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Especially with rather simple illnesses such as a cold, very few people affected go directly to the doctor. Instead, try using gentle home remedies such as chicken soup or herbal tea to get rid of the annoying symptoms. But home remedies are not only used in Germany: the little helpers are used around the world for various ailments. The authors Karin Berndl and Nici Hofer have them in their book "Pfefferwickel, Kurkumamilch & Co." collected. And we present them in our click section!
Why do so many people use home remedies?
Medicinal plants are used in most home remedies. Because we have known for millennia that many plants can help with various diseases. In the Middle Ages, so-called herb women and monastery residents used their knowledge of medicinal plants to help sick people. The knowledge of the monasteries goes back even further: Ancient Greek physicians were the first to use botany, Monks wrote this knowledge down and cataloged it.
Hildegard von Bingen, who lived in the late Middle Ages and fought against the general belief that an illness was a punishment from God, was particularly known for her herbal medicine. That is why we now know, for example, that chamomile has anti-inflammatory effects and thyme has an expectorant effect. After Hildegard von Bingen's death, herbalism fell into oblivion for a long time – only to experience a revival at the end of the 19th century, thanks to Pastor Sebastian Kneipp.
What types of home remedies are there?
In addition to classic tinctures, there are many other methods of using home remedies. The most common are:
Home remedies aren't always harmless
However, one should note that some medicinal plants interact with other plants or can trigger allergies. St. John's wort, for example, is often used to treat depression or menopausal symptoms, but it can negatively affect the effects of other drugs. Therefore, you should always seek advice from a doctor or pharmacy before trying a medicinal plant that has not been used before.