home remedies essay

Essay on Home Remedies

Students are often asked to write an essay on Home Remedies in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

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100 Words Essay on Home Remedies

Introduction to home remedies.

Home remedies are simple treatments you can do at home using natural items. These can help with common health problems like colds, coughs, or minor cuts. They have been used for many years and are often passed down through families.

Types of Home Remedies

There are many types of home remedies. Some use herbs or spices like ginger or turmeric. Others use common foods like honey or lemon. There are also remedies that use things like warm water or ice. Each remedy is used for a different problem.

Benefits of Home Remedies

Home remedies have many benefits. They are often cheaper than medicine from a store. They are also natural and do not have many side effects. Plus, you can make them at home whenever you need.

Limitations of Home Remedies

While home remedies can be helpful, they are not a replacement for seeing a doctor. If you are very sick or hurt, you should always get professional help. Home remedies are best for minor problems or to help with symptoms.

Home remedies are a great tool to have. They can help with many common problems and are easy to make. Just remember to use them wisely and seek medical help when needed.

250 Words Essay on Home Remedies

What are home remedies.

Home remedies are simple treatments that you can do at home using things you might already have in your kitchen or garden. These remedies have been used for many years to help with different health problems. They are not like medicine from a doctor, but they can still help you feel better.

There are many types of home remedies. Some people use herbs and spices like ginger or turmeric to help with a cold or a sore throat. Others might use honey for a cough or aloe vera for a burn. Foods like chicken soup can also help when you’re not feeling well.

One good thing about home remedies is that they are usually cheaper than medicine from a store. They can also be easier to use because you don’t need a prescription. Plus, they often have fewer side effects.

Things to Remember

Even though home remedies can be helpful, it’s important to remember that they are not the same as medicine from a doctor. If you’re very sick or if a home remedy doesn’t help, you should always see a doctor. Also, some home remedies might not be safe for everyone. For example, honey is not safe for babies under one year old.

In the end, home remedies can be a good way to take care of minor health problems. Just remember to use them safely and always talk to a doctor if you’re not sure.

500 Words Essay on Home Remedies

Home remedies are simple treatments that we can use to cure minor health problems. They are made from things we usually have in our homes, like fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices. These are not just old wives’ tales, many of these remedies have been used for centuries and are often backed by science.

There are many types of home remedies. Some are used to treat common illnesses like colds and coughs. For example, honey is often used to soothe a sore throat, while ginger can help with a stomachache. For skin problems like pimples or rashes, items like aloe vera or turmeric can be beneficial.

Home remedies have many benefits. First, they are easy to make. You don’t need special skills or tools, just common household items. Second, they are cheap. Instead of spending money on expensive medicines, you can use things you already have. Third, they are natural. This means they don’t have the harmful side effects that some medicines can have.

While home remedies can be helpful, they also have limitations. They are not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you are seriously ill, it’s important to see a doctor. Also, some remedies may not work for everyone. What works for one person might not work for another. Plus, some people may be allergic to certain natural ingredients.

How to Use Home Remedies Safely

To use home remedies safely, remember these tips. First, always start with a small amount to see if you have any allergic reactions. Second, don’t use a remedy for a serious illness without talking to a doctor. Third, remember that more is not always better. Using too much of a remedy can sometimes cause problems.

In conclusion, home remedies can be a good way to treat minor health problems. They are easy to make, cheap, and natural. But remember, they are not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always use them safely and wisely.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

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Zinc? Honey? Ginger? What Actually Helps When You Have a Cold or the Flu?

Here’s what we know about some of the most popular remedies that show at least a little promise.

By Alisha Haridasani Gupta and Knvul Sheikh

Listen to This Article

It’s that time of year again, when stuffy noses and irrepressible coughs start to show up everywhere.

The best precaution you can take against influenza or Covid infection is to get vaccinated . But there is little you can do for the common cold and other respiratory illnesses, especially once you get sick. Most are caused by viruses, so you cannot cure them with antibiotics, which are used to treat bacterial infections. While drugs like Paxlovid are accessible for treating Covid, antiviral treatments for influenza, like Tamiflu, are usually reserved for people who have tested positive for the flu and are at risk of developing severe complications, such as those who are pregnant, elderly or immunocompromised.

For everyone else, doctors suggest resting and waiting out your symptoms — which for flu, can include a fever, headache, body aches and a stuffy or runny nose that lasts three to five days. Some people may also develop a cough or sore throat or experience fatigue, which can last a little longer, said Dr. H. Keipp Talbot, an associate professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Symptoms of the common cold are incredibly similar, which is why people tend to “call everything that’s in the winter the flu,” Dr. Talbot said. But cold symptoms are generally slower to build up, are milder than what you would experience with the flu and are unlikely to result in serious health problems. (People with Covid also experience respiratory symptoms; testing is the best way to know which virus you most likely have.)

“There’s a saying that if you treat a cold, it goes away in seven days, if you leave it alone, it goes away in a week,” said Dr. Aviva Romm, a physician who specializes in integrative medicine.

For generations, countless home remedies — cups of warm tea or soups and spoonfuls of herbs — have helped manage cold and flu symptoms, like a sore throat or congestion. Scientists have conducted research over the years attempting to quantify how effective some of those remedies are, how frequently they should be used and what formulations work best. But the studies are often small or don’t show much efficacy.

Still, experts acknowledge that there isn’t any harm in adopting practices that may make you feel better when you’re sick, even if they just end up providing a placebo effect . (You should see a medical professional if your symptoms are severe, if you have difficulty breathing, or if you do not see any improvement after more than a week.)

“Sometimes we don’t have evidence for a lot of common traditional practices because there isn’t a lot of economic value in studying them, but we have thousands of years of anecdotal data and we have enough evidence to prove its safety,” Dr. Romm said.

Here’s what we know and don’t know about some of the most popular remedies that show at least a little promise.

Bolstering the immune system: vitamin C, elderberry and zinc

There is some evidence to suggest that certain vitamins and ingredients in home remedies — like vitamin C, elderberry and zinc — can, at the very least, stimulate the immune system and slightly shorten the duration of your symptoms.

The idea that vitamin C can help with a cold isn’t new; it was popularized by the Nobel laureate Linus Pauling in the 1970s, which set off a surge in demand for the nutrient. Since then, scientists tied to the supplements industry have suggested that vitamin C helps support various functions , such as immune cells’ ability to find and fight off infection.

The nutrient’s effectiveness is still debated. For one, the body is not able to store high doses of vitamin C, like those found in supplements, and any excess vitamin C is usually excreted in your urine. Some clinical trials have found that the timing of when you take vitamin C supplements might be crucial to its effectiveness: a comprehensive meta-analysis of vitamin C trials published in 2013 , for example, suggests that regular supplementation, even before you start to feel sick, can shorten the duration of colds by a day or so. But taking vitamin C after you’ve already developed symptoms does not show consistent benefits.

In some studies, elderberry, a common ingredient in cold and flu syrups, particularly those aimed at young children, shortened the duration of symptoms when taken in advance of or immediately at the start of an illness. But it’s a very limited amount of data, Dr. Romm said. Elderberries contain potent antioxidants and chemicals known as anthocyanins , which have been shown in lab experiments to help immune function.

Similarly, research on zinc suggests that taking syrups and lozenges containing the trace element every three to four hours may reduce the length of a cold or flu by a day or two , potentially by preventing viruses from multiplying. Other analyses have concluded that there is not enough evidence to say it is any better than a placebo.

Most formulations of zinc have several side effects. Some people who used zinc nasal sprays have experienced a permanent loss of smell . Those who take it orally can get a lasting metallic taste in their mouth. “The really important thing to note is that you should take zinc with food because it can be really nauseating,” Dr. Romm said.

