• medications and illnesses
• pregnancy related nausea
• gastroenteritis
• food poisoning
• motion sickness
• indigestion
• stress

Nausea is an uneasy feeling that can cause a great deal of discomfort. However, the good news is that it can be alleviated using some simple yet effective home remedies.

Natural Home Remedies for Nausea

There are several household kitchen staples and herbs that can help to curb the effects of nausea. Herbal mixtures, teas and natural juices all have the potential of alleviating nausea.

Remedies from the refrigerator

1. Heat 1 cup milk until it is hot but do not boil it. Pour into a bowl. Take a piece of slightly buttered toast and crumble it into the milk. Eat slowly.
2. Mix 1 teaspoon honey with 1 teaspoon lemon juice. Dip your finger into the mixture and lick it. This is to ensure that you take the prepared liquid gradually.
3. It is always advised to avoid solid foods when experiencing persistent nausea with vomiting. However, you still need fluids to maintain your body’s healthy balance. Cranberry juice is ideal for this period of fasting as it is full of antioxidants and vitamin C. It is also good for your digestive tract.
4. To stop nausea or vomiting with immediacy, mix 1 cup water, 10 drops lime juice and ½ teaspoon sugar. Add ¼ teaspoon baking soda and drink.

Herbal Remedies

1. Brew a cup of clove tea using 1 teaspoon clove powder in a teacup with boiling water. Strain the residual cloves and drink as required.
2. Steep ½ teaspoon cinnamon powder in 1 cup boiling water, strain and sip. Do not use this remedy if pregnant.
3. Steep a cup of tea with 1 teaspoon cumin seeds and a pinch of nutmeg to soothe an upset stomach.
4. Crush 1 tablespoon fennel seeds and steep for 10 minutes in 1 cup boiling water. Sweeten to taste with honey and sip as required.
5. Brew aniseed into a cup of tea by putting ¼ teaspoon in ½ cup boiling water. Steep for 5 minutes. Strain and drink once daily. Alternatively, sprinkle aniseed on mild vegetables like carrot or pumpkin. If you can manage to eat fruits, try aniseed on baked apples or pears.
6. Ginger and ginger root are perhaps the best cures for nausea and vomiting. Ginger consumed in any form, will relieve nausea. Try taking ginger tea, gingerbread or gingersnaps. Ginger ales can also be used if they contain real ginger content. Much of the ginger ales in the market today are absent of curative ginger.
7. Mint tea is as effective as ginger. Steep about 1 tablespoon dry leaves in 1 pint hot water for 30 minutes.  Strain and drink. Do not throw the remaining leaves out. Instead, eat them. Eating boiled mint leaves also helps to cure nausea.

Other Natural Home Remedies

Smelling vomit usually induces more vomiting or causes prolonged nausea. After vomiting, rinse the remaining particles from your mouth with ¼ cup vinegar in a 4-ounce glass. Ensure you only use the mixture to rinse your mouth. Do not gargle. This should also help to freshen your breath.

Nuasea can cause a great deal of discomfort and annoyance. The above mentioned tips will be useful to alleviate this problem and since they are made using easily available resources, you can easily try these home remedies at home.

Types of Headaches

Migraine

There are several types of migraine with the two common types known as classic (neurological symptoms) and common (changes in the size of the skull’s arteries). A migraine will begin as a dull ache before developing into a constant, throbbing and pulsating pain. The pain may be felt at the temples or the front or back of one side of the head and is usually accompanied by nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and noise.

Cluster Headaches

Cluster headaches are headaches that attack in groups and are known as the most severe of headaches. There are no preceding symptoms as in a migraine and usually lasts from 30 to 45 minutes, and in some cases, occasionally, for a few hours.

Tension Headaches

There are two types of tension headaches: episodic and chronic.

Episodic Headaches

Episodic headaches tend to be random and typically result from temporary stress, anxiety, fatigue or anger. Symptoms include soreness in the temples, a tightening band-like sensation around the head, a pulling feeling, pressure sensations and contracting head and neck muscles. Symptoms can also include tightness in the neck; certain positions may provide relief. The headache surfaces in your forehead, temples or the back of your head and neck.

