We are knee deep in cold and flu season and it looks like this flu season may be a rough one. So far (knock on wood) I haven’t caught the flu and I’d like to keep it that way! During this time of year, I do add some extra preventative measures to give me, and the family, the best chance possible to fight off the flu OR if we do catch it that it ends up being mild. Here are a list of my favorite preventative measures, I’d love to hear yours in the comments below!
* Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate! Staying hydrated keeps mucous membranes soft and moist, preventing tiny cracks that allow viruses and bacteria to enter.
* Homemade Chicken Broth – I make my own Chicken Broth using my Instapot using a Rotisserie Chicken carcass, thyme (antimicrobial, antibacterial, antiviral, expectorant, and astringent. Thyme is great for respiratory infections and coughs. It is also good for the stomach and relieves gas.), garlic (anti-viral, antibiotic, and antiseptic), onion (great for coughs), cayenne powder (stimulant, anti-microbial, analgesic, carminative, diaphoretic, and expectorant. Cayenne can help prevent a cold or flu as well as shorten the duration of a cold or flu), turmeric (anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant), and I’ll throw in celery if I have it. I use this broth is as much of my daily cooking as I can! (Herbs for cold/flu season: https://tinyurl.com/yadzysyw )
* 1 – 2 TB of Fire Cider daily! Fire cider is a spicy vinegar that is sweetened with honey. Many cultures throughout the world have their own version of this drink. Fire cider helps clear out the sinuses and wakes up the immune and circulatory systems. There are several ways to make this (Receipe HERE – https://blog.mountainroseherbs.com/fire-cider ) OR you can purchase it at Mountain Rose Herbs https://tinyurl.com/y7zr5jrw
* I make a batch of Vitamin C Pills. Here is the recipe I use! I buy all my herbs from Mountain Rose Herbs, but you can also find the herbs on Amazon. Recipe HERE: https://tinyurl.com/y9sdf7gf
* I take an Elderberry Gummy daily. They are super simple to make. Elderberry has been used medicinally for centuries in Europe and North America for a wide variety of ailments and are immune enhancing. Find the recipe HERE: https://tinyurl.com/y7upobu8
* Lastly, I make sure to drink my herbal “tea” (infusions). An infusion is a large amount of herb brewed over a long period of time (over 4 hours) or overnight. I put a cup of herb in a quart jar, fill it to the top with boiling water from my tea kettle, cap it and let it sit on my counter over night. The next morning I strain out the herb with my cheesecloth, compost the herb, and put my infusion in the fridge to drink throughout the day. My favorite herbs to use are oat straw, nettle, and red clover. You can find all these herbs on Amazon, Mountain Rose Herbs, or Frontier Herbs. Info on infusions: http://www.susunweed.com/herbal_ezine/September08/anti-cancer.htm
I’d love to hear everyone else’s preventative measures or other ways they stay healthy during this time of year!
Thanks for reading,
Lana
