For the respiratory system: cough, cold, sore throat, phlegm, mucus, chest infection
Garlic drink: Chop 2 cloves of garlic, transfer into a cup, add water just off the boil, honey and lemon juice to taste. Drink immediately.
Garlic ointment: Chop a few cloves of garlic, apply olive oil on base of foot, spread garlic and hold in place with bandage or cloth. Do it overnight or for a few hours. Especially effective for coughs. Garlics properties get absorbed through the skin. Useful for children who dont like the taste of garlic.
Onion syrup: Chop up an onion, transfer to a bowl, add honey till onion is completely covered, let steep for 4-5 hours. For children, strain off the onion, give it as a syrup, 1 tablespoon every 2 hours. For adults, take about 2-3 tablespoons every 2 hours (onions are optional). Good for coughs and sore throats.
Thyme honey: A general tonic for the respiratory system. Stuff fresh or dried thyme leaves into a jar, fill with honey, leave to infuse in the fridge for at least a week. Mix in a teaspoon daily with childrens meals.
For ear infection:
* Onion vapour: Chop an onion into half, use a thin tissue to cover the ear and hold onion half to ear for 10-15 minutes. Vapours from the raw onion will enter the ear canal.
For mouth ulcers, toothache:
* Clove painkiller: Place one clove against the gum where the toothache is, using the cheek to hold it in position. Painkiller, with slight antibacterial action.
For diarrhoea, constipation, wind, colic, nausea
* Rice water: Cook 1/2 cup white rice in 2 cups water, strain off the rice and drink the rice water. Good for diarrhoea, has an astringent action, soothing for the gut.
* Peppermint tea: Pour hot water over 1 teaspoon fresh mint or dried peppermint leaves to make 1 cup. Good for wind, colic, nausea.
* Ginger & nutmeg: Grate 1-2 teaspoon fresh ginger and 1/2-1 teaspoon fresh nutmeg. Good for diarrhoea, relieves gut spasm.
For urinary tract infections
* Barley water: Bring to a boil 1-2 tablespoons of pearl barley in 500m1 of water for 5 minutes, lower heat and simmer another 5 minutes then strain and drink.
* Cranberry juice (not fruit drink or cordial): If preferred, dilute with water or apple juice.
* Water: Drink at least 10 glasses a day.
For burns, sunburn, mosquito bites, rashes, diaper rashes, dandruff, dry skin
* Aloe vera gel: Break a fresh aloe vera leaf into half and apply the gel onto burns or diaper rash.
* Calendula cream: Good for rashes too, including diaper rashes.
For acne, eczema
* Vegetable juices: Drink cleansing vegetable juices like carrot, cucumber, celery and beetroot. Healing for the skin.
* Lemon juice: Splash a little diluted lemon juice on face as an astringent.
For fever
* Beetroot juice: Drink 250m1 fresh beetroot juice. Mix in a little apple juice if required. Dont be alarmed by reddish urine afterwards.
* Peppermint tea: Pour hot water over 1 teaspoon fresh mint or dried peppermint leaves to make 1 cup.
* Mustard paste: Mix a tablespoon of powdered mustard with water to make a paste and apply it on the bottom of your feet or soak your feet in a mixture of the mustard paste and hot water for about 5 minutes or until it starts to heat up. Also, put a cool compress on the forehead. Helps reduce overall body temperature by dissipating heat.
For cuts, bruises, swelling, inflammation
* Ice pack: As soon as possible after an injury, place an ice pack on the bruised area and keep it there for 30 minutes. Will prevent swelling if done right away.
* Potato juices: Make a poultice with grated raw potato, taking care to keep the juices in. Pack this around the swelling. Change it a few times a day.
* Cabbage: Place a fresh cabbage leaf directly on sprains to reduce swelling. For breast engorgement, wash and chill fresh cabbage leaves, crush the leaves with a rolling pin to make them more malleable. Drape 1-2 leaves over each breast and leave for 20-30 minutes. Do this twice daily. You can stop doing this when engorgement begins to diminish and you are feeling more comfortable.
For cold feet, chilblains
* Chilli powder & talcum. Sprinkle half a teaspoon of chilli powder mixed with talcum powder into socks, shake it and put it on until feet warm up. Stimulates circulation. Don’t use if skin is broken. Just like a conventional first aid kit, these home remedies are meant only for mild health complaints.
