Home Remedies

I am just fascinated with the effects of home remedies. Historically, people didn't have access to health care, and they had to use something to help them feel better. Many home remedies are centuries old yet continue to be effective.  

Some members of my coffee group were talking about an old remedy for a cough. It is a mixture of one tablespoon of each of the following: lemon, honey and vinegar. Add to a cup of hot water. According to the girls at coffee, rum works as well. I have used honey and lemon but never added vinegar, nor rum. Vinegar is an antibacterial, it can be used as a digestive aid, to dress wounds and for a cough.  

If you have a sliver and you can't get it out, soak it out. You can use a variety of things to add to the water such as Epsom salts, peroxide or baking soda. A banana or potato placed over the sliver will also draw it out.

Moving on with more tried and true remedies here is one I don't understand but I love it. Put a bar of soap under your sheets on your bed and it helps to relieve restless legs. Apparently, Irish Spring or Ivory work better than Dove or Dial. I don't know how this works, but it does and that is all that matters. 

I am blessed to say, I rarely get sick. But, when I do, it is like everything else in my life, I do it in a big way. I will do anything, so I don't have to go to the Doctor or worse yet take a prescription. At the first sign of sickness, I begin "The Regime". If I think I am getting a cold, I do take an over-the-counter cold medication that I feel is the best ever. Tylenol is an option that is on my "okay to take" list for any type of pain especially headaches or joint pain and for a fever. On the rare occasion when I need help to get better, I probably overuse a combination of medication and other remedies. During the winter, I thought I was getting "the 2025 cold" that was going around. It was taking people down for weeks, most of the victims were in bed for 5 days. I did my usual regime and something else I do is, I rest. I ate oranges like candy and drank an insane amount of orange juice and water. In thirty-six hours, I was back to normal. 

Many people swear by putting onions on your feet at night when they have a cold or think they are getting one. Onions are a good source of antioxidants and do aid in inflammation reduction. I think onions are for symptom management, not cure, but I don't really know why people put onions on their feet. I have done it, as part of my regime on sickness. I only do it because people I respect do it. I put very little thought into what I do to feel better.

Vicks is 135 years old and is used for practically everything. My grandma used to swallow it. When I don't have onions on my feet, I put Vicks on them. In seconds you can taste it and feel it working. The last time I flew my ears were sore and I put Vicks in them. It was the only thing I had, and it worked to ease the pain. The Boomers will remember our parents putting Vicks on the front and back of our chest for a cough. If our throats were sore, our necks were lathered in Vicks and then wrapped in a wool sock secured with a massive pin. 

I have written about "Silver Water" before, and clearly, I will continue to do so. It has just come through for me so many times; it's my front runner. It is a natural antifungal, antibacterial and antimicrobial. It seems to work best for any lung issue. Silver water can be diluted in water and sprayed on wounds, scrapes and cuts. Because of its antifungal properties, I feel it could be effective for treatment of fungal toenails. They are dreadful to heal. My favorite part about Silver Water is how it just fixes any signs of a cold. It is great for preventative if you are traveling or someone in the house is sick.   

We have become a society of getting a prescription for everything. I believe in antibiotics when they are necessary, such as signs of infection. I rarely consider them for myself, but I have and will use them. Going to a Doctor seems to be way down on my list of things to do when I am sick. 

This post started out sharing the new natural cough concoction and look where it has gone. Being ill sucks and maybe one of these things interests you as something you may try. The list could be longer, many people take vitamins and minerals on a daily basis, others use garlic and ginger. I've never had any knowledge about herbal medicines but for those that use them, I'm glad they work for you. I just hope each of you has something to keep you strong and well. The bottom line is a strong immune system. Some people have it, others not so much. I think I fall under the strong category, and I am so grateful to be there.