As much as I try to keep myself healthy, sometimes it is hard to avoid getting an infection this time of year. Winter brings all sorts of nasties, like colds and the flu, and as I found out, gastro. The cold damp air, along with artificially heated homes with little or no ventilation allows the little buggers to rear their ugly heads.
As always I look to what I can do to get rid of the bugs naturally, before I start heading to the pharmacy. I thought you might like to have a look at some suggestions to help with this cold and flu season:
Garlic: Is known for its antiviral properties, making it a great cure for colds. I know some of you might not want to do this as you will pong of garlic and the taste can be strong, but if you chew on a clove of garlic (raw) and then have a half a glass of warm water a few times a day while you have the cold, it is good at getting rid of the cold by clearing your congested chest.
Honey & lemon: an oldie but a goodie for sore throats. The antibacterial properties of the honey can kill any bacteria, lining the throat as it goes down. The lemon is high in vitamin C. Add the lemon and honey to a glass of warm water and sip it like a tea.
Lavender and Eucalyptus oil: If you are very chesty and need to relieve mucus, why not add a few drops of lavender and eucalyptus in a basin of boiling water. Then cover your head with the towel and breath in the vapours. The strong antiviral and antibacterial properties of both oils will help liquefy the mucus and reduce the infection.
Ginger: Make a ginger tea by adding 4 - 6 tablespoons freshly grated ginger root into 1 litre of cold water and bring the mixture to the boil. Then remove it from the heat and stand for 10 to 15 minutes. Strain to remove the ginger bits from the tea. Add 1 – 2 tablespoons of honey and the juice of 2 fresh lemons. Ginger is great at fighting colds.
It is worth considering how to avoid picking up infections:
Wash your hands regularly.
Keep your hands away from your face.
And avoid touching surfaces others are touching, especially in high traffic areas such as at work or on public transport.
Hope this helps you through this wintry season. To help you maintain your health throughout the cold season, eat well, get fresh air and exercise will.
Keep earthly passionate,
Attracta & the earthly Passion team.
References:
The Green Pharmacy by James A. Duke
How to Make Herbal Teas, Infusions and Tinctures by Rosemary Gladstar
https://topnaturalremedies.net
http://www.motherearthnews.com/