Staying hydrated and soothing a sore throat: teas, soup, ginger and turmeric

A sore throat is often the natural result of inflammation created when your immune system is fighting off a virus lodged in your upper airways. The swelling and pain can make it more difficult to swallow food and stay hydrated. This ends up making your throat even drier. A cough can further worsen things. Staying hydrated by drinking plain water, hot teas, broths or soups can help you feel more comfortable.

In many cultures, ginger is one of the first things people reach for when faced with a sore throat. It’s often steeped in boiling water along with other herbs to make soothing teas, or added to chicken soup. And, it turns out, there may be some science to back up these age-old practices: a handful of studies have found that ginger may have anti-inflammatory properties that can help ease swelling.

Turmeric root, a plant in the ginger family that is native to Southeast Asia and long used in the Ayurvedic medical practices of India, can also reduce inflammation . But its effects have been challenging to prove because the main compound in the root, curcumin, isn’t easily absorbed in the body and curcumin supplements can vastly differ in composition. Eating turmeric in food or mixing it with a fatty substance, such as cooking oil or warm milk, may help you absorb more of the benefits of curcumin. Adding black pepper can also aid in its absorption , Dr. Romm said.

“Ginger and turmeric together is a really, really nice combination,” Dr. Romm said, adding that when she’s dealing with a sore throat, she brews herself ginger-turmeric tea.

Controlling a cough: salt water and honey

If your sore throat is compounded by a cough, gargling with salt water may be helpful. Mix about half a teaspoon of salt in a full glass of warm water and swish it around your mouth and the back of your throat for a few seconds before spitting it out. Any type of salt you have at home can work.

Doctors often recommend salt water gargling as a way to ease pain in your mouth or the back of your throat and improve overall oral health. Gargling helps loosen thick mucus and can also remove irritants like bacteria, viruses and allergens from your throat. Using a salt solution provides the additional benefit of drawing excess fluid from inflamed tissues and coating them with warm water instead, Dr. Talbot said, an associate professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Adding honey to your gargling solution, or to any tea or warm drink, can have a similarly soothing effect. Honey acts as a demulcent, meaning it calms down irritated tissues by coating them.

Many cultures have their own variation of a soothing honey drink. And some research shows the remedy works in reducing the frequency of coughs. In fact, one study of children between 1 and 5 found that taking two teaspoons of honey at bedtime was just as effective in reducing nighttime coughs and improving the quality of sleep as the drug dextromethorphan found in common over-the-counter cough syrups. (Honey should not be given to children younger than a year old, though, because of the risk of a rare type of food poisoning known as infant botulism.)

Relieving congestion: neti pots, herbs and steam

Keeping your nasal passages moisturized is another simple, safe remedy that may help children and adults get some relief from the flu or cold. You can achieve this by using a humidifier in your room, concocting some herbal steam or rinsing warm salt water through your nose.

The use of neti pots and nasal irrigation can be traced back thousands of years to Ayurvedic medicine. Much like gargling with salt water, nasal rinsing may help remove some virus and mucus from your body, while reducing the swelling that can cause congestion. One study published in 2019 showed that this process may help shorten the duration of illness as well as reduce the potential transmission of germs to others.

You should make sure that you use only distilled, sterile or boiled water for your rinses, as tap water can contain small amounts of bacteria and protozoa that carry the risk of other infections. Alternatively, you can try commercial nasal saline sprays for a similar effect.

Dr. Fadel Hind, an infectious disease physician at the Mayo Clinic, keeps a humidifier running in her house during winter flu season. Her research has shown that keeping rooms at a humidity level of about 40 to 60 percent reduces the transmission of respiratory viruses and may even prevent you from getting sick. “At that humidity, you tend to find lower numbers of viruses on surfaces and in the air. And the virus that is present is less viable,” she said.

Some humidifiers have built in sensors that can tell you the humidity level in a room, Dr. Hind said. If yours doesn’t, you can buy a basic hygrometer for $10 or less to monitor water vapor in the air around you and test the performance of a humidifier you already own.

If you do catch a cold or flu, a humidifier may still help ease coughing and congestion, though there is less data on how well this works compared to placebo or whether a it can reduce the overall length of your illness, Dr. Hind said.

Menthol, a chemical found in peppermint and other mint plants, can also give the sensation of easier breathing. You can dab a store-bought menthol ointment like Vicks VapoRub under your nose or on your neck and throat to get symptom relief. Some people also use the fresh or dried herbs in traditional steam therapies for clearing congestion. You can do this by steeping herbs, like eucalyptus or thyme, in boiling water for five to 10 minutes, then covering your head with a towel and breathing in the steam (while being careful of the hot water). Alternatively, you can hang the dried leaves in a steamy shower to get some of these benefits.

A few studies have found that vapor rub containing menthol, eucalyptus and camphor, when applied to the neck and chest, significantly improved sleep in children and adults with cold symptoms, but experts caution that it can be irritating to some people.

At the end of the day, choosing a flu remedy is trial and error until you find something that will make you more comfortable, said Dr. Romm. And that, she added, “is worth it.”

Audio produced by Kate Winslett .

Alisha Haridasani Gupta is a reporter on the Well desk, focused on women’s health, health inequities and trends in functional medicine and wellness. Previously, she wrote the In Her Words newsletter, covering politics, business, technology, health and culture through the gender lens. More about Alisha Haridasani Gupta

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Some manufacturers claim that certain supplements can help you focus. Here is what the experts say .

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Stories to Save Lives Projects by ENGL071H Students

Nature’s Medicine Cabinet: The Timeless Wisdom of Home Remedies in Rural Alternative Care

By Siri Dommata

Introduction

The soothing aroma of lavender, the immune-boosting effects of elderberry syrup, the anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric, or the refreshing benefits of peppermint tea. Home remedies, steeped in the traditions of rural living, are trusted, generational healing practices. Due to the complexity, expense, and injustice that plague the healthcare system and impede access to quality healthcare, rural residents resort to alternative care, fostering solace in the absence of standard biomedical treatments. Within the umbrella of alternative care, home remedies are the most common form of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) in rural regions, with “recipes” of traditional herbal medicine passed down through generations of families for healing. A vital component of healthcare in rural North Carolina, home remedies provide effective and accessible treatments for a myriad of ailments. This essay recognizes home remedies as a steadfast source of support for rural residents, delving into the various examples of home remedies used in rural North Carolinian households, differences in narratives that adopt home remedies, stories of using home remedies as health self-management, and integration of home remedies into standard biomedicine. While home remedies serve as a response to rural health disparities, they are also community-building and sustaining practices, honoring traditions from families that embrace the generational usage of herbal medicine as healthcare.

In exploring the influence of home remedies on rural residents, it is essential to highlight the narratives of those who adopt these practices through the Stories to Save Lives archive and outside research. By valuing the knowledge of rural healers and community members, we can create a more inclusive and holistic healthcare system that reflects the realities of rural life.

Home Remedies as Healthcare

Paying homage to the belief that our bodies have the innate ability to heal, home remedies supplement this process with simple, accessible treatments that serve as time-honored, reliable sources of healthcare for many rural residents. While myriad CAM practices are employed in rural North Carolina, including herbal medicines and other modalities (chiropractic, homeopathy, etc.), the most prevalent are home remedies with “45.7% of the adult population using any home remedy” (Thomas A. Arcury et al. 96). Although this cross-sectional survey study has a limited sample capacity that does not reveal the totality of rural residents that use traditional remedies, it illuminates the importance of traditional remedies adopted by North Carolinians as a result of limited access to biomedical healthcare.

