Winter, the time for colds, coughs, flu and aching muscles.
You can buy over the counter natural remedies for Winter colds/flu/aches but most of these are easily made at home in your kitchen. Nature provides us with an abundance of plants and trees to keep us healthy but when illness strikes she comes into her own with a cupboard full to the brim of natural remedies for us all.
'Vicks' Vapour Rub - A Natural Remedy for Winter Colds
An easy to make 'Vicks' vapour rub balm using all natural ingredients that soothes coughs and blocked noses.
30% Shea Butter
20% Coconut Oil
20% Calendula Oil
10% Jojoba Oil
10% Beeswax or Jojoba wax
5% Vit E
1% Essential Oil blend of Rosemary, Eucalyptus, Lavender, Peppermint
Melt the shea butter, coconut oil and wax in a double boiler. Gently stir for a few minutes to prevent them shea butter from going grainy.
Add the calendula oil and jojoba oil and stir well.
Allow to cool slightly and then add the Vit E and essential oil blend.
Stir and pour into a clean jar to set.
To use rub the balm over the chest and back. You can add a small bit of balm under the nose or on the bottom of your feet before going to bed.
Bath Salts for Aching Muscles
39% Dead Sea Salt
30% Epsom Salts
10% Magnesium Salt
10% Powdered Kelp
10% Sodium Bicarbonate
1% Essential Oil blend of Lavender, Chamomile, Rosemary and Ginger
Place all the dry ingredients into a mixing bowl and mix thoroughly.
Add the essential oil blend, stirring thoroughly.
Pour into a clean jar, screw on the lid.
Leave overnight so the oils infuse into the mixture.
To use, set aside a quiet hour to relax in your bath. Run your bath, making sure the water is not too hot. Pour a good cupful of your bath salts for aching muscles into the water and allow them to dissolve. Relax and enjoy.
'Lemsip' type Cold Drink
Juice of one Lemon
1 tspn Honey
1 tspn Glycerin
Half tspn Cinnamon powder
Add hot water to all the ingredients and drink as required. This 'Lemsip' type cold drink works wonders and is such a feel well drink to take.
Sore Throats
Dried Echinacea
Dried Rosemary
Dried Sage
1 tspn Honey
Add the dried herbs together. Pour on hot water and infuse for at least 10mins.
Strain off your tea and add the honey.
Gargle with the sore throats tea and swallow.
Gargle when needed.
Do not swallow the tea if pregnant.
Sleep/Relax Herbal Tea
Dried Lavender
Dried Chamomile
Dried St. John's Wort
Dried Lemon Balm
Dried Valerian
Dried Peppermint
Mix ingredients together.
Use one heaped teaspoon per 300ml of boiling water. Allow to infuse for about 5 mins.
Drink your sleep/relax herbal tea before bedtime.
Essential Oils for Colds, Coughs, Aches and Pains
Rosemary
Lavender
Eucalyptus
Thyme
Sage
Peppermint
Wintergreen
Ginger
Chamomile
Lemon Blam
You can make up several different essential oil blends to add to a diffuser to help you breath or to relax before bed.
Add a few choosen essential oils to hot water in a bowl. Cover your head, lean over the bowl and breath in the vapour.
A few drops of your blend can also be added to a tissue.
Added to your bath water.
Place a few drops on a cotton wool pad and place on radiator.
Add to cotton wool pad, place in your shower and allow the hot water to diffuse the oils.
Add the essential oils to grapeseed oil and use as a muscle rub.
Add the essential oils to perfumers alcohol or Vodka and use as a room spray.
Feel well soon x Diane
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