Kitchen Cabinet Medicine: Home Remedy Tips

Even the most well-stocked medicine cabinet can't prepare you for every tiny but real emergency — but perhaps other stuff you have lying about your house can help? You've probably had many weird and nonsensical home-remedy suggestions. The home remedies we are about to recommend may be bizarre too, but they actually work. 

Baking Soda For Heartburn

Heartburn can be incredibly annoying — especially for people who suffer from it a lot, like many pregnant women for instance. I remember being up with terrible heartburn all night when I was pregnant with my son. Antacids helped for a bit, but the problem quickly returned and kept me from sleeping. Then, a friend's grandmother told me to mix a little baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) into a glass of water, and to down that in one go. I decided to give it a try the very next time an episode of heartburn hit, which was soon enough.

The good news is that this remedy really does work quickly and, in my experience, better than antacids. It's cheap, and you probably have some baking soda sitting in your cupboard right now. As a bonus, you can also use the stuff to clean your windows with. Do avoid using baking soda for heartburn a lot, because baking soda is high in salt and everyone knows too much of that isn't good for you. Beside that, you just need to see a doctor if you're not pregnant and have heartburn all the time.

Honey and Lemon Sore Throat Soother

To make this remedy, mix 1 tablespoon of honey and 1 tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice into 1 cup of warm water. Stir until the honey dissolves completely. This soothing concoction is a popular home remedy for alleviating sore throats and coughs. Honey's natural anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties can help soothe throat irritation, while lemon provides vitamin C and a pleasant flavor. Sip on this mixture slowly throughout the day as needed.

Butter For Bruises

Wouldn't it be great if you could prevent the formation of bruises and bumps after falling or bumping into something? Well, you actually can! Applying a nice amount of real butter to the area that might otherwise turn nasty can work miracles. This is another old wives' tale I picked up somewhere and reluctantly tried out, only to find that it does the trick. Margarine works too, but not as well. 

See Also: Cold-Fighting Foods from Your Kitchen

Why does butter prevent bumps and bruises? Apparently, it has a lot to do with the bruise-forming process. Histamines flood the injured area when you fall, bump yourself, or get punched. They end up dissolving some of the cells that make up the blood vessel walls, releasing blood and causing a visible bruise. Blood vessels consist of phospholipids, and that contains a lot of phosphate, which is also in butter. Hence, the butter saves your blood vessels and prevents bruising.

More Home Remedies That Aren't Nonsense

Duct Tape For Warts

Here's another odd remedy I tried at home, after reading about it on the internet. My two verrucas had survived liquid nitrogen treatment and a stream of over-the-counter remedies, and had been a feature of my feet for more than two decades. That sounds disgusting, I know! Thanks to duct tape, they are now gone. 

The British National Health Service (NHS) recommends duct tape as a verruca treatment, making it a pretty legit treatment option. Nobody is quite sure why it works, though. The duct tape might cut the wart's air supply off, or the adhesive could be killing the virus, or it might trigger the immune system to attack the wart. Whatever the real answer is, this is one home remedy that definitely has huge potential. I "wore" duct tape on my foot soles for about five weeks before the verrucas were gone.

Flax Seed For Swelling

Flax seeds (also known as linseed) are really quite versatile. You might know that flax is a great remedy for constipation, but another thing they're good at is helping you reduce any swelling you mighty have in your body. Flax seeds contain lots of Omega-3 fatty acids, which are great for your general health. If you want to use them for skin inflammation or swelling, you will have to apply flax seed externally. 

You can soak flax seed in hot water, drain them, and wrap them in a towel so you can apply your home-made compress to the swollen or inflamed area for as long as you want to. In addition, try rubbing flax seed oil directly onto the skin. Edema, mastitis, and even acne should improve with the aid of this simple home remedy. 

Apple Cider Vinegar for Dandruff

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a natural remedy for dandruff. To use it, mix equal parts ACV and water and apply it to your scalp after shampooing. Massage it in, leave it for a few minutes, and then rinse thoroughly. ACV's acidity helps balance the scalp's pH, reducing dandruff-causing yeast growth and itchiness. Its antimicrobial properties may also combat fungal infections. It's important to dilute ACV to avoid irritation, and it may take time to see results.

Egg Socks To Reduce Fever

This one is going to sound really weird to people who haven't heard it before. Believe me when I say that using it in practice is even stranger — but that's not important, because it actually works. Parents of babies and small children tend to worry when their little ones develop a fever, and not just because of the fever itself but also because they are afraid to give over-the-counter fever reducers. That is with reason, as Aspirin can be very dangerous for young children. Tylenol is usually fine, but it's always good to consult your pediatrician first. 

See Also: Do Dr. Oz's Nine Favorite Home Remedies Really Work?

You don't need to talk to your pediatrician before trying this natural fever reducer on your kids though, as it's perfectly harmless. You get a few egg whites and mix them up, then dip your child's socks in the mixture and put the socks on your kid. In my experience, a fever will come down very quickly after the socks go on! What makes this possible? Perhaps it's simply the fact that the socks are wet that brings the fever down, and the only added benefit of egg white is doesn't evaporate very quickly — or perhaps egg white has some actual fever-reducing properties. Whatever it is that brings the fever down, it will work for adults too. If, that is, they are brave enough to wear egg socks. Don't forget to take them off before you get up!