Natural Cures for Everyday Ills
You can cure everyday ills with simple plants
The Plants in Your Home Are More Powerful Than You Know
Everybody gets sick. We hate when it happens. We hate to be left out of the loop, and I don't know about you, but if I have a cough and I have to go to the pharmacy for some medicine, people look at me like I have the plague if I cough even once. If it is an uncontrollable cough, they definitely behave as if it's the plague. I hate that.
Have you ever been sick and shocked that it happened? Sometimes you can feel a cold coming on, but other times it's like, boom, it's there. You don't know how and you don't know when, but suddenly you're sneezing your head off and hacking like a dog. It's on occasions like these, of course, that you don't have the medicine you need on hand. I don't know about you, but I tend to get sick during the night. Perhaps it's because your body relaxes, and then the cold says, "They're weak now. Attack!" All I can do is speculate.
Over the years, this happened to me repeatedly, and I came to realize that it was something I had to face. I have come up with a list of everyday items that can be used to help with some common ills.
How to Make Hibiscus Tea
- For a sore throat, there are three remedies that work. One is gargling with salty (as salty as you can bear) warm water at least three times a day. The other is honey and lime. You can mix the honey with warm water and add the lime to drink it like a sort of tea or you can take it straight in a tablespoon. I prefer straight because I like my throat to sting as it gives me a little relief over the gravel feeling. The last remedy is using lime and salt. Mix it and swallow a teaspoon again like three times a day. This one really stings so I like it the best.
- For a stuffy nose, I like to use ginger tea1. Just take a piece of ginger from your refrigerator, peel it, cut it up into some pieces, and boil it in some water for a few minutes. Drink the resulting liquid. It will clear your nose right up. You might not like the taste though but you can add honey to help it along if you like.
- For the cough, the one you're so embarrassed about, the one where people turn and look at you like you're a walking germ . . . red hibiscus flower. Once again this is native to the Tropics but you can get dried hibiscus in some stores. The petals you boil. The water will turn red from the flower. You can sweeten it if you like because it tastes really good. Anyway drink this for a few days and it will take that cough away.
- For constipation, Aloe Vera2 works like a charm but it tastes awful. Aloe Vera works as a cleanser and so after you have taken it you tend to feel better overall. It is also said that it is a great worm medicine as well so perhaps this is why one tends to feel better and brighter after taking it for a few days. Since it does thin the blood, it is not supposed to be taken for more than seven to nine days. However, if you are constipated, one dose in the morning (which is about a teaspoon of Aloe Vera) should help to solve the problem.
- For allergies and insomnia, the peel from an orange3 can help. You simply have to boil water and let the orange peel steep in it for a few minutes and then drink the resulting liquid. Some people add milk and sugar but I find the taste to be mild and pleasant enough on its own.
- For parasites/worms, papaya seeds4. I have always eaten the seeds of papaya. People swear that they taste horrible but I have simply swallowed them along with the papaya since they have a smooth coating around them. These seeds not only get rid of worms but they also cleanse the body and help with constipation. If you cannot swallow the seeds you can crush them and add them to a smoothie or better yet, you can dry the seeds and crush them as you would black pepper. Add them to the food that you cook and you will be able to eat them without having a problem.
Isn't it amazing what the things we have around our house can do?
1. Anti-Oxidative and Anti-inflammatory Effects of Ginger in Health and Physical Activity. Nafiseh Shokri Mashhadi, Reza Ghiasvand, Gholamreza Askari,Mitra Hariri, Leila Darvishi, and Mohammad Reza Mofid
2. Aloe vera in treatment of refractory irritable bowel syndrome: Trial on Iranian patients. Hossein Khedmat, Ashraf Karbasi, Mohsen Amini, Aghdas Aghaei, and Saeed Taheri
3. An overview of Citrus aurantium used in the treatment of various diseases. Jyotsna A. Saonere Suryawanshi
4. Effectiveness of dried Carica papaya seeds against human intestinal parasitosis: a pilot study. Okeniyi JA, Ogunlesi TA, Oyelami OA, Adeyemi LA
Red hibiscus flower
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and does not substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, and/or dietary advice from a licensed health professional. Drugs, supplements, and natural remedies may have dangerous side effects. If pregnant or nursing, consult with a qualified provider on an individual basis. Seek immediate help if you are experiencing a medical emergency.
Comments
Nicole on July 10, 2017:
Hi i would like to know where I can get this amazing plant , that can help with cancer my mum has cancer for over 3 years and we try chemo , she change her diet to vegan so we need to find more help .. we are from chile , in need to get hold on this amazing plant .. thank you very much
Nicole
North Wind (author) from The World (for now) on February 03, 2013:
Thank you DDE. There are many natural medicines available to us we must always be careful to use them properly.
Devika Primić from Dubrovnik, Croatia on February 02, 2013:
Informative Hub with many good reasons to use this unique plant.
moneycop from JABALPUR on August 17, 2011:
ah! i got it...thanks!
North Wind (author) from The World (for now) on August 17, 2011:
Thanks moneycop! I appreciate it much! There really is nothing like ginger tea to clear the nasal passages :)
moneycop from JABALPUR on August 17, 2011:
I was just searching this kind of article, thanks...gonna read your hubs...beautiful collection.
I also prefer ginger tea
North Wind (author) from The World (for now) on August 06, 2011:
Thank you very much, Alex Simring! Yes the lime and salt does give instant and long term relief.
Alex Simring from Australia on August 06, 2011:
I liked your remedies for sore throat, particularly the lime and salt. Effective!
North Wind (author) from The World (for now) on July 17, 2011:
You are so welcome, Hyphenbird! I really think the plants around us are there to heal and help us. We just don't know what to use them for!
Brenda Barnes from America-Broken But Still Beautiful on July 17, 2011:
I am a believer in the healing properties of plants, herbs and foods. Thanks so much for adding to my knowledge. Hyph
North Wind (author) from The World (for now) on May 25, 2011:
I am glad it was useful to you, Ladyt11. Thank you for reading and commenting!
ladyt11 on May 25, 2011:
Very informative and useful, thanks!
North Wind (author) from The World (for now) on November 12, 2010:
You are welcome, Sherrylou57!Thanks for reading!
sherrylou57 from Riverside on November 12, 2010:
Thank you, for this wonderful info!
North Wind (author) from The World (for now) on July 30, 2010:
Thanks I just did a hub on the Wonder of The World and the names it is known by the world over, the Philippines being one of them! Isn't it great to know there are remedies for illnesses in your own garden?
Lita C. Malicdem from Philippines on July 30, 2010:
We call the wonder of the world "katakataka" and the hibiscus, "gumamela" in our Filipino dialect. Yes, you are right. My school children who showed up in school with mumps are given pounded katakataka leaves to ease the pain and swelling. The slimy hibiscus flower concoction does its proven effect for coughs. They are there in the garden, waiting to be tapped by those who don't know they can cure. Thanks!
North Wind (author) from The World (for now) on July 06, 2010:
Sorry flora!
North Wind (author) from The World (for now) on July 06, 2010:
It is mostly found in the Caribbean but you could try checking out a nursery that specializes in tropical fauna.
It grows from one leaf so if you could find even one leaf, then you could get a plant from it.
Romance Reader on July 06, 2010:
I really want to try that wonder of the world plant...any idea where I would look for it?
