Immune-boosting hibiscus + thyme tea and some of my favourite natural cold-fighting home remedies

Last month was a huge one for me and during most of it I was fending off a cold. It never really took hold, thankfully, but it threatened to get me at least 2 days out of every week for most of the month. I had too much on to succumb, so instead I told myself I couldn’t afford to get sick, overdosed on every natural cold-fighting home remedy I know and other than one morning where I was ready to admit defeat, I managed to fend it off.

I’ve never been one to run to the doctor unless truly warranted and I don’t believe in taking over-the-counter drugs for treating colds and flu, instead I draw on the wisdom’s collected over a lifetime of taking herbal medicine (thanks Mum!) and fueling up on nourishing food. I thought I’d share some of them today. Many of them I’m sure everybody knows about, others I hope you’ll give them a whirl the next time you feel that first tingle in your throat or have a runny nose.

Time really is the most important thing here and it’s something I’ve taught my kids from day one, to tell me the very second they feel a sore throat/have started sneezing or have a runny nose. The VERY FIRST signs of a cold is when you must act, and quickly. Many of the remedies I use will stop a cold dead in its tracks if used at that very first sign. If it has gone past the first stage before you really take notice, there are other remedies I deploy but 9/10 if I get onto them soon enough, it doesn’t get any further.

Homeopathy
Aconite 30c is the most important and well used remedy in my homeopathic kit and is always my first port of call when fighting off colds, especially if you’ve come down with a cold after being out in cold winds. You can buy it from most health food stores and some chemists here in NZ as well as online. In Australia you’ll have to buy from a homeopath and elsewhere you’ll have to search around yourself as I’m not sure how homeopathic medicine is distributed in other places around the world.
One dose is usually 2-3 drops or 2 pilliules. Take at least 30 minutes either side of food and avoid peppermint and similar strong flavours when taking it as this can cancel out it’s effects. You can take every 30 minutes-1 hour for up to 3 doses in one day. Unlike other remedies, this one is usually only used at the first signs of a cold. If your cold has gone past the first signs or day, don’t keep taking. See a homeopath instead for other remedy options.

Tissue salts
1st sign of illness. I take this alongside the aconite. It can be taken every 30 minutes for up to 6 doses in one day. I always have these in my bag and my kids know to grab themselves one the second they start to feel yuck. There’s a kids cold and flu relief tissue salt combo as well (strawberry flavoured) which is great for younger kids. Often my kids will take one of each, at least 4 times a day when feeling under the weather.

Vitamins
I up my usual 1000mg per day to 2000mg+ when fighting off a cold. Powdered forms are better quality than tablets and more easily absorbed. Echinacea tincture is also a great one to take, as well as Zinc to boost immunity. If you can source (and afford) liposomal Vitamin C, this is amazing.

Fire Cider

Amazing stuff and so easy to make, I always have a bottle in the back of my pantry. You can find my recipe for Turmeric Fire Cider here.

Fermented Honey + Garlic Cough Syrup

Super potent homemade syrup using two ingredients! Take a spoonful of the honey to knock a sore throat on the heat, and finely chop the garlic to add to salad dressings. Grab my recipe here.

Herbal teas
Hibiscus is high in Vitamin C. Thyme is great for sore throats, as is rosemary. Lemon balm is a great relaxant so great to take before bed if you’re having trouble sleeping. The classic hot lemon and honey is awesome. Ginger, black pepper and turmeric are also great warming and immune boosting additions to tea. Check out my Turmeric + Kawakawa Chai here (can be made using rooibos tea in place of black tea if preferred, Kawakawa leaf (dried or fresh) is great to add to teas and has been used traditionally in Māori medicine for hundreds of years to treat colds (amongst other things). Grab the ‘recipe’ for my soothing Lemon, Honey + Rosemary Tea here.

Manuka honey
A great anti-bacterial. I have a spoonful when fending off a cold. Especially great for sore throats. If you’re adding to hot drinks, let them cool slightly before adding the honey to make sure no beneficial properties are destroyed.

Essential oils
-doTERRA do a great oil called On Guard. I combine a few drops of On guard with a carrier oil (I use fractionated coconut oil) and rub this onto the soles of my feet at night before bed. As On Guard contains strong oils such as eucalyptus I tend to try the aconite first before oils, and then add in the oils later on in the day or the following day once I’ve given the aconite a chance to work it’s magic. It’s also a great oil to diffuse in your home throughout winter to keep bugs at bay and can be used to make natural household cleaners.
-Oregano oil is another great one to use when sick, a little rubbed on the soles of your feet (with a carrier oil) or rubbed on your throat works wonders. It can also be taken internally in capsule form.

Olive leaf extract
Is great for boosting your immunity. When we lived in Australia and could afford it, we had 5 ml everyday as a general booster. Nowadays, I just save it for when someone is coming down with a cold and give 10-20ml daily. You can buy throat sprays too.

Food

Eat simple nourishing warm meals (no cold smoothies!). Soups and stews etc containing tons of vegetables are perfect, go hard on lightly cooked dark leafy greens. I try to pack in as much garlic, ginger and turmeric as I can into my meals when anyone in our house isn’t well. Meals like Dhal are perfect easily digestible food, you can find my favourite Dhal recipe here. Ferments such as sauerkraut + miso are great immune-boosting foods, as are mushrooms like shiitake.