22 DIY Natural Remedies for Better Health

ByChickenCravings

The Ultimate Guide to 22 DIY Natural Remedies for Total Wellness

In an era dominated by synthetic solutions and fast-acting pharmaceuticals, there is a profound, growing movement returning to the roots of human health: nature. For millennia, our ancestors relied on the garden, the forest, and the spice cabinet to heal ailments, boost vitality, and maintain balance. Today, we call these “alternative” or “complementary” medicines, but in reality, they are the original medicines.

This comprehensive guide explores 22 powerful, DIY natural remedies that you can craft in your own kitchen. Whether you are looking to bolster your immune system, soothe a persistent cough, clear up your skin, or find a deeper sense of calm, these recipes provide a roadmap to holistic health.

Part I: The Immunity Powerhouse

1. The Legendary Elderberry Syrup

Elderberries (Sambucus nigra) are world-renowned for their ability to combat the common cold and flu. Rich in anthocyanins—antioxidants that give the berries their deep purple hue—elderberries help prevent viruses from entering host cells.

The Science: Studies suggest that elderberry can shorten the duration of the flu by up to four days when taken at the first sign of symptoms.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup dried elderberries (organic)
  • 4 cups filtered water
  • 2 tbsp ginger root (freshly grated)
  • 1 tsp cinnamon powder (or 1 cinnamon stick)
  • 1/2 tsp clove powder (or 3 whole cloves)
  • 1 cup raw, local honey

How to Make:

  1. Combine water, elderberries, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves in a medium saucepan.
  2. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce to a simmer.
  3. Simmer for 45 minutes to an hour, or until the liquid has reduced by half.
  4. Remove from heat and let it cool until it is warm to the touch (not hot).
  5. Mash the berries with a spoon to release any remaining juice.
  6. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a glass jar.
  7. Add the raw honey and stir well. The honey must be added when the liquid is cool enough to preserve its live enzymes.
  8. Store in a glass jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 months.

Usage: Adults take 1 tablespoon daily for prevention; 1 tablespoon every 3 hours if actively sick. Children take 1 teaspoon.

2. Traditional Fire Cider

Fire cider is a spicy, pungent apple cider vinegar tonic infused with powerful “hot” herbs. It’s a circulation-booster, decongestant, and immune-stimulant that has been a staple in herbalism for decades.

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup fresh grated horseradish root
  • 1/2 cup fresh grated ginger root
  • 10 cloves of garlic, smashed
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 jalapeño peppers, halved
  • 1 lemon (zest and juice)
  • 1 tbsp turmeric powder
  • Raw Apple Cider Vinegar (with the “mother”)
  • Raw honey (to taste)

How to Make:

  1. Place all chopped ingredients (except honey) into a wide-mouth quart-sized mason jar.
  2. Pour the apple cider vinegar over the ingredients until they are completely submerged.
  3. Place a piece of parchment paper under the lid (to prevent the vinegar from corroding the metal) and seal tightly.
  4. Store in a cool, dark place for 4 to 6 weeks, shaking the jar daily.
  5. Strain the solids through a cheesecloth, squeezing out every drop of liquid.
  6. Add honey until the desired sweetness is reached.
  7. Store in the fridge or a cool pantry.

Usage: Take 1-2 tablespoons daily as a health tonic, or use it as a base for salad dressings.

3. Golden Milk (Turmeric Elixir)

Turmeric contains curcumin, a compound with massive anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. When combined with black pepper and fats, its bioavailability increases by up to 2,000%.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups unsweetened almond or coconut milk
  • 1 tsp turmeric powder
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ground ginger
  • A pinch of black pepper (essential!)
  • 1 tsp coconut oil or ghee
  • 1 tsp maple syrup or honey

How to Make:

  1. Whisk all ingredients in a small saucepan.
  2. Heat over medium heat until hot but not boiling.
  3. Whisk frequently to ensure the spices are well-blended.
  4. Pour into a mug and enjoy before bed to reduce systemic inflammation.

