Home Remedies That Will Actually Cure All Of Your Aches, Pains, And Ailments

Modern medicine is marvelous, but there are several problems it still hasn't figured out how to cure. Sometimes, those old home remedies that your grandparents swear by actually do the trick. Most of these quick fixes can be accomplished using ingredients and objects from around your home.

Keep reading to find out how to stop bug bites from itching, how to relieve the common cold, and how to get rid of dandruff without stepping foot in the doctor's office.

Yogurt Can Get Rid Of Bad Breath

BSIP/UIG via Getty Images
BSIP/UIG via Getty Images

Yogurt is absolutely delicious, but did you know that plain, organic yogurt can actually help your body manufacture good bacteria that fights off bad bacteria? That's what all of that superfood probiotic stuff on the label is all about.

Bad breath is caused by bacteria, so eating yogurt and getting all of that good bacteria in your body will help your body rid itself of bad, odor-causing bacteria. This is a particularly tasty way to get rid of bad breath.

ADVERTISEMENT

You Can Use Black Tea To Relieve Sunburns

ADVERTISEMENT
Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/picture alliance via Getty Images
Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/picture alliance via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

When you spend too long lounging in the sun and you end up with a sunburn, you probably reach for a bottle of aloe vera gel to take the sting away. Aloe vera is great for soothing sunburned skin, but black tea does exactly the same thing and you'll probably already have some in your pantry.

ADVERTISEMENT

Soak a tea bag in water and then let it cool in the fridge. Then rub the tea cold and the tea bag all over your red skin. The tannins in the tea will help soothe the pain and prevent your skin from peeling.

ADVERTISEMENT

You Can Get Rid Of Calluses With Black Licorice

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
@YNHallak/Twitter
@YNHallak/Twitter
ADVERTISEMENT

I think we can all agree that black licorice is the worst kind of licorice (sorry black licorice fans). If you have some lying around your home that you don't want to eat, you could always use it to remove your foot calluses.

ADVERTISEMENT

Soak the black licorice in oil and then apply it to your callus. Wrap your foot with the licorice on it in saran wrap and let it sit for at least eight hours. You can do this whole procedure at night so when you wake up in the morning, the callus will be soft and easy to buff away.

ADVERTISEMENT

Banana Peels Can Soothe A Poison Ivy Rash

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
@michaelonmusic1/Twitter
@michaelonmusic1/Twitter
ADVERTISEMENT

Poison ivy has three leaves and a red stem, so if you see a plant that looks like that when you're out hiking in the woods, avoid it at all costs. If you weren't able to avoid it and your skin is covered in a red, bumpy, itchy rash, you can actually use banana peels to take some of the pain and itch away.

ADVERTISEMENT

Open a fresh banana and rub the inside of the peel against the rash.

ADVERTISEMENT

Toothpaste Can Dry Out Pimples

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images
SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

There's no need to spend oodles of money on fancy pimple creams and ointment. Just wash your face with gentle soap and water, and if you do find yourself face to face with a nasty pimple, just put a dap of toothpaste on it. That's right, toothpaste.

ADVERTISEMENT

Leave the toothpaste on for a few hours to dry out the pimple and then wash it off with cold water. The texture of the toothpaste dries out the oils in the pimple, and the triclosan and hydrogen peroxide helps kill bacteria.

ADVERTISEMENT

Use Duct Tape To Get Rid Of Warts And Skin Tags

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
duct-tape-hack
Wikipedia
Wikipedia
ADVERTISEMENT

Ok, before you start jumping to conclusions, we're not saying that you should wax off warts and skin tags with duct tape. All you have to do is tape a little bit of duct tape onto the wart or skin tag and leave it on until it loses its stickiness and falls off naturally.

ADVERTISEMENT

When the duct tape falls off, repeat the process. By the third or fourth application of duct tape, the wart or skin tag will fall off too.

ADVERTISEMENT

Relieve Heartburn With Baking Soda

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for ARM & HAMMER
Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for ARM & HAMMER
ADVERTISEMENT

So we already know one unconventional use for bakings soda, how about another? Heartburn can be extremely painful, and if you're not expecting it, you may not have medication to relieve heartburn on hand. If that's the case, you can swig back a teaspoon of baking soda dissolved in a glass of water. It won't taste good, but it will make the pain go away.

