Yes, the title is a little misleading. Clearly 10 remedies aren’t going to cover everything in the whole entire world.
But right here are my top 10 go-to treatments for whatever ails you problem-wise. They’re my staples. My rock. They work like charms before you know it.
And, best of all, they’re in no particular order – pick your problem and try the solution. (But remember, not everything works for everyone in the same way. You are all unique snowflakes.)
1. Dandruff – Coconut Oil
To be completely honest, I haven’t ever had a problem with dandruff (just product build-up back in the day), but I have lived with people who have the sneaky white stuff every once in a while, and after trying many remedies, I can safely say the answer is: Coconut oil. It has worked every single time in one or two treatments.
The key is to get virgin coconut oil that’s been cold pressed – it’s going to have all the active moisturizers and antibacterial properties that you need to quickly and efficiently cure yourself or someone you love (who probably wears a lot of hats). Guess what else? This is a stellar treatment for cradle cap, too. Yay babies!
(If you want to make it extra potent for adults, add in 5-7 drops of tea tree oil to your coconut oil.)
How to treat dandruff with coconut oil:
- Before showering, massage 3-5 Tablespoons of coconut oil directly onto the scalp. Rub it all in there good.
- Leave this on for at least an hour.
- Shampoo as normal (or sorta ‘poo as normal). There should be no need to use conditioner – a coconut oil hair mask is a fantastic pre-conditioner.
Do this treatment every day up to five to seven days before giving up! And if you’ve forgotten, there are TONS of other things you can do with coconut oil (like a millionish).
2. Frizzy Hair – No ‘Poo
This is the last of the hair treatments I’m going to mention, so pay attention. I know MANY of you are already no ‘poo, so this one is for newcomers or people who haven’t even been here yet.
But, without a doubt, the best way to treat frizzy hair is by ditching the shampoo completely. It’s not always the right thing for straight, fine hair (like mine) as it’s typically suggested, but it’s worth a try no matter your hair type.
How to go no ‘poo:
- Wash your scalp well with a solution of baking soda and water.
- Rinse your hair well.
- Finish by rinsing your ends with a solution of diluted apple cider vinegar.
- Here are the actual precise instructions you can try to begin with, and here’s a thread in the Crunchy Community that’s FULL of tricks and tips from over 100 people).
3. Headaches – Cayenne Pepper and Peppermint Essential Oil
I’m pretty prone to headaches, so this one has had a lot of experimentation – and finally I found what works like nobody’s business: Cayenne pepper (taken internally) and peppermint essential oil rubbed on the temples.
This works well for my eye strain headaches and other non-muscle related pains, but doesn’t seem to affect neck-tension headaches much.
Here’s how I vanish my headaches: Typically, I’ll just sprinkle cayenne liberally on some cottage cheese (or other food dish) and then make a cup of tea with 1/4 tsp cayenne sprinkled into that, as well. The capsaicin in cayenne depletes something called Substance P, which is a neurotransmitter that sends pain impulses (and it also helps increase your circulation).It’s a great painkiller that comes with no other side effects than a slightly spicy mouth.
Then, I just dab on a drop of peppermint essential oil diluted with sweet almond oil (or another carrier oil) to each temple and close my eyes for 15 minutes. The headache is usually gone within 15-20 minutes.
And here’s a bonus about peppermint essential oil: Over in the Crunchy Community, several people mentioned using peppermint essential oil (just to sniff, not to use topically) for nausea – whether it was car sickness or morning sickness.
4. Nausea – Ginger Tea
Nothing does it for me like ginger tea when my tummy is unhappy. I find that it works well no matter what the reason for an upset stomach – whether I’m under the weather, have eaten something unfortunate, or am just having “one of those days.”
In fact, I remember watching a Mythbusters several years back where they tested motion sickness remedies, and ginger was the only one that was labeled a SUCCESS! (Although motion sickness pills passed muster, the testers were super loopy after taking them, so booo to that.)
This is my favorite way to use ginger for the stomach:
- Cut 4-5 pieces of fresh, peeled ginger (each about the size of a dime).
- Boil a cup of water.
- Pour the water over the ginger in a mug, and allow the tea to steep for 15 minutes.
- Add honey if desired.
- Sip slowly (with the ginger still in there).
5. Puffy Eyes – Green Tea Ice Cubes
I’ve needed this remedy quite a few times lately, what with allergies and other puffy-eyed demons rearing their heads. This is particularly nice, because you can freeze up a whole batch of these and use them whenever you need them – for as long as you need them (they last forever in the freezer).
Just pop them out of the ice cube trays once they’re frozen and keep them in a small lidded jar or bag in your freezer until the morning they’ll come in handy.
How to make green tea ice cubes:
- Brew one or two strong (very strong) cups of green tea.
- Leave the leaves in if you’re making it with loose-leaf tea, or strain (or get rid of your tea bags) if not.
- Wait 30 minutes for the tea to cool.
- Pour in ice cube tray(s) and freeze.
Green tea isn’t just great for puffy eyes, but it’s a wonder for acneic and oily skin, as well – so don’t be afraid to rub that ice cube over your whole face if you want – especially if that whole face is puffy.
6. Monster Pimples – Lavender Essential Oil and Clay
This is one of those remedies that may or may not work for you (I’ve heard varying results, and if you’re interested in other possibilities, there are a ton of them in Crunchy Betty’s Food on Your Face for Acne and Oily Skin).
It works for me, though. Every. Single. Time.
All you need is a little bit of cosmetic clay (which you can find at Mountain Rose Herbs or any natural food store), lavender essential oil, and a few drops of water.
Get rid of that giant pimple like this:
- In a small bowl or the palm of your hand, pour about 1/2 tsp of clay.
