1. Steve’s Super Juice

Photo courtesy of http://www.keepitsimplesista.blogspot.com

Steve is my dad and he LOVES to juice. One of the most used pieces of equipment in our kitchen is the amazing Breville Juicer. Whenever anyone in my house is sick my dad fixes up what I call his Super Juice and I swear by it. The juice, which consists of carrots, green apples, and ginger, really helps soothe sore throats and infuse the body with vitamins and nutrients. Plus, it’s easy! Simply take four or five carrots, a couple of sliced green apples, and an inch of ginger, place it in the juicer and you’re good to go. However, do NOT try to this in a blender – it doesn’t work at all (I learned this the hard way).

2. Black Elderberry Syrup

Photo courtesy of http://www.astronutrition.com

Since I’ve been trying to adopt more natural remedies into my routine, I visited my local health food store to see what they offered. The manager of the store suggested black elderberry syrup. Black elderberry is touted for its immune supportive properties. Additionally, the National Council of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) supports studies that have found black elderberry to aid in reducing cough, cold, and flu symptoms. I honestly don’t know that I saw a noticeable difference in my cold, but I’ll take this great tasting syrup any day over the yuckier over the counter cough and cold medicines.

3. Emergen-C

Photo courtesy of the Emergen-C Twitter page.

Emergen-C is one of my all-time favorite supplement finds. While I recommend taking this during a cold in order to up your Vitamin C intake, I use one or two packets daily year round. Not only does this yummy, fizzy drink contain 24 nutrients and 1,000 mg of immune supporting Vitamin C, but it’s fun to drink! I’m an avid water drinker, but sometimes I have a craving for a flavor boost and Emergen-C supplies this boost while delivering health benefits. It comes in a variety of flavors. If you’re interested, you can order FREE samples from the Emergen-C website.

4. Lung Tonic

Photo courtesy of http://www.shopping.com

Lung tonic is another remedy that was suggested to me at the health food store. While I only started using the tonic during my cold, it is suggested that it be used daily in order to restore healthy lung tissue which can help prevent respiratory infections. I have since been using 30 drops daily in juice or water. I find it to be tasteless. One of the things I am focusing on after this cold and flu season is boosting my immune system with natural products like the lung tonic and black elderberry syrup so that I can hopefully avoid such severe colds in the future.

Colds stink, but hopefully some of the natural remedies I’ve suggested could work for you. Let me know what you think if you try any of these remedies!

Frankincense

Boswellia serrata, a species found in India’s states Rajastan and Madhya Pradesh, is known as salai guggulu. It is traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat arthritis, promote circulation, and prevent the degeneration of cartilage in the joints. It is frequently combined with other herbs such as turmeric and ginger as a general anti inflammatory for muscles and joints. Modern research shows that it contains boswellic acid and in moderate doses has anti inflammatory, anti-cancer, and hepatoprotective properties, and therefore may be helpful in the treatment of rheumatism, colitis, asthma, and cancer.

It has a sattwic, or purifying effect on the mind and nervous system, and helps to burn impurities from the nadis (subtle nerve channels). It can be used in herbal formulas along with other herbs that have an affinity to the mind and nervous system like gotu kola and calamus root as an aid to meditation.

The essential oil has a woody, sweet, and slightly citrus or camphoric aroma, which can vary depending on the species or the micro climate from which the tree grows. In perfumery, it provides a long lasting base note. It contains sesquiterpenes, which are carbon based compounds that act directly on the limbic system of the brain, hypothalamus, and the pineal and pituitary glands.

Frankincense pacifies vata dosha, thus calming and replenishing the mind and nervous system, and easing anxiety and restlessness. Its revitalizing and uplifting action helps to clear excess kapha, thereby countering exhaustion, mental fatigue, and depression. It cleanses prana vaha srotas (the respiratory tract), one of the main sites of kapha, and is used to treat respiratory congestion, cough, bronchitis, and asthma.

It is highly antiseptic and antiviral as well as supportive to the immune system. For treating respiratory complaints, the essential oil is best infused into the atmosphere with an essential oil nebulizer or diluted into a base oil or blend that can be massaged on the chest. A steam inhalation can also be helpful by adding a few drops of the pure essential oil into hot water, covering the head with a towel and inhaling the medicated steam.

The oil can be used to regenerate skin cells as well, thus helping with the healing of wounds, and to decrease dryness, scar tissue, stretch marks, and wrinkles. It also has carminative, anti fungal, diuretic, sedative, emmenagogue, and tonic properties. The oil is non-irritating to the skin for most people and can be applied directly to certain points or diluted with a base oil such as jojoba, sesame, or coconut oil for application to larger areas of the body.

The fresh gum is traditionally used chewed to aid digestion, cleanse the mouth, prevent gum disease and oral infections, freshen the breath, and prevent cavities. Pressing the gum into cavities can help to slow tooth decay and relieve dental pain. For oral health, the essential oil can be added to water and used as a swish or gargle. Here it combines well with tea tree oil.

This simple herbal brew is great for all types of coughs and congestion due to the common cold or flu and helps relieve shortness of breath due to bronchitis and asthma. It is also helpful to relieve sinus inflammation, break fevers and boast the immune system.

Preparation: Place the herbs listed below into a medium sized sauce pan or tea pot and pour 1 quart of boiling water over them. Cover and steep for 15 to 30 minutes. Strain well and add a little raw local honey to taste and drink up to 2 to 4 cups daily. Enjoy!

2 to 3 heaping Tbsp.  Mullein

2 to 3 heaping Tbsp. Coltsfoot (for dry or unproductive cough)

1 to 2 Tbsp. Elecampane (for wet or productive cough)

1 Tbsp. Tulsi leaves

1 tsp. Licorice root powder

1 tsp. Turmeric powder

1 Tbsp. Nettles

1 tsp. Fresh ginger root (shredded)

1 to 2 teaspoons Lobelia, (or 20-30 drops of lobelia tincture, added in before drinking)