KITCHEN CUPBOARD CURES...
DURING LOCKDOWN, IT MIGHT BE TIME TO GET CREATIVE TO DEAL WITH MINOR AILMENTS AND HEALTH NIGGLES, SAYS KIM JONES
IF YOU want to avoid queuing at your local chemist at a time when we are living with strict regulations about leaving the house, it might be worth looking at other ways to tackle any minor ailments.
Here we look at remedies you might have in store at home:
HORSERADISH for blocked sinuses
IT CONTAINS volatile chemicals that can thin out thick mucus and help expel it from sinus passages.
Mix a spoonful with olive oil and lemon juice and eat half of a teaspoon (after a meal, to avoid any tummy upset) or blend it into a little mashed potato to make it more palatable.
FENNEL for IBS
“THIS bulb has been a remedy for indigestion and bloating for decades due to the essential oils it contains which also give it its aniseed flavour,” says Dale Pinnock, author of The Nutrition Bible. “These volatile oils can relax the gut wall and disperse gas, easing bloating and distention. Try it juiced, roasted or pureed.”
BROWN RICE for constipation
“BROWN rice is a very high-fibre grain,” says Dale. “High-fibre foods will take on several times their own weight in water and swell within the digestive tract. When they do this, they activate stretch receptors in the gut wall, which stimulate a reflexive contraction that moves everything along nicely.”
Use it instead of white rice in a risotto, and to thicken soups and add to salads.
CELERY for sprains
OVERDONE it on a
Joe Wicks workout and got a painful sprain? Dale says: “Celery may be the furthest thing from your mind when it comes to pain reduction, but it contains the compound 3-N-butylphthalide (3NB for short) that has been shown to have analgaesic qualities.”
He said it’s yet to be determined exactly why this works. But it’s an interesting solution nonetheless.
Give it a try juiced as that will give you a more concentrated dose than eating individual sticks.
SEA SALT for diarrhoea
DIARRHOEA can cause a rapid loss of electrolytes and vital minerals such as sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium. These have thousands of roles to play in the body, from communication across all cell membranes to regulating neurological function and maintaining hydration.
Dale says: “It’s unlikely you’ll have a huge appetite if you’re in the midst of a diarrhoea attack, so one of the best ways to keep your electrolytes topped up is by making salty broths and soups.
“Choose things like miso soup or vegetable soups that make good use of green leafy vegetables and are seasoned with sea salt.”
GARLIC for colds and flu
“GARLIC contains a group of powerful essential oils that can only be removed from the body through the breath, rather than the usual routes of elimination through the bowels and urine,” says Dale.
“As we breathe out, they move through the respiratory tract and can kill off bugs and viruses, such as those that can cause colds and flu.
“Eat it raw or lightly cooked.”
WEETABIX for PMS
A STUDY published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found women who ate foods high in thiamine (B1) and riboflavin (B2) were less likely to suffer from premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
It’s thought higher intakes of these two B vitamins may affect the brain chemicals which trigger it.
Plenty of fortified cereals contain vitamins B1 and B2 (check labels) but make sure you choose those that aren’t loaded with sugars. Weetabix, shredded wheat or bran-type cereals are best.
DUCT TAPE for warts
WARTS are growths caused by the human papilloma virus. One US study published in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine found using duct tape to remove warts was more effective than cryotherapy, a medical treatment where warts are frozen with liquid nitrogen.
“Cover the wart with duct tape for six days,” says Dr Selena Langdon, Medical Director at Berkshire Aesthetics. “After six days, remove the tape and soak the wart in warm water for a few minutes.
“Dry, then gently rub with an emery board or pumice stone to remove dead skin. Repeat the procedure until the wart is fully removed – it might take several weeks to be fully effective.”
The theory is that using duct tape on the area causes irritation, which leads the body to mount an immune reaction against the virus causing the wart.
GINGER for wind
“GINGER has the effect of reducing flatulence – it helps break up and expel intestinal gas,” says Dr Langdon. “Steep sliced or grated fresh ginger in hot water and sip slowly. Drink up to four cups a day.”
CRANBERRY JUICE for cystitis
“CRANBERRIES contain substances called proanthocyanidins, which are thought to prevent bacteria from sticking to the bladder wall,” says Dr Langdon.
