Hi Friends!! If you follow me on Instagram then you probably saw that I was sick for about 8 days with the flu last month… I am feeling back to normal now and thankfully did NOT have to take antibiotics (YAY) and I attribute that to all my little holistic cold and flu remedies 🙂 While I was battling the flu I shared some of my remedies on my IG stories, and since I got so many DM’s about them I figured I would compile everything into one blog post! Before I get into the what and why of my cold and flu remedies I just want to remind y’all that I am not a doctor – so be sure to do you own research too! These are the just some of the things that I have done over the years, and still do when I feel something coming on, and they usually work for me! If you have any questions please feel free to leave me a comment and I am happy to answer them!

 Rest

This may be an obvious one, but for people like me it is hard to do nothing… however, rest is SO IMPORTANT especially when you are sick! The sooner you chill out and allow your body to only focus on healing itself, the sooner you will feel better, seriously. Not allowing your body adequate time to rest may result in prolonging or even worsening the sickness!

Alkaline Water/Lots of Fluids

DRINK DRINK DRINK! Drinking lots of fluids will help keep your body hydrated, which will help it function properly and it will help flush out your system. Alkaline water in particular is great to drink all of the time, but especially when your immune system is compromised because it helps balance the body’s pH levels: our ideal pH is slightly alkaline (I learned a long time ago that an alkaline body is a healthy body)  essentially when the body is highly acidic it becomes a breeding ground for disease.

Oranges & Orange Juice

Because……. Vitamin C!!!!! 🙂 I love Cara Cara oranges (when they are in season) but also love Navel oranges too! As  far as OJ goes, whenever I am sick juicing oranges myself is the last thing I want to do- but if you have the energy to, by all means, go for it! I usually head to Whole Foods or Erewhon (or your local natural foods store) and get fresh squeezed organic OJ- the reason I stay away from processed OJ found at “normal” groceries stores is because those tend to be loaded with sugar (among other random unnecessary additives), which will create acidity in the body, which like I said above, just amplifies disease in the body.

Green juice & Alkaline Greens

See above: an alkaline body is a healthy body! My go to’s are spirulina, chlorophyll, kale; all of the dark leafy greens! Lightly steam them or grab a green juice! Just make sure if you are doing a green juice there is little to no sugar in it! I may sound like a broken record about this but….sugar= acidity, acidity=no bueno!

Raw Garlic

Every time I start to feel sick I eat a clove of RAW GARLIC. I know that sounds crazy but it seriously works! Garlic’s antimicrobial, antiviral and antifungal properties can help relieve the common cold as well as other infections. If I am really feeling horrible I will do 1 clove 3 x a day! Adding garlic to your green juice and/or adding it to your steamed veggies or soup is great too! The more the merrier 😉

Ginger

Ayurvedic medicine has praised ginger’s ability to boost the immune system for many many years; it believes that because ginger is so effective at warming the body, it can help break down the accumulation of toxins in your body. Ginger is  also known to cleanse the lymphatic system, which is basically our body’s sewage system. By opening up these lymphatic channels and keeping things clean, ginger prevents the accumulation of the toxins that make you susceptible to infections. Ginger is also great for settling upset stomachs, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting.

Lemon

Lemon is another great source of Vitamin C which stimulates white blood cell production (vital for your immune system to function properly)  As an antioxidant, Vitamin C also protects cells from oxidative damage and boosts your immune system to help keep you healthy.

Hot Water with Lemon & Ginger

Boil some hot water with chunks of fresh ginger and lemon juice! It’s soothing for a sore throat and settles an upset tummy and very warming for the body.

Ginger, Cayenne & Lemon shots

Juice some ginger and lemons then sprinkle a little cayenne pepper for some added heat! Sweat that sickness out!

Tomato Soup

Tomatoes are quite high in Vitamin C! My Vegan Tomato Basil Soup Recipe is the perfect soup to make when you are feeling under the weather. It requires very little effort, it is warming to the body and soothing to a sore throat. Soups are great to eat when you’re feeling sick because it all goes back to that idea of resting, allowing your body to focus on healing itself rather than spending energy breaking down foods etc.

