How to beat cold and flu – naturally!
Colds, coughs, snotty noses, flu ….. ugggh! Is there anything worse?
Well, it doesn’t have to happen at your house quite so frequently. We haven’t had a flu or even a bad cold in years at our place!
There is no ‘cure’ for the common cold but natural, toxin-free remedies can help stop the lurgies from getting too bad. As you know, I am not a doctor or a naturopath or have any medical qualifications at all. All I know is that my family hasn’t had a flu or even a really bad cold in ages (actually, this probably coincides quite nicely with our decision to go toxin-free!)
All I can share is things I have researched and tried out over the years that work for us.
First though I think we need to talk about prevention. Everyone says ‘prevention’ is better than cure, right?
What we do to prevent colds and flu:
* a diet high in fresh, organic fruits and vegetables
* a healthy lifestyle (exercise, sleep, toxin-free, no smoking, no drinking, not getting rundown)
* probiotics or fermented foods on a daily basis
* lots of water
* thorough washing of hands
* essential oils like Immune Boost blend from Twenty 8
* drink bone broth (with lots of ginger, turmeric and garlic in it) regularly or put it in our food
* freak out and run away from anyone with a cold 😛
What we do if we start feeling a bit sick:
* olive leaf extract – a couple of doses a day. It tastes feral, but we mix it with a little juice and do a juice chaser. It makes me shiver every time !
* several doses of Super Greens and Reds green powder
* rest, rest, rest
* extra fruit and veges (green smoothies usually do the trick)
* ingest coconut oil, usually in a herbal tea or smoothie
* Immune Boost blend essential oil in the diffuser and on the soles of the feet overnight
What we do if the germs get us:
* all of the above, plus
* a natural chest rub that we make ourselves (and we also use it on feet at night)
* manuka honey, coconut oil and lemon in chamomile tea
You might also like to read:
Easy natural sore throat remedy
How to boost your immune system, naturally
What do you do to stay well and ward off the lurgies?
*Please note that this information is general in nature and you should always consult your health practitioner for specific medical advice.*
Lucia has a niggling sore throat so I will be trying some of these for sure!
hope she is feeling better soon 🙂
Thieves is my go-to oil as well. I often diffuse it into the air when I know I’m going to have people in the house.
thieves is amazing stuff!
Thanks Sonia,. Great timing as I was just wondering if I should get the family flu injections or not. I assume you do not! PS: I finally got the miessence tahitian breeze deodorant after your recommendation/blog many months ago and I am loving it. Love your blog – keep up the great work 🙂
No I don’t do the flu injections! I did once years ago because I was sick and the doctor talked me into it, but it didn’t make any difference. The natural methods and prevention made the difference.
olive leaf is the best! i had to take capsules while pregnant as the after taste made me hurl, the other thing i do is put acv in warm water with manuka honey a few times a day and sore throats disappear
Yes the ACV is fab for a sore throat!
Thanks for these tips Sonia!! I agree with the probiotic, absolutely has changed our lives! Will have to look into the one you use, not 100% convinced on the brand we use currently but it has made a difference to us none the less. x Happy flu free winter!
I honestly think probiotics should be something that everyone takes! Ours is exxy but it doubles as a multivitamin and I know the quality is there, 100%!
We rarely get sick, other than the odd cold that passes in a couple of days but my girls germs tend to linger a bit longer. I am interested in making the homemade chest rub but I’m not sure that is the correct link?
thanks, some of my links went hinky when I moved the blog will fix it up ! 🙂
Thanks for the inspiration. I have been to our local health food shop and stocked up on Olive leaf oil and Braggs ACV. I am taking both each day and can actually take them straight. Dont mind the taste!
yay! let me know how you go !! is it olive leaf extract you have?
One in the morning and I’m making your chest rub and sitting here with a box of tissues, caught the cold off my hubby and I should have been taking my olive leaf extract earlier as he has had it for over a week. Hopefully I will be able to kick it fast…
Hope you are feeling better soon Jo!! The olive leaf should definitely kick it quick!
I’ve just ordered a range of homeopathic drops from Puraforce Remedies to both prevent and assist with ailments. I think we all need an immune boost so will get more probiotics this week and get back into some juices. I’ve got a jar of the chest rub ready too!
A friend was asking me today about OLE, especially for her singer daughter – I’ll send her the link to this 🙂
I love Nicole’s remedies – I have been using a special blend on my broken ankle!
I add a couple of other things to my regime, and trust me, over the last 4 weeks, they’ve all been added to the list.
1) Throat lozenge – only buy the Bioglan Throat Clear. Decent chemist shops will have them. They’re herbal and no crap and no sugar.
2) I have an echinacea & propolis throat spray that works wonders for sore throats (I use the Kiwiherb one, but others make them too) and I throw in some echinacea with my Olive Leaf Extract
3) Natures Own Garlic, Vitamin C tablets. Again, supermarket job. My naturopath told me to go buy that one.
Which reminds me, I’d best to take a shot of OLE & Echinacea.
Oh, and with the Olive Leaf Extract, I know everyone buys the brand you mentioned above (and I do too), but the Vabori brand in the green jar is actually stronger if your health food shop stocks it, and it’s cheaper too.
Everything you say and all your tips are so awesome and inspiring!!! (I am studying to be a naturopath and you help so much!)
Thank you!!
Thank you for all these tips. It’s really helpful. I learned a lot from it.
great to hear Joanne!!! I hope they work as well for you as they do for us! x
Love Thieves oil too! I use it at the first sign of any cold/flu type sickness on the bottom of our feet at night before bed and in the mornings before school. 🙂
doesn’t it work a treat !! I am in love with it.