There are countless medical treatments for common and rare illnesses alike, a lot of which you can buy over the counter at your local drugstore. Having access to so many medicines is a wonderful privilege that a lot of us can take for granted; however, not everyone wants to reach for the pill bottle straight away to treat their ailments. If you’re someone who prefers to try more natural approaches to curing your aches and pains first, here are a few remedies you don’t have to get a prescription for.

1.   Turmeric

Turmeric has been used in many ways for thousands of years. Along with being an added spice in recipes, it works well as an anti-inflammatory due to its active ingredient curcumin. Curcumin is also thought to have other health benefits such as lowering the risk of heart diseases, Alzheimer’s and arthritis. Next time you have a sprain or sore joints, try turmeric tablets instead of ibuprofen for a natural remedy.

2.   Lavender

This beautiful flower not only looks gorgeous, but its scent can do wonders to help you relax. Recommended as a spray on your pillow at night to help promote a blissful night’s sleep, lavender can also be a good natural remedy to help treat anxiety, too. This is no surprise when considering the soothing qualities that are associated with this flower. So if you feel worried or stressed about something, purchase the real thing or invest in some essential lavender oils. Surround yourself in the scent when you need to calm your nerves.

3.   Peppermint

Peppermint tea greatly aids with digestion. It is recommended that you drink a cup of peppermint tea with or after a meal to help reduce bloating and discomfort. If you are feeling nauseous or are experiencing any pain in your stomach, this tea can help ease your tummy troubles. Additionally, peppermint oil has been used by some to treat their headaches. Rubbing the oil onto your forehead is reported to help ease the pain as it warms the skin.

4.   Diet

Diet is a general remedy for most things — take a look at your daily diet and think about whether it could be the cause of some of your health issues. Eating balanced, nutritious foods will give your body what it needs to function properly. Therefore, if you are denying it these things then that could be an underlying cause of some issues. It is also worth considering your diet when you are receiving treatments or recovering from serious illness such as cancer. These treatments can be incredibly hard on the body, even if you are receiving holistic therapies such as natural gist tumor treatment, for example. Ultimately, your nutrition will have an effect on your recovery.

5.   Pilates

Exercise in general is good for your health, but for ongoing problems like a bad back, Pilates is a great help. By strengthening your core muscles, this exercise helps to improve your posture which is often the cause of back problems. You might want to consider investing in a better mattress for this issue as well.

For a more natural approach to treating your illnesses, try some of these alternatives.