Home Remedies That Work – Promote Wellness Naturally
As a mom, I’ve lost count of the times I’ve used home remedies for my family over the years. It’s such a blessing to be able to turn to the pantry, garden or herb stash to help relieve pain and treat minor ailments.
Natural cures are convenient and cost effective – you can even use common weeds for herbal medicine.
At Common Sense Home, we’ve built an extensive natural medicine library, sharing what works for our families.
REMEMBER – Always see a trained health care provider if symptoms are severe or last an unusually long time. The posts on the site are for information only. I share what works for us and our readers, as well as the latest research.
Home Remedies
Our Natural Health posts are divided into several categories, grouped below. Let’s start with our general home remedies:
Natural Allergy Relief – 15 Home Remedies for Seasonal Allergies
15 Home Remedies for Bug Bites and Stings
10 Best Home Remedies for Sunburn
10 Home Remedies for Acid Reflux and The Problem with PPIs for GERD
7 Home Remedies for Upset Stomach to Soothe Indigestion
15 Home Remedies to Naturally Reduce Cholesterol and the Risk of Heart Attack
10 Home Remedies for Headaches – Headache Relief That Works
Migraine Relief Tips and Treatment from a Long Term Migraine Sufferer
12 Home Remedies for Coughs to Help Quiet and Soothe
9 Home Remedies for Congestion – Natural Decongestants That Work
12 Home Remedies for Earaches – Pain Relief Without a Prescription
15 Home Remedies for Warts – Easy Home Wart Treatments
12 Home Remedies for Sore Muscles
16 Home Remedies for Arthritis
9 Home Remedies for Canker Sores and Tips to Avoid Cankers Sore Triggers
Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease – Symptoms, Prevention and Home Treatment
10 Causes of Chapped Lips and What to Do About Them
Cold and Flu Remedies
Winter is generally cold and flu season, but viruses can hit any time of year. I work to boost our immune systems through the use of herbs and probiotics.
If symptoms hit, there are natural treatments that may help reduce the duration and severity of the illness.
Best Probiotics for Colds and Flu (+5 Ways They Help)
25 Immune Boosting Herbs and Spices
How to Make Elderberry Syrup with Fresh or Dried Elderberries
Copper Kills Germs (Here’s How to Use it At Home)
Natural Remedies for Colds and Flu to Help You Feel Better Faster – summary of all our cold and flu related posts
Flu Prevention and Treatment – 10 Quick Tips, Old and New
Thieves Vinegar – Immune Booster and Germ Killer
Knock Out Cold and Flu Germs with Essential Oils
The Best Supplements to Prevent and Treat Cold and Flu
The Best Home Remedies for Stomach Flu Treatment
Easy Homemade Cough Drops for Treatment of Sore Throats and Coughs
Immune Boosting Herbs in Finger Gelatin
Cold and Cough Care from Mountain Rose Herbs
See also treatments for coughs, congestion, earaches and sore throat.
Beating Candida and Psoriasis
In 2015, I was diagnosed with psoriasis, which covered large areas of my body in red, crusty, peeling skin. It was extremely painful, and made me uncomfortable going out in public. (A large area of my face was affected.)
When I went to the dermatologist, she basically said, “Live with it.”
Thankfully, through research and trial and error, I found a solution that worked for me. My skin is now clear and smooth. (No more scaring small children.)
I share my story in the following posts and book. WARNING – graphic images. The “before” photos were not pretty.
Psoriasis Healing – From Curse to Blessing – my story and tips for healing, available in print or kindle format. Includes information not shared on the website.
Psoriasis – The Year My Face Exploded
Toxic Skin – My Mother’s Nightmare
Psoriasis Causes – Mainstream and Alternative Viewpoints
Candida – Missing Link to Psoriasis and Other Chronic Illness
My Anti-Candida Anti-Psoriasis Diet – MAY BE HELPFUL FOR OTHER HEALTH ISSUES
Alternative Psoriasis Treatments – BodyTalk and EFT
Topical Psoriasis Treatments – Relief for Dry, Flaking Skin
Psoriasis on My Hands – My Experience with Home Remedies for Psoriasis
Women’s Health
This section is mostly for the ladies, but gentleman may sometimes have breast issues, too. Too often we do so much for others, but forget to take care of ourselves. A little self-care can go a long way to prevent illness and heal.
