From simple Biology, the human body is vulnerable to attacks by disease-causing microorganisms or conditions, some of which lead to either acute or chronic illnesses. However, some of these illnesses tend to be more prevalent than others, affecting populations despite geographical conditions and levels of development. Some are caused by viruses, whereas some are caused by bacteria or fungi. Others are caused by exposure to certain allergens and are genetically tied. While seeking expert medical treatment is always recommended whenever you get ill, there are dozens of home remedies for various illnesses, which you can rely on to feel better even as you plan to visit your doctor for proper treatment.
As a matter of fact, some of these remedies can eliminate the need to visit the doctor’s office in the first place, especially those that combat the illness in its first stages and prevent it from getting worse. Want to stay informed on how to fight common ailments without having to leave your home?
So, let’s get right to it, here are some home remedies for common illnesses you should know about!
1. Common Cold
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Globally, the common cold is inarguably the most common illnesses faced by both children and adults. No wonder it has the name common in it, this illness is so common that people stopped worrying so much about it. However, cold can make your life a nightmare of misery, especially if you don’t know how to kill it. Especially when it presents itself with combined symptoms such as sore throat, cough, runny nose, sneezing, and headaches, it can make you skip a few days of work or ditch the social world. Suffering from a cold? Here are some remedies you can try at home.
- Lemonade – Lemon has many health benefits. Alongside containing the powerful antioxidant, vitamin C, lemon is a citrus fruit that is packed with loads of flavonoids as well as considerable amounts of thiamine, and niacin. It is a powerful antihistamine and antibacterial agent. Eat one or two lemons or squeeze the juice out and take it warm to fight the common cold. To make your remedy even more effective, add some pieces of crushed ginger and a few spoonfuls of honey, both of which are powerful anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agents.
- Gargling salt and water solution – Especially if the cold is accompanied with a sore throat, a saltwater solution will come in handy. Salt is a disinfectant while hot water is a powerful fighter of inflammation.
2. Headache
A headache can make your life feel unbearable in the few hours or days you experience it. Dull or pronounced, it could be the pounding type, the throbbing type or distributed all over your head. It could affect one side, the front side or the rear. Pain in any part of your head qualifies to be a headache. However, expert medical practitioners rely on the headache location chart when prescribing medication, reason being that a headache could result from a variety of causes. It could be a symptom of a major disease or maybe result from an allergy. Many people also have throbbing headaches after an episode of heavy drinking. Nonetheless, headache is an illness, and there are a few things you can do to get temporary relief or cure from abrupt episodes, including the following:
- Cinnamon paste – Mix some ground cinnamon with water to make a paste and apply it on your head or the part that is aching for instant relief.
- Lemon + warm water – Squeeze some lemon juice into a glass of warm water and drink it to reduce the intensity of your headache.
- Eucalyptus oil – Put some eucalyptus oil on your palm and massage your head with it for headache relief.
3. Nausea
Even though it is more of a symptom in many ailments than an illness by itself, nausea… that awful urge to vomit can be overwhelming. For nausea that is caused by motion sickness or pregnancy, some simple home remedies could help. You can try sucking peppermint, drink a spoonful of apple cider vinegar in warm water or take an herbal tea such as ginger tea or chamomile tea to get relief from nausea. You could also try to keep your head elevated and consider eating slowly to avoid exerting too much pressure on your digestive tract.
4. Food Poisoning
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According to the World Health Organization, millions of people around the world experience food poisoning at one point of the other. Actually, it is a leading cause of death in some countries. It is associated with symptoms such as dehydration, abdominal pain, and intestinal discomforts. The illness is caused by a wide variety of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and nematode parasites. Common causative agents of food poisoning include E. coli, Salmonella, and Shigella, Staphylococcus spp. Even though the best move would be to seek medical right away, some common home remedies for food poisoning include herbal tea (such as peppermint or meadowsweet tea), apple cider vinegar, lemon, and ripe bananas.
Of course, many other common illnesses that can be treated with ingredients from your kitchen counter. Some of these home remedies are effective to the point that you won’t have to seek further medical attention. To be on the safe side, however, it is best to see your doctor even after getting relief from a home remedy as some common illnesses may present themselves as a symptom of a larger disease, health disorder, or medical condition.
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