Sinus Issues

• Eucalyptus Steam Bath

  • Eucalyptus has long been known to provide healing benefits due to it being naturally anti-viral, antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory and a natural decongestant. It’s especially helpful for respiratory infections.

  • Ask at your local florist and I bet they’ll have some eucalyptus – just make sure it’s organic or unsprayed, if possible. Use it just like you would the fresh leaves.

  • To a pot of water, add about 3-4 tablespoons of fresh eucalyptus leaves (look for the baby blue eucalyptus as opposed to the silver dollar variety, since it contains the oils we need), or a few whole stems. Bring to a rolling boil.

  • Remove from heat and hold your face about 12 inches above the pot and cover your head and pot completely with a towel. Take slow, deep breaths, closing eyes to prevent irritation. Repeat as needed

  • If you can’t get fresh, organic, unsprayed leaves, then use an organic, cold pressed, essential oil.

    • Boil about 6-8 cups of water. While it’s boiling, make sure your bathroom sink is clean, plugged and drop 1-2 drops of essential oil. Have a towel ready to drape over your head and the sink. Once the water is boiled, pour it in the sink, stand over it with the towel draped over your head.  Take slow, deep breaths, closing eyes to prevent irritation. Repeat as needed

• Nasal Saline Spray

• Neti Pot- flush out sinuses

  • They both use a saline solution to help clear out nasal passageways. It helps with nasal drip, congestion, allergies, even snoring.

Immunity Boosts

• Oil of Oregano

  • Oil of oregano is considered to be one of nature’s most powerful remedies. It contains the phenol carvacrol, which is antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial and antiparasitic. Carvacrol has also been shown to kill yeast as well as mold, Staphylococcus (think food poisoning) and E. Coli and respiratory infections,

  • Be careful when using the drops; oil of oregano is very potent and must be diluted. And be prepared for it to taste terrible!

• Sage Tea (Mama B)

  • Sage contains 10% of daily K and small amounts of magnesium, zinc, copper and vitamins A, C and E.

  • One study found that drinking 1 cup (240 ml) of sage tea twice daily significantly increased antioxidant defenses. It also lowered both total cholesterol and “bad” LDL cholesterol, as well as raised “good” HDL cholesterol

  • It’s believed that compounds in sage have estrogen-like properties, allowing them to bind to certain receptors in your brain to help improve memory and treat hot flashes and excessive sweating (13Trusted Source).

  • May alleviate diarrhea: Fresh sage is a traditional remedy for diarrhea. Test-tube and animal studies found that it contains compounds that may alleviate diarrhea by relaxing your gut

• Echinacea

  • Echinacea (also known as purple coneflower) was once widely used by Native Americans and is now used by millions of consumers worldwide to support a healthy immune system.

• Turkey tail

  • Adaptogens are pretty amazing plants that tend to grow in the most inhospitable areas of the earth: high deserts, cold mountains, dry and barren land. In these harsh conditions, they develop amazing resiliency to survive their environmental stressors. Lucky for us, when we consume these plant medicines, we improve our own ability to deal with the stress of our internal and external environments.

  • Adaptogens don’t serve a single function; instead, they adapt to whatever the body is dealing with and help alleviate or lessen the symptoms. So whether you’re feeling frazzled and anxious or foggy-headed and lethargic, adaptogens seem to help.

  • Turkey tail mushrooms may also have some gut-healing benefits as they contain prebiotics, which nourish beneficial bacteria in the microbiome.

• Lots of water

• Electrolytes

  • Electrolytes are electrically charged minerals, such as sodium, potassium and calcium, that help your body produce energy and operate normally.

• Citrus

• Lemon water

• Bone broth

• Apple Cider Vinegar organicfacts.net

• Vitamins- D3, Zinc, VitC (if you can’t get citrus), B12

• Turmeric

  • This root is packed with healing weapons–antioxidant curcumin (its active substance), detoxifying minerals (especially manganese and copper), alkalizing potassium, and other cancer-fighting and anti-inflammatory properties. Make sure to add black pepper, coconut oil or milk fat. It enhances the beneficial effects of curcumin.

  • Turmeric is helpful for calming the nervous system and getting to sleep. It’s rich in curcumin, an antioxidant that helps your body produce more serotonin and dopamine [source], both of which are natural mood boosters.

    • A recent study by Baylor University showed that taking 1,000 mg of curcumin daily could have the same effects as taking an antidepressant.

    • It’s naturally anti-bacterial, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory and works on everything from acne to Alzheimer’s

• Elderberry

  • Fresh elderberries should not be consumed, as they may be poisonous.

