When we feel a headache coming on, most of us reach for a painkiller. And when our skin is itchy, we head off to the chemist to buy some cream.
But many minor ailments can be helped by everyday food and items found around the home.
It’s something we often overlook, according to Dr Rob
Hicks, author of Old-Fashioned Remedies: From Arsenic To Gin.
So avoid the queues and empty shelves during lockdown with these simple DIY home remedies.
Honey
This sweet treat is hygroscopic, which means it absorbs and retains moisture – great for getting soft skin.
Honey can also produce low levels of hydrogen peroxide, which can help get rid of fungal foot infections.
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To moisturise skin, mix one teaspoon of honey with a mashed banana and apply as a face mask. Leave it on for 15 minutes before washing off with warm water.
Alternatively, rub half a teaspoon of honey into dry or itchy skin on the feet to prevent fungal infections.
Green tea
Not only is green tea packed with health benefits, but it helps freshen breath, too.
Certain components in the tea disable the cell membranes of plaque bacteria, which is responsible for bad breath.
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Odour-neutralising compounds called catechins also help it to act as a deodorant for body odour.
For the maximum effect, soak two teabags in warm water for five minutes, then swish it around your mouth for 30 seconds.
Bicarbonate of soda
Baking soda is actually sodium bicarbonate – a natural mineral that is a great cleaner.
Simply sprinkle a teaspoon of it on your toothbrush and clean teeth as usual.
The gentle abrasive action will polish your teeth and remove any dirt and stains.
Toothpaste
Models have known for years that if a nasty, red pimple appears on their face the day before a shoot, the best cure is to zap it with a blob of toothpaste.
The household staple contains an anti-bacterial agent that kills plaque, so it may also kill the bacteria responsible for spots.
But be careful if you have sensitive skin – it can cause irritation.
Newcastle Brown Ale
The malt and hops found in beer are packed with protein, which adds volume to hair and smooths damaged cuticles.
Beer also contains Vitamin B, which helps condition hair, while the natural sugars create shine.
Simply shampoo and rinse your hair as usual, then pour a bottle of Newcastle Brown Ale over it. Work through and rinse with lukewarm water.
Fizzy mineral water
Researchers at Federico II University in Naples found that 80% of people suffering from constipation were cured after drinking fizzy water for two weeks
They credited a combination of minerals in the water and bubbles stimulating the nerves connected to the digestive system.
Upping your intake of H2O can also help to reduce fluid retention and bloating.
Black Pepper
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Piperine, the essential oil released when you grind peppercorns, has anti-inflammatory properties, so gargle an infusion of freshly ground black pepper and water to soothe sore throats.
Putting ground pepper on small cuts also helps blood platelets coagulate for faster healing, at the same time as killing bacteria.
Mayonnaise
If you need an emergency skin cleanser, slather on this sauce.
The vegetable oils and egg yolk help to soften skin, while the lemon juice has astringent properties to clean and tighten pores.
Ketchup
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Has your dyed blonde hair gone green? Don’t panic – you just need a dollop of Tommy K.
To fix DIY hair disasters, simply apply ketchup all over the affected area and massage it in, before leaving for 20 minutes then washing out thoroughly.
Red Chillies
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Suffering from indigestion? Give chilli peppers a go.
When Italian researchers gave 30 people peppers before eating, their conditions improved within five weeks, with a 60 per cent reduction in symptoms.
They suggest a component of chillies called capsaicin blocks the signals from neurotransmitters in the stomach that tell the brain it’s uncomfortable.
The journal Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition also claims gastric ulcers are three times less common in countries where large numbers of chillies are eaten.
Red wine
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Antioxidants found in red wine can help reduce symptoms of the common cold in the same way vitamin C does.
Spanish scientists discovered a drop of red can prevent colds too. Experts at five universities in Spain found that people who drank more than two glasses of red wine a day had 44% fewer colds than those who didn’t.
Red wine can also stop cold sores by stopping the herpes simplex virus replicating.
This, combined with the drying effect of the alcohol, makes cold sores vanish as fast as they appeared, US researchers say.
To use wine to treat cold sores, put a little in a shallow dish and leave it overnight, covered. The next day, dab on the congealed wine with a cotton bud, leave it for five minutes then wash off.
Coffee
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Tension headaches occur when blood vessels in the brain dilate but coffee is a vasoconstrictor, which causes the vessels to shrink back, eliminating pain.
In one Chicago study, coffee was found to be better at reducing pain than ibuprofen, but the effect only lasted 90 minutes.
The best results came from combining the two which gave quick relief for up to four hours. If you feel a migraine coming on, drink a cup or two of strong black coffee to stop it.
Bananas
If you’re struggling to shift a verruca, try taping the inside of the peel from an overripe banana to it for a couple of weeks.
The mucilage – the sticky substance inside the peel – has anti-viral properties so will speed up the healing process.
A study in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery found this quirky method to be just as effective as any over-the-counter treatment.
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