- Drop in 2-3 drops of lavender essential oil (or you could use tea tree or peppermint if that’s what you have on hand).
- Pour in a TEENY TINY bit of water and smush the clay around until everything is combined and the clay is pasty (adding more water if necessary – but be careful, a little goes a long way).
- Dab your tiny clay mask onto the pimple area.
- Leave this on for at least an hour (I always leave mine on overnight).
Enjoy a nonexistent pimple the next day. You may still notice some redness, but the inflammation will most likely be decreased to the point that you can’t even tell.
7. Keratosis Pilaris (Or Those Bumps On Your Upper Arms) – ACV and Sugar Scrub
These funny chicken bumps on your upper arms are common, so don’t feel too bad. In fact, this is one of the common questions I get: “How on EARTH do I stop being embarrassed to show my arms, Crunchy Betty? HELP!”
Well, luckily (or unluckily), I have this problem, too. So I know how I fixed it – finally. (And, believe you me, I tried dozens of things here and this was the most magical).
Finally I settled on washing with apple cider vinegar and then using a gentle sugar scrub afterward. It took two or three times of doing this to see any difference, but once I saw improvement it went away almost immediately.
Here’s how to have NO MORE CHICKEN SKIN ARMS!
- In the shower, wash your upper arms with apple cider vinegar (you can dilute it or just use a teaspoon on a wet washcloth).
- Rinse your arms with water.
- Finish with a very gentle sugar scrub using 1/2 c. sugar with 1/2 c. coconut oil or grapeseed oil mixed in (which you can put in a jar and leave in your bathroom at all times if desired).
- After massaging gently for a minute or two, rinse this off and enjoy your arms – finally!
8. Heartburn – Baking Soda (or Apple Cider Vinegar, but not both at the same time!)
So I used to have the worst – the worst – frequent heartburn. Now it’s only really rare, ever since drinking water kefir on a daily basis (score one for the yeasty bacteria of life).
I tried the purple pills, the chalky tablets, and every other OTC medication in the world, and nothing got rid of it completely, and it always seemed to make it come back.
That’s when I turned to natural remedies (which was WAY before I was even really crunchy). I’ve noticed that, occasionally, one of the above remedies (baking soda or apple cider vinegar) doesn’t work. But when one doesn’t work, the other always does. Immediately. I just never know which is going to be the magic bullet at which time.
Just remember, if you’re going to try both of these in one day/night, leave a good half hour between trying each of them – otherwise you could end up with a science experiment volcano in your stomach.
Here’s how I use baking soda:
- In a small cup, I dump in about 1/2 (or a little more) teaspoon of baking soda.
- I fill the cup with water and swish it around until it’s all dissolved, and then drink it as quickly as I can (not the best taste in the world).
- The heartburn is usually immediately resolved, but if it’s an acid issue … well … burp (but they don’t hurt).
And apple cider vinegar:
- In a small cup, I pour 3 tsp of apple cider vinegar.
- I fill the cup with water and swish it around until it’s all combined.
- Then I drink it down as quickly as possible (not the best taste in the world).
- It will burn intensely for about 2 seconds, and then (if it’s the right cure), the heartburn will be gone immediately.
Just remember that persistent and frequent heartburn could be a sign of an intestinal problem (whether it’s a bacterial flora issue or something else), so be sure to visit a doctor or a naturopath if it lasts too long, is too intense, or happens constantly.
9. Chapped Lips – Baking Soda Exfoliation and Cocoa Butter
I hesitated to put this in here, because we’re about to start a new challenge where we’ll all be getting ready for winter with different wintertime/cold/flu remedies to have on hand.
So consider this a tiny preview of what’s to come – during the “winter skin” day.
Fix those chapped lips:
- In a small bowl, combine baking soda and milk or sour cream until you have a thick paste.
- Lightly (very lightly) scrub your dry lips with this paste in a circular motion for 2-3 minutes.
- Rinse well with water.
- Finish by slathering on cocoa butter (or your favorite natural lip balm – I just prefer to use a thick coating of cocoa butter).
This may not cure the chapped lips immediately, but it will get you moving in the right direction. Just remember to continue to slather on cocoa butter or lip balm every few hours. And don’t do the exfoliation if your lips are bleeding – OUCH! Let them heal first, and then go for it.
10. CRAMPS (GRRRR) – Warm Castor Oil Pack
We’ll get to the castor oil pack in a second, but I have two mention two other things that have really helped decrease my flotime cramping pains: Making sure I get enough vitamin C (daily and increasing it a little when it’s that time of the month) AND taking a cod liver oil (or fish oil) supplement regularly. As soon as I started doing those two things (and switching to the DivaCup), my cramps are actually completely tolerable.
But before that, this is what I’d do in a pinch with castor oil:
- In a small pan, I’d heat up about 1/4 c castor oil – until it’s very warm, but not even remotely boiling.
- Then I’d soak a piece of thick flannel (which I used specifically for this reason) in the castor oil.
- After that, lay down and place the flannel on your lower abdomen. Cover this with a warm towel, hot water bottle, or other warming device if you have one.
- Stay there for 30 minutes to an hour.
The castor oil helps relax the muscles that are strained and cramping, and the relief – for me anyway – lasted pretty much the rest of the day. I only had to do this once or twice each month. It’s a great reason to have to “take a nap,” and if you’re using the oil cleansing method, you probably have a lot of extra castor oil lying around.
Do You Have Any Tried-and-True Remedies?
Please share them with the class.
What have you found that’s a natural no-brainer for fixing something that really ails you?
Or, do you have a particular ailment/problem that you need help finding a solution to? We’re ALL here to help!
