We’ve all been there. And by there, we mean scratching through the medicine cabinet in the middle of the night because you have an unexplained rash, a killer sore throat, or a headache that’s crippling you. And when you don’t find what you’re after, there’s only one thing left to do! Call your ouma or your folks to get some advice on some good old fashioned South African home remedies, or should we say, boererate.
Some of the best home remedies genuinely work, but then again, there are a few of the funnier ones (snaakse boererate) that are well worth a chuckle.
As you might have guessed, this one’s all about home remedies – and we’re going to look at them all, both the good ones and the funny ones!
South African home remedies
Home remedies for a scratchy throat | Boereraad vir krap keel
Nothing is worse than a sore and scratchy throat. If you consult with any South African on the best home remedies to solve this problem, they will probably all say the same thing.
First, gargle with a solution of salt and warm water. Mix ½ a teaspoon of salt in half a glass of warm water. Mix it up, and when it is all dissolved, gargle.
Another soothing remedy is to gargle with honey. Mix 3 teaspoons of honey and 1 tablespoon of lemon into a cup of warm water and gargle with it.
Home remedies for hemorrhoids | Boererate vir aambeie
Nobody likes to talk about haemorrhoids or go and see a doctor for them, for obvious reasons. If you’ve got a bad case of the piles and you’re looking for boererate to ease your pain and discomfort, a good South African home remedy is ready available. If you’ve got Epsom salts at home, that’s all you really need. Add a tablespoon of Epsom salts to warm (not hot) bath water and submerge yourself for at least 20 minutes. You may need to do this twice a day until the piles disappear.
Home remedies for bronchitis | Boererate vir brongitis
If you’re looking for South African home remedies for Bronchitis, garlic and ginger are the stars of the show! The boererate you should know about are:
- Ginger – stew fresh ginger in a small pot of water – let it boil on the stove for around 10 minutes and then drink the ginger “tea.” Be careful not to overdo this, as some people are sensitive to ginger.
- Garlic – eating fresh garlic (on everything) is said to help ease Bronchitis. If you can’t stand the taste or have to deal with other people, taking the capsules is just as effective.
Home remedies for constipation | Boererate vir hardlywigheid
Constipation is another health topic people don’t like to talk about. If you’ve got a bad case of constipation, you’re probably suffering in silence while screaming with frustration inside. Lucky for you, there are boererate for constipation that you can try! Here are three popular South African solutions:
- Lemon water – this boosts alkalinity and helps the body flush out toxins. Squeeze the juice of half a fresh lemon into warm water and enjoy it morning, midday, and evening.
- Coconut oil – this helps the food break down at a faster rate, thus cleansing the colon. You can pop a tablespoon of coconut oil into your smoothie or coffee or simply swallow a tablespoon and let it work its magic.
- Flaxseeds – flax seeds are natural laxatives and are high in omega 3 fatty acids. One tablespoon a day keeps constipation at bay. Add it to your breakfast cereal or soak them in a little bit of milk and then drink them down when constipation strikes.
Home remedies for stomach aches | Boererate vir maagpyn | Boererate vir maagseer
If you’ve got a stomach ache, increasing the amount of carbonic acid in your stomach can help. Increasing acidity can also help to settle thing down. The best way to do this is to consume a mixture of baking soda, lemon juice and water.
Mix one tablespoon of fresh lemon (or lime) juice and one teaspoon of baking soda into a glass of room temperature water. Mix it in, drink it down, and you’re good to go.
Home remedy for sore tonsils | Boererate vir mangels | Boererate vir n seer keel
Sore tonsils or tonsillitis is a horrible affliction. The tonsils swell, and your throat is sore – yikes! The good news is that there are simple home remedies that really work. The best boererate vir mangels:
- Gargle with warm salt water – mix ½ a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water and gargle three times a day.
- Rooibos tea with lemon and honey – make a regular cup of rooibos tea, add 2 teaspoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice and 1 teaspoon of honey. This won’t cure sore tonsils but will provide relief from pain and swelling.
Home remedies for nausea | Boererate vir naarheid
Feeling nauseous is the worst! It can sneak up on you periodically or be consistent for some time. Either way, a home remedy can ease the symptoms and get you feeling better. One of the best home remedies for nausea is to add a few pieces of ginger to your tea. Drink at least three cups of ginger tea in a day if you’re feeling nauseous! Another great way to put nausea in its place is to drink peppermint tea which settles the stomach. You can buy peppermint tea at most supermarkets.
Funny home remedies | Snaakse boererate
These are just to make you laugh! Here are some of the stranger home remedies you might have heard about:
- Use bread soaked in milk to treat boils. Yup. Soak bread in milk and then place it on the affected area! While this sounds delicious, it really does not affect boils!
- Stuff wet spinach behind your ears if you have a nose bleed. We aren’t sure who came up with this one, but it sure is hilarious (and no, it doesn’t work).
- Push wet basil into your rear for constipation. Please do not try this at home.
- Put onion slices in your sock to get over the flu quicker. This is an old wives’ tale. Many people believed that leaving onion slices around the home is why they didn’t get the flu when it was a pandemic. Onions belong on sandwiches and in salads – don’t go putting them in your socks!
FinGlobal: South Africa’s home remedy for emigration red tape
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