40+ Easy Remedios Caseros (Mexican Home Remedies)

In my family, we pass remedios caseros down through abuelitas, madres, tías, and comadres, who are oftentimes older and wiser. Since I grew up with many of these traditions, it’s important for me to keep them alive – just like my recipes – and share them with my children, fellow readers, and friends.

One of my favorite things to do, aside from learn and share new recipes, is learn remedios caseros (natural and herbal home remedies), which always take me back to my childhood. Now that I’m a mother, I find that we use many of these on a regular basis.

For example, did you know that you can use cornstarch to help soothe itchy skin and diaper rash? My friend Ana’s mom shared this little humber with me when no diaper rash cream was working on Amado’s little derrière as a baby. Also, when I was a child and hit my forehead while playing and a huge bump surfaced immediately, my cousin Darlene quickly shoved about a tablespoon of salt in her mouth, applied the salty paste (mixed with her saliva) onto my forehead, and within minutes, the bump went way down. I had to use this remedio casero on Amado when he thought he was Superman and flew into our coffee table, nose first. By golly, it worked like a charm!

40+ Mexican Remdios Caseros

I’ve put together a list of over 40 of my favorite family remedios caseros, from ajo and aloe, to manzanilla and olive oil, and so much more. If you’d like to share any of your own, please leave a comment at the bottom of this post!

Remedios Caseros A – F

• Aloe vera: Fresh aloe vera pulp helps soothe cuts, burns, and sunburns and is good for hydrating skin. My sister applies the fresh gel right from the plant onto her face at night.
• Apple cider vinegar: I make this spicy apple cider vinegar concoction anytime I come down with a cold. The combination of the apple cider vinegar, lemon, cayenne pepper, and agave clear up my congestion immediately. Some people I know use apple cider vinegar topically to treat warts, too. I also drink a tablespoon each morning to help get my digestive enzymes going.
• Atole (warm corn-based drinks): We believe that atoles help promote milk flow during breast feeding. A couple of my favorites include atole blanco and atole de guayaba.
• Arnica: Arnica is known to reduce swelling, bruising, and inflammation. My aunts apply arnica salves to their sore muscles and anywhere they have and minor aches and pains.
• Avena: Oatmeal is known to have soothing and skin-healing properties. Baños de avena (oatmeal baths) can help with itchy skin caused by eczema, psoriasis, and sunburn. The finely ground oats (I blend them in my Vitamix) create a soothing milky water that helps reduce inflammation and can relieve itching. You can also use these oats mixed with water as a gentle face exfoliator. I’d mix in a little honey and water.
• Avon Soft Pink Bubble Bath: In my family, we use the Avon bubble bath in the pink bottle to prevent dogs from getting fleas (or to treat them when they do get them).
• Baking soda: baking soda + water works as a natural abrasive for cleaning oily pans and surfaces. I use this combination to clean my cast-iron pans. Baked on foods come off easily with baking soda and a hot water soak. You can also add it to your toothpaste to help white teeth.
• Calendula: Calendula, or pot marigold, is known to help soothe skin ailments. When nothing helped my son’s eczema as a baby, my friend Ashley made him an oil infused with calendula flower petals and it went away almost immediately and never came back. I love all of the calendula salves and oils from Balanced Root Apothecary in Denver. You can even buy the dried flowers to make your own remedies.
• Canela (cinnamon): We drink cinnamon tea for its warming properties and potential benefits for circulation and blood sugar control. It’s naturally sweet, so there’s no need to add sugar to it. Simply boil a few whole cinnamon sticks with water for 15 minutes and drink up!
• Castor oil: My cousin says that castor oil works as a natural wart removal remedy. Apply castor oil to the area where you have a wart and cover it with a bandaid. Do this daily (and change the bandaid) until the wart falls off.
• Caldo de pollo: There’s nothing like my grandma Angie’s homemade chicken soup. While seemingly simply, the warmth, hydration, and easily digestible ingredients are just what the doctor ordered when my kids are under the weather.
• Coconut oil: My friend Gemma says that coconut oil has been the best remedy for diaper rash that she’s used on her three kids!
• Cooking oil: Rub cooking oil on your hands cuando se enchilan (after peeling chiles). If you get chili in your eye, rub it with your hair to stop the burning sensation.
• Corn starch: Sprinkle corn starch onto a baby’s bottom before putting on a diaper to help soothe diaper rash.
• Dates: Dates are natural sweeteners and I use them in my aguas frescas and smoothies all the time. Similar to prunes, they’re also good for constipation, so whenever my kids aren’t having regular bowel movements, I’ll give them a few dates. We take them on bike rides, runs, walks and hikes because they provide a natural source of energy, too.
• Dirty calzones (underwear): My great grandpa Pete used to swear that in order to get rid of a stiff neck, it was necessary to sleep with used underwear (your own, of course) around your neck to make the stiffness go away. I’ve tried it, and it worked on me!
• Dish soap: Add a dab of dish soap (I use Dawn) to remove grease stains from clothing. This works best if done immediately, before washing. Remember not to dry your clothes in the dryer until the stain is completely gone, otherwise you might not be able to get it out afterwards.
• Epazote: I use epazote to flavor dishes including quesadillas, esquites, and black beans. It also helps reduce the gassiness associated with eating frijoles de la olla so be sure to add a handful to your next pot!
• Figs: Figs let off a white liquid (latex) when you cut it from a tree. My friend Ana’s mom says that this liquid can help remove warts.

