“Sarah, Take these herbal remedy books with you to Russia, they may really come in handy.” She said. I was twenty years old and going to Russia to do mission work for the summer. I was trying to pack light, But I politely added the herbal remedy encyclopedias to my luggage. I’m not one to get sick often, but I didn’t want to offend my future mother in law. So I lugged the silly books around the world with me, and forgot all about them. Then I caught a nasty bug. The cough got worse over the course of three weeks, my tonsils were swollen, my throat was sore… and I didn’t want to visit the Russian doctor Then I remembered those herbal remedy books. But where would I find odd plants for my brew? When I opened the book I noticed that it was full remedies using common herbs and spices that should be in every kitchen. So what was the remedy for my distress? Turkey ... |

Those books did come in handy… again and again over the years. That same thyme and sage tea cured me of reoccurring tonsillitis a year later. In fact I haven’t had to visit the doctor for an ailment in ten years, because I’ve learned how to visit the kitchen instead. Let me tell you about some of my discoveries.
Got a headache?
Squeeze a lemon! I’ve learned that many headaches are the result of having a low PH. Go research it on the internet if you don’t know what that means, or just try the remedy. Squeeze two lemons into a glass of water with two tablespoons of real maple syrup (not Aunt Jemima’s!), do it everyday, and you might just stop suffering from headaches. This works quickly, with no side effects.
Try garlic. This works for me every time, and it’s worked for all my friends who were brave enough to try it. Dice a few garlic cloves into pill sized chucks, swallow them with lots of water. Say goodbye to your sinus infection.
Is an ear infection coming on?
I have five small children, and we’ve only needed antibiotics once, and that was for scarlet fever! They have had ear infections but I’ve cured them from the kitchen with apple cider vinegar every time. I have the child lie down on the couch, I carefully drip the vinegar into the ailing ear, leave it in for one minute, and that’s all it takes.
For eye sties, feminine complaints:
Try red raspberry leaf tea. I grow red raspberries in the garden, the leaves are rich in vitamins and minerals and the tea is lovely with honey. It’s wonderful for pregnant mom’s and helps ease childbirth and recovery. For a sty you just apply some cool strong tea (without the honey) directly to the irritated area. If you don’t grow raspberries go to the health food store, or pick some leaves from my yard.
Toothache?
Head for the spice rack, rub some cloves on those gums for instant relief. Back in the old days moms would use cloves for babies during teething.
What about diaper rash?
Try rubbing on some coconut oil, the unrefined oil works best. You can try it on any rash, dry hands and chapped lips.
Do you need real energy?
Here’s one that is better than coffee, but you won’t have it in your kitchen. Drink some liquid chlorophyll, it tastes like grass. I mix two tablespoons with a cup of water before bed, and wake up feeling good. I need to feel good, I have nine children, one is a nursing baby. I can’t be content to feel like crud.
Are you anemic, weak or spacey?
Add two tablespoons of black strap molasses to your milk or water a couple times a day, and don’t forget to eat your leafy greens.
Bumps, sprains, aches, and bruises?
I wish you had some arnica handy, this stuff is amazing. With five small kids I use this stuff almost daily, if you get it on the owie quickly the bumps and bruises hardly ever show up. It comes in a tube at the health shop, if you’ve got little ones you will be thankful to have some of this. I also use it when I have soar and achy muscles.
Are you worn out? Do you want to feel better than you have in ten years?
I discovered another secret to vitality in the kitchen a couple weeks after my third baby was born, and within a week I felt like I was sixteen again. Let me tell you the story. My husband was having all kinds of weird symptoms, he had all kinds of tests and the doctors were clueless. The someone suggested it could be a food or chemical allergy.
So what did we do? We got rid of all the processed foods in the kitchen. No more artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. My rule was this: If I couldn’t pronounce any of the ingredients on the food’s label I wouldn’t buy it. No more bleached flour or white breads. No more white sugar. No more prepackaged meals. No more fast food. No more sugar drinks. The change was hard at first, but the rewards were great!
What did we eat? Lots of fruits, veggies, whole grains, hearty bread, brown rice, farm fresh dairy products, like raw milk and raw cheese that was chemical free. I found meat raised without hormones and antibiotics at a local Farm. I would use honey from a local bee keeper for sweetness, and we started shopping farmer’s markets. I even planted a veggie garden, raised my own lamb for meat, goats for milk and we kept laying hens for eggs. When we moved into town we had to depend on the local farmers for these things.
So my husband got better and I was ready for baby number four in no time at all. I even found out that a healthy homemade meal was cheaper and tasted better than a big bag of fast food… and natural food is way cheaper than the medical bills we were racking up for Josh’s symptoms. And guess what, all of my children love broccoli and asparagus! I thought I would try out natural foods to cure my husband, and the whole family began to thrive!
I hope that your kitchen becomes a place of health and healing too. Keep this information handy, because a trip to the kitchen sure beats a trip to the doctor’s office.
Sarah Brown is a Homeschooling mother of nine great kids, and she is the designer of Dyslexia Games, a learning program that uses Art to teach reading to kids with ADHD, Dyslexia and Autism.