According to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, a visit to the doctor costs an average of $200. Even with healthcare insurance in hand, when the cost of deductibles, out of pocket expenses, and other tests and medications stack up the expenses can easily spiral out of control. Because of that, healthcare costs are a major cause of heavy debt loads. Therefore, every little bit of saving helps. Here are some home health remedies for common illnesses or ailments that you may come across.
ACCC’s home health remedies might help you feel better.
Home Health Remedies to Save Money
The following are some suggestions for home health remedies on a budget. Always ask a medical professional as these are only suggestions!
Cut a cold short
If you catch a cold when the chilly winter air is around, it takes much longer to heal and is surely not a pleasant experience. However, you can feel the warning signs of a cold much earlier. Some home remedies can specifically target these symptoms and help you cut the cold short.
Cut a vitamin C–rich lemon in half and squeeze the juice from one-half into a cup. Drop the lemon half shell into the cup. Add boiling water and a teaspoon of raw honey. Breathe in the healing vapor to open sinuses, and sip a cupful two or three times daily to fight the bug.
Cool a burn
The everyday rush in the kitchen causes many small accidents and mishaps. A little bit of aloe Vera gel is a soothing anti-inflammatory that creates a second skin to protect a burn from the air. And if you cut your fingers while chopping up the vegetables, make sure you apply enough pressure on it to stop bleeding and drizzle some coffee over the cut. This helps the bleeding to stop faster.
Soothe a sore throat
A sore throat is one of the most irritating feelings. Gargling warm salt water at least twice a day or gargling with a solution of five to six pressed garlic cloves mixed with warm water can help you relieve the pain. Make sure you follow this regimen for at least three days.
Tame a fever
A mild fever can be tamed with a few simple steps. Start with taking a bath in lukewarm water. The bath should help bring your body temperature down. Make sure you don’t try to bring the fever down rapidly by plunging yourself into cold water. You can also give yourself a sponge bath. Sponging high-heat areas like your armpits and groin with cool water can help reduce your temperature as the water evaporates.
Ease a Stomach Ache
What can you do when you have an upset stomach? First of all, it is important that you keep hydrated. Make sure your fluid intake is comprised of electrolytes. You can also add food such as chicken broth and Jell-O as these supply your body with water and electrolytes from the salt. Once diarrhea settles a little, you can start on a BRAT diet. That is bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. These are soothing foods to help settle your stomach.
Home health remedies can help you minimize the effect of your sickness when the signs start to appear. However, make sure you seek necessary medical attention when required, and not only rely on home remedies.
If you’re struggling to pay off debt, ACCC can help. Schedule a free credit counseling session with us today.
