Is it just us or does it seem like EVERYONE is coming down with the worst cold and flu at the moment? If you’re suffering with a cold right now and you’re not the biggest fan of filling your body full of Beechams, here’s some great natural cold and flu remedies…
1. Lemon, Ginger and Honey Tea
Okay so this one isn’t anything new, and your Nan probably taught you this trick already. A hot lemon, honey and ginger tea is such a winning combination for helping you fight any cold and flu.
Ginger is an amazing herb that has many healing properties. It helps clear congestion and phlegm (gross!), reduce inflammation in the body, as well as soothes the tummy.
Honey is another amazing natural food with it’s healing antibacterial properties, and can help soothe the throat and a dry cough. If you are using honey it’s best to get a good quality one like Manuka or a Raw organic honey so you get the maximum healing benefits.
Add that with the vitamin C from your lemons and you have such an awesome healing tea. Drinking a warm fluid also helps thin out any phlegm and hydrates the body. It tastes pretty delicious too. See the recipe below.
Recipe:
• ½ a lemon squeezed
• 2 inches of grated fresh ginger
• 1 – 2 teaspoons of honey
• Hot water
2. Make a herbal steam
One of the best ways to clear congestion is making your own herbal steam. Essential oils like Eucalyptus oil or Peppermint oil are really effective for clearing congestion. You can use a bowl or a sink and fill it with boiling water, allow the water to cool a bit and then add a few drops of essential oil in. Place a towel over your head and hover your face slowly over the bowl or sink. Make sure you go slowly so you can make sure it’s not too hot. Breathe the steam in for ten to fifteen minutes which will allow for congestion to clear. If you don’t have any essential oils, don’t worry you can just do this with normal steam or even add in some grated ginger.
3. Garlic
Garlic is like a super food, but without the expensive price tag. It boosts your immune system and has strong antiviral properties. This makes it really effective and preventing and treating the common cold and flu. Only thing is though if you want to get the healing properties from garlic then you will need to have it raw. Why raw? Well when the garlic is cooked this prohibits the garlic’s ability to make allicin.
Allicin is one of the primary components of garlic that gives it its health benefits, including the ability to prevent cancer. Allicin is produced in garlic when the garlic enzyme, alliinase, is cut or chewed. However, when the garlic is cooked alliinase is then inactivated which causes allicin to not be produced. So unfortunately this does mean you won’t be kissing anyone if you use it for a natural remedy.
4. Activated Charcoal
Activated charcoal has many healing benefits both for the common cold as well as detoxification on the body. It draws out toxins from your body, cleans and whiten your teeth, helps with skin conditions by bathing in it, soothes indigestion, headaches, allergies and you can even make a sore throat syrup with it. This one is definitely something to have in the medicine cabinet at all times.
5. Salt Water or Saline Solution
Did you know you can make your very own nasal spray from ingredients in your kitchen cupboards? It’s as simple as adding in some water with salt. This homemade saline solution helps irrigate the nose and clear any congestion you may be experiencing. You can also use salt water as a gargle to help with sore throats.
These natural remedies can really help ease cold and flu symptoms and boost your immune system. If you’re suffering, give them a go and let us know how you get on.
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