(BlackDoctor.org) – Yes, it’s essential that you see your doctor regularly, and consult with them when you have any questions, especially regarding serious health concerns. But there are some minor health situations that can be fixed (or at least controlled until you can get in to see your doctor) by simply walking into your kitchen.

The best part? Your doctor actually approves of these natural cures!

Use Salt
For: Athlete’s Foot

A saline solution provides a hostile environment for fungus, decreases excess perspiration, and softens skin so antifungal meds can penetrate deeper. Soak your foot for 5 to 10 minutes in a mixture of 2 teaspoons of salt per pint of warm water, recommends podiatric surgeon Suzanne M. Levine, DPM.

Use Chamomile Tea
For: Calluses and Corns

If your feet are prone to bumps and lumps, soak them in a diluted chamomile tea bath, advises Levine. The tea will soothe and soften hard skin. The brew will stain your feet, but it comes off easily with soap and water.

Use Ginger
For: Stomachaches

This root is well-known as a stomach soother, and rightfully so. It’s great for relieving just about any gastrointestinal illness, including motion sickness and pregnancy morning sickness. To make a tea, steep a tablespoon of ground fresh ginger in hot water for 10 minutes, then strain.

Use Honey
For: Cuts and Scrapes

This natural sweetener contains 3 powerful wound-healing components: sugar for absorbing moisture so bacteria can’t survive, hydrogen peroxide to disinfect, and the nectar-based compound propolis to kill bacteria. Also, honey dries to form a natural bandage.

Use Lemon
For: Age Spots

Cut a few wedges and place them directly onto your age spots for 10 to 15 minutes a day, suggests Audrey Kunin, MD, a cosmetic dermatologist in Kansas City, Missouri. “The acid in the fresh lemon juice may help lighten the age spots,” she says, but it won’t happen overnight. You’ll notice a difference in 6 to 12 weeks. Watch carefully; overuse may cause the upper layer of the skin to peel.

Use Milk
For: Anxiety

To calm yourself before bedtime, pour a glass of warm milk. “The old wives’ tale of having warm milk really does help,” says Bernard Vittone, MD, a psychiatrist and founder of The National Center for the Treatment of Phobias, Anxiety, and Depression in Washington, DC. Milk contains the amino acid tryptophan, which can bring on relaxation.

Use Apple Cider Vinegar
For: Bruises

Apple Cider Vinegar is an excellent natural anti-inflammatory. Dab a little on a cotton ball and rub it directly on a bruise, or make a paste out of the vinegar and an egg white or petroleum jelly and smear it on the bruised area.

Use Olive Oil
For: Eczema

Packed with inflammation-reducing antioxidants, olive oil is the basis of many moisturizers; used alone, it’s free of chemical irritants you may find in store-bought creams. Rub 1 teaspoon per square inch of skin, creating a seal that keeps skin from drying out. For serious cases, cover oiled skin with plastic wrap overnight.

Use Tonic Water
For: Restless Legs

A 6-ounce glass of tonic water before bed might calm symptoms
of restless legs syndrome; the quinine it contains helps stop repeated muscle contractions.

Use Baking Soda
For: Urinary Tract Infection

When you start showing symptoms (typically pain with urination, frequent urination and/or pain with urination), schedule an appointment with your doctor asap to avoid more serious conditions, including infertility. But in the meantime, using baking soda makes the bladder more alkaline, which prevents bacteria from multiplying, says urologist Larrian Gillespie, MD. Drink a solution made with ¼ teaspoon of baking soda mixed in 8 ounces of water at the first sign of symptoms. Continue this once a day until you see your doctor, who will need to obtain a culture, then prescribe the appropriate antibiotics.

By Gemma Greene, BDO Staff Writer