Benefit from the wisdom of Italian Nonnas…
If you come from an Italian family, no doubt you have cherished memories of your Nonna–or grandmother. Nonna always had delicious food ready for you to eat whenever you visited her, and if you got injured, she had some passed-down remedy to help you treat the problem! Nonnas are great with natural remedies, and we’ve got a few of the classic Italian grandmother remedies here for you…
- Sore throat cure — To deal with a sore throat, steep a few sage leaves in a cup of hot water. Let the leaves sit for up to 10 minutes, then remove the leaves and use the warm water as a gargle. To deal with canker sores, squeeze half a lemon into the water. Adding salt to the steeped sage tea helps to make the gargle more effective.
- Wart remedy –– Got a wart and don’t know how to get rid of it? Get dandelion weed fresh from the garden, cut the end, and squeeze the milk onto the wart. Do this three times a night, and watch the wart disappear within a few days.
- Soothing tea –– Want to relax after a long and stressful day? Put basil leaves into a cup of hot water, and let them steep for 10 minutes. Add a bit of sage and chamomile to relax a stressed out stomach, or just use basil to calm your nerves.
- Sinus wash –– Fill the palm of your hand with water, sprinkle in a bit of salt, and suck the water into your nose. Let it all drip out into the sink, and it will leave your sinuses nice and clean.
- Cough remedy –– Got a cough due to allergies or a bronchial infection? Boil two cups of water, and add in ginger, mint, and two sliced lemons. Add in two tablespoons of both sugar and honey, and once the mixture has boiled down to a thick syrup, add in an ounce of either brandy or rum. Take a spoonful of this stuff to clear away the cough.
READ MORE: 10 Natural Remedies for Dandruff
- Cold remedy –– Don’t let a common cold get you down! Make chicken soup with a lot of vegetables, making sure to add the chicken bones into the soup.
- Breath freshener –– To get rid of bad breath, boil two cups of water and drop in a few sprigs of parsley, some ground cloves, and a dash of cinnamon. Strain the liquid once it has steeped and use it as a mouthwash to deal with bad breath.
- Room deodorizer –– To stop your bedroom, kitchen, or dining room from smelling bad, place a pot of water on the stove to boil and add in rosemary, lemon rinds, and cloves. Leave the pot uncovered, and the steam will fill the room to take away any unpleasant smells.
- Bug killer –– Don’t you hate those bugs that come out in full force in the summer? Sprinkle crushed mint, borax, or pepper flakes around the kitchen, preferably around the windowsills and doors. Pour olive oil over any holes where ants enter the house, or use fresh lemon juice.
- Furniture polish –– Don’t bother with fancy, expensive furniture polishes, but use a mixture of olive oil and lemon, along with warm water and a capful of dishwashing soap. Shake the mixture in a jar or bottle and rub it into the wood. It will not only help to return the wood’s natural shine, but it will leave it smelling nice and citrusy.