(PS – hopefully tomorrow I’ll have up a shopping list that you can use to get ready for the natural medicine cabinet for winter challenge. The plan is, the challenge is to make THREE things to get ready for winter woes, and everyone who does will be eligible to win one of 10 of the coolest things ever … it’s a surprise, but it rhymes with mracelet and is STRICTLY for Crunchy Betties and is made by a woman who will blow. your. mind.)
Put This On Your Bucket List: Homemade Butter
for burns: lavender oil then manuka honey on top. Bandage! Works like a charm every time! Next day, totally healed!
No poo is horrible for your hair. This will make your hair brittle in the long run. To whom ever reads this article please do more research before trying this.
BTW my favorite remedy for pimples is a paste made out of water 4tbsp baking soda and a drop of tea tree oil (m Itmore than one use). It helps with black heads as well. You can also replace the water with lemon juice to help with hyperpigmentation from old pimples.
Use it once a week as an exfoliation and mask or use it as a spot treatment for new pimples 🙂
Hi,
I’ve read about your no poo method. I want to try it out. But I use castor oil before washing my hair generally. Will the baking soda be able to rinse out the oil??
Thank you.
For cramps, take 3 Calcium + magnesium + vit.D pills a day, for about 5 days before. Really works!!! I had terrible cramps where even ibuprofen doesn’t work if i don’t take it right away. To understand how this would work here is some info from the Jamieson caplets:
Calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D work together in the body to enhance each other’s overall absorption and effectiveness; Vitamin D increases the absorption of calcium, and calcium and magnesium are essential factors in the formation and maintenance of healthy, strong bones.
Jamieson Calcium Magnesium with Vitamin D3 is approved for the following NHPD claims:
Vitamin D helps in the absorption and use of calcium and phosphorous
Magnesium helps to maintain proper muscle function, helps in tissue formation, and helps the body to metabolize carbohydrates, fats and proteins.
Another tip for K.P. sufferers: make sure you are getting enough Vitamin A. Taking cod liver oil daily is a great way to boost Vit.A levels.
I made up this oil mixture for menstrual cramps, and I have to say, it works pretty well, although now I’ve found that I only tend to get bad cramps on the first day or so, and this helps. I got the original remedy idea from a couple of books I have at home:
To 50ml (roughly) of organic cold-pressed sweet almond oil (the original remedy had hazelnut oil, but that’s super expensive over here in Scotland), add these essential oils:
15 drops organic lavender
15 drops organic roman chamomile
10 drops organic peppermint
10 drops organic rosemary
10 drops organic clary sage. (I missed this out the first time as I didn’t have any, so I put in spanish sage instead.)
This works super well, just massage it onto your lower abdomen (I quite often end up with some dribbles in the bikini line area!) whenever you get the ouchies. Works for me. 😀
I have a comment about Apple Cider Vinegar.
You can dilute a teaspoon or two in about a liter bottle of water or so and drink it gradually and add more as you begin to get used to the taste.
It helps with so much. It detoxifies your body and cleans just about everything keeping you feeling fresh.
In fact, my mom drank two teaspoons every day and never once got bitten by the billion mosquitoes we have around here, but when she stopped drinking it, she was bitten. So, her theory is that there’s an extra benefit to the already beneficial substance!
Hey There. I found your weblog the usage of msn. That is a very
smartly written article. I will make sure to bookmark it and return to read extra of your helpful info.
Thank you for the post. I’ll definitely comeback.
Nice! Will try the ACV on my chicken skin when I get home.
Hi!
I suffer from an itchy scalp and dandruff, so I tried using coconut oil but it made things worse! I read somewhere that some people are sensitive to a certain acid found in coconut oil, so that’s probably it.
I’ve been washing my hair with honey and it seems to soothe the itch, but I still have dandruff…
Any other suggestions?
In regards to using coconut oil for dandruff… so I’m 3 weeks into my no poo method. I’m using 1 tbsp honey in 1/2 c water and not only am I in the thick of it grease-wise, now I’m noticing dandruff !!! I started an acv rinse, 1 tbsp to 1/2 c water as well in hopes that will help, then I noticed the coconut oil thing. I’m afraid to try it as my hair is already greasy enough. What should I do?? … thank god for head wraps 🙁 …
Hi Crunchy Betty,
I just found your website today while searching for natural ways to reduce blackheads; your tips, combined with your readers’ tips, worked great! The blackheads diminished dramatically and my skin is alot smoother. Your tips also helped a big pimple diminish too!
Do you, or any of your readers, have any suggestions for spider veins on the face? Particularly, the nose and chin area?
Thank you SO MUCH for sharing your natural ideas with us and sharing the natural ideas that readers have shared with you!
Sincerely, Cindy
ECZEMA CURED!!!
Dear Betty,
I’ve been a great fan of your blog since last spring when I found it, and have developed in art of crunchiness ever since: I used to make my own yougurt before but now I also make my own skincare products and clean the house with baking soda, Marseille soap and vinegar solely 😀
The reason I write to you, is because I want you to know how I cured Seborrhoeic ecxema in my chin naturally.
I have had this condition for 15 years, and it tends to get worse in autumn. My doctor gave me a recipe of antibiotics a couple of years ago, and I happily used them for some time. They DID cure the rash, but since I’ve become more aware of how bad they are in every possible way, I don’t want to use them if I REALLY got no other options.
A couple of days ago I looked up in the mirror and there it was again, worse than ever. I tried to ease it down with some newly infused calendula oil and chamomile essential oil with poor results. I keep my own blog and was writing a new post about DIY (foot) deodorant (thanks for participating, I used some shea butter in the recipe because you did, too), and I wanted to clear up some facts about clove essential oil, which I used in the recipe.