Chronic headaches

Chronic headaches are tension-type headache which may occur daily and last for a prolonged period, usually months much unlike episodic headaches. Chronic tension headaches are not usually treated with over-the-counter medications.

The pain, impairment, triggers or impact of headaches vary from person to person and therefore, treatments will also be dependent on each individual.

Home Remedies for Headaches

The following simple home remedies can be used to gain some relief from the gnawing pain, caused due to headaches.

1. using essential oils: A good home remedy for headache relief is the use of aromatherapy. When using essential oils, ensure that they are 100% natural and pure as “mock up” essential oils may actually worsen your headache instead of easing it. Peppermint, sandalwood and lavender are said to be the most effective in fighting headaches. Also great are, eucalyptus and rosemary oils. Mix essential oil with unscented massage or bath oils and add to a warm bath or make a compress by putting 5 drops of essential oil in cold (or warm) water and place it on the forehead and neck.
2. massaging: Use massage techniques as a home headache remedy. Have someone kneel across your shoulders and the back of the neck then have them press on the base of your skull with their fingers, and slowly release. If you are without a partner rotate your fingers over your scalp. Put pressure on the webbed part of your hand, which is the area between the index finger and the thumb.
3. medicinal herbs: Herbal remedies which involve the use of feverfew, peppermint, passion flower, ginko biloba, chamomile and cayenne, are said to be effective in the relief of headaches. Feverfew is known for its anti-inflammatory properties and is more popular for migraines. Passionflower has also been identified as an anti-inflammatory painkiller. Ginko is said to improve the flow of blood and increase oxygen supply to the brain.
4. some more natural remedies:

• Drinking lemon tea
• eating a ripened apple with salt in the mornings
• preparing a paste of cinnamon by mixing it with water and applying it over the temples and forehead to obtain relief
• rubbing henna flowers with vinegar and applying it to the forehead

For mild headaches that can be tackled at home, use the above mentioned simple home remedies to combat the pain and discomfort. If the headache becomes too intense or unbearable or if it persists for a long time without respite, it is best to consult a professional medical practitioner for advice.

Migraine Remedies

The natural remedies for migraines incorporate the use of herbal and other natural ingredients to combat one or more of the migraine signs and symptoms. Home remedies offers cheap and quick relief of migraine discomfort without the use of prescription drugs.

Natural Remedies

5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan)

5-HTP is a naturally occurring compound produced in the body by the amino acid trytophan. Its main purpose in the body is to produce the neurotransmitter serotonin and the hormone melatonin. 5-HTP is available in supplement form, made from seeds of the African plant: Griffonia Simplicifolia.
Since traditional drugs that affect the levels of serotonin are used to alleviate migraines, 5-HTP is being explored as an alternative natural remedy. 5-HTP has the potential to prevent and reduce the frequency and severity of migraines.

Magnesium

Magnesium mineral is found naturally in green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, in whole grain foods and in nutritional supplements. The mineral is necessary for more than 300 biochemical reactions and helps to regulate blood sugar levels. Studies looking at the effectiveness of magnesium for migraine have yielded promising results. Some studies find that magnesium reduces the severity and frequency of migraines, but not all studies have confirmed it, so more are needed.

Butterbur

Butterbur is shrub-like herbal plant growing in regions of Asia, Europe and North America. Extracts are taken from the herb and are used to treat migraines, stomach cramps, coughs, allergies and asthma.
Studies have suggested that butterbur is not only good for alleviating, but also preventing migraine symptoms. Butterbur is part of the ragweed plant family, and so people who are allergic to ragweed, marigold, daisy, or chrysanthemum should not use butterbur.
The raw form of the herb, as well as teas, extracts and capsules made from the raw herb should not be used as they contain substances that are toxic to the liver and kidneys, and may even cause cancer. The daily recommended dose of butterbur products is no more than one microgram per day.

