I, for one, will always try to avoid going to the doctor whenever possible. It’s always a relief when there are home remedies to help you feel better.
There are some studies that say these homemade fixes are less invasive and a holistic approach to easing common ailments. These easy home remedies below have been the most successful that I've seen around the web. Here's my list of the best home remedies that might actually work for you and your family:
- Stop nosebleeds the right way
- Relieve stuffy noses and sinus pressure
- Sleep well without acid reflux
- Calm yourself during a bout of anxiety
- Treat blisters holistically
- Relieve carsickness the natural way
- Get rid of a pesky UTI
- Use cloves to heal cuts faster and dull the pain
- Let the power of duct tape heal your wart
- Soothe cold sores naturally
- Treat common skin ailments with this surprising natural ingredient
- Get rid of itchy eczema using olive oil
- Treat sore throats with this tried-and-true home remedy
First, the most annoying of ailments — the nosebleed…
13 Home Remedies That Actually Work
1. Stop a Nosebleed at Home
Stopping a nosebleed is simple.
- Put half of a cotton ball on your upper gums, right behind the small dent below your nose.
- Press cotton ball firmly.
It is believed that putting pressure on your gums blocks an artery that supplies blood to the nose. If this doesn’t work, you can press between your eyes, where there is also an artery.
I've also read that cooling the area between your eyes with a cold fabric may help because it causes arteries to constrict.
2. Relieve a Stuffy Nose or Sinus Pressure
According to Lisa DeStefano, D.O., an assistant professor at the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, to clear a stuffy nose or to relieve sinus pressure:
- Push your tongue against the roof of your mouth
- Then press a finger between your eyebrows.
These two simple acts cause the vomer bone to rock, which loosens your congestion and clears you up.
After around 20 seconds, you should start to feel relief as your sinuses begin to drain.
3. A Surprising Way to Prevent Acid Reflux
If you've eaten a big meal, and you're feeling full as you go to sleep, lay on your left side.
Why?
Laying on your left side keeps your stomach lower than your esophagus, which will help keep stomach acid from sliding up your throat.
Studies have shown that patients who sleep on their left sides are less likely to suffer from acid reflux. This is because the esophagus and stomach connect at an angle (see image above.) When you sleep on your right side, the stomach is higher than the esophagus, allowing food and stomach acid to slide up your throat.
4. Calm Your Anxiety with These Breathing Methods
Are you one of the 40 million adults in the US who suffer from anxiety?
If you are, there are a few methods you can use to relax.
Slow your heart rate by blowing on your thumb. According to some doctors, this idea has its roots in the fact that the thumb has its own pulse. If you calm that pulse down, you're effectively calming the heart down too.
This method also helps because the act of blowing itself forces you to breathe deeply. Oxygen is naturally calming, and acts as an antidote to the adrenaline that raised your heart rate in the first place.
To breathe deeply, hyper-inflate your lungs to ensure maximum oxygen intake. Breathe in for seven seconds, hold for three seconds, and exhale for seven seconds. This method is called “triangle breathing.”
5. Listerine for Blisters
This classic breath freshener is a powerful antiseptic, but did you know it can also heal blisters?
According to Janet Maccaro, PhD, CNC, a holistic nutritionist, and certified nutrition consultant, Listerine can dry out blisters and help them heal faster. Simply moisten a cotton ball with Listerine and dab it on your blister three times a day until the area dries out and no longer hurts.
6. Use Olives or Lemons to Relieve Motion Sickness
Have you ever been seasick, or felt nauseated after a long, bumpy car ride? Then you've suffered from motion sickness.
Motion sickness occurs when your inner ear and eyes sense motion differently. For example, if you are looking out the window of a ship, your eyes may not see the movement, but your body senses it. This causes feelings of nausea.
One of the main symptoms of motion sickness is the production of excess saliva, which can make you feel more nauseated. Compounds in olives, called tannins, dry out your mouth and can help soothe that queasy feeling. Pop a couple olives at the first hint of nausea, and you'll be feeling like yourself again in no time. Sucking on a lemon can also do the trick.
7. Treat a UTI with Baking Soda
“Above Average” Joe has discussed the many uses of baking soda here. It's wonderful stuff that can be used around the house for all sorts of things. But did you know it also has health benefits, including reducing the symptoms of a urinary tract infection?
Dr. Larrian Gillespie, MD, a retired assistant clinical professor of urology and urogynecology in Los Angeles, suggests drinking a solution made with 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda mixed with 8 oz. of water at the first signs of UTI symptoms.
Drink the solution once a day until you can visit your doctor for a culture and antibiotic prescription.
Why does it work? Baking soda makes the bladder environment more alkaline, which reduces bacteria's ability to multiply.
8. Cloves for Cuts
Cloves are known to have antiseptic, antifungal and pain-relieving properties. This is what makes them ideal as a holistic method for treating cuts.
To treat a cut with cloves, simply sprinkle powdered cloves on the cut. This will help prevent an infection from forming.
