50 home remedies that work: these safe, fast, and effective fixes will relieve what ails you (3)

by Maria Noel Mandile

35 Menstrual Cramps

It should be no surprise that an herb named cramp bark (Viburnum opulus) would work wonders for menstrual pain. It contains at least six compounds that relax muscles, as well as salicin, the pain-relieving compound from which aspirin is derived. Take 1 teaspoon of the liquid extract every hour until your cramps subside. If they don't ease within 48 hours, stop taking cramp bark.

36 Muscle Strain

The tried and true Epsom salt bath works magic on sore or strained muscles. Epsom salts contain magnesium, a mineral which relaxes muscles when absorbed through your skin, explains Bongiovanni. The salts also soothe pain and kickstart your body's muscle repair process. Dump 2 cups of Epsom salts into a tub filled with warm water and soak for 20 minutes.

37 Nasal Congestion

Nothing works faster to clear clogged sinuses than horseradish, Gladstar says. The oils in this plant boost circulation in your nasal passages, which then loosens mucus. Mix a teaspoon of grated fresh horseradish with a little apple cider vinegar or honey, and eat it on toast (the vinegar and honey take the edge off the potent horseradish taste). Inhale deeply as you grate the horseradish; the fumes alone will start breaking up your congestion.

38 Nosebleeds

Halt a mild nosebleed in minutes with this simple, albeit strange trick. Tear a piece of brown paper from a grocery bag, place it inside your mouth between your top lip and your gum, and leave it there until your nose stops bleeding, says Candee. No one knows why it works, but Candee says her patients have used this trick successfully for 30 years.

39 Poison Ivy

Stop the itch of a poison ivy rash and prevent it from spreading with the following homemade paste: Mix 1 tablespoon of salt and 1/8 teaspoon of peppermint essential oil (Mentha piperita) with 1/2 cup green clay, and add enough water to form a paste. Apply the paste liberally to the rash and leave it on for 20 to 30 minutes. Store leftover paste in a tightly sealed jar and reapply as needed. The remedy soothes the itch by absorbing the irritating plant oils and drying the rash. It also works for poison oak.

40 Puffy Eyes

If your eyes are puffy in the morning, go straight for a cube of ice. Wrap it in a paper towel and hold it over each eyelid for a few minutes. The cold will reduce the swelling.

41 Razor Burn

A razor burn victim himself, Yarnell recommends slathering aloe gel (Aloe vera) on your skin when you're done shaving. You can buy aloe gel in drugstores, but look for a product that has few additives and is made with 100 percent aloe.

42 Sore Throat

Most people know that echinacea (Echinaceae spp) can help you fight off a cold. But it also acts as a mild local anesthetic when taken in liquid extract form, says Yarnell. Mix 1/2 teaspoon of the liquid extract with about 1/4 cup water, gargle, and swallow. Do this every hour for up to 48 hours or until the soreness disappears.

43 Sties

The warm compress that most doctors recommend to heal sties can be made more effective if you soak the compress in a solution containing the herb eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis). Steep 1 teaspoon dried eyebright in 1 cup boiling hot water for 10 minutes and strain. Soak a washcloth in the solution, gently wring it, and apply it to the stye for 15 minutes two or three times a day.

44 Sunburn

Your afternoon snack can also soothe your sunburn. Smearing yogurt on your skin as soon as it turns pink cools your skin and reestablishes its pH balance so it heals faster. Use plain, full-fat yogurt that contains few additives. Let it sit on your skin until it warms up and then rinse it off with tepid water. Apply as often as needed.

45 Toothache

Numb a throbbing tooth with clove essential oil (Syzygium aromaticum). The aromatic chemical in clove called eugenol anesthetizes pain and kills bacteria. To apply it, soak a cotton ball or swab with the oil and use it to wipe your sore gums and tooth. Repeat this four to five times a day until you can see your dentist.

46 Urinary Tract Infections

Drink cranberry or blueberry juice when you feel a urinary tract infection coming on. Both contain compounds that fight the infection by preventing troublesome bacteria from adhering to the walls of your urinary tract, explains Bongiovanni. Down one to two 8-ounce glasses of 100 percent cranberry or blueberry juice daily until the infection disappears. If you buy cranberry juice cocktail, drink four glasses a day. Or take 2.5 g of cranberry extract capsules (Vaccinium macrocarpum) twice a day with meals. If you still have symptoms after two days or if your symptoms worsen, see your doctor.

47 Vaginal Dryness

Vaginal dryness is triggered by a hormone imbalance. Vitamin E oil combined with the herb black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) restores vaginal moisture and tips your hormones back into balance, explains Yarnell. Simply squeeze the oil from six vitamin E capsules into a small cup, add about 5 teaspoons of black cohosh cream, and stir. Apply the mixture to the inside and outside of your vagina two or three times a day until you find relief.

48 Varicose Veins

Putting your feet up and applying a compress made with sage tea (Salvia officinalis) can minimize the swelling of your varicose veins. Rich in anti-inflammatory compounds, sage reduces swelling by shrinking vein walls, Candee explains. Steep 6 teaspoons dried sage in 3 cups boiling hot water for 30 minutes (double the recipe if you're treating both legs) and strain. Dunk a medium-size hand towel in the tea and gently wring it out. Sit in a spot where you can put your feet up above your heart and wrap the towel snugly around your problem leg.

49 Warts

This wart remedy may sound wacky, but Yarnell swears by it. Gently rub the wart with your finger for 15 seconds at the same time each day. Rubbing the wart stimulates blood flow to the area and prompts your immune system to fight the wart virus. Doing this at the same time every day trains your immune system to kick in on its own.

50 Yeast Infections

Ease the maddening itch of a yeast infection with a suppository made with boric acid. Although its name sounds harsh, boric acid acts as a mild antiseptic and has antiviral and antifungal properties. Insert one suppository every night as long as needed. Do not exceed 14 days. If you don't find the suppositories in your natural food store, ask your pharmacist to make them.