Our Favorite Home Remedies
At-Home Remedies for Fast Pain Relief
By Mary Kearl
When a Headache Strikes
Remedy: Turn out the lights, take a hot bath, smell lavender, rub the area between your thumb and pointer finger, and/or open your mouth wide several times to relieve jaw tension. Plus, don't forget to drink plenty of water because dehydration can cause your headache to intensify.
Prevent: Find out what you can do to stop headaches from returning.
When You Feel the Burn
Remedy: Whether your burn is from the sun or stove it's a major pain. Our solution: Apply a lotion with aloe, or go straight to the source: snip off the end of an aloe plant leaf (you can find them in the produce aisle at the grocery store) and the squeeze the juice on the burn. Or, try puncturing liquid vitamin d pills and spread over the burn.
Prevent: Learn about avoiding sunburns here.
If Your Muscles Start Twitching
Remedy: If you can't just walk it off or stretch it out, try treating your charley horse or muscle cramps by applying heat to relax the muscle, then using ice to dim the pain. For a dietary trick: snack on something salty like a pickle. Remember to stay hydrated -- dehydration can be a cause.
Prevent: Want to kick your Charley horse habit? Read here for more information.
For Exercise Pains
Remedy: Try applying packages of frozen fruits or vegetables (packs of peas, corn or blueberries work well) to whatever limb is sore from your workout. Since these are more flexible than icepacks, not to mention cheaper and easier to find, they can completely mold to fit and cover your sore spot.
Prevent: It might be as simple as remembering to thoroughly stretch before you workout! Continue here for more information about reducing risk of sports injuries.
For Queasy Tummies
Remedy: No one loves feeling nauseated. Our quick fix: Drink lemon water, peppermint tea and/or suck on a peppermint to reduce your stomach pains. Also, sipping ginger ale can work, but be sure to get the kind with real ginger from a health food store.
Prevent: You can prevent nausea by avoiding certain foods and through hygiene habits. Read more.
For Itchy Skin
Remedy: If anti-itch creams aren't enough to treat the pains of chicken-pox, poison ivy or other skin rashes, take an oatmeal bath for extra soothing and relaxation. You can find a prepared oatmeal bath in the skincare section of any drug, beauty supply or grocery store.
Prevent: Take note of what causes your breakouts -- is it a reaction to a fabric/material, a fragrance or a plant like poison ivy? If yes, memorize what makes your skin hurt and avoid it. Continue here for more tips to avoid breakouts.
When Razors Burn
Remedy: Clean your razor and remove the trapped hair that is causing the burn. Apply lotion or aloe vera when your legs are dry.
Prevent: Try using cold water to shave (I know ladies, sounds awful, but hey, whatever works). Also consider throwing out your old razor. Learn more ways to prevent razor burn.
For the Morning After
Remedy: When you wake up the next morning after partying feeling dizzy or achy, try taking a shower with alternating hot and cold water. This helps wake up your body and alerts your brain, breaking the hangover fog. For easing your tummy pains, make sure you can keep water down then slowly introduce comfort foods like starches and carbs.
Prevent: Make sure to drink plenty of water while you imbibe your poison of choice. Remember this helpful rhyme: "Beer before liquor never been sicker. Liquor before beer, in the clear." Also, don't drink on an empty stomach and try to snack on finger foods throughout the night to ensure you wake up unscathed the next morning. For more helpful hints, check out these hangover-prevention tips.
To Beat Breakouts
Remedy: When regular water and soap just doesn't cut it and you've run out of acne wash, try covering your zits with tooth paste overnight, to dry out (and reduce) your breakouts while you sleep.
Prevent: Wouldn't it be nice to just prevent messy acne altogether? Well, you can't quite do that, but here are some tips to help reduce the occurrence.
When It's That Time of the Month
Remedy: Tried and true, used by your mom and maybe even her mom, keep a gal's best friend -- the hot pad -- by your bedside, to reduce cramps. Want a more active trick: try doing yoga poses like the wide squat and camel for relief.
Prevent: Continue here to learn how to prevent cramps before they start.
