Feeling under the weather?? Have some body aches?? The sniffles?? or Just need a pick me up?? Great!! You can find some remedies for some common ailments and some herbal suggestions to help you feel like a million bucks again!!
Our body is designed to naturally heal itself, and when given the proper nutrition and fuel, it is able to function at it’s best. I find that natural alternatives are better and safer for us than most conventional methods; and sometimes it’s cheaper to try natural methods. I am not advocating quitting your medications; please consult your medical doctor before switching or quitting your current medications. I am just a firm believer that nutrition plays an important role in healing our bodies of disease, and at times diet is the main culprit as to why we are sick.
- Common Cold – 1. Vitamin A helps heal inflamed mucous membranes and strengthens immune system. 2. Vitamin C and Vitamin C Emergence fights the cold virus and helps shorten duration of cold 3. Zinc lozenges boost’s immune system, use at first sign of cold (avoid lozenges with citric acid, sorbitol or mannitol because they inhibit absorption). 4. Echinacea Tea to boost immune system, but don’t drink for more than 3 weeks. 5. Ginger Tea helps fight common cold as well. 6. Gypsy Cold Care Tea by Traditional Medicinals or Yogi brand: These brand’s make great tea for treating the cold and all the symptoms of the cold. Just drink up until you feel better.
- Sinus Infection- 1. Neti Pot: these are so useful and great for clearing sinuses even if you don’t have an infection. You can find this at any health store a great investment. It works wonders. Be ready with Kleenex. 2. Cayenne pepper: Snorting cayenne pepper works as well. It stings like no other, but relieves sinus pressure almost instantly and drains your sinuses. You wet a Q-tip, dip it in some cayenne pepper, and insert into your nose, you don’t have to go deep, just inside, and rub it around. Snort and wait a couple minutes, then rub again. Be ready with some Kleenex!!. 3. Vitamin A helps heal inflamed mucous membranes and strengthens immune system. 4. Vitamin C and Vitamin C Emergence boosts immune function. 5. Zinc lozenges boost’s immune system, and is an antiviral agent (avoid lozenges with citric acid, sorbitol or mannitol because they inhibit absorption).6. Goldenseal Tea: drink 3 cups a day, up to a week, but no longer. 7. Apple Cider Vinegar: Mix 2 tbs apple cider vinegar with 1 tsp honey and 8 ounces water. Drink up to 3X a day for 3-5 days. It helps to break up mucus. 8. Fenugreek or Anise: Loosens phlegm and clear’s congestion. Can be taken in tea form or capsule. 9. Avoid Dairy and Sugar: Dairy increases production of mucus.
- Headaches – 1. Peppermint oil works wonders, just rub some wherever your head hurts (it relieves the pain) 2. Calcium & Magnesium relaxes muscles and blood vessels, and a deficiency may cause migraines. 3. CoQ10 improves tissue oxygenation and supports immune detoxification of dangerous substances. 4. Chamomile relaxes muscles and soothes tension, 5. Valerian root is good sedative to take during your headache, relaxing muscles and aiding in sleep. 6. Drink large glass of water until symptoms subside every 3 hours.
- Cough and Sore Throat – 1. Throat Coat Tea, by Traditional Medicinal or Yogi is great for sore throats and coughs. 2. Zinc Lozenges help boost immune system and fight off viruses and infections 3. Vitamin C Emergence boosts the immune system. 4. RC Oil by Young Living: dilute with olive oil and apply to chest and throat.
- Stuffy Nose- 1. Netti Pot: This will drain sinuses and open up your nasals, making it easier to breathe. 2. Breathe Easy Tea by Traditional Medicinals or Yogi: It has licorice root, which is great for symptoms of the cold. Drink 3 cups a day, until you can breath again. 3. Peppermint oil on sinuses and under nose, to help open you up. 3. RC oil (from Young Living) diluted with olive oil applied to chest helps open you nasal passage.
- Acne – 1.Apple cider vinegar toner (1 part apple cider vinegar to 4 parts water) applied day and night with cotton ball or pad; 2. Tea Tree Oil applied to pimples to dry them out, without drying out skin. It’s an antibiotic and antiseptic. 3. Lavender oil to dry out pimples, as it’s a good antibiotic and antiseptic. 4. Coconut Oil as a lotion and to wash your face with. I wash my face with coconut oil before bed. It leaves my skin feeling so soft and doesn’t leave it feeling oily. It’s has antifungal and anti-bacterial properties. 5. Argan oil for moisturizer. I apply this in the morning. I have combination skin, and it doesn’t leave my face oily. It helps to prevent breakouts, while moisturizing. 6. Avoid dairy products, gluten, and sugar (these have been shown to cause inflammation in the skin resulting in breakouts) 7. Take vitamin A. This has shown to help prevent breakouts and strengthens the protective skin tissue. 8. Essential Fatty Acids keep skin smooth and soft, repair tissues, and dissolve fatty deposits that block pores.
