Cold sores – we will have all felt the uncomfortable feeling of a cold sore on our lip or surrounding area, the uncomfortable stinging and blistering. While there are traditional medications you can buy to treat cold sores you can also use alternative herbs to treat and relieve the pain. The most popular herbal remedy used to treat the cold sore is comfrey salve; this should be applied to the area and surrounding area as needed.

Common cold – the common cold is one of the illnesses which have so far eluded scientists in finding a cure. While there are many traditional ways of alleviating symptoms there are also alternative ones. Echinacea is perhaps the more popular of alternative treatments, following this elderberry and ephedrine are popular forms.

Constipation – this can be very uncomfortable and make us feel awful, one of the most popular ways of dealing with constipation naturally is by using aloe gel, this acts as a stimulant laxative which encourage the bowels to return to a normal pattern the natural way.

Cuts and scrapes – If you have children then you will be well aware of the cuts and scrapes they pick up, if you want a more natural way of healing those cuts and that scrape then you can turn to herbal remedies to ease the discomfort. The most popular form is calendula as this helps to prevent infection building up. You can also use chamomile as this stops the cut from oozing and comfrey which helps to alleviate pain and accelerate the healing process.

Diabetes – if your suffer from diabetes then along with your medication prescribed by your Doctor or health care worker you can also use arctium lappa as this has a high insulin level, ginkgo which help with the vascular system and can also help with problems with the eyes, which is often associated with diabetes.

Eczema – this is a particularly annoying itching rash that affects the skin, when scratched it can often weep and this leads to more intense itching which goes around in a circle. There are creams that the Doctor will prescribe to relieve the itching and clear the skin but you can also use alternative forms of medicine. Aloe gel will help to reduce any inflammation caused by the eczema. Calendula cream will relieve and stop the intense itching and marshmallow root will help to keep infection at bay if the skin has been opened.

Indigestion – this is a common problem after over eating or over indulgencing in too much coffee or sweet stuff. Herbal remedies that help indigestion are also known to help the symptoms of heartburn and include angelica which helps to relieve flatulence, cinnamon to help relieve that bloated feeling and fennel to soothe the stomach.

Influenza – although there isn’t a cure as such for the flu there are remedies that can go a long way to helping with the many symptoms that flu can bring. Some of the most popular herbal remedies include anise tea, this is a great help for congestion and helps greatly with the release of mucus. Catnip is well known for its ability to reduce fevers; it can also help to calm the digestive system and also relax. Elderberry tea is said to shorten the length of the flu and also aids to fight off any problems that might cause secondary infection.

Insomnia – insomnia is the inability to sleep or to stay asleep and get a good nights rest, stress is usually the main factor in the majority of sleep problems, but sometimes they can be deep seated and this is termed as having insomnia. While Doctors are reluctant to give you anything to combat this on a long term basis, there are safer herbal remedies that can help you to get a good night`s sleep. Chamomile tea is well known for its sedative properties along with hops, lemon balm and kava.

Menopause – the menopause can bring an alarming amount of symptoms which vary greatly from woman to woman. The symptoms can be very stressful, embarrassing and painful, there are several remedies which can help with various symptoms of menopause these include black cohash for irregular bleeding and muscle pain, damina to help relieve the hot flashes which are commonly associated with menopause and valerian to help combat the signs of insomnia and to aid relaxation and stop irritability.

Sinusitis – this is a particularly uncomfortable condition which is caused by inflammation and infection of the sinus passages. There are herbal remedies which help to relive the discomfort caused by this condition, the most common herbal remedies which help relieve congestion associated with this condition are anise tea, which helps to break up the congestion caused by sinusitis, cats claw which helps to fight of any infection present, elderberry, horehound and thyme.

Vomiting and nausea – vomiting can be caused by a wide range of conditions from stomach viruses to morning sickness or merely being affected by nerves. Agrimony, ginger, fennel and peppermint are all useful in stopping or alleviating symptoms of nausea.

Warts – warts are classed as a virus and along with being unsightly when on the hands they can also be uncomfortable. Herbal remedies which are known to be especially helpful when it comes to treating warts include aloe gel which has antibacterial and antiviral properties, black walnut and comfrey. Certain types of warts also respond very well to certain essential oils.