I found out most amazing things, i.e. that clove oil is antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial and can cure acne etc.
So I did something I don’t recommend to anyone: went to the bathroom and applied undiluted clove essential oil with a cotton pad to my chin.
It did sting quite a bit, but after an hour or so ECZEMA WAS GONE!
It was 11pm, but I HAD to make my own healing salve IMMEDIATELY, so I melted some beeswax with calendula oil and added generous amount of clove essential oil with smaller amounts of, patchouli, tea tree and peppermint (pathuli has the same healing properties as clove, tea tree is generally good for any rash and peppermint makes a wonderlful cooling effect, but I guess you as my guru already knew these things 😉 ).
I have been using this salve 3-4 times a day, and my chin has been absolutely free of any signs of inflammation, so it really DOES work for me, hooray!!!
I wish you all the best, (and excuse my English)
Essi-Maria
Kotka, Finland
For cramps I drink one cup of iced raspberry tea on the first day of my menstrual cycle and I don’t feel the cramps again for the entire cycle. I do this every month. I’ve had my sisters and several friends try this out as well and they all said it worked for them. Here’s how I make it:
* Pour boiling water over two bags of raspberry tea
* Steep for 10 minutes
* Allow to cool, then pour over ice and enjoy!
Raspberry leaves are great for soothing and strengthening the uterus. My sister’s midwife encouraged her to drink raspberry tea several times a day the last couple weeks of her pregnancy to help the delivery go faster. In her book, Making Babies, Shoshanna Easling also suggests raspberry tea throughout pregnancy.
do you have a before and after pic of treatment for chicken skin?
Hey betty, i did the acv rinse with the the coconut/sugar scrub last night and my arms and thighs are super smoother! I shaved beforehand and applied lotion after, and usually those things would give me bumps but they didnt! This could be my cure for kp. I have a question though, how many times a week should i do this? I dont think i should do it everynight, but whats your recommendation?
Oh my god!! I was just browsing other articles on this site and when I came to number 7 on this list, I was like…this has a name? Thank you so much!! I always thought I’d have to live with it, I’ve been to one or two dermatologists and they never had an answer to what it was. I’m going to try this today!! 🙂
Hi. I’ve had horrible skin issues since I was ten, with big red and scaly patches that rise up like a blister and then just pop off, leaving behind raw skin and often plenty of blood. It’s a rare form of eczema but since I tried a body scrub of sugar and olive oil, they are gone! I got some on the wounds by accident and I felt great after the bath, so I did it again. I’m now completely cured and the doctor agreed to stop my medication!
Everyone with skin so dry that it patches up should try it 🙂
Cod liver oil (more commonly known as fish oil), especially in liquid form is also great for arthritis! It really helps reduce swelling and arthritis pain if taken daily.
Thank you so much for the KP remedy. I’ve tried body washes with urea, commercial scrubs, moisturizers, the works, and nothing has worked until now. After three days I can see such an improvement. I almost have smooth arms! Thank you thank you thank you!
Okay, I know this has nothing to do with da post or comments, and I’m not sure if this was shared before @@ but rice water helps hair to be shiny 😀 all you just need to do is wash rinse your hair with the water you used to wash your rice :)) and it can even be used to wash silk clothing for shiny effect..teehee X)
Hi Crunchy Betty!! I recently discovered your blog and I. Am. Obsessed. Thank you soooo much for this compilation of fantastic, amazing, wonderful, and natural things!! Can’t wait to visit everyday and see what new things I can try!! You have convinced me to convert to crunchy. :0 )
when i have a whitehead pimple i pop it (i know, people say not to, but that actually removes the infection) and then dab a little witch hazel onto it. next morning the pimples gone (apart from maybe a little redness) and theres no scar at all.
Hi Betty! Just found your site when I was searching for a good Kefir Water recipe… and now I’ve spent a LONG time reading. And reading. And reading. (Still reading.) Interestingly, my naturopath told me NOT to use castor oil packs during my period — and it was confirmed by another naturopath at a different clinic. I don’t know WHY but they said it’s actually mildly dangerous. Have you heard that, or have any idea why they’d say that?
I just found your blog (and it’s awesome and I love it!) and was reading through your 10 favorite things when I felt the beginnings of a horrific headache coming on (I get this headache every 6 months or so and it usually makes me go to bed and sleep until its gone), so I shut one eye and managed to read your headache remedy without keeling over. I used 1/2 a teaspoon of cayenne in a large mug of hot water and would you believe my monster headache was GONE within minutest! Best of all, it stayed gone. Thank you!!!!
When I use ACV, I mix it with honey…and then water…hot or cold. Works great for early treatment of colds and strep throat. My sister in law was a yearly sufferer of strep until we told her about the ACV/Honey cocktail…
Superfood Number Two
Apple Cider Vinegar
By Kathy Sullivan,
CNC
With the holidays behind us, most of us are anxious to get
back onto the road of losing those extra pounds that found our way onto our
bodies and doing something to keep our resolutions about a healthier New Year.
Here’s the second food to add to your arsenal of seriously
healthy superfoods. These are foods that offer some particularly amazing benefits even when taken in small amounts.
The goal is to make it easier to add foods than to worry about what to subtract. The second
goal is to help you move towards feeling better and more energetic and away
from feeling “sick and tired”, often the
aftermath of the last couple months of stressful chaos at the end of the year.
Apple cider vinegar may seem like a strange addition to the
series. So just follow along with me as I share with you some of the amazing
qualities of this little gem.
What is it? It’s a natural product that contains plenty of
beneficial minerals and components like calcium, magnesium, copper, silicon,
phosphorous, sodium, iron, sulfur, vitamins, beta-carotene, malic acid, acetic
acid, ash and pectin.