  • Elderberries and thyme are age-old remedies for colds, flu, and sinus infections.

  • High in vitamin C and other antioxidants, elderberries are important for healthy immune function. These action-packed little fruits contain components that talk to the immune system, sending messages to fight infection (source). A study of elderberry extract used in patients with the flu demonstrated a startling improvement in their symptoms compared to controls (source).

  • Thymol, a substance found in abundance in thyme, has antiseptic properties and works particularly well as an antifungal and antimicrobial agent. In colds and the flu, it can be helpful by stimulating the mucous-producing cells of the respiratory tract to secrete more and move it out. Its expectorant properties make it a good cough medicine (source).

  • We loved the recipe from https://helloglow.co/homemade-elderberry-syrup/

  • Check out @EastonsElderberries on IG to help support a young entrepreneur and lover of homeopathic remedies

• Ginger

  • Ginger has been shown to help calm upset stomachs, soothe nausea, relieve pain, and lower inflammation

  • Just a few minutes of steeping can deliver high levels of vitamin C and amino acids, as well as trace elements like zinc, sodium, calcium, and phosphorus.

  • One of the first things most people notice about ginger is its spice. Thanks to volatile oils, ginger’s spiciness acts as an appetite stimulant, which prepares the digestive tract for food. If you suffer from indigestion, bloating, gas, or stomach discomfort after eating, consuming ginger before meals may help.

  • Taking 1–1.5 grams of ginger is said to help prevent many different types of nausea, but especially sea sickness, chemotherapy-related nausea, and foodborne stomach ailments. Ginger has also been used for morning sickness, and can quickly soothe an upset stomach.

  • Ginger can also help the body fight infection. It is said to increase core body temperature and promote circulation, which helps white blood cells get to the source of the infection and attack invading bacteria. Especially when combined with raw honey, ginger is an effective remedy for cold and flu symptoms, and can even be used topically to kill bacteria and promote wound healing.

  • Ginger has potent anti-inflammatory properties, which might help explain why it’s often used to soothe minor aches, pain and cramps.

Kel’s Ginger Shot Recipe

• Garlic

  • Crush a few garlic cloves to release the compound allicin, which contains anti-bacterial, antiviral and antifungal compounds

• Fresh organic juice

• Sleep

• Essential oils in a diffuser

• Chamomile (Mama B)

  • Chamomile is a mild sedative, making it great for improving sleep quality and relaxation [source]. Its calming effect is thought to be attributed to apigenin, a flavonoid said to decrease anxiety [source] and muscle tension.

  • Glycine, a chemical found in high quantities in chamomile, helps relieve muscle spasms and relax nerves, making it great at easing all sorts of aches and pains. Studies show that chamomile is an anti-inflammatory [source], which makes it effective in relieving arthritis, back pain, bedsores, and stomach cramps.

  • High glycine levels may also help relax the uterus, explaining why the tea appears to relieve menstrual cramps [source]. Studies have shown that chamomile even reduces heavy menstrual bleeding [source].

  • Thanks to its antispasmodic properties, chamomile can help relieve upset stomach, stomach cramps, irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea, and indigestion

  • Chamomile has potent antibacterial and antifungal properties. Drinking chamomile tea has been shown to raise the body’s natural defenses [source], helping people with infections recover more quickly.

Sore Throat/Cough

• Honey and lemon

  • Honey can alleviate a cough as it coats the throat and protects nerve endings that control coughing

  • Honey has antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, boosts serotonin, antiviral, improves brain function, prebiotics, helps heal ulcers, skin issues, IBS, bug bites, allergies, acne

  • The lemon acts as a detoxifier and source of vitamin C to boost immunity.

• Gargle with warm salt water medicalnewstoday.com

• Garlic

  • Smash a garlic and swallow it whole (Mama B)

Stomach

• Bananas  and honey to slow down diarrhea

• Apples and prunes to help with movement

• Anise tea  for gas for babies too (Mama B)

• Ginger tea (Mama B)

• Sage (Mama B)

Misc

• Hot Toddy

  • The alcohol in bourbon has antiseptic and antibacterial properties, and it gives a kick to your metabolism when consumed in small quantities

  • Plus the lemon and honey make it healthy? lol

Fever and throwing up

• flour, olive oil, dry mint, lemon, salt and rubbing alcohol or uzo (Mama B)

Sources

A lot of these remedies are personal recipes, based on personal experiences and uses. Mel got a lot of hers from her mom, Mama B. We strongly urge you to do your own research and seek professional advice.