I wouldn’t believe you if you said you didn’t wonder at least the slightest bit about the health benefits of Windex after watching My Big Fat Greek Wedding for the first time. While not all ailments (if any) can be cured with Windex, Mr. Portokalos was onto something. Sometimes we have maddening issues with our bodies that can’t be alleviated by taking an Advil going to the doctor (a visit to the health center is never ideal). This doesn’t mean we should give up. Many everyday bodily mishaps can actually be cured with just a few household objects or ingredients. Home remedies might sound like a lot of effort, but chances are you already have the ingredients lying around your dorm already. Make your life easier and healthier by curing the following ailments with home remedies:
1. Sore Throat and/or a Cough
What you’ll need: lemon, honey, a spoon and a bowl
Directions: Take almost an entire spoonful of honey and place it over a bowl. Squeeze fresh lemon juice into the spoon until it’s full (let the bowl catch the excess juice). Eat this and repeat 2 or more times.
Extra tips: If your sore throat is due to allergies, try using local honey. Studies show this will give your immune system a little extra boost!
2. Acne
What you’ll need: tea tree oil, witch hazel and a cotton swab
Directions: Mix a few drops of tea tree oil with around 10 times as many drops of witch hazel. Apply to your blemish(es) using a cotton swab. Repeat this up to 2 times per day, depending on how inflamed your acne is.
Extra tips: Make sure not to overdo the amount of tea tree oil you put in your concoction. Tea tree oil is potent stuff so a little bit goes a long way!
3. Headache
What you’ll need: a pencil
Directions: Place a clean pencil in between your teeth without biting down. This will immediately begin to relax your jaw which naturally clenches when you have stress or anxiety.
Extra tips: Close your eyes or turn off the lights as you do this to add one more element of relaxation.
4. Hiccups
What you’ll need: sugar and a spoon
Directions: Swallow a spoonful of sugar – Mary Poppins style. The glucose will calm your diaphragm spasms within minutes so you can get on with your day.
Extra tips: Hold your breath while you do this to speed up the process.
5. Insomnia
What you’ll need: tart cherry juice
Directions: Drink an 8 ounce glass of tart cherry juice for a natural dose of melatonin that will quickly knock you out.
Extra tips: “Tart” is the key word. If you drink regular cherry juice, you’ll become too wired on sugar to sleep.