Whether you call it God's Pharmacy or Herbology, natural remedies or New Age medicine, here's just a few things we use from Grandma's Garden to keep you well through the winter season.
Tea please, Shirl:
We all know water is great for our bodies, after all we are made up of mostly water. But let's be honest, what's water without a little flavour? Below are some teas that are great for the winter.
Garlic Tea - acts as a great plunger to remove mucus.
Onion Tea - a hacking cough can be expelled with this not so great tasting but proven remedy
Lemon & Ginger Tea - ain't gonna lie, I add a spoonful of honey and sometimes a tipple of dark rum or brandy to mine (shhhhh)
Orange Peel Tea - another good one when you've got a bad cough especially those ones that hurt your throat
Nutmeg Tea - great for getting the bowels moving as we fill up and - if we're honest - overindulge through the festive period.
Cerasie/Bush Tea - I recommend drinking with brown sugar and trying to get it down you as quick as possible, not the best tasting, but a wicked wash-out
Green Tea - full of antioxidants
Tumeric Tea - good for the tummy
Spice it up:
If you're not used to spices then please tek time when using these as they can upset the stomach and cause irritation. However, these spices are great for boosting the immune system particularly if you've got a cold.
Tumeric
Cumin
Paprika
Black Pepper
Cinnamon
Fresh Chillies
Getting Fruity:
These fruits are flavoursome, great for adding to the teas that may not be the best tasting and will add some zing to your immunity whilst you try to shield from all the nasties that like to lurk about in the winter.
Lime
Lemon
Elderberry
Blueberries
Oranges
Trip to the Health Food Shop:
Alright so health food shops can be ridiculously expensive so if you can source these things from a cheaper place, then holla at a sista and let us know. These vitamins, minerals and plant oils are famous for their abilities to combat sickness.
Echinacea
Ginseng
Eucalyptus
Teatree
Zinc
Vitamin-D
Sorrel
Whhhaaatttt? Well I never in all o' me bawn deyz?:
Just a few things you may or may not have known.
Turning the heating DOWN is actually better for you when you're not feeling well, the heat can harbour the same virus that's attacking you, not to mention dry you out causing more coughing and/or wheezing
But it's cold AF right now so if you do need to resort to putting the heating on, put a little bowl of water in the room to try to retain some moisture in the air, sometimes a few drops of eucalyptus or menthol rub in the water can be helpful
Gargling with salt water is great for helping to remove any bacteria which is just waiting to latch onto slightest vulnerability.
Steam inhalation is not just a great decongestant but its also fantastic for the skin.
Flavonoids are anti-inflammatory
Anti-oxidants boost immunity and vitamin C is actually an anti-oxidant (I tell you no lie I was yesterday's years old when I discovered this)
Giving yourself a good rub down with some brandy and wrapping yourself up can help to draw out the toxins in your body
Using a menthol rub e.g. on your chest is great but also try behind the ears and the soles of your feet. Your soles have a lot of nerve endings which will thank you not just for the massage but also for the ease of aches and pains.
Ladies, what are your best winter season remedies? Comment below or let us know in the forum