By Esther Diaz
CSMS Magazine
Next time you’re searching for relief from 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 gingerroot. Put 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 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 process four hours later. If your symptoms worsen or persist for more than 24 hours, see your health-care provider.
Note: Esther Diaz is an education major at UNF (University of North Florida). She is our contributor.
