More Natural Cures for Workaday Woes

Bad breath. Swishing lemon juice in your mouth and gargling with it kills bacteria that cause odor. Following this by eating some plain unsweetened yogurt replaces those bacteria with "good" lactobacillus bacteria. The result is no odor for 12-24 hours.

Hiccups. Swallowing a teaspoon or two of granulated sugar stimulates a nerve to cease causing the diaphragm to spasm. Taking any other food item that's granular will do, too.

 Sore throat. Gargling with the pressings of six garlic cloves in a glass of warm water relieves pain. It should be done twice a day for three days. A study has demonstrated that fresh garlic juice is an antimicrobial, and the warm water soothes throat inflammation.

Insomnia. Eating a dozen cherries, which are loaded with melatonin, before retiring for the night creates drowsiness. Melatonin is the body's hormone that regulates sleep patterns. In addition, taking a hot bath and relaxing on a bed that's fragrant with lavender can be helpful.

Dry skin, rashes and eczema. Taking a hot bath infused with oatmeal, which is rich in avenanthramides that relieve skin inflammation and itchiness, can do the trick. To do this, put whole oats in a clean sock, tie off the open end with a rubber band, and let the sock steep in the bathwater. Then bathe.

 Menstrual cramps. Taking crampbark tincture - a half to a whole teaspoonful every two hours on your most uncomfortable days - can relieve cramps. Studies have demonstrated that this North American plant has muscle-relaxing properties.