Photo: Lara Sobel / Flickr

Home remedies are great for a number of reasons. They’re often cheaperthan medication, they have little or no side effects, they’re easy to find, they’re completely natural and, at times, they’re more effective than what your pharmacist might suggest. Find out how to treat common problems like athlete’s foot, dry skin and sunburn using ingredients you already have in the kitchen.

Dry lips and skin

Olive oil is very similar to the oils your skin naturally produces, making it the perfect moisturiser. Smooth a few drops onto your dry skin or lips and rub it in to form a protective barrier.

Sunburn and razor burn

Sunburn and razor burn can both be helped using milk. Dip a washcloth into chilled milk and apply it to the affected areas. Milk works because it contains lactic acid, a natural anti-inflammatory. Using cool milk helps soothe the skin.

Athlete’s foot

Athlete’s foot, embarrassing as it is, is a very common problem. It’s caused by fungus that thrives in warm, moist conditions. Apple cider vinegar kills this fungus. Just soak your feet in a mixture of three parts water and one part apple cider vinegar. Be sure to dry your feet well afterwards.

Dry, flaky hands

Hands are always exposed to the elements, meaning they easily get dry. If your hands are so dry they’re getting flaky, you may be able to fix the problem by exfoliating. Try rubbing coarse grained sugar into dry skin. After rinsing it off, rub some olive oil into your hands.

Smelly sneakers

Keep sneakers smelling fresh with baking soda or orange peels. Dust baking soda into your shoes after running or going to the gym. Or you can try using orange peels. Left in shoes overnight they help neutralise bad odour.

If you’re interested in learning more about home remedies, Reader’s Digest’s 1001 Home Remedies is packed with ideas.

Tags: health