ADVERTISEMENT

This stuff even works better than Tums in a pinch.

ADVERTISEMENT

A Jar Of Olives Can Help With Motion Sickness

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Kevin Schafer/Contributor/Getty Images
Kevin Schafer/Contributor/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Sure, Gravol might work for motion sickness, but a more natural remedy is eating a few olives. The tannin inside olives can help calm and cure nausea and will keep your stomach from having that sinking, empty feeling.

ADVERTISEMENT

Next time add a jar of olives to the packing list for a road trip.

ADVERTISEMENT

Gin-Soaked Raisins Are Good For Arthritis

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
@65fitnhealthy/Twitter
@65fitnhealthy/Twitter
ADVERTISEMENT

This home remedy was perfected by your grandparents AKA the people who suffer from arthritis the most. Take some golden raisins, soak them overnight in gin (that's made from or includes juniper berries) until they're absorbed, and then eat about ten raisins a day.

ADVERTISEMENT

It won't cure the arthritis, but it will help ease the symptoms. Or it might just give you a buzz so you don't feel anything at all.

ADVERTISEMENT

Makeshift Stitches With Superglue And Chapstick

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
@dailytonic/Twitter
@dailytonic/Twitter
ADVERTISEMENT

I know it sounds crazy, but if you get a nasty cut that you need to patch up, then use superglue! Wash and dry the cut completely, then use the superglue to press the skin back together.

ADVERTISEMENT

Rub some clean chapstick on top to keep it from drying out, then wrap it up with a Band-Aid and go on with your day.

ADVERTISEMENT

Use Asprin To Get Rid Of Dandruff

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket via Getty Images
Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Every household has some aspirin tablets on hand for headaches or aches and pains, but you can also use it to get a dandruff-free scalp. Crush up two aspirin tablets into powder and mix it with one capful of shampoo.

ADVERTISEMENT

Wash your hair with it and leave it on for five minutes. Within a few weeks, you'll see a noticeable difference.

ADVERTISEMENT

Bite A Pencil To Cure Headaches

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
@PreventionMag/Twitter
@PreventionMag/Twitter
ADVERTISEMENT

Tension headaches are most often caused because of clenched jaw muscles when you're stressed or overwhelmed. Placing a pencil between your teeth without biting down will force your jaw to relax.

ADVERTISEMENT

Take several deep breaths while you do this for about a minute and your headache should let up in no time.

ADVERTISEMENT

Get Rid Of Hiccups With A Spoonful Of Sugar

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Luis Ascui/Getty Images
Luis Ascui/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

This is the home remedy that actually works but healthy moms never wanted to use. Swollowing a spoonful of sugar can neutralize hiccups immediately. Hiccups are caused by diaphragm spasms.

ADVERTISEMENT

If you have a spoonful of dry sugar, it throws off your stomach and nerve muscles, and stops the agitation.

ADVERTISEMENT

A Spice Mix To Stop You From Going To The Bathroom Too Much...

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
@crumbykitchen/Twitter
@crumbykitchen/Twitter
ADVERTISEMENT

There's nothing worse than a bad case of the runs that keep you up all night. Rather than taking medication that will just constipate you, use a natural method that will help clear you out.

ADVERTISEMENT

Combine a teaspoon each of cumin, honey, cinnamon, and ginger into a liquid paste. Drink it up and hope for the best. Note: spices affect everyone differently. Some people find yogurt to be a more effective treatment for diarrhea.

ADVERTISEMENT

Potatoes Cure Spider Bites

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
potato-hack
Instagram/hookedzierikzee
Instagram/hookedzierikzee
ADVERTISEMENT

If you're unlucky enough to have a spider sink its pincers into you, then you know regular bug bite remedies don't work. Shred or slice a potato, wrap it in cheesecloth, and place it over the bite to help relieve the itch.

ADVERTISEMENT

Of course, this is only for regular spiders. If you get bit by something more deadly then skip the potatoes and get medical help ASAP.

