12/04/2025
I wrote this a few years ago. Reposting again, because colds re on the prowl!
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Right now, many people (at least in the U.S.) are concerned over a shortage of over-the-counter medications that can be used to support someone through a cold, flu, or other virus. This may especially concern parents of children. However, many may not realize they likely have interventions in their home already that can assist someone to naturally recover from these issues. 𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙖 𝙛𝙚𝙬 𝙩𝙞𝙥𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙙/𝙫𝙞𝙧𝙪𝙨 𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮!
1️⃣ 𝘿𝙤 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜: The do-nothing approach allows the body to recover on its own, without much intervention. Our bodies are incredibly intelligent. In the west we've been taught to take medication at the first sign of fever, or to keep going because we "don't have time" to get down with a cold. This is actually unwise. Fever, for example, is the body's own defense system against invading bacteria or viruses. When we start sneezing, or coughing, or have a running nose, this is the body trying to rid itself of invading organisms. Consider not doing anything to suppress these natural defense mechanisms of the body (or doing so only minimally). Instead, cuddle up under a blanket and sleep! When we sleep, our body is allowed to fight battles on our behalf.
2️⃣ 𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙛𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧: In our home, unless someone has a fever above 103F or is listless we do not treat fever. Even then, we use herbs or natural interventions first. If that doesn't work, then yes, we would treat with OTC fever reducer. To assist the body through a fever naturally, consider diaphoretic (aka makes-you-sweat) herbs or a warm bath. While I think of yarrow, especially, for this, many homes won't have that herb on hand. No worries! Your kitchen is likely supplied with herbs that can assist. Here are some diaphoretic herbs many already have in their homes that may help bring down a fever and cool the body naturally:
Chamomile 🌿 Sage 🌿 Peppermint/Mints 🌿 Catnip 🌿 Cardamom 🌿 Elderberry 🌿 Lemon Balm 🌿 Garlic 🌿 Basil (any basil) 🌿 Ginger 🌿 Cayenne (or any hot pepper) 🌿 Horseradish
Note: For diaphoretic effects, you want to drink these herbs as a hot tea, slowly and intentionally.
3️⃣ 𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔: Those cold/flu body aches are the worst! Instead of reaching for an OTC pain reliever, consider trying some of these interventions:
💚 A̲ ̲w̲a̲r̲m̲ ̲E̲p̲s̲o̲m̲ ̲s̲a̲l̲t̲ ̲b̲a̲t̲h̲!̲ Epsom salt is actually a form of magnesium (sulfate). Magnesium is well-studied as an intervention for aches and pains. When you bathe in the salts, your body absorbs this soothing magnesium. The warm water itself also soothes those achy spots. No epsom salts? Even a sea salt bath may bring relief.
💚A̲ ̲w̲a̲r̲m̲ ̲h̲e̲r̲b̲-̲i̲n̲f̲u̲s̲e̲d̲ ̲b̲a̲t̲h̲!̲ Have you ever considered bathing in tea? It's an option! Gather some herbs such as chamomile, lavender, peppermint, rosemary, or cloves and contain them in some way (you don't want loose herbs in your bath to plug the drain!). Even an old rag can do the job in a pinch. You want a fairly good amount of herb (I use about a cup full). Make your bath quite hot, allow the herbs to infuse until it's a good temp for your body, and take a soak. Even better, add herbs and epsom (or sea) salt.
💚 D̲o̲n̲'̲t̲ ̲p̲u̲s̲h̲ ̲i̲t̲!̲ We underestimate the value of rest in this country. Allow your body to go slow. Stay home from work. Sleep. Don't push your body or your mind while sick, any more than absolutely necessary.
💚 H̲e̲a̲t̲ ̲h̲o̲w̲e̲v̲e̲r̲ ̲y̲o̲u̲ ̲c̲a̲n̲ ̲g̲e̲t̲ ̲i̲t̲!̲ A heating pad. A warm cloth. A microwavable corn/rice pillow. A hot water bottle. All of these are ways to get heat to the specific areas of your body that ache during illness. There are also OTC heat patches that can be purchased. Even Icy Hot can be really helpful here (although there are natural camphor-heavy options with similar effects, they aren't necessarily something you can purchase or make very quickly).
💚 I̲n̲t̲e̲r̲n̲a̲l̲ ̲H̲e̲r̲b̲s̲: Many of the same herbs mentioned above as good in the bath will also make a beautiful hot tea that may assist pain internally. Cinnamon, Clove, Cayenne (or other hot pepper), Ginger, Turmeric, and Nutmeg are all great for this. Remember, to get the most medicinal benefits from tea, you should long-infuse (I go 10-20 minutes minimum). You can then reheat if it's cooled off too much for your taste.
4️⃣𝙎𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙞𝙩 𝙪𝙥! Herbal steams are a much under-appreciated intervention. The steam from a simple hot shower (there's that hot word again) can open up clogged passages, but when you add herbs to steam, it's a bit magical. All of the essential oils hidden in the herb are released into the air, where we can breathe them in and oftentimes immediately feel relief for common cold/flu symptoms. To make a simple herbal steam simply start a small pot of water and add aromatic herbs (herbs with lots of essential oil) to make a tea. Bring the herbs up to a boil and then reduce heat. Put your face (safely!) over the smoking herbal tea and breathe in slowly and deeply. Many of the same herbs you might bath in, or use for aches/pains make excellent herbal steams. Rosemary, Oregano (my personal favorite), peppermint, thyme, cardamom, ginger, and coriander are all beautiful choices.
ᴺᵒᵗᵉ: ᴵ ᵈᵒ ⁿᵒᵗ ʳᵉᶜᵒᵐᵐᵉⁿᵈ ᵗʰᵃᵗ ᵃⁿʸᵇᵒᵈʸ ᵘˢᵉ ᵇᵒᵗᵗˡᵉᵈ ᵉˢˢᵉⁿᵗⁱᵃˡ ᵒⁱˡˢ ᶠᵒʳ ᵗʰⁱˢ. ᴱᴼ'