With the cold and flu season just around the corner, I wanted to share with you some of the natural ways that can help you stay healthy or can help you ease the symptoms.
Of course, the best way is to eat healthily, take supplements and boost your immune system throughout the whole year. However, nobody is perfect and the cold or flu can strike even the best of us.
When that happens there are some natural ways that can help with the recovery process. I use them whenever I start to feel any of the symptoms and they really speed up the recovery.
Essential Oils
Usually, my first symptom is a sore throat and my number one help with that are lavender oil and tea tree oil. They both have anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties. You just have to make sure that oils are 100% pure.
One way you can use them is in a gargle. Add 1 or 2 drops of essential oils (you can use only one of them, or both if you like) into half a glass of lukewarm water and gargle for a few minutes. Just make sure you don’t swallow the mixture. Do it a few times a day.
You can also dilute the oils in a base oil such as coconut, olive, jojoba or almond oil. Add 2 – 3 drops of essential oils to 1 tablespoon of base oil. Rub the mixture on your neck and chest. Use it a few times a day.
My one more go to essential oil is eucalyptus oil. It has especially powerful germicidal and antibiotic properties, it stimulates the immune system, reduces fevers and fights viruses.
You can use it diluted in a base oil and rub it on the throat and chest and you can also put a few drops in an aroma lamp just before bedtime.
Ginger and Lemon Tea
Ginger and lemon stimulate your immune system, warm the body from within, provide vitamin C, fight bacteria and are an amazing help with the flu or cold.
You will need:
3-inch piece of ginger
1 lemon
honey to taste
5 cups of water
Add water and sliced ginger to the blender. If you have an organic lemon slice it and add it to the blender with the peel, if not just squeeze the juice. Blend for 20 – 30 seconds. Pour the liquid into the pot and heat it up. It doesn’t have to be too hot. Strain the tea into the cup and add honey to your liking. Drink it a few times a day.
When adding honey try not to use a metal spoon and don’t add it into a very hot tea because it loses its healing properties.
Cinnamon, Cacao and Honey Mixture
Cinnamon is a great immune booster and contains anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and antioxidant properties.
Cacao increases the growth of T-cells which help your immune system fight off bacteria and flu viruses.
Honey also boosts your immune system and fights bacterial infections thanks to its antimicrobial properties. It soothes a sore throat and reduces coughs.
When mixed together they make a powerful natural remedy!
You will need:
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1 teaspoon of (raw) cacao
4 teaspoons of honey
Mix all of the ingredients together into a smooth paste. Take it 2 times a day. If the taste is too strong for you add the mixture into the cup of tea.
Stay healthy!
