better
health
W
hen it comes to
home remedies,
grandmothers all
Y
y
over the world really
do know best. Plenty of traditional
concoctions have real medicinal value.
These age-old antidotes can soothe
what ails you, and almost all the
ingredients used here can be found in
your kitchen. But always play it safe
first; talk to your doctor for serious
conditions or ones that don’t heal
quickly with home cures.
SO RETHRO ATS
In the Ukraine, many people relieve sore
throats by gargling every two hours with a
glass of hot water mixed with a tablespoon or
so each of honey and vinegar. While this isn’t
the tastiest elixir, vinegar works as an
astringent to clear secretions and restore pH
balance, and it discourages bacteria growth.
Honey is an anti-inflammatory.
BODYODOR
Italian women stay sweet-smelling with baking
soda. Rub enough water into a few
tablespoons of baking soda to make a paste
and apply directly under your armpits for five
minutes. Then rinse. If a shower is out of the
question, leave a thin layer of paste directly on
your armpits. Sodium bicarbonate acts as a
magnet for odors, says Dr. Charles E.
Crutchfield III, an associate professor of
dermatology at the University of Minnesota.
MINOR BURNS
Hortensia Garcia, a Mexico native now living in
Corona, California, says her mother used to
mash a tomato and apply it directly to minor
burns. Then she’d cover the mash with
bandages to prevent scarring. Although he
hasn’t tried this on his patients, Crutchfield
speculates there are several ingredients that
may help: Vitamin C, vitamin A, and
phytonutrients all work to heal the wound.
Jim LaValle, a pharmacist and author of
Smart Medicine for Healthier Living,
says
spreading honey once a day on a minor burn
is a terrific natural way to treat it. A recent
New Zealand study found that a type of honey
native to that country prevented infection
better than antibiotics (your store brand will
work just as well).
230 NOVEMBER 2009
BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
v e rv o n e h a s a d o c to r i
E v e ry
her. We
in
just have to help it in its wor
him
ork.
or
—HIPPOCRATES
ACNE FACE MASK
Women in the northeast
African nation of Eritrea often
apply a facial mask of avocado,
egg yolks, and honey to beat
blemishes. LaValle speculates
this mix might work because
eggs are rich in vitamin A, or
retinol, which helps heal skin.
Honey helps kill bacteria cells by
dehydrating them, and avocado
moisturizes skin.
Be mindful of which part of the
egg you use. Use egg whites only
on oily skin; they act as an
astringent. Use the yolk—high in
fats and other helpful
compounds— if you have dry
skin. Dr. Bita Bagheri, a
dermatologist in Riverside,
California, advises using only
pasteurized eggs in the mixture
to eliminate the risk of
salmonella. To make, mash and
mix one avocado, the egg part
suited to your needs, and about
one tablespoon honey. Then
apply to your face and leave on
for
5 -10
minutes. Add this
remedy to your weekly skin care
routine, or when you feel an
outbreak coming on.
