Grown ups: Home Remedies

This very funny scene is great to discuss the topic remedies. We usually talk about it in class, especially when we want students to practice giving advice.


Home remedies and natural cures or medicines made at home from natural ingredients such as fruits, vegetables, herbs are catching a lot of attention due to its very nature of cure: simple, no side effects, no chemicals, inexpensive, plus the pleasure of being able to cure yourself!

http://www.home-remedies-for-you.com/


A home remedy is a treatment to cure a disease or ailment that employs certain spices, vegetables, or other common items. Home remedies may or may not have medical properties that treat or cure the disease or ailment in question. Many are merely used as a result of tradition or habit. A significant number, however, have been demonstrated to effectively treat ailments such as headache, fever or the common cold.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_remedy


Class Discussion:
Do you agree with the statements above? Why (not)?


I. Discuss these questions in groups.

1. Are home remedies common place in the country you live? How so?

2. Have you ever used them? What for?

3. Why do you think people make use of home remedies?

4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of home remedies?

5. Do you know any home remedy that is popular in your country?

6. Do you always go to the doctor when you have a cold or a flu? What do you do to get better when you don't look for a doctor?


II. Try to match the remedy and the problem, according to the site Herbal Ayurveda Remedy


1. Cataract

2. Constipation

3. Wrinkles

4. Insomnia

5. Cold and Cough

6. Sunburn

7. Migraines

8. Snoring

9. Dandruff



( ) apply a cloth dipped in milk on the affected area.

( ) Eat papaya before breakfast everyday.

( ) Apply beaten egg whites, let it dry and then wash off.

( ) Grind fresh ripe grapes and drink without adding any water.

( ) Eat raw carrots regularly and also consume fresh carrot juice, twice a day.

( ) Take half a teaspoon of ginger juice with half a teaspoon of honey, three times a day (morning, noon and night). In winter, warm the mixture by mixing a teaspoon of warm water in it.

( ) Drink 2 glasses of orange with a table spoon of honey at bed time.

( ) Take 2 to 3 sips of olive oil before going to bed.

( ) Mix olive oil and almond oil in equal proportions. Leave it for about 5 minutes.


Answer key:, 6, 2, 3, 7, 1, 5, 4, 8, 9


III. Do you know any remedies for the problems above which are different from the ones in the exercise? Talk about them.


IV. Watch the movie segment from the movie Grown Ups and discuss the questions:

1. Describe the scene.

2. What is the old lady's problem?

3. What's the remedy she has been using?

4. Has the remedy worked? Why (not)?

5. Should she be treated with a home remedy or go to a doctor? Why?



V. Role-Play. Make sure you come up with an agreement in the end of the role-play.


Student 1: You're the old lady. Describe what your problem is and ask for advice, but you do not like taking traditional medication.




Student 2: You're a doctor. You believe the old lady's problem is serious and you don't agree with home remedies to treat certain diseases. Talk the old lady into joining a traditional therapy with medication

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - GROWN UPS