Additionally, clove oil is rich in eugenol, a chemical used as both an antiseptic and painkiller. Using clove oil will help the cut heal faster and make it much less painful.
9. Treat Warts at Home with Duct Tape
Is there anything duct tape can't do?
According to a study published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, the chemicals in duct tape suffocate and kill warts. This method works even better than freezing them off. In fact, the study showed that duct tape eliminated 85% of warts after two months — compared to only 60% using the freezing method!
To use duct tape safely:
- Make sure the area is clean.
- Cut a piece of duct tape to a size slightly bigger than the wart.
- Apply the duct tape to the wart and rub it into place.
- After three days, remove the duct tape.
- File down the dead skin with a pumice stone or nail file.
- Repeat until the wart disappears.
10. Soothe Cold Sores with Lemon Balm
Cold sores can be so irritating, and often quite painful.
If you're suffering from a cold sore. Reach for lemon balm. This herbal treatment has antiviral properties that work to tame cold sore outbreaks.
To treat a cold sore with lemon balm tea:
- Brew 2-4 tablespoons of lemon balm per cup of boiling water.
- Let it cool.
- Cover a cotton ball with the tea, then dot the cold sore with it.
Repeat this several times a day, and you'll find your cold sore shrinking in no time!
11. Licorice for Corns and Calluses
Calluses and corns can be some of the most annoying ailments because they are so difficult to treat.
Surprisingly, a popular candy might be the secret to treating these common skin irritations at home.
According to Georgianna Donadio, PhD, director of the National Institute of Wholle Health, “Licorice contains estrogen-like substances that soften the hard skin of calluses and corns.”
To treat corns and calluses with licorice, simply:
- Grind up a few licorice sticks.
- Mix them with 1/2 teaspoon of petroleum jelly.
- Rub the mixture into the rough areas of your feet.
12. A Great Eczema Treatment is Hiding Right in Your Pantry
Eczema is a chronic skin condition affecting an estimated 35 million Americans. The constant itch can be hard to deal with and sends many people suffering from this condition straight to the dermatologist in search of relief. But don't run to the doctor just yet — you might be able to treat eczema at home with something you probably have in your pantry.
Olive oil is packed with antioxidants that can reduce the inflammation associated with eczema. It is the base for many moisturizers, but may be even better used alone because it lacks the irritants that are often found in store-bought creams.
To treat eczema with olive oil, rub 1 teaspoon per square inch of skin (this creates a seal that prevents skin from drying out.)
For serious cases, cover oil-slathered skin with plastic wrap overnight to lock the moisture in.
13. Gargle Salt Water to Ease Sore Throats
Several studies have found that gargling several times a day with warm salt water can help relieve a sore throat.
Salt water reduces swelling in the throat and loosens mucus, helping to flush out irritants or bacteria.
Doctors generally recommend dissolving half a teaspoon of salt in one cup of water. If the salty taste is too unpleasant for you, try adding a small amount of honey to sweeten the mixture slightly.
Remember to spit the water out after gargling, rather than swallowing.
Want to learn more surprising uses for duct tape? Check out the video below:
The above article is for informational purposes only. In the case of a medical emergency, call 911. If you are pregnant or nursing, consult a doctor before starting any and all home remedies.
** Portions of the above information has been courtesy of lifehack.org and prevention.com.
Home remedies will save you time and money by helping you avoid doctor's visits. You will also be healthier in the long run by treating ailments at home rather than relying on over-the-counter or prescription medications.
Do you have any home remedies of your own? Share them with us in the comments!
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on Jul 13, 2016, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.
As for number 4 above, “blowing on your thumb,” such as when you blow up a balloon, stimulates the vagus nerve, which will slow your heart rate. The same thing can be done when taking a deep breath and bearing down, as if to have a bowel movement. ( I know that’s gross, but I’m an nurse educator!) Be careful though, this can be dangerous if you have an abnormally slow heartrate, or some other problems.
As far as UTIs, yes, drink plenty of fluids. You’ve heard to drink cranberry juice? Yes, it ACIDIFIES urine, making it a hostile environment for bacteria. For those who detest the taste, you can take the active ingredients in pill form. Many nursing homes now actually give these “cranberry pills” to their residents as a UTI preventive.
Also good to note, just because something is “all natural” doesn’t mean it is necessarily safe. Some people may have severe allergies to some homeopathic remedies. Also, many of our commonly used drugs come from plant sources, such as digitalis (Digoxin)- it comes from foxgloves. It is a potent heart drug that also slows the heart rate down. Some all natural supplements don’t react well with certain prescription drugs, or have side effects like blood thinning properties, that can put you at grave risk when going to surgery. Bottom line, do your homework before taking any supplement. And when you go to the doctor or hospital, take ALL the drugs (prescription AND over-the-counter) as well as herbals and supplements, in their original containers, so they can get a record of everything you are taking. It could save you or your family members a LOT of grief!
Great info you shared!
I’d like to share this on Facebook.