As a health coach and botanical skin specialist, I absolutely love organic and simple remedies. I grew up in South Africa where the focus is on nature and less on pharmaceuticals and drugs.

To me, it’s about balance. Yes, there is a time for western medicine but we cannot forget about the healing miracles that nature has blessed us with. For thousands of years, ancient healers have used herbs, spices and plants to cure the body.

Here are 5 holistic home remedies that I love:

1) Lime Water

You’ve probably heard of lemon water first thing in the morning but because of my high acidity, I prefer limes. They tend to be a little sweeter and have the some of the same properties as lemon. They are high in vitamin C, great for the gut and give a general flush to the digestive system.

I start off my day with a freshly squeezed lime in some room-temperature water and it has improved my mood and gut-health immensely.

2. Avocado

Since I was a kid, I have always loved a freshly ripened avocado. Yes, to eat! But mostly for my face and hair.

Avocados contain many vitamins but mostly vitamin E which keeps skin vibrant and young. I love to make a mask from it and place it on my face for 15 minutes every week. Afterwards my skin feels smooth, even and nourished.

3. Ginger

This root is a must, for me. I used to suffer with gut issues and found it hard to digest a lot of food. So, I started to snack and chew on raw ginger in the morning and ate night.

I also drink it in tea form and have noticed a big change in my digestion as a whole.

4. Honey

I have a ton of allergies and, as a child, was prone to sinus infections. Even though when I cut out lactose, it reduced my nasal, throat and eye issues because of allergies, I would still have those days when I sneezed non-stop.

I heard about the tale of eating honey as a way to relive sinuses infections and I thought it was hocus pocus until I tried it and it worked over time. I do still have days during Spring when my nose is itchy. However, as a whole, replacing conventional sugar with honey has improved my health a lot.

5. Botanical oils

There are different ways to keep skin youthful, clear and moisturized. However, when I was younger and used creams, I would develop uneven skintone, eczema and skin allergies.

I went to a botanical oil specialist school to learn about the healing powers of organics and helped me cure my skin issues. I was able to remedy my eczema by developing an oil-based face and body oil that blended into the cells of the seven layers of my skin.

There is nothing like using something directly from nature on your skin as opposed to harsh creams that are mostly water-based which dehydrates the skin.

*Hali is a certified health coach and skin specialist but not a doctor. This is not medical advise.