Digging deeper into the extensive assortment of herbal medicines used by rural North Carolinians interviewees, the most ubiquitous home remedies are castor oil and cod liver oil for general sickness, yellow root or ginger tea for gastrointestinal problems, catnip tea for calmness, and many more. Similarly, Arcury et al. denote that North Carolina CAM use in rural communities largely relies on plant-derived medicine, such as “lemon, aloe, castor oil, turpentine, tobacco, and garlic” (94). Reinforcing the dependence on home remedies among North Carolinians, Ebony Talley-Brame, a business owner in Warrenton, NC, further exemplifies this trend by recounting her family’s traditional remedies for treating colds:

“I find myself drinking that—they had like a lemon and honey and this—I don’t know if it’s more—I want to say corn liquor, but it wasn’t that…And drinking it, it helps us go through this deep sweat, so to speak, and gets all the cold out of you” (0:10:18-0:10:53).

While narrating her experience in resorting to home remedies to heal her sicknesses, Tally-Brame acknowledges the CAM practices that served as accessible, feasible, and comforting means of healthcare. Her usage of home remedies reflects the intersection of family and culture in healing, honoring the traditional healthcare practices passed along generations within her family.

Home Remedies Honor Family and Community

The significance of home remedies in rural North Carolina goes beyond compensating for shortcomings in the healthcare system; rather, it reflects a profound sense of connection, tradition, and community-building, where generations of families and communities have relied on their alternative healing practices to support themselves and one another.

Traditional remedies passed along families and communities propel rural residents to take charge of their health self-management to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives. This notion is further explored in “Traditional and Commercial Herb Use in Health Self-Management among Rural Multiethnic Older Adults,” concluding that traditional and commercial herbs play a pivotal role in the health self-management of the elderly (Altizer et al. 2013). The study confirms the realities of the interviewees, denoting that traditional herbs are generally used to treat acute symptoms such as those experienced by Thomas McLaughlin, Jr— a service coordinator for HIV-positive patients at CommWell Health. Throughout his youth, the McLaughlin family had adopted tried-and-true home remedies, passed from generation to generation:

“We would use a lot of home remedies…But my other brothers and sisters, when they got sick and stuff, we used home remedies. We had something like sassafras tea. My mother would go out and get sassafras tea and boil it, put some sugar in it, and give to us” (McLaughlin 0:16:55-0:17:22).

From toothaches to bedwetting, the McLaughlin family’s reliance on home remedies to ameliorate their acute conditions is a testament to the power harnessed by home remedies. This story demonstrates how traditional remedies have significance beyond their healing properties; rather, they honor family, culture, religion, and community with each ingredient from the garden or kitchen. They also embolden rural residents to take ownership of their health self-management.

Similarly, Eleanor— a National Caucus & Center on Black Aging (NCBA) employee— discusses how her family’s financial instability forced her to embrace home remedies as healthcare, using recipes of herbal medicine passed along generations. Castor oil and cod liver oil to “clean out” sickness, sweet oil drops for earache, or spider webs for cuts, Eleanor’s family demonstrates the resilience and ingenuity of rural residents to adapt and adopt home remedies as healing practices.

Furthermore, growing up in regions with limited access to standard biomedical care, rural residents take advantage of local knowledge from their tight-knit communities as an alternative form of healthcare— as is the case for PositiveLife program director, Lisa McKeithan:

“I know that back then, we’re in the South, we’re in a rural community, we grew up in an African American community, and we grew up with very strong religious convictions—when my mother got sick, it was a home remedy. I heard her talk about stories of cod liver oil, that they took every day, or that they took castor oil” (0:56:03-0:57:53).

Lisa McKeithan’s narrative of her mother’s experience with healthcare in the sixties and seventies elucidates how doctors seldom treated black men or women in rural communities. Therefore, rural African American communities empowered each other with home remedies, unifying in the face of adversity to support their fellow members. Even though the healthcare system failed McKeithan’s mother, her community came together to offer comfort and healing through recipes of traditional remedies. This is a powerful reflection of the strength, resilience, and connection that proliferates within rural communities, honoring their rich cultural heritage and preserving these healing practices to support the health of generations to come.

Integrative Healing

The notion of incorporating home remedies with standard biomedicine should be promoted throughout rural regions, emphasizing that there is ample space and necessity for both.

Conducting a survey to determine how this hybrid approach is being practiced across the US, Bonnie Horrigan et al. emphasize that medical centers should make strides in integrating modern biomedical care with ancient healing wisdom to prioritize patient-centered care (51). This practice is also addressed in Lisa McKeithan’s narrative. A determined advocate for integrative medicine, she preaches about spirituality (a form of complementary medicine that she embraces along with home remedies), recounting that “[she’s] going to pray, but [she’s] also going to the doctor so he can give [her] the proper diagnosis and medication to fight off this disease” (McKeithan 0:40:00-0:40:42).

The stark difference in healthcare outlooks between McKeithan, who strives to coalesce standard biomedicine with supplemental CAM practices, and her mother, who solely relies on CAM principles, reinforces the trajectory of the rural NC healthcare system, shifting from an era of dismissing the doctor for home remedies to complementing biomedicine with herbal medicine.

Herbal medicine is self-care just as much as it is healthcare, emphasizing the notion that CAM should be used in conjunction with standard biomedicine, rather than as an alternative or substitute. Remedies themselves cultivate a sense of empowerment as individuals embracing natural remedies take ownership of their health and establish themselves as active participants in their own healing process. Dissecting the intersecting nature of home remedies—between family, culture, religion, tradition, and community— provides valuable insight into how complementary and alternative medicine should reflect the very essence of its name: complement.

Altizer, Kathryn P et al. “Traditional and Commercial Herb Use in Health Self-Management among Rural Multiethnic Older Adults.” Journal of Applied Gerontology : the Official Journal of the Southern Gerontological Society , vol. 32, no. 4, 2013, pp. 387-407, PubMed Central , www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4076146 /

Arcury, Thomas A., et al. “Complementary and Alternative Medicine use among Rural Residents in Western North Carolina.” Complementary Health Practice Review , vol. 9, no. 2, 2004, pp. 93-102, https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1076167503253433 .

Horrigan, Bonnie et al. “Integrative Medicine in America—How Integrative Medicine Is Being Practiced in Clinical Centers Across the United States.” Global Advances in Health and Medicine, vol. 1, no. 3, 2012, pp. 18-94, https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.7453/gahmj.2012.1.3.006

Eleanor. Interview with Madeline Katz. 30 July 2019 (Y-0111). Southern Oral History Program Collection (#4007), Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

McKeithan, Lisa. Interview with Maddy Kameny. 29 June 2018 (Y-0038). Southern Oral History Program Collection (#4007), Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

McLaughlin, Thomas Jr. Interview with Maddy Kameny. 28 June 2018 (Y-0040). Southern Oral History Program Collection (#4007), Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Talley-Brame, Ebony. Interview with Darius Scott. 22 June 2018 (Y-0054). Southern Oral History Program Collection (#4007), Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Home Remedies

By Susan Hanket Brandt

Although Philadelphia has been a premier city for medical innovation since the mid-eighteenth century, the diverse peoples of the region also have used home remedies to heal themselves. Home remedies preserve traditional domestic healthcare practices, and they have persisted into the twenty-first century as part of alternative medicine and mainstream scientific therapies. Medical recipes often circulate by word of mouth, making this vernacular culture difficult to recover. Remedies in manuscript, print, and online sources provide clues to centuries of self-healing activities.

A color political cartoon of a skeleton in doctor's uniform holding a knife and a medical bill in front of a patient's bleeding arm

In the early colonial period, the scarcity of formally trained physicians, even in Philadelphia, made domestic medical skills particularly valuable. Healing was among Euro-American women’s household duties, and families passed down home remedies between generations. Colonists used their skills in herb gardening, cooking, and distilling to create medicines. A manuscript recipe book compiled by Philadelphia Quaker Catherine Haines (1761–1809) attests to the diversity of ailments treated at home. Haines used common culinary herbs such as thyme, cloves, and mint in her remedies, as well as chemical ingredients such as mercury and alcohol. Those practicing self-care and formally educated physicians shared similar medical worldviews.

