Herbal remedies can be very complex, and the ingredients as hard to find as they are to pronounce.
However, they don't have to be.
I can't count the times I've been asked by a friend or relative (usually at a time when getting to a doctor is not one of the options) how to handle some of the minor health crises that crop up in our lives.
My first question is almost always "So, what do you have in your kitchen.
" While I make good use of the normal stuff in your spice rack, there are other things that can be used.
Sometimes it's an herbal tea you bought at a supermarket, or it could be found in the contents of your crisper drawer.
You'll be surprised at some of the uses for "ordinary food.
" Apples: You've heard the proverb: An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
While that's true as it applies to the health benefits of fruits and veggies, it can also help with diarrhea and constipation.
The flesh of a raw apple can help put an end to the problem.
Cherries: The fruit and juice of the cherry is good for gout and other forms of arthritis.
If you're using the juice, make sure it is not sweetened or only one of many ingredients...
unless they're all dark berries.
Cranberries: This tart berry can be beneficial to the kidneys and bladder.
If there is an irritation to the urinary tract, it can reduce the discomfort, at least long enough to get you do the doctor.
Lemons: While some traditional sources claim lemon juice can help with gout, I can find no clinical evidence.
this is so.
However, it is a good home remedy for a sore throat.
Mix it 50/50 with honey and take a tablespoon as needed.
It can help both the sore throat and a cough.
Orange juice: When anyone in my family gets sick, I break out the OJ.
I don't use "from concentrate" stuff, either.
It has to be 100% juice, either from a juicer or from the market.
I won't say it cures a cold, but between the Vitamin C and the increased fluid intake, it certainly feels like it.