Breast Health – Healing with Foods and Detoxification
Lumpy Breasts? Cure Breast Cysts
Natural Breast Health for Breast Cancer Awareness Month
How To Heal Thyroid With Foods
Natural Health and Wellness
A key point in natural medicine is daily self care. There are many simple steps you can add to your daily routine to improve your health. Self-diagnostics, like checking your poop, can help you spot problems before they get severe.
6 Benefits of Cold Showers, the Cheap and Easy Health Tonic
Dirt Therapy – 8 Reasons You Need to Have a Garden
Heat Stroke – Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention
How to Improve Vision Naturally (I did it)
Oil Pulling – Fact Versus Fiction
What’s a Healthy Bowel Movement? Check Out the Bristol Stool Chart
Non-toxic Home Pest Control – Avoid the Risk of Neurotoxic Pesticides
The Autoimmune Epidemic – Can Detox Treatments Help?
Barefoot Therapy – “Naked Time” for Happy Feet
How to Identify Liver Problems and Improve Liver Health
Personal Hygiene
What you put on your body is as important as what you put in your body. Transdermal medications work because things absorb through the skin. I recommend skin care products with simple, non-toxic ingredients, and avoiding synthetic fragrances.
Super Easy Hard Lotion Bar Recipe
Easy, Non-toxic Homemade Deodorant Recipe
Herbalix Deodorants – Heal, Detoxify, Reduce the Risk of Breast Cancer
Make Your Own Perfume with Essential Oils
Hand Sanitizer – Pros and Cons for Usage (Includes Recipes)
Common Sense Home Book Review: No More Dirty Looks
Emergency Healthcare
Sometimes natural remedies are enough, sometimes you need a little extra help. It pays to be prepared for minor medical emergencies with some basic equipment and training. (If you have the time and ability for advanced first aid training, even better.)
My husband had EMT training and I come from a farming background. Between the two of us, we’ve seen and patched up a number of messy situations.
Phytophotodermatitis – Plants That Cause It, How to Treat It
Honey as Medicine – Prevent Infection, Kill Bacteria, Promote Healing
11 Best Medicinal Herbs to Grow (Herb Garden & Wildcrafted)
Preparedness – First Aid Kit and Medical Supplies
Emergency Preparedness – Radiation Exposure
Living Ready Pocket Manual – First Aid Fundamentals for Survival
Food, Diet and Farming
Hippocrates said, “Let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food.” Good health is impossible without proper nutrition.
Each of us are unique, so our nutritional needs will vary. That said, good food, well prepared, should be part of the foundation of wellness.
Book Review – Deep Nutrition: Why Your Genes Need Traditional Foods
Bt Corn – What is it, and Why Should You Care About it?
Protect Yourself from Salmonella and E Coli Naturally
Live Culture Foods
When I first started writing, hardly anyone had heard of live culture (fermented) foods. Now, yogurt, kefir, kombucha, raw kraut and more are common items in many grocery stores. Live cultures have proven benefits as probiotics, improving gut health.
Store fermented foods are great for convenience, but you can save a lot of money if you make your own. Fermenting at home also allows you to experiment with different flavors and food combinations.
Beet Kvass and the Purple Bull
Healthy Homebrew – How to Brew Kombucha
Water Kefir Versus Kombucha – What’s the difference between water kefir and kombucha?
Flavoring Kombucha and Kombucha Testimonials – Tips for flavoring kombucha and stories about how people I know have been helped by kombucha
Kombucha Q and A and More Flavoring Ideas – More flavoring ideas and all the Q and A from the comments in a more readable format
How to Flavor Kombucha – Holiday Flavors – Fun seasonal flavor ideas.
How to Brew and Flavor Water Kefir “Soda Pop”
Herbal Remedies
Herbs can be wonderful as a daily tonic, and are also useful as a first aid option. It’s darn handy to grab the right leaf out of the garden and slap it on a mosquito bite to relieve the itching.
I’m partial to wild plants (weeds), since they grow with little care, but I do cultivate a few favorite herbs. Whether you grow your own or purchase quality herbs, it’s worthwhile to make herbal medicine a part of your life.
What if I told you weeds and bacteria could save your life?
Milk Thistle – The Gentle Liver Tonic Everyone Should Know
Sage Benefits – One Herb, Many Uses
Grandma Called it Medicine Leaf – Medicinal Properties of Plantain, How to Infuse Plantain in Oil
How to Make Salve with Infused Oils
Harvesting and Using Dandelion Roots
Please see also the “Herbs and Wildcrafting” page.
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Originally published in 2012, updated in 2019.