Your body is a complex being. From headaches to cold or anxiety to insomnia, there is always something waiting around the corner to throw you off your feet and leave you feeling that little bit lousy.
It can be disheartening to throw pharmacy pills down your throat whenever you feel a bit under-the-weather. While the combination of chemicals and medicine certainly does its job, it’s not the most natural way to fix yourself.
In this article, we explore twelve different natural remedies that can be used to help smooth your everyday aches and pains. Many of them are fruits, vegetables, and herbs that you could even try for the ultimate ‘greener living’ remedial boost.
Twelve natural remedies that WORK
Natural remedy 1: Dark chocolate
What does it help with? Coughing
Well, we had to start with chocolate – after all, do we REALLY need an excuse to eat more of it? Research has shown that the theobromine compound in dark chocolate can be more effective than codeine at suppressing persistent coughs.
Natural remedy 2: Honey & lemon
What does it help with? Calming a cold
When you have a cold, a sore throat, and stuffy nose often come as part of the territory. A wonderfully natural way to soothe the effects of a cold is by mixing honey and fresh lemon juice into boiling water and drinking it once it’s cooled enough to swallow. The honey will soothe your throat as the lemon gives you a much-needed boost of Vitamin C. Plus, it’s a pretty tasty concoction!
Natural remedy 3: Aloe Vera
What does it help with? Cooling mild burns
Aloe Vera has soothing properties which made it ideal for reducing the pain from mild burns, including sunburn. The gel contained in the plant creates a second skin over the burn to prevent the air from getting in. If you have severe burns, you should consult a medical professional.
There are many other ways in which you can use Aloe Vera:
Natural remedy 4: Water
What does it help with? Hangover prevention
Water can be used to help with many medical problems; however one thing it’s GREAT at is preventing a hangover. If you’ve over-indulged in alcoholic beverages, drink a pint of water before you go to bed. Alcohol dehydrates the body which is one of the major contributing factors to that nasty hangover headache you get the morning after a great night out.
Drinking a big glass of water just before you go to sleep replenishes the water levels in your body while you sleep, allowing you to wake up hangover-free.
Natural remedy 5: Ginger
What does it help with? Nausea
Ginger can help to quell feelings of sickness and nausea. Try infusing fresh ginger in hot water and then freezing it into ice cubes. Suck on the ice cubes during the day or melt them into the water to help smooth your sick feeling.
Ginger biscuits or other ginger-containing products can also help. If you get motion sick when traveling, try slowly nibbling on some ginger biscuits. The trick is not to eat them too quickly (or eat too many!) or the nauseous feeling may return.
Natural remedy 6: Cherries
What do they help with? Beating insomnia
Cherries contain high levels of melatonin which is the same hormone that your body uses to regulate sleep patterns. Eating a handful of cherries before bed – or drinking cherry juice – can help to reduce insomnia.
Natural remedy 7: Chamomile
What does it help with? Reducing anxiety
If you’re feeling anxious, partake in a warm, soothing cup of chamomile tea. Chamomile contains a compound called Matricaria recutita which binds to the same brain receptors as drugs such as Valium.
If you don’t like the taste, you can also purchase chamomile as a supplement in capsule form.
Natural remedy 8: Rosemary
What does it help with? Increased concentration
Rosemary not only tastes great in a wide variety of savory dishes but can also be used to help stimulate your body and improve your mood. Research has shown that rosemary can help to bring more oxygen to your brain which acts in a similar effect to caffeine, increasing your concentration, and sharpening your memory.
Natural remedy 9: Peppermint
What does it help with? Reduces bloating
Peppermint has a soothing effect on the gut as it kills off the bacteria which cause bloating. That’s why heartburn and flatulence relief tablets are often peppermint flavored. Try drinking a cup of peppermint tea after a large meal to calm your stomach and prevent uncomfortable pains.
Other ways to cure acid reflux with natural products are in the video below:
Natural remedy 10: Lavender
What does it help with? Relieving stress
Lavender has many remedial properties, including helping to alleviate stress, tension, and insomnia. Try adding some lavender oil to your bath for a relaxing soak, or sleeping with a lavender pillow to encourage sleep and ward off insomnia.
Natural remedy 11: Parsley
What does it help with? Bad breath
Eating parsley can temporarily help to hide bad breath. The herb has antibacterial and deodorizing properties which can help curb halitosis.
It even works for dogs too – try mixing a little bit of fresh parsley in with their dinner to help combat bad dog-breath. Don’t over-do it though; you don’t want to end up giving them an upset stomach!
Natural remedy 12: Bananas
What does it help with? Relieving menstrual pain
Bananas contain high levels of potassium which help your body to regulate muscle contractions. This helps to reduce your cramping as the muscle spasms will be calmed. Bananas also contain Vitamin B6 which is a well-known mood-booster.
There are many ways to reduce menstrual pain; the video below has some great tips:
Did you enjoy our roundup of natural remedies?
Do you use any natural remedies to ease your everyday aches and pains? What are your favorite natural remedies? Have you ever used any which you feel didn’t work? Let us know in the comments below.
About the Author
James is your friendly neighborhood content writer here at the Green Living Blog. With a passion for all things sustainable, he’s your go-to guru for everything eco-friendly. Armed with a treasure trove of wisdom about sustainable living, recycling, and environmentally conscious practices, James is on a mission. He’s here to make sure you not only protect your family but also keep Mother Earth smiling. 😊🌎 When he’s not busy sharing eco-friendly insights, James can often be found teaching his cat that compost bins make the purr-fect hideaway. 🐱♻️ Join James on his quest to uncover the secrets of defeating wasteful habits while leaving the lightest footprint on our precious planet’s ecosystem.