My Favorite Natural Remedies

Recently Mainstreet had a post about cheap natural remedies and on the same day, Wisebread posted seven natural ways to fight the flu. Tylenol, Pepto Bismol and NyQuil may be OTC standards, but there are simple and natural alternatives that deserve space in your medicine cabinet.

Here's a list of five of my favorite natural basics to cure what ails you:

1. Ginger: This one also made the Wisebread list as a cold fighter, but I like to use ginger to soothe a troubled tummy. If you've overdone it with Halloween candy or Thanksgiving dinner, ginger is a great way to ease a stomachache. It gently quells gas, bloating and nausea with it's warming action. I use Ginger Bitters, but an even easier way to get ginger's benefits is with Ginger Altoids. The small tin makes them portable and they can also remedy a sour, stale mouth as well.

2. Honey/Lemon: Sore throat? Coughing? I find a soothing honey lemon lozenge helps soothe a raw throat and quiet a hacking cough. Ricola has one that also has Echinacea, which helps to boost the immune system. Honey has anti-bacterial properties and lemons are a great source of vitamin C. They also taste great--much better than NyQuil or Pepto Bismol!

3. Aloe Vera: Aloe vera is a great multi-purpose product. Most people know that it's great for calming sunburned skin--but it's also helpful for soothing other skin burns and irritations. Aloe vera is very hydrating, so it helps moisturize skin without the oiliness or greasiness of most skin lotions. It also does nicely in a pinch to smooth and style hair. I get my aloe vera at Trader Joe's, but Fruit of the Earth makes a nice version that's 100% aloe vera gel with no additives.

4. Tea Tree Oil: This medicinal herb has antibacterial, antiseptic and anti-fungal properties. I like using it to kill zits, prevent infection following a manicure or pedicure or as an alternative to Neosporin to reduce the chance of MRSA. Pure tea tree oil is very potent and can be quite irritating applied directly to skin, so I use Desert Essence Blemish Touch Stick instead.

5. Saline: Whether you use it to rinse out a stuffy nose or gargle with it to soothe an inflamed throat, a solution of salt and lukewarm water is one of the simplest remedies. Use 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt (preferably), kosher salt or non-iodized salt dissolved in one cup of lukewarm water. Either use a bulb syringe to rinse out nasal passages or swish sips of the solution at the back of your throat. If this sounds like too much work, Simply Saline makes pre-packaged products--and there's a BOGO sale at Drugstore.com.

Those are my five favorite natural remedies. What natural cures are staples in your medicine cabinet? Let us know in the comments!