It may seem like medical and technical developments in recent years are overlapping anything that is in any way natural. But, really, nature keeps evolving just as much. More specifically, we’re continuously discovering new properties, nourishments, or magic powers stocked within even the most seemingly insignificant of things. Herbalism isn’t a dying art and, in fact, it’s now easier than ever to consider herbal solutions as your go-to problem fixers.
Of course, health problems are of all kinds and types – they can be really serious or they can be something as easily treatable as a sore throat or a little headache. There may not be much choice when it comes to destructive afflictions, but common ailments really shouldn’t be another reason to pump our bodies full of pills. Why? Because it can easily be avoided by first taking the route provided by these herbal solutions.
Herbal Solutions for General Health
From the common cold to stress and the very common headaches that may or may not have been induced by those aforementioned, there are many ways in which our bodies can get turned upside down. For every affliction and health problem out there, there are several herbal solutions that can fight them.
#1 Sore Throat
To counter those irritating mornings when you wake up with a sore throat and a desire to slam your head against a tree, all you need is some garlic. For three consecutive days, make a habit out of gargling twice a day on a solution made of six pressed garlic gloves and of warm water. Garlic’s antibacterial properties annihilate the germs that cause pain and cause tissue inflammations.
#2 Hiccups
Hiccups are generally harmless, but they can be a real nuisance. Was anyone unfortunate enough to have a hiccup episode in the middle of an exam? If you’re prone to these bursts, then always have on you a small bottle of apple cider vinegar. It might be super strange, but as far as hiccup herbal solutions go, there’s no better alternative.
#3 Coughing
Coughing can be painful, irritating, and a flat-out tear jerker. Combatting it with herbal solutions sounds challenging, but it can be achievable through a cup of thyme tea. Thyme’s two components, thymol and carvacrol, act with expectorant properties, which can successfully combat coughs, soothe sore throats, and battle bronchitis.
#4 Anemia
Anemia comes with low energy levels and the potential to develop into something more harrowing. Because it’s a marker for iron deficiency, the safest route to fixing it is by supplying that iron that our organisms demand. To do so, add more leafy greens, red meat, and liver on your plate.
#5 Fever
Fever is an ailment that can put down even a sturdy fully-grown adult. The herbal solutions for this issue are actually of an impressive variety, but we generously recommend sipping on some linden flower tea to ease it. Linden flowers act against fever in several ways, most notably by giving the body more control over its temperature and by dilating blood vessels to induce sweating.
#6 Indigestion and Bloating
As insufferable as stomach problems can be, most of them can be knocked off their feed with some effortless herbal solutions. If gas and bloating are bothering you, caraway, dill seeds, and fennel can help ease the discomfort. Plain, ole indigestions go poof with an average of two cups of peppermint tea.
#7 Nausea
Nausea can be cured with the aid of some ginger. A particularly useful and creative way of consuming it is by turning it into frozen chips. To achieve this, you first need to infuse the ginger in hot water. Once strained, pop the result into the freezer and nibble on them when nausea starts toying around with your head.
#8 Headaches
Out of all the ailments out there that can hit you randomly and harshly, headaches are probably up there on the scale of discomfort. Fortunately, they can be soothed with some peppermint oil. Unlike several of the other herbal solutions on this list, the effects don’t result from ingesting it. Instead, gently apply it to your aching temples and forehead. The release of substances found in peppermint oil help tone down the throbbing in the skull.
#9 Bruises
In the case of bruises, the harm’s already been done, but the aesthetic effects continue to linger on for quite a while. To loosen the sensitivity of the bruised area and to help hasten the healing process, you just need to get your hand on the nearest lemon. Cut it in two and caress the bruised area with the pulpy part. Try to keep the lemon away from cuts and broken skin, though, for obvious reasons.
#10 Colds (Prevention)
You what they say: the best cure is prevention. You can add extra shields to your immune system by boosting up the amount of leafy greens you consume. The reason for this is because leafy greens (particularly darkly colored ones) are packed with Vitamin C. The extra dose of Vitamin C from these herbal solutions will help your body battle bacteria until they’re completely annihilated, thus eluding the perils of colds and flus.
#11 Burns
Whether you’ve accidentally grazed the boiling pan with your elbow or some other undesirable accident happened, you’re undoubtedly bawling on the floor because of the pain. How about some aloe vera to help with that? Applying an aloe gel to the burn is going to create a protective layer which shelters your skin against the air that can irritate the exposed and sensible nerves.
#12 Stress
Of all the common problems listed here, we don’t think there’s one more common than stress. It’s the invisible enemy that always lurks over your shoulder without you even being aware it’s there at times. But when you are aware of it, try to wash some of it away with a cup of chamomile tea. Some compounds in chamomile interact with brain receptors similarly to drugs like Valium.
#13 Insomnia
Sedatives have started to be largely frowned upon for a number of reasons. But this doesn’t erase the fact that sleeping problems, particularly insomnia, are very common and in dire need of solutions to aid those affected. The solution lies with valerian, a plant that relieves the hormones and substances that keep us away from our beauty sleep.
