Cayenne

Comfrey (Symphytum officinale): An excellent wound-healing herb, comfrey contains allantoin, a chemical that stimulates the growth of new cells. A friend with a new baby was having difficulties healing from an episiotomy two weeks after giving birth. I suggested warm comfrey sitz baths, and two days later, she was almost back to normal. Buy a salve made with comfrey leaves or roots, or dried comfrey leaves to use for compresses end bathe. Note: There is no danger associated with using comfrey externally, but do not take it internally.

Comfrey

This common skin condition erupts when the pores are blocked by sebum, the natural oil produced by the skin. Bacteria and other wastes collect in the pores, and blackheads, whiteheads, and inflamed pustules appear.

	Make a strong infusion of calendula Use it as a facial wash two to three times daily
	Apply a drop of tea tree oil to the lesions twice a day.
	Apply alternating hot and cold compresses to the skin to open pores and help eliminate wastes.

Anxiety

Anxiety is often a by-product of stressful life conditions, and these conditions need to be addressed in order for the nervousness and anxiety to be properly relieved. Use the following remedies to alleviate occasional nervous tension:

	Drink chamomile tea three to four cups daily. Or; soak in a warm bath with either a quart of strong chamomile tea or two cups of Epsom salts, or both, added to the water.
	Take valerian tincture one teaspoon as an initial dose and when symptoms are severe one teaspoon every two hours thereafter to a maximum of six hours. If symptoms persist see your healthcare practitioner.
	Take a bath with lavender essential oil or place a drop of laven- der oil on a tissue and inhale as desired.

Athlete's foot

This fungal infection is marked by an itchy, scaly rash between the toes.

	Soak your feet in a footbath for fifteen minutes twice a day using one gallon of warm water mixed with one quart of strong calendula infusion.
	Apply tea tree oil directly with your finger to the affected area twice a day.
	Keep your feet clean and dry and dust them with equal parts of cosmetic clay and powdered goldenseal.

Black eye

	Immediately apply an ice pack to relieve swelling and pain.
	After twenty-four hours, apply hot compresses to promote reab- sorbing of blood.
	After twenty-four hours, apply arnica oil two times per day for five days.

Bleeding gums

Bacteria that collect at the junction between the teeth and gums usually are the cause of bleeding gums. Use the following for both treatment and prevention:

	Take 3000 mg of vitamin C daily to strengthen gum tissue.
	After brushing your teeth, rinse your mouth with a mixture of one cup of warm water, one-half teaspoon of sea salt, and one dropperful of goldenseal tincture.

Blisters

A blister is nature's Band-Aid. Avoid breaking a blister unless absolutely necessary, and then do so gently with a sterilized needle.

	To dry a blister, dab gently with a cotton ball or pad soaked in witch hazel extract and cover blister with an adhesive bandage. Change the pad every six hours.
	After a blister has broken, wash it with equal parts of echinacea or goldenseal tincture and water twice daily until the skin has started to heal.
	After the skin begins to heat apply comfrey salve.

Boils

A painful skin eruption that begins as an infection of a hair follicle, a boil should never be squeezed—you might force the bacteria into the bloodstream and spread the infection. 

	Take one dropperful of echinacea tincture (or two capsules) three times daily.
	Apply tea tree oil directly to the eruption.
	To help bring the boil to a head, apply hot compresses of strong calendula tea several times daily.

Bronchitis

Inflammation of the bronchi—the airways that connect the windpipe to the lungs— causes a lingering cough and often follows a respiratory infection.

	Take one dropperful of echinacea (or two capsules) and one-half dropperful of goldenseal (or one capsule) three times daily.
	Eat two cloves of raw garlic twice daily.
	Take 3,000 mg of vitamin C daily.
	Drink hot peppermint or thyme tea to help the lungs expel mucus.
	Rub the chest with a massage oil containing eucalyptus oil to help loosen mucus.
	Use an aroma therapy steam (inhalation) with eucalyptus oil, thyme, or chamomile flowers to loosen mucus and ease breathing.

