Home Remedies for Everyday Symptoms

Let's face it: not all of us want, have the time, or can afford to go to the doctor every time we are feeling under the weather. Luckily there are several things commonly kept around the house that can be of aid in treating those minor ailments that can be so annoying. Most of them are very effective and yet much more cost efficient than pharmaceuticals. They can be found right in your own pantry--no need for a trip to the pharmacy. They taste a lot better, too!

For a sore throat, gargling with apple cider vinegar can help by killing the bacteria causing the illness. Be sure to rinse your mouth out afterwards. Gargling warm salt water will help break up mucus and increase blood flow to the throat, bringing antibodies along. Slowing allowing honey to slide down your throat can soothe that scratchy, burning feeling. Do this periodically throughout the day, and it will bring you nearly as much relief as any throat spray--with a much better taste. More importantly, these remedies are completely natural and won't overload your system with medication and artificial ingredients.

When you're feeling congested, try eating spicy foods. It will increase the nasal discharge, which may eliminate the cause of the drip. This will also cause chemicals to be released in the nose that may aid in fighting the infection. If you need some spray and haven't got time to get to the pharmacy, make your own. Mix 1/2 tspn of table salt in 8oz of water. Draw it up into a dropper, and use it the same way you would use the saline spray from a bottle. If you don't have a humidifier, try turning the shower on very hot, and standing in the steam for a few minutes. This will thin the mucous, so that it will drain. Ginger and peppermint are two natural remedies that are also said to help with congestion.

If you have a cough, you can make your own cough syrup. One recipe calls for 1/4 tspn cayenne pepper (said to relieve pain), 1/4 tspn ground ginger (an anti-inflammatory), 1 Tbsp honey (antibacterial), 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar, and 2 Tbsps water. Mix it all together, and take 3 tspns of it. Chances are, you're got these items around your house, and it may take a few minutes but will save you $5 and a trip to the store. Natural remedies such as this are much cheaper and easier on your system than regular cough syrup.

An ear ache can be soothed by aiming a blow dryer on the warm setting at the offending ear. Garlic juice poured into the ear is also said to help. Clenching your teeth or chewing gum may relieve pressure. Unfortunately there aren't too many natural cures for ear aches, so if one persists, you will have to go see the doctor eventually!

When a hangover has you down, try eating crackers and honey while drinking fruit juice. The fructose helps remove the alcohol from your system. The best natural remedy against hangovers is to avoid drinking too much!

There are many home remedies for headaches. If you're having a migraine headache, have some caffiene. Head massage or tying a handkerchief tightly around your head may help relieve the pain. Putting ice on your head, rinsing your hands in hot water, and putting heat on your neck are other ways to relieve headaches. You could also dim the lights, or stand up taller.

Nausea can be kept in check with ginger, a very potent home remedy. You can sip it in tea or hot chocolate, eat ginger snaps, or take a capsule of ginger. It helps keep up your blood sugar level, preventing nausea. Allowing yourself to go ahead and vomit will usually put an end to the nausea as well. Try eating toast or crackers, said to soak up the acid in your stomach. Drink clear liquids, and lay down for a while until your stomach settles. Take frequent breaks to keep the nausea at bay. Sucking on fresh garlic is also said to help.

Mint water, lemon juice, and cider vinegar before a meal may prevent indigestion. Ginger tea after a meal can help your body digest your food, too. Herbal tea, such as berry or chamomile, can also be effective. Baking soda in water is said to provide instant relief. Sipping honey or eating peppermint may calm your stomach, too. Some say that these natural remedies work better than the over-the-counter pink stuff and will do more to soothe your belly.

For diarrhea, substitute carbonated beverages with milk and clear fluids. Avoid foods that may cause the diarrhea to become worse. Make sure you stay hydrated and also have something to eat. Sometimes diarrhea is caused by not taking in enough food, so upping your food intake as well as your liquid intake can help correct the problem. Cheese is said to be good to eat when you're having diarrhea. Ingesting wheatgrass powder may help, too, if you have any lying around..

Fatigue is very common these days. Many adults have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep, and very few people get the full 8 hours of rest that they need. One cause of fatigue can be poor breathing, so if you are feeling fatigued, try breathing through your nose and not your mouth. Sometimes we have so little stress that our bodies aren't energized because, well, they don't need to be. Try adding some stress by giving yourself something to do or just changing something. The key is to challenge yourself. Darkness is likely to make you feel sleepy, so try adding color and light to your environment. Exercise and have something high in sugar to eat. As everyone knows, caffeine can give you a good energy boost, but it can be addictive--so don't rely on it too heavily! Spicy and acidic foods can pep you up as well.

There are several natural remedies for insomnia. Did you know catnip works on humans, too? Try sipping catnip tea. Valerian root is another highly effective herb. You can take it in capsules. It smells very strong, but it works. Melatonin, a natural chemical that our bodies produce in response to changes in light, is one of the safest, more effective sleep aids out there. These can help with mild to moderate sleeplessness without the side effects that come with prescription sleep medications. There is no risk of dependency either. Dimming the lights and warming up the room can help you drift off as well. Eliminate distraction for an optimal chance of a good night of sleep.

Whatever you're suffering from, there is something you can do, eat, or drink to make yourself feel better. When you haven't got time to make a trip to the store, and you're out of aspirin, just take a peek in the pantry. Chances are you have a pharmacy right in your very own kitchen, and you don't even realize it! So the next time you're nauseated, rather than going to the doctor for phenarghen, have some ginger ale. These home remedies are easier on your system, more affordable, and better tasting!