10 natural cures for common illnesses that work

Be it a sudden case of constipation, a headache you can’t explain or your neck betraying you in the middle of the night by going all stiff, there are times when you don’t have the time or inclination to see a doctor. Or you still owe your local pharmacist some money.

Here are some home remedies that can help ease the pains until you finally get a chance to see a doctor should things persist.

1. Constipation

When your back end refuses to work the way it’s supposed to because relieving yourself feels like passing a watermelon through a keyhole, it’s best to take something to loosen things up. Simply take warm water add a table spoon of sugar and a table spoon of salt. Stir until you’re ready to stop procrastinating taking the mixture. Gulp it down and wait for it to work. It will.

2. Sore throat

When you have the flu or a cold is coming on, it feels like the world is ending. Sometimes it’s a headache to teach all other headaches a lesson. Other times it’s a throat that feels as though it just went through a grate. To ease the sore throat and help clear your sinuses, take a mixture of ginger, lemon, honey and hot water.

3. Muscle pain

Treating muscle pain from exercise or sitting in a way your doctor would spank you for can be relieved by applying heat and coolness alternately. Apply a hot towel on the affected area for ten minutes then switch to an ice pack for another ten minutes.

4. Fatigue

When you’re feeling lethargic and you hadn’t over exerted yourself, it’s best to take a stimulant. Energy drinks and caffeine work on some people but they may not be effective. You can also try a mixture of hot water with ginger, oregano, lemon and oregano. Sweeten with honey or take it plain.

5. Burns and scrapes

There are times when you don’t want to go rushing to hospital because your arm grazed the pavement because you weren’t paying attention when they pavement decided to say hi to your toes. The resulting bruise can be soothed by applying aloe vera.

6. Flatulence

Being gassy can be uncomfortable. It can be caused by a bad diet or an unfortunate combination of meals. Taking peppermint can help ease the flatulence.

7. Bad breath

For some people, bad breath can be deal breaker. For mint companies, bad breath is a gold mine. However, there are natural remedies to bad breath. Gargle acidic lemon juice then take natural yoghurt.

8. Nausea

Feeling like throwing up can make you feel disorientated and weak. Taking ginger tea is one of the oldest remedies. Grate some fresh ginger, boil in water and add some tea if preferred.

9. Hiccups

Swallow 1 to 2 teaspoons of sugar. The dry granules stimulate and reset the irritated nerve that is causing the spasms of the diaphragm. Any coarse substance, such as salt, can work in a pinch, but sugar would taste better.

10. Headaches

According to Reader's Digest, soaking your feet in hot water will help your head feel better. By drawing blood to your feet, the hot-water footbath will ease pressure on the blood vessels in your head. You can also try tying a scarf, or necktie around your forehead, then tighten it just to the point where you can feel pressure around head.

You might try soaking the scarf in vinegar- which sounds like something a herbalist would recommend, but if it works, who are we to judge.