Natural first-aid kit: get fast relief from 14 common ailments with these effective remedies - Consumer guide: how to be an educated consumer

Natural Health, April, 2003 by Rapaport Karlson

How to Get Fast Relief: The homeopathic remedy Belladonna helps reduce fevers, Wallace says. Homeopathic remedies contain minute amounts of natural substances that are thought to trigger your body to heal itself. "Though you really shouldn't suppress a fever since it's the body's way of defending itself, you do need to rest so that your body stays strong enough to fight the infection," he says. With that in mind, both he and Marohn suggest Sweating out the fever during the day and then taking Belladonna at night to bring down the fever, which will allow you to sleep. Take one oral dose of Belladonna in the 30C potency within an hour before bed. It should work after the first dose, but if it does not, take additional doses once an hour for up to three hours. You'll find Belladonna and other homeopathic remedies at natural food stores and some drugstores.

What's the Proof: Researchers have not studied Belladonna, but many holistic practitioners prescribe it because their patients find it effective.

How to Store It: Keep Belladonna away from light, heat, moisture, and strong odors (like those of essential oils). It will stay potent up to the expiration date if stored properly, but if you haven't used it in a month or more, tap it against your hand 10 times to reactivate the pellets.

Indigestion

What It Is: Indigestion causes symptoms like bloating and a burning feeling in your upper abdomen. It occurs when you don't completely digest foods, particularly fatty or spicy ones. It may also be triggered by excess stomach acid or an ulcer.

How to Get Fast Relief: Mindell's favorite remedy for indigestion is papaya. This tropical fruit contains the enzyme papain, which researchers say aids digestion by helping your body break down proteins. At the first signs of indigestion, Mindell recommends taking chewable papaya tablets (check the label for exact dosages), available at most natural food stores. The tablets should work instantly, he says. And unlike over-the-counter antacids, which can cause your body to produce more stomach acid, papaya tablets don't produce a rebound effect. If you're prone to indigestion, Mindell recommends drinking a 6-ounce glass of unsweetened papaya juice (found at some natural food stores) or eating a wedge of fresh papaya for dessert.

What's the Proof: Researchers have not conducted many studies to confirm papaya's effect on indigestion, but the fruit has a long history of use as a stomach soother in tropical countries, and many natural practitioners recommend it.

How to Store It: If you store papaya tablets in the bottle they came in, and keep them in a cool, dark, dry place, they should last until the expiration date on the label. Whole papaya will stay fresh for a week when stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Drink papaya juice within a week of opening the bottle.

Muscle Pain

What It Is: There are two types of muscle pain: the soreness that develops after overdoing physical activity, and the cramps that occur when a muscle tenses and can't relax.