#14 Arthritis
Arthritis and joint pain can be cooled down with turmeric. This is all possible thanks to curcumin, turmeric’s active ingredient that has been scientifically and medically proven to act like a pain soother. The best part is that herbal solutions that rely on cooking spices can be easily integrated in diets. All it takes is to integrate turmeric in your daily meals! We recommend stirring it in soups and sauces.
#15 Cramps
The worst of the worst. So many attempts have been made at uncovering the perfect way to get rid of cramps. We’re not saying it’s perfect, but a little North American plant called crampbark (creative name, by the way) belligerently interacts with the tense muscles. ½ of a teaspoon of crampbark tincture once every two hours is going to take care of the problem for you.
Herbal Solutions for Beauty Problems
As long as the aesthetic is targeted, we’ve got a problem on our hands. Everything from the ever so bothersome acne cases to stinky breath found their new nemesis: herbal solutions.
#1 Acne
That acne only explodes on the faces of teenagers is pretty much an abstract myth. Some people really are unfortunate enough to be haunted by this ailment into adulthood. Regardless of your age, aloe vera is one of the top herbal solutions that can lend you a hand. Apply three tablespoons of aloe vera gel mixed with four drops of tea tree oil to the troublesome areas and watch as miracles unfold before your eyes.
#2 Warts
Because they’re so gross and nasty, you’d likely want to get rid of these abominations as quickly as possible. If that’s the case, just make sure you’ve stocked up on your garlic supplies. By applying crushed garlic on the wart on a nightly basis, bandaging it afterward, you’ll be able to make it disappear in no more than two weeks. For further effects, also apply garlic juice to the wart twice a day.
#3 Bad Breath
If you’re dreading social interaction because of your less-than-pleasant breath odor, quickly fix up a way to get rid of it. A lemon and a yogurt will do the trick. First, obliterate the ghastly bacteria that’s oozing the unfavorable smell by gargling on a small cup of acidic lemon juice. Afterward, eat a few spoons of natural, unsweetened yogurt to release the beneficial bacteria necessary to stabilize the problem. The effects last between 12 and 24 hours.
#4 Dry Skin
We hope you still have some lemon left because everyone’s favorite yellow citric is making an epic return for this one. To moisturize your skin, prepare a mixture of (one) lemon juice, five tablespoons of sugar, and one tablespoon of olive oil. The resulted blend should be applied in the shower, with a loofa or your bare hands.
#5 Skin Tags
Skin tags are tricky. But this isn’t just because they’re a huge hassle all by themselves. Rather, it’s also because of how quickly most of the methods meant to eradicate them can backfire. Luckily, there are herbal solutions that can give you excellent results risk-free. The best method involves tea tree oil. Grab a cotton ball, dip it in water, and then release two-three drops of tea tree oil. Gently pat the cotton ball on the problematic area and then bandage. It can take up to a month for effects to show, but the guarantee that it will work with no repercussions makes it all worth it.
#6 Stained Teeth
To whiten teeth that have been stained by frequent consumption of products such as coffee and red wine, simply have a handful of strawberries and some baking soda prepared. Crush a few strawberries and then mix them in with a pinch of baking soda until a paste is formed. Apply it to your toothbrush and make a habit out of applying it once every 3 or 4 months. Beware not to go overboard because more frequent appliances will do more harm than good.
#7 Brittle Nails
If you have frail and weak nails, you no longer need the help of the various drugs that can potentially negatively affect your nails in the long run. To keep them healthy, you just need to keep a bottle of coconut oil nearby. Apply it directly to the nails whenever you feel necessary.
#8 Dry Cuticles
Partner up your favorite moisturizing hand cream with a few droplets of the same type of coconut oil we’ve previously mentioned. Don’t shy out when applying the resulted mixture to your problematic areas. To further enhance the benefits of this method, wear plastic gloves for roughly 10 minutes and allow it all to “be absorbed” more efficiently.
#9 Chapped Lips
There are several ways you can go about this. First, to exfoliate scaly skin, simply sprinkle some brown sugar over a wet cloth and gently rub it over your lips to remove the excess skin. Afterwards, proceed to making your lips smooth and moisturized again by applying the ever-so-talked-about coconut oil. You can go even a step further if you throw into the mix ½ teaspoon of honey and 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Apply the blend right before you go to bed.
#10 Dark Spots
Dark spots are a medical enigma even today, as doctors have yet to find the origins of this ailment. Theoretically, though, it could be because of sun exposure and liver issues. What doesn’t matter is how they originate (surprisingly) but that they can disappear with some simple herbal solutions. Tell goodbye to dark spots with a simple horseradish and vinegar mixture, which you simply apply to the skin daily.
Final Words
Give natural solutions a chance. Even though medicine is attempting to evolve in a way that doesn’t accidentally damage our health more as we try to fix it, their foundation stays with the naturally-given properties of herbs, plants, and other natural resources.
