Simple Home Remedies

Anise Oil: Star Anise is the fruit of a small evergreen and is native to China. Anise has been used as a spice and as a medicine for more than 2,500 years. Its robust fragrance gives licorice candy and chewing gum their distinct flavor. Anise oil is also added to perfumes for a rich, sweet fragrance and is said to be a good "aromatherapy" remedy for colds and coughs, relaxation and emotional balance.

Bergamot Oil: Bergamot is a citrus fruit originating in the Mediterranean. Bergamot oil is a top note for perfumes. It is said to uplift the spirit and emotions with its delicious fresh and invigorating citrus fragrance. Bergamot oil is also good for caring for oily or blemished skin and can also be used in a vaporizer to disperse any unpleasant odors.

Boric Acid: Since the time of the ancient Greeks, borates, including boric acid have been used for cleaning and preserving food. A naturally occurring compound and a mild acid that dissolves in water, boric acid is found in the form of colorless crystals or a nonvolatile white powder.

Castor Oil: Since the ancient Egyptians first recorded the use of castor oil for medicinal purposes many cultures have used it as a folk medicine. As reported in the Journal of Naturopathic Medicine, India and China used castor oil for induction of childbirth. Persians used it to help cure epilepsy, although this claim has not been medically proven. And Ancient Romans referred to castor oil as Palma Christi meaning hand of Christ, a term that is still occasionally used today, due to its ability to cleanse the digestive tract.

Cinnamon Oil: For thousands of years, cinnamon oil has been used in the East for a variety of complaints such as colds, flu, menstrual and digestive problems. Both the bark and leaf oils are used for their fragrance and therapeutic actions in nasal sprays, cough syrups and dental preparations. The leaf oil is used in soaps, cosmetics, toiletries and perfumes.

Clove Oil: Clove oil was used in Chinese culture as both a spice and a remedy as early as 600 AD. Ancient Chinese medicine used clove oil to treat hiccups and impotence, according to the American Cancer Society. In addition, during China’s Han dynasty, courtiers chewed on cloves to help freshen their breath when speaking to the emperor.

Cola Syrup: Cola syrup is a proven remedy for stomach distress, including sour stomach and nausea. This syrup is uncarbonated.

Decolorized Iodine: Often used as a first-aid antiseptic, decolorized iodine can help prevent infections in minor cuts, scrapes and burns. Today it has some secret uses in the beauty industry.

Eucalyptus Oil: Eucalyptus oil is cultivated in Southern Europe, South Africa, Tahiti, India, Latin America and in the United States. There are more than 500 species of Eucalyptus, the majority being evergreens. All produce oil with a strong, invigorating eye and nasal passage opening fragrance. The most widely know medicinal use of eucalyptus oil is for respiratory ailments. The refreshing fragrance of eucalyptus adds interest to potpourri, air fresheners and deodorants. Eucalyptus oil is also a powerful antiseptic, widely used in baths and massages during the cold season.

Glycerin: For more than 225 years, glycerin has been one of the most versatile household ingredients, with almost 1,500 known end uses including many applications as an ingredient or processing aid in cosmetics, toiletries, personal care, food and drugs.

Orange Oil: Used to flavor orange candy, orange drinks and anywhere orange flavoring is required, orange oil can also be used as furniture polish, degreaser and as a general purpose cleaner. The antibacterial properties of orange oil make this a safe, natural way to clean and disinfect wood cutting boards. Use to deodorize ice chests and refrigerators and to remove fish odor from hands.

Peppermint Oil: An herb prized for its medicinal benefits and distinctive flavor, peppermint is a naturally occurring hybrid of spearmint and water mint. Unlike other mints, however, peppermint contains in its oil the powerful therapeutic ingredient menthol, as well as menthone, menthyl acetate. Peppermint oil is often used as a flavoring agent in pharmaceuticals and in foods, especially chewing gum as well as a fragrance component in soaps, toothpaste and detergents. It acts as a muscle relaxant, particularly in the digestive tract, and it can also reduce the inflammation of nasal passages and relieve muscle pains.

Sweet Oil: For the many cultures of the Mediterranean, sweet oil, a derivative of olive oil, has been a source of wonder, wealth and power. Today, sweet oil is often used as a softening agent and can also be used in place of moisturizer during the winter.