Aspirin has long been used to reduce pain, inflammation and fevers. However, aspirin is known to produce a wide-range of other benefits as well. Let’s take a look at how a little bit of aspirin can go a long way when it comes to solving common problems that all of us encounter from time to time.
The Garden
Add one crushed tablet of aspirin to a gallon of water and use it to treat vulnerable plants. This is a great remedy to use after plants have been transplanted, are battling some form of infection or have sustained major damage. Some believe that aspirin can help certain fruits and vegetables to grow larger. Another commonly-accepted benefit of aspirin is that it helps to control certain invasive garden pests. Finally, add a little bit of aspirin to water in a vase and extend the time that it takes cut flowers to wilt.
Acne, Bites, Stings and Burns
Crush up a couple of aspirin tablets and apply the powder to bite, sting and burn areas and experience fast pain relief in many cases. Aspirin also helps to reduce inflammation and improve blood flow to the affected area. All of these things contribute to faster healing and less discomfort.
Making an aspirin paste by mixing the powder with a little bit of water is a great way to treat acne as well. Apply the paste to the affected area, allow it to dry and rinse with water. You may see a noticeable reduction in the size and amount of redness around the affected area. Repeat this treatment a couple of times per day until the acne disappears. Just keep in mind that this doesn’t work for everyone.
Heart Attack
The reason that aspirin is so effective as a first line of defense during a heart attack is that it thins the blood and prevents platelets from coagulating. Platelets are found in the blood, and they are responsible for clotting and forming scabs at wound sites. Unfortunately, they are also responsible for clots that form in arteries that are clogged by plaque. Taking aspirin at the onset of a heart attack can minimize the damage that a clot can cause while waiting for access to acute medical care.
Hair
Aspirin powder can help to treat dandruff. Take a couple of tablets of aspirin, crush them and then place the powder into the dab of shampoo that you are going to apply. Work it through your hair and let it rest for a few minutes before rinsing. This can help to remove flakes on the scalp and in the hair while also promoting scalp healing.
You can use some crushed aspirin tablets mixed with warm water to create a surprisingly-effective stain remover for clothing. It works particularly well on sweat stains under the arms and around shirt collars. Use the powder from three crushed tablets for every ½ cup of water that is placed in a bowl or appropriate container. Soak the affected area of the fabric for about three hours. Toss the shirt in the washing machine and wash like normal. Chances are that the stains will be gone when the load is finished. It can also help to remove grass and coffee stains as well.
If you have a dead vehicle battery, consider removing the caps and place a tablet of aspirin into each compartment of water. The acid in the aspirin creates a chemical reaction with sulfuric acid in the battery and help to generate an electrical charge. While this will not serve as a permanent fix, it could be just enough for you to get the vehicle started.
Aspirin is cheap, abundant, generally safe and easy to store for long periods of time. They are also excellent reasons that illustrate why having a decent supply on hand is so important. Make sure that you have a bottle in your medicine cabinet, first aid kit and bug out bag, because you never know when a little bit of aspirin will come in handy.