By Erin Higgins
To this day, the handing down of wisdom and knowledge continues to support our tribes. I for one know that all the little bits of passed on information has supported me to raise my daughter in good health plus keep myself and hubby fighting fit for the hustle of life. None the less with kids in daycare and school, office rooms and family gatherings we can still pick up a winter cold. Here are some amazing simple remedies and ‘old wife tales’ that have helped me to get through the cold & flu season:
- If anyone in your family gets a cough, did you know that half a cut brown onion by the bed can assist in stopping the cough throughout the night? There has been many times I zombie walk to the kitchen during the night to cut up an onion and place it by my daughter’s bed, and ‘bobs your uncle’ the cough stops.
TIP: get organic brown onion & don’t keep a half cut onion in the fridge without being in a container. Onion can absorb bacteria that is why it helps to stop the cough. It can also absorb any bacteria growing in your fridge and then you go an eat it – not ideal.
- Oregano Oil – make it your best friend this winter. Anytime you start to feel a sniffly nose get onto the oregano oil. It can help to clear up your sinuses quick smart and get you back on track. This plant-derived oil may help in treating or preventing various infections. In fact, it contains properties that are antibacterial and antiviral.
TIP: take the Solutions 4 Health Oil of Wild Oregano that is based in olive oil. This offers gentleness on your system being blended with the olive oil. You add the recommended dose to your water and drink it down. Then say hello to clearer sinuses.
- Give your digestive system a break. Often, we find that we don’t feel like eating when we are getting run down. Listen to your body. Stick to liquids including soups, herbal teas and dose up on all of your favourite vitamins and supplements (preferably liquid based) to quickly hit your system and fight off the bugs. Vitamin C powder is one of my top picks as a staple for the whole family. You can get some amazing tasting vitamin c powder that the kids will love as well.
TIP: speak with our qualified naturopaths about the best products including practitioner only range.
- Rub garlic on the soles of your feet – sounds weird but don’t mock it until you try it. Get a raw organic clove of garlic, crush it up and mix it with a little bit of coconut oil. Rub the garlic mix on the soles of the feet and cover with socks. As soon as anyone in the family starts getting sick, begin doing this every night. Garlic has immune-boosting effects and can also act as a potent antibacterial and antiviral agent.
TIP: ensure you are using organic garlic, rub on the soles of your feet and leave for at least an hour or longer if you wish. It doesn’t feel the best but can work wonders on cold & flu symptoms.
- Hot lemon drink with Manuka honey and cayenne pepper – a blissful, warming hot drink that will soothe a whole array of those nasty cold & flu symptoms. The cayenne pepper works on clearing congestion, the Manuka honey carries antibacterial and antimicrobial properties and the lemon helps digestion and soothes sore throats. What a perfect combo.
TIP: choose a Manuka honey with a high rating. Hydrogen peroxide is naturally produced by honey. It gives most honey its antibiotic quality. But some types of honey, including Manuka honey, also have other components with antibacterial qualities. Another antibacterial component in Manuka honey is methylglyoxal (MG). MG is a compound found in most types of honey, but usually only in small quantities.
MG is thought to give Manuka honey some of its antibacterial power. The higher the concentration of MG, the possible stronger the antibiotic effect. The UMF rating is thought to correspond with the concentration of MG and other compounds. To be considered potent enough to be therapeutic, Manuka honey needs a minimum rating of 10 UMF (Source: www.webmd.com.au).
I hope these tips & tricks help you throughout the winter. I treat our vitamin department the same as others would a pharmacy. Always my first go-to for the best wellness advice. With a qualified naturopath on hand to answer any of your questions, I highly encourage you to utilise their amazing skills and knowledge to help you and your family.
