I'll start off by saying that I don’t take medication. Personally, I don’t like to take any over-the-counter (“OTC”) or prescription medication unless it’s a matter of life or death. This is because the body has its own healing capabilities, thanks to our immune system. Our bodies are designed to heal itself from cuts, wounds, scrapes, and pain.
Medications do have their time and purpose. For example, getting bit by a poisonous snake and nearly dying? Definitely taking medication. Having a severe allergic reaction that is causing a scary near death experience? Definitely taking medication. Going to the hospital and having surgery? Yes, definitely will be highly medicated.
However, most of the time, many of us are constantly dependant on medication to solve every ache and woe. Don’t get me wrong, there’s no judgment on my part because I used to be a hard-core pill popper! Every headache, body ache, menstrual cramp, cold, sickness, and so on … I’d find out which medication I could take to relieve the issue. The background story is that I grew up with a grandmother that had Parkinson’s disease for over 20 years and went through her daily pill container of at least five different medications. To say the least, I was exposed to the normalcy of being medicated for many years.
But I didn’t know any better back then or have the knowledge that I do now. Which is why my mission being to share this with you and all the women I know, and to empower everyone to make informed and right decisions for their best health.
Over-the-counter medication is the modern-day remedy, and although easily accessible and convenient, they contain many harmful ingredients.
The most popular OTC medications are pain relievers, cold and cough medication, allergy medication, and surprisingly, laxatives.
While they may seem innocent, or approved as safe for use, we’re not taking these medications in an emergency. Oftentimes we rely on them. In North America, the number of prescriptions filled by children and adults increased by 85% in the past 20 years.
The risks of these medications include:
Addiction to the medicinal ingredients. Instead of addressing the root cause of the issue, we use medication as a quick fix.
Drug abuse. Many people are taking prescription or OTC medication without knowing why they’re taking it or don’t even really have a medical problem. A lot of youths are using them in combination with other substances as an intoxicant (like cough syrup and alcohol).
Side effects and long-term health issues. Ever hear a commercial for a miracle medication that can help an illness, followed by a long list of side effects (that even includes death)? Regular OTC medication (like pain relievers) can have long-term effects, such as gastric bleeding and liver damage among others.
The reason many of these OTC are not necessary and being used as a crutch is because a problem like constipation doesn’t require laxatives, if an alternative and natural solution is to take 1 tsp of psyllium husk fibre each day, and improve digestion through diet, stress, and lifestyle.
Or taking 10 artificially-sweetened, medicated throat lozenges a day for a sore throat versus drinking warm soothing liquids and with a dropper of oregano oil.
As a culinary nutritionist, my goal is to make sure that my cupboards and fridge are stocked with natural foods that have healing and healthful properties. Foods and herbs have powerful properties that have been used for thousands of years to treat illness. It's a better solution to help support healing!
Let’s look at six natural foods to help relieve cold and flu symptoms (that actually work) to help relieve cold and flu symptoms fast, plus a bonus essential oil that should be stocked in your bathroom cabinet for many healthy purposes.
TURMERIC
Turmeric is anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant and contains the active ingredient, curcumin, which is just as effective as other anti-inflammatory medication. It's really no surprise that turmeric is all the rage, as this spice has been around for thousands of years.
Turmeric can be used in tea, and in all types of recipes from smoothies, breakfast porridges, dips, rice dishes, marinades, stir-fries, natural juices, bone broth, and soup.
RAW (UNPASTEURIZED) HONEY
Raw honey is anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal. It can strengthen the immune system, soothes, and promotes healing to wounds and illness. Have a bad cough? Honey is an expectorant, so it can help to suppress a coughing fit.
If you have a sore throat, cough, or cold, use raw honey in tea, smoothies, or on its own. Do not give honey to children under the age of one.
GARLIC
Garlic is powerful! It has anti-microbial and anti-viral properties, thanks to its active ingredient, allium. No kidding, this is a superstar ingredient proven to prevent and treat colds.
Use garlic in cooking roasted vegetables, soups, stews, and spreads. If you do feel a cold approaching, chop up a garlic clove into small pieces, and suck on a piece of garlic for five minutes. Be sure to do this within 20 minutes of cutting the garlic, so you can the full benefit of its active ingredients. If eating raw garlic is unbearable for you (or you have kids or teens), you can make garlic honey! Combine one chopped garlic clove with 1 tsp of honey, mix together, and eat.
GINGER
Ginger is another powerful ingredient that has anti-inflammatory properties, and can treat colds, nauseas, sore throat, migraines, and digestion.
If you feel a cold coming on, use fresh ginger in soups and stews, boil fresh ginger tea, drink with hot water and lemon, or use in natural juices and smoothies.
THYME
Thyme has anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and expectorant properties, making it good for coughs and colds.
Where’s my Caribbean people at? Many Caribbean households always have fresh thyme laying around, since it’s a staple of their cultural dishes. Use thyme in cooking roasted meat dishes, roasted vegetables, soups, and stews, or use the herb in a tea with honey and lemon (to help cope with the strong taste).
OIL OF OREGANO
This is an anti-viral and anti-bacterial solution to relieve sore throats and fight off respiratory illness, colds, and bronchitis. This should definitely be stocked in your medicine cabinet for sore throats and colds. You can find this at many health food stores.
If you have a sore throat or feel a cold coming on, use a dropper and take a few drops of oregano oil on its own or dilute and drink in a glass of water.
BONUS ESSENTIAL OIL: TEA TREE OIL
Tea tree oil is an essential oil that has antiseptic and anti-microbial properties. It can be used for treating illness and for cleaning because of its germ-fighting properties.
Do not ingest tea tree oil internally. If you’re feeling sick, diffuse 5 – 10 drops of tea tree oil in an essential oil diffuser. If you don’t have an essential oil diffuser, then put five drops of tea tree oil in a bowl of steaming hot water and place your head above the bowl, cover with a towel to prevent the steam from escaping, and inhale the steam.
Tea tree oil can also be diluted with some water to create a natural and safe (kid-friendly) cleaning solution to wipe down or spray any surfaces that are have bacteria and germs.
To end it here, last week I felt "something" coming on and it started with a sore throat. For two days, I sucked on small pieces of garlic clove, increased my dose of turmeric, and drank a lot of Throat Coat tea with raw honey. In addition to living a healthy lifestyle and always practicing preventive techniques to the common cold and other illness, this remedy definitely worked because my sore throat ceased to exist after the two days! TWO DAYS!
Comments