We’re always juggling minor ailments and illnesses aren’t we?
Especially if we’ve got kids.
Someone in the family always seems to have a headache or cough or an allergy or ongoing heartburn or constipation or have managed to get sunburn or a splinter or a whole leg’s worth of mosquito bites.
Or our kids have got nits and worms and verrucas. All at the same time!!!
Or we’ve got a teen facing the trauma of acne and dandruff and periods.
And sadly most of us have long lost the knowledge of simple DIY natural and homemade remedies that can ease these minor – but often painful or distressing – ailments.
So we either fork out our hard earned cash for dodgy remedies that don’t work or we ignore them until they become a bigger problem that need antibiotics or medical treatment.
Part of the problem is lots of DIY natural, homemade remedies are way too complicated. If we search Pinterest there’s a zillion homemade remedies using crazily obscure ingredients we haven’t got to hand even if we can get hold of them.
Another problem, I reckon, is the pesky essential oils industry which – through rather dodgy business models – encourage us to make ever more complicated DIY remedies from hundreds of different – supposedly natural – essential oils. These all cost. And don’t keep things simple.
And the truth is, most minor ailments can be eased by very simple, DIY, natural and homemade remedies from a few basic pantry ingredients and common herbs even the most hapless gardener can grow.
So to help you start using natural and homemade remedies – that save money and keep us off antibiotics as much as possible – I’ve put together a list of all the little DIY remedies I use plus the basics of how to get started.
I really hope these simple DIY natural and homemade remedies help.
Do save the list for later.
And for more DIY homemade remedies follow me on Pinterest and check out my other simple natural health posts.
The Basics Of Homemade Natural Remedies
You can make most simple homemade remedies with just these basic pantry ingredients, store cupboard spices and easy to grow herbs:
- Pantry ingredients : honey, oats, apple cider vinegar, coconut oil, olive oil, baking soda / bicarbonate of soda, lemons, pumpkin seeds
- Store cupboard spices : turmeric, ginger, black pepper, coriander, cloves, cinnamon
- Basic herb garden : oregano, mint, thyme, basil, sage, rosemary, lavender, chamomile, calendula (marigold) & lemon balm – you’ll find tips on how to grow all of these on my herb garden board
- Essential oils : the only two I really use are tea tree and thuja both of which I do think are genuinely useful
All we need to do to use most spices and herbs in DIY homemade remedies is to pour some freshly boiled water over them and leave them to sit for 3 or 4 minutes. It truly is as simple as making a cup of tea.
When cooled sufficiently, we can either drink it or apply to skin or hair or whatever. Now obviously real herbalists make tinctures and what-not but we don’t need to, because we’re keeping things simple.
The only other thing I would do is try to include plenty of those natural pantry ingredients, spices and herbs in your everyday cooking. Again, we don’t need to complicate it, just chuck for example some:
- Fresh oregano or basil in a pasta sauce one day and
- Rosemary or thyme into something else another day
- Turmeric into a can of beans
- Apple cider into salad dressings
- Honey & cinnamon onto cereal
All of these are natural antibiotics and great for our gut, so we become much less susceptible to minor ailments and illnesses if we eat them naturally in food regularly.
OK so now you’ve got the basics here’s my list of 28 different minor ailments and conditions we can treat easily with natural remedies.
28 DIY Natural Remedies
Sunburn
Oat milk bath, grind oats in a blender with a little water to make a milk and then add to a tepid bath or try these other simple effective sunburn remedies.
UTI Infections
Cranberry, oregano and coriander can all help but for more help check out this big list of 45 foods & herbs that relieve UTI infections.
Worms
Thyme, basil, garlic & pumpkin seeds are all ways to get rid of pinworms naturally.
Sinus
Cayenne pepper, horseradish & fennel seeds can all give instant relief but check out these other quick remedies for recurrent sinus congestion & infection.
Yeast Infection
Garlic, oregano, apple cider vinegar & coconut oil can all ease and prevent recurrent yeast infections.
Toothache
A simple clove tea – just seep a teaspoon of cloves in boiled water for a few minutes – can ease toothache pain.
Constipation
Stewed rhubarb, warm water with lemon juice & honey, baking soda in warm water, aloe vera, chia seeds and flax seeds can all gently ease constipation.
For more tips check out this guide to quick constipation relief naturally.
Allergies
Thyme, lavender, mint, pineapple juice, ginger and lemon are all natural antihistamines. For more help check out this big list of natural antihistamines we can include in our diet.
Heartburn
Chamomile, sage, cinnamon and ginger can all help with heartburn. Just add to a gentle tea.
Mosquito Bites
Honey, ice cubes, a hot spoon plus any of these natural mosquito remedies.
Splinters
A baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) plaster reduces inflammation so splinter can be removed.
Burns
Applying slices of raw potato can ease pain and prefer blistering.
Fungal Infections
Tea tree, thuja, clove & oregano are all natural anti-fungal remedies. You can apply as a cooled tea or in the form of correctly diluted essential oils.
Ear Ache
Warm olive oil.
Head Lice
Comb olive oil through with a thin toothed comb, leave overnight and wash out using these simple natural lice remedies.
Dandruff
Sage, calendula (marigold), fenugreek, tea tree.
Acne
Basil, lavender & chamomile.
Black Heads
Rosemary, turmeric, honey & green tea.
Wounds & Skin Infections
Rosemary, calendula (marigold), yarrow, chamomile & aloe vera.
Coughs & Sore Throats
Honey & lemon in a simple cough mixture is one of the easiest home remedies but also try salt gargles, lemon ice cubes, coconut oil and these other simple natural remedies for sore throats
Tummy Bugs
Oregano, thyme, garlic, coriander & chamomile.
Gas & Wind
Baking soda in tepid water is the easiest quick relief but these natural remedies can also all help
Colds
Lemon, apple cider vinegar, ginger, cinnamon can be combined easily in a simple cold relief tea
Headaches
Ginger, mint, cloves, coriander, rosemary and chamomile all help with headaches but it is worth learning which works best with different headaches.
Periods
Ginger, valerian, chamomile, fennel, cinnamon & lemon balm can all give relief during periods. For more help do check out this must know tip for relieving PMS & period cramps.
Stomach Pain
Turmeric milk, cucumber, avocado and baking soda are all good homemade remedies for stomach aches.
Cold Sores
Applying natural remedies for cold sores – including a cold compress or rosemary, ginger, thyme or peppermint tea or thuja cream – at the first tingle of a cold sore can ease pain and prevent scabbing.
Bad Breath
Fennel & parsley (which can be grown easily from cuttings)
Rehydration
OK so this remedy isn’t natural at all but it is simple and it does work. If anyone in the family has been sick and is over the worst but not ready for food yet, give them plain potato crisps (chips to Americans) & a little flat soda. It it the easiest DIY rehydration remedy.
I do hope these easy DIY natural remedies help you and your family. Remember the big secret is to keep it simple, act early and make natural herbs and spices part of your basic everyday cooking.
For more natural remedies follow me on Pinterest and explore these other simple tips for relieving common ailments at home with ingredients from your kitchen cupboard :
- Natural Remedies For Coughs & Colds
- Natural Remedies For Gut Health
- Natural Remedies For Babies
- Natural Remedies For Skin Problems
- Natural Remedies For Menstrual Cycle
Photo: Holzlöffel mit bunten Gewürzen and Cup of tea with dry flowers by Marco Verch and Lavender by Proflowers under Creative Commons 2.0
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