5 Simple Kitchen Remedies 

Many of our healing traditions were founded in the kitchen. I personally love finding ways to use common everyday herbs and foods that help nurture and heal. Kitchen herbal treatments are easily accessible and inexpensive to use. Make sure the food and herbs you use for medicinal purpose are as fresh and pure as possible. This helps to ensure you are getting the full medicinal benefits for the herb or food item you are using. Go ahead and try some of these simple remedies and you may soon find your kitchen is your new medicine cabinet.

1. Rice Water ~ For Diarrhea. This remedy has been used in many parts of the world for hundreds of year. The proteins in the rice can help stabilize the bowels. Rice water is also soothing, hydrating. It is safe enough to use for children.
Directions: Put 4 cups of water in a pot. Add 1 cup of rice (use organic rice if possible and DO NOT use fast cook rice). Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from heat. Strain the rice. Drink the left over rice water hot or cold. You may drink this as needed.

2. Sage Tea ~ PMS Bloating. Kitchen sage has drying properties making it a wonderful mild diuretic. It gently draws excess water out of the body without any known side effects. Sage is also known to help with PMS-related moodiness. Folk herbalists say that sage helps lighten the spirit. 
Directions: Bring one cup of water to a boil. Remove from heat. Add 1 teaspoon of chopped fresh sage. Let steep for 3 to 5 minutes and strain. Drink 3 to 4 cups a day when you are bloated.

3.Cranberry Juice ~ UTI’s. Most of us have heard that cranberry juice is good for bladder infections. Did you know that it is now being clinically proven to be good for UTI’s? Scientists report that within eight hours of drinking cranberry juice, the juice could help prevent bacteria from developing into an infection in the urinary tract.
Previous studies have suggested that the active compounds in cranberry juice are not destroyed by the digestive system after people drink them, but instead work to fight against bacteria, including E. coli. The new research suggests that the beneficial substances in cranberry juice could reach the urinary tract and prevent bacterial adhesion within eight hours.

Researchers from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts grew strains of E. coli in urine collected from healthy people before and after they drank cranberry juice. The new research suggests that the beneficial substances in cranberry juice could reach the urinary tract and prevent bacterial adhesion within eight hours. Some believe it may be more effective than antibiotics.You must choose a natural product without added sugar which can encourage the growth of bacteria
Directions: Drink one cup of PURE cranberry juice at the first sign of infection. Drink 4 times a day until symptoms are gone. If you do not see an improvement within 48 hours please see your doctor.

4.Bananas ~ For Bug Bites. Banana Peels are high in anti-oxidants. They can calm inflamed and itchy bug bites. They work great on mosquito bites.

Directions: Apply the banana peel, fruit side down, directly onto the bug bite. Hold it there until the itching or burning subsides. As a health bonus eat the fruit!


5. Blackstrap Molasses ~ Fatigue

I remember my great grandmother talking about using black strap molasses for energy boost. It was used as a common pick me up in pioneer days. Blackstrap molasses is can increase energy and is used as a restorative remedy for women suffering from postmenstrual fatigue.
Directions: Dissolve 2 teaspoons of blackstrap molasses in ½ cup of warm water or almond milk. Drink daily.
Remember that chronic, ongoing fatigue can have underlying causes so be sure to check with a physician if your fatigue is ongoing.