The natural vinegar is made by crushing fresh, organic
apples and letting them ferment in wooden barrels. It is important to
differentiate raw, unfiltered which is still full of nutrients and enzymes from
most store bought brands that have lost a lot of their health benefits through
pasteurization, filtration, heating and processing. The best known and most
sold brand in this country is “Braggs”
which is easily obtainable and readily available.
As a result of ACV being one of only two remedies that
Hippocrates the Father of Medicine used in 400 B.C. many know ACV as the
“Wonder Drug”.
Although I will list recommended amounts and ways to
incorporate ACV (apple cider vinegar) into your diet, it is best to start
slowly and work your way up.
Here is a partial list of some of the specific benefits
attributed to taking apple cider vinegar. It can help:
1) regulate blood pressure
2) reduce sinus infections
3) heal sore throats
4) treat some skin conditions like acne, eczema,
psoriasis
5) protect against food poisoning
6) remove body sludge toxins
7) remove
bad breath [2 tsp ACV in cup of water, gargle small amounts in mouth for 10 seconds at a time, spit out and repeat
until the cup is empty]
8) fight allergies
9) reduce blood glucose levels (diabetes)
10) prevent muscle fatigue after exercise
11) alleviate menstrual cramps
12) strengthen the immune system
13) increase stamina
14) increase metabolism and break down fats so the
body can use them and hence help in weight loss [2 tsp of ACV in a glass of
water before meals]
15) improve digestion
16) normalize bowel regularity (whether constipation or diarrhea) [2 tbsp
ACV to large glass of water, drink 3 times daily]
17) alleviate symptoms of arthritis and gout
18) increase bone density
19) kill free radicals that can cause/contribute
to diseases like cancer, high blood pressure and congestive heart failure
20) strengthen teeth and nails
21) stimulate hair growth
22) prevent urinary tract infections
23) treat age spots
24) prevent body odor [ apply ACV to cotton ball
and apply to armpit]
25) treat foot odor [once a week soak feet for 15
minutes in 1/3 cup of ACV added to a pan of warm water]
26) deal with heartburn, indigestion and acid
reflux [2 Tbsp of ACV in 8 oz of water, 3 times a day before meals. Be sure to
start out slowly with small amount of ACV initially]
27) remove age spots [mix 2 tsp of ACV and 1tsp of onion juice and
apply to the dark skin spots and watch for fading within 2 weeks]
How to get ACV into your daily diet:
1) use
with olive oil as a salad dressing
2) use
in meat marinades
3) add
a bit to soups when done cooking
4) add
a splash to sauces when done cooking
5) add
to roasted vegetables
6) The
most common way of incorporating ACV is as a sipping drink. Add 2-3 tsp of ACV
to 16 oz of filtered water, add raw unfiltered honey if desired for sweetness
(or stevia drops if diabetic), add 2 cinnamon sticks for flavor and to use as a
stirring utensil. Mix in a glass container and sip throughout the day, stirring
each time before drinking. In the cold winter months you may heat the water
first and then add the ACV (but do not heat/cook the ACV because it will
destroy the vitamins, minerals and enzymes)
[Do be careful to avoid taking if you have ulcers or if you
are on insulin or diuretics because ACV
could interact. Check with your health practitioner first].
So there you have it. Superfood number two!
Thank you so much for the coconut oil for dandruff solution! My husband has tried EVERYTHING else for dandruff and nothing worked. He tried just about every dandruff shampoo, natural or not, vinegar, olive oil, mayo, tea tree, etc. The coconut oil made an enormous difference within 2 days.
Distilled white vinegar (just a teaspoon) will also work for heartburn and GERD. I used to take 150 mg of zantac TWICE a day (yes, that’s double the recommended dose) and now I don’t even have to do the vinegar more than once or twice every 2-3 weeks! 🙂
I have been putting 1 tsp of black strap molasses into my coffee (and now I am juice fasting so it is herbal tea) since December to increase my iron levels – which by default gives me more energy and stamina- and it decreases cramps and flow as well. It needs to be blackstrap, since that is the last processing and it is less sweet and has more iron and minerals, like magnesium and copper. There is another board I lurk at and some people there swear BSM turns PREMATURELY grey hair back to natural color if used consistently for at least a few months. I have found that more than 1 tsp at a time and your drink tastes like molasses, but 1 teaspoon makes coffee taste more latte-ish.
Also, I have been squirting lemon juice into water for my heartburn for years and it works quick too.
Apple juice makes taking the ACV for reflux/heartburn so much easier. I used to gulp it down (ugh) like a shot of liquor now I just mix it in juice and it is so much nicer. Thought I’d share
Grapefruit Seed Extract! Cured my tonsilitis! I couldn’t swallow anything other than liquid, let alone the horse sized antibiotics (not that I wanted to take antibiotics anyways) and I was in SO MUCH pain. I put 10-15 drops in juice the first time I used it, and I could literally feel it killing the bacteria in my throat. It was painful, not more so than the tonsilitis, but I knew it was working. I had instant relief and was even able to eat small amount of food. I was 90% better in 2 days of use and 100% in 5 days. Now, at the first sign of a sore throat, I put GSE in my morning water for a 3-4 days or longer if I feel I need an immune boost. I used to be sick for the entire winter, now I only get a cold for a couple days if I don’t catch it with the GSE in time.
The next time my daughter complains of a pimple, I am going to mix this up for her.
