Bilberry

Bilberry is also commonly known as whortleberry, blueberry, blueberry and whinberry. The ripe fruits and leaves had various uses in folk medicine.

The fruit was used as a diuretic in cases of fluid retention and was also thought to be effective in other urinary disorders. Diarrhea, dysentery and other bowel complaints were also treated with the fruit of the bilberry.

Bilberry was also used in the treatment of scurvy. The leaves of the plant were used in the same way as bearberry.

Lactose Intolerance

Common symptoms of lactose intolerance are gas, bloating, and cramping. If you suffer from these after drinking milk, eating ice cream or anything that has cheese and dairy products, then you might have lactose intolerance, here are some home remedies for lactose intolerance:

First, determine your level of lactose intolerance by fasting on dairy products and then taking in milk or cheese little by little until the symptoms show up. Now you know how much lactose you can tolerate.

Then, slowly increase your dosage as the days go by. It helps if you take something with your dairy product. A biscuit or a cracker for milk and some fruits for that ice cream.

Some home remedies to avoid or minimize discomfort of lactose intolerance or good alternative sources of calcium are:

Cocoa powder - minimizes discomfort
Sardines - alternative source
Chocolate milk - minimal discomfort
Hard cheese - alternative source with minimal discomfort
Soy milk - alternative source
Yogurt - alternative source

Biliousness

One suggested remedy for a bilious attack was to take a glass of hot water containing lemon juice before retiring for the night.

Another involved drinking a small cup of coffee containing lemon juice and a pinch of salt, fasting for a period of twenty-four hours and then eating only raw apples for the next period of twenty four hours.

Epsom salts were also thought to be helpful in the treatment of biliousness. Another remedy advocated washing out the stomach wit large quantities of water or soda water and taking purgatives. Thereafter fasting was advocated.

Birch

The bark and leaves of the birch tree were used in herbal medicine. Skin diseases were treated with an ointment made from an oil made from birch bark.

Birthwort

The root of the birthwort was once used to clear obstructions after childbirth. It was also used in the treatment of gout and rheumatism.