Last night I ran another Natural Products workshop.  It was a great evening, with a lovely group of people!  I love running workshops like this, I get a real buzz from the evening and also knowing I’m doing my little bit to help lessen the toxic impact we have on ourselves and the environment makes for a happy Faith. With that in mind I had wanted to run a workshop on Natural Cold Remedies before Christmas but my time needs to be spent elsewhere for now.  Instead you lucky people get to have a freebie Natural Cold Remedies blog instead.

The first item I would highly recommend, not just when you have a cold, but before that stage, is a natural Lemsip-style drink.

Natures’ Lemsip

I make this is a cafetiere  but you can make it in a teapot or on the stove in a saucepan.

You’ll need:

* Fresh ginger (for it’s antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antibacterial properties)

* Fresh lemon (for it’s antioxidant, antibiotic properties, free radicals neutralising effects and it’s ability to strengthen the immune system). 

* Fresh garlic (for strengthening the immune system, it’s an anti-inflammatory properties, for it’s ability to help alleviate respiratory issues, as an antioxidant, an antibacterial and antiviral). 

* Cinnamon (for being an antibacterial, having antibiotic properties and being very soothing). 

* Honey (for it’s antiseptic, antibacterial, antioxidant, antibiotic  and immune system boosting properties). 

* Hot Water

Put 4 slices of fresh ginger, one whole sliced garlic glove, a heaped teaspoon of cinnamon, two slices of lemon and two teaspoons of honey into the cafetiere and fill to the top with hot water.  Leave for 10 mins and then pour into a mug and drink.

This drink is incredibly soothing as well as being really good for you and helps with coughs, colds, flu and sore throats.  I have one once a day if anyone around me has a cold.  Since discovering this remedy I haven’t actually had a cold myself, but if I did I’d be sure to have at least two of these a day at that stage.

Vapour Rub

As most of you will know items like vapour rubs are made of petroleum, which is a nasty chemical that really shouldn’t be put on our skin, so here’s a natural alternative which is easy to make, better for your health and also keeps for quite a long time.

You’ll need:

* 1/2 cup coconut oil

* 2 level tbsp of beeswax

* 20 drops of eucalyptus oil

* 20 drops peppermint oil

* 10 drops cinnamon oil

* 10 drops of clove oil

1. Melt beeswax with oil in a double boiler until melted.
2. Add essential oils just as it’s starting to cool down (and not before as you’ll lose the scent to the heat of the oil)
3. Stir until well mixed and pour into little jars or balm containers and allow to harden
4. Rub onto chest area when congested or coughing

Mouth Wash/Rinse For Sore Throats

You’ll need:

* 30ml of water black tea (helps reduce scratchiness at the back of the throat)

* 1/2 tsp of salt (kills bacteria in the mouth)

* 30ml of apple cider vinegar (helps drain sinuses and is an anti-inflammatory and has antibiotic properties)

* 1 tsp of honey (as above)

* Juice of half a lemon (as above)

Mix all items together and gargle with it for as long as possible and then spit out.  Use this as often as you like throughout the day but try not to drink anything immediately afterwards so it has a chance to do it’s work.

Lastly you ideally want to eat as much good and nutritious food as possible (lots of fresh fruits and vegetables) and drink plenty of water to help re-hydrate, detox and strenthen the immune system.

I hope you found this helpful and if you have any natural cold remedies yourself that you would like to share then please feel free to leave a comment below.