Although early Swedish and English settlers imported Old World remedies to the region, they also sought American Indians ’ expert knowledge in curing wounds, snakebites, and fractures. Scandinavian settlers and travelers, such as Andreas Hesselius (1677–1733) and Pehr Kalm (1716–79), remarked on the efficacy of American Indian cures. Philadelphian John Bartram (1699–1777), a prominent self-taught botanist and self-healer, compiled and published botanical remedies, including medical recipes from Native Americans. Colonists also valued African American healthcare expertise. In the 1750s, Philadelphia-area newspapers published “Caesar’s Cure” for snakebite and poisoning developed by an enslaved man who gained his freedom by revealing his remedy, which used sassafras and herbs. In the nineteenth century, Philadelphia and West Jersey residents sought home remedies from James Still , a self-taught African American herbalist and doctor from Burlington County, New Jersey.

A color print of the label of a modern bottle of Dr. Physick Soda showing portrait of Dr. Physick

Mid-Atlantic colonists also incorporated a European culture of self-help medical consumerism. A flourishing market in proprietary medicines, such as Daffy’s Elixir and Turlington’s Balsam of Life, allowed colonists to purchase manufactured remedies for home use. Benjamin (1706–90) and Deborah (1708–74) Franklin advertised and sold her mother’s salve for scabies at their print shop into the 1740s. By the early nineteenth century, both German- and English-speaking newspapers were awash with advertisements for store-bought remedies. Some physicians leveraged this lucrative market. In 1807, Dr. Philip Syng Physick (1768–1837) introduced and marketed his artificially carbonated soda water —the precursor of soda pop drinks—for gastrointestinal problems. Despite the popularity of these cures, the pharmaceutical market was unregulated, with no guarantees regarding safety or efficacy.

The market for self-help pharmaceuticals bolstered the trade in popular home-health manuals that educated readers in self-diagnosis and treatment. Every Man His Own Doctor: or the Poor Planter’s Physician (2nd ed., 1734) offered “plain and easy means for persons to cure themselves” using inexpensive local herbs. Benjamin Franklin reprinted this manual in seven editions, to benefit the people living in the “unhealthy climate” of the Philadelphia region. The copying of medical recipes in printed manuals into families’ home recipe manuscripts reflected the widespread circulation of self-help health information.

German immigrants to the greater Philadelphia area in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries shared their own home remedies. Between 1762 and 1777, the Germantown apothecary Christopher Sauer (1721–84) authored and published, in German, the first American herbal, The Compendious Herbal . Some Pennsylvania Germans developed a healing culture called “Pow-wow” or “braucherei.” In his 1820 book Pow-wows; or, Long Lost Friend , Johann Georg Hohman described home remedies comprised of herbs, charms, chants, and prayers that channeled God’s healing power. German Americans continued to practice Pow-wow in the twenty-first century, particularly in Berks and Lancaster Counties.

a text-only advertisement for The Pocket Æsculapius, a book of home remedies, with the tagline

A renewed popular health movement developed in the 1830s as a backlash against the mercury-based purging therapies advocated by Philadelphia physicians such as Benjamin Rush (1746–1814). Journals such as the Philadelphia Botanic Sentinel attest to the local appeal of the Thomsonian botanical movement , which emphasized herbal home remedies that facilitated nature’s curative powers. Home health handbooks remained popular throughout the nineteenth century. Cookbooks, such as Domestic Cookery (1845) by Elizabeth Ellicott Lea (1793–1858), and manuscript recipe books, like that of Philadelphia Quaker Ellen Emlen (1814–1900), continued to incorporate home remedies for a variety of illnesses, including burns, rheumatism, and deafness. At the 1876 Centennial Exhibition , the Philadelphia pharmacist Charles Hires (1851–1937) advertised his health drink, Hires Root Beer , which allegedly soothed the nerves and revitalized the blood. In Philadelphia’s Chinatown , which developed in the late nineteenth century, stores sold home medical manuals and proprietary medicines such as sha hi un for digestive complaints and cholera . Philadelphians of various ethnicities purchased remedies made from Chinese ginseng and other herbs.

A color photograph of ginseng root hanging to dry in a window above potted flowers

In the early twentieth century, the rise of hospitals as the preferred site for healthcare increased patients’ trust in institutionalized physician-centered medicine. However, during the devastating Spanish influenza pandemic of 1918–19 , panicked Philadelphians turned to home remedies including castor oil and garlic and patent medicines such as Vicks VapoRub.

In the 1940s, Jerome I. (1898–1971) and Anna (1905–2000) Rodale pioneered an organic farming and naturopathic medicine movement near Allentown, Pennsylvania. Despite the public’s restored confidence in scientific medicine due to the development of antibiotics in the late 1930s, mistrust in formal Western medicine persisted. In 1950, Rodale Press published Prevention Magazine , signaling the beginning of a back-to-nature and natural remedies movement that flourished in the 1960s and 1970s.

Immigration of diverse peoples to the greater Philadelphia area in the late twentieth century expanded the range of healing practices. Patients practicing self-help medicine and mainstream healthcare practitioners began incorporating Chinese herbal medicines and Indian Ayurvedic therapies introduced by Asian immigrants. Stores selling a variety of home remedies—from Mexican manzanilla teas to Caribbean medicinal “bush teas”—reflected the region’s cosmopolitan self-healing cultures.

By the early twenty-first century, websites, blogs, and social media provided new ways of sharing old home remedies. In 2007, a Philadelphia-area blogger posted her mother’s recipe for Deshler’s Salve, a remedy for bruises and wounds. The original recipe was created in the mid-eighteenth century by Germantown resident Mary Deshler (1715–74), but its healing properties were valued a century and a half later. The practice of self-care using homemade remedies and manufactured natural medicines remained as vibrant in the twenty-first century as in the colonial period, with webs of wellness information extending beyond families and local communities to global internet social networks.

Susan Hanket Brandt holds a Ph.D. in history from Temple University and is an adjunct professor of history at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. Her 2013 dissertation, “Gifted Women and Skilled Practitioners: Gender and Healing Authority in the Delaware Valley, 1740–1830,” includes information on home remedies. Her article, “ ‘Getting into a Little Business’: Margaret Hill Morris and Women’s Medical Entrepreneurship during the American Revolution,” appeared in the fall 2015 issue of Early American Studies . (Author information current at time of publication.)

Quack Doctor, Bleeder

Library Company of Philadelphia

Home remedies became popular in the eighteenth century as a reaction to the standard treatments of the day. With no knowledge of bacteria and viruses, illnesses were blamed on “miasmas,” or clouds of toxic air. Treatments of the day involved eliminating toxins from the body through the use of purgatives or bloodletting, which often worsened the condition and at times hastened death.

MediaStream-1

PhillyHistory.org

One of the most successful marketers of patent medicine in the nineteenth century was Dr. David Jayne, a University of Pennsylvania-educated physician. Jayne originally operated a small rural clinic in Salem, New Jersey, but the popularity of his tonics led to a move to Philadelphia in the 1830s. In 1843, he began publishing a medical almanac that heavily marketed his own products, including Jayne’s Tonic Vermifuge for parasitic worms and Jayne’s Carminative Balsam for stomach ailments. More than half a billion of these almanacs sold over the next century. Jayne’s company grew so large in the years following his first almanac that no commercial building in the city was big enough for it. In 1850, the company moved into a massive new headquarters on Chestnut Street. The building stood eight stories tall and was topped by a two-story Gothic tower that housed the nation’s first observation deck. Jayne Family Medicine entered a decline in the twentieth century and by the 1940s, it ceased printing its almanac. The Jayne Building’s tower was lost in a fire in 1872, but the rest of the building remained standing until 1958, when it was demolished during the construction of Independence National Historical Park.

