01/02/2026
Long but informative post!
Here are some things to consider when caring for yourself and loved ones during this horrible flu season. Information is either research based (links included to medical journal) or is based on my experience. Message me if you have any questions! I just want you all to stay well and be knowledgeable about your best natural healing options. Consult your Dr for medical advice!
Research: Elderberry has been studied A LOT and in tests it shows that it shortens the duration of the flu and lessens the severity of symptoms. There is no evidence that it overstimulates the immune system and causes a “cytokine storm”.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8026097/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4848651/
Advice: Elderberry syrup is great for the flu and many people see other benefits as well. My customers use it for colds, sinus issues, congestion, the flu, arthritis and water weight loss. In addition to its antiviral properties, it is also a mild diuretic (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7185606/).
That being said, any diuretic impacts fluid in our bodies. If you are taking elderberry products multiple times a day for the flu, you will want to make a point to hydrate regularly with something like Gatorade, Powerade, Liquid IV, etc. The elderberry will make you p*e more and as you p*e you will lose key minerals and vitamins that your body REALLY needs when you are sick. The key is balance - use the elderberry to help the flu symptoms but balance it out with hydration + electrolytes. This diuretic effect is why people see relief with water weight and arthritis as elderberry reduces inflammation around joints and helps you shed excess fluid BUT for a person battling the cold or flu, you need to stay hydrated as a priority. This is especially crucial for children because it can be hard to get them to drink when sick. Note on hydration: Keep your kid out of the hospital and use any trick possible to keep them hydrated: popsicles and jello can be made using Pedialyte or Gatorade! Giving them regular water or coconut water, or watered down apple juice is NOT sufficient if they are having trouble keeping down fluids/not drinking much. They need a mix of electrolytes in certain ratios like what is found in Pedialyte. This is not medical advice and please use your own informed judgment when taking care of your children and consult your pediatrician anytime you are worried.
Things that have helped my family bounce back from the flu or avoid it altogether:
Colloidal Silver - I spray into my nose and throat after being exposed to anything sketchy. 50 ppm is good but it does come in much stronger concentrations. Stronger concentrations have a yellow tint - I am not sure if it stains or not. I have never turned blue from using this product and neither has anyone in my family, but you do you. Google “silver turns you blue” for all the drama if you don’t know what I am talking about. I am not getting paid for endorsing a product, this is just stuff I have used and it works for ME. Everyone in my family got sick around me around Christmas but I was clocking their symptoms and spraying my nose with this stuff and I have not gotten sick. Could be luck, could be science! https://www.amazon.com/Natural-Path-Silver-Wings-Supplement/dp/B00IGZZJ8E/ref=sr_1_6_pp?crid=1LBZ1ZHKZO02W&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Ydi3nWhMGHE8lUXrJSzkdzIC0z9CuwimZu2lkxJj-GZM_DEgaPJUTci2PdRmrtoQBhWwgyYinX9Amed09eaWXw8PmOtuPeP4iCDkSyAgb8RevxVlbRtho-6phL5x5-LyuCU7Pq0RxZyoLJPkXYQkwMQ8UnTo5arIQmnahZ7b6Lu0nSqNUZZ_If3hzfdG-5PuTLGYzDK8ZSgd5p2CYOL5KM17QKnY7tiiuzn0KOmIN-fyPe4Of99QCXa4gjwEad8TQz2VHWe5lDAURB53pRwzUwu25uMz_r5ozAe_KM51h1E.POb_KPXFOT9qDhbLFbGeuNclQaLrnHBCLWpwNtafSXo&dib_tag=se&keywords=colloidal+silver&qid=1767373613&sprefix=colloia%2Caps%2C149&sr=8-6
Force of Nature Cleaner - this is an amazing electrolyzed water disinfectant and cleanser. The initial investment is there, but once you get the starter kit you will have enough to make tons of bottles of cleaner. This cleaner is so safe, so mild, and so effective. I can spray directly on my skin with no worries. I can spray my baby’s Paci and not freak out if I don’t rinse before he uses it. It leaves no soapy residue, removes odors from fabrics, kills cold - flu - norovirus - covid. 10/10 I do have a link for this one that gives me some points for sharing, but you also get a deal as well so it is a win/win: http://rwrd.io/5cwr0x5?c
If you are already sick with cold/flu/virus:�
- Boil up a pot of bone broth using whatever bone-in meat you choose if you eat meat. Add salt! Use the broth to make some good chicken noodle soup or just drink as is. To your broth, add lots of onion and garlic. Garlic is MOST potent and beneficial when it is smashed/crushed so take out the frustration of living in the craziest timeline in history and smash your garlic good. Add lots of celery and the leaves, add Thyme and Oregano (fresh or dried). You can even add a little bit of fresh or ground ginger without changing the flavor too much. Boil/simmer for hours if possible. You can remove the meat before it turns to mush and add the bones back in and cook longer. You want to simmer for a few hours if possible, the longer the better if it contains bones. Strain out all the above before you consume and you will have a very nutritious broth that will act as an electrolyte supplement and be soothing to sore throats. �
- Elderberry supplements up to 4 times a day or as directed - if you have an autoimmune disorder you need to consult your DR before taking elderberry.� See notes above regarding the importance of electrolyte supplements when using elderberry for an illness.
