Top Ten “Must Haves” for Fighting Colds and Flu
By Katy Firisin, ND “A
lways be prepared” is a motto that has worked for the Boy Scouts for decades. It seems like a reasonable
plan given there are still a few months of cold and fl u season left. Caring for your family using natural remedies can be chal- lenging enough, let alone at 10 pm on a Sunday night when anything resembling a natural health market is closed and your only option is a walk-in clinic dispensing the dreaded antibiotics. Wouldn’t it be eas- ier if you had a fully stocked natural toolkit to use at the very fi rst sign of a sniffl e?
Here is a list of “must haves” for the season.
1. Wool socks. If you have never heard of “Magic Socks” now is the time to try it. Magic socks are extremely effective at drawing congestion from the head, help- ing to move through fevers, and shorten- ing illness. Follow these simple steps. 1. Warm your feet or body to avoid being chilled with a warm shower, bath, or cup of tea. 2. Place a pair of thin cotton socks in a bowl of ice-cold water or get socks
wet and place in refrigerator/freezer until ready to use. 3. Squeeze as much excess water out of the cotton socks as possible so they are just damp, not wet. Apply damp, cold cotton socks on your warm feet and immediately place dry wool socks over the top. 4. Relax and go to sleep to wake to warm, dry socks. You can repeat this for several nights until the condition improves.
2. Ferrum Phosphoricum and Belladonna. These two powerful homeopathic rem- edies are indispensible for helping with fevers. Yes, helping, not stopping. Fevers are an essential part of the body’s natural immune response to create an inhospi- table environment for a bug. If a fever is very high, generally over 102, the face is red and hot to the touch, choose Bella- donna. For a lower fever, more paleness in the face, use Ferrum Phosphoricum. You dissolve 3 pellets at a time under the tongue and look for improvements in the condition. For children or for any fever over 102 that lasts 24 hours, consult a naturopathic doctor.
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3. Elderberry Syrup. This safe and tasty syrup can be used by most age groups at the earliest onset of a cold or fl u earning it a place on the must have list. It can be used throughout the season to boost the immune system. Research has also shown that it can shorten the length of an illness. Always consult a professional for proper dosing instructions.
4. Horseradish??? Yes, you read correctly. Horseradish combined with garlic, onion, and apple cider vinegar in equal parts blended into a paste is one of the best cold/fl u remedies you will fi nd in your tool-kit. It can be mixed and stored in a glass jar to be eaten on a cracker or with celery sticks or just eaten by the spoonful to kill lingering bugs. Cayenne, lemon, ginger, and turmeric can be add- ed for taste. Don’t worry, if you are under the weather you shouldn’t be breathing on anyone anyway!
5. Eucalyptus Essential Oil. When added to a carrier oil such as coconut oil, this can work as a wonderful chest rub or rubbed on the bottoms of the feet covered with a
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