Take three cups of dandelion tea each day in the week leading up to your period to relieve premenstrual bloating.

Eating seeded chillies provides quick relief for sinus headaches. Chillies loosen mucus secretions and increases blood flow in the sinuses, relieving the congestion that causes the headache.

Witchhazel is an excellent natural remedy for haemorrhoids because of its astringency. Saturate a cotton ball with distilled witch hazel and apply after each bowel movement and several times throughout the day to help shrink the swollen vein.

Add 10 drops of thyme essential oil to one teaspoon of shampoo. Mix well and apply the mixture to the scalp and hair. Leave the shampoo in the hair for five minutes before rinsing thoroughly with a 50-50 mix of apple cider vinegar and water. (Note: Because thyme essential oil is so powerful, is must […]

Make fresh ginger tea. Peel and grate a small piece of fresh root ginger, place in a cup, pour over boiling water and steep for five minutes. Strain, sweeten with honey and drink. Another good idea is to take Swedish bitters before every meal.

To stop itching and inflammation of mosquito or other insect bites, apply one drop of peppermint oil directly to the bite. Peppermint has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties.

Combine four drops of clary sage oil with two teaspoons of a carrier oil, such as almond, and use to massage the lower abdomen, directly above the pubic hair line.

Drink raspberry leaf tea, or simmer a few slices of peeled fresh ginger root and a 7.5mm stick of cinnamon in 150ml water, add honey and lemon, and drink.

Make this mouthwash, then gargle with it as often as necessary. Place two tablespoons of dried sage in a teapot, pour over 250mls boiling water. Steep for 15 minutes, then strain. Add three drops of myrrh essential oil and shake well.

Heat 200g of sea salt in a heavy pan. Funnel into a clean, cotton sock. (Don’t overfill – you want to leave it pliable, like a beanbag.) Pin the end. Apply to the painful area for approximately 30 minutes. The heat helps stimulate circulation, bringing fresh blood to the area to speed healing.