SHTF Remedies for Everyday Problems Right in Your Kitchen
Ginger and Menstrual Cramping
Ginger is well-known as a powerful anti-inflammatory agent and it also improves blood flow. Both of these are essential for treating menstrual cramps because inflammation in the muscles of the uterus and urinary tract are what usually causes the pain in the first place. Some studies have also shown that ginger can be just as, if not more, powerful as ibuprofen. The best way to apply this remedy is to take some ginger, put it in a cup and pour hot water inside. Allow it to steep for a few minutes before drinking like a tea.
Sea Salt for Dry Skin
Salt is not usually associated with being a skin moisturizer, but sea salt contains minerals that soothe the skin and promote healing. Mix ½ cup of sea salt with an essential or massage oil of your choice. Add just enough water to give the salt the consistency of wet sand and apply to the affected area. Gently rub the skin and rinse with warm water after letting it soak for a few minutes. Be careful not to use this remedy near sensitive areas such as around the eyes or groin.
Sugar for Hiccups
Holding breath or trying to burp does not always get rid of hiccups, and many home remedies taste horrible which makes them difficult to swallow. However, you may be able to put a stop to persistent hiccups by placing a teaspoon of sugar beneath your tongue until the hiccups cease. There is a long nerve that extends from the brain all the way down to the diaphragm, and sugar will stimulate it and hopefully cause the hiccups to cease. Try a few rounds of treatment if the first one doesn’t work.
Apples or Apple Cider Vinegar for Heartburn
Apples contain compounds that naturally absorb acids in the stomach. This can help to neutralize the effects of heartburn from eating certain foods. Apples also contain malic and tartaric acids that are known to keep stomach acids from moving up the esophagus as well. This can help to reduce inflammation and irritation without the need to take antacid tablets. Apples are also extraordinarily healthy to begin with, so you will be giving your body a nutritional boost at the same time.
Treating Infections with Turmeric
Most spice racks contain turmeric, and this spice has been known for its medicinal properties for thousands of years. Turmeric contains a substance called curcumin which is known to stop the spread of certain types of bacteria. Turmeric also contains powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant agents that can be used to treat a variety of ailments. You can eat this spice with your food or mix a teaspoon of powder with a little bit of water and create a paste. Apply this paste to minor cuts, scrapes or abrasions and you may find that these wounds heal faster and with less pain as well.
Eczema and Oatmeal
We all know that oatmeal is famous for soothing skin ailments from poison ivy and oak as well as chicken pox or the measles. So it makes perfect sense that it can also help to treat eczema as well. Make a bath by taking a cup of oatmeal and grinding it into a powder with a blender, coffee grinder or food processor. Place it in your bath water and soak for about 30 minutes. You can also make it into a paste by adding a little bit of water and applying it to the affected area. Allow it to dry and rinse with warm water.
The good news about these remedies is that they don’t require any special preparation and can be used right away. They are also cheap, and you probably have most of these items in your kitchen right now. Try these out the next time you are hit with one of the maladies listed above, and see if they may be just what the doctor ordered to soothe symptoms and speed up the recovery process.
