While ear infections can become serious quite quickly (requiring the attention of a doctor), if you feel that your condition is mild and at the beginning stages, there are a few natural antihistamine home remedies you can try. Firstly, try a few drops of garlic oil or white vinegar. Add a few drops into the ear canal and lie down on the opposite side to let those drops work. (natural antihistamine home remedies like Garlic and vinegar create an environment scientifically-proven to inhibit bacterial growth.) Repeat this procedure a few times a day until the symptoms disappear. But, if your symptoms persist more than a few days or worsen, you should definitely see a doctor!
Some foods—particularly beans and raw veggies--are likely to cause gas in most people. However, if you find flatulence to be too frequent an occurrence, try taking a digestive enzyme with your meals (which can be found at any health food store). But in the meantime, make use of natural digestive spices such as anise, coriander, chamomile tea, dill, ginger, or peppermint. These can either be brewed into a tea (an infusion) or incorporated directly into your food. (Chewing a sprig of parsley after meals can also help!)
For headache and migraine symptoms, try rubbing peppermint or lavender oil directly on your temples and base of your neck; inhaling the vapors of these oils may also help. Other natural antihistamine home remedies you can try include rubbing a wedge of fresh-cut lemon or lime on your forehead, having a cup of feverfew herbal tea, and since caffeine can often bring relief, a cup of green tea. And for that dull throbbing, don’t forget to try an ice pack for 20 minutes—at 20-minute intervals. Because there are so many causes of headache, always consult your doctor before beginning any self treatment
Though it probably goes without saying, it pays to question why you’re getting heartburn in the first place. Did you overeat? Consume too much greasy or spicy food? Eat late at night? Discovering the cause can help break the cycle before it happens. But before you run for the antacids, it's important to understand that belching, bloating, and heartburn come about because there isn't enough stomach acid to digest food properly. A spoonful or two of apple cider vinegar with an equal amount of honey mixed in warm water before a meal will do wonders to help break down the excess food and bring your stomach back into balance.
The classic cure for nausea or car sickness is ginger tea or candied ginger. (You can chew on the raw root if you prefer, but many find it so potent that it actually makes symptoms worse.) Inhaling the vapors of genuine peppermint or lavender oil can also have a calmative effect.
As anyone who has tried prescription and over-the-counter antihistamines for rashes or allergies can tell you, these products can carry some pretty serious side effects—dry mouth, dizziness, even disorientation. So before you reach for the strong stuff, try green tea, which naturally contains compounds with antihistamine properties. You’ll need 2-3 cups a day to get the full effect. Also for allergies, quercetin (a plant-derived flavonoid found in fruits, vegetables, leaves, and grains) is a reliable antihistamine you can try. It is nature’s anti-histamine. Do remember that high dose may be required (2-5 grams) for therapeutic result.
Since sore, scratchy throats are sometimes a sign of a cold or flu coming on, you don’t want to ignore this symptom. Relief of the pain can be as simple as gargling with warm salt-water a few times a day, and then drinking a soothing hot cup of honey-lemon tea.
For many people, there’s nothing quite as painful as a toothache. (And as medical science shows, a toothache can lead to other more serious conditions including damage to the stomach, liver, and kidneys.) So to reduce swelling and pain while you wait for a dentist appointment, try putting a few drops of clove oil on your teeth and gums, or very lightly bite down on a piece of peeled whole garlic (which has excellent antibacterial properties). No need to chew the garlic; just bite it gingerly then suck out the garlic juice. (When the burning sensation becomes too intense, it's time to spit it out!)
© Copyright 2013 Michael Lam, M.D. All Rights Reserved.