- Flu – 1. Peppermint Oil: Helps relieve flu like symptoms. 2. Fenugreek helps relieve fever 3. Echinacea helps with the flu and flu like symptoms. Kills infections. 4. Lots of water to flush out any flu bugs.
- Pneumonia – 1. Mustard Plaster: 2 tbs flour, 1 tsp dried mustard/ground mustard seed mixed with warm water to form paste. Wrap paste in cloth and apply to chest and/or back. Leave on for 30 minutes, repeating every 4-6 hours as needed. If flour to mustard ratio isn’t as strong can leave on over night. Don’t apply directly to skin. Can cause stinging and irritation to skin. Draws out mucus and inflammation. I used this when I had pneumonia and it worked wonders. 2. Garlic: Can be taken in capsule form. Destroys unwanted bacteria. 3. Vitamin A enhances immunity and promotes repair of lung tissue. 4. Echinacea boosts immunity 5. Ginger is an antimicrobial agent and helpful for fever 5. Goldenseal and Licorice root are natural antibiotics and can be taken in tea form or capsule form. 6. Eat diet of raw fruits and veggies 7. Drinks lots of water and green juices.
- Sleeping Problems – 1. Valerian Root promotes sleep and REM sleep 2. Melatonin a natural hormone that promotes sleep. Try not to use regularly or for extended period of time. 3. Calcium and Magnesium has a calming affect and magnesium relaxes muscles. 4. Chamomile has sedative properties and calming affect.
Great Teas: (I like the Yogi, Traditional Medicinals, and Numi brand)
- Yerba Matte – This has more caffeine than most tea but is a great alternative to coffee. Fights free radicals, cleanses blood and suppresses appetite.
- Green Tea – Packed full with phytochemicals to help prevent aging and cancer. Acts as antioxidant, lowers cholesterol levels, stimulates immune system, regulates blood sugar and insulin levels.
- Ginger Tea – Helps soothe digestive issues and gastrointestinal issues. Also, has anti-inflammatory properties. Great when you have a cold or flu. It kills bacteria. If you drink too much it will definitely loosen your bowels, so if your constipated great tea to drink. Cleanses colon, reduces spasms and cramps. Antioxidant, protects liver and stomach. Helps with headache, fever, morning sickness, motion sickness, muscle pain, nausea, and vomiting.
- Peppermint Tea – Soothes indigestion and upset stomach. Also, just a great tea to drink when you feel like something pepperminty. Useful for IBS, nausea, poor appetite, and heart trouble.
- Chamomile – Helps to calm and promote relaxation. Reduces inflammation and aids in digestion and sleep. Traditional remedy for stress and anxiety, indigestion, and insomnia.
- Echinacea – Builds immunity. Great for colds and sinus problems. Don’t drink for more than three weeks straight. Fights inflammation and bacterial and viral infection. Great for allergies, colds, flu, and infectious diseases
- Goldenseal Tea – Great for sinus infections and detoxing. Can stop cold, flu, or sore throat from developing. Cleanses body and improves digestion.
- Dandelion Root Tea – Liver detox. This is a great for liver detoxing and great for when you are on a fast or cleanse. Helps to detox the body and rid it of toxins, by cleansing liver and blood. It increase bile production and relieves constipation.
I have a whole cabinet dedicated to just teas!! I love tea!!
Diet when sick:
- Fruits and veggies are the best foods to eat when sick, because of their powerful antioxidants and phytochemicals they contain. They are nutritious and packed full with vitamin and minerals.
- Drink up – Water is the best when feeling under the weather. It helps to flush toxins out of our system.
- Teas – herbal teas are great for alleviating symptoms of the common cold, flu, sinus infections, allergies, and digestive problems
- Avoid sugar and dairy – Bacteria feeds on sugar, thus the more sugar you consume the more bacteria there’s going to be in your body, and not the healthy kind of bacteria. Dairy forms mucus, so if you have a runny nose or phlegmy cough avoid dairy. Dairy can also be hard on your stomach when you have flu-like symptoms.
- Soup – Soups with lots of broth, and minimal noodles, meats, and veggies are best. Chose broth based soups, whether it’s chicken, beef, or vegetable broth. It is easy on the stomach.