Doctor Yourself with The Pocket Æsculapius

Medical almanacs were very popular in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, during the medical profession’s infancy. These almanacs detailed diseases and the recommended treatments for them, usually a combination of herbs or, later, the publisher’s own proprietary concoctions. Physicians of the time often prescribed purgatives or bloodletting as cures for illnesses, actions that often only hastened the patient’s death and led to widespread distrust of the medical profession. This 1851 advertisement promises to prevent “victims of quackery” and make “every one his own physician!”

Dr. Physick Soda Label

Dr. Physick, Soda's Pop

Dr. Phillip Syng Physick was one of the earliest surgeons in Philadelphia. He attended the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. In 1793, a year after his return to Philadelphia, the city was ravaged by a yellow fever epidemic that killed nearly 10 percent of the population. Physick worked with celebrated physician Benjamin Rush to treat the disease, even after contracting it himself. Over the span of his career, Physick invented several techniques and devices to advance medical science, including absorbent catgut sutures and an early stomach pump. Physick also served as the first chair of surgery at the University of Pennsylvania as well as working as a surgeon for the Philadelphia Almshouse.

Physick also developed an artificially carbonated beverage for treating stomach ailments. For $1.50 per month, patients in 1807 could drink a daily glass of Dr. Physick’s soda, sweetened with fruit syrup to improve palatability. The drink proved popular both a home remedy and a soft drink. It is considered to be the forerunner to America’s nineteenth-century soft drink boom. In 2007, a bottled version of Dr. Physick’s soda became available for purchase in historic sites and other venues throughout the city, recreated by a descendant of the doctor.

Charles E. Hires

Historical Society of Pennsylvania

The first commercially prepared root beer was sold as a remedy for calming the nerves by Charles E. Hires. A pharmacist by trade, Hires based the beverage on a tea he sampled in New Jersey while on his honeymoon. Hires’ original product was a root- and berry-based extract that had to be mixed with sugar, water, and yeast before consumption. It was sold to crowds at the Centennial Exhibition of 1876 and eventually the home market. Unsatisfied with selling an extract that required preparation, Hires developed early versions of the soda fountain and fountain syrup. Through an extensive advertising campaign, Hires Root Beer became one of the most popular soft drinks in the nation, especially during Prohibition when it was advertised as a healthy alternative to beer.

Ginseng Root Hanging to Dry

Library of Congress

An influx of East Asian immigrants into Philadelphia in the twentieth century brought renewed interest in home remedies and traditional medicine. The root of the ginseng plant has long been prized in East Asian countries for its purported immune support and stimulant properties. It is used to fight cold and flu infections and a myriad of other ailments. Many stores in Philadelphia's Chinatown sell ginseng, both dried and in preparations such as teas. Depending on the variety and quality of the root, it can be pricey.

Time Periods

Twenty-First Century
Twentieth Century after 1945
Twentieth Century to 1945
Nineteenth Century after 1854
Nineteenth Century to 1854
Capital of the United States Era
Colonial Era
Smoking and Smoking Regulations
Pharmaceutical Industry

Related Collections

William Helfand and Charles Rosenberg Collections Library Company of Philadelphia 1314 Locust Street, Philadelphia.
Collections of Philadelphia-area recipe books, letters, and diaries Historical Society of Pennsylvania 1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia.
Wyck Association Collection, 1663–1972 American Philosophical Society 104 S. Fifth Street, Philadelphia.
Recipe book collections Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books, and Manuscripts University of Pennsylvania, 3420 Walnut Street, Philadelphia.
Joseph R. Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera Winterthur Library 5105 Kennett Pike, Wilmington, Del.

Related Places

Bartram’s Garden
Burlington County Historical Society
Chinatown Friendship Gate
Physick House (Annual Phyzz Festival celebrating Dr. Physick’s Soda, yearly in early July)
Mütter Museum of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia
German Society of Philadelphia
Historic Germantown (a partnership of sixteen historic houses, destinations, and museums in Northwest Philadelphia)
Wyck (or Haines) Historic House and Garden
Rodale Institute
Thomas Massey House (historian Clarissa Dillon and foodways, distilling, and remedies)

Backgrounders

Connecting Headlines with History

Weavers Way's wellness store to hold grand opening Friday (WHYY, July 23, 2012)
FDA cracks down on illegal diabetes remedies (WHYY, July 23, 2013)
CHOP enacts new policy to discourage dietary supplement use (NewsWorks, October 14, 2013)
Harnessing folk remedies to improve modern medication (NewsWorks, October 20, 2015)
Hires Root Beer: The Great Health Drink (Pennsylvania Center for the Book at Pennsylvania State University)
Catherine Haines, Notebook (Philadelphia Area Center for History of Science)
Deschler's Salve Recipe (Blanket in the Grove blog)
Hires Root Beer History (Dr. Pepper Snapple Group)
The Recipes Project
US National Library of Medicine Digital Collections, Medicine in the Americas, 1610–1920, Recipe Books
The Jayne Building: Chestnut Street's Woulda-Shoulda-Coulda (PhillyHistory Blog)
Ellen Emlen's Cookbook (Historical Society of Pennsylvania Blog)
PhilaPlace: Dan Khang Nha Trang, Inc. Chinese Apothecary (Historical Society of Pennsylvania)

Connecting the Past with the Present, Building Community, Creating a Legacy

Homer 880 East End Road (907) 226-2228 Map & Hours

Seldovia 206 Main Street (907) 435-3262 Map & Hours

Anchor Point 72351 Milo Fritz Ave (907) 226-2238 Map & Hours

20 Home Remedies Everyone Should Know

09 Oct 20 Home Remedies Everyone Should Know

The healthcare teams at CureJoy , an online health and wellness advice platform that uses advice based on natural and proven alternative medicine disciplines, gave their twenty remedies you can do at home to get and stay healthy. Here are what everyone should know:

For more information or if your symptoms persist and you need to make an appointment, please call us at 226-2228. Everyone welcome, most insurances accepted!

UC San Diego

Home Remedies

Radovsky, Siloh Marshall
Advisor(s): Springer, Anna Joy

Home Remedies is a collection of linked essays which merge memoir and discursive considerations of mental illness, care, ambition, and contemporary culture. The thesis consists of four essays, each centering an aspect the author’s personal and familial experiences with chronic and mental illness. The first essay explores a subcultural, post-anarchist milieu, and its positions towards contemporary lifestyle practices and domesticity as sites of happiness and being well. The second essay is about fantasies of creative success, imposed narrative arcs, and the schizophrenia of the author’s younger sibling. The third essay braids explorations of Siegfried Kracauer’s “Mass Ornament” and Marie Kondo’s The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up with explorations of the author’s own domestic aspirations and chronic illness. The fourth essay examines meaning-making from illness as well as the impact of received narratives through woven meditations on family history, homelessness, psychoanalysis, myth, self-determination, and diagnosis. The research and creative practice which built this thesis especially concerned the overlap between cultural understandings of illness and of literary form. Its own form is a result of experiments with narrative sequencing to enable the simultaneous staging of story and the unfolding of questions.

This item is under embargo until September 4, 2031 .

Home — Essay Samples — Nursing & Health — Diabetes — Home Remedies for Diabetes

Home Remedies for Diabetes

Categories: Alternative Medicine Diabetes

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Published: Feb 12, 2019

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Bitter Gourd:
Indian Goose berry (Amla):
Black plum or Indian Black Berry (Jumbul):

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The Art of Healthy Living - Health, Fitness, Diets & Wellbeing

Natural Remedies Vs Medicine: 5 Pros And Cons

The debate between natural remedies and medicine is one that has been around for centuries. On the one hand, they are often seen as more holistic and in tune with the body’s natural healing process. On the other hand, medicine is typically seen as more effective and faster-acting. So, what are the pros and cons of each approach?