Remedios Caseros G – L

• Garlic: Garlic is a natural antibiotic with anti fungal and antiviral properties. You can crush a few cloves and apply them to irritated skin or open wounds. When we were young, le picó el sol a mi hermana, and nobody (not even doctors) could figure out how to cure the open and infected flesh caused by her sun allergy. When my aunt from Mexico came, she crushed a few garlic cloves, applied them to her skin (held them in place with gauze), and my sister’s skin was cured within a week. Garlic is also good for earaches. All you have to do is warm a small garlic clove over an open flame and put it in your achy ear (not all the way in, of course). You can hold it in place with a cotton ball and small piece of tape, if necessary. It’ll help alleviate the pain.
• Hierbabuena: In our family, we believe that hierbabuena helps soothe indigestion, gas, and bloating and even give it to babies in tea form to help soothe digestive issues.
• Honey: In my family, we use honey just as much as we use Vicks! I take it by the spoonful as a natural cough suppressant and to help with digestive issues and sore throats. You can also add it to small cuts and wounds as a natural antiseptic. I also givemy kids local honey during allergy season to help reduce the symptoms associated with seasonal allergies.
• Lemons: Lemons are great for more than just lemonade! Lemon juice is a natural bleaching agent. My aunt Stella showed me to use it on those hard-to-remove yellow stains on white clothing and linens. Simply slice a lemon in half, rub the stain with it, and air dry in the sun. Lemons also help lighten dark elbows, knees, and armpits caused by dead skin cells. Cut a large lemon in half and scrub the darkened area with each half. You can add sugar to the lemon for extra exfoliation. Repeat daily and avoid direct sunlight during this process. You should notice your skin lightening within a few days. Lemons are also good on bee stings as well. Grill half of a lemon and place it over a bee sting to reduce irritation.