ADVERTISEMENT

Mouthwash Is Good For Blisters

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
General view at the Listerine 21 Day Challenge Kick-off with actress Ginnifer Goodwin at Gabarron Museum NYC on February 5, 2013 in New York City.
Jerritt Clark/Getty Images for Listerine
Jerritt Clark/Getty Images for Listerine
ADVERTISEMENT

We've all experienced blisters that start to feel worse with each passing day. To ease the pain and make the blister go away sooner, try attacking it with Listerine! Listerine mouthwash is a powerful antiseptic.

ADVERTISEMENT

Just moisten a cotton ball with Listerine and apply it to your blister around three times a day. Eventually it will dry out and the pain will disappear!

ADVERTISEMENT

Use Garlic To Combat Allergies

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket via Getty Images
Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

If you've got bad allergies but hate being drugged up with pills for the entire allergy season, then try garlic instead. Garlic contains a natural antihistamine and antioxidant called quercetin.

ADVERTISEMENT

It's up to you how you eat the garlic though. Slicing it thin or crushing it up on top of crackers is the most surefire way to treat allergies. Be sure to brush your teeth afterward!

ADVERTISEMENT

Ginger Helps With Digestion

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Fairfax Media/Fairfax Media via Getty Images
Fairfax Media/Fairfax Media via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

The old wive's tale that ginger can settle a stomach is actually true. Ginger, raw or ground, produces rhizome which is basically your first line of defense against nausea.

ADVERTISEMENT

The best way to do this is grating fresh ginger into a tea or warm drink, but even a ginger-product like Ginger Ale can work too.

ADVERTISEMENT

Soothe Eczema With Oatmeal

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
@LesliePrindle/Twitter
@LesliePrindle/Twitter
ADVERTISEMENT

The horrible, dry, red itchiness that comes with eczema can be unbearable. Thankfully, your grandmother's old method of taking an oatmeal bath can actually help. Run a warm bath, fill it with colloidal oatmeal, then soak for a while.

ADVERTISEMENT

For long-term relief on really bad eczema, you might want to see a dermatologist too.

ADVERTISEMENT

A Chocolate Face Mask?

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
@Shape_Magazine/Twitter
@Shape_Magazine/Twitter
ADVERTISEMENT

For anyone prone to breakouts, the idea of putting chocolate on your face is terrifying, but it seriously works! Just melt 50 grams of pure chocolate (nothing else added to it) and one tablespoon of olive oil.

ADVERTISEMENT

Apply it to your face like a mask for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water and be the proud owner of soft, glowing skin.

ADVERTISEMENT

Chicken Soup Really Is A Cure-All

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Deb Lindsey For The Washington Post via Getty Images
Deb Lindsey For The Washington Post via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Everyone knows that chicken soup is the best feel-good remedy for when you have a nasty cold, but it also works on the inside.

ADVERTISEMENT

Chicken broth contains an amino acid called cysteine that has been proven to help at thinning mucus buildup in your lungs and throat. A yummy and effective home remedy!

ADVERTISEMENT

Whiten Your Teeth With Lemon Juice And Baking Soda

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
BSIP/UIG via Getty Images
BSIP/UIG via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Way before Crest came out with those famous, and very effective Whitestrips, people came up with their own home remedies to deal with not-so-white teeth. Those Whitestrips are great, but they're also quite expensive. You can get a similar effect by just mixing togethether lemon juice and baking soda to form a paste.

ADVERTISEMENT

Leave a bit of the paste on your teeth for a few minutes every day, and within a few days, you'll have whiter, brighter teeth.

ADVERTISEMENT

Beets Can Help You Go To The Bathroom

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post via Getty Images
Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

It's time to get personal and talk about the 'C' word: constipation. It can happen for a variety of reasons, but one surefire way to fix it is with beets. Steam a few of the veggies and drink the beet water left over.

ADVERTISEMENT

It should clear up your colon like magic, but beware of the leftover bright red color you'll be seeing for the 24 hours after.

ADVERTISEMENT

Yams Help With Menopause

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
@JoshedXDx/Twitter
@JoshedXDx/Twitter
ADVERTISEMENT

Calling all women aged 40-60, if you're experiencing all the terrible side effects of menopause then start eating yams by the spoonful. Make sure they're actual yams though, not sweet potatoes.

