Next time you’re searching for relief from an acute ailment, look in your kitchen. Chances are you’ll find as many remedies there as in your medicine chest.
• Cold
Try ginger tea. Both an antiviral and anti-inflammatory remedy, it helps prevent chills and reduces the buildup of phlegm. What to do: Peel and thinly slice a two-inch piece of fresh gingerroot. Put it in a saucepan and cover with 12 ounces of water. Bring to a boil, and then gently simmer for seven minutes. Strain, add honey and the juice of one-half fresh lemon. Sip six ounces every three hours.
• Sinus congestion
To clear your nasal and sinus passages, try a steam inhalation with dried thyme leaves. Thyme is a good antiseptic and decongestant. What to do: Pour a quart of boiling water into a bowl. Add a heaping teaspoon of dried thyme leaves. Drape a large, dry cotton towel over your head and hold your face about 12 inches above the bowl. Breathe in the thyme-laced steam for eight minutes. Then gently blow your nose.
• Bladder infection
If you experience early symptoms of a bladder infection such as pain when urinating or increased frequency try parsley tea. Parsley is a mild natural diuretic that contains virtually no calories and also flushes the bladder of pesky organisms that can cause infection. What to do: Bring one quart of water to a boil, turn off the heat and add one cup of fresh parsley stems and leaves. Cover and steep for 15 minutes. Strain and drink one cup of cool tea over a two-hour period. Repeat the process four hours later. If your symptoms worsen or persist for more than 24 hours, see your healthcare provider.