- Mullein tincture - this is another one that is amazing if you have a lot of congestion/mucus in your chest - this will help THIN mucus and let you cough it up. You must use with plenty of fluids for it to work. Here is a link but there are several available, be sure to get from a reputable source and use as directed, and always be mindful of allergies. Doesn’t taste bad at all! https://www.amazon.com/LIQUIDHEALTH-Organic-Mullein-Extract-Drops/dp/B0F6NX5HTB/ref=sr_1_6_pp?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.9A2428QQEs7kEeH7SI6T9N2LQGZ8ftpDZTUyMvCpo-MlAy5D_BKQNUh9_81JA6l4zTBg00ZQh168IdWrDse-7P5wstQQ9szeuDKOpSnKhuyAoljTrnKYy1ngrHgXMS6v5W5k3A6GlPUaH5nlRDQt5D_mMlDZO-EjA4xp0-ga_HOZyZJCf7g-WQt4gPaIk7fcseV9xmvmRa7JXF6mu6yVg1FfnoWX6LCse4lZLtKWQPnlVZ9D5cL8_0k0vjmzjoeuOWncmyDiq--Hx_csNvVFaF9Iaw7407YadYnFs6kzyi0.Tgc6CtmDJv5Ah9VGgx_78Vm5IzWOnaATZUhm0oWk1eI&dib_tag=se&keywords=Mullein&qid=1767374653&sr=8-6�
- Essential Oils….oils like peppermint, eucalyptus, lavender can all smell very soothing however, please research the best way to use the oil. For example, peppermint and eucalyptus oils are extremely irritating undiluted. You would never want to apply them directly to your skin. I would even caution using them in a diffuser for more than a few minutes at a time because the diffuser is essentially allowing you to breath in microfine drops of oils and this could cause more irritation to your throat and lungs. When in doubt, a single drop on the end of a Q-tip can be smelled for as long as you want. This way you are getting the benefits of the aroma without actually breathing in microfine drops of the volatile oils. Rosemary and Oregano oil also have healing properties but speaking from experience, they can BURN your skin. Please use caution and never apply directly to your skin or to a child, and never take internally unless you know exactly what you are doing. The essential oil is a completely different animal than the spice or herb you use to season your food. Just because you can eat the plant/herb, does not mean you can safely consume the super concentrated oil without taking precautionary measures. �
- Steam inhaler like this one - sometimes after being sick, I will have a dry cough that tickles and just makes me go into a coughing fit. So aggravating! You need warm, moist air to sooth your airways so they can heal - especially if you have been sick and coughing for a few days or had strep or bronchitis. For that, this things works great if you can be near an outlet to plug it in: https://www.amazon.com/Vicks-Personal-Targeted-Problems-Congestion/dp/B075FYVVFH/ref=sr_1_1?crid=5SGA745YS8HI&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.2bs4ZxOTyNRZa_Rl6BT8_ao42XVCDE-JMzEKqEJGwtoDn8JuezxblTzBSlMejx8DvjZl1TLGrkDsH8scAznipjAg0khTheWMIfh1jO2Bb8zUM1XZBqjh6H9odX_rfwpU9Ff52DZBodjpZEZvssbBo8iS5R_uL5Z1ICXqV0ypVrgDAZoGLnBKGmCU_OZqsKGTbKHB4oOhYJE3-ZU4ybRVvj_0idWNhjMc2YEadSxYERiDpS6efH4Z3v_jCvuRrzaaOFxgQMILjaZPAPDvI5C7e50O3w5vEEJFyzo1zTm4vmQ.3enn9OyJTPUf4vmqrf5sNBkfZdBISc93b8YPF45GKRE&dib_tag=se&keywords=vicks+steam+inhaler&qid=1767375274&sprefix=vicks+steam%2Caps%2C211&sr=8-1�
- Homemade cough syrups - there are always recipes online for making your own cough syrup and usually it involves putting onions, garlic, & ginger into a sweet honey solution. This can be wonderful if used the day of or the next day BUT many times you are supposed to let it sit for a few days..hmmm..a word of caution: although it is not common, botulism is a concern anytime we drop a veggie (ex. garlic) into honey. It is controversial and I do not even have a hard/fast rule for this, but you can research botulism/honey/garlic yourself and weigh the risks. For me, I feel like I get all the same benefits by using the ingredients separately (like a spoonful of honey, garlic in my broth, ginger tea). Anytime you are mixing something up to leave on your counter in a jar for an extended period, use caution and approved canning techniques.
- Hot toddy - “everybody knows those two old ladies make bootleg whiskey” lYKYK. Water, whiskey, honey, lemon. It is an adult-only age-old classic for a reason. This mix can help your muscles in your chest relax long enough to get in a nap without waking up coughing. If you don’t consume alcohol or for a kid friendly version, substitute gingerale for the whiskey. Google has lots of recipes for this. Be smart when it comes to using booze in anything - it can turn your sick day into a hospital stay if you overdo it.
Other advice:
-know your MUCUS! so gross, I know! but remember this:
*Thin, clear mucus that is dripping can be slowed by allergy meds such as Zyrtec/Allegra/Claritin/Benadryl
*thick, goopy, yellow mucus needs to be watered down so you can cough it up! Hydrate, mullein tincture, and see your Dr if you think you need antibiotics for a true sinus or ear infection. The main ingredient to look for in OTC meds to LOOSEN thick mucus would be guaifenesin which is found in Mucinex.
Over-the-counter cough medicine - studies show that it doesn't work and you are better off with honey and lemon to soothe your throat. Also, if you have a ton of mucus in your chest, you WANT to be coughing it up. Get it up and out. I do not have any reccomendationg for over the counter cough medicines that are advertised to suppress a cough.
take care of yourself and share this info!
