People have all sorts of choices when it comes to healthcare today, but the following classic herbal remedies may mean never having to leave the house to visit the doctor or pharmacist—that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t, however. The following post is simply a compendium of old folk and herbal remedies that may help various conditions. It is not meant to replace the advice of a trained physician, but you may find some great remedies that work well for you.

Arthritis

To help combat arthritis pain, eat cherries and drink cherry juice—lots of it. Another adage recommends arthritis sufferers rub a fresh clove of garlic on painful spots.

Burns – 1st Degree

For first degree burns, try apple cider vinegar poured directly over the burned area. If you just burned your tongue, rinse your mouth out repeatedly with cold water and place a few drops of vanilla extract on your tongue.

Colds

No one wants a cold and the sooner you’re rid of it the better. If you’ve got one, place a clove of garlic between your tongue and cheek. Dig your tooth into it every now and then to release some juice. The garlic will help thin the mucus produced by your cold as well as kill off the bacteria.

Corns

To remove corns, try rubbing castor oil on it a couple times a day. It will soon peel off revealing your smooth skin.

Cough

Have a chronic cough? Some herbalists say drinking tea prepared from violets is an excellent remedy. Also, try gargling with it to sooth a sore throat. For a hard dry cough, anise, used in many lozenges, is a good remedy.

Corns

To remove corns, try rubbing castor oil on it a couple times a day. It will soon peel off revealing your smooth skin.

Depression

Mild bouts of depression might be peeled away with a couple of bananas a day. Chemicals such as serotonin found in bananas may help ward off depression.

Diarrhea

The runs, fondly and formally known as diarrhea, may be relieved by eating a grated apple. Blackberry juice or wine may also help cure the problem.

Fever

For fevers, eat grapes and drink diluted grape juice throughout the day.

Gas

To relieve gas, drink a strong cup of peppermint tea.

Headache

In the case of certain kinds of headaches, a few strawberries may work wonders; they contain organic salicylates—similar to the active ingredients in aspirin.

Hangover

You’ll hear lots of folks tell you how to cure a hangover, but that cure is somehow still illusive for many. Try adding 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper to a glass of water and swilling it down.

High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is as common as it is dangerous. It can’t hurt you to try eating two apples a day whose pectin may help the condition. Also, eat garlic raw in a salad and be sure to cook with it as well.

Insomnia

To ease insomnia, try drinking a glass of warm milk mixed with two teaspoons of honey.

Kidney Infection

To help remedy kidney or bladder infections, try drinking pure cranberry juice.

Morning Sickness

Tea made by pouring boiling water over peach tree leaves is a Chinese herbal remedy used to treat morning sickness.