Hi, I’m new here and love your site so far. Your post on keratosis pilaris stood out for me — longtime sufferer! When I moved to Alaska, it got worse! I started ingesting ACV in green tea, with honey, daily, in place of my morning coffee. Not only do I have a ton of energy, a flatter belly (although that might be the yoga :), but my arms are supersmooth!! It’s been about a month and although there is still some redness, no bumps!! I also make a sea salt scrub (My arms always looked better after some time at the beach and in the ocean) with VCO and peppermint oil. It’s a winning combo!!
Poison Ivy has to be one of the most horrible things to get in the summer! After trying everything I could find in the drug store from the pink junk to that goopy oatmeal bath… I finally found something on the internet that was just too stupid to work. But at my hight of desperation and the fact I didn’t need to drive anywhere in my fine ugly state AND it wouldn’t cost me to try it… I gave it a shot. Here it is. Ready… HOT water! Yes, it is way too simple to be true and we know what they say about it being “too good to be true”. Just run your itchy spots under the hotest water you can tolerate without burning yourself, of course!, for 20-30 seconds. Warning, the itch will intensify to a point beyond all you can handle… but remind yourself it is just a few more seconds. Pat dry with a towel and VOILA! You are itch free for the next 5-8 hours. Go figure eh? Lorrie
Blowing it with a hair dryer does the same thing! Haven’t had poison ivy in years but the hairdryer and hot water both worked GREAT to relive the itch for a while.
Just be sure you don’t take a bath in hot water….that just loosens the poison ivy oils and washes them over the rest of your body. I know someone who did that to horrible effect 🙁 But flowing hot water that washes the oils away would work.
Raspberry leaf tea works wonders for my cramps and I swear it makes the flow lighter too!
ohhh catip tea is AMAZING for nausea. like, instant relief insanity. it’s also a fantastic remedy for stress and anxiety. ahhh-catnip tea.
Hi, I just found your Blog on Mt. Rose and really enjoyed reading your article. Looking forward to following your posts. I can’t wait to try some of your recipes. aybe we can swap some time.
Earthrootsmomma
earthrootswildharvest.wordpress.com
When I get a sore throat, I mix 8 oz warm water (NOT hot), 2 Tbsp honey and 2 Tbsp ACV. Then I add 1/4 tsp cayenne and gargle. I do not swallow it, although it’s totally safe if you did.
It hurts like hell for a few seconds, but then you realize that the pain of the sore throat is also going away as the burning from the cayenne does.
I’ve been looking for a cure for keratosis pilaris for AGES! I tried ACV on and off but never really long enough to tell if it was working, because I have the patience of a mayfly. Maybe my undying love for sugar scrubs will mean that I’ll actually get into a routine with this one.
Also, though it’s not on this list, I just wanted to say that the HUG cure? Worked wonders for me last week. It’s going on my own Top 10 Tried and True Home Remedies list for sure.
I’ve noticed since going no ‘poo and getting a shower filter, both happening around the same time, that my arm bumps are 1000x better. Now that I see your cure for keratosis pilaris (never knew it had a formal name!), I have to wonder if it’s the ACV that really is doing the trick on the KP! Thank you!
I love your posts! Are you on facebook? Anyway just tried number 7 on your list. I first had a bath with ACV in it (about 2 cups) after 30 mins i rubbed ACV onto my arms then used the sugar coconut scrub. Felt so good decided to just stay in the bath and scrub my body! Wonder how long this takes to work before the puckered skin on arms disappears?
she is on facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/crunchybetty
thanks Debbie, but not sure why can’t connect to it. Just takes me to my home page.
I really have to try the no-poo thing!!
I started taking Evening Primrose Oil before and during my period in the hope that it would ease cramping, but I did it at the same time as I switched to the Cup (Lunette brand here). My cramps didn’t seem as bad but it was hard to say for sure. Then last week I didn’t take the Evening Primrose. I had such bad cramps! You know the ones where you are in a public place and you forget your dignity because you’re in so much pain? I’ve read that women who are suffering really bad cramps seem to be low in omega whatevers, the fatty acids and such, so the theory was that bumping up your levels would prevent the cramps. Makes sense if people are recommending fish oil too. Hopefully that helps someone out there 🙂
Something that works very well for cramps is cashews! I eat 1/4 C – 1/2 C a day, or at least 2 weeks before….and you better be keepin’ an eye on the calender, you’ll start with no signs!
I have a natural trick to beating a sinus infection or any sinus problem as that!
cayenne pepper.
If I’m starting to get stopped up I start sprinkling cayenne on everything I eat or drink but in addition to that…
I pour a tiny bit of cayenne pepper on a plate, dab my dry finger into the pile and then quickly snort it (repeat) for both nostrils. It burns like the dickens for a minute MAX but it cures the worst of sinus problems immediately. And has made me tougher to boot!
That is INTENSE! Cayenne up the snoz?? I am impressed! I’ll stick to salt water neti pot thanks 😉
I have natural curly hair and do the no-poo. Because my hair tend to be dry I clean it with baking soda once a week- more than that makes it dry and crackly.
I do rinse with ACV 3 times a week but don’t get that luster others claim. I use about a quarter size amount of jojoba oil to control the frizz.
Honey on dry lips before bed is great too!
Careful with that you are sending your hair through a roller coaster going from Base to Acidic:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-i3MC4d-HmY&list=PL5532B6CD987E1D88&feature=plcp&context=C3febc6fFDOEgsToPDskLgaAcKm1tA0DSxxIpXW4zH
( not my site just found it and started listening, My hair won’t stop growing and its healthy)
I have had constant acne/pimples on my chin area for years now, and a doctor told me to take tincture of green tea 3x daily, and it has worked liked magic and stopping the outbreaks. Now, I also don’t eat sugar, caffeine, or dairy, which helps, but didn’t stop the outbreaks, until I started the tincture of green tea extract. You could also take capsules, but I prefer the tincture.