Bruises

	Immediately apply ice packs to stop internal bleeding.
	Follow with an application of arnica homeopathic gel after the swelling has gone down.
	As an alternative to arnica, mix one-half teaspoon of powdered cayenne pepper into one cup of olive oil and rub it onto the affected area several times a day.

Burns

	Immediately immerse the affected area in cold water until the burning sensation subsides.
	If you have an aloe vera plant, break off a leaf, slit it, and apply the gel to speed healing.
	Apply vitamin E oil or undiluted lavender oil to promote healing and prevent scarring.

Canker sores

These painful mouth ulcers often appear when resistance is low, such as during illness or emotional stress.

	Rinse the mouth with strong yarrow tea.
	Rinse the mouth thoroughly with salt water. Prepare by mixing one teaspoon of sea salt in one-half cup of warm water.
	Take one dropperful of echinacea tincture (or two capsules) three times daily.

Colds

The unpleasant symptoms of a cold are created by the body's effort to rid itself of the cold virus. Natural treatments support the body's efforts. The key to success with natural remedies is to use
them at the first sign of a cold.

	Eat raw garlic frequently during cold season, and eat two cloves of raw garlic twice daily at the onset of a cold. You may mince garlic cloves and add them to salads, a potato, or toast with olive oil.
	Take one dropperful of echinacea tincture (or two capsules ) four times a day until the cold symptoms subside.
	Take between 3,000- 5,000 mg of vitamin C a day.
	Drink a hot tea made with yarrow and peppermint or ginger to promote sweating and help the body eliminate the cold virus. n Drink three cups daily until the cold symptoms subside.
	To relieve congestion, drink hot ginger tea. Add honey and lemon as desired. Or drink a spicy hot lemonade made with one cup of hot water, two tablespoons of fresh lemon juice, two teaspoons of honey, and a pinch of cayenne powder.
	To dry up excessive mucus secretions and fight infection, take one-half dropperful of goldenseal tincture (or one capsule) three times daily.
	Relieve congestion with an essential oil inhalation using either peppermint or eucalyptus oils, or massage the chest with a massage oil made with either of these oils.

Colic

Characterized by abdominal distension, flatulence, and irritability, colic typically occurs in infants between the ages of one to four months.

	Give warm peppermint tea by the dropperful as often as needed.
	Gently rub the baby's abdomen with a massage oil containing one drop of peppermint oil.

Conjunctivitis

This inflammation of the membrane that covers the eyeball causes redness and sensitivity to light, a "gritty" feeling when blinking, and a discharge from the eye.

	Bathe the eye(s) with a strong tea of calendula, and apply warm compresses of calendula tea several times a day for fifteen minutes at a time.
	Take one dropperful of echinacea tincture (or two capsules) three times daily to support the immune system.

Constipation

Eating a diet with plenty of whole grains, vegetables, and fruits, drinking six to eight glasses of water per day, and exercising daily will resolve most cases of constipation. If extra fiber is needed, try a simple bulking agent such as psyllium seed husks, one teaspoon in one cup of water per day.

	Squeeze half a lemon into one cup of warm water and drink it first thing in the morning to stimulate peristalsis (contraction of the intestine).
	Use cascara sagrada for occasional relief, one half to one dropperful of tincture in one-half cup of warm water before going to sleep.

Coughs

Colds, flus, allergies, or irritation of the bronchial tubes are the primary causes of coughs. Coughs that bring up mucus should not be suppressed because the body is trying to expel mucus, bacteria, and waste from the lungs. Dry coughs, however, are generally nonproductive and only further irritate the bronchi.

