Grandma’s Home Remedies That Really Work

There is often a deep sense of comfort to being taken care of at home when you are sick. Our moms, dads, grandparents, and others carefully prepare the perfect elixir and compress that will cure whatever malady you are suffering from. As you get older, you might realize that there was little logic to the home remedy you were applying, or you might wonder why it works.

Luckily, there have been decades of studies carried out on the effectiveness of many of these remedies. Not surprisingly to some, a series of benefits were identified.

The next time you get a cold or a cough, don’t run to the drug store. Look to these natural remedies for everything from colds and the flu to skin conditions.

Below we have selected 3 home remedies with scientific evidence to support their use.

Aloe for sunburns

Aloe vera cream is the go-to home remedy for a range of environmental mishaps including sunburn and rashes. Our grandparents might have had one growing in a pot for immediate treatment when needed. It turns out that topical aloe vera does, indeed reduce inflammation and pain caused by sunburn. This is due in part to the antioxidant content of aloe vera, and also to the cooling effect it has on the skin.

While bottled creams that contain aloe vera can work to varying degrees, freshly cut aloe vera works best.

Chicken Noodle Soup for Colds

Chicken noodle soup has been prepared with for sick loved ones at home for centuries. Because homemade chicken soup has so many ingredients that are individually beneficial, one research group wanted to determine whether a person who is ill with a respiratory infection would, indeed, feel better after drinking a bowl. It turns out that chicken soup inhibits the movement of excessive numbers of white blood cells to the respiratory tract, which would otherwise cause inflammation. In other words, chicken soup helps keep our nose and throat clear of inflammation, making us feel much better.

Honey for Throat Infections

Mmm… nothing like a hot cup of tea with honey to calm your sore throat. You feel relief even after the first sip, don’t you? Well, part of the immediate relief is due to the warm liquid on your throat, but it seems that the honey may be doing more than just sweetening your tea. Honey is a natural antibiotic and antifungal treatment. Three of the components responsible for this antimicrobial activity are hydrogen peroxide, flavonoids, and phenolic acids, all of which inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungi.

Now we know that we shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss grandma’s home remedies. There is often a reason why certain practices have survived for so long without any active promotion, or a need to prove that there is a scientific reason behind its effectiveness. Research, of course, has helped us to understand the mechanisms and the conditions that need to be present for the remedy to work, but now we know that grandma just might have the solution to all my health problems.