It’s been a long and wet winter here in California. The last couple years my boyfriend and I spent Valentines day having a picnic on the beach, and this year Ive barely gotten outside and its already March. On the whole the amount of rain we are getting this year is actually pretty exciting, and I can’t wait for the Spring wildflowers to start blooming. I’m already seeing fields of mustard flowers on the side of the highway, bright yellow and reaching for the sky. Every time I pass one I want to pull my car over and run through them. But until it gets warm enough for my perfect frolic through a field of flowers I’ve been busy keeping my immune system up.
I believe staying healthy during the winter begins with diet. On that point I’ve been making soups with a lot of garlic and root veggies, like borsht. I’ve also been taking Paul Staments Host Defense supplements. Host Defense is a great formula, but I cant always afford it. Sometimes it just makes sense to go with the classic home remedies, which are inexpensive, and can usually be made with products that the average person already has at home.
This year I made Rosemary Gladstars Fire Cider. There are lots of recipes for this online, and I have a photo and the one I used on my instagram. I also made a calendula alcohol tincture which my boyfriend and I both love. He is excited that it doesnt taste gross, and I am excited because it got rid of my sore throat in two days (gargling three times a day).
So while I did ultimately catch a cold, like I do most every year, I was able to get rid of it in record time. My grandmother has the 6th sense though. Even though I was only sick for three or four days she called me during that time, and like she does every time I’m sick, she started dictating the old timey remedies we used to use in Russia. I think that every single person in my family has tried every single one of these. I am sharing them with you all today. Each remedy is simple and inexpensive, and should provide some instant relief from the symptoms of a cold.
For the day time
Boil a big pot of water. Take it off the stove and place it on a table. Grab a big towel and throw it over your head and steamy pot of hot water. Breathe in the steam. (I think this would be even more pleasant with a little therapeutic oils in the water). This will make your nose run like CRAZY and help you get the grossness out.
For when your nose is stuffy and your sinuses hurt, hard boil two eggs. When they are done, drain the water and wrap each one in a handkerchief or a paper towel. Place them on your face, on either side of your nose (towards the bottom where the nostrils are, over your sinuses. This will make your sinuses feel relaxed and it should help you breathe if your nose is stuffed up.
Smash up some garlic and put it in a small jar with a lid. 3-4 times an hour, remove the lid and closing one nostril at a time, inhale the garlic for a minute or two on each side.
For a sore throat, fill a tall glass with hot water. The idea is you don’t want it to be so hot that its unpleasant or painful, but it does need to be as warm as you can stand. Add about a spoonful of salt and a spoonful of baking soda. Stir well and gargle.
You can also make a mustard chest plaster. There wasnt a specific recipe that my grandmother would follow to do this, but basically you mix dry mustard with flour and water until you make a paste (one part mustard to three or four parts flour roughly, but can be adjusted for skin sensitivity). That paste soaked up into a cheesecloth and the cheesecloth is placed on your chest. I HATED this as a child because I considered it to be very uncomfortable. The mustard will irritate your skin, and if you feel a burning sensation, remove and rinse.
For the night time
Cut a raw onion in half and sleep with it next to your bed.
Sleep with wool socks on.
Heat up a shot of sunflower oil and a shot of vodka, and let it absorb into a tough towel. Place it on your neck and chest until it dries out or gets cold. Once that happens remove and wrap your neck in a wool handkerchief.
Very Important Note: Herbal and folk remedies are NOT a substitute for going to the Doctor. The goal with herbal and folk remedies for a cold or flu is to allow the individual to manage their health immediately, provide relief from some of the symptoms, and to prevent the disease from getting worse. HOWEVER, the flu can be VERY serious. In the 2017-2018 flu season over 80,000 people died from influenza. In sharing this blog post, I am not offering medical advice.