The following items can be used in an emergency or to take care of a minor illness. We want to emphasize that this is your first line of defense. If your illness and/or emergency is on-going or grave in nature please go see a doctor.

Bee Pollen
◾Dissolve some in juice or lemonade as needed to alleviate hay fever and pollen-related allergies, says naturopath Elizabeth Yarnell. (You can usually find bee pollen in health food stores.) Start with a pinch or two to make sure your allergies can tolerate the pollen, and work up to a full teaspoon.

Cayenne
◾Place some of the powdered pepper on small cuts to stop bleeding, says clinical nutritionist Stephan Dorlandt.

Cloves
◾To ease a toothache, place a clove between the cheek and gum next to the painful tooth, says Charlotte Tenney, an integrative health and clinical herbalist. “Saliva will soften it and it will begin to bath the area with juices that will numb the pain and reduce the swelling,” she says.
◾Sucking on a whole clove can also be used to treat a sore throat, Tenney says.

Coconut Water
◾Drink some to curb diarrhea, Yarnell says.

Cornstarch
◾Add to a bath to relieve itchy skin, Dorlandt 
says.

Cranberry juice
◾Drink some to relieve a urinary tract infection, Yarnell says. Be sure to look for 100 percent cranberry juice instead of blends. Drink daily to prevent infection.

Just as a reminder, the information above is for educational purposes only. It does not constitute the practice of medicine and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider.

Be aware that many of the remedies listed above have not been evaluated in scientific studies although many naturalists (and families) swear by them. However, it is always best to speak with your primary health care provider before engaging in any form of self-treatment.

For more information and items that can be used as home remedies go to Mint Life.