Also, I have been doing no poo and find that ACV rinse dries my hair out. I’ve been using honey and avocado on the ends to moisturize, which works alright, but is expensive. Any other ideas for a conditioner that doesn’t leave your hair oily?
Just curious, are you sure it’s the ACV? I’m about 9 months into it, and I reckon it’s the bicarb that dried my hair right out. I’ve weakened the solution back to about a tablespoon to 3 cups, and I still think I could go less now.
Strong tea for really heavy periods – strong tea. It will work within half an hour. It appears that milk and sugar do not affect the cure but tea must be strong, preferably two bags. Tea coagulates – coffee thins the blood. Leave the coffee off while having heavy period.
Used coffee grounds as a facial scrub. Some coffees leave a brown oily residue so experimentation is necessary. Really good for oily skin people.
Epsom salts in food will turn a person off their alchohol so good for serious AA people. Epsom salts in food will also assist with cramping as will magnesium phosphate tablets. I have found this effective for irritable leg syndrome that used to drive me crazy and wake me at night.
I read that taking a zinc supplement a few days before and during your period reduces cramps so I tried it my last two cycles. It definitely helps a lot! I used to be balled up on the bed waiting for 4 ibuprofen to dull the cramps enough to get some work done, but with the zinc in my system it feels like most of the pain is gone. I do still have some backache and the heavy feeling, but it’s a MAJOR improvement. I got my supplement at Central Market (similar to Whole Foods).
Also – bonus, I feel more alert first thing in the morning when on zinc than when not. However, big WARNING – ONLY take zinc after a normal meal, not on a light snack or empty stomach. I learned this the hard way, and ironically got major stomach cramps due to it for about 8 hours on and off. However the benefits with the cramps are worth it for me. I am just very careful when I take it.
I want to try the green tea ice cubes. Is there an organic or very clean brand of green tea that someone can recommend? Thank you.
Since I started the OCM, I never really have puffy eyes anymore (even after too little sleep). I also started wearing an eye-mask at night if I have the ceiling fan on. I think that really helps too.
My fav that’s tried and true is the ACV for heartburn. It’s flat-out amazing. I mix a Tblsp of ACV with a Tblsp of honey and just down it as fast as I can! Just like you said, it burns for a couple seconds and then… no heartburn, no reflux, just peace and calm!
Stephanie, what is the OCM?
Thanks for the tip for heartburn. Next time I have, I’m going to try it.
Oil Cleansing Method – life changing stuff. Best thing I ever did for my previously acne-ridden skin. Give it a go 🙂
What’s the oil cleansing method? And how do you do it?
Absolutely love your site. I started the Honey Wash about a week and a half ago and I’m extremely pleased with it. From the first use, you could instantly feel the softness of my face after rinsing off the honey. Not to mention, that it was surprisingly easy to rinse off. I love it, so simple and quick. Do you have any (hopefully) quick remedies for cold sores? Would appreciate any feed back on this.
For cold sores outside and inside my mouth. I break open a Vitamin E capsule filled with it’s oil. Put the oil on the external cold sores and it helps them to heal quickly. Just use the punctured capsule to squeeze the E where it needs to go. For sores inside the mouth I pop a few Vitamin E capsules (one at a time) in my mouth. Puncture with your teeth and move the oil around your mouth and swallow. Do not plan on eating or drinking anything for a while after putting the E in your mouth. Both have worked wonders for me. I’m allergic to something that is used by the anaesthesiologists when they put me “under” for surgery. After 21 surgeries, I’ve had a lot of sores! Vitamin E came to the rescue every time. I keep the capsules in my purse and within reach all the time. Great to use after the honey face wash, witch hazel astringent, and then some apricot oil and vitamin E oil as moisturizers. When the cold sores show their ugly heads, it is usually because of stress in our body. I usually take internally B-Complex also to help with the stress part. Vitamin E oil is good to put on sore, dry feet too!
coconut oil!!!!!!! dab it on cold sore as often as wanted, the medium fatty chains r suppose to stall and suppress the virus. WORKS! it can be taken internally too. i should mention, it should be cold pressed unrefined.
My sister-in-law uses the bentonite clay, like used for pimples, for her cold sores. She swears by it. I don’t have cold sores, but my boyfriend does. I just avoid kissing him while he has them. LOL
Thanks for the Keratosis Pilaris remedy! Since my daughter was born, I’ve had it really badly on my arms (I hadn’t had it before then). My daughter has it too, but not as badly. I had read that ACV and regular exfoliation helped, but that if the condition is hormone related, it may not. I’ll give it a more concerted effort and see if it helps!
I’ve been reading your blog for about two weeks now, and every time I start I lose at least two hours of time! All of the recipes sound amazing. I’m going to have to make a list and try one a week. I got the book for my Kindle last night, too! So excited, I quit Proactiv during a super stressful few weeks of college, and my skin is in need of some serious help.
As a side question, do you have any recommendations for a vegan milk substitute in the facial masks? I will buy milk if needs be, because my skin HURTS right now, and I’m in between vegan and vegetarian at the moment anyway, but there’s gotta be something?
how about coconut milk?
Thanks so much for this list! I have Keratosis Pilaris, also called chicken skin, and use a scrub, but never tried ACV before it. I’m going to brew up some green tea to make the ice cubes right now. I have allergies/asthma and have puffy eyes a lot. I also love the idea for chapped lips. I wonder if yogurt would work instead of sour milk? I’m going to try that since I always have it handy.
