Household remedies
First aid from your grandmother’s days
In families with children, there are always some little aches and pains to be treated. Tried-and-tested household remedies
are often just as reliable as medication from the chemist’s.
But beware: if the complaints show no improvement, there is no way of avoiding the doctor.
Potato poultice for coughs
Cook two to three potatoes for about20 minutes
until they are soft. Wrap the whole potatoes
in a cotton cloth (e.g. a nappy). The wrapped
potatoes can then be crushed be hand. Place the
poultice on your chest and wrap the torso in a
terry towel. Stay in bed until the potato poultice
is cold.
For insect stings, chop some parsley and
hold it in place on the sting using bandage or
a plaster. A grated ribwort plantain leaf can
be used instead of parsley.
Itching caused by mosquito bites can
be relieved using a hot spoon. Warm a
teaspoon for approx. 30 seconds in hot water
and press it on the bite.
The spoon should not be too hot, otherwise
there is a risk of burning yourself Repeat
several times if necessary.
Good to know: To avoid the
problem, prick an orange with
cloves. The smell should repel
mosquitoes.
Important: Before placing the poultice on
the body, it is essential to let it cool to body
temperature (risk of burns!).
Brine toothpaste
for mouth ulcers
Baking powder for
heartburn and stomach ache
If you suffer from mouth ulcers, it can help
to clean your teeth with a brine toothpaste
instead of the regular toothpaste. As brine is
a saline solution, the taste of the toothpaste
might take some getting used to. Brine
toothpaste is available from chemist’s shops
or health food stores.
For heartburn, dissolve one teaspoon
of baking powder in hot water.
Leave to cool until suitable to drink
in sips after eating.
Stomach aches can also be
relieved with peppermint
tea. You should preferably
drink a cup of this several
times a day. Or drink a shot
glass of potato juice before eating
(available from health food stores).
Apple vinegar for
a stuffy nose
Heat the apple vinegar in a pan and inhale the
vapours. If this is too strong, you can dilute
one measure of vinegar with one measure of
water.
Black tea for diarrhoea
Leave a cup of black tea to steep for 15 minutes. The drink in sips. Do not add
sugar! If necessary, drink several times a day.
Onion poultice for earache
Cut half an onion into rings per ear.
Lay the onion rings in a row in a cotton tea towel and wrap. Warm the
parcel on an upturned pan lid over
boiling water until the smell of onions is released. Then squeeze the onions in the towel using your hands
so that the juice escapes. Wrap the
onion poultice in a wool cloth (or an
old wool jumper) and place on the
ears for two hours.
Good to know: An onion poultice can also be used to treat a
cough or sore throat. Place on
the throat or chest depending
on the complaint.
Important: The smell of onion can
often still be noticed on the skin after the poultice has been removed.
1-2 tablespoons of vinegar
Vinegar socks Add
to one litre of lukewarm water
for a temperature (approx. 35°C). Dip a pair of woollen
socks into the vinegar solution,
wing them out a little and pull over
your bare feet. Put another pair of
dry socks on over the vinegar socks.
Then cover well in bed and relax
for several hours, preferably
until the socks are dry.
the vinegar socks treatment. In the
event of a temperature, drinking elderberry tea sweetened with honey
also helps (not suitable for children
under 2 due to the risk of an allergic
reaction).
Lavender oil
for light burns
Important: Serious or extensive
burns must be treated by a doctor.
Grated
apple for
vomiting
Grate half an apple, leave it to
turn brown then eat slowly.
This bland diet also helps
for nausea and
diarrhoea.
Caraway seeds for wind and stomach cramps
Good to know: Children in particular respond to
Pour a drop of essential lavender oil
directly onto the burn. It heals the wound
and has anti-inflammatory and disinfectant
properties.
Good to know: celery helps to
prevent heartburn. The vegetable
can be mixed into a salad raw, for
example.
Coffee with lemon
for headaches
Mix a strong coffee (for example an espresso) with the
juice of one lemon and drink.
Important: Not suitable for children under the age of 12.
Every 15 to 30 minutes, chew
a pinch of caraway seeds well
then swallow. Children can do
the same with fennel seeds.
Sandalwood oil and Lavender for
problems of falling asleep
When children find it difficult to fall
asleep, it might help to spread a couple
of drops of essential sandalwood oil on the
soles of their feet. Or you can
rub a small cushion filled
with dried lavender between
your hands until it smells
then place it beside the child’s
pillow.
You can find other household remedies at www.senso.ch
Consultant: Christine Funke, eidg. dipl. Pharmacist FPH, FA Phytotherapy;
Oliver Bassler, kant. appr. Naturopath (specialist outpatient technical management at Helsana)
Illustrations: Florian Bayer / Arnold.KircherBurkhardt
Parsley for
insect stings