	Rub the chest with a massage oil containing eucalyptus oil, to loosen congestion.
	Drink hot thyme tea, three to four times a day, to help the lungs expel mucus.
	For a quick cough-relieving remedy, combine one-half teaspoon of honey with a squeeze of lemon and a pinch of cayenne pepper. Allow the mixture to dissolve slowly in your mouth, and repeat the remedy as often as needed.
	Make thyme cough syrup by adding one 1 pint of boiling water to three tablespoons of dried thyme leaves. Let the tea steep in a covered pot until cool. Strain out the thyme leaves and add one cup of honey. Stir the mixture well and refrigerate. Take one teaspoon every hour to relieve a cough.

Cuts and wounds

	Add one dropperful of echinacea or goldenseal tincture to one- half cup of warm water to use as an antiseptic wash.
	To stop bleeding, sprinkle goldenseal powder directly into the wound and apply pressure with a clean cloth.
	Apply honey, a natural antibiotic. Unprocessed honey (un- heated and unfiltered) has been found to be effective for killing a wide range of germs.
	Take echinacea to help the body resist infection—one dropperful (or two capsules) three times a day.
	Apply a salve made from comfrey to speed healing. Apply after the skin has begun to heal to avoid trapping bacteria in an open wound.
	Take 1,000 to 3,000 mg of vitamin C daily to aid in wound healing.

Dandruff

The scalp naturally sheds small flakes of dead skin daily, but large amounts of dandruff may indicate a bacterial or fungal infection.

	Rinse the scalp after shampooing with a strong tea made from thyme.
	Add one drop of tea tree oil to one cup of the thyme hair rinse for stronger antimicrobial action.

Diarrhea

Acute diarrhea is the body's attempt to rid itself of toxins, irritants, or infection in the intestinal tract. Allow the body to do its cleansing work and drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.

	Replenish lost fluids and soothe the digestive tract by drinking warm peppermint or chamomile tea.
	Take one-half to one dropperful of goldenseal (or one to two capsules) three times a day. Note: If diarrhea persists for more than one week (or more than forty-eight hours in children under three years old), see your healthcare practitioner.

Ear infections

The most common cause of earaches is an upper respiratory infection that has spread to the ear canal.

	For adults or children, take one dropperful of echinacea (or two capsules) and one-half dropperful of goldenseal tincture (or one capsule) every two hours until the infection subsides.
	For adults, take 3,000 mg of vitamin C daily. Children four years of age or older should be given 250 mg four times daily. Children under four years should be given daily dosages of vitamin C that are formulated for infants and toddlers.
	Relieve pain with warm-water compresses applied to the ear.
	Drop warm garlic oil into the ear to relieve inflammation and infection. To make garlic oil, squeeze one to two bulbs of fresh garlic through a garlic press into a small saucepan. Cover the garlic with sufficient olive oil so that the oil is one inch above the garlic. Warm the mixture in a covered saucepan gently over low heat for one hour. Strain the oil through a cheesecloth and store it refrigerated in a covered glass jar. Place a couple of drops of warm oil into the affected ear and plug the ear with a soft cotton ball. (It is easiest to warm the oil by scooping one tablespoon into a small glass jar, placing the jar in a pot of hot water, and heating until the oil is comfortably warm on the skin, but not hot) Note: Before putting oil into the ear, confirm with a doctor that the eardrum is not perforated (punctured) and that swimmer's ear (an inflammation of the external ear canal) is not present.
	If there is no improvement within forty-eight hours, or if sudden severe pain with drainage from the ear, fever, chills, or a hearing loss occurs, see your healthcare practitioner.

Fever

A fever is a symptom of the body's fight against infection and, in general, should not be suppressed. Instead, support the body's efforts to eliminate the infection. Note: If a child has a fever of over 103 degrees (for adults, 105 degrees, and infants, 100 degrees) or if a fever (in a child or an adult) persists for more than three days, consult a healthcare practitioner.

