DIY Home Care 🏠
Simple, safe steps you can take at home before—or instead of—a doctor visit. Click any card for the full guide.
🤧Common Cold
▼- ✓Rest and sleep as much as possible.
- ✓Drink plenty of warm fluids (water, broth, herbal tea).
- ✓Use saline nasal spray to relieve congestion.
- ✓Gargle warm salt water for a sore throat.
- ✓Honey (1 tsp) can soothe a cough.
🤕Headache
▼- ✓Drink a full glass of water—dehydration is a top cause.
- ✓Rest in a quiet, dark room.
- ✓Apply a cold or warm compress to your forehead or neck.
- ✓Gently massage temples in slow circles.
- ✓Avoid screens and bright lights until it passes.
🤢Upset Stomach / Nausea
▼- ✓Sip clear fluids slowly—water, ginger ale, or diluted juice.
- ✓Eat bland foods: crackers, toast, bananas, plain rice.
- ✓Avoid dairy, greasy, or spicy food until you feel better.
- ✓Try ginger tea or ginger chews to ease nausea.
- ✓Rest lying down with your head slightly elevated.
🩹Minor Cuts & Scrapes
▼- ✓Rinse the wound under clean running water for 1–2 minutes.
- ✓Gently clean around it with mild soap.
- ✓Apply light pressure with a clean cloth to stop bleeding.
- ✓Use antibiotic ointment and cover with a bandage.
- ✓Change the bandage daily and keep it clean and dry.
🌡️Fever
▼- ✓Rest and drink lots of water and clear fluids.
- ✓Use a light blanket—don't bundle up too much.
- ✓A lukewarm sponge bath can help bring temperature down.
- ✓OTC meds like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can reduce fever.
- ✓Monitor temperature every few hours.
😮💨Sore Throat
▼- ✓Gargle with warm salt water several times a day.
- ✓Drink warm tea with honey and lemon.
- ✓Use throat lozenges to keep the throat moist.
- ✓Use a humidifier to add moisture to the air.
- ✓Rest your voice and avoid irritants like smoke.
☀️Sunburn
▼- ✓Cool the skin with a cold damp cloth or cool shower.
- ✓Apply aloe vera gel or a fragrance-free moisturizer.
- ✓Drink extra water to rehydrate.
- ✓Avoid popping any blisters that form.
- ✓Stay out of the sun until healed.
🌿Allergies / Hay Fever
▼- ✓Stay indoors on high pollen days.
- ✓Keep windows closed and use air conditioning.
- ✓Shower after being outside to wash off pollen.
- ✓OTC antihistamines can help reduce symptoms.
- ✓Use a saline nasal rinse to clear out allergens.
🔥Minor Burn
▼- ✓Cool the burn under cool (not ice-cold) running water for 10–20 minutes.
- ✓Remove tight jewelry near the area before swelling starts.
- ✓Apply a thin layer of aloe vera or fragrance-free moisturizer.
- ✓Cover with a clean, non-stick bandage or plastic wrap loosely.
- ✓Take OTC pain relievers like ibuprofen if needed.
🦟Mosquito Bites & Bug Stings
▼- ✓Wash the area with soap and water.
- ✓Apply a cold compress for 10 minutes to reduce swelling.
- ✓Use hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to ease itching.
- ✓Take an antihistamine for severe itching or swelling.
- ✓Don't scratch—breaking the skin can cause infection.
🌸Menstrual Cramps
▼- ✓Use a heating pad on your lower abdomen or back.
- ✓Take OTC pain relievers like ibuprofen at the first sign of cramps.
- ✓Do gentle exercise or stretches to ease tension.
- ✓Drink warm liquids and avoid caffeine and salty foods.
- ✓Rest and get extra sleep during your cycle.
💪Muscle Soreness & Strain
▼- ✓Rest the sore muscle for 1–2 days.
- ✓Apply ice for 20 minutes at a time in the first 48 hours.
- ✓After 48 hours, switch to gentle heat to relax the muscle.
- ✓Do light stretching once the sharp pain fades.
- ✓Stay hydrated and eat protein-rich foods to support recovery.
👃Nosebleed
▼- ✓Sit upright and lean slightly forward—don't tilt your head back.
- ✓Pinch the soft part of your nose firmly for 10–15 minutes.
- ✓Breathe through your mouth while pinching.
- ✓Apply an ice pack to the bridge of your nose.
- ✓Avoid picking or blowing your nose for several hours after.
👁️Eye Irritation
▼- ✓Rinse your eye with saline or clean water for 5–10 minutes.
- ✓Remove contact lenses right away if you wear them.
- ✓Apply a clean, cold compress over closed eyes.
- ✓Avoid rubbing—rubbing makes irritation worse.
- ✓Use preservative-free artificial tears to flush out debris.
😴Sleep Troubles
▼- ✓Keep a consistent sleep and wake time every day.
- ✓Avoid screens for at least 30 minutes before bed.
- ✓Make your room cool, dark, and quiet.
- ✓Skip caffeine after 2 p.m. and avoid heavy meals late.
- ✓Try a wind-down routine: stretching, reading, or deep breathing.
🧘Anxiety / Stress
▼- ✓Try 4-7-8 breathing: inhale 4s, hold 7s, exhale 8s.
- ✓Take a short walk or do light movement you enjoy.
- ✓Write down what's on your mind to get it out of your head.
- ✓Limit caffeine, which can mimic anxiety symptoms.
- ✓Reach out to someone you trust—a friend, family member, or counselor.