Pros Of Natural Remedies

1. they are often less expensive than medicine.

The average cost of a natural remedy is often much lower than the cost of prescription medication. This is because they are usually made with readily available ingredients that are inexpensive to source.

2. They Have Fewer Side Effects Than Medicine

Natural remedies are typically gentler on the body than medicine, and as a result, they tend to have fewer side effects. This is especially beneficial for those who are sensitive to medications or have conditions that make them more susceptible to side effects.

3. They Can Be Used In Conjunction With Other Treatments

Natural remedies can often be used safely alongside other treatments, such as medication or therapy. This allows for a more customized approach to healing that takes into account the unique needs of the individual.

4. They Can Be Made At Home

Many natural remedies can be made easily at home with ingredients that are likely already on hand. This not only saves money but also allows for greater control over the quality of the ingredients used.

5. They Often Promote Overall Wellness

Natural remedies typically focus on supporting the body’s natural ability to heal and maintain balance. This can lead to improved energy levels, better sleep, and a general sense of wellbeing .

Cons Of Natural Remedies

1. they may not be as effective as medicine.

While natural remedies can be helpful, they may not be as effective as medicine in some cases. This is often due to the fact that they are not as concentrated or potent as medication. For example, perhaps medicine would be smarter when wondering how to bring temperature down .

2. They May Take Longer To Work Than Medicine

Natural remedies often take longer to work than medicine because they need to be slowly absorbed by the body. This can be frustrating for those who are seeking immediate relief from their symptoms.

3. They May Have Interactions With Other Treatments

Just as natural remedies can be used in conjunction with other treatments, they can also interact with them. It’s important to speak with a healthcare provider before using them, especially if medications are also being taken.

4. They May Not Be Regulated

Unlike medicine, natural remedies are not regulated by the MHRA . This means that there is no guarantee of their safety or effectiveness. Always research thoroughly before using them.

5. They May Have Side Effects

Although they are often gentler on the body than medicine, they can still cause side effects in some people. Be sure to research any potential side effects before using a natural remedy.

As with anything, there are pros and cons to using natural remedies vs medicine. Ultimately, the decision of which to use depends on the individual’s unique needs and preferences. Speak with a healthcare provider to get personalized advice.

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Health Sci Rep
v.6(1); 2023 Jan

Use of home remedies for the treatment and prevention of coronavirus disease: An integrative review

Rakgadi grace malapela.

1 Department of Health Studies, University of South Africa, Pretoria South Africa

Gloria Thupayagale‐Tshweneagae

William m. baratedi.

2 School of Nursing, University of Botswana, Gaborone Botswana

Associated Data

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article and the supplementary material has been included.

Background and Aims

Home remedies are understood to mean medications or tonics prepared at home to treat certain ailments without any prescription or professional supervision. Reliance on home remedies increased during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). The aim of this integrative review was to identify home remedies used to treat and prevent COVID‐19 and discuss implications for nursing practice and health related to the safety and efficacy of home remedies.

Cooper's integrative review method guided this study to identify home remedies used to prevent and treat COVID‐19. Google Scholar, BMC, EBSCOhost, Medline, Academic Search Ultimate, Web of Science Core Collections, Science Direct and Global Health were used to search for relevant information on the use of COVID‐19 home remedies from 2019 to 2022. The Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) checklist was used to select studies that had to be included. The eligibility criteria included studies on home remedies, written in English from 2019 to 2022. Findings of qualitative, quantitative and mixed‐methods research were extracted, and narrative thematic data synthesis was applied.

Eleven articles which met the inclusion criteria were found in nine countries: Ghana (1), South Africa (1), Tanzania (1), Togo (1) and Zimbabwe (1), Bangladesh (1), Hong Kong (1), India (2), Iran (1), and Pakistan (1). Findings showed that home remedies are used for the prevention of COVID‐19 infection, treatment of COVID‐19, and boosting immunity.

Conclusions

Home remedies have been found to be more pronounced across all sectors and social strata. More research is needed on the use of home remedies for life‐threatening outbreaks. Policymakers and healthcare workers are challenged to encourage the use of home remedies in the prevention of other ailments and epidemics that might occur in the future.

1. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

The discovery and consequential spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) virus caused panic among various countries and communities globally. 1 The WHO 2 reported that by March 2020, 118,000 people were already infected in 114 countries, and the death toll was over 4000. It took 67 days to reach the first 100,000 reported cases. As of August 16, 2022, over 587,455,360 million people were infected globally, with infections rising rapidly in many countries. Many governments were unprepared for the unequal impact of COVID‐19 and its moderating effects among different groupings in society. This led to major risks of exacerbating health, social and economic inequities in the long term and creating new vulnerabilities within populations. 3 Before the COVID‐19 pandemic, there were already some differences in individuals' access to healthcare in different countries. 3 Research has exposed the socioeconomic inequities in the use of healthcare services. 4 COVID‐19 exposed the inequities that resulted in heavy reliance on the use of readily home remedies. 5 These inequalities in modern healthcare partly led to people resorting to the use of other healthcare alternatives, some of them being the use of home remedies.

Studies have revealed that most people who contract COVID‐19 develop only mild (40%) or moderate (40%) disease. Fifteen (15%) of patients develop severe illness, while 5% experience critical symptoms with complications such as respiratory failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), septic shock, thrombo‐embolism, and/or multiorgan failure, including acute renal failure and injury. 6 Some chronic conditions such as cancer, chronic lung disease, cardiac diseases, hypertension, and diabetes – as well as old age and smoking – have been reported as risk factors for severe disease progression and possible death. 7 Psychological symptoms such as anxiety and depression have also been noted as common amongst people who were hospitalized with COVID‐19. 8 Ayele et al. 9 reported that many older individuals sought to manage their medical conditions using different home remedies, and their interactions with other medications are not known. The authors of this article are of the view that similar situations might occur with the increased use of home remedies for COVID‐19. Despite the launch of primary health care (PHC) in 1978, which aimed at universal healthcare coverage, indigenous people and underserved communities have limited access to affordable health care. These challenges led to a reliance on nonconventional therapy.

Tyler 10 asserted that the increased use of herbal medicine could be aimed at capturing traditional healing systems through conventional medicine in Europe and North America, where herbal products were fused together and became known as alternative, complementary, holistic, or integrative medical systems. The increased use of herbal remedies was also a result of increased interest in self‐care, which is found to be useful for the health of consumers. 11

Studies conducted in the United States have further indicated that the use of home remedies is widely practiced by individuals who have economic and social difficulties because of the availability and accessibility of the products. 12

In South Africa, for instance, the uncertainty created by COVID‐19 resulted in many people depending on home remedies, with some even calling on governments to legalize and test some of these natural herbs. At the time, the most used natural herbs in South Africa were Lengana (Artemisia afra), Mušukušwane (Lippia javanica) and Cannabis. 13 Lengana is believed to be a blood purifier and it is believed to heal common ailments such as cold, fever, and liver diseases. Whereas drinking Mušukušwane is believed to be an immune booster. The most traditional homestead is used during winter to prevent cold and flu. 13 Cannabis is acclaimed to reduce chronic pain and fever. Its uses are under review. Drinking olive oil and eating home‐grown nuts were found to allay some COVID‐19 symptoms, such as forgetfulness. The consumption of olive oil reportedly improves health as it contains phenolic compounds that continue to be investigated for their scientific use. 14 Eating home‐grown nuts (sprouted nuts) has also been found to boost antioxidants and hence helpful in preventing certain ailments. 15 It must be noted that most of these home remedies have not been scientifically tested and hence their interaction with other medications is unknown.

