Welcome to Nigella

If you are suffering from iron deficiency, sleep problems, ilness, recovering from pregnancy, depression and lack of energy and vitality get hold of some good dates and eat them as they are. Recommended ammount per day is at least 7. They are full of nutrition and extremely high in iron. They will also stop you craving sweets and cakes.

"Posted by sofiah"

If you have been preparing fish and can't wash off that fishy smell, just rub your hands on stainless steel (the sink or blunt edge of a knife or any stainless steel surface) for a few moments and rinse . Voila smell gone! Works for garlic hands too!

"Posted by gfitz2905"

Keep to hand some Slippery Elm Powder (in Health Food shops for eczema). Mix a small amount into some water to make a paste, apply to the burn and wrap in a thin bandage. Leave on skin and will take the heat out of burns as well as reduce any blisters or small scaring.

"Posted by katew215"

Word of caution when using mangoes and cashews... Mangoes and cashews are in the same family as poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. Individuals who are very allergic to poison ivy, oak, or sumac, may need to avoid the skin of mangoes or consumption of too many cashews. Speaking from experience, the effects of coming into contact with the skin of mangoes or eating cashews is not terribly pleasant.

"Posted by EsteveCasta"

I know this is going to sound crazy, but if you burn a fingertip grab onto your earlobe and the stinging stops instantly. My Uncle taught me that. I guess the heat transfers to the lobe somehow...I don't know how it works but I've done it a number of times over the years and it really works. 

"Posted by FrankyVee"

Chewing parsley is great for getting rid of the garlic breath, of course it is de rigeur here in France, don't forget to check your teeth for green bits before you start to converse or smile!

"Posted by Nesbitt"

Don't throw away mango skin... rub the "flesh" side over your face and leave to dry for about 10min. Then rinse with plenty of warm water and also cleanse your pores with a toner and cotton pads... your pores will be squeaky clean and your skin will feel tightened!

"Posted by ZeTallGerman"

Putting honey on minor burns immediately will help the pain and prevent blistering and scarring. Works like a charm, prevents scarring and infection on minor burns.

"Posted by Whitneylaura"

Instead of throwing them away, repurpose your used coffee grounds for later use. The same caffeine that woke you up this morning will revitalize your skin as well. For better results, mix a bit of olive oil, baby oil, or lotion in with the grounds to make a paste. Exfoliate the cellulite and let it sit on your skin for as long as you can stand it, and then wash it off in the shower. For those in a hurry, bring your coffee grounds into the shower and exfoliate any problem areas, then rinse away. Caffeine exfoliation will increase blood flow to the skin, reduce pore size, and help break down the fat. This is not a miracle remedy but you will see results! Do this twice a week.

"Posted by Grace-ella"

Leftover lavender infused milk from the lavender cupcakes recipe makes a ingredient to a bathmilk, just add half a cup of epsom salts to your water and float your cares away.

"Posted by peanut"

If you have sore, dry feet, put some bicarb in some warm water and soak your feet in it, makes them lovely and soft. You can also put some in your bath and have a soak .

"Posted by Shazza13"

Rolled oats tied in a stocking or muslin and put under the hot water in a bath makes a really soothing bath for your skin. You need really to squeeze the milk out as it soaks and you end up with a milky bath (sometimes with little flecks of porridge in it but all in a good cause I assure you!)

"Posted by kiwibird"

Cold used tea bags or slices of cucumber placed on the eye lids to take away tired and achey eyes.

"Posted by Crafty Cookie"

Warmed up olive oil, dip a piece of cotton wool in and place in the ear to remove stubborn ear wax.

"Posted by Crafty Cookie"

An egg yolk, mixed with banana and a table spoon of olive oil is a nice face mask. Give it about half an hour and your skin looks nice

"Posted by The White Rabbit"

Tomato ketchup is good for taking the 'green' tinge out of highlighted blonde hair afer swimming in chlorinated water. I have done this myself and it made me gag in the shower but worked a treat. Just make sure you've got some lovely smelling conditioner on hand to combat the smell!

"Posted by soozyb"

A very good pep-up mask for dull, tired hair is a mask made of 1 part vodka, 2 parts mayo. Or: 1 egg yolk, 1 teaspoon whiskey, 1 teaspoon lukewarm olive oil. Don't rinse your hair with hot water though! The egg might curdle. Yuk!

