It’s February, and we are in the middle of a flu epidemic. Last week I started feeling weak. I think it was caused by a combination of stress, fatigue and poor sleep. When I had the flu last year I had it really bad, with severe bronchitis and months of trying to clear the remains of it. This time I decided to take no chances and started taking precautionary measures early. By the way, I wrote a blog post about natural remedies for the cold season a few years ago which you may also want to take a look at. This is an updated version of it.
My favourite remedies
My favourite remedies include vitamin C, Oregano oil, lemon and ginger tea, live yoghurt with probiotics and magnesium oil to help me sleep. I also like echinacea for its immune-boosting properties.
I started a group a couple of weeks ago. It has quite a few people who are not only passionate about natural health remedies but are also well-informed on the subject. So I asked a question: “If you felt you were going doing with a cold or the flu, what remedies would you use?”.
I received quite a few great answers. A group member suggested writing a blog post, so I decided to do just that. Since I also love infographics, I spent some time creating one.
Top 10 natural cold & flu remedies – Group Exercise
Oregano oil
Oregano oil is made of the oregano plant. It contains 2 very powerful ingredients – carvacrol and thymol, both of which have been researched to have powerful antibiotics, antiviral and antifungal properties.
Vitamin C
Lemons, grapefruit and oranges are all excellent natural sources of vitamin C. Drinking lemon tea is not only soothing. It also protects body cells from free radical damage. Large doses of Vitamin C work wonders for many people, especially if the supplement is based on natural and not synthetic ingredients. Lemon & ginger tea is excellent for both a cold and the flu!
Thieves oil
Also known as Four Thieves essential oil blend. Mix 2 teaspoons clove essential oil, 1 teaspoon cinnamon bark essential oil, 1 1/2 teaspoon lemon essential oil, 3/4 teaspoon eucalyptus essential oil, 1/2 teaspoon rosemary essential oil. Use in a diffuser, add 2-3 drops to 4 ounces of warm water to gargle a sore throat. Add 5 drops to 1 tablespoon of carrier oil and rub the chest and back for respiratory problems. Use with various types of infection – bacterial, fungal and viral.
Master Tonic
Take 2 tablespoons (tbsp) turmeric powder, 25 oz apple cider vinegar, 2 oz crushed garlic, 2 oz chopped onion, 2 hot chilli peppers, 2 oz grated ginger, 2 oz grated horseradish. Mix it all together, let stand 14 days. Take 1 teaspoon – 1 tbsp up to 6 times a day depending on the severity of an infection.
Garlic
Garlic is a very powerful antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal remedy. It is also one of the most ancient antibiotics. It has been used to treat wounds and ward off infections for millennia. Garlic contains antioxidants which help strengthen the immune system. Garlic essential oil or garlic supplements are also very effective, and there is also odourless garlic on the market if you are cautious about eating garlic for social reasons.
Cloves, Star Anise & Cinnamon
Cloves, star anise and cinnamon have traditionally been used to treat a viral and bacterial infection (especially respiratory types) and to strengthen the immune system. Infuse with tea or add to food. Crushing these ingredients would make them stronger and more effective. Clove bud, star anise and cinnamon bark essential oils provide the same benefits. However, you need to remember that these are essential oils, so are more powerful than crushed plants.
Mix equal amounts of sodium bicarbonate and Epsom salt in a bath filled with warm water. Add 3 drops of eucalyptus essential oil and tea tree essential oil mixed with the sweet almond carrier oil. Take to relieve aching muscles & symptoms of a cold (not if you have a fever) and to minimise the infection.
Ginger & Turmeric
Both ginger and turmeric are great for keeping our immune system strong. Add to teas and food. Both raw roots and powder are equally effective for treating an infection. If you prefer a fast solution, you may want to supplement your diet with ginger and turmeric capsules. Alternatively, buy ginger powder and turmeric powder and mix into food and drinks.
Indian Chai
Indian chai (sometimes referred to as Masala chai) is very soothing and healing at the same time. it is especially good for a dry cough. Crush 100g black peppercorns, 100g ginger powder, 50g cinnamon powder, 50g cardamom seeds, 5g cloves, 5g nutmeg. Add some loose tea leaves, water and milk in a pot. Take 2 tbsp of mixture, 300ml of water and 300ml of milk. Simmer for 15 minutes. Add sugar, sweetener or honey. For a quick solution, take a look at this ready made chai.
Colloidal Silver
Colloidal silver has long had a reputation for being a powerful antibiotic. It is used by many to treat bacterial and viral infections. It is also used for inflammations and many other conditions.
Live yoghurt, probiotics & fermented vegetables
There is a saying among natural health practitioners that our immune system is based in the gut. Live yoghurt and probiotics help to maintain gut health. You can also buy kefir cultures to make your own live yogurt as you need it. And if your budget allows, look into adding prebiotic supplements to your diet. Prebiotics create a favourable microflora in the gut for the good bacteria to thrive.
I would also add naturally fermented vegetables to this – souerkraut, fermented cucumbers, carrots, beets and other vegetables. If you would like to know how to make really tasty fermented vegetables in only 15 minutes ready to eat in 2 days’ time, join my group on Facebook. Look for Pure Nature Cures or follow this link. We exchange lots of interesting ideas there. It’s free to join at the moment (this may change).
I’d love to hear what your 3 favourite natural remedies are! Please share your remedies and recipes below. Don’t forget to look for our group too! 🙂
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