FOREVER YOUNG

These time-tested natural remedies banish winter health woes — without draining your bank account

Winter is tightening its grip with frigid temperatures, dry air and biting winds that up the risk of seasonal symptoms like the sniffles, body aches and itchy skin — but effective cures are as close as your pantry, with no pricey prescriptions required! “There’s a reason many natural remedies have been around for generations — they work,” says Fred Pescatore, M.D., founder of Medicine 369 in New York. Here, natural strategies to relieve common winter concerns.

TO EASE CONGESTION

If a cold has left you stuffy, tea can bring relief. For fast results, pick mustard seed tea — you’ll be breathing easier in 20 minutes, a British study suggests. Active compounds in mustard seed thin mucus, improve drainage and ease congestion. To get the benefits, steep 1 tsp. of ground mustard seeds in 8 oz. of boiling water for 15 minutes; strain, then add a splash of milk and your favorite sweetener.

TO HEAL ITCHY SKIN

Cold outdoor air and dry indoor heat damage skin’s epidermal layer, leading to irritated, flaky skin. For relief, reach for unpasteurized honey. Its enzymes seal in moisture and promote healing of the skin to nix dryness within a week, report scientists in the Journal of Wound Care. To do: Mix 2 tbsp. of honey with enough warm water to make it easy to spread; rub on dry patches and let it sit for 10 minutes, then rinse.

TO CALM DRY EYES

Cranked-up heat and harsh winds leave 50 percent of women struggling with dry, irritated eyes in the winter. What can help: British scientists say placing chamomile compresses over the eyes twice a day can soothe redness and irritation within 48 hours . The credit goes to the tea’s flavonoids, which can help ease inflammation in eye tissues. To do: Twice a day, drop 1 chamomile tea bag into 1 cup of boiling water for 5 minutes. Remove the tea bag and let the liquid cool, then dip a washcloth in the brew and hold over your closed eyes for 1 minute.

TO SOOTHE ACHY JOINTS

Cold days mean less activity, which doubles the risk of stiff joints. To soothe pain, massage joints with sesame oil twice a day. Compounds in the oil reduce the production of paintriggering compounds, easing aches in as little as a week, according to a recent study. Simply pour 1⁄4 tsp. of sesame oil in your palm and rub your hands together, then rub on joints using circular motions.

“When I have a cold or congestion, what helps…is drinking rooibos tea all day mixed with a little honey. I sip about 3 to 4 cups a day.” Maura Tierney, 52