Cold and flu season is upon us and that means more and more of us are reaching into the medicine cabinet to find a quick fixfor colds,for sinus infections, andfor headaches– among other things! But have you ever thought to trynatural remediesthat you can easily make from your own home? It definitely saves you a trip to the drug store and you probably have most of the ingredients already stored in your pantry or fridge. Thesesimple tipswill help you tackle whatever it is that ails you, whether it’s a minorhealth condition or a major one. So clear up some space in your medicine cabinet and read on to discoverhow to makethese 12 effective and inexpensivenatural remedies quickly and easily in your own home!

How to Make Your Own Natural Remedies

Natural Remedy for Anxiety

You might not be aware of this, but anxiety attacks and blood sugar often go hand in hand. When you’re feeling especially anxious or irritable it could be because you’re hungry. Try having a healthy snack, like a handful of walnuts or a piece of dark chocolate, along with a glass of water or a soothing cup of chamomile tea. If you’re looking for a long term solution to reduce your anxiety, eating a healthy diet and working out on a regular basis can help alleviate your symptoms.

MORE TIPS FOR ANXIETY: How to Do Yoga: A Routine for Beginners

Natural Remedyfor Sore Muscles

If your sore muscles are bothering you, try using essential oils to help take away the pain. Lavender and lemongrass essential oils are both great choices to reduce pain, swelling and inflammation. Lavender is known for its natural anti-inflammatory and pain relieving properties. It is also known for relieving tension and stress, both of which can contribute to your muscle pain.

To take advantage of lavender’s soothing, therapeutic properties, add 10 drops of the essential oil to a warm bath. Lemongrass essential oil is another great choice for sore muscle pain due to its ability to reduce swelling and inflammation when applied topically.

To take advantage of lemongrass’ therapeutic properties, combine 2-3 drops of lemongrass essential oil with 1 tbsp. of a carrier oil such as coconut, jojoba or grapeseed. Apply the mixture to any areas that feel sore and rub until the oil is fully absorbed into the skin.

Natural Remedyfor Breast Pain

You might be surprised but breast soreness from exercise is actually a common complaint among women, especially those with larger busts. High impact exercises, like running or boot camp, can stress the muscles and ligaments in your chest causing you pain and discomfort. This is especially true if you’re wearing an ill-fitting or unsupportive sports bra. The solution? Wear a good, supportive sports bra like Shefit's Ultimate Sports Bra for small tatas to large breasts. This bra is equipped with the patented Zip, Cinch and Lift technology that adapts to your body for a personalized, comfortable and supportive fit. With its full coverage, this bra will help shape and support your girls so you can exercise the way you want.

Natural Remedy for sleep

Before you reach for those sleeping pills, try a glass of tart cherry juice instead. Cherry juice is a natural sleep aid as it’s full of trytophan – an essential amino acid that converts to melatonin. You may have already heard of melatonin, which helps to regulate our sleep and wake cycles. Just a ½ cup of tart cherry juice (make sure it’s just cherry juice and not combined with loads of sugar or other ingredients) will help you sleep like a baby!

Natural Remedyfor Fatigue

The daily grind can no doubt cause some fatigue, especially when you hit the midday wall. A weird but effective solution is a glass of fresh potato water. It might sound bizarre, but a glass of water with slices of potato makes a potassium rich drink that can help you feel less tired and sluggish. Simply slice one peeled potato and add the slices to a glass of water. Allow it to steep overnight in the fridge and drink it first thing in the morning or when you feel like you need a burst of energy.

MORE DIY NATURAL REMEDIES TO BOOST YOUR ENERGY: Uses & Benefits of Pink Grapefruit Essential Oil

Natural Remedyfor Constipation

To get your system flowing like it should, you need to get moving too! A sedentary lifestyle can lead to a sedentary digestive system – so try getting active to see if that helps with any constipation. If that doesn’t work, try flaxseed oil instead. It works to coat the walls of the intestine, as well as your stool and also increases the number of bowel movements you’ll have in a day. Try mixing the flaxseed oil (1 tbsp.) with 1 glass of orange juice (with pulp) to add a bit of fiber to your drink. Drink as often as you need but be warned, it can take up to 5 hours to start working so don’t drink too much!

Natural Remedyfor Stomach Ache

If you’re experiencing stomach pain due to indigestion, try having some peppermint tea. Peppermint works as an antispasmodic on the muscles of the digestive tract to help relieve the pain caused by pain and indigestion. Add one teaspoon of dried peppermint to a cup of boiling water, let steep for 5 to 10 minutes and strain. Sip the tea slowly to help ease your stomachache.

Natural Remedyfor Headache

When a headache strikes, probably your first thought is to grab an Advil or Tylenol. But before you do, try drawing a warm footbath. It might seem a bit odd but a warm footbath with a few teaspoons of mustard powder can actually help with your throbbing head. The hot water from your footbath will help to redistribute blood from your throbbing head to other parts of your body, thus taking away the pain. The essential oils in the mustard powder help to stimulate the skin, which will also work to divert the pain from your head.

Natural Remedyfor When Cold and Flu Season Hits

As soon as you feel the symptoms of a cold or flu coming on, try this trick. Take a whole, unpeeled grapefruit, sectioned into four pieces, place it into a pot and cover with water. Heat the water to just under a boil, then add a tablespoon of honey. Drink the whole mixture like you would a cup of tea. The grapefruit is chock full of immune boosters like vitamin C and flavonoids, plus the warmth can help ease a sore throat.

Natural Remedyfor Sinus Infection

When a sinus infection hits, the best course of action to treat it is a clove of garlic. Eating one clove of garlic every day can not only help to clear up a sinus infection but also help to treat it in the first place. To help naturally clear your sinuses, try using eucalyptus oil and peppermint oil. These oils can help to naturally open your sinuses, clear mucus and eliminate infections. Try rubbing one drop of each oil on the roof of your mouth (only with food grade oils), and drink a glass of water.

Natural Remedyfor Acne

For particularly bad acne, try using neem oil – an anti-fungal oil available at most health food stores). Gently scrub your face with coarse salt mixed with a few drops of neem oil. Rinse, then apply a mask of plain yogurt. Leave on for 15 to 30 to allow the lactic acid in the yogurt to work as a natural exfoliant. Your skin will be left with a nice glow – clear of acne, discolorations and fine lines.

Natural Remedyfor A Hangover

You know the feeling – when you wake up with a pounding headache, queasy stomach and dry mouth you know you definitely had too much to drink the night before. To help alleviate the symptoms of a hangover, try drinking a cup of tomato juice with a splash of tabasco sauce. It won’t taste amazing but it will help to stimulate your liver and will help replenish the antioxidants your body needs.

Sometimes the best treatments for what ails you aren’t found in a pill bottle, rather they’re found in the pantry or fridge in your kitchen. Thesimple tipsabove will teach youhow to get ridof some of the most common complaints, so that you can get back to your everyday. It’s truenatural remediescan easily save you a trip to the drugstore but if you’re really feeling out of sorts, be sure to consult with a doctor. Why not make a batch of some of these easynatural remediesfor friends and family? They’re sure to love them and will appreciate having them on hand the next time aheadache, coldorsinus infectionhits!

MORE HANGOVER TIPS: 7 Simple and Amazing Uses of Pink Grapefruit Essential Oil

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