Part II: Digestive Health and Gut Restoration

4. Raw Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) Digestive Tonic

The gut is the “second brain.” ACV helps balance stomach acid levels, improves digestion, and acts as a prebiotic to feed healthy gut bacteria.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup warm (not hot) water
  • 1 tbsp raw, unfiltered ACV
  • 1 tsp raw honey
  • A pinch of cayenne pepper (optional, for metabolism boost)

How to Make:

  1. Mix the ACV and honey into the warm water.
  2. Stir until the honey is dissolved.
  3. Drink 15–20 minutes before a heavy meal.

5. Fennel and Peppermint Bloat-Buster Tea

Fennel seeds are carminative, meaning they help expel gas from the digestive tract, while peppermint relaxes the muscles of the esophagus.

Ingredients:

  • 1 tsp fennel seeds (lightly crushed)
  • 1 tbsp fresh peppermint leaves (or 1 tsp dried)
  • 1 cup boiling water

How to Make:

  1. Place the crushed fennel seeds and peppermint in a tea infuser.
  2. Pour boiling water over the herbs.
  3. Cover the mug (this prevents the essential oils from evaporating).
  4. Steep for 10 minutes.
  5. Drink slowly after meals to reduce bloating and indigestion.

6. Probiotic Beet Kvass

Beet Kvass is a traditional fermented Ukrainian drink. It’s an incredible liver tonic and a source of probiotics that are often more potent than store-bought pills.

Ingredients:

  • 2–3 organic beets (washed and cubed, do not peel)
  • 1 tbsp sea salt (do not use table salt with iodine)
  • Filtered water

How to Make:

  1. Place the cubed beets in a clean half-gallon glass jar. They should fill about 1/3 of the jar.
  2. Add the sea salt.
  3. Fill the rest of the jar with filtered water, leaving an inch of headspace at the top.
  4. Cover with a breathable cloth or a fermentation lid.
  5. Let it sit at room temperature for 3 to 7 days. Taste it daily; it’s ready when it is salty, earthy, and slightly tangy.
  6. Strain and keep the liquid in the fridge.

Usage: Drink 2–4 ounces a day for liver support and gut health.

7. Marshmallow Root Cold Infusion

For those suffering from “leaky gut,” acid reflux, or a sore throat, marshmallow root is a “mucilaginous” herb that coats the internal linings of the body.

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup dried marshmallow root
  • 1 quart filtered water

How to Make:

  1. Fill a jar 1/4 full with the dried root.
  2. Fill the jar with room-temperature water.
  3. Let it sit for 4–8 hours (or overnight). The water will become thick and slightly slippery.
  4. Strain and drink.

Part III: Skin, Beauty, and Wound Care

8. The All-Purpose Calendula Salve

Calendula is known as the “Mother of the Skin.” It is anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial, making it perfect for cuts, scrapes, rashes, and dry skin.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup dried calendula flowers
  • 1.5 cups carrier oil (olive oil or sweet almond oil)
  • 1/4 cup beeswax pellets
  • 5 drops lavender essential oil (optional)

How to Make:

  1. Infuse the Oil: Place flowers and oil in a glass jar. Let it sit in a sunny windowsill for 4 weeks, OR heat on the lowest setting in a double boiler for 4 hours.
  2. Strain the oil through a cheesecloth, discarding the flowers.
  3. In a double boiler, melt the beeswax into the infused oil.
  4. Once melted, remove from heat and add essential oils.
  5. Pour into small tins or glass jars and let cool until solid.

9. Honey and Cinnamon Acne Spot Treatment

Raw honey is a natural humectant and antibiotic. Cinnamon has antimicrobial properties that can help kill the bacteria causing acne.

Ingredients:

  • 1 tbsp raw Manuka or local honey
  • 1/2 tsp Ceylon cinnamon

How to Make:

  1. Mix the two ingredients into a thick paste.
  2. Apply directly to a blemish.
  3. Leave on for 10–15 minutes and rinse with warm water. Note: Always patch test first, as cinnamon can be irritating to sensitive skin.

10. Activated Charcoal and Clay Drawing Salve

This “black salve” is designed to “draw out” splinters, bee stings, or toxins from the skin.