	A combination of equal parts of yarrow and peppermint tea will encourage sweating and help to naturally lower a fever. Drink at least one-half cup of hot tea every hour.
	Take one dropperful of echinacea tincture (or two capsules)every couple of hours until the fever subsides.
	Take 3,000 mg of vitamin C daily.
	Promote sweating by taking a warm bath with a quart of strong yarrow tea added to the bathwater
	If you need to bring down a fever, sponge the forehead, neck, arms, hands, legs, and feet with a washcloth that's been dipped in either a bowl of tepid water with two drops of lavender oil added, or in two cups of strong yarrow tea diluted with two cups of tepid water.

Flus

Influenza, or the flu, is an upper respiratory viral infection with many of the same symptoms as a cold. Flu is a more serious illness, however, and is characterized by a fever, muscle aches, and a longer recovery time. The secret to making homeopathic remedies work for the flu appears to be in taking them at the first onset of symptoms_that achy feeling.

	To relieve symptoms, follow the suggestions under Colds.
	If fever is present, follow the suggestions under Fever.
	Take a single dose of Oscillococcinum homeopathic flu remedy at the first sign of symptoms, another eight hours later, and another eight hours after that.
	Get plenty of rest and sleep, eat lightly, and drink lots of water.

Headaches

Headaches are most often caused by muscular and/or emotional tension and fatigue.

	For headaches caused by tension, take one-half to two teaspoons of valerian tincture as an initial dosage, followed by one-half to one teaspoon every two hours until the pain abates.
	For headaches caused by tension, drink chamomile tea as desired.
	For headaches brought on by either tension or fatigue, take a warm bath with lavender oil or massage the painful areas with a massage oil containing lavender or peppermint.
	For headaches brought on by either tension or fatigue, try a hot foot bath with water as hot as you can tolerate for ten minutes; at the same time place an ice cold cloth on the forehead, temples, or back of the neck (wherever the pain is concentrated). This con- stricts blood vessels in the head and reduces bloodflow, thereby reducing pain.

Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are anal varicose veins and are most often caused by constipation or straining during elimination.

	To relieve discomfort and to shrink the swollen veins, apply cotton pads soaked with witch hazel several times daily, leaving them in place for ten minutes whenever possible.
	For a bulkier, softer stool, include in the diet plenty of fiber in the form of fresh vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, and drink six to eight glasses of water a day.
	Take a fifteen-minute warm herbal sitz bath with a quart of strong yarrow tea added to the water.

Herpes

The herpes simplex virus, which causes cold sores and genital herpes, lives in nerve endings. An outbreak is often precipitated by emotional tension or by physical stressors such as menstruation or too much sun.

	To increase resistance to the virus during times of susceptibility, take one dropperful of echinacea tincture (or two capsules) three times daily; also take two cloves of raw garlic once or twice a day.
	At the first sign of an impending outbreak (generally a tingly or itchy feeling), rub an ice cube over the area until it begins to feel slightly numb. Repeat eight to ten times a day. This may abort an outbreak.
	Bathe the blisters with strong calendula tea, which acts as an antiviral agent and promotes healing.
	To help dry the blisters, apply goldenseal tincture or tea tree oil with a cot- ton swab.

	Sip warm chamomile, ginger, or peppermint tea after meals to relieve pain and gas and soothe the digestive tract.
	Rub the abdomen with a massage oil containing peppermint oil.

 

	Apply ice immediately to the affected area to relieve pain and to stop the toxin from spreading.
	Apply echinacea tincture to the bite to stimulate local immune response.
	Apply a drop of peppermint oil to relieve the itching and to serve as an antiseptic.
	Mix cosmetic clay with enough water to make a paste and apply it to the bite to relieve in- flammation and draw poisons from the skin.
	Apply witch hazel ex- tract to the affected area with a cotton ball.
	Note: Get emergency professional help immediately if you experience multiple stings or symptoms of an allergic reaction, which may include difficulty in breathing, dizziness, nausea, hives, or extreme agitation.

