Home Remedies for Infection
Infections are caused by either a virus or bacteria, and there are numerous home remedies for infection that address both of these bugs. Unfortunately, the heavy use of antibiotics and anti-virals have made it increasingly difficult for them to work for some types of infections. The solution many people have found is to go “back to nature,” using the simple home remedies that worked for our ancestors without the harsh side effects or other problems of modern medicines.
There are many different home remedies for infections ranging from minor cuts to women’s yeast infections. We’ve put together some of the most common types of infection along with home remedies that are often used to treat them.
Women’s Yeast Infection
A yeast infection is one of the most uncomfortable health problems that can be easily treated at home. A yeast infection is caused by so-called “bad bacteria” accumulating in the female reproductive system and on the genitals. A soothing soak in a warm bath that’s been spiked with apple cider vinegar will quickly ease the pain and itching and adjust the pH balance to a level that inhibits yeast growth.
Plain, unpasteurized yogurt is also excellent for a yeast infection, but you will have to insert it into the vagina and allow it to work for at least an hour. One way to do this is to put the yogurt on a tampon and insert it, leaving it in place for about an hour.
Bacterial Ear Infection
There are home remedies for infection of the ear canal, but they are most effective if used early on. Once an infection becomes severe, you may want to see a doctor. If you begin treatment with a home remedy early, however, you can often stop it in its tracks. You can soften garlic cloves or a bit of onion in the microwave, then squeeze the juice out of them and allow them to cool. Put just a few drops in the ear, wiggling the ear or laying on your side to make sure the drops get in as far as they can. Within a few hours the pain should be gone as well as the infection.
Treating Swimmer’s Ear
Swimmer’s Ear is also an infection, but it is fungal rather than bacterial. To treat one, drop a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and water into the ear canal and wiggle the ear to make sure it goes deep into the ear. The high acidity of the vinegar will kill the fungus and you should feel better within an hour or two. Repeat a few times a day until the pain is completely gone.
Throat Infection
Home remedies for throat infections usually involve some kind of spice. The most common is a tea made from basil leaves boiled in water. Sip the brew until gone to not only treat the infection, but soothe the throat. A tea of cinnamon and ginger is also very effective and actually tastes quite nice.
Some people swear by gargling with cayenne pepper in water. This is one of many home remedies for infection that works, but you should be very careful how you do this. Use no more than ¼ teaspoon of ground cayenne pepper in a full glass of warm water. Gargle with to soothe and kill germs, but be sure to do it only once or twice a day. Some people swear by this, others say the stinging sensation on the tongue isn’t worth it.
Home Remedies for Infections in Cuts
Cuts and scrapes are a natural part of childhood, but you don’t have to run to the medicine cabinet every time your child gets a skinned knee. It’s much less expensive – and just as effective – to reach for a jar of honey. Honey naturally cleans the wound and dries out bacteria. Putting a dab of honey on a cut or scrape is soothing and disinfects the area nicely.
If you don’t have honey on hand, you can clean the area with a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water, but this can sting a little bit. If you use this method, cover the wound after it’s cleaned to keep germs out.
The medicine cabinet of past generations was stocked with the same ingredients we now have in our pantries. You’ll soon discover that these home remedies for infection are just as effective, and sometimes more effective, than modern day prescriptions.