How to Treat Everything from PMS to Headaches without Weird Chemicals
A trip to the pantry, not the pharmacy.
16 May, 2019
Health
10 November, 2021
We get it: the easiest thing to do when feeling the tingling of a cold coming on, or the throbbing of your head intensifying with every medium-loud sound or bright flash of light, is to head to the nearest CVS and pop a pill. It’s fast and, okay, usually effective. But what we’ve learned is that taking medication for every small ache or pain that, honestly, we could probably manage on our own, is probably not as good for us as we think. Which is why, if we can avoid resorting to drugs, we will. And so, with a bit of guidance from Beverly Hills’ Dr. Ehsan Ali, who specializes in internal medicine, we’re going the natural route to treat or mitigate our most common discomforts.
If you have:
Headaches, PMS, or Pain
“Arnica is a homeopathic remedy that has anti-inflammatory properties, and is a good option to relieve pain. It’s commonly used after surgery and acts similarly to ibuprofen (Advil), but is completely natural. It can easily be found at Whole Foods, or online. Take three tablets daily to help reduce pain and inflammation.”
If you have:
An Upset Stomach or Acid Reflux
“Almonds produce an alkaline substance that helps balance the acidity in the stomach. Eating an ounce (roughly a handful), which is equal to 20-25 almonds, is what I’d recommend.
“1 tablespoon of baking soda in half a cup of water also works well to settle your stomach and reduce acid reflux. I recommended drinking this twice a day.
“Chamomile is highly recommended. Drink a cup of warm water infused with one tea bag of chamomile, two to three times a day as needed.”
If you have:
A Cold
“A few things you can do to help with your immune system are to take echinacea (I recommend 2,000 mg tablets) and Vitamin C (1,000 mg tablet) daily.
“Ginger also helps to boost the immune system and has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help with a sore throat. I recommend 1/4 cup of ginger root soaked in 1 cup of warm water, and drink this about 3 times per day. OR alternatively, chew on small slivers of raw ginger throughout the day.”
[Editor’s Note: As ever, we are not doctors or medical know-it-alls. And everybody is different, so make sure to check with a doctor before trying anything new.]
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