Natures Remedies
- Publish Date
- Wednesday, 9 April 2014, 12:00AM
Muddled mind, aching muscles, sore feet? Before you reach for the pill packet, let nature come to the rescue. From honey to salts and fresh herbs, these household items will have you feeling yourself again, fast...
To refocus a muddled mind
You need: rosemary
Stress is terrible for your productivity, and even worse for your health. So step away from the laptop and try inhaling some clarifying rosemary. With its fresh aroma, rosemary is one of the most effective natural remedies for refocusing a muddled mind. Simply crush the fresh stuff in your hand, or enjoy a warming mug of rosemary tea.
To heal blisters
You need: mouthwash
Have your favourite shoes left their mark on your feet? If left untreated, blisters can become the bane of your life. But short of shelling out for expensive blister plasters and wearing comfy shoes, there's not much you can do about them. Fortunately, with its powerful antiseptic properties, mouthwashes are one of the quickest ways to draw infection-causing moisture out of blisters - allowing them to heal quickly. Just dab a mouthwash-soaked cotton wool ball onto the offending area, and maybe wear in those shoes a bit better next time.
To heal sore muscles
You need: epsom salts
If the latest cardio session has left you feeling sore and achy, try sprinkling some epsom salts in a warm bath. The heat from the water will draw the blood to the skin's surface, diverting inflammation away from the muscle's pain receptors and allowing your body to relax - 20 minutes should do the trick.
To relax
You need: milk and honey
Combat fatigue, and make the most of those weekend lie-ins, by sipping on a tall glass of milk and honey before bed. Studies have shown that with its high levels of melatonin and tryptophan, milk is a key ingredient when it comes to easing yourself into a blissful sleep. Heat milk in a saucepan to just before boiling and then add a drop of vanilla extract and a teaspoon of honey for a truly soothing bedtime beverage.
To ease a stiff back
You need: salmon
Hours spent crouching over a computer screen are no good for our posture, so if you need to ease stiffened muscles a hearty salmon dinner is your best option. Salmon is packed with omega-3 fatty acids have been proven to reduce arthritic pain in the neck and back by actively reducing levels of inflammation in the body.
Try our delicious Thai Inspired Cured Salmon recipe.
To fight infection
You need: sandalwood oil
Nip that illness in the bud with this all-natural saviour. Derived from the sandalwood tree, this deep, woody-scented oil has incredible antiseptic qualities that makes it perfect for fighting bacterial infections like the flu. A firm favourite among aromatherapists, Sandalwood essential oil stimulates the immune system when dabbed on swollen lymph glands and it can even be drunk in a homeopathically diluted solution of water to target chest infections and digestive problems from the inside out.
To decongest
You need: eucalyptus
Decongest the all natural way by using a little eucalyptus. Either use the essential oil as a chest rub, or dilute it in a bowl of steaming hot water and hold your face over the top.
To unclog pores
You need: parsley
While a regular skin care routine is integral to avoiding clogged pores, parsley provides a little known quick fix. This naturally astringent green herb is useful for drawing toxins out of the skin. Simply fill a bowl with parsley and boiling water, before straining the liquid and soaking a clean cloth in the solution. Hold on the affected skin for 10 to 15 minutes and repeat once daily to leave skin feeling smooth and radiant.
To soothe sunburn
You need: oatmeal
Rich in silica and an anti-inflammatory compound called avenanthramides, oat baths are perfect for soothing the sting of sunburn. Simply run a bath and fill a sock with 5-10 heaped tablespoons of oats. Tie the sock tightly and drop it into the water. Soak it for a few minutes, and then squeeze out the liquid to make sure your getting the most out of the oats. Packed with polysaccharides and protein, this bath should be teeming with soothing properties.
To cure motion sickness
You need: ginger
Combat motion sickness with a good dose of ginger. Numerous studies have shown that the root vegetable is just as effective at curing motion sickness as anti-nausea medication. Consume it infused in your tea, as a syrup or even flavoured in biscuits or candied sweets.
To refocus a muddled mind
You need: rosemary
Stress is terrible for your productivity, and even worse for your health. So step away from the laptop and try inhaling some clarifying rosemary. With its fresh aroma, rosemary is one of the most effective natural remedies for refocusing a muddled mind. Simply crush the fresh stuff in your hand, or enjoy a warming mug of rosemary tea.
To heal blisters
You need: mouthwash
Have your favourite shoes left their mark on your feet? If left untreated, blisters can become the bane of your life. But short of shelling out for expensive blister plasters and wearing comfy shoes, there's not much you can do about them. Fortunately, with its powerful antiseptic properties, mouthwashes are one of the quickest ways to draw infection-causing moisture out of blisters - allowing them to heal quickly. Just dab a mouthwash-soaked cotton wool ball onto the offending area, and maybe wear in those shoes a bit better next time.
To heal sore muscles
You need: epsom salts
If the latest cardio session has left you feeling sore and achy, try sprinkling some epsom salts in a warm bath. The heat from the water will draw the blood to the skin's surface, diverting inflammation away from the muscle's pain receptors and allowing your body to relax - 20 minutes should do the trick.
To relax
You need: milk and honey
Combat fatigue, and make the most of those weekend lie-ins, by sipping on a tall glass of milk and honey before bed. Studies have shown that with its high levels of melatonin and tryptophan, milk is a key ingredient when it comes to easing yourself into a blissful sleep. Heat milk in a saucepan to just before boiling and then add a drop of vanilla extract and a teaspoon of honey for a truly soothing bedtime beverage.
To ease a stiff back
You need: salmon
Hours spent crouching over a computer screen are no good for our posture, so if you need to ease stiffened muscles a hearty salmon dinner is your best option. Salmon is packed with omega-3 fatty acids have been proven to reduce arthritic pain in the neck and back by actively reducing levels of inflammation in the body.
Try our delicious Thai Inspired Cured Salmon recipe.
To fight infection
You need: sandalwood oil
Nip that illness in the bud with this all-natural saviour. Derived from the sandalwood tree, this deep, woody-scented oil has incredible antiseptic qualities that makes it perfect for fighting bacterial infections like the flu. A firm favourite among aromatherapists, Sandalwood essential oil stimulates the immune system when dabbed on swollen lymph glands and it can even be drunk in a homeopathically diluted solution of water to target chest infections and digestive problems from the inside out.
To decongest
You need: eucalyptus
Decongest the all natural way by using a little eucalyptus. Either use the essential oil as a chest rub, or dilute it in a bowl of steaming hot water and hold your face over the top.
To unclog pores
You need: parsley
While a regular skin care routine is integral to avoiding clogged pores, parsley provides a little known quick fix. This naturally astringent green herb is useful for drawing toxins out of the skin. Simply fill a bowl with parsley and boiling water, before straining the liquid and soaking a clean cloth in the solution. Hold on the affected skin for 10 to 15 minutes and repeat once daily to leave skin feeling smooth and radiant.
To soothe sunburn
You need: oatmeal
Rich in silica and an anti-inflammatory compound called avenanthramides, oat baths are perfect for soothing the sting of sunburn. Simply run a bath and fill a sock with 5-10 heaped tablespoons of oats. Tie the sock tightly and drop it into the water. Soak it for a few minutes, and then squeeze out the liquid to make sure your getting the most out of the oats. Packed with polysaccharides and protein, this bath should be teeming with soothing properties.
To cure motion sickness
You need: ginger
Combat motion sickness with a good dose of ginger. Numerous studies have shown that the root vegetable is just as effective at curing motion sickness as anti-nausea medication. Consume it infused in your tea, as a syrup or even flavoured in biscuits or candied sweets.
NZME.
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