"Posted by Edda"

A good thing for acne-prone skin is a paste made out of ground dahl and turmeric, mixed with a little boiled and cooled water.

"Posted by Edda"

Hair bleach needed? Chamomile tea as a last rinse. Use two bags and save them. Apply the bags on the eyes to combat swollen eyes.

"Posted by Edda"

To clear greasy skin: Beat loose some egg white, apply to skin, allow to dry. The tightening of the egg whites feels horrid but most of the excess grease in the skin will have gone after you rinse the egg whites off and a lot of the blackheads (if you have any) will just have squeezed themselves out.

"Posted by Edda"

To have shinier hair: a drop of vinegar or lemon juice in the rinsing water.

"Posted by Edda"

Oily skin can also be helped by using a mask made out of grated cucumber (or sliced, whichever you prefer. Works great on puffy eyes too.

"Posted by Edda"

Brittle nails? Almond oil, olive oil, or lemon zest (rub the nails with the stuff and rinse with tepid water).

"Posted by Edda"

Dry skin on the feet and no money for a pedicure? Rub with a mix of olive oil and salt. Rinse off with tepid water.

"Posted by Edda"

Rolled oats are known to be great as an exfoliant. So is mashed banana with a bit of salt.

"Posted by Edda"

If you've got some almonds left over and you're afraid they're a bit stale, grind them up, pour over hot water and use the strained liquid as a hair mask or a conditioner. Great for dry hair I'm told.

"Posted by Edda"

After too much washing up mix two teaspoons of olive oil with one teaspoon of sugar and use as a hand-rub. This exfoliates, brightens and nourishes your hands and nails all at the one time.

"Posted by Fiorenza"

Soak cotton pads in espresso coffee. Squeeze out so much so they don't really drip, then place under your eyes for 5 minutes. The caffeine will de-puff your "bags" very effectively.

"Posted by Hettie"

Mashed avocado and almond oil makes a really fabulous moisturising hair and face mask

"Posted by Hettie"

This is actually a tan remover and its pretty effective too.  You'll need first press coconut milk, it has to be thick add some turmeric powder to it and rub over tanned surface, and wash up after it dries.  It might be helpful if you use organic turmeric and grind it to a paste.  Also rice flour with curds mixed and applied all over and washed after it dries is also a very good tan remover.  (It itches horribly as it dries, but it is worth it.) 

"Posted by chaitanya"

Tea tree oil supposedly keeps headlice away, 3 drops on a childs head every morning

"Posted by cupcake chaos"

Do you sometimes get those little, maddening, hard and infected bits of skin sticking up at the sides of your fingernails? Apparently garlic juice stings like mad but is an excellent natural antibiotic. Doesn't smell all too nice, but still... If you're desperate enough...?

"Posted by Edda"

Bicarbonate of soda and water dabbed onto insect bites and heat rashes takes the itchy feeling away.

"Posted by Crafty Cookie"

Vinegar for stings is brilliant and cheaper than anthisan

"Posted by Crafty Cookie"

Keep some white vinegar in your beach bag to put on jelly fish stings

"Posted by JillyB"

To remove garlic smells from your hands, rub them over your stainless steel sink. It works amazingly and instantly no matter how much garlic you've used

"Posted by Eadie"

Spray oil is excellent for greasing baking tins, and especially paper cake/muffin cases, which are otherwise ungreaseable

"Posted by Sauce_pot"

If you are sick and have a cough, dried sage which is left to infuse in previously boiled water is a great healing remedy.  Drink whilst it's very hot you can add sugar to taste.  My family use it all the time and every time I make Nigella's Sage and Onion Chicken they ask me if the chicken was sick as he is full of sage.  I have to add that they love the dish. 

"Posted by Tatt"

I was having a look at your "kitchen wisdoms" section of the site.  I saw the post about using aloe juice to help with burns.  One that has worked for me over the passed few years is egg whites.I always end up burning myself when baking and always have an egg shell with some egg white in laying in the bin (ewww, i know).  Thanks, SamPS

"Posted by Hettie"