Natural Holistic Remedies

Holistic remedies provide a way to treat common ailments with natural solutions. Natural remedies work by treating the underlying cause of the health complaint. Holistic remedies may include the uses of herbs, supplements, massage and relaxation exercises just to name a few. They are used to bring balance to the body and mind without the use of harmful chemicals and prescription drugs. Naturopathic medicine promotes a holistic approach with minimal use of surgeries and drugs. Please make sure to consult your physician before attempting naturopathic remedies at home.

Sore Throat

In combination with a consultation from a qualified physician, natural options may relieve pain from a sore throat. Holistic physician Dr. Andrew Weil recommends eating garlic. In his book "Natural Health, Natural Medicine," he explains that garlic is a potent natural antibiotic that also has antiviral and antifungal properties. He suggests cutting a fresh clove of garlic into chunks that can be swallowed whole like a pill. To relieve a sore throat, Weil recommends eating 2 cloves of fresh garlic.

The Natural Home Remedies website recommends making a tea from holy basil herb to relieve a sore throat. Drinking this tea as well as gargling it when it has cooled may both be useful. A simple gargle of warm salt water is also recommended.

Headaches

In her book, "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," the author Phyllis Balch offers several options for relieving a headache in conjunction with obtaining advice from a physician. For a tension headache, Balch recommends making a salve from ginger, peppermint oil and wintergreen oil. Next, this mixture can be massaged onto the temples and nape of the neck to relieve a tension headache. For a sinus headache, try rubbing it onto the affected area above the eyes, down the nose and across the cheekbones.

According to Balch, 90 percent of headaches are tension headaches and there are herbs which may be useful in relieving them. Chamomile herb is recommended to relax muscles, as is kava kava. Valerian root and skullcap herb have a sedative quality. For a sinus headache, Balch recommends Jamaican dogwood, mint and rosemary.

Please use caution when trying herbs at home as they could interact with prescription medications. Speak with your doctor before trying herbs or alternative therapies.

Heartburn

According to Weil, heartburn is a "clear sign that you are offending your stomach." Eliminating irritants such as alcohol, coffee and even tobacco are strongly recommended. He suggests drinking peppermint tea and chamomile tea frequently as they both soothe the digestive system. He adds that it is important to avoid taking antacids which contain aluminum or sodium bicarbonate in their list of ingredients. As stress can also contribute to heartburn, Weil recommends practicing relaxation techniques and deep breathing exercises as a part of a holistic treatment to treat heartburn and other stress related ailments.