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Mom shares her best home remedies for minor ailments
A mix of old school and simple ideas I hadn't thought of, these are handy to remember when your family feels under the weather.
Cheryl Knight
04.05.21

Dealing with minor ailments can be painful and quite annoying … but they don’t have to be!

From your occasional heartburn or headache to your child’s sore throat or minor burn, you can actually usually find fast relief right at home.

After raising two children, I’ve found the following home remedies extremely effective over the years. So here’s a quick guide on when to try home remedies and when it’s time to check in with your doctor.

Going to the doctor for a minor ailment can seem like a waste of time and money in some cases. Here’s where home remedies come in.

Pexels – Cottonbro
Source:
Pexels – Cottonbro

These home remedies can be quite effective in some cases where immediate medical treatment isn’t necessary.

Burns

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Pisquels - ssizu

Dealing with minor burns quickly helps lessen the pain. Minor burns include sunburns or burns from a hot stove, for instance, that are red, blistered, and not bigger than three inches in diameter.

To treat a minor burn, start by applying a cold compress to cool the burn down. Be careful not to break any blisters though. You can also apply lotion and consider bandaging the burned area once it’s treated.

You can also take an over-the-counter pain reliever to help lessen any pain.

When should you see a doctor?

If you have a burn that looks charred, is larger than three inches in diameter, or is deep, contact your doctor immediately. And if the situation is extremely serious, dial 911. Make sure to remove any restrictive items, such as belts or rings, from the burned area and cover it with a clean cloth until you can get help.

Constipation

Pixy – Margherita Marchetti
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Pixy – Margherita Marchetti

Constipation can be an inconvenience at best and painful at worst.

Some home remedies that help clear up constipation quickly include eating more fibrous foods, such as prunes and apples; eating a tablespoon or two of coconut oil each day; or taking a magnesium supplement.

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When should you see a doctor?

If constipation issues continue with no bowel movement after four to five days after trying one of the remedies above, contact your doctor. And keep in mind that constipation accompanied by black stool, breathing problems, or a high fever could signify a serious problem, so get immediate medical help if these symptoms occur.

Headaches or Migraines

Flickr – Marco Verch Professional Photographer
Source:
Flickr – Marco Verch Professional Photographer

To ease a headache quickly, try this simple home remedy.

  • Applying a cold compress in 15-minute intervals until the headache dissipates.

You can also use a heating pad or hot compress on your neck or the back of your head. Turning down the lights inside or wearing sunglasses outdoors can help lessen migraine or headache pain.

When should you see a doctor?

When a headache increases in severity or frequency, especially after trying a home remedy, it’s time to consider seeing a doctor. Other warning signs to look for in combination with a headache include loss of vision, loss of consciousness, or vomiting. This could indicate a more serious problem.

Heartburn

Pixabay – NatureFriend
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Pixabay – NatureFriend

Heartburn, or acid reflux, occurs when your stomach acid backs up into your esophagus. This can leave you with an extremely unpleasant burning sensation in your chest and neck area.

Some common home remedies for heartburn include:

  • Mixing a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water and drinking it
  • Drinking aloe juice
  • Eating a banana

Also, mixing three teaspoons of apple cider vinegar into a cup of water is an effective heartburn alleviator. Just drink the mixture at mealtime or before bed.

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When should you see a doctor?

If you notice your heartburn getting worse or more frequent, call your doctor. Also, heartburn that makes it hard to swallow or causes nausea and vomiting should be addressed by your doctor.

Sore throat

Pexels – Cottonbro
Source:
Pexels – Cottonbro

Sore throats can be too painful to endure for long. But not all sore throats require a trip to the doctor.

One of the easiest ways to treat a sore throat at home is to gargle with salt water every three hours. The salt helps kills any bacteria that are present and soothes the throat area. Honey, with its natural restorative powers and soothing qualities, can also make a sore throat feel much better.

When should you see a doctor?

If your sore throat won’t go away, it might be time to see a doctor. A sore throat that lasts for longer than two days or is accompanied by a fever over 101 degrees could signal that you have a bacterial infection and require professional treatment.

Check out the video below for some home remedies supported by science.

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

H/T: health plus, Experience Life

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