
bedroom.
You are coming down with an infection
Remedy: Fluids
One of
the best ways to chase bugs away is drinking fluids, especially warm ones.
Consuming adequate fluids supports all your body’s functions, including the
immune system.
In cold
weather, we’re more susceptible to dehydration — there are fewer cues to drink
than in hot summer weather — and this makes us even more vulnerable to illness.
It is good to take soups and broths with fresh vegetables when you begin to
feel sick. Herbal teas with immunity-boosting ingredients such as ginger and
Echinacea are excellent o prevent feeling run down.
Body aches
Remedy:
Sleep
A good long snooze is the
best medicine for nearly everything. Sleep restores and heals the body… Without
adequate sleep, optimal immune function is next to impossible… A lack of sleep makes any pain worse, so when
body aches set in, hit the hay early.