Secret Natural Home Remedies

From placing onions on the soles of feet to reduce fevers, to putting potatoes on the eyes to battle infection, home remedies have evolved greatly over the years. Described as cost-effective alternatives to medicine or chemicals, home remedies typically utilize fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices and oils. With the promise of minimal side effects, and often referred to as "all-natural," such remedies offer a purported treatment for conditions ranging from the common cold to heart disease.

Examples

Home remedies treat different medical conditions as an alternative to Western medicine, such as prescribed pills and ointments. A 2010 Mayo Clinic article regarding asthma lists omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish and flax seed, and ginkgo extract as natural remedies to calm asthma symptoms. Steven Ehrlich, a naturopathic physician for the University of Maryland Medical Center, notes herbal remedies such as grape seed extract, bilberry extract or dandelion tea -- as opposed to pharmaceutical drugs -- may reduce edema, or fluid retention, in the lower extremities. To treat heartburn or acid reflux, Lauren Cox writes on MyHealthNewsDaily.com, remedies include licorice, slippery elm or chamomile tea.

Types of Benefits

Benefits to using home remedies, in addition to saving money, include avoiding possible adverse effects of prescribed medications, such as drug interactions, stomach ulcers and pain, skin rash, weight loss or gain and nausea, depending on the prescription. Using fruits, vegetables, teas, herbs, oils, and other remedies can also lead to all-around health benefits. For instance, in a 2011 "Reader's Digest" article, Patty Onderko writes that peppermint tea not only serves as an alternative treatment for irritable bowel syndrome, but also may relax combat gas and stimulate the secretion of digestive juices. The American Heart Association reports in a 2002 Scientific Statement on its website the importance of fish in the diet, noting that a fish oil supplement each day can reduce blood pressure and keep triglyceride levels low.

Considerations

Home remedies may not always be the answer to health problems, or a combination of Western and complementary medicine may be required to cure a symptom or disease. Serious infections usually require antibiotics, for example -- herbal remedies can help relieve symptoms, but when used alone they may prolong and worsen the condition. The AHA points out that while it recommends twice-weekly fish consumption, consumers should be aware of the potential mercury in seafood.

Warning

Potential dangers exist in nearly every medical treatment. Consumers should talk with their doctor before discontinuing any current medical treatment, and determine possible interactions with other medications, as well as allergies, sensitivities and side effects from home remedies used to treat symptoms or cure a disease.