Home Remedies for Common Conditions

Here are some home remedies that my family and I use for certain injuries or conditions:

Bee/Wasp Stings

When I was eight years old, I was stung by two wasps while visiting at my uncle's farm in upstate New York. My cousin and I were looking through some old rocks in a dried up streambed when I was stung by two wasps. One was on the back of my neck and another on my leg. The pain that a wasp sting gives is tremendous. I am not allergic to bee or wasp stings, but I do tend to get some swelling. I had horrible burning, itching, and soreness where I had been stung. My cousin had a great idea. She took me to an area where the wall along the streambed was exposed. There was a lot of wet dirt. She took some of it in her hand. I asked her how dirt would help. She told me it wasn't dirt and that it was clay. She told me that when she got stung, she tried it and it helped take the stinging and burning away. She applied the clay to my wounds and sure enough, it provided immediate relief. Clay is all natural, does not smell bad, and one can get pain relief without having to take medication. I was told that the dark clay works the best (I used dark clay), but I have not been able to test that out. Clay can be found near areas where there is a lot of water, particularly near a streambed.

Scratchy/Sore Throat

The winter time is notoriously known for its colds, flu, and other illnesses. Usually, one has to take medicine to treat the symptoms of a cold. However, there are ways to get relief of minor irritations without having to resort to medicine. Sore/scratchy throats are a very common symptom of bad cold or flu. To get immediate relief, a hot cup of Chamomile tea with two teaspoons of honey will make a big difference. I know it works really well when I drink it. Another great effect of chamomile is that it calms a person and helps them sleep. Drinking hot tea can also open up a stuffy nose.

Constipation

Yeah, yeah, get your laughs out. As funny as the word may sound, it is not always so funny. Constipation can be very painful. There are ways to avoid it. Eating foods rich in fiber definitely helps. If you have problems with this condition, eat a lot of Raisin Bran (I'd say about two servings), oatmeal, and other foods that have fiber. Try to stay away from certain fruits (bananas), cheese, and bread products. Another great remedy for this condition is to eat a lot of green and red vegetables. My families remedy for this condition is eating peppers (including the hot ones) and making meals with a lot of vegetables and little cheese. I also drink a couple of glasses of fruit juice a day (orange juice, pomegranate juice, etc).

Itchy Scalp

I'm not sure if anyone has ever tried this, but I have used mayonnaise to treat itchy scalp. It works for me, but I am not sure if it will work for everyone else. I have heard that it is good for hair, but I was told by my mother that it is a good way to relieve itchy scalp. She said it had something to do with the vinegar. I tried it and sure enough, it gave me a lot of relief. Yeah, the greasy feeling is gross and it doesn't smell great, but if it works why not try it?