Soon it will be that time of year again. With spring comes the arrival of hay fever, allergies and colds …
Runny noses, hacking coughs. Up all night, trying to find that magic cure for the toddlers earache.
Don’t despair! Look into Mother Nature’s backyard and you will find many answers to these problems.
Of course, prevention is the best form of medicine. Stock up on a kit of natural remedies that can be used at the first sign of a sniffle. Here are some First-Aid flu busters:
Herbal teas
Thyme cough syrup
Onion poultice
1. HERBAL TEAS
Herbal remedies are a safe and natural way to build your immune system. These can be given freely as a tea, either individually or as a tea blend, using equal parts of each one:
Elderflower
Wonderful remedy to help eliminate excess mucous as in sinusitis and earache
Yarrow
Excellent herb to induce sweating, thereby helping to reduce the fever
Chamomile
THE herb for children! A gentle sedative, it helps the upset child to settle down and allows for a better night’s sleep.
Hyssop
Anti-spasmodic in action, it makes a very useful remedy for coughs and chest infections.
Directions:
Simply take 2 tsp of herbs per cup of boiling water, cover with a lid and infuse for 10 min. Strain the tea, sweeten with honey, add lemon or mix with juice.
2. ONION POULTICE
Onion poultices have been around for centuries. They are especially good for those painful earaches. Poultices are simple, cheap and give immediate relief.
ONION POULTICE RECIPE
1 or 2 small onions
1 piece of muslin, or cotton material (a standard bandage will do)
Chop up the onions, and fold them into the material so that the onion pieces cannot fall out.
Put it in a microwave for 1 minute, or heat on a plate over a pot of boiling water.
Let it cool slightly, then place the onion poultice on or around the sore ear.
Hold it in place with a scarf, hat or a headband.
Leave it on for up to 1 hr and repeat procedure 2-3 times daily.
3. THYME COUGH SYRUP
1 handful of fresh (ideally organic) Thyme Herb
500mg organic or locally grown honey
Chop up the herbs, leaves, flowers and stalks and mix them with the honey.
Store in a dark glass jar.
Leave it in a sunny spot, and turn the jar daily.
After 2 weeks strain the honey into an airtight glass container, and store it in the fridge.
This syrup can be taken as required, straight of the spoon, or be used to sweeten herb teas.
Finally, at the first sign of a cold, remember the ‘3 Rs’:
- REST
Stay at home and rest
- RESTORE
Change your diet to wheat and dairy free, since these foods tend to lower the immune system, and promote the production of even more mucous.
Don’t force yourself to eat! Your body uses up energy to digest food, which would be better used to fight the cold.
- REVITALISE
Keep the diet simple with Vitamin C rich fresh fruit, diluted vegetable soup, and plenty of water.
Connie Page Dip.Phyt., ProKin, Adv.Dip.Arom.Med
MNHAA
Herbalist | Kinesiologist
0408 185 975