Valerian

Many cases of insomnia are caused by tension, anxiety, or stimulants such as caffeine. Eliminate all stimulants and try the following natural sleep inducers thirty minutes before going to bed:

	Drink a cup of warm chamomile tea.
	For stronger sedative action, take up to one teaspoon of valerian tincture.
	Take a warm bath with lavender oil or a quart of strong chamo- mile tea added to the bathwater.
	Add two to three cups of Epsom salts to a warm bath.

Menstrual cramps

Caused by contractions of the uterus, menstrual cramps may be accompanied by nausea, headaches, backaches, and intestinal upsets. The following remedies help to relax the uterus:

	For mild cramps, drink ginger or chamomile tea as often as desired.
	For intense pain, take up to one teaspoon of valerian tincture, followed by another teaspoon every two hours until the pain is relieved, to a maximum of six hours.
	Place a hot water bottle on the abdomen.
	Rub the abdomen with a massage oil containing lavender oil.
	Try alternating hot and cold sitz baths.

Nausea

Nausea can be caused by motion sickness, pregnancy, an adverse reaction to food, nervous tension, a virus, or migraine headache.

	Ginger is extremely effective and in most cases will prevent vomiting. Take one to two capsules of dried ginger every fifteen minutes until symptoms abate, to a maximum of twenty-five capsules per day. Note: If pregnant, consult a healthcare practitioner before using large amounts of ginger.
	To prevent motion sickness, take six to eight capsules of powdered ginger about forty-five minutes before departing on your journey.
	To settle the stomach, take small sips of tea made from ginger or peppermint.

Poison ivy

If you have been exposed to poison ivy, immediately wash the affected area thoroughly with soap and cool water to remove the oily resin.

Mix one teaspoon of salt in one-half cup of water. Add one table- spoon of cosmetic clay and two drops of peppermint oil and mix into a spreadable paste. Apply the paste to the rash and allow it to dry on the skin. Apply more when it begins to flake off.

Sinusitis

Colds, flus, allergies, and air pollution can cause sinus infections or chronic sinus inflammation. Symptoms include nasal congestion, runny nose, a sensation of pressure in the sinuses, and headaches.

	Hot teas of ginger, chamomile, or peppermint will help to loosen mucus and clear stuffy sinuses.
	Take both one dropperful of echinacea tincture (or two capsules) and one-half dropperful of goldenseal tincture (or one capsule) three times daily.
	Take 3,000 mg of vitamin C daily.
	Add one dropperful each of echinacea and goldenseal tinctures and one quarter teaspoon of salt to one-half cup of warm water, and use the solution as a nasal rinse. First, dissolve one quarter teaspoon of sea salt in one cup of lukewarm water and add the tinctures. Close the right nostril with the right index finger, in- hale the solution into the left nostril, and spit the water out through the mouth. Repeat on the opposite side.
	Make a chamomile, thyme, or eucalyptus oil inhalation to clear stuffy sinuses and help heal inflamed membranes.
	Massage areas around the sinuses with massage oil made with eucalyptus essential oil.

Sore throat

A sore throat often accompanies a cold or flu. Natural remedies treat the infection and soothe the inflammation.

	Make a gargle of one cup of warm water, one teaspoon of salt, and one dropperful of goldenseal tincture. Gargle every couple of hours.
	Use a solution of warm strong thyme tea as an antiseptic and astringent gargle.
	Take one dropperful of echinacea tincture (or two capsules) ev- ery couple of hours until the infection abates.
	Take 3,000 mg of vitamin C daily.
	Cayenne pepper will temporarily relieve the pain of a sore throat. Make a gargle of one-half cup of warm water, one tablespoon of lemon juice, one teaspoon of salt, and a few grains of cayenne pepper.

Sties

A sty is a painful bacterial infection of an eyelash follicle.

Apply hot calendula compresses to bring the sty to a head.

