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Happy and HEALTHY New Year!!! It’s a brand new year and the holidays are finally over, but the cold and flu season is not. Here are some handy tips and recipe’s to help you and your family get through the rest of the cold season. The best cure for the winter sniffles is prevention. Hand washing is the easiest way to stop colds before they start but be sure to use warm water, plenty of soap and wash for at least 20 seconds. It is also wise to avoid sugar. Sugar can suppress the immune system and make you more vulnerable to viruses lurking nearby. Actually, a healthy diet of whole foods, vegetables and lean protein will help support good health overall, including a good immune system. Be sure to stay well hydrated with 8-eight ounce glasses of fluids each day. Warm lemon water or lightly sweetened lemonade will also help keep your body more alkaline, which is good for you and bad for viruses.
If you’ve already got the crud at your house, here are a few natural favorites to get you feeling better faster.
Echinacea-It’s a natural immune booster and virus fighter. You need to start drinking 2-3 cups/day the second you start feeling that scratchy throat and all over run down feeling. Keep it up until you are feeling better but after 2 weeks, you’ll have to stop for a 2 week break or it’ll become ineffective. Zinc-You can take the lozenges, tabs or nose spray 3 times/day at the first onset of a cold to stop it in its tracks. Zinc is a virus killer and coupled with an immune stimulant like echinacea, you may never suffer through the 2 week cold again. Cayenne pepper-Clears the sinuses and helps break a fever. Sprinkle on food or even in your tea. If gargled with water it can work as an effective treatment for sore throats. Garlic-Garlic is a natural antibiotic, fever reducer and gets sluggish fluids moving. You can eat this raw with butter on bread, or take it in capsule form. Rose Hips-Particularly high in Vitamin C, with about 1700–2000 mg per 100 g in the dried product, one of the richest plant sources. It’s also a good antioxidant and tastes great in tea. Add to any herbal tea or make a tea of just rose hips. Honey cuts mucous, so if you need/want milk, stir in some honey; or if you eat dairy, follow it with a spoonful. Lemon juice has the same effect, plus it’s a strong astringent (good for mucoused-over tissues) and a mild antiseptic. Add both liberally to tea, or just hot water, and sip throughout the day. Salt- is another excellent antiseptic, tissue toner and painkiller, especially for throats. Add a tablespoon or two to a cup of warm water and gargle for sore throats.
Decongest & Feel your Best Tea Herbal Teas by Kathleen Brown 2 parts yerba santa leaves 2 parts sage leaves 1 part ginger root 1 part nettle leaves 1 part peppermint leaves 1/8 part licorice root This is an excellent formula for congested, drippy sinuses due to colds or allergies. The yerba santa, nettle, and sage in combination gently help to dry up excess mucus in the upper respiratory tract, without the “overdrying” effect of many antihistamies. Sip freely as needed.
Steamin’ Mama’s Lemonade Herbal Teas by Kathleen Brown Juice of 1 lemon 1/8-1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1-2 tablespoons honey Not for the timid or unadventurous! Okay, so it’s not technically a tea, but worth its weight in gold when you’ve got a cold. Keep a box of tissues nearby, and be prepared to blow those germs away.
Elder Berry Cough Syrup Rosemary Gladstar’s Family Herbal This is the most popular herbal cold remedy in Europe, and it’s delicious. It works immediately to stop coughing and sooth sore throat. Kids love it because its so sweet and parents like that it’s an herbal remedy. 1 cup fresh or ½ cup dried elderberries. 3 cups water 1 cup honey 1. Place the berries in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer over low heat for 30-45 minutes. 2. Smash the berries. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer and add 1 cup of honey, or adjust to taste. 3. Bottle the syrup and store in the refrigerator, where it will keep for 2-3 months. Caution: Use only blue elderberries; the red ones are potentially toxic if eaten in large quantities. Never eat elderberries that haven’t been cooked first.
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