1.1. Formulation of the problem

According to Cooper, 16 the formulation of a problem begins with a definite description of the purpose of the review and an explicit explanation of the subject under review. 16 Furthermore, Cooper 16 states that a well‐defined problem and purpose provide a clear problem focus and limits for the integrative review process.

For this review, home remedies are regarded as simple measures of symptom management from minor health complaints or prevention of certain ailments. Such simple measures include the use of tonics, herbs, and spices that are easily available at home. 17 : 10). COVID‐19 refers to a respiratory tract infection caused by the coronavirus, first discovered in China, in December 2019. 18 , 19 Treatment means using a combination of approaches (medications, behavioral change, and healthcare for physical, and psychological symptoms) during appropriate periods of time to suit individuals' needs. 20

1.2. Aim of the study

This integrative review aimed to synthesize published studies' findings on the use of home remedies for the treatment and prevention of COVID‐19.

1.3. Objectives

The study's specific objectives were to:

1. Find common home remedies used for the prevention and treatment of COVID‐19.
2. Identify specific uses of each home remedy in preventing and managing COVID‐19; and
3. Make recommendations for practice and further research.

The integrative review affords a greater understanding of a particular phenomenon. It provides a blend of information and applicable results for practice, thus appraising the merits of available evidence. Cooper's 16 five‐stage process of integrative reviews was used in conducting this review.

The methodology encompasses five stages: (1) problem formulation, (2) search methods, (3) data evaluation (4) data analysis and interpretation, and (5) public presentation of results. Ethical approval and informed consent were not applicable as no human records were used.

2.1. Problem formulation

The problem formulation phase was based on the initial literature search and the researchers' acknowledgment that there is a need for more knowledge of the use of home remedies. Existing knowledge of the use of home remedies was scarce and at times non‐existent in some countries. Hence, the need for an integrated review. 21

2.2. Search methods

The data collection included a literature search. The search strategy was employed over two phases. The initial search was conducted on August 2 and September 2, 2021. With the assistance of the librarian, four members (RGM, GBT, VK, and WB) of the research team searched the following international databases: EBSCOhost, Google Scholar, Medline, Academic Search Ultimate, Global Health, Web of Science Core Collection and Science Direct. A combination of search terms, using the Boolean operations ‘AND’ and ‘OR’ included: ‘ Corona virus’, ‘COVID‐19’, ‘home remedies’, ‘prevention’, ‘treatment’, and ‘integrative review’ . The second search was conducted on 15 March 2022, and similar search engines and keywords were used as in phase one; 526 articles were identified. Articles included were from 2019 to 2022.

After scrutinizing the 526 selected articles, 486 articles were eliminated due to the inappropriateness of their titles, resulting in 40 citations. The 40 articles were further screened and four were excluded after the abstracts were deemed inappropriate. These were further assessed for methodological eligibility, and 25 were excluded; 11 articles remained.

Figure 1 outlines the systematic elimination and selection of relevant articles.

An external file that holds a picture, illustration, etc.
Object name is HSR2-6-e900-g001.jpg

Flowchart indicating articles' selection criteria.

2.3. Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria were limited to original research studies that reported on the use of home remedies. Because of the novelty of COVID‐19, the review considered qualitative, quantitative, and mixed‐methods approaches, and articles published between 2019 and 2022. All studies were written in English, as this was the only international language known to the researchers. Furthermore, Di Bitetti and Ferreras 22 are of the view that articles written in English are the most cited. Studies were excluded if they did not identify which home remedies were used. Editorials, commentaries, systematic reviews, dissertations or theses, abstracts, or conference abstracts, those published before 2019, not peer‐reviewed, and not focusing on home remedies were excluded.

2.4. Data evaluation

In this stage, the researcher critically evaluates whether the data elements or results are worthy of remaining in the study set. This stage helps to enhance the quality of resources in the review method while at the same time meaningfully addressing the primary sources. 21 The researchers (RGM and GBT) read and evaluated the retrieved articles for repetition, relevance, methodology, quality of samples, and sampling methods. Later, all authors collectively read, discussed, and agreed on the 11 articles that satisfied all the inclusion criteria.

2.5. Selection and quality assessment

Database searches identified 526 articles. Individual articles were arranged according to their title, research design, year, relevance, data analysis, and findings. The 2013 Critical Appraisal Skills Programme Qualitative Research Checklist (CASP) was used to assess the quality of the selected studies. The use of CASP enables the researchers to systematically assess the trustworthiness and relevance of published research papers. Figure 1 summarized the selected articles.

2.6. Data extraction and synthesis

At the beginning of the review, all original papers were read several times to get an overview of the content. Data were extracted to a table by three researchers (RGM; WMB; and GTT) following predetermined criteria according to author particulars and year of publication, study objective, methodology, sampling, and sample characteristics, as well as the use of home remedies for the treatment and prevention of COVID‐19 (Table 1 ). 21 All three authors met and revised the reviewed articles to agree on the final articles to include and make necessary amendments. The three authors conducted an analysis to identify the common themes.

Summary of articles: Home remedies used for the treatment and prevention of coronavirus disease (COVID‐19)

Abbreviation: COVID‐19, coronavirus disease 2019.

The data analyses included qualitative, quantitative, and mixed‐method studies. Directed content analysis was used for data analysis, 23 which encompassed the use of home remedies during the COVID‐19 pandemic. A data table was developed to display all extracted categories. As data were further evaluated and salient points became evident, each primary source was reviewed to synthesize findings on the use of home remedies for the treatment and prevention of COVID‐19.

3. FINDINGS

3.1. characteristics of articles included.

Eleven full articles were included for appraisal and review. Reports were published between 2019 and 2022 and were from Africa (South Africa, Togo, and Zimbabwe), and Asian countries (BMC Bangladesh, Hong Kong, India, Iran, and Pakistan). None of the articles was from countries in Europe or the United States. Participants included mainly older individuals, both males and females. Data from the articles that were reviewed and met the inclusion criteria were thematically analyzed. The themes that emerged included remedies for the treatment of COVID‐19, remedies for the prevention of COVID‐19, and remedies for immune boosters. Refer to Table 2 for a summary of the thematic analysis.

Thematic analysis

3.2. Theme 1: Remedies for the treatment of COVID‐19

Most people who contracted COVID‐19 develop mild symptoms and do not get admitted to hospitals but manage their symptoms at home. People in Asian countries like Bangladesh, India, Iran, and Pakistan use a number of plant‐based remedies, including a warm mixture of ginger, cloves, coriander, black cumin seeds, and honey, fruits high in Vitamin C, garlic, turmeric, cinnamon, black pepper, Ayurveda and Chinese chaste tree powder, while others drink herbal teas. 24 , 25 , 26 Ginger is used to treat common health problems such as pain, nausea, and vomiting. 47 In other countries such as Pakistan and India, people eat soups, use eucalyptus incense, and wipe their bodies with a tepid sponge to alleviate COVID‐19 symptoms, such as fever chills, myalgia, throat aches, and shortness of breath. Similar remedies are used in African countries, such as Zimbabwe and South Africa, where it is common to drink garlic, lemon, and ginger concoctions and practice steam inhalation. In addition, native plants such as zumbani, mango leaves, gum leaves, zumba leaves and warm water are used to treat COVID‐19 symptoms and general illness. African communities also use tobacco snuff to help them sneeze and decongest the respiratory system. 30 , 48

3.3. Theme 2: Remedies for the prevention of COVID‐19

It is globally understood that COVID‐19 has no specific treatment. The use of vaccines helped in reducing the intensity of the COVID‐19 symptoms Centre for Disease Control (CDC) 2022. However, there are suggestions from different regions around the globe on the use of home remedies to prevent attacks by the virus. Because of the fear of the disease, people are inundated with information about what can help protect them from infection. Reports from Asia and Africa revealed that certain products are used to prevent COVID‐19 infection. 17 , 32 , 45 Some preventative remedies include steam inhalation, drinking herbal juices, decoction (Kadha) and hot water; these are mainly used in Asian countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India. 24 , 29 , 45 Vitamin C and concoctions containing garlic, lemon and ginger, other native herbs and warm water are commonly used in Africa. 30 , 31 , 32 Despite having no pharmacological rationale for using these remedies, they have proven effective.

