If you're lounging around and feeling lousy, check your kitchen cabinets before you go rummaging through the medicine cabinet. The use of foods and herbs as pharmaceuticals is a centuries-old tradition, and science is finally confirming that many do actually relieve ailments that people suffer everyday. No one's saying to forget about the drugstore or self-prescribe ginger root when you really need a doctor. It's simple to stock up on certain ingredients, thus having an antidote on hand when a minor malady strikes.

Of course, if a home remedy doesn't work, or you feel worse in spite of it, see a doctor.

Ginger root has been shown to quell nausea. In a study at St. Bartholomew's Hospital in London a few years ago, women who swallowed a capsule containing about one third of a teaspoon of powdered ginger before surgery had far less post-op nausea than those who took a placebo. They also found out in this study that ginger worked just as good as standard antinausea drugs.

Ginger has also been shown to fight motion sickness (try taking it half an hour before traveling) and relieve stomach upset that's associated with migraines.

Ginger ale and ginger Snaps may be too mild to help, some believe. But you can suck on candied ginger or make tea with steeped slices of raw ginger in hot water.

Chamomile, derived from the daisy family, can be brewed into a strong but soothing tea. The herb's mild sedative properties help ease restlessness and nervousness and may make yo0u sleepy. Chamomile teas can be purchased in supermarkets. Steep for 15 minutes for best results.

The teas sometimes contain pollen, so be cautious if you are highly allergic to flowers or ragweed. Allergic reactions are rare but they can occur, so sip slowly and stop if you start sneezing.

Milk helps relieve minor skin irritations, such as mild burn or itching caused by allergic reactions. The secret of milks effects is casein, a protein that helps reduce inflammation. You don't drink it, though - you mix equal parts water and milk (whole, skim, or low-fat) in a bowl, dip a lightweight cloth in the solution, then squeeze the cloth gently and place the compress on the skin. Wait 30 seconds then redip the cloth and reapply. Repeat for ten minutes, two to three times a day until redness and inflammation subside.

Records from ancient Egypt show that honey was used as a dressing to cleanse and heal superficial wounds as far back as 2000 B.C.  More recently, scientists have discovered that honey has natural antibiotic properties that can help to prevent infections and hasten healing.

To treat minor cuts and scrapes, gently rub a little bit of honey on the wound then cover it with gauze or a band-aid.  Make sure the area is well covered before heading outside so that you don't attract bugs!

Parsley is a natural diuretic that is useful for people who suffer from premenstrual water retention.  It is not as strong as the prescription kind of diuretics.  To reap its benefits, toss a cup of fresh parsley into a salad or make tea by steeping three large teaspoons of dried parsley in a cup of boiling water for 3-5 minutes.

Parsley is also known to get rid of bad breath by neutralizing odor-causing bacteria when you chew on a sprig of it.

Blueberries are an exception to the rule about not consuming fruit when you have diarrhea.  Blueberries have antibacterial properties and contain mucilaginous material (a sticky substance that's soothing to the stomach) as well as tannic acid, which constricts the colon.  The effect is that is slows movement down.

Eat up to 2 teaspoons of dried blueberries (you can find them in health food stores) and wash it down with water.  You can also boil the dried berries, strain them and then drink the liquid - it's like blueberry tea.  Fresh and frozen berries are not as helpful because they contain too much moisture and that counteracts the tannic acid.

The key ingredient in this folk remedy is cysteine, an amino acid found in chicken which acts as a decongestant.  Although the homemade kind sometimes tastes better, canned is fine as long as it is not artificially flavored.

Other things that fight cold symptoms are:  chili peppers, which contain capsaicin that is a decongestant and raw garlic, which is a natural antibiotic (don't cook it, it ruins its effect).  So add a diced chili pepper and/or some minced raw garlic to your food right before serving it - just avoid intimate contact for the next few hours!

It's hard to take it seriously as a remedy because mint is found in candy, but it contains menthol, which is a digestive aid that can calm an upset stomach and relieve gastrointestinal pain.  Mint helps expel gas and has antispasmodic properties that helps cramping (like that caused by irritable bowel syndrome, for example).

After a meal or whenever indigestion hits - make a pot of peppermint tea (easily found in the grocery store) or put a few drops of peppermint extract in a glass of water.  Strong peppermint candy can also work - if in a pinch.

These licorice-tasting seeds help to reduce gas in the stomach and intestines.  They also have a calming effect on the gastrointestinal system.  They are very easy to take - just chew a quarter teaspoon of seeds and swallow them.  Or you can make a tea by simmering a teaspoon of the seeds in boiling water for ten minutes if chewing them just doesn't seem appealing.

For years, yogurt has been known as a yeast-fighter by many a woman with yeast infections.  Science has revealed that women with chronic yeast infections had one third the usual number or flare-ups when they ate a cup of yogurt a day.  Any flavor is fine, as long as it contains live lactobacillus acidophilus cultures, which are yeast fighters (usually the yogurt container will read 'live active cultures').  Of course, if you have recurring infections, see a doctor.

Inserting plain yogurt directly into the vagina, believe it or not, actually works, too.

You've heard that cranberry juice fights urinary tract infections (UTIs), right?  Well there's proof that drinking a cup a day reduces the frequency of UTIs in women who are susceptible.  Cranberry juice is a diuretic and it contains compounds that prevent bacteria from clinging to the lining of the urinary tract.

Drink as little as 3 ounces a day if you are prone to UTIs as a preventative measure.  See a doctor if you already have a UTI because you may need antibiotics.