Remedios Caseros M – R

• Manzanilla (chamomile tea): We use this tea anytime someone has a stomachache or needs to chill out because it has natural calming properties. I like to drink té de manzanilla nice and hot during cold weather months and on ice when it’s warm outside. Listen to this podcast where I discuss my favorite family tea traditions and more!
• Marijuana-infused alcohol: Soak marijuana leaves in rubbing alcohol and use the liquid on sore joints (no pun intended!) and muscles to relieve pain. My great grandma used this magical tincture for her arthritis pain and I rub it on my kids’ legs when they have growing pains.
• Mentholatum: My godmother swears by mentholatum for headaches. She says that whenever she gets a headache, she puts mentholatum on her forehead, takes two Alka Seltzer tablets dissolved in water, and takes a nap. When she wakes up, her headache is gone.
• Nopales: The gelatinous liquid inside of a nopal (cactus paddle) helps relieve pain related to sprains and even mosquito bites. Simply slice a nopal to extract its liquids, rub it onto the wound, and wrap it. You can also add this liquid (or a piece of the paddle) to a smoothie to help soothe stomach irritation.
• Onion: My friend Gemma has a great remedio casero para la tos (home remedy for cough). She makes a cough syrup out of red onion and honey. She also makes a garlic tea to help with cold and flu symptoms.
• Olive oil: Drink a teaspoon of olive oil to help with constipation. My cousin says she used to give it to her son when he was a baby to relieve constipation.
• Oregano tea: Boil a tablespoon or so of oregano with two cups of water, strain, and drink it. You can add a spoonful of honey to help with a cough and to remove phlegm. It’s highly anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial. I give my daughter oregano capsules to help with the inflammation related to her alopecia.
• Potatoes: Place sliced potatoes on bruises to help reduce inflammation and pain. If you oversalt beans, soups or stews, you can add a whole, unpeeled (but washed) potato to absorb some of the salt.
• Prunes: Most people know about the natural digestive benefits of prunes, especially when it comes to constipation. In my family, when babies are constipated (and not eating solids yet), my aunts make a tea by boiling prunes in water and then they have the babies drink this tea to help get things moving. It works like a charm.

Remedios Caseros S – Z

• Salt: Mix about two tablespoons of salt in your mouth and apply it to a bump. There’s something about the salt and saliva combination that helps reduce the swelling immediately. My cousin Darlene used this remedio casero on me when I was a child. I later used it on Amado when he bumped his head on our coffee table. Once the salt paste dried, the swelling was gone! You can also use salt as a natural abrasive to clean cast iron skillets and pans.
• Stainless steel: Rub your hands over stainless steel to get rid of odor after cutting garlic, fish, or onions. It can be a stainless steel sink or appliance. My sister’s friend Pammy taught us this one. Bar Away serves the same purpose.
• Sugar: Did you know that you can turn granulated sugar into powdered sugar? This is more of a kitchen tip than a remedy, but it’s still worth listing on here. All you have to do is pour granulated sugar into a high-power blender and process it until it’s pulverized. We also give sugar to kids when they’ve experienced susto (a shock or scare of some sort).
• Té de limón: I began drinking homemade lemongrass tea almost daily when I read that it helps soothe bloating and cramps. It’s also naturally calming, which is great for stress relief.
• Tortillas: Heat a tortilla, slather with manteca (lard), and place over belly for tummy aches.
• Vinegar: 1 part vinegar + 1 part water = natural glass and kitchen cleaner. Recently, I started adding orange peels to my vinegar to infuse a slight citrus scent. I find its natural scent a little strong. You can also add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to freshen it up, too.
• Vicks Vaporub: Ask any Mexican and they’ll say that Vicks fixes just about any ailment! My tía Koya literally rubs it all over her face when she has a headache. Rub it on the soles of your feet before bedtime to alleviate a cough or symptoms of the flu. Be sure to wear socks. You can even rub Vicks mixed with sugar on a chipote (bump) to help the swelling go down.
• Zapote: I’ve only ever seen zapote fruits in Oaxaca, and we loved the chico zapote, which looked like a small mamey fruit, and reminded us of fig mixed with brown sugar in flavor. I learned that white zapote can also be used to make a tea out of the leaves and seeds to reduce anxiety and help with sleep. It’s also used to help treat diabetes and high blood pressure.

If you have any home remedies that you’d like to share, leave me a comment below. I’d love to hear from you!

This post was originally published on January 11, 2018 and updated with more remedios caseros on May 7, 2025.

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