THESE days it is all too easy to reach for the pills every time we have headache or a fever. But years ago, people dealt with their ailments without the aid of antibiotics and painkillers.
In fact, many of the natural remedies employed by our grandparents were effective, readily available and inexpensive.
So perhaps it is time we revisited their almost forgotten wisdom.
Here we take a look at some of the best kitchen cupboard cures our grannies may have used. COLD SORES Honey is once more becoming well known as a bit of a cure-all. Simply put honey on the affected area as soon as symptoms appear, keep dry and reapply as often as possible.
URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS Cranberries have been long used as a remedy for bladder, kidney and urinary tract infections such as cystitis. Cranberries also contain anthocyanins, which are good for the heart.
Researchers have found cranberry juice improves circulation by increasing levels of HDL or good cholesterol. SORE THROATS A dollop of honey in a cup of tea or coffee is an excellent way to soothe a sore throat, plus the natural antiseptic properties of honey also help kill any bacteria that may be lurking.
Another traditional cure for a sore throat is to once more drink crushed garlic in warm milk. COLDS Strange as it may sound, old wisdom suggests nasturtiums ward off colds. Keep the sniffles at bay by eating two leaves and a flower of the plant which contains antimicrobial and decongestant properties. Another old remedy involves leaving a diced onion overnight coated with a sprinkle of sugar. By morning it will have become a syrup, one tablespoon of which is to be taken twice a day.
Chicken soup is another traditional cure for colds. It is one with some foundation in science as the heat promotes airway secretions and has a calming effect on an inflamed throat.
Garlic contains a compound called Allicin which has been proven to shorten the impact of a cold.
ASTHMA In France, old wives recommend drinking two strong cups of black coffee whenever a person feels asthmatic.
Another traditional French remedy for the symptoms of asthma involves placing two cloves of garlic in olive oil then massaging gently into the soles of the feet and the base of the spine. HEADACHES Apply lavender oil to the temples or in a cold compress to the forehead or the back of the neck. Alternatively, the juice of three or four slices of lemon squeezed into a cup of tea should also give immediate relief.
Inhaling steam from a bowl of boiling water containing a handful of fresh rosemary is also reputed to work miracles for a headache.
INDIGESTION AND HEARTBURN To find quick relief from the burning and pain, swallow one tablespoon of distilled white vinegar or prepared yellow mustard.
Drinking a mixture of water and baking soda is also known to stop heartburn and indigestion right away. Eating foods known to neutralise stomach acid, such as potatoes, apples or carrots, can also help. Hard-boiled peppermint sweets can also ease the burning sensation. MINOR BURNS Place grated potato on the burn for instant relief from the pain, replacing whenever the potato turns brown. The French recommend a cut onion but it may sting. SPLINTERS Draw them out by using a cut piece of soap with a smal l amount of sugar added to it.
This should help the skin soften after a few hours, so the splinter comes out easily.
CHAPPED HANDS To make a soothing paste, grind starch with a knife until it is reduced to a fine powder. Rub into hands after every wash while they are still damp.
INSOMNIA A strange but effective cure is lettuce. The vegetable contains a natural opiate called lactucarium, so come bedtime wire into a lettuce sandwich or have a cup of lettuce soup. CONSTIPATION It may taste rotten but castor oil is guaranteed to get the bowels moving. Prunes are another traditional remedy.
ARTHRITIS Turmeric and ginger extracts have been shown to have a great anti-inflammatory effect, proving really useful when treating rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. Cherry stones, kept and heated in a microwaveable bag, are also thought to have a comforting and beneficial effect on affected area. MOUTH ULCERS Liquorice sticks are not just a good way to keep the mouth fresh, they are also good for treating mouth ulcers. Raw onions are also meant to work as is a mixture of milk and honey massaged routinely into the gums. STYE Gold might be a well known cure for a stye in the eye but castor oil, potatoes and tea bags are also thought to work wonders. Another reputed cure is the urine of a baby but perhaps suffering the pain of the stye might well be preferable.
FEVER Put a tablespoon of chopped parsley to one large cup of water. Bring to the boil, simmer for two or three mins, strain and drink. SMELLY FEET Soak them in a bucket of warm water and salt. Tea also helps - boil two teabags in three cups of water before adding two litres of cool water. A mix of water and apple cider also helps odour.
CAPTION(S):
GARLIC: May help colds and asthma NOT TO BE SNEEZED AT: Nastur tium plants are believed to stop the sniffles HONEY: For a cold sore
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