Kitchen Cabinet Cures: Household Remedies for Common Health Problems

If you have a sniffle, a verruca or cystitis, your first step will probably be towards the pharmacy rather than your kitchen cabinet. However, your kitchen holds some powerful remedies that could help to treat a range of health problems.

Cranberries

Cystitis

If you have cystitis unsweetened cranberry juice could be all the cure you need. In the 1980s, it was found that cranberry juice may prevent bacteria sticking to the walls of the bladder, making it an ideal choice for cystitis infection. Drink 300-500ml daily.

Making your own solution by boiling down fresh cranberries is a good way to ensure the sugar levels are low.

Garlic

Colds and cuts

Garlic has an antibacterial chemical called Allicin. Allicin works to kill bacteria and viruses, including the superbug MRSA. A 2014 study also found that adults who have a daily garlic supplement have fewer colds.

Dr. Ron Cutler of Queen Mary, University of London, recommends that garlic be crushed, as only crushed garlic releases the Allicin to kill the bacteria. The garlic can then be eaten in the case of a cold, or applied directly to the skin around a cut. However, you might want to keep away from people, even with all the bacteria-fighting force of garlic on your side, as it takes approximately five crushed garlic cloves to get a good concentrated dose of Allicin.

Alternatively, you might prefer to take a garlic supplement.

Bananas

Verruca

This won't work on long-term verrucae that are resistant to treatment, but may be helpful in the beginning stages of a new verruca. Simply use Micropore tape to tape a square of the peel (yellow-side up) to the verruca. Some people swear by this as their only verruca solution, other people say it has never worked for them. Whether you wish to try it is a matter of preference.

The science is that the sticky inside of the peel produces an antiviral substance. The riper the banana gets, the more of this substance is produced. Therefore, overripe bananas are best to fight verrucae.

Dr. Michael O'Neill, a consultant podiatrist,, recommends that you apply new banana peel every day.

Oatmeal

Eczema

You probably don't want to bathe in oatmeal, but if you have eczema, it could really help. Oatmeal protects the skin against irritants and contains substances that hold moisture. It also contains fats that can help to improve the itching, and anti-inflammatory compounds that may be soothing over time.

READ Home Remedies For Cough

You should use colloidal oatmeal, ground oatmeal, which more readily absorbs water. You can make it yourself with a blender, or it is commercially available. The oatmeal can be then used in a bath or as a face-mask. If you bathe in oatmeal, you may find lukewarm water more soothing than the conventional "hot bath".

The amount of oatmeal you need will vary according to the size of your bath.

More Kitchen Cabinet Cures

Live Natural Yoghurt

Thrush

We've all heard of this one, but why does it work? In short, Thrush (that burning itch) is acidic (the fungus, Candida). When you slap some yoghurt on it, you are neutralising the area with an alkaline (the bacteria lactobacillus).

Any old yoghurt is fine, just be sure the yoghurt is sugar-free, flavourless, and has no colours or preservatives. Remember, where it's going, it doesn't matter what it tastes like.

See your doctor if you have strange smelling, or strange coloured discharge; sores on your vagina; pain; are pregnant; or have had two previous episodes of thrush in the last six months.

Olive Oil

Earwax

Olive oil can be used for removing earwax, or for softening hard earwax before going to the doctor. Although pharmacies sell bottles specifically for earwax, they are usually twice the price of bottles in the supermarket. Ditto, products sold as earwax removers are usually based on olive oil.

Once you have the safe ear-dropper that comes with the specialist olive oil bottles designed for earwax, you're just as well buying ordinary olive oil from the supermarket.

Ginger

Nausea

Whether you are an expectant mother, or undergoing chemotherapy, ginger is an effective treatment for nausea. A 2000 review of six studies found that consuming ginger was uniformly more effective than a placebo in the treatment of nausea, and as effective as the anti-emetic metoclopramide. They found this was the case in post-operative nausea, and nausea caused by chemotherapy. However the effect was not so strong in pre-operative nausea. Another 2009 study of pregnant women found that those who consumed ginger were less likely to experience morning sickness.

READ Ginger: Tasty Little Spice With Big Health Benefits

Osteoarthritis

Ginger is thought to have anti-inflammatory properties. In a recent study of 261 people with osteoarthritis, those who took ginger extract twice daily needed fewer painkillers and reported less pain even when they weren't taking them. However, ginger isn't a miracle-worker. It may take several weeks to start working.

Cabbages

Mastitis

Mastitis is the most common breast infection suffered by nursing mothers. Cabbage leaves, placed inside the bra and next to the skin have been found to help. Reviews of research have concluded that green cabbage is best. It must be washed before use. The veins of the cabbage should be slightly crushed, so it is softer around the shape of the breast.  It's not necessary to chill it, although some women find it helps more with pain if it has been chilled before use. Leaves should be changed every two hours (sooner, if wilted).

Some women are allergic to cabbage. If it causes irritation, discontinue use.

Tea

Headache

Many headaches are caused by dilation or contraction of the blood vessels. A small shot a caffeinated tea may help reverse these changes and prevent the headache fully coming out.

READ Health Benefits of Peppermint Oil and Peppermint Tea

Bicarbonate of Soda

Body Odour

Bicarbonate of Soda is a natural antiperspirant, which absorbs moisture and kills bacteria. Sprinkle Bicarbonate of Soda on any part of your body which has body odour, such as your feet.

All these treatments are thought safe.