3.4. Theme 3: Remedies as immune boosters

The overarching concern for people infected with COVID‐19 is whether their bodies will withstand the effects of the virus. Many people worry about how strong their immune system is and therefore want to strengthen their body's defences. People believe that certain natural remedies help boost the immune system. Such remedies include different spices, herbs and citrus fruits, garlic and warm water, ginger, honey, and lemon tea. 17 Lam et al. 28 agrees that taking multivitamins, a supplementary diet containing high proteins, and using Chinese herbal medicine help boost the immune system. In India, natural spices such as Kadha and turmeric (known to have no side effects) have proven to boost immunity. Turmeric has been used to treat wounds, colds, and liver diseases. 49

4. DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

This integrative review intended to synthesize published studies on the use of home remedies for the treatment and prevention of COVID‐19. The review analyzed 11 articles and extracted three themes, namely remedies for the treatment of COVID‐19, remedies for the prevention of COVID‐19, and remedies to boost the immune system.

During the epic COVID‐19 pandemic, everyone was overwhelmed and in fear of the outcome of the infection. Many people opted to complement modern medicine with home remedies to accelerate their recovery. Others felt it was better to use remedies that typically relieve similar symptoms as those of COVID‐19. Consequently, they opted to use home remedies such as holy basil, lemon, ginger, black pepper, and Chinese chaste tree powder. 24 Fortunately, many were cured without any side effects. Other remedies included warm mixtures of ginger, cloves, coriander, black cumin seeds, honey, fruits high in Vitamin C, garlic, turmeric, cinnamon, and black pepper. To alleviate symptoms of the virus, such as fevers, myalgia, throat aches, and shortness of breath, people wiped their bodies with warm, wet sponges. They also prepared tonics from garlic and performed steam inhalations. These strategies are congruent with the findings by Nuertey et al., 50 who reported that the use of specified herbs, certain tree leaves, and steam inhalation is generally believed to kill SARS‐CoV‐2. Specific remedies like garlic are common and can be used in different forms, such as powder, raw, in oils, and as an extract. Garlic has been found to contain allicin, a sulfur‐containing phytonutrient likely to be the source of its antibacterial and antiviral properties. 51 Afolabi et al. 52 further reported that many people attest to being cured after consuming herbs and vegetable leaves. Abdalla and McGaw 53 assert that using natural products has a long history in human existence.

Some countries have approved the use of natural products in the management of COVID‐19. 24 , 28 , 30 However, there is little or no clinical evidence of their efficacy and safety. Natural products may hold great potential in the fight against COVID‐19, but without detailed clinical trials, their potency against the virus and their safe use need to be established.

The prevention of SARS‐CoV‐2 has become increasingly important in many countries as a way of curbing the condition and avoiding morbidity. India, Pakistan, Hong Kong, Iran, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and other countries use traditional medicine to prevent COVID‐19. There are several spices and herbs in use common to these countries. Their use is also attributed to the herbs and vegetables being more readily available than in Western medicine. 54 Commonly used products include herbal juices, decoction (Kadha) and concoctions with Vitamin C, garlic, lemon and ginger, hot water, and steam inhalations. Natural products possess promising antiviral effects against human CoVs, which may guide the development of novel antiviral prophylactics. Soleymani et al. 55 also supports the use of plants and natural products, as several plants and natural remedies have been deemed effective in preventing COVID‐19.

Immune‐boosting food and herbal supplements can help in the prevention and management of patients with COVID‐19. Natural compounds may provide alternative prophylaxis by boosting the immune response in the preexposure stage. 55 This review revealed that most people in Africa and Asia use products such as spices, herbs, citrus fruits, garlic, ginger honey, and lemon teas, as well as warm water 17 , 45 ; the results of which have proven effective. It is within this premise that the authors are of the view that home remedies can be used as a preventive measure.

The authors acknowledge that healing with home remedies is as old as mankind. Some of these remedies have a proven history of effectiveness and people relied on them for treating certain ailments. 56 An observation was made that in some instances those who sought medical care also combined it with home remedies. 57 An essential list of home remedies needs to be developed to provide guidelines about their actions and side effects. The authors further recommend more research inquiry into all remedies used in different countries as a way of complementing and advancing modern medicine.

5. LIMITATIONS

Search strategies for this review were a limitation. 21 Search engines are reported to only identify half of the suitable studies because of the unreliable use of terms. 21 COVID‐19 is a new condition hence more studies are yet to be conducted. To avoid both publishing and language bias, all articles deemed to be relevant to the topic were included if they were peer‐reviewed, regardless of the journal there were published. This is a limitation as it could have included those journals deemed as predatory. Although there was no limitation in language, all included articles were in English.

6. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

The findings could help nurses advocate for the use of home remedies to boost individuals' immunity and fight disease. Furthermore, the beneficial value of traditional medicine should be well understood, so that correct information is given to communities. Traditional practitioners were included as part of the caring and curing team during the HIV pandemic. With COVID‐19 there were not included as full participants in some countries. 58 Consultation with them is needed and they should make part of the health care team.

7. IMPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH

Further research on the efficacy and effectiveness of home remedies should be conducted to provide empirical evidence about their use and effectiveness. There are numerous home remedies that were found to be commonly used such as Lengana (Artemisia Afra), Cannabis and Mušukušwane (Lippia Javanica). These need to be further studied and to be tested in scientific laboratories to ensure that they are effective and do not interfere with other medications.

8. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE HEALTH POLICY

Policies on the use of home remedies should be available to regulate their use and effectiveness. The WHO should provide clear guidelines on the use of home remedies as an alternative treatment to fight COVID‐19. An essential home remedies list should be developed regarding its usage. It has started in other countries such as South Africa where cannabis is used for medicinal purposes for cancer and other chronic conditions. Such policies should be made universal.

9. CONCLUSION

Generally, the use of home remedies remains a vital therapeutic measure for COVID‐19. Further research and a rigorous approach should be explored on the effectiveness and safety of home remedies. Generally, spices, herbs, and plant‐based products are commonly used to boost immunity and fight COVID‐19.

AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS

Rakgadi Grace Malapela : Conceptualization; Data curation; Formal analysis; Methodology; Project administration; Resources; Validation; Writing – original draft; Writing – review & editing. Gloria Thupayagale‐Tshweneagae : Conceptualization; Data curation; Formal analysis; Methodology; Writing – original draft; Writing – review & editing. William M. Baratedi : Conceptualization; Data curation; Formal analysis; Methodology; Writing – original draft; Writing – review & editing.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

ETHICS STATEMENT

Existing information from published, reviewed journals, on the effective use of home remedies, was used. Therefore, ethical approval and informed consent were not required as no human records were used. PRISMA guidelines will be used to publish key findings in a peer‐reviewed journal.

TRANSPARENCY STATEMENT

The lead author Rakgadi Grace Malapela affirms that this manuscript is an honest, accurate, and transparent account of the study being reported; that no important aspects of the study have been omitted; and that any discrepancies from the study as planned (and, if relevant, registered) have been explained.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The authors received no financial assistance for the research.

Malapela RG, Thupayagale‐Tshweneagae G, Baratedi WM. Use of home remedies for the treatment and prevention of coronavirus disease: an integrative review . Health Sci Rep . 2022; 6 :e900. 10.1002/hsr2.900 [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ CrossRef ] [ Google Scholar ]

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