Salt, lemon and pepper may seem more like things you’d put on a salad, but these three ingredients actually work separately and together as nature’s medicine. In fact, many communities around the world still rely on these staples to fix everyday ailments.

With the rising cost of medical care in America, many people are revisiting these time-tested methods to help them get back on their feet. Here are 9 everyday health problems you may alleviate with black pepper, lemon and sea salt. Enjoy!

1. Sore Throat

Relieve a sore throat, mix 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice, half a teaspoon each of black pepper and a full teaspoon of sea salt into a glass of warm water.

Gargle several times a day to soothe a sore throat and prevent coughing (1).

2. Stuffy Nose

If your nose is clogged up, you can relieve stuffiness by getting yourself to sneeze. Simply mix equal amounts of black pepper, cinnamon, cumin and cardamom seeds into a mortar and pestle and grind until you make a powder. Slowly smell the mixture and embrace the sneeze (2).

3. Clear Gallstones

Gallstones are hardened deposits of digestive fluid that can form in your gallbladder. They can be painful and clog up your digestive system. Typically, the stone have to be surgically removed (3).

However, some people find relief by taking 3 parts olive oil and 1 part each of lemon and black pepper to dissolve the stones.

4. Canker Sores

To promote healing of the mucous membranes in your mouth, dissolve a tablespoon of Himalayan salt into a cup of warm water and swish it around your mouth after every meal. This will help clear away bad bacteria and promote healing. If you’re brave, add a little lemon too: it’ll sting, but your cancer sore will quickly melt away.

5. Weight Loss

To boost your metabolism and shed a few more pounds, drink 1/4 teaspoon of ground black pepper, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and one tablespoon of honey in a glass of warm water. The polyphenols in lemon will prevent weight gain and improve insulin sensitivity to help you burn fat (4). Additionally, the piperine in black pepper will prevent the formation of new fat cells (5).

6. Nausea

Black pepper soothes an upset stomach while the scent of lemon can stop nausea in its tracks (6,7). If you’re feeling queasy, combine a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice with a teaspoon of black pepper into a tall glass of warm water. Drink slowly for lasting relief.

7. Asthma Attack

If you have an asthmatic family member, prepare this mixture and always keep it on hand. You’ll need add 10 grains of pepper, 2 clove buds and 15 basil leaves to a cup of boiling water. Let it simmer for 15 minutes and stain into a glass jar with a lid. Add 2 tablespoons of raw honey and let it cool.

It can be refrigerated for up to two weeks and taken with milk to improve the taste.

8. Toothache

Heal your aching teeth by mixing half a teaspoon each of ground pepper and clove oil and applying the mixture to your sore tooth. To avoid toothache, floss & brush your teeth twice daily and avoid sugary or acidic foods. You can also try oil pulling for an extra deep clean.

9. Cold and Flu

To heal a common cold, squeeze half a lemon into a large cup of boiled water. Let the pulp and peel steep in the water for 10 minutes. Remove the lemon and add a spoonful or organic raw honey. Drink as needed until symptoms subside.

10. Nosebleed

To stop a stubborn nosebleed, apply a little fresh lemon juice to a cotton ball and place it in the nostril. As you do so, make sure the patient is tilting this head slightly forward to prevent the blood for dripping into the throat and causing nausea. The nosebleed will stop in no time!