Easy home remedies for various ailments

A trip to the local pharmacy can get expensive for everyday ailments, especially after the recent budget speech.

Here are some simple home remedies you can try on various ailments:

Bad breath

Gargle lukewarm salt water every night before going to bed. Make sure this is the last thing you do before sleeping. (Don’t drink or eat anything after gargling the water.) This also helps to prevent gum disease.
Organic yoghurt has ‘good bacteria’ which eliminate the ‘bad bacteria’ that’s causing foul breath.
Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water. If your mouth doesn’t have enough moisture to produce saliva, odour-causing bacteria can develop.
Chew a piece of lemon or orange rind, as their citric acid will fight bad breath.

Eczema

Use coconut oil to rub on the affected areas. Coconut oil seeps into the skin and keeps it from drying out and becoming more irritated.
Massage antioxidant- and moisture-rich olive oil into the affected area.

High blood pressure

First of all, cut out the salt. Too much sodium disrupts the balance of fluid in the body, as it draws water from the surrounding tissue, resulting in the heart having to work harder to pump the blood.
Listen to music to help lower blood pressure. Studies show that after listening to soothing music for 30 minutes every day, the readings of the blood pressure lower after a while.
Drink coconut water, which contains potassium and magnesium and both of which relate to regular muscle function.

Motion sickness

Slice a small piece of fresh ginger and place it in hot water for a few minutes. Ginger is very potent and can get strong very quickly. It also helps with digestion and subdues the nausea.
Focus on one point while in motion and concentrate on one particular object. Your brain will process it as if you are not moving, causing less nausea.
Drink a cup of peppermint tea about half an hour before travelling. Peppermint calms your stomach muscles and helps you from feeling nauseous.

Urinary tract infections (UTI)

Eating food with high levels of vitamin C makes your urine more acidic. This means fewer bacteria can form in the tract, keeping it healthier. You can also use vitamin C while you have a UTI.
A UTI can cause a burning sensation and can be painful, so use a hot-water bottle to help relieve the pain and pressure.
When you have a UTI drink lots of water, which helps flush away the bacteria causing the infection.

Problem skin

Mix baking soda with water into a paste, apply as a mask and leave for 20 minutes.
Create a mixture of tomato pulp and cucumber, apply it to the problem area, leave for 15 minutes and wash off.
For sunburnt skin, wrap dry oats in a bandage and run under water. Throw away the oats and add a bandage to affected area for two to four hours.
Boil a few lettuce leaves and then discard the lettuce while letting the boiled water cool. Use cotton balls to apply the water onto the sunburnt skin.

Note: If it is a serious illness or ailment unlike bad breath or warts, please visit a general practitioner as soon as possible.