Hot Lemon Tea
Hot water with honey and lemon is a great standby—add some cayenne, ginger or rosemary for added warmth.
Lemon is the ideal food for restoring acid-alkali balance. Drinking freshly squeezed lemon juice in water, or adding it to tea helps maintain the body’s internal “climate” at a pH which supports healthy bacteria instead of the viruses and harmful bacteria which thrive in more acidic environments.
Baked Pear Cough Syrup
Cut a pear in half, core it, and place it in a small pyrex dish (flat side down). Add 1/2 inch of water and bake the pear in the oven until it is soft. Eat half the pear and drink the liquid (you can add honey and lemon if you wish).
Kitchen cupboard Immuni-tea
Mix ground ginger (or sliced ginger root), grated orange peels, a clove, a cinnamon stick and a pinch of stevia…steep for 10 minutes and drink as a tea.
Garlic & onions, mustard powder, turmeric, horseradish, rosemary, oregano and thyme are also herbs/spices you may have at home that are useful in treatments to support immune function!
Essential Oils for Cold and Flu: Best Essential Oils and How to Apply Them
Oregano – One of the most popular essential oils for treating everything from cold and flu to warts, oregano is considered a “hot” oil (it will heat up and tingle) and should be used cautiously. Do not apply to the face or throat without diluting it first with pure olive oil or another fatty oil. If you do get some on your face, dilute with butter or oil, NOT water! Oregano is best applied on the back, shoulders, and the bottoms of the feet.
Lemon – Lemon is great for boosting the immune system from within. Take a drop or two in every glass of water throughout the day, or use in capsules. Lemon is photosensitive so it should not be applied to skin.
Cinnamon – Another hot oil, cinnamon is great for boosting the immune system and has been shown to support the pancreas and digestive system (in Chinese medicine, the pancreas/spleen relates to the immune system). Apply on the feet or inhale.
Frankincense – One of the most powerful immune-boosting oils, real frankincense does not come cheap ($80-100 for 15mL) but it’s worth its weight in gold. Frankincense is mild on the skin and can be applied anywhere. For persistent colds, fill a capsule with 10-20 drops of frankincense and take on an empty stomach*.
Peppermint and Eucalyptus – These oils are cool and soothing and are known to clear the respiratory system and ease breathing. They can be applied directly to the neck, throat, chest, and back to open the lungs or inhaled to soothe the sinuses. Peppermint and eucalyptus are safe to apply on the skin.