Food Poisoning or Stomach Bug

Whenever I start feeling funny, my belly feels queasy, and I feel like I may need to start looking for a bathroom ASAP, I know it’s better to be safe than sorry. Food poisoning or a stomach virus can really take a toll on your body. In order to lessen the effects, I take a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar as soon as I start feeling any suspicious symptoms. The probiotics, known as “the mother”, that are contained in apple cider vinegar help quiet down whatever is happening in the stomach. If the stomach issues persist, I repeat the one tablespoon dose a couple hours later. Whenever I take the apple cider vinegar at the start of any stomach issues, I usually feel better the same day.

Disclaimer: The posts on this blog are provided for general information and intellectual purposes only and may not be relied on as a substitute for professional medical advice, care or treatment.

This is the kind of apple cider vinegar I use. I also like Bragg Organic Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar, but I like the value of Trader Joe’s products. Apple cider vinegar also makes a great salad dressing ;-).

foodpoisoninghomeremedy

Black Tea and Cold Sores

A few years ago, I was traveling and got an unexpected cold sore. I was out of the country and was not familiar with the medications at the local pharmacy. Whenever anyone feels down or is coming up with something, the first thing I recommend is always tea. So, I made some tea to comfort myself, and as I was sipping the hot liquid, it felt really soothing against my cold sore. I thought about it how when you have a pimple, applying a warm compress softens it and releases the impurities. A cold sore, although viral, reminded me of a pimple. I decided to brew another tea, but this time because I wanted to use the teabag. I waited a few seconds for the teabag to cool off a little, and then applied it directly to my cold sore. It felt really soothing and tingly. I just used a regular black teabag, such as Lipton. After only doing it once, I felt like the cold sore dried up a bit. I kept doing it every few hours over the next couple of days, and it was getting better and better.

Disclaimer: The posts on this blog are provided for general information and intellectual purposes only and may not be relied on as a substitute for professional medical advice, care or treatment.

tea cold sore remedy.jpeg

When I returned from vacation, I was excited to have another tool to help me deal with those pesky cold sores. As soon as I felt the tingle of another cold sore coming on, I would brew a hot cup of black tea, and press the teabag against the affected area. Most times, if I caught the tingle early enough, the cold sore would never appear. I hope this also helps you stop those annoying cold sores in their tracks.

The tea bag remedy is wonderful for someone who suffers from occasional cold sores, and does not want to invest in medication. I have not had a cold sore in a few years actually, until about a month ago. I have really gotten into sun-gazing lately, and as you may already know, sunshine exacerbates the likelihood of a cold sore coming on.

I started feeling the usual tingles on and off and didn’t listen to my gut instinct. Hence, a cold sore appeared. I have been experimenting with essential oils more lately, and had Melissa Essential Oil on hand. It is one of the pricier oils, but boy does it work fast. I mixed a drop of Melissa oil with a tear-drop amount of coconut oil and applied it to the cold sore. After just a couple hours, I was able to see that it was drying out. I applied it twice a day for two days, and it was already mostly healed by the end of the second day. After that I just let it heal naturally. I hope this remedy helps for some of those peskier cold sores.

Peppermint for Headache

I was shocked that there was something so simple that could reduce my headache within minutes. I work on the computer many hours a day, and headaches sneak up on me. They sometimes happen when I am really into a project and forget to drink my usual amount of water. My sister has gotten into essential oils lately, and shared this simple headache remedy with me. All you need is a nice quality peppermint essential oil. You can pick the one I like at a Vitamin Shoppe or Whole Foods. As soon I feel the headache coming on, I dab a drop of peppermint oil on each side of my forehead. The cooling effect takes over and I feel instant relief. Sometimes, for more stubborn headaches, I repeat this process again after an hour or so. I love this home remedy, because it keeps me away from taking over-the-counter pain killers.

Disclaimer: The posts on this blog are provided for general information and intellectual purposes only and may not be relied on as a substitute for professional medical advice, care or treatment.

peppermint headache remedy

Cayenne for the Tonsils

I started developing tonsil infections as a teenager. I would be in so much pain that I would miss days of school, and had to keep going to the doctor for antibiotics. We did not have health insurance like many Americans, and a dose of antibiotics would usually cost about $70. The infections kept coming back because the antibiotics weakened my immune system. One day a concerned friend shared a home remedy her grandma used to make her when she had swollen tonsils. I only had to use the mixture a couple times, and my tonsils were almost back to normal. This was much faster than waiting for the antibiotic to kick in.