Look for pure cranberry juice rather than ‘cranberry juice drinks’ as these are usually sweetened with refined sugars and contain little of the pure fruit.
Make your own juice or smoothie by boiling cranberries, then blending. Cranberries can be tart so add orange or apple juice to naturally sweeten it.
BICARBONATE OF SODA for indigestion
BICARBONATE of soda is actually one of the main ingredients in over-the-counter antacid medicines. “It’s alkaline, so it helps to neutralise the excess stomach acid that causes heartburn and indigestion,” says Dr Langdon. “Dissolve a teaspoon into a glass of water and drink slowly.”
NATURAL YOGHURT for thrush
THRUSH is a yeast infection which occurs when there is an overgrowth of a fungus called candida in the vagina. “Live, plain natural yoghurt, containing the bacteria lactobacillus, is a proven treatment for thrush,” says Dr Langdon. “Apply it to the affected area to reduce itching and redness.”
Lactobacillus helps re-create a healthy yeast balance in the vagina.
BANANA PEEL for verrucas
“AT BEDTIME, tape a small piece of banana peel over the wart (with the moist side on the skin) and leave on overnight,” says Dr Langdon. “The sticky layer inside the peel is thought to produce an antiviral substance and its high potassium content is also thought to help remove the verucca.” Repeat for two weeks.
AVOCADO for dry hands
WASHING our hands frequently and using hand sanitiser containing alcohol breaks down the natural oils in our skin, leaving it dry, red and flaky. “Treat chapped hands from overwashing with an avocado mask,” says Dr Ross Perry, Medical Director of Cosmedics Skin Clinics.
“Mix mashed avocado with an egg white and a couple of drops of lemon juice. Massage onto hands and leave it on for up to 10 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.”
PUMPKIN SEEDS for migraine
SOME studies indicate that upping your intake of magnesium could reduce migraine attacks by relaxing the nerves, muscles and blood vessels surrounding the brain. Raw pumpkin seeds are a rich source of magnesium. Sprinkle over your salads, in porridge or yoghurts – or blend them with basil and olive oil to make a pumpkin seed pesto.
FENNEL SEEDS for period pain
A STUDY published in the Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research found fennel essential oil, made from fennel seeds, was as effective at easing monthly abdominal cramps as over the counter anti-inflammatory painrelieving drugs.
Crush one tablespoon of seeds and steep in a mug of hot water for five minutes, sweetening with honey if necessary.
ALOE VERA for burns
IF YOU’VE singed your skin taking a cake out of the oven, anyone with an aloe vera plant on the kitchen windowsill is in luck. After running the burn under cold water for 20 minutes, break off the tip of an aloe leaf and apply the clear, oozing gel directly to the burn.
Its anti-inflammatory properties will help it heal more quickly.
PORRIDGE OATS for eczema or itchy skin
FILL a muslin bag with a handful of porridge oats and add to a bath. Or grind oats in a blender or food processor until finely milled then add directly into the bath and swish around for a few minutes before getting in. Oats contain antiinflammatory compounds which are thought to help soothe the skin.
OLIVE OIL for earwax build up
EARWAX usually exits the ear naturally, but a build-up of it is quite common, especially as we get older. It can make the ears feel ‘full’ and even cause partial deafness. Simply apply a few drops of olive oil in the ear, twice a day for about five days. This should loosen the wax and help it exit the ear, perhaps when you’re lying on your side in bed at night.
USED TEA BAG for an eye stye
STYES are sore, red lumps that form at the root of an eyelash. Place a warm (not hot) used teabag over the eye for 15 minutes – the warmth of the teabag and tannins in the tea are thought to have an anti-inflammatory affect which helps reduce the swelling.
If the stye discharges pus, you may need antibiotics, so check with your doctor.
CHILLIES for joint pain
GRIND some chillies into a paste, then add to a base cream or olive oil and apply to the affected area. Capsaicin, the substance responsible for the heat in red chillies, helps deplete the paintransmitting chemical in nerve-endings known as Substance P, effectively stopping pain signals reaching the brain.
Try on a small area at first to check for irritation. Never use on broken skin and wash your hands thoroughly after each application.