Ingredients:

  • 2 tbsp Bentonite clay
  • 2 tbsp Activated charcoal powder
  • 2 tbsp Calendula infused oil (from recipe #8)
  • 1 tbsp melted beeswax

How to Make:

  1. Melt the oil and beeswax together.
  2. Stir in the clay and charcoal (avoid using metal spoons with Bentonite clay, as it deactivates the clay’s drawing power; use wood or plastic).
  3. Store in a small glass jar.
  4. Apply to a splinter or sting, cover with a bandage, and leave overnight.

11. Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse

Most commercial shampoos are alkaline, which can disrupt the scalp’s pH. An ACV rinse closes the hair cuticle, adding shine and reducing dandruff.

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup ACV
  • 2 cups water
  • 5 drops Rosemary essential oil (for hair growth)

How to Make:

  1. Mix ingredients in a squeeze bottle.
  2. After shampooing, tilt your head back and pour the mixture over your scalp and hair.
  3. Let it sit for 2 minutes, then rinse with cool water.

Part IV: Pain Relief and Inflammation

12. Magnesium “Oil” Spray

Magnesium is involved in over 300 biochemical reactions in the body. Most people are deficient. Topical (transdermal) application is one of the most effective ways to raise levels without digestive upset.

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup Magnesium Chloride flakes
  • 1/2 cup distilled water

How to Make:

  1. Boil the distilled water.
  2. Place the magnesium flakes in a glass bowl.
  3. Pour the boiling water over the flakes and stir until dissolved.
  4. Let it cool and pour into a glass spray bottle.

Usage: Spray on legs or stomach before bed. It may tingle; this is normal and usually subsides with regular use.

13. Cayenne Pain Relief Salve

Cayenne pepper contains capsaicin, which temporarily depletes “Substance P,” a chemical that sends pain signals to the brain. This is excellent for arthritis and sore muscles.

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 2 tbsp cayenne powder
  • 1/2 oz beeswax pellets

How to Make:

  1. Heat the oil and cayenne powder in a double boiler for 30 minutes on low.
  2. Strain through a very fine coffee filter or several layers of cheesecloth (be careful not to touch your eyes!).
  3. Melt the beeswax into the infused oil.
  4. Pour into a jar.

Usage: Rub into sore joints. Wash hands thoroughly after use.

14. Arnica Oil for Bruises and Swelling

Arnica is a power-house for trauma to the soft tissue. It stimulates white blood cell activity to speed up the healing of bruises.

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup dried Arnica flowers
  • 1 cup sunflower oil

How to Make:

  1. Infuse the flowers in the oil using the “solar method” (4 weeks in a jar) or “heat method” (4 hours on low).
  2. Strain and store in a dark glass bottle.
  3. Apply to bruises or sprains. Do not apply to broken skin.

15. Epsom Salt & Essential Oil Foot Soak

The feet have the largest pores on the body, making them a perfect gateway for detoxification.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup Epsom salts (Magnesium Sulfate)
  • 1/4 cup Baking soda
  • 10 drops Eucalyptus oil
  • 10 drops Peppermint oil

How to Make:

  1. Mix all ingredients in a jar.
  2. Add to a basin of hot water.
  3. Soak feet for 20 minutes to relieve tension and draw out toxins.

Part V: Respiratory Health and Cough Relief

16. Onion and Honey Cough Syrup

It sounds strange, but onions are rich in quercetin and sulfur compounds that act as expectorants. Honey suppresses the cough reflex better than many OTC syrups.

Ingredients:

  • 1 red onion, sliced thin
  • Raw honey

How to Make:

  1. Layer the onion slices in a glass jar.
  2. Pour honey over each layer until the onions are completely covered.
  3. Let the jar sit at room temperature for 8–12 hours.
  4. The honey will turn into a thin, onion-infused liquid.
  5. Strain out the onions.

Usage: Take 1 tablespoon every 2 hours for a persistent cough.

17. DIY Herbal Vapor Rub

Commercial vapor rubs often contain petroleum. This natural version uses beeswax and essential oils to open the airways safely.

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup coconut oil
  • 1/4 cup shea butter
  • 2 tbsp beeswax
  • 20 drops Eucalyptus oil
  • 15 drops Peppermint oil
  • 10 drops Rosemary oil

How to Make:

  1. Melt coconut oil, shea butter, and beeswax in a double boiler.
  2. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
  3. Stir in the essential oils.
  4. Pour into a glass jar and let it set.
  5. Rub on the chest and back during congestion.

