I’m a big believer in homeopathic medicine and try my best not to take prescription or over the counter medications unless its absolutely necessary. Since we’re in the thick of cold & flu season, I thought I’d share a few of my favorite natural remedies to help fight common cold and flu symptoms as well as shorten the duration of your illness. Read on to learn about my five favorite natural ingredients and the three immune boosting recipes I swear by to help me fight the cold and flu.
These are the five natural ingredients which have been incredibly effective in helping to soothe my symptoms whenever I feel myself starting to get sick. They offer a myriad of health benefits and these are just a few…
Turmeric: With more than two dozen anti-inflammatory compounds, turmeric has strong anti-inflammatory properties and can help soothe many cold symptoms such as sneezing and sore throat which are due to the body’s inflammatory response It’s also a powerful antioxidant.
Ginger: Great for the digestive system, anti-inflammatory, supports immunity, helps clear sinus congestion and relieves nausea. It also warms the body and induces sweating which can be effective for breaking a fever.
Cayenne: Spicy cayenne has antibacterial properties, eases upset stomach by stimulating the digestive tract, improves blood flow and boosts circulation which can help reduce swelling and also acts as a natural decongestant by stimulating the release of mucus from respiratory passages.
Honey: Honey acts as a natural cough suppressant and expectorant that loosens phlegm from the lungs and coats your throat which also helps relieve throat irritation. Honey is also known for its anti-inflammatory effects. For the most health benefits, always use raw, organic honey which is unfiltered and unprocessed. (The high heat process used to make conventional honey strips it of its enzymes, nutrients and antioxidants.) Also note that doctors warn that honey should not be consumed by infants under the age of 1.
Lemon: A great source of Vitamin C which helps boost the immune system, has alkalizing properties that help balance the body’s pH, helps detoxifiy the body, decreases inflammation and has antiviral and antibacterial properties.
These five ingredients can be combined to make numerous home remedies for fighting colds. Here are three of my favorites. Try these whenever you feel the first signs of a cold coming on and
Wellness Shot: This one I’ve adapted from my favorite LA juice bar who makes a wellness shot called The Facemelter. You combine 1 oz of ginger juice with a tablespoon of lemon juice into a shot glass and sprinkle a bit of cayenne and turmeric on top as well as a few drops of oil of oregano which has natural antibacterial, antiviral and anti-fungal properties. If you can find fresh turmeric, instead of sprinkling the powdered version on top, juice a piece of turmeric along with your ginger and use 1 oz of the combined juice in this recipe. Whenever you feel a cold coming on a shot of this will help boost your immunity and get you feeling better in no time! This shot is extra spicy and can be tough to swallow – it’s definitely not for the faint of heart!
Raw Honey Cough Syrup: Mix 4 tablespoons of honey together with juice of 1 small lemon, 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne and 1/2 teaspoon of ginger juice (if you have a juicer or substitute with grated ginger if you don’t). Whenever I can’t shake my cough I take 2 teaspoons of this and it always provides me with relief!
Ginger Tea: Homemade ginger tea is always soothing when you have a cold. To make, peel and slice ginger root until you have about 1 cup. You can add more if you like your tea spicy. Bring two cups of water to a boil then reduce to a simmer and add your ginger. Let steep for about 10 minutes (or longer for a more potent tea). Strain into a mug and stir in 2 teaspoons of honey and the juice of 1/2 a lemon. This is also an excellent recipe to help soothe an upset stomach if you exclude the lemon juice.
In addition to the above, the one other thing I swear by to help me fight a cold is getting plenty of sleep! Sleep is one of the best ways to help your body recover from illness and aside from its incredible healing power, it will also help keep your immunity strong. Have you tried any of these natural remedies? I’d love to hear what natural remedies that you’ve found to be most helpful below!
*Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and am not here to offer medical advice, just sharing a few of the remedies that help me me when I’m sick. You should consult your doctor for sound medical advice.
1 Comment
This is a really helpful post! I know that you can’t exactly cure the flu with stuff like this but you can definitely help with the rubbish symptoms that you get.