HOUSTON -- The kitchen cabinet could hold the cure for many common ailments, saving you money at the clinic, KPRC Local 2 reported Tuesday.

Dr. Joan Engebretson of the University of Texas Heath Science Center has several home remedies for common health issues.

While there is no cure for the common cold, you can cut your risk in half by eating colorful fruits and vegetables.

"I would heat a cup of hot water and add honey and lemon," Engebretson said. "It soothes and acts as an anti-inflammatory."

You don't need to resort to over-the-counter medication to get rid of a headache. Your morning coffee can help you escape the pain.

"The coffee or caffeine helps because it reconstructs blood vessels," Engebretson said.

Coffee is also a good way to relieve constipation.

Hiccups can come at the most inconvenient times, but to get rid of them quickly just hold your breath, drink water or suck on a lemon, doctors said.

If you are sunburned, take a cold bath and add a common breakfast food.

"Oatmeal is one of the best things," Engebretson said. "Just make a mix and put it on your skin and in the bath. It helps soothe the itching and pain."

If you need to get rid of that breakfast smell after your oatmeal bath, take a baking soda shower. A common French remedy is a great homemade deodorant.

"Mix a little baking soda and some lemon juice and use it in the shower," Engebretson said.

You can freshen up your breath with a little snack of some popular garnish.

"One thing you can do is eat parsley," Engebretson said. "It's often served on your plate as a garnish, but just eat it. It has chlorophyll and it's healthy too."

With a booming pharmaceutical industry, many believe home remedies have long been forgotten. But Dr. Engebretson believes they are making a come back as families pass down remedies from one generation to the next.