Lypo-Spheric Vitamin C

I was introduced to this product years ago and it is one of the very first things I pick up and start taking as soon as I start to feel sick! Most of the common forms of oral Vitamin C tablets, capsules, powders, liquids and even Vitamin C from your diet can be difficult for your body to process which in turn effects the efficiency of how it’s absorbed by the body. As a result, much of this Vitamin C is never actually transferred into your bloodstream and even less of it makes it into your cells.. which means your not able to absorb enough of it to actually benefit from it! This is why I love Lypo-Spheric Vitamin C so much: it use liposomes made from Essential Phospholipids to maximize absorption. Phospholipids are primary building blocks of the cellular membrane: the thin, protective wall around each cell in your body. The phospholipid wall functions as a skin for each cell, keeping things in or out. While your body can make some phospholipid compounds on its own, others must be supplied by your diet. These are called essential phospholipids. Lypo Spheric Vitamin C gives you 1,000 milligrams of Vitamin C AND 1,000 milligrams of Essential Phospholipids in each packet, including Phosphatidylcholine, an important phospholipid required for maintaining a healthy cardiovascular, reproductive, immune, and nervous system.

Wellness Booster from Earth Bar

Wellness Booster is a powerful combination of herbal ingredients that synergize to boost the immune system. Some of the ingredients in this tincture are ginger extract, garlic extract, oil of oregano and grapefruit seed extract! I take a 1/2 TSP. 3-6 x a day depending on how sick I am feeling.

Oil of Oregano

Oil of oregano contains two powerful compounds of carvacrol and thymol that have powerful anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. Straight up plant medicine. Taking oil of oregano can have the same benefits as antibiotics without all of the harsh side effects! I know some people who take the actual oil as liquid, but I tend to go for the liquid capsules as I find that is easier for me to take!

Warming Foods

When you are sick stick to warm foods!! Warming foods help with keeping the blood moving, cold foods constricts the blood, and makes it harder for the blood to remove toxicity; hence why soup is always suggested when ill, it makes us sweat out the pathogen!

Acupuncture

Acupuncture has so many benefits but in short: acupuncture moves the blood, and as the blood moves it naturally cleanses the system! I am OBSESSED with acupuncture- it’s truly incredible for so many reasons. If you’re in the L.A. area you MUST check out my acupuncturist Dr Mona at Vie Healing!! She is AMAZING!!

Diffuse Essential Oils

Since discovering and falling in love with Saje Wellness I have been diffusing essential oils all of the time to be honest 🙂 I absolutely love the aroma and the way it makes me feel. When I was sick this last time I had the worst headache of all time and the Peppermint Halo essential oil roller ball was a life saver!! I didn’t experience any congestion but I know that the Fortify essential oil blend is great for battling a cough or cold as the menthol temporarily calms a cough due to minor throat and bronchial irritation associated with a cold or inhaled irritants.

Epsom Salt Bath

Epsom salt is well-known for its benefits, and has been used for hundreds of years. Not only can it relax the nervous system, cure skin problems, soothe body pains and aching limbs, thus easing muscle strain; but it also aids in healing minor cuts, treating colds, congestion, and the biggest one of them all: draws out toxins from the body! Epsom salt is straight up detoxifying! Studies have also shown that Epsom salt can help regulate electrolytes in your body, ensuring proper functioning of the muscles, nerves, and enzymes. In my opinion it is best used as a bath soak, because when dissolved in warm water, Epsom salt is absorbed through the skin. Furthermore, when the Epsom salt is absorbed through the skin it can replenish the level of magnesium in the body. Magnesium helps to produce serotonin, which is a mood-elevating chemical within the brain that creates a feeling of calmness and relaxation. Magnesium is also known to help you relax and reduce irritability by lowering the effects of adrenaline.