The Healing Power of Home Remedies
Every culture has its own special folk medicines
In TRINIDAD people soothe itchy skin with an oatmeal paste.Ukrainian families use chamomile for insomnia.Jamaicans use pain relief medications that grow wild in their gardens .Here's an electric mix of home remedies that doctors from around the world say may reduce symptoms and give comfort for what ails you.
Aches and Pains
Dr Bud Rickhi ,a Trinidadian- born associate professor of medicine at the University of Calgary,Canada,and director of the research Centre for Alternative Medicine,says devil's claw,a herb with claw-shaped leaves that grows in Africa,fends off joint pain."Village healers know how powerful it is",he says .And so do those suffering from rheumatism and arthritis ,according to medical herbalist Christopher Robbins ,author of The Household Herbal:A Complete Practical Guide to plants That Heal.
Recent British and Germen studies show the herb reduces pain and inflammation in the joints.But don't take it if you are pregnant:It may stimulate the uterine muscles during pregnancy.You can buy devil's-claw teas or ointments at most health stores.
Constipation
Chinese rhubarb is the main ingredient in an Asian prescription for constipation .Puree three Chinese rhubarb stalks (not to be confused with garden rhubarb),add 250 ml (1 cup) apple juice ,1 litre of water ,1/4 peeled lemon and 15 ml honey .Bring it to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes.According to Dr Joseph Yuk-Shing Wong ,a physician specializing ,in physical medicine and rehabilitation ,the ingredients are natural laxatives that also boost the digestive system.
Cuts
In Zimbabwe ,golden honey goes in to the medicine chest."My family was fortunate to have beehives in our backyard.If any of us had a cut that wouldn't heal,the best remedy was fresh honey,"says Zimbabwe- born Dr Mohamed Ravaliya ,a family physician .Because honey absorbs the water on skin that bacteria need to grow ,it has antibacterial properties .Ravalia's advice is to apply honey directly to a minor cut and cover it with gauze.However ,only raw,unprocessed honey contains the vitamins,minerals and enzymes that can help wounds to heal .
Indigestion
Rickhi says Trinidadians grow ginger instead of buying antacids .Fresh or dried ginger can be added to food or made into a tea.Add 5 ml ginger to your favourite tea blend.Also recommended for nausea and ulcer pain,ginger reduces stomach irritation and helps produce digestive juices.Instead of after-dinner mints,many Indian restaurants serve dainty bowls of fennel seeds .Thakkar says fennel helps your body digest a spicy meal .To gestion ,drink fennel drink .That's why nursing mothers in India often drink babies.Mindell explains that fennel has the added benefit of stimulating milk production in lactating women.
Insomnia
'In Trinidad we would give little sachets of lavender to new parents,who put them in cribs to help babies sleep,'says Rickhi.Lavender is a relaxing herb that affects your nervous system and may decrease your breathing and heart rate during a period of anxiety.For best results,Rickhi advices putting a few drops of lavender oil on your pillow before going to bed.The Ukrainian remedy for sleeplessness is nothing more complicated than a cup of chamomile tea.A mild sedative,chamomile reduces anxiety and tension ,especially before you go to bed.
Sore throat
Dr Marlyn Cook,a family physician,says that to soothe a sore throat ,drink a sage infusion :Put 10 ml of fresh or home-dried sage into 625ml of boiling water simmer for 20 minutes,then strain off the leaves.Drink or gargle with 250 ml of the sage tea for soothing relief .
Robbins say sage is a natural astringent and antiseptic,which is recommended for gingivitis and throat infections .However ,Robbins cautions women not to take it during pregnancy .As with any herbal ,he notes,this plant should be treated with the same respect as any other medication.Consult your physician for more information
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Aches and Pains
Dr Bud Rickhi ,a Trinidadian- born associate professor of medicine at the University of Calgary,Canada,and director of the research Centre for Alternative Medicine,says devil's claw,a herb with claw-shaped leaves that grows in Africa,fends off joint pain."Village healers know how powerful it is",he says .And so do those suffering from rheumatism and arthritis ,according to medical herbalist Christopher Robbins ,author of The Household Herbal:A Complete Practical Guide to plants That Heal.
Recent British and Germen studies show the herb reduces pain and inflammation in the joints.But don't take it if you are pregnant:It may stimulate the uterine muscles during pregnancy.You can buy devil's-claw teas or ointments at most health stores.
Constipation
Chinese rhubarb is the main ingredient in an Asian prescription for constipation .Puree three Chinese rhubarb stalks (not to be confused with garden rhubarb),add 250 ml (1 cup) apple juice ,1 litre of water ,1/4 peeled lemon and 15 ml honey .Bring it to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes.According to Dr Joseph Yuk-Shing Wong ,a physician specializing ,in physical medicine and rehabilitation ,the ingredients are natural laxatives that also boost the digestive system.
Cuts
In Zimbabwe ,golden honey goes in to the medicine chest."My family was fortunate to have beehives in our backyard.If any of us had a cut that wouldn't heal,the best remedy was fresh honey,"says Zimbabwe- born Dr Mohamed Ravaliya ,a family physician .Because honey absorbs the water on skin that bacteria need to grow ,it has antibacterial properties .Ravalia's advice is to apply honey directly to a minor cut and cover it with gauze.However ,only raw,unprocessed honey contains the vitamins,minerals and enzymes that can help wounds to heal .
Indigestion
Rickhi says Trinidadians grow ginger instead of buying antacids .Fresh or dried ginger can be added to food or made into a tea.Add 5 ml ginger to your favourite tea blend.Also recommended for nausea and ulcer pain,ginger reduces stomach irritation and helps produce digestive juices.Instead of after-dinner mints,many Indian restaurants serve dainty bowls of fennel seeds .Thakkar says fennel helps your body digest a spicy meal .To gestion ,drink fennel drink .That's why nursing mothers in India often drink babies.Mindell explains that fennel has the added benefit of stimulating milk production in lactating women.
Insomnia
'In Trinidad we would give little sachets of lavender to new parents,who put them in cribs to help babies sleep,'says Rickhi.Lavender is a relaxing herb that affects your nervous system and may decrease your breathing and heart rate during a period of anxiety.For best results,Rickhi advices putting a few drops of lavender oil on your pillow before going to bed.The Ukrainian remedy for sleeplessness is nothing more complicated than a cup of chamomile tea.A mild sedative,chamomile reduces anxiety and tension ,especially before you go to bed.
Sore throat
Dr Marlyn Cook,a family physician,says that to soothe a sore throat ,drink a sage infusion :Put 10 ml of fresh or home-dried sage into 625ml of boiling water simmer for 20 minutes,then strain off the leaves.Drink or gargle with 250 ml of the sage tea for soothing relief .
Robbins say sage is a natural astringent and antiseptic,which is recommended for gingivitis and throat infections .However ,Robbins cautions women not to take it during pregnancy .As with any herbal ,he notes,this plant should be treated with the same respect as any other medication.Consult your physician for more information
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