Before you run off to the chemist or doctor this winter, check your kitchen pantry first, as many winter ailments and complaints can be dealt with simply and effectively without leaving the home.
Poultice for Bronchitis/Chest Complaints
An onion poultice can be used to break up excess mucus on the chest.Chop up the onion, cook it for a few minutes and discard the excess juice. Place the onion in the centre of the muslin cloth, fold the cloth over onion and wrap it in a handtowel. Place this next to the skin on the front/back of chest and cover with a towel. Place a hot water bottle and blanket over and keep it on for one to two hours.
Apply two to three times daily.
Simple Tools to Reduce Winter Chillblains/Circulation Problems
Drinking hot teas made from ginger, cinnamon and rosemary can be effective in stimulating peripheral circulation. They should be consumed frequently throughout the day for best effect. A good idea is to keep a thermos on hand filled with a warm, stimulating tonic.
Another suggestion is to use stimulating, warming oils in a warm bath. Start with cinnamon, then ginger, and lastly cayenne.
Enjoying a warm massage during a cold winter is a wonderful way to stimulate circulation. Not only does the massage stimulate circulation and increase warmth in the body, the treatment can be given using essential oils designed to stimulate circulation further. Good suggestions for a circulation enhancing massage include ginger, cinnamon, marjoram, thyme, peppermint or rosemary essential oils.
Another old trick is to always keep cayenne on hand in the winter months. Cayenne can be added to cornstarch and sprinkled in shoes to warm the feet and general body warmth. A pinch of cayenne can also be added to hot drinks.
In the case of minor frostbite, broken skin or chillblains an onion poultice can be applied. See instructions above. Where skin is unbroken raw onion may be applied to the skin.
Garlic, Mustard and Onions to Tackle Colds and Coughs
With the use of some standard kitchen herbs and spices, the aches and pains of the winter cold can be improved. Try drinking a hot spicy tea by boiling one ounce of fresh ginger, one cinnamon stick, one teaspoon coriander seeds and four garlic cloves. Sweeten with honey. This will be warming, stimulate sweating and harness the immune defenses to reduce the severity and length of the cold.
For a very simple approach, and for the fatigued indivdual, crush several cloves of garlic and add two tablespoons of quality honey (UMF 20+). Stir, stand for one hour and take by the teaspoon three to four times daily.
Mustard is another wonderful tool for headcolds and congested chests. For a headcold or headache add one tablespoon of dried mustard powder to any footbath. Blood will flow away from congested area to the feet. Alternatively for a chesty cough, add one tablespoon of mustard to four tablespoons flour. Add a little warm water to make a thick paste, and then apply to the congested chest.
The onion also has many uses for the common cold and congestion. An onion compress can be applied to a congested chest, in the same manner as the mustard compress. For cough medicine peel and chop red onions, cover with natural manuka honey. Simmer for 10 minuntes, strain and use as cough medicine. Take one teaspoon hourly.
Promoting a Healthy Fever
Fever is a symptom of the body’s fight against infection and should not be suppressed, except for fevers in children, which must be carefully monitored and hospital care required if dehydrated.
To assist the person with a fever, sponge over with tepid water and drink large quantities of cool water.
Drinking barley water is an excellent remedy for cleansing the kidneys, as well as fevers and sore throats. Simply place one part pearl barley grain to nine parts water in a pot. Boil for twenty minutes, strain and drink. For flavour lemon rind and honey may be added.
To promote healthy perspiration, a pinch of cayenne works wonders and tastes nice with lemon and honey. Take a fresh, unpeeled, washed lemon, cut into think slices, add three large cups of water and simmer in a pot. Reduce the juice down to one cup. Strain, add cayenne and honey and drink.
Calming a Sore Throat
At the first sign of a sore throat gargle or spray the throat with teas or herbal tinctures tinctures of either thyme, sage, golden seal or myrrh three to six times daily. Continue to drink sage and/or thyme tea and inhale sage infused steam to open nasal and head passages
Apple cider vinegar can be applied as a compress to the throat. Bind with a larger wool compress to reduce pain and inflammation in the throat.
In all cases of winter cold and coughs eat a clove or two of fresh garlic three times daily.
Start adding these herbs, spices and grains to the pantry in time for winter and the chance of fending off colds and flu will improve the more you use them.
Meg Lancaster - Meg Lancaster is a Herbalist and Naturopath based in the beautiful boutique city of Christchurch, New Zealand. She loves observing people ...
