Here are 17 remedies for common health problems that all have one thing in common—you always have these simple remedies with you!
Dry mouth. When it’s important for you to seem calm and sound confident, don’t let your dry mouth get in the way. Gently chew on your tongue. Within about 30 seconds, you will manufacture all the saliva you need to end this uncomfortable condition. If people notice, they will just think that you’re chewing gum or sucking a candy.
Burned fingertips. If you get a minor burn on your fingertips, simply hold your earlobe—it’s an acupressure point. Place your thumb on the back of the lobe and the burned fingertips on the front of the lobe. Stay that way for one minute. It works like magic to relieve the pain.
Hiccups. Here are two remedies…
• Pretend that your finger is a mustache. Place it under your nose, and press in hard for 30 seconds. That should do it, but if not…
• Take a deep breath. Without letting any air out, swallow. Breathe in a little bit more, then swallow. Keep inhaling and swallowing until you absolutely can’t inhale or swallow anymore. Then, in a controlled way, slowly exhale.
Motion sickness. Pull out and pinch the skin in the middle of your inner wrist, about one inch from your palm. Keep pulling and pinching, alternating wrists, until you feel better. It shouldn’t take too long.
Leg cramps. The second you get a cramp in your leg, “acupinch” it away. Use your thumb and your index finger to pinch your philtrum—the skin between your nose and upper lip. Pinch it for about 20 seconds until the pain and the cramp disappear.
Stomachache. This remedy came to us from an Asian massage therapist. If you are having stomach discomfort, massage the acupressure points at the sides of your knees, just below the kneecaps. This will relieve your stomachache.
Warts. First thing each morning, dab some of your own spittle on the wart (but do not lick the wart). “First thing” means before you brush your teeth. We don’t know why it works—it just does.
Hemorrhoids. Edgar Cayce, who is often called the father of holistic medicine, recommended this exercise for the treatment of hemorrhoids…
• Stand with your feet about six inches apart, hands at sides.
• Then raise your hands up to the ceiling, and if balance isn’t a problem for you, gradually rise up on your toes at the same time.
• Bend forward, and bring your hands as close to the floor as you can get them.
• Go back to the first position, and do it again.
Perform this exercise for two or three minutes twice every day, one hour after breakfast and one hour after dinner, until your hemorrhoids are relieved.
Choking cough. When you’re not actually choking on something but you just are coughing as though you are, raise your hands as high as you can and the choking cough will stop.
Tension headache. Tense all the muscles in your face, neck, jaw, scalp and shoulders. Hold that tension for at least 30 seconds. Then, suddenly, relax completely, letting go of all the tension, and your headache along with it.
Gas. Try this yoga pose called the wind-relieving pose. Lie on your back with your legs and arms extended. As you exhale, draw both knees to your chest. Clasp your hands around them. While holding only your right knee with both hands, release your left leg and extend it along the floor. Hold this pose for one minute. Draw your left knee back in toward your chest, and clasp your hands around both knees again. Then while holding only your left knee, release your right leg and extend it along the floor. Hold this pose for up to a minute. Finally, draw both knees to your chest. Then with an exhalation, release and extend both legs.
Fatigue. If you are having a hard time staying awake or paying attention, here are five energizing strategies. Try the one that is doable in your situation…
• A Chinese theory is that “tiredness” collects on the insides of your elbows and the backs of your knees. Wake up your body by slap-slap-slapping those areas.
• Run in place for about two minutes.
• Energy lines directly connected to internal organs and body functions run through your earlobes. Use your thumbs and index fingers to rub your earlobes for about 15 seconds. This should wake up your entire nervous system.
• This visualization exercise will help you overcome drowsiness. Sit back, close your eyes, and let all the air out of your lungs. Imagine a bright blue-white energizing light entering and filling your entire body as you inhale slowly through your nostrils. Then open your eyes. You will feel refreshed.
• Boost your energy by belting out a few bars of a favorite cheerful song. Inhale deeply as you sing to bring more energizing oxygen into your lungs and increase circulation in your body.