Because a lot of people are currently sick, I have gathered a few very useful, proven methods and recipes for natural medicines that will help maintain health, and in the case of the already developed disease, quickly get back to shape.  

Fear of viruses creates more anxiety and stress, which in the long run, suppresses immunity.

First of all, take care of your inner peace, then boost your immune system!

Drink water and fluids

Drinking water and other liquids are essential when you have the flu. This is true whether you have respiratory flu or stomach flu. 

Water helps to keep your nose, mouth, and throat moist. This helps your body get rid of built-up mucous and phlegm. 

Don’t get dehydrated, so drink enough of fluids. Diarrhea and fever (two common symptoms of the flu), can also cause water loss. 

You can stay hydrated by consuming plenty of: 

• water
• coconut water
• water with electrolytes
• herbal teas
• fresh juice
• soup
• broth
• raw fruits and vegetables

You’ll know they you are not dehydrated if:

• you have to urinate regularly 
• the color of your urine is almost transparent or pale yellow

If your urine is a deep yellow to amber color, you may be dehydrated. 

It’s also helpful to avoid smoking as much as possible since it can further irritate your nose, throat, and lungs.

You can make:

• Beet kavas at home. Drink half a glass every day and give it to your children. Amazing mineral-rich drink. High in vitamin C
• Make immune-boosting broths (veggies or bone)  full of vegetables, mushrooms, garlic, turmeric, onion- they will help you to cleanse the body and overcome infections faster. They help to loosen and break up nose and sinus congestion.
• Drink teas with lemon, ginger, star anise, turmeric, rosemary, thyme, yarrow, calendula, and chamomile because they have antimicrobial effects. 
• Make an infusion of linden or mullein and a decoction of licorice root and marshmallow with the addition of natural honey. Honey contains extremely valuable vitamins and minerals, has throat moisturizing properties, and antimicrobial properties. 
• Drink a ginger brew with lemon, cinnamon, and cloves, sweetened with honey.
• Support the immunity with homemade juices and syrups, e.g. elderberry, raspberry, blackcurrant, chokeberry, quince.
• Onion syrup: recipe here.

Up your Zinc intake

Zinc supports your immune system. It helps your body make germ-fighting white blood cells. Studies have shown that zinc may help ease cold and flu symptoms because it helps your body fight the flu virus and may slow down how fast it multiplies. 

You can take a zinc supplement or a multivitamin with zinc during the flu season. You can generally get plenty of zinc from a balanced daily diet. Foods that are high in zinc include: red meat, oysters, shellfish, lentils, beans, nuts, seeds, and eggs

Natural oils that support immunity.

Oregano oil, black cumin or linseed oil. 

Oils are essential because of the content of omega-3 fatty acids, which are anti-inflammatory and have a positive effect on the development of immunity.

• Essential oils: Here are the essential oils that are the most potent against microbes (bacteria and viruses): tea tree oil, eucalyptus, peppermint, cinnamon, cloves, lavender

Use essential oils only as directed! Mix with a carrier oil like avocado, olive, or coconut oil. 

Diffusing essential oils into the air with a diffuser may also help against some kinds of viruses and bacteria. Be aware that aromatherapy has an influence on children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and pets.

Eat a clean, balanced diet

A clean diet is vital for flue prevention. Diets that are plentiful in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, low-fat dairy, healthy fats, and more can provide a wide array of nutrients and antioxidants that can help boost the immune system. “Eating crappy food trashes your immune system, makes you susceptible to illness, and sets you up for a lot of problems,” Dr. Rawls says.

Eat a wide variety of healthy foods from all food groups to boost your body’s immune system. There is no guarantee that eating certain foods will fend off infection, but we do know that your immune response or susceptibility to infection can be enhanced with overall proper nutrition.  

Fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds are high in antioxidants – vitamins A, C, E and selenium zinc, and beta carotene — that help immune cells work optimally.

Use culinary spices and herbs. 

Spices with anti-bacterial and anti-virus effects: garlic, turmeric, ginger, horseradish, cinnamon, black cumin oil, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, cloves, black pepper. Use them as often as possible!

Add fresh herbs to your food, such as rosemary, thyme, basil, oregano, and sage.

Due to their concentration of potent plant compounds, many herbs help fight viruses and are favored by practitioners of natural medicine.

Medicinal Mushrooms

Use medicinal mushrooms such as lion’s maine, shitake, turkey tail, reishi, maitake, cordyceps, or Chaga. Medicinal mushrooms boost the immune system. They are not strictly immunostimulants or immunosuppressants, but often both, earning them the name “immunomodulators.” Immunomodulators work similarly to adaptogens, but relate only to immune function. 

Mushrooms’ immune-boosting abilities are highly attributable to the high level of polysaccharides (specifically Beta-glucans, one type of polysaccharide found in abundance in fungi) contained within their cell walls. This class of therapeutically active compounds is most widespread within the mushroom kingdom, and within our bodies, they interact with specific fungal-polysaccharide receptors on our immune cells (macrophages, neutrophils, monocytes, and dendritic cells).

Grandmas Rinse with salt water recipe:

Warm water and salt rinse ( called a salt water gargle) can alleviate a sore throat. It can also help to clear mucous. Here is how to rinse with salt water:

1. Boil or heat up water and let it cool until it’s warm or at room temperature. Mix 1/2 tsp salt to 8 ounces of lukewarm water. 
2. Pull the salt water to the back of your throat and gargle it for about 10 to 30 seconds so that it rinses your mouth and throat. 
3. Spit the water into a sink and repeat 2 to 4 times. 

Do not swallow the salt water. Do not allow children to gargle until they can safely gargle with plain water.

Join me for THRIVING HORMONE DETOX here!

In Health,

Angie