Kitchen Wisdom: Alternative Treatments for Common Ailments

From garlic to honey, to lemonade and chicken soup, there are time-honored treatments from grandma’s remedy chest to heal yourself and speed your recovery from common ailments. Just head to the kitchen next time you are feeling ill, and whip up a remedy for what ails you. Below are some of the most common and easily prepared remedies for everything from stomachache to cold and congestion to household burns.

One of the best known is CHICKEN SOUP. Use of chicken soup was reported as early as the 12th century, or possibly even as far back as the ancient Greeks. The Jewish physician and philosopher Moshe Ben Maimon, known as Maimonides, recommended chicken soup to treat colds and flu.

For lung congestion, the “old-timers” used a CASTOR OIL PACK or a MUSTARD PACK. Castor oil packs placed on the chest can open the airwaves and bring circulation to the lungs. Massage Castor Oil or dry mustard (mixed with water to make a paste) on the chest, cover with muslin or flannel, and place a warm hot water bottle over the chest.

For fevers, PEPPERMINT TEA helps break a sweat. Make a tea and go quickly to bed where you will sweat out the fever. It is also a great digestive tonic.

To boost your immune system, try CUMIN AND GINGER TEA. Add a teaspoon of cumin seeds and a small amount of dry or fresh ginger to one glass of boiling water.

CHAMOMILE TEA can be used to soothe a stomachache. It is a very mild herb and good for children.

GINGER is also good for an upset stomach. You can grate fresh ginger into hot water to make tea, or drink ginger ale. ((Make sure your ginger ale has actual ginger and not just ginger flavoring! Health food stores carry brands that contain actual ginger.) Ginger is also an antiviral, which means that it can help kill viruses and help you recover from viral infections.

DILL SEED has long been used for gas, and especially for colic in children. It also helps induce a sweat if you have a fever.

If you have a toothache, CLOVES and CLOVE OIL will numb a tooth while you’re waiting for the dentist to call you back. They may also be used to numb the pain after dental surgery.

TURMERIC is a natural anti-inflammatory. Gargle with turmeric in warm water if you have a sore throat or other types of inflammation.