18. Thyme and Sage Sore Throat Gargle

Thyme and Sage are both highly antiseptic and antimicrobial. They “clean” the throat of pathogens.

Ingredients:

  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 tsp dried sage
  • 1 cup boiling water
  • 1 tsp sea salt

How to Make:

  1. Steep the herbs in boiling water for 15 minutes.
  2. Strain and add the sea salt.
  3. Wait until the liquid is lukewarm.
  4. Gargle for 30 seconds and spit out. Repeat 3 times a day.

Part VI: Sleep, Stress, and Mental Clarity

19. Lavender and Chamomile Pillow Mist

Aromatherapy works via the olfactory system, which is directly linked to the limbic system (the brain’s emotional center).

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz distilled water
  • 1 oz witch hazel (to help the oil and water mix)
  • 15 drops Lavender essential oil
  • 10 drops Roman Chamomile essential oil

How to Make:

  1. Mix the witch hazel and essential oils in a small spray bottle.
  2. Add the distilled water and shake well.
  3. Mist your pillow and linens 10 minutes before bed.

20. Ashwagandha “Moon Milk”

Ashwagandha is an adaptogen, meaning it helps the body “adapt” to stress and regulates cortisol levels.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup warm milk (dairy or plant-based)
  • 1/2 tsp Ashwagandha powder
  • 1/4 tsp Cinnamon
  • 1 tsp Honey

How to Make:

  1. Warm the milk gently.
  2. Whisk in the ashwagandha and cinnamon.
  3. Add honey once the milk has cooled slightly.
  4. Drink 30 minutes before bed to calm the nervous system.

21. Dandelion Root “Coffee” (Liver & Energy)

If you are trying to kick caffeine, roasted dandelion root offers a similar bitter flavor profile while actually supporting liver detoxification and kidney health.

Ingredients:

  • 1 tbsp roasted dandelion root (dried)
  • 1 tsp roasted chicory root (optional, for depth)
  • 12 oz water

How to Make:

  1. Place the roots and water in a small pot.
  2. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 10–15 minutes (this is a decoction, not just a tea).
  3. Strain into a mug. Add cream or honey as you would with coffee.

Part VII: Oral Health

22. Coconut and Oregano Oil Pulling

Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic practice that pulls bacteria out of the gums and teeth.

Ingredients:

  • 1 tbsp organic virgin coconut oil
  • 1 drop Oregano essential oil (highly antibacterial)

How to Make:

  1. Mix the oregano oil into the coconut oil.
  2. Place the oil in your mouth.
  3. Swish it around for 15–20 minutes. Do not swallow it, as it is full of toxins and bacteria.
  4. Spit the oil into the trash (not the sink, as it will clog pipes).
  5. Rinse with warm water and brush your teeth as usual.

The Golden Rules of DIY Natural Remedies

To get the most out of these 22 remedies, keep these essential tips in mind:

  1. Quality of Ingredients: Your remedies are only as good as your ingredients. Use organic herbs, raw honey, and high-quality essential oils. Avoid “fragrance oils” which are synthetic.
  2. Consistency is Key: Unlike pharmaceutical drugs which often provide immediate symptom suppression, natural remedies work with the body’s systems over time.
  3. Storage: Most herbal preparations should be stored in dark glass (amber or cobalt) to protect them from UV light, which can degrade the medicinal properties.
  4. Listen to Your Body: Everyone’s bio-individuality is different. What works for one person might not work for another. Start with small doses to see how your body responds.
  5. Consult a Professional: While these remedies are generally safe, always consult with a healthcare provider, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking prescription medications (as herbs can interact with drugs).

Conclusion

Embracing DIY natural remedies is about more than just saving money or avoiding chemicals; it is about reclaiming autonomy over your own health. By understanding the properties of the plants and minerals around us, we build a deeper connection to the environment and a more intuitive understanding of our own physical needs. Start with one or two of these recipes—perhaps the Elderberry Syrup for the winter months or the Magnesium Spray for better sleep—and witness the transformative power of nature’s pharmacy.

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