I remember being such an outdoorsy kid roaming the beautiful green hills of Kentucky often getting bee stings and a variety of unidentifiable insect bites from time to time. My mother would tell me to go grab the box of baking soda in our kitchen cabinet. From this, I would make a paste with water and gently rub it onto the stinging site. It always seemed to alleviate the discomfort rather quickly. From gathering sassafras roots to dandelions leaves for tea, I remember the simplicity of remedies and how my mother incorporated that sense of healing with natural plants and tonics derived from nature itself. Perhaps this placed the initial yearning of wanting to help others with natural healing through both herbals and acupuncture. But today, I want to share some simple household remedies for basic ailments that we may face day to day. These household items may range from apple cider vinegar, lemon, honey, olive oil, or even salt. Let’s begin or natural healing journey together…
- Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) can often be prevented by drinking 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar and 1 teaspoon of honey to an 8 ounce glass of warm water once a day. To help treat a UTI, drink half lemon juice and half water each morning. But of course, this would be a mild case. With fever or malaise, you should see your practitioner. I typically prescribe Ba Zheng San for more moderate to severe cases with a combination of damp heat clearing herbs based off of assessment.
- Toothaches can be miserable! No one likes to go to the dentist except for cleanings but sometimes you have to. But in the meantime to treat the discomfort, try these tips. Gargle two tablespoons of good ole’ baking soda dissolved in an 8 ounce glass of water for just under one minute. Swish it well but do not swallow. Repeat until you have finished the whole glass. Also, a cotton ball soaked in room temperature apple cider vinegar placed on the affected area helps relieve the toothache until you can go to the dentist.
- Sore throats are one of my least favorites. I recommend combining one-fourth a cup of honey, one-fourth a cup of apple cider vinegar and ingest every few hours as needed. Gargling a warm glass of water with either ½ teaspoon of baking soda or choose to gargle with both lemon and salt throughout the day will help alleviate the discomfort.
- Indigestion can happen to all of us if we choose to overeat or eat foods that are not the best for us. A quick treatment for fast relief is drinking an 8 ounce glass of warm water with only a tablespoon of baking soda. Honey and lemon also helps. For chronic indigestion, come see me!
- Foot odor, though unpleasant, does have a remedy without spraying your shoes! You can choose to sprinkle baking soda inside your shoes or directly on your feet and between your toes. Also, soaking the feet with one-third cup of vinegar in a small pan of water three times a week will help control the odor.
- Diarrhea if not chronic can be addressed with guava juice and a bland diet. Sipping 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in a warm glass of water throughout the day can also help. For loss of electrolytes, drinking a glass of water with ¼ teaspoon of baking soda can help compensate. If pregnant, don’t delay seeing your practitioner.
- Minor burns can be relieved with honey which has antibacterial properties to help expedite the healing. Once applied, then you may cover with a sterile gauze. Lemon can act as a cooling agent for minor burns and olive oil will help facilitate the healing without scarring.
- Post-nasal drip is annoying to say the least! This can occur due to allergies from foods or animals or nature. But help is on the way: baking soda and salt can be mixed with only a pinch of each and dissolved in a lukewarm glass of sterile water. Using a nasal bulb syringe, squirt mixture into each nostril. Then blow your nose.
- Anxiety occurs when we start to feel scared or worried about events or situations. Having one tablespoon of honey actually has calming effects and can be done even before bedtime. Also, a warm bath with three-fourths of a cup of baking soda can help soothe and relax your entire body. A natural cocktail to help with mild anxiety is one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar added to one cup of boiling water. Let it simmer and then cool, then sip like a tea. Don’t forget a touch of honey also helps. If anxiety worsens, then seek advice from your practitioner.
I hope these tips help with some basic ailments and a brief understanding of natural healing. Remember, a lot can be accomplished with natural remedies. Please call today to start your journey to optimal health 772-626-6419. Office visits and telehealth appointments are available at this time.
