8 fringe remedies I use

I'm a believer in modern medicine, but I will always try a natural or OTC remedy if the condition isn't urgent. Here are 8 that I have found effective.

* Valerian Root- this is possibly the stinkiest substance known to man, but it works wonders to calm my nerves. It's been called herbal Valium. Having never taken Valium, I can't draw a comparison myself...but I can say for certain that on days when I am a little edgy, Valerian helps.

* Chamomile tea- specifically, this chamomile tea by Traditional Medicinals. I knw the box says it is for stress relief, but I haven't been able to stay awake long enough to see if I have less stress. As effective as diphenhydramine (Benadryl, Tylenol PM) for insomnia- it just takes a little longer to work. A cup an hour before bedtime does the trick.

* Cranberry- Here is my UTI protocol: The minute I feel a twinge, I take a Cystex, which is an over-the-counter antiseptic/ anesthetic for the pee hole, immediately followed by three or four cranberry tablets every three to four hours and a short soak in a nearly scalding bath. I have been doing this for years, and it works for me.

* Aspirin in Wintergreen Alcohol- This is a remedy for achy muscles my husband uses. It was introduced to him by a friend, whose elderly mother had been making it for him for years. The recipe calls for 12 crushed aspirin dissolved in a bottle of wintergreen alcohol... but we double the aspirin. My husband uses a cotton ball to apply the preparation to sore shoulders after baseball games, and he swears by it.

* Aloe- straight from the plant, we squoosh out the gel and apply to burns and abrasions.

* Neti pot- Neti is a technically a yoga technique, but I don't understand all the mumbo-jumbo. All I know is that I love my neti pot. It looks like a little teapot with a long spout. The pot gets filled with a saline solution, and the solution goes up the spout, into one nostril, and out the other. Hooray clear sinuses!

* Fish Oil- I take a fish oil capsule daily because it has been linked to a lot of benefits. I have no idea if it works or not. I do get a "Caesar Salad" burp about 5 minutes after I take it. So there's that.

* Peppermint Oil- My aunt Carol introduced me to the wonders of peppermint when I was little and had a stomachache at her house. She gave me a glass of water with a drop or tow of peppermint oil in it, and she told me if I drank it, my stomach would feel better. I guess it worked, because I buy peppermint oil to give to my daughter for stomachaches and hiccups. (Aunt Carol told me it also works for hiccups. It works as well as anything else!)

I am sorta hoping for a sunburn this year, I've heard great things about Witch Hazel for treating it, among other things. If I get a chance to try it, I'll be sure to report back.