This Book Reveals Astonishing Home Remedies for Common Complaints

Instead of popping a pill or drinking syrupy medicines, wear socks soaked in vinegar to bring your fever down.

In a fascinating book titled Vinegar Socks, photographer Karin Berndl and art director Nici Hofer shared Austria’s traditional home remedies for common complaints.

While you may find some of the recipes quite peculiar, these well-known home remedies are being used by many Austrians as alternative therapies to modern medicine.

Published by Hardie Grant, Vinegar Socks is priced at £12.99 or $19.99 in hardback.

Lower Fever with Vinegar Socks

It is believed that vinegar stimulates blood flow and reduces fever. Vinegar is also known to boost the immune system and facilitate break down of waste products.

You’ll need:
500 ml (17 fl oz/2 cups) cool water
1–2 tablespoons vinegar
1 pair of long, woolly socks
1 or 2 towels

In a bowl, place cool water then add vinegar. Soak the socks in the solution then squeeze it slightly. Put on the socks over the patient’s feet and calves. To prevent the bed from getting wetting, simply place a dry towel around the socks. The patient’s temperature is expected to lower after 45 minutes. If this is not the case, remove the socks and replace it with a newly soaked one. If the patient starts chilling or the hands or feet feel cold, remove the socks immediately.

Combat Coughing by Drinking Onion Milk

Because onion has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and has the ability to loosen phlegm, hot onion milk can soothe your cough.

You’ll need:
500 ml (17 fl oz/2 cups) milk
2 large onions, diced
1–2 teaspoons honey per cup

In a saucepan, heat the milk to a gentle simmer. Add onions and remove from the heat immediately. Leave to infuse for 20 minutes before straining into a cup. Add honey to the mixture just before drinking milk since it is sensitive to heat. You may reheat the onion milk gently in a saucepan if you don’t drink the mixture at once.

Apple Curd to Ease Constipation

This tasty treat made from apple linseeds, curd cheese and honey helps relieve constipation since honey is a mild laxative.

You’ll need:
125 g (4 oz/ 1/2 cup) curd cheese or quark
1 apple, grated
1 teaspoon linseeds (flaxseeds)
1 teaspoon honey

Mix curd, grated apple, linseeds and honey in a bowl. You may add a bit of water to suit your personal taste. It is advisable that you soak the linseeds overnight, but you may crush them and let the mixture stand for 10 minutes before eating.

Ease Flatulence with Caraway, Fennel and Aniseed Infusion

Since the oil of the caraway seeds possesses properties that prevent the formation of gas, a cup of this infusion will help improve digestion as well as ease flatulence.

You’ll Need:
2 tablespoons caraway seeds
2 tablespoons fennel seeds
2 tablespoons, aniseeds or Chinese star anise
250ml (8. fl oz/1 cup) water

Crush the seeds and mix. Take 2 teaspoons of the mixture in a cup. Add boiling water and allow it to infuse for 10 minutes. Strain and drink the mixture unsweetened. Put the remaining seed mixture in a cool, dry and dark place for future use.

Beat Tiredness with Garlic, Cayenne Pepper, Parsley and Chive Infusion

Cayenne pepper, one of the ingredients of this infusion, has cleansing and detoxifying properties and promotes blood circulation.

You’ll need:
250 ml (8. fl oz/1 cup) water
2 garlic cloves, peeled
3 sprigs of fresh parsley
3 fresh chives
1 pinch of cayenne pepper

Boil water and remove it from the heat before adding garlic. Leave it to infuse for 10 minutes. Add finely chopped chives and parsley into the infusion. Lastly, add cayenne pepper before straining into a cup. Drink as hot as you can.

Source: The Daily Mail UK

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6