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 minerals magnesium and calcium reduce both soreness and cramps. Magnesium has a tranquilizing effect on your muscles, and calcium relaxes your nervous system, which helps ease pain. Take 200 mg of magnesium and 200 mg of calcium two to three times a day until the pain is gone, says naturopath Wallace. "It works like ibuprofen," providing fast relief, he says. But magnesium and calcium may be better; painkillers like ibuprofen and aspirin have been shown to stimulate the breakdown of cartilage in joints, increasing arthritis risk. Wallace adds that although magnesium and calcium reduce your pain quickly, you may need several doses to eradicate the pain. This dose of magnesium may cause diarrhea in some people; if that happens to you, decrease your dose. This remedy is safe for pregnant and nursing women.

What's the Proof: A 2001 German study of 82 patients with back pain found that a mineral supplement that contained calcium and magnesium helped reduce their pain. Many holistic practitioners prescribe this combination to their patients; Wallace says he's found that it's especially effective for back spasms and leg cramps.

How to Store It: If you keep your supplements in the bottle they came in, and store them in a cool, dark, dry place with the cap tightly closed, they should stay potent until the expiration date on the label.

Nausea

What It Is: This queasy feeling has many causes: bacteria-contaminated food the motion of travel, or high hormone levels during pregnancy.

How to Get Fast Relief: When you're nauseated, nothing works better than ginger (Zingiber officinale), Wallace says. The herb stops nausea and even vomiting by increasing digestive fluids, neutralizing stomach acid, and reducing stomach spasms. Ginger candy and tea, consumed right before travel, sometimes help prevent queasiness. Make the tea with a tea bag and 8 ounces of boiling water, or slice two thin pieces of fresh gingerroot, add them to 8 ounces of water, and simmer for 20 minutes or to taste. Drink 1 cup as needed, up to 4 cups a day. In most cases, you'll feel better after just one cup, Wallace says. If you can't make the tea, munch a few small pieces of crystallized ginger candy (which you'll find at natural food stores). If you're pregnant, limit your intake to 2 cups of ginger tea or about three pieces of ginger candy. Consult your health care practitioner before consuming more.

What's the Proof: A 1998 Danish study of 80 naval cadets unaccustomed to turbulent seas found that ginger significantly reduced their nausea, vomiting, sweating, and vertigo. Studies on people with nausea due to anesthesia, chemotherapy, and pregnancy showed that ginger prevented or decreased their symptoms in all cases.

How to Store It: If stored, covered, in a dry, dark place, gingerroot will stay fresh for at least two weeks. Keep tea bags and candy in sealed containers in a dry, dark place and they should remain potent for at least six months.

Pinkeye

What It Is: Pinkeye, also known as conjunctivitis, is a contagious and painful bacterial infection of the mucous membrane that lines your eyelids. It may cause your eyes to leak a sticky discharge.