Strains and sprains

Strains occur when muscles are overstretched; sprains affect ligaments, and usually occur when a joint is suddenly wrenched. Symptoms for both include pain, swelling, bruising, and stiffening of the affected area. Rest the injured part as much as possible for several days, but after the initial sharp pain and swelling subside, begin gentle movements to prevent continuing stiffness.

	Immediately elevate and apply an ice pack to the affected area to reduce swelling and inflammation.
	After twenty-four hours, apply hot compresses to increase circulation and speed healing, or soak in a hot bath with eucalyptus oil added.
	Add two cups of Epsom salts to the bath.
	Apply arnica to the affected area three times a day after the initial swelling has started to go down. Note: Do not apply arnica to broken skin.

Urinary tract infections

Infections of the urinary tract cause cystitis in women and urethritis in men. It is important to catch these infections at the very first sign (often a burning sensation and an increased need to urinate) to prevent a more serious infection. Note: Consult your health practitioner if symptoms do not improve within twenty-four hours, or if the infection is accompanied by fever or severe pain, or if you have a history of kidney problems.

	Flush the bladder by drinking large quantities of yarrow tea—at least one or two cups every hour.
	To increase circulation to the pelvic area and promote healing use alternating hot and cold sitz baths with a quart of strong yar- row tea added to the hot bath.
	Take one dropperful of echinacea tincture (or two capsules) and one-half dropperful of goldenseal tincture (or one capsule) every two hours.
	Take 3,000 mg of vitamin C daily.
	Drink three cups of uva ursi tea daily or one-half to one teaspoon of uva ursi tincture three times daily.

Warts

The virus that causes warts enters through a crack in the skin. Although warts generally disappear on their own, you can hasten their demise with the following remedies:

Treat the wart with vitamin E and garlic in two steps, as follows:

i)Apply vitamin E oil to first protect the skin from being burned by the garlic. Cut open a vitamin E capsule and rub the oil onto the skin sur rounding the wart.

ii) Apply a clove of crushed raw garlic to the wart, cover it with an adhesive bandage, and remove the bandage after twenty-four hours. Apply vitamin E oil again to help healing. The wart will generally fall off within a week.

Take one dropperful of echinacea tincture (or two capsules) three times daily and eat two cloves of raw garlic daily.

Yeast infections are characterized by itching, irritation, and inflammation of the vagina accompanied by a white discharge. These common infections are caused by an overgrowth of the fungi that are normal inhabitants of the vagina. This condition often occurs when there is a general systemic weakness brought on by stress, improper diet (too much sugar or alcohol), or hormonal fluctuations that upset the normal acidic balance of the vagina.

	Take one dropperful of echinacea tincture (or two capsules) three times a day.
	Eat two cloves of raw garlic twice daily.
	Take 3,000 mg of vitamin C daily.
	Try a gentle douche of strong calendula tea or four drops of tea tree oil in one quart of warm water. Repeat douche twice a day until the symptoms disappear, then continue it for two additional days.
	Alleviate itching with a hot fifteen-minute sitz bath to which you have added one quart of strong calendula or thyme tea.

Herbal and other natural remedies are effective for treating most of the common health conditions that you would ordinarily self-treat. Certain health problems and injuries such as the following require the attention of a healthcare practitioner:

	Puncture wounds and other severe wounds
	A high fever (105 degrees in adults or 103 degrees in children, and 100 degrees for infants under six months old) or any fever that persists for more than three days
	An injury to the head, neck or spinal cord
	Unconsciousness or recurrent dizziness
	Vomiting blood, vomiting that persists for more than two days, or vomiting and diarrhea in infants
	Bites from animals or humans
	Third-degree burns or extensive second-degree burns
	Fractured, broken, or dislocated bones

Reprinted with permission from Natural Health, Sept.-Oct. 1995. For a trial issue of Natural Health, call (800) 526-8440.

Resources

The following companies carry dried herbs and tinctures, essential oils, and cosmetic clay.

Laurel Vukovic teaches and writes about natural healing from Ashland, Oregon.