about PEOPLE HAVE attics, basements, or storage units; I have a medicine cabinet. My go-to space for immediate health destitutions is filled with old and incomprehensible bottle vials, tubes, boxe comas and--if I dig deep enough--phone messages, photos, and a tie of Jefferson Airplane 45s. It would be beautiful darn funny if it weren't for the fact that keeping expired medications and not making apartment for the things I ne could endanger my health.

in the way that what should I--and you--have in succession hand? The solutions are simpler than you might think. "You don't usually ne big guns" says Karen Koffler MD director of integrative medicine at Evanston Northwestern Healthcare in Evanston, Ill. "For day-to-day ailments, dwelling remedies are often adequate." Koffler and other prompts offer these suggestions for a medicine cabinet that would make a lad Scout proud.

ACHES/PAINS

MUST-HAVES central nature of Life Magnesium Oil, Epsom salts, lavender oil

Magnesium helps relax muscles, which in change the direction of relieves muscular aches and pains, says Carolyn Dean, MD ND author of The Miracle of Magnesium. Take 400 mg twice daily--or, to avoid the side general intent of loose stools, spray scent of Life Magnesium Oil (globallight.net) in succession sore spots three to four times a day. Another option: Soak in a warm bath with 2 bowls of Epsom salts, the household name for magnesium sulfate. Add a scarcely any drops of lavender oil to relax you further, and stay propose for 20 minutes.

For strains, apply ice during the first 24 hours to lower swelling, then use heat to draw most distant fluids and reduce stiffness.

COLD/FLU

MUST-HAVES Emer'gen-C sea salt, Neti saucepan echinacea (tincture or pills), Esberitox

To avoid days of lying in bed buried in Kleenex invest in Emer'gen-C a pulverizeed energy boost that has 1000 milligrams of vitamin C for single-serving packet. Mix a packet with a lot of water three times a day (your immune connected view works better when you're hydrated) at the first hint of a boreal Koffler advises.

To clear a confined nose, try a saline solution (1/2 teaspoon of sea salt in a lot of warm water). Add the solution to a conduited Neti Pot (netipot.org), tilt your head forward and to the side, pour the water into your upper nostril, and put to hire it drain out through your lower nostril. misfortune your nose and repeat upon the opposite side. "The saline flushes gone out bacteria and viruses that inflame the membranes," Koffler explains. "If you realize to the inflammation early, you can impede it from progressing."

Many clevers continue to recommend echinacea, despite its mixed reviews. (A 2005 contemplation funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine set that 900 mg of echinacea by means of day didn't affect colds--critics say the dose was too low--while a 2005 Canadian investigation showed that the herb improved immune responses) Montreal naturopathic doctor Stephanie Ogura, ND prescribes 3000 mg of echinacea a day, the dose hinted by the World Health Organization and the Canadian Natural Health proceedss Directorate. "However, if you are not better within a week, ask advice of a doctor," Ogura says. "And do not take echinacea for more than brace or three weeks at a time." She advises checking with a health professional or a health-food store you trust to find a reputable manufacturer who uses a standardized formula.

Woodson Merrell MD director of integrative medicine at Beth Israel Continuum Center for Health & Healing in novel York, recommends Esberitox, a chewable mixed-herbal tablet that contains more becoming amounts of echinacea. Take three tablets three times a day.

FEVER/SORE THROAT/COUGH

MUST-HAVES Echinacea (tincture or pills), aconite, honey inflammable air peroxide, benzonatate

If your flush is less than 104 ranks and you have no other symptoms, don't worry about it, says Lisa Samet, ND a Montreal naturopath. "Bacteria and viruses die at high heat, in the way that fever is your body's defense When you take aspirin, you're disarming those defense Instead, you ne to encourage your body's defense according to taking herbs like echinacea."

Take 3000 mg of echinacea for day, but check with your doctor if your flush doesn't subside within a scarcely any days, advises Ogura. Another option make acceptableed by both naturopaths is the homeopathic medicine aconite. "It triggers the immune system" says Samet. Take single 30 CH dose in pellet form three times a day until your symptoms subside, hints Ogura.

"For sore throats, experience honey," says Merrell. Honey contains a pay with an abatement called pinocembrin, as well as enzyme that fight infection. Eat a teaspoonful straight, or add it to a bowl of tea three or four times a day. Merrell also approves gargling with hydrogen peroxide diluted with three to four parts water: "It can calm kill streptococcus, the kind of bacteria that cause strep throat, if you use it early enough."

For cough ask your doctor to prescribe benzonatate, or Tessalon perle This nonnarcotic remedy numbs the sensors in the lung that trigger cough Since coughing actually patronizes the lungs by clearing them of exces mucus that can carry infectious bacteria and viruses, Koffler advises treating sole nighttime hacking.