Three Herbal Remedies That Really Work

Did you ever wander around a health food store and become overwhelmed with the bottles of herbal supplements sitting on the shelves? It can be very expensive and frustrating to use the trial and error method when it comes to choosing herbal remedies. Here are my top 3 personal favorite herbal remedies that really work.

1. Ginger

Reach for the ginger the next time you feel queasy. After I was given a series of Lupron injections to treat a fibroid in 1999, I discovered the benefits of this herbal remedy. One of the unpleasant side effects of Lupron is nausea. I felt like I had the flu 24-7. When I started taking ginger, my symptoms drastically improved and I could look at food again. I take anywhere from 2-3 550 mg capsules when I feel nauseated and it starts to help within a half hour. Experiment with the dosage that works best for you. Some people find that if they take too much, they get heartburn. You may want to start with one capsule and work your way up if necessary. Taking ginger this way packs more of a punch than sipping ginger ale. Also, if you are suffering from morning sickness, check with your doctor to find out if ginger can help. I just paid $3.88 for a bottle of 100 capsules at a local discount store, so it is an inexpensive alternative.

If you are prone to motion sickness, ginger can alleviate the cartwheels in your stomach if taken about an hour before you travel. Another benefit is that ginger will not make you sleepy like most prescription drugs for nausea. Besides capsules, there are ginger candies and ginger tea. The candies and teas are not as potent as the capsules, but can help when your stomach just feels a little off. Ginger is not recommended if you take blood thinners or have gallstones.

2. Tea Tree Oil

This is a great remedy for virtually any skin condition. My acne came back with a vengeance in my thirties and none of the acne products I purchased could get it under control. Then I discovered the benefits of tea tree oil. You can buy tea tree oil facial cleansers (usually found in health food stores) or you can buy a one ounce bottle of pure oil from the store in the supplement/vitamin aisle for around ten dollars. I dip a q-tip in the oil and dab it right on the blemish. In a day or two, (sometimes overnight) the blemish is gone.

Tea tree oil also treats plantar warts, athlete’s foot, disinfects cuts and abrasions and insect bites. I had three plantar warts on the bottom of my foot for a long time. I tried freezing them and used those wart remover kits with the pads and nothing cured them until I applied tea tree oil directly to the warts twice a day. The oil slowly dried them up and within a few weeks they disappeared.

This oil has a very distinct, smelly aroma, but the results are worth it. A word of caution: Only use the oil topically and don’t use near your eyes. Do not take tea tree oil internally, because it can be toxic. If full strength tea tree oil irritates your skin, dilute it with some distilled water, vegetable oil or vitamin E oil.

3. Cinnamon

Yes, this is great spice to use for baking and the smell reminds you of Christmas, but cinnamon is also good for runny noses. My husband swears that it helps dry up his runny nose when he is suffering from allergies. He has a heart condition which limits his use of just about any allergy medication, so he always has a bottle of cinnamon on hand.

I have also found cinnamon beneficial for diarrhea. It can also warm the body and help your digestion. Just like ginger, cinnamon can be purchased in capsule form, usually 500 mg of cinnamon per capsule and is rather inexpensive. You can try it right off your spice rack and sprinkle it over your oatmeal or put on toast for minor upsets. Do not use large amounts if pregnant.

These remedies have greatly helped me and I hope you’ll give them a try. You’ll find different brands and prices in health food stores, discount stores, drug stores or the grocery store.