1. Herbal Tea

Since antiquity, plants have played an essential role in traditional medicine. Tea made with herbs and spices has long been used as home remedies to address various conditions.

Real tea (green, black and white) is made by infusing Camellia sinensis leaves into tea bags for infusion, while herbal teas use natural ingredients such as seeds, flowers, roots, fruits or other sources such as seeds to produce caffeine-free drinks that offer health benefits including heart health improvements, reduced stress levels and increased immunity.

Tea made of various plants has a wide array of health-enhancing and disease-fighting antioxidants. Dandelion tea can cleanse the liver while providing disease-protecting antioxidants; ginger tea provides long-term nausea relief; while Hibiscus has antiviral and cardiovascular benefits due to its rich supply of anthocyanins – you can find prepackaged herbal tea in most grocery stores or make your own by steeping dried or fresh herbs into boiling water for 15 to 20 minutes.

2. Apple Cider Vinegar

ACV has quickly become a trendy addition to healthy diets due to social media influencers claiming it can aid weight loss, increase energy levels and decrease sugar cravings. Yet more research is necessary before conclusively supporting these claims.

Apple cider vinegar is made by fermenting crushed apple juice to produce acetic acid and nutrients such as vitamin C. While often used as salad dressing or in cooking, apple cider vinegar has also long been considered a traditional remedy to lower blood sugar after meals and ease symptoms associated with diabetes. Furthermore, its benefits have also been applied towards obesity management, athletic performance and kidney stones.

Apple cider vinegar may interact with certain medications, including diuretics (water pills) and diabetes medications like insulin. Large doses may also lower potassium levels.

3. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is an attractive houseplant with natural healing benefits that add color and beauty to any room in the home. This succulent contains a gel-like substance which can help soothe burns and treat acne on skin, or eaten to address stomach issues including IBS as well as potentially helping reduce bacteria that causes ulcers.

To use aloe vera, cut a leaf and separate its inner gel from its exterior portions, before squeezing out and drinking this pure aloe vera juice that can be mixed with beverages to reduce potential laxative effects. Store-bought aloe vera juice may contain added sugar or chemicals that could harm your health; look for pure aloe vera juice that you can dilute further to add to beverages without experiencing unwanted laxative effects.

4. Ginger

Ginger is a well-recognized spice and herbal medicine with several health-promoting properties, as evidenced by extensive in vitro and in vivo studies – many indicating its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anticarcinogenic activities.

Ginger root contains antioxidant plant compounds known as gingerols and shogaol, which have been shown to reduce inflammation. Furthermore, they’ve also been found to ease nausea and vomiting symptoms, improve digestive function and soothe pain relief.

Ginger can help pregnant women manage morning sickness without experiencing side effects from pharmaceutical anti-nausea medications, according to studies. Studies have also demonstrated its ability to reduce bloating and intestinal gas. Furthermore, ginger has been proven effective at protecting experimental rats from oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity while decreasing oxidative stress markers among older adults (Ihlaseh et al. 2015).

5. Garlic

Garlic can provide natural relief for various health concerns, from backache to colds. Packed with antioxidants that reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, Lauri Wright, PhD, RDN, LD/N, FADA is an experienced registered dietitian nutritionist and associate professor who recommends it as a source of natural medicine.

Garlic also contains antibacterial and antifungal properties, helping protect against common strains of bacteria and fungi. This activity is due to allicin and alliin being released when you crush a clove, making immediate consumption vital as its benefits fade over time. Garlic is widely used as an ingredient in pasta dishes, soups and even salad dressings as well as being taken orally through capsule form for easy consumption of its benefits.

6. Olive Oil

Olive oil, extracted from the fruit of an Olive (Olea europaea) tree, contains monounsaturated fatty acids which have been shown to lower cholesterol. Olive oil also boasts powerful antioxidants called polyphenols; two of which, hydroxytyrosol and oleocanthal specifically have anti-inflammatory and cancer fighting properties.

Studies link a Mediterranean diet high in olive oil with improved heart and cognitive function, as well as aiding digestive conditions like IBD (including Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis) which it can also treat.

Olive oil can be used for both cooking and dressing, and as a dietary supplement when combined with other healthy fats. Drizzling some EVOO over your salad or using it as a dip for crusty bread is an easy way to increase both its flavor and health benefits.

7. Apple Cider Vinegar

Vinegar is produced when any alcoholic beverage ferments due to a chemical process known as acetic acid degradation. Used both as food preservation and medicinal treatment over centuries, vinegar is considered a natural food preservative and natural way of keeping bacteria at bay.

Some studies suggest apple cider vinegar offers multiple health advantages, including weight loss, diabetes control and improved digestion. Unfortunately, research on such claims remains limited.

Store-bought apple cider vinegar may either be pasteurized or unfiltered; unfiltered varieties contain something called “the mother,” said to contain health-promoting proteins, healthy bacteria and acetic acid that have murky brown hues; in comparison with pasteurized and filtered products which typically don’t include this mother culture. A 2021 study suggested soaking in apple cider vinegar diluted in water could help relieve itchy psoriasis patches by soothing skin inflammation; further studies are warranted in this area.