Love these! Thank you! Now how about something to get rid of stretch marks? Pregnancy did a number on my sides and thighs 🙁
Unfortunately nothing will reverse stretch marks. It’s caused by a break down in the collagen and elastin fibers in the tissue. Time will lighten their appearance, but nothing can ever reverse them. Collagen and elastin does not regrow. 🙁
Consider them a badge of honor. I do. 🙂
I saw an image once of a woman’s stretch marks. She said she’d earned her stripes! I’ve also heard them called tiger stripes.
Holy dear Aunt Josephine, NUMBER SEVEN. I am so extraordinarily beyond excited now! I have had this issue always – ALWAYS – so that most of the time I forget, actually. But every once in a while I remember that I have bumps and that they are not the most attractive, and I sigh.
Gosh…I so could have used tip number 6 last week. (I attended a wedding…I hope that photographer is good at Photoshop!)
Hi, I am new to your site…been following for a couple of weeks and love it! I have gone no ‘poo and the only struggle I have is frizz (if I blow dry to straighten my hair) even though I rinse with ACV. I have fine hair but quite a bit of it.
For pimples I use a teeny drop of tea tree oil and it works great!
Does anyone use homemade products to replace mousse or similar products to help manage your hair? If I let my hair dry naturally it’s wavy and I need something; otherwise, it doesn’t look so great.
Love the site!!
I know this is totally not what you want to hear, but I’m going to throw it out there anyway. I have fine hair too, and I’ve been no-poo since January. It’s been a battle, but I’m starting to get comfortable in a routine. I cycle most days so helmet hair and sweat are real issues. If I can do it, anyone can.
The first thing you’ll need to do, is start loving your hair the way it naturally grows. Honestly, it sounds like meaningless rubbish, but it’s the key to any sort of success with going down the no-poo road. If you plan to fight your hair forever, you are choosing a life of frustration. Give it a go, wear it naturally for a while and see if you grow to feel differently about it. It might be that you’ve never had the right cut for your hair, maybe next time you get it cut, wear it naturally and the hairdresser can work with it instead of against it. Once you stop the blowing and straightening, you’ll be able to get a better routine with your ACV or whatever you choose. As time goes by I’m using less and less in my hair and it just gets better.
All very easy for me to say, I know. I just wish someone had said it to me a long time ago!
Good luck, it’s totally worth it once you get there 🙂
I agree that it takes a bit to get used to your hair no ‘poo (or mediated ‘poo). I used to LOVE my product.
To sort out the fly aways and frizzies, I started using a homemade mix of coconut oil, cocoa oil, and beeswax (or carnuba if you want to go vegan). I just melted them on the stove and poured into a clean (boiled in hot water) jar. Once it sets up just a bit on my hands and then in my hair helps with fly aways and gives a bit of control. This was adapted from a time when I used some Badger Balm (wonderful stuff) for headaches and realized it got into my hair and made it lovely and silky.
thank you, crunchy betty! i woke up with debilitating cramps this morning and nausea, AND a headache! womanly woes…womanly woes..
My favorite cramp fix – an ice pack (which is a much better fix in the summer). My cramps aren’t nearly as bad as they used to be before I switched to a menstrual cup so I don’t need the ice pack often
I use a small dab on honey on a difficult pimple overnight and almost always wake up to great results!
PS I’m loving the green tea ice cubes. I’ve been meaning to do that for a while and this post is the nudge I needed
For my full thickness, upper arm engulfing BURN SCAR (which is completely healed but whilst it was healing I used Enivron’s Vitamin A oil.) I love switching between organic extra virgin oils- jojoba, coconut, avacodo. I’m on the avacodo but will cycle back to coconut oil as it contains free radicals and it’s summer in Australia. One of the best important things in reducing scars is keeping the skin supple and soft which means any light weight oil is divine. I prefer organic because I don’t want my scar becoming worse from reacting to mean chemicals.
I also really love how various oils are natural sources of different vitamins and all that magic crunchiness!
And one time at a gig, Mikeangelo (amazing performer) complimented me on how soft my arm was.
Magnesium is what helped me with cramps.
I love apple cider vinegar for pimples!
Zinc for a sore throat– works every time.
For colds I tend to dose myself with a cocktail of elderberry, vitamin C, echinacea, raw honey, and (to my hubby’s dismay) raw garlic.
To stop cramps get rid of caffeine for the week before your period. I used to have debilitating cramps, and since I gave up coffee I’ve had NOT ONE. Its shockingly effective.
Everyone’s different, and I’m so glad that it worked for you, but to the ladies that love their coffee: I have a medical condition in which I’m not allowed any caffeine, so I had to give up my beautiful, sinful coffee and I don’t drink a drop but still have pretty bad cramps come uterine go-time. It’s worth a shot, though! Just sayin’.. 🙂
Whenever Hubby feels any type of sickness coming on he takes a mug of either orange juice or lemon juice, adds as much cayenne pepper as possible to it -heats it up with a bit of honey, and drinks it. It tastes as terrible as it sounds and worse, but it almost always works. He also tends to take hot ginger baths when he feels sickness coming on -and those seem to work too.
Also, when I was pregnant the ONLY thing I found to work for my incessant heart burn was papaya enzymes I found at Whole Foods.
Thanks Crunch Betty for your blog. I LOVE it.
Love love love this!
Cramp bark tincture and making sure I’m drinking enough water are my cures for menstrual woes. The tincture can only do so much if you’re dehydrated.
I LOVE this post! I’ve heard about the apple cider vinegar as conditioner before and have been dying to try it. Also get frequent headaches..I really like all of these great ideas 😀 Thanks!
These are super! Love the green tea ice cubes! Even though I (happily) never get puffy eyes, I’m on my way to make green tea ice cubes – just because this is just a super great idea!