5 Super Simple Herbal Remedies 14.03.2016

Traditionally, most Asian and African cultures have relied on natural home remedies to cure common as well as uncommon ailments. The wealth of knowledge amassed over thousands of years has resulted in effective cures that harness the power of nature and easily outperform modern over-the-counter pills.

A bad case of cold, a muscle catch, indigestion….bad health can catch you off guard anytime. While the best cure is prevention of course, we offer to you the second best solution – simple, homemade herbal remedies that work like a charm! These home remedies work quickly, safely and are effective not only in fighting off the ailment but also in boosting the body’s immune system. And the icing on the cake is you don’t need complicated ingredients to brew your own medication. Just raid your kitchen or add these ingredients to your shopping list and you are all set.

Common Cold and Dry Cough

Common col d and cough is the body’s way of telling you that your immunity is low. So aside from treating the cold and its drudgery, one should also immediately work towards building their immune system. One of the most effective cures is to grind together an inch of ginger and a few leaves of holy basil. Add a little bit of honey to this mix and swallow down a tablespoon every morning. Ginger, holy basil leaves and honey all have medicinal properties that not only fight cold but also boost immunity. Alternatively warm a cup of milk, add turmeric and drink it. Turmeric is a powerful spice with anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. Another option is to harness the powerful decongestant and expectorant benefits of garlic. Crush two cloves of garlic and let them rest for 15 minutes. Mix a tsp of honey and olive oil and enjoy it blend with a bread or cracker of your choice.

Burns, Wounds or Sunburns

Aloe vera was called the ‘plant of immortality’ by the Egyptians and for a very good reason. Amongst its zillion or so beneficial properties, Aloe Vera works like magic on skin whether it is to prevent premature aging, fight blemishes or to keep your skin healthy and moisturized. But its most potent use is it to help with sun burns or to treat wounds and burns. Just cut a piece of aloe vera leaf, and rub the gel directly on to the affected area. Repeat a few times through the day and the anti-inflammatory properties of aloe vera will completely cure your skin.

Stomach Pains

Be it constipation, flatulence or indigestion we have a home-remedy for them all. For indigestion or bloating boil a tsp of cumin seeds or fennel seeds in a cup of water. Sip the tea slowly and you will see immediate results. It will cleanse your system and bring relief. For constipation, swallow a spoonful of flaxseeds with some olive oil in the night. Flax seeds work as a great laxative and leads to an easy morning. Then there is always peppermint, just a few leaves, to help you get rid off flatulence.

Headaches

What with our hectic lifestyles and the constant surround of noise pollution, headaches have become a common occurrence. Fortunately, treating them isn’t that complicated either. You can take a teaspoon of ground cinnamon and mix it with water to make a paste. Rub this paste along your temples and rinse off with warm water after thirty minutes. Another cure is to rub lavender or peppermint essential oil on your forehead and temples and massage for a while.

Insomnia

If a warm bath and a cup of hot chocolate don’t help, try drinking cherry juice or eating a bunch of cherries before you hit the bed. Cherries contain melatonin, a natural antioxidant with a well-documented history of helping to regulate the sleep-wake cycle. While the body produces melatonin in small quantities, when we eat cherries, our body uses the extra melatonin to induce sleepiness.