Remedicated

When you have an allergy, it seems like the world becomes limited: you cannot touch the flowers, you can’t pet a dog, eat shrimps and sea food, or even clean your home. Worse, allergies can begin more serious health problems. So what do you do? Get rid of it.

Here are some ways on how you can do that:

1. Powdered licorice root. The tradition of using licorice root as medicine can be traced back several years ago—even before your mother or grandmother is born. It was commonly utilized as a cough suppressant until users discovered that it’s also effective in getting rid of allergies. Nevertheless, as effective and powerful it could be, it’s not recommended for those who are suffering from hypertension or high blood pressure as it tends to increase your blood level.

2. Alfalfa. If licorice is to cough, alfalfa is to runny nose. It is usually used by those who are showing signs of hay fever—people who are already feeling itchy in their noses and constantly sneezing. It can also bring back the mucus membranes to normal by calming down your immune system. However, again, watch out for it, as ironically alfalfa can also cause some allergies. If you’re showing some signs, then you know that you need to stop and look for other treatments.

3. Posture. Just when you think that sleeping all day and night will relieve you of your allergies, think again. There are some studies that suggest you may have to sit up straight and improve your posture. Constant lying down will only worsen the symptoms of your allergies, especially if it affects your nasal passages. If you’re too tired to practice better posture, then you can just lean your body a little bit forward.

4. Relaxation. Surprisingly, some allergies start to set in only when you feel emotionally unstable, stressed, too excited, or too worried. When you begin to notice some rashes when you’re busy studying for your exams, it may be a sign that you need to relax yourself. Usually, they will just gradually diminish. However, if it doesn’t, then you may have to try out other methods or even look for a doctor.

5. Acupressure. This age-old technique is very popular these days. It’s an alternative treatment for allergies, which means there are no drugs, over the counter or not, that you need to drink. What basically happens here is that certain points found in your body are activated. For example, you may relax your nasal passages when you’re going to massage the bridge of your nose in circular motion. You can also try massage and even reflexology.

6. Quercetin. This is actually a plant pigment that you can find in certain fruits and vegetables, such as onions, berries, apples, and nuts. It can naturally cure allergies because it has the ability to prevent the body from developing histamines. Moreover, it also possesses anti-inflammatory properties, which makes it a good medicine for those who are suffering from swollen joints.

Perhaps the hardest thing about the late-night beer-drinking sprees with friends is not getting drunk but how to cope with your hangover. This is especially true when you need to rush for work the next day. The splitting headache, the feeling of a beat-up body, and the haggard look of your face will be more than enough for you to consider just lie down and pass up the chance of doing something really important.

Fortunately, there are many ways on how you can get rid of your hangover, and you don’t need to limit yourself with several conventions. Here are some of the strange—but surprisingly effective—means to get rid of your hangover:

1. Be a Starbucks buddy. Who says only coffee drinkers need to come by a coffee shop? Drunkards do. Coffee can basically give you the relief that you need for your headache so you can think clearly and start to sober up. A very strong cup of brewed coffee will already do the trick. Nevertheless, you may have to pair your coffee with a decent breakfast meal if you don’t want to end up suffering from dehydration instead.

2. Mix your Bloody Mary. The wisdom that you need to drink beer today to get rid of the hangover of drinking bottles of it the other night is completely absurd, but hey, it does really work for a few. However, obviously, the effect will only be temporary since you’re still going to feel the hangover after drinking. To just reduce the possible effects of drinking, you can concoct a Bloody Mary instead. You should be extremely careful, though. You don’t want to end up being a regular attendee of Alcoholics Anonymous very soon.

3. Chow down on bitter almonds. This supposed hangover cure isn’t really anything new. As a matter of fact, this has been practiced since the Middle Ages. Nobody has a good explanation why bitter almonds are used, though it could be because of the fact that eating it will completely remove your mind from the feeling of hangover. To make it even stranger, bitter almonds are best paired with eels.

4. Drink a lovely mixture of tomato juice. Surely, you’d feel sophisticated even with your hangover when you’re going to drink up your tomato juice. But don’t be easily comfortable with the idea. If you’re going to follow the tradition of those who are in Outer Mongolia you may have to look for a sheep’s eye, mixed with pickles, and then combine it with your tomato juice.

5. Do what the Romans do. The Romans weren’t just mere conquerors, but they were also well-known for their sleepless merrymaking, which could even include the entire empire. So how do they stay up so late and still wake up feeling refreshed? The secret lies on the cabbage leaves. They would just chow on the leaves or drink their water. They may also cook some fried canaries, which actually make excellent breakfast fried meal for them, along with the cabbage.