Disclaimer: The posts on this blog are provided for general information and intellectual purposes only and may not be relied on as a substitute for professional medical advice, care or treatment.

What you’ll need:

a half-filled mug of warm water (the water should be boiled and laid aside to cool).
about 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper.
spoon.

cayenne pepper swollen tonsils

You should add the 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne into the mug of warm water, and gargle with it until the mixture is done. Then, wait 2 to 4 hours and repeat the process again. The gargling will remove the white or yellow puss from the tonsils and speed up the healing process. I used this process just when my tonsils were swollen. I didn’t have an accompanied fever or any other symptoms.

Onion Cold Syrup

As a little girl growing up in Poland, I grew up eating plenty of fruits and veggies to support my growing body. When I got a cold, my mom would make me a special syrup using onions from my grandfather’s garden. Onions have antibacterial properties that support the immune system, and help your body heal naturally. My mom used to give me the syrup every 4 hours or so. Now, that I have my own daughter, I also enjoy making this homemade cold remedy for her. Here is the recipe:

The posts on this blog are provided for general information and intellectual purposes only and may not be relied on as a substitute for professional medical advice, care or treatment.

onion syrup cold remedy

What you’ll need:

1 large yellow onion.
2 tablespoons of sugar or honey.
a medium mug.
saucer or plastic foil.

So, to make this tasty cold remedy, cut the onion in half and slice it up into half-moon like slices. They should be on the thin-side but not super-skinny. Place the onion slices inside the mug, and cover them with 2 tablespoons of sugar (or honey). Although honey has more health benefits than sugar, we add the sweetener to help release the onions healing juices. I find that sugar works a little better than honey. Once this is done, cover the mug with a saucer or some plastic foil and leave it to the side for a couple hours. It can be served once the juices start running, you just pour the syrup onto a tablespoon and serve. You keep the onion in the syrup, as it keeps releasing more juice over time. You may place the remaining syrup (with the onion inside) in the refrigerator, and it will be good for about 5 days. Serve every 4 to 6 hours or as needed. The syrup is sweet and mild, so children should not complain :). Feel better!

The Onion Sandwich

Whenever I start feeling a cold coming on, I go in the kitchen and check if we have any onions. The onion sandwich has been my cold preventive remedy ever since I can remember. The onion has antibacterial powers that attack the naughty bacteria before they get a chance to comfortably settle in and multiply. The powerful onion not only kills off bacteria, but clears up sinuses. When I feel a sinus headache coming on or my nose feels stuffy, I chop up the onion and feel much clearer after having the sandwich. I repeat the sandwich for the next couple days to make sure the cold symptoms don’t reappear. This remedy works for me most of the time, when combined with plenty of rest and drinking plenty of water.

Disclaimer: The posts on this blog are provided for general information and intellectual purposes only and may not be relied on as a substitute for professional medical advice, care or treatment.

onion cold remedy immune boost

To make the onion sandwich you’ll need:

Your favorite bread.
One small yellow onion.
Butter or olive oil.
Salt.
Pepper.

I like to toast the bread. I butter my bread (a little olive oil works as well), and slice the onion to my liking. I season the sandwich with salt and pepper. I usually like to cover my sandwich with an additional slice of bread, to avoid the onion smell on my fingers. The sandwich makes a delicious snack, and helps strengthen the immune system :).

Remedies from the Cupboard

Thanks for joining me! Ever since I was a little girl, I have been inspired to find solutions to other people’s problems. This has been a blessing and a curse since people always make me their go-to person. This is why I created this blog to share what I have learned along the way. I am an empath, so I feel really affected by other people’s pain. Because, as a child, my resources were scarce, I often explored the cupboards for answers. Almost every day, friends reach out to me with issues, looking for simple solutions. I got inspired to write this blog, so others can have access to some of these easily accessible tools. Hope I could help.

Disclaimer: The posts on this blog are provided for general information and intellectual purposes only and may not be relied on as a substitute for professional medical advice, care or treatment.

“Your body is the child of the soul, you must nourish and train that child.” — B.K.S Iyenger

home remedies from the cupboard