ADVERTISEMENT

They give you a dose of vitamin C, help with lowering your cholesterol, and are high in antioxidants. It's like a three-in-one punch to mother nature.

ADVERTISEMENT

Use Onions To Combat Itchy Mosquito Bites

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
RODGER BOSCH/AFP/Getty Images
RODGER BOSCH/AFP/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Onions aren't just good in soups and stews. These powerful bulbs can be used for all sorts of home remedies. Stay tuned for another onion related remedy later on this list. You can actually use onions to help relieve itchy insect bites.

ADVERTISEMENT

The sulfur compounds found in the juice of an onion is an effective way to neutralize the proteins in mosquito saliva that make you itchy. Cut a fresh onion in half and rub it on the bite instead of scratching it.

ADVERTISEMENT

Cure A Cold With Onions... On Your Feet

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ac_bzh
ADVERTISEMENT

This isn't the most pleasant home remedy in the world, but apparently it does work. It was the Chinese who figured out that if you place sliced, raw onions on your feet and cover them up with socks overnight, your cold could be gone by morning.

ADVERTISEMENT

The onion slices absorb toxins from your body that could be making you sick. People say that it can also be a preventative measure if you feel a sickness coming on.

ADVERTISEMENT

Use An Onion To Help Your Hair Grow

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
JACQUES DEMARTHON/AFP/Getty Images
JACQUES DEMARTHON/AFP/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Onions aren't just a superfood. Their juices can also help stimulate growth in your hair follicles. Cut a nice, fresh onion in half and rub it on your scalp for 15 minutes, letting it release the juices as you go.

ADVERTISEMENT

Wash the juices and the smell out with mild shampoo and you're good to go.

ADVERTISEMENT

You Can Make Cough Syrup At Home

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
@RealWorldSurviv/Twitter
@RealWorldSurviv/Twitter
ADVERTISEMENT

If you want an effective and natural cough syrup that's not full of drugs and chemicals, look no further than your pantry.

ADVERTISEMENT

Mix 1/4 teaspoon of ground ginger, 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, 1 tablespoon of honey, and some water to thin it out. This should be enough to relieve your throat pain in no time.

ADVERTISEMENT

Use Wet Socks To Get Over A Cold

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
@workttech/Twitter
@workttech/Twitter
ADVERTISEMENT

Yes, one way to fight a common cold is to make your feet even colder. Start by soaking your feet in hot water for a few minutes. Then remove your feet and put on wet socks that you just soaked in ice water, and go to bed.

ADVERTISEMENT

These cold feet will make your blood vessels constrict and push nutrients up onto your body to fight the infection.

ADVERTISEMENT

Peppermint Gum Will Help Stress Melt Away

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
two sticks of gum
Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

When you're suddenly overwhelmed with stress (like in a traffic jam, for example), chewing peppermint or cinnamon gum can ease your worries. A NASA-funded study at Wheeling Jesuit University found that peppermint gum lowered a person's feelings of fatigue or anxiety by 20 percent.

ADVERTISEMENT

Both peppermint and cinnamon also decreased frustration, increased alertness, and even made the drive seem shorter.

ADVERTISEMENT

Clove Combats Infection

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Tim Graham/Getty Images
Tim Graham/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Sprinkling powdered cloves on a clean, open wound can keep it from becoming infected. A study at Duke University showed that cloves and clove oil is high in eugenol, which is a natural chemical that is both an antiseptic and a pain-killer.

ADVERTISEMENT

Maybe that's why gingerbread cookies make us feel so good.

ADVERTISEMENT

Vodka Can Keep The Stink Away From Your Feet

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Miguel Candela/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Miguel Candela/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

If you're like me, then opening the shoe closet is a dangerous game. If someone in the family has unbearable foot odor, then soak a washcloth with vodka and use it to wipe down the foot.

ADVERTISEMENT

The science behind it makes sense. The high alcohol content will kill all the bacteria making those toes smell.

ADVERTISEMENT

Use Lemon Balm On Your Cold Sores

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
a cup of lemon balm tea
XAMAX/ullstein bild via Getty Images)
XAMAX/ullstein bild via Getty Images)
ADVERTISEMENT

Cold sores are caused by a type of herpes virus (but not the STD kind). Still, cold sores are unpleasant all around and seem like they take forever to go away. Lemon balm has antiviral properties that are effective at taming herpes outbreaks.

