Minor physical problems can crop up in daily life, and for these you may not need to see a doctor: your kitchen may be enough. But first you need to know which ingredients help and how to use them.

A health website has listed three kitchen ingredients that can work as medicine for such problems.

Ginger helps improve blood circulation and reduce muscle inflammation. It is also useful for easing uterine pain during menstruation. A study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine compared ginger with a dose of ibuprofen, which is used to ease period pain. If you do not like eating ginger on its own, you can make ginger tea.

If mood swings and irritability take hold of you before your period starts, there is nothing to fear. According to gynaecologists, 85 per cent of women who menstruate face this problem every month, and the main cause is low calcium in the blood. Eating cheese can help, as can almonds, broccoli, green leafy vegetables and sea fish.

This ideal breakfast food is useful in treating eczema and other skin conditions. The phytochemicals in oatmeal have anti-inflammatory properties. Make a paste with a quarter of a cup of oatmeal and enough water, and leave it on the affected skin for 10 minutes.

Source: Bangladesh Pratidin. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.