Рецепт Natural Home Remedies For Colds and Flu
The best ways to prevent colds and flu, as we all know, are handwashing, avoiding sick people and living a healthy lifestyle that keeps your immune system strong. But unless you are a hermit, at some point you will get sick. I had the misfortune of sitting near a sick woman at a concert last week who let loose with a sneeze directly at me. Now I have chills, headache, stuffy nose, dry cough and I ache all over. One trip upstairs left me totally exhausted. So today I'm sharing the natural home remedies that I use when someone in our house is sick.
There is no cure for colds or flu, but there are a number of natural home remedies that will make you more comfortable while you are sick and help your body to fight the illness off.
1. Rest- this one can be the hardest. There are always more things to do than hours in the day to do them. But when you're sick your body needs to direct all of its energy to the immune system to fight off the infection. Lots of rest and extra sleep are extremely important. If you have lots of nasal congestion or coughing, prop your head up with an extra pillow.
2. Steam- this will help clear out your nose so you can breathe better. There are a number of ways you can do this.
-Add a few drops of eucalyptis oil to a vaporizor or humidifier.
-Boil some water in a pan, add a few drops of eucalyptis oil to it, lean your head over the pan and drape with a towel to form a steam tent.
-You can also run a hot shower and sit in the bathroom with the door closed to breath in the steam.
3. Fluids- keep you hydrated, keep your throat moist and help to break up congestion. Water, herbal teas and soups are best. Avoid sodas, they are full of high fructose corn syrup, sodium or potassium benzoate, and artificial colors and flavors. They contain no nutrients and will not help your body get better. Some of my favorites are:
-Elderberry tea- This is legendary, it has been used by those with colds and flu for thousands of years. It is anti-viral and immune-stimulating. Studies have shown that Sambucol, a black elderberry extract is especially effective against strains of influenza.
-Echinacea tea- has also been long used for colds and flu, and is immune-stimulating. Echinacea should not be used continuously or it loses effectiveness. Use it for no more than 5-7 days before taking a break for a few days.
-Astragalus tea- has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years. It is antiviral and a strong immune builder. Pieces of astragalus root (sometimes available at asian markets) can be added to soups also. Astragalus can be taken throughout the cold and flu season to build the immune system. Astragalus also has anti-cancer properties, a bonus for my son.
-Honey Lemon Ginger Tea- Ginger has also long been used in Chinese medicine and is renowned for its ability to relieve nausea, improve digestion and help relieve colds and flu. Lemon has vitamin c and raw honey contains vitamins, minerals and enzymes to help with respiratory and immune system health. Here's how I make a simple, delicious tea out of it:
Honey Lemon Ginger Tea
Simmer a 1" piece of fresh ginger root, grated, in 4 c. of water for 15-20 min. Strain and add the juice of l lemon. When it cools a little add raw honey to taste.
-Miso soup- There was a time when chicken soup was my go to remedy, but after I became vegetarian I discovered the healing properties of miso soup. Miso is a paste made from fermented soy, which is the only soy that is safe to eat. It comes in different varieties, with the lighter ones milder in taste and the darker ones more intensely flavored. Miso is loaded with nutrients, enzymes and beneficial bacteria. It's good for the digestive system and the immune system.It has anti-cancer properties and studies have shown that it protects against stomach and breast cancers as well as radiation sickness. Miso should be organic to avoid genetically modified soy and unpasteurized so that it contains live microorganisms and enzymes. Do not boil it, add it to your soup once you remove it from the heat. I used dark brown miso, use whatever you like- if you haven't had miso before you may want to start with a lighter miso. Use whatever veggies you have on hand, just be sure to throw in some greens. Sorry, I didn't take a photo of the soup since I felt so lousy. But believe me this nourishing soup is soothing and rejuvenating.
- Miso Soup Recipe
- 1 T. olive oil
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 thinly sliced onion
- 1/4 c. thinly sliced carrot
- 1/4 c. thinly sliced cabbage
- 2 c. vegetable broth or water
- handful of chopped spinach
- 1 T. miso
Saute onion, carrot and cabbage in oil 10 min. till tender. Add broth, simmer 10 min. Add spinach, simmer 5 more minutes. Remove from heat, stir in miso and enjoy.
4. Lots of fruits and veggies- your body needs all the vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients it can get to help battle illness. Fresh fruits and veggies are the best thing for it. Eating a fresh orange is a better choice than drinking orange juice, because you get the fiber and all of the nutrients from the whole orange. Soups made with fresh veggies and lots of garlic and onions are great. Garlic and onions have antibiotic properties.
5. A few herbal remedies I use- I do not believe in supplements or vitamins, I prefer to get my nutrition from real food. But there are a few herbal remedies I like.
-Elderberry syrup or tincture- as mentioned above in elderberry tea, this is legendary. It comes in different strengths depending on whether it is a syrup or tincture, so follow label directions. Elderberry syrup can be used throughout the cold and flu season to build up the immune system.
-Oregano oil- is antiseptic, antifungal and antimicrobial and is used for upper respiratory infections. I take 2 drops in a little water once a day.
-Lavendar oil- a few drops massaged into the temple can really help relieve a headache.
-Raw Honey- loaded with nutrients. Studies have shown that raw honey quiets coughs and helps kids sleep better than over the counter cough and cold remedies- which are now considered unsafe for children. Raw honey should not be given to children under 1 year old.
You may have noticed some changes here. I've changed my blog template which hopefully makes my blog more user-friendly, and am in the process of a few more changes in the near future. I probably should have been resting, it took me three times as long as it should have and finally I had to have my daughter figure out my coding mistake, my foggy head just couldn't find it. But like I said in number one above, resting is sometimes the hardest thing.