Sowetan

Home remedies keep it natural

Quick solutions for bad breath and body odours

- By Karabo Disetlhe-Mtshayelo

Home remedies are quick, mostly effective and most importantl­y, convenient.

Homeopathi­c practition­er Corinne Ferland lists some remedies but warns that while home remedies offer temporary relief, it is absolutely vital to consult a doctor for a proper evaluation.

Bad breath

Perhaps you ate something that left a bitter taste (and smell) in your mouth. Ferland recommends:

Parsley: Chewing on parsley

● can eliminate germs in your mouth, as it contains chlorophyl­l, which has been known to fight bad breath.

Eat an orange: It contains citric ● acid, which will encourage the formulatio­n of new saliva in your mouth to cleanse your palate.

Cinnamon: It is a powerful

● antiseptic and can camouflage the smell of bad breath. Chew on a cinnamon stick for instant relief.

Smelly feet

Ferland recommends: Salt: Salt has germ and fungi ● killing properties. A soothing salt bath, which can be taken by putting a cup full of salt into a bowl of warm water, can offer relief from smelly feet. Soak in the bath for 15 minutes daily, before drying your feet properly.

Tea: It can be any kind of tea. ●

Put five or six teabags into a bowl of warm water and soak your feet for 15 minutes. The acid in tea helps close pores, which in turn helps you sweat less. The acid also kills bacteria, which cause our feet to smell.

Headache

Everyone is familiar with a throbbing headache. Ferland says one should: Have a bath with lavender oil ● drops: Lavender is a known sedative and mood stabiliser. Pour about 10 to 20 drops of lavender oil into your steaming bath and lie back, eyes closed and inhale the aroma. The lavender will calm your nervous system and relieve a throbbing headache.

Earache

It is painful, and can even make you feel like there is a ringing sound in your ears.

Firstly, Ferland cautions that one has to make sure that the earache is not caused by something stuck in the ear, in which case she recommends an immediate healthcare interventi­on. But for instant relief of earache caused by water trapped in the ear, she recommends:

Lying sideways: This will allow

● any water to slowly drip out of the ear.

For minor ear infection, she

● says you should use an onion. It has traditiona­lly been used to relieve earache for centuries. Onions contain natural anti-inflammato­ry properties and allicin, which is an antibiotic and antifungal ingredient.

Simply cut a full onion in half and warm it up. You can do this by wrapping the onion in a dishcloth that was soaked in warm water. Place the onion over the problemati­c ear for 30 minutes and you will no- tice some relief.

Tired eyes

For sore, irritated eyes, Ferland recommends: Potatoes: They contain antimicrob­ial

● properties, which help with soothing sore eyes.

Simply peel off a full potato and cut it into two halves. Place the two halves over each eye and lie back with your eyes closed for about 20 minutes. Wash your face off afterwards and you will notice an improvemen­t and relief.

Smelly armpits

Ferland says you may use: Baking soda: It contains antiodour ● and sweat absorbing properties. Make a paste by mixing baking soda with a bit of water and apply to your armpits. Mixing water with baking soda makes it acidic, which assists with eliminatin­g microbial growth from sweat, which is responsibl­e for the foul smell.

 ?? / VELI NHLAPO ?? A warm onion wrapped in a cloth and placed on sore ears can bring a welcome relief.
/ VELI NHLAPO A warm onion wrapped in a cloth and placed on sore ears can bring a welcome relief.
 ?? / SUPPLIED ?? Oranges can freshen one’s mouth.
/ SUPPLIED Oranges can freshen one’s mouth.
 ?? / SUPPLIED ?? Parsley helps to overcome bad breath.
/ SUPPLIED Parsley helps to overcome bad breath.
 ?? / SUPPLIED ?? Lavender soothes headaches.
/ SUPPLIED Lavender soothes headaches.

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