The kids both came down with cold over the past weekend, and I was definitely caught off guard at first. I mean my sweet babies NEVER get sick! Well….not never. But I’m happy to report it is very occasional. I don’t bring them to the doctor unless I feel they are really, truly sick. NO antibiotics here! I have something that works just as good….without damaging their gut flora.
This momma could not let her babies be sick, much less look at those pitiful green runny noses and sneezing, coughing faces without pulling out the big guns! Ahem…I meant to say my natural and herbal remedies. The tried and true cold and cough killers!
My four FAVORITE all time cold busters are garlic/oregano salve, Echinacea/mullein tea, elderberry syrup and FCLO.
I make up a batch of this very potent raw garlic and oregano salve and rub their little chests and back with it. Alll overrr. On the bottoms of their little feet and top with socks! They smell like roasted chicken. The cutest little roasted chickens I ever did see! And unlike chemical antibiotics, garlic is also effective as an antiviral and antifungal, double whammy!
Couple that with Oregano, a very powerful antibacterial anti-fungal, anti-parasitic and immune stimulating oil and you have the recipe to stop a cold deal in its tracks. This therapeutic food grade essential oil should last you for years to come as a little goes a long way!
Check out my recipe for Garlic and Oregano Ointment here. It uses raw garlic and oregano oil mixed in coconut oil. This will last at least 6 months stored in the refrigerator!
2. Echinacea/Mullein tea
Echinacea is long used for its immune boosting properties. It’s easiest for the kids and I to drink when brewed as a tea and sweetened with raw honey. I also add in a little lemon and we all love it. I add mullein to the mix because of its excellent benefits to the respiratory system. It controls coughs, clears lung congestion and soothes throat irritation and inflammation.
Just mix up the dried leaf of some Echinacea and mullein in a reusable tea bag and brew in a mason jar. I like to throw in the filled tea bag, cap the jar and give it a good shake. I let it steep for about 15 min before consuming.
3. Elderberry syrup
Elderberries have excellent immune boosting properties! Dosage for kids is 1/2 tsp. to 1 tsp. for kids every 2-3 hours. I have no problems getting them to take it because it tastes GREAT!
You can use readymade elderberry syrup or homemade.
To make it homemade boil 1/2 cup of black elderberries, 3 cups of water and 1tsp of cinnamon. Simmer for 45 min until liquid is reduced in half. Strain out remaining berries and add honey to taste. Store in sealed mason jar in the refrigerator.
Fermented cod liver oil is a cold-processed form of oil that is gently made from cod livers, and it is naturally rich in fat-soluble vitamins: A, D, E and K2 which are scarce in today’s average diet. This make it’s a very potent immune system supporter and is the only supplement we take on a regular daily basis.
But in times when cold and flu is around, we take a DOUBLE dose!
Here is an excellent article of ALL the benefits of fermented cod liver oil and its NUMEROUS health benefits! (Read article here)
There you go! My arsenal of remedies that can kick any cold, cough or flu’s butt!
What do you use in your house?
Stress has gotten to me lately and I seem to have caught a cold 🙁 Thank you for this…I need to get better! I also boil/reduce lemons, cinnamon sticks, ginger, and cloves and drink that. It’s my own Theraflu of sorts. If i need to sleep, I add a tiny bit of alcohol in it but i wouldn’t give that to the kids 🙂 – gracekelle at leangirlsclub.com
Thank you for sharing your post at the HomeAcre hop this week! great tips
Your welcome!
Thanks for this post. I make little jello squares with the elderberry syrup using Great Lakes grass fed gelatin. I love elderberry.
Fermented cod liver oil is my go-to immune booster during cold & flu season, the other tips are great as well. Thanks! 🙂