10 Surprising DIY Cures For Common Ailments Including Headaches And Cystitis
DIY Health Life Hacks For When The Drugs Don't Work
Georgia James— The Huffington Post UK
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From headaches and heartburn, to toothache and tension, life is full of those everyday health niggles.
And despite the fact we have a better understanding of how to look after our health and wellbeing than ever before, many of these common ailments can be put down to our modern lifestyles.
Stooping over a desk for hours on end, staring at a glaring computer screen, grabbing lunch-on-the-go, eating out, drinking wine... modern life can be a real strain on our physical and mental health.
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As a result, many of us will go nowhere without our trusty pack of painkillers - the panacea for all modern ills. But is popping pills really the best way to go?
"It can be all too tempting to reach for the medicine cabinet with all your aches and pains," says alternative health expert, Laura Knowles. "But there are lots of simple natural remedies and treatments you can try at home."
Unlike painkillers, these simple DIY health hacks are completely natural and won't cost you a penny.
In light of a study in which NICE declared that painkillers could be the cause of some headaches, Laura states in a blog for HuffPost UK Lifestyle: "Painkillers can't be considered as a cure for headaches.
"They block the pain receptors that are giving the brain the message that there is a problem. Painkillers are not addressing the problem of where the headache is really coming from.
"This study highlights the importance of listening to the body to find the cause of symptoms, not just deal with the symptoms themselves."
For easy DIY health life hacks for common ailments, take a look below, but visit your GP if you're concerned.
10 DIY Cures For Common Ailments
Peppermint Headache Relief(01 of10)
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Applying peppermint oil to the forehead and temples can cure a tension headache, according to a study."Peppermint oil thus proves to be a well-tolerated and cost-effective alternative to usual therapies," the scientists concluded. (credit:CGissemann via Getty Images)
Heartburn? Lie On Your Left Side(02 of10)
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In a study of heartburn patients at the Graduate Hospital, Philadelphia, doctors found that sleeping on the right side meant that leaked stomach acid took longer to drain out of the oesophagus compared to sleeping on the left. (credit:Image Source via Getty Images)
Squat To Ease Constipation(03 of10)
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"Sitting in a squatting position will engage the bowels. It can also help to use a step by the loo to get knees above hips," alternative health expert, Laura Knowles, tells HuffPost UK Lifestyle. (credit:zeremski via Getty Images)
Ice Rub Toothache Cure(04 of10)
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Researchers have found that acute dental pain can be treated by massaging ice over the web between the thumb and index finger of the hand on the same side as the painful region. (credit:Mark Mawson via Getty Images)
Instant Tension Relief(05 of10)
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"Overwhelmed with emotions? Place a hand on your forehead. This helps to move 'stuck' emotion to the front brain," says Knowles. (credit:Image Source via Getty Images)
Tension Headache Trick(06 of10)
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"Headache? Drink a big glass of water and rub your thumbs along the eyebrows to release the tension," advises Knowles. (credit:Atomic Imagery via Getty Images)
Stop A Nosebleed In Its Tracks(07 of10)
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It is widely believed that placing some cotton wool between your top lip and gum can stop a nose bleed in its tracks because it places pressure on the main artery responsible for nose bleeds. (credit:Jupiterimages via Getty Images)
Tickly Throat? Scratch Your Ear(08 of10)
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Lightly scratching your ear could cure a tickly throat, according to Scott Schaffer, M.D., president of an ear, nose, and throat clinic in New Jersey. “When the nerve in the ear is stimulated, it creates a reflex in the throat that can cause a muscle spasm," he says. (credit:Jamie Grill via Getty Images)
Sinus Pain Reliever(09 of10)
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The Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide recommends taking a long, warm shower to relieve congested sinuses.To drain your sinuses in just 20 seconds, Lisa DeStefano, D.O., an assistant professor at the Michigan State University college of osteopathic medicine suggests: "Clear a stuffed nose or relieve sinus pressure by pushing your tongue against the roof of your mouth then pressing a finger between your eyebrows." (credit:Image Source via Getty Images)
Rub Away Cystitis (10 of10)
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We all know that drinking cranberry juice can relieve the symptoms of cystitis but Laura Knowles recommends this quick-fix trick: "Relieve cystitis by rubbing the pubic bone. Locate the sore spot, usually in the centre, and rub until the soreness is relieved." (credit:Peter Dazeley via Getty Images)