Cures that cost pennies

Simple – and cheap! – home remedies for everyday ailments.

19 OPEN A WINDOW WHEN CLEANING

Sounds simple, but it will immediately improve the air quality in your home.

20 MASSAGE AWAY BLOATING

Lie on your back. Place your right hand above your belly button, left hand on top. Then move your hands together in a circle around your navel. Do this 100 times. Then reverse the direction of the circle and repeat 100 more times.

21 OLIVE OIL FOR EARWAX It’s much cheaper than buying ear drops. Put two to three drops of medical-grade olive oil into your ear twice a day until any compacted earwax loosens and falls out.

22 TRY STEAM INHALATION FOR A COLD

‘It helps to open nasal passages,’ says Dr Tim Bond.

23 BLOCK POLLEN WITH VASELINE

Suffer with hay fever in spring and summer? Next year, instead of

spending out on expensive nasal sprays, spread a thin layer of Vaseline inside the lower nostrils to trap pollen from entering.

24 GREEN APPLES FOR A MIGRAINE

Not only is this fruit hydrating, but it’s also rich in quercetin, which has both anti-inflammatory and antihistamine properties – and cheaper than migraine meds.

25 USE A DOCK LEAF ON A NETTLE STING

‘Works for me every time!’ says Dr Sarah Brewer. ‘The sap in a dock leaf contains a chemical that reduces the effect of the nettle venom.’