Most of us will have a bathroom cupboard or drawer stuffed full with various tubes and pots of ointments for all those irritating common ailments which afflict us every once in a while.

But very few of us would think of rummaging around our kitchen cupboards for bicarbonate of soda when we have Athlete's foot or slicing open an avocado to breathe new life into dry hair.

As Reader's Digest publishes 1,001 Home Remedies, Health Editor Madeleine Brindley uncovers the alternative First Aid kit

This plant has been used since ancient times as a medicine for everything from sunburn to haemorrhoids. It is now enjoying a new lease of life as an architectural-looking potted plant. But we have a lot to learn from our ancestors, as aloe vera can still be used as a home remedy for numerous conditions, including:

Minor burns - A quick application of aloe vera gel reduces pain, moistens the skin and keeps germs and air out.

Cuts and grazes - Aloe vera gel dries to form a natural bandage over skin and speeds up healing.

Acne - Apply aloe vera when you have a painful outbreak.

Gardeners believe that magnesium sulphate - Epsom salts - helps roses to thrive, while potters sometimes add it to clay to help elasticity. But it is commonly added to bath water to ease aches and pains, reduce stress and soften skin.

Splinters and stings - Epsom salts draws out toxins from insect stings and bites and brings splinters to the surface. Add water to Epsom salts to make a paste and apply it to the affected area.

Sprains and bruises - Epsom salts will reduce the swelling. Add two cups of Epsom salts to a warm bath and soak.

The enemy of vampires everywhere and a staple ingredient in French and Mediterranean cuisine, it has gradually become a part of traditional British cooking as we draw on more exotic influences. Garlic has long been associated with heart health, thanks to the 100-plus compounds it contains, especially allicin, which scientists believe has antibiotic properties.

It is also thought that garlic can play a significant role in the fight against cancer, as studies suggest that it blocks cell changes which can lead to cancer, and may be able to destroy cancer cells that have already formed.

One to two cloves of raw, or lightly cooked, garlic a day are probably enough to obtain most of its healing and preventative benefits. You should bruise, chop or chew the clove to make sure the alliin in raw garlic is converted to allicin. Taking 400mg to 600mg of garlic supplement a day can offer similar benefits.

The oils in lavender have long been valued for making perfumes, soaps and scented sachets for clothes drawers and wardrobes. But lavender doesn't just smell nice as there is scientific evidence to suggest that one of the oils it contains - perillyl alcohol - could play a role in treating cancer.

Headaches - Applying a little lavender oil to each temple and massaging it in can bring relief.

Infections - The tannins in lavender kill bacteria and help to prevent minor cuts and grazes from becoming infected. Soak a clean cloth in a lavender infusion and apply the compress to the wound. The same chemical compounds in lavender also fight ear infections.

Lemons are an extraordinary source of healing chemical compounds, which improve immunity, strengthen blood vessels, help skin to heal and may even block certain cell changes, which can lead to cancer.

A quick rub of lemon to the armpits helps to combat unpleasant smells.

Kidney stones - Lemons contain large amounts of citric acid, which reduces calcium excretion and helps to prevent the formation of kidney stones.

Skin cancer - A study of 450 people found that those who regularly drank black tea, and especially those who added a slice of lemon, had a reduced risk of certain types of skin cancer.

Peppermint will forever be associated with toothpaste, breath mints and chewing gum but it is also one of the best herbs available for digestive problems. Peppermint contains many oils, but two of them - menthol and menthone - relax the smooth muscles that line the intestinal tract, helping to relieve cramping.

It is this action, which has made peppermint a natural choice for the relief of irritable bowel syndrome, which can cause unpredictable cramping, indigestion and alternating bouts of constipation and diarrhoea. Drinking a cup or two of peppermint tea a day can ease or prevent digestive discomfort.

One of How Clean Is Your House? dustbusters Kim and Aggie's favourite alternatives to modern cleaning products, vinegar has many diverse applications, and is a useful addition to any household First Aid kit.

It can combat bacteria and fungi, take the itch out of mosquito bites, settle an upset stomach, prevent swimmer's ear, make hair shinier and skin softer.

If you can stand the sting, it is also an adequate disinfectant for scratches and sores.

Stomach settler - If you suffer from indigestion because of a lack of stomach acid, a teaspoon of vinegar after meals can help.

Coolant - Spreading vinegar on skin provides a welcoming chill, which can take the heat out of sunburn. The vinegar evaporating quickly causes the cooling effect.

Odour eater - A vinegar rinse will banish the smell of cigar smoke from clothes and freshen babies' nappies when added to the final rinsing water. It can also get rid of strong smells from armpits and feet.

Sore throats - Vinegar is a trusted folk remedy for sore throats. Some people recommend gargling with a teaspoon of vinegar in a warm glass of water. Others make a homemade cough syrup by combining equal amounts of honey and cider vinegar and shaking or stirring until dissolved.

And for some slightly more unusual home remedies ...

Cider vinegar, which kills a variety of fungi and bacteria, is frequently recommended as a home remedy for dandruff. Mix one part water with one part cider apple vinegar and apply as a rinse after shampooing.

At the first hint of a pimple, take an ice cube and wrap it in a piece of cling film and hold it against the affected area at least twice a day, or every hour, but not for more than five minutes. The cold will ease the inflammation and reduce the redness.

To clear up congestion when you have a cold, wear wet socks to bed. A recognised naturopathic remedy, it works by drawing blood to the feet, which dramatically increases blood circulation. First warm your feet in hot water, then soak a pair of thin cotton socks in cold water, wring them out and put them on just before going to bed.

Put a pair of dry wool socks over the wet ones. The wet socks should be dry and warm by the morning and you should feel better. But only try this remedy in a reasonably well-heated room - wearing wet socks to bed is unwise in a cold room.

A chilled spoon can provide pain relief for a baby who is cutting their first tooth. Put the spoon in the fridge and apply the rounded part of the spoon to the baby's gums.