ADVERTISEMENT

One way to use lemon balm to your advantage is to brew two to four tablespoons of it with a cup of boiling water. When it cools, use a cotton ball to dab it on the affected area multiple times a day.

ADVERTISEMENT

A Tennis Ball Works As A Foot Massager

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
a foot on top of a tennis ball
@instep360/Twitter
@instep360/Twitter
ADVERTISEMENT

There are days when your feet just feel incredibly achy but you don't have anyone around to give you a killer foot massage. Instead, you could use a tennis ball to ease your pain by simply rolling your feet over one! You could also use a golf ball or a soup can to do the job.

ADVERTISEMENT

If your feet are screaming, try rolling your feet on a frozen water bottle.

ADVERTISEMENT

Olive Oil Helps With Skin Conditions

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
bottles of olive oil
MediaForMedical/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
MediaForMedical/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Olive oil alone can soothe some of the worst eczema flareups. Pure olive oil is packed with antioxidants that help reduce eczema-related inflammation. Olive oil is already used as a base for many moisturizers but if it's used on its own, it doesn't have any of the extra chemicals you don't need.

ADVERTISEMENT

Rub one teaspoon of olive oil per square inch of skin which will seal in the moisture your skin needs.

ADVERTISEMENT

Vegetable Oil Moistens Brittle Nails

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Shelves of sunflower oil for sale in a supermarket in San Telmo.
Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

If your nails are feeling more brittle than usual, try repairing the damage with some vegetable oil. Before going to bed, apply some vegetable oil to your hands and cover them up with some vinyl gloves or plastic wrap.

ADVERTISEMENT

By morning, your nails will have absorbed the oil to replace the moisture that they lack. You should also use hand cream regularly.

ADVERTISEMENT

Ice Cream Soothes The Burn

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Studio portrait of a young boy crying as he holds a melting ice cream cone, circa 1962.
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

We've all had those moments when we were too excited to eat a slice of pizza only to discover it was still piping hot. There's no worse feeling than hot cheese scorching the roof of your mouth, especially knowing you'll have to deal with it the pain for the next few days.

ADVERTISEMENT

You can find temporary relief from eating ice cream or frozen yogurt. The tissue on the roof of your mouth is only a few millimeters thick, which is why it's so easy to burn and cool the area.

ADVERTISEMENT

Apples Can Clean Your Teeth

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Close-up of boy eating apple.
Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Universal Images Group via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

It might seem counterproductive to eat something to clean your teeth but that's precisely what apples can do! Apples and other crunchy fruits and vegetables can help scrub your teeth when you chew on them.

ADVERTISEMENT

New York City dentist Jennifer Jabow, DDS, says that "apples have a gentle malic acid that also helps dissolve stains."

ADVERTISEMENT

Get Rid Of An Infection With Baking Soda

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
A general view of atmosphere at a special beauty tips and tricks sharing event hosted by Lo Bosworth and ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda at Paintbox Salon on February 26, 2015 in New York City.
Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for ARM & HAMMER
Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for ARM & HAMMER
ADVERTISEMENT

No one wants to go to the bathroom only to realize that they suddenly have a urinary tract infection. At the first sign of a UTI, you'll want to take immediate action to make it go away faster. Drink a solution of 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda with eight ounces of water.

ADVERTISEMENT

You'll want to drink this every day until you can get a proper diagnosis and medication for it. In the meantime, the baking soda will make the bladder more alkaline to reduce bacteria.

ADVERTISEMENT

Papaya Skin Masks Are Everything

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Papaya or Papaw (Carica papaya), cut in cross-section, Caricaceae.
De Agostini Picture Library/Getty Images
De Agostini Picture Library/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Papaya has an enzyme called papain, which eat proteins in a way that dissolves the dead skin cells on the surface of your skin. Twice a month, grind two tablespoons of washed and peeled papaya in a food processor with one tablespoon of dry oatmeal. Smooth it over clean skin and wipe it off with a wet washcloth after ten minutes.

ADVERTISEMENT

This will leave your skin feeling soft and smooth, while minimizing your chance of breaking out.