Home Remedies

1. Wet a small towel, then squeeze, not wring, some of the water out. Fold it and place it into a freezer. Leave it for 5 minutes or until the towel starts to stiffen. Unfold and refold the towel putting the frozen section in the middle and the wet sections to the outside. When the towel is reasonable frozen all over, place around the head and eyes.
2. Relax in a quite darkened room and allow someone to massage your scalp for about 10 minutes. Massage the head but not the temples. Try massaging with the ice towel wrap on the head and eyes.

There are two types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2; Type 1 diabetes renders the body completely incapable of producing insulin. People with Type 2 diabetes can produce insulin, but their cells do not respond to it. Both Types result in the glucose being unable to move into the cells and blood glucose levels, as a result, become very high. With time, the resulting high glucose levels cause grave complications.

Natural Remedies for Diabetes

The nature of Type 1 diabetes does not leave much room for holistic treatment. If the body is not producing any insulin at all, then the most relevant treatment is an intake of insulin. For Type 2 diabetes, however, there are certain natural approaches that can be taken in controlling diabetes along with standard treatment. Ensure you use these natural remedies under the supervision of a qualified health professional.

1. Ginseng; the most promising studies on ginseng show that North American ginseng may effectively improve blood sugar control and glycosylated haemogobin–a form of haemoglobin in the blood used to monitor blood glucose levels over time–levels.
2. Chromium is an essential trace mineral that plays an important role in the metabolism of carbohydrates and fats. It helps the body cells to respond adequately to insulin, and studies show that low levels of chromium exists in people with diabetes. Studies also, suggest that chromium supplements may be effective in controlling diabetes; however, these studies are inconclusive. One form of chromium that is not recommended is chromium picolinate–do research to learn more about chromium supplementation and diabetes.
3. Magnesium mineral, found naturally in green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grain foods and nutritional supplements, is required for the effectiveness of more than 300 biochemical reactions. Magnesium helps in blood sugar level regulation and is needed for normal muscle and nerve function, heart rhythm, immune function, blood pressure and bone health. Studies show that after 16 weeks, people who take magnesium have improved insulin sensitivity and lower fasting glucose levels. Despite all the positive functions of magnesium, high doses of the mineral may cause grave side effects.
4. Gymnema; several preliminary studies have suggested that the herb gymnema may have properties suited to lowering blood sugar levels in people with Type 2 diabetes. Because gymnema has the capacity to lower blood sugar levels, people taking medications for diabetes, or using insulin should not take gymnema simultaneously unless they are being closely monitored by their doctor.

Home Remedies for Burns

Tea bags

The tannic acid found in black tea helps to draw heat from a burn. Place 2-3 tea bags under a spout of cool water and collect the tea in a small bowl. Dab the liquid gently onto the burn site. Alternatively, use 3-4 tea bags, 2 cups fresh mint leaves and 4 cups boiling water. Strain liquid into a jar and allow to cool. Dab mixture on burned skin with cotton or wash cloth.

Vinegar

This works as an astringent and antiseptic on minor burns and helps to prevent infection. Dilute vinegar with equal parts water and rinse the burn site with the solution.

Salt

Relieve mouth burns by rinsing with brine, every hour till better. Make brine with ½ teaspoon salt in 8 ounces water.

Honey

Honey will draw out fluids from the tissues, effectively cleaning a minor burn wound. The honey can be applied to a gauze bandage, which is less sticky than a direct application. Place a dollop of honey on a piece of sterilised gauze material and apply directly to the burn site. Change the dressing 3-4 times daily.

Ice

This is better for a burned tongue than cold water. Instead of drinking cool water when your tongue is burned, suck on an ice cube. Rinse the ice cube with water first so it doesn’t stick to lips or tongue.

Cool Water

Ice can restrict blood flow if applied directly to a burn site on the skin, and further damage delicate tissues. Gently run cool water or place a cool compress over the burn site for about 10 minutes. Do this within seconds of receiving the burn, it will soothe the area and prevent the burn from spreading.

Milk

Soak a minor burn site in milk for 15 minutes. Alternatively, use a cloth dampened with milk to cover the area. Repeat every few hours to relieve pain. Wash cloth properly after use, or it will become sour quickly.