Every family has tried remedies when it comes to first aid measures. The following are a few I’ve learned about and/or used over the years.

For burns, of course, the wonderful aloe vera plant is unsurpassed. Simply cut one of the plant’s thick leaves and smear the juice of the aloe vera plant directly onto the burn. Since aloe vera plants grow very well indoors, it’s advisable to keep one handy. Do not use butter or lard, as the old wives tale dictates. Do, however, hold the burn under cold water for several minutes to stop the burn in its tracks. Burns are serious and should be taken seriously. They must be cleaned property and handled carefully. If a burn becomes infected, contact a physician.

Bee stings can be treated with ordinary mud. If mud is not available, grab a handful of soil and spit in it, then smear it onto the bee sting. Trust me, it works. A wet aspirin, or St. John’s wort also can be placed over the bee sting. Warning: many people are allergic to bee stings. If a bee sting swells more than to the size of a dime, turns red around the sting area, or difficulty in swallowing or breathing occurs, contact a physician immediately. Bee stings can be deadly.

Insect bites can be neutralized with meat tenderizer. Don’t ask me why, but it works! Avon’s product, Skin So Soft, also seems to work as a deterrent for mosquitoes. It smells nice, to boot.

Acne, which often strikes during the teen-age years, can be lessened with the use of oranges and lemons. The acid in the fruit helps the skin exfoliate, which in turn, keeps the skin in better condition. Wash face, then run a piece of fresh citric fruit over the entire surface. Leave on for a few minutes, then wash off.

Dry skin can strike at any time, but most especially during the colder, winter months. When skin is subjected to cold out-of-doors weather, then plunged into the drier, indoor conditions, it can become dry and irritated. Hot baths also dry the skin. For overall dry skin, try cooler baths and add oatmeal to the water. I suggest making up small packets of oatmeal using white gauze, and then simply holding it under the running bath water, or throwing it into the bathtub as it fills with water.

For hands and feet that dry and crack, use vitamin E lotion, avoid hot baths, and allow only minimum exposure to hot and cold. Do use a callus file when necessary–allowing callus to build up is asking for your feet and hands to eventually crack.

Headaches are cased by many things. If medication is not available, I find a hot bath and a darkened room to be the most effective. However, if a second party is available, hand and foot massages are excellent for reducing headache pain. If headache pain persists, contact a physician.

Flatulence, especially in babies, can cause severe pain. For small children, it’s possible to expel the excess gas by lying the child on his back, bending the legs, and gently pushing the thighs up into the abdominal area. If the problem is flatulence, you should obtain results almost immediately. Remember, flatulence can be very painful, this procedure must be done very gently and carefully. If the child is older, show him how to expel the gas himself. Have the child get into a kneeling position, bend at the waist until the head is resting on the floor and the buttocks are raised. This will force the excess gas to travel upward and out the rectum with little or no pain. This works for adults, also. With children, its easier for them to do this on a bed with a pillow under their belly. The most important thing to remember is that the rectum must be at the highest point. Gravity will do the rest.

Belly aches, which are not associated with flatulence, can be reduced with the use of peppermint. Even sucking on a hand peppermint candy can eliminate some belly aches. Warning: sometimes peppermint will cause the patient to vomit. That’s not all bad, usually after expelling the offending contents, the patient will feel better. But, remember, belly aches that do not go away, should be taken seriously. Contact a physician if symptoms persist or worsen.

Canker sores occur in the mouth. These ulcer-type sores are quite painful. One remedy that appears to work is to dab salt on the sore. It hurts like the devil for a minute, but, for whatever reason, the sore usually clears up immediately. If you can’t bring yourself to put salt directly on the sore, gargle with saltwater.

Again, as with any medical condition that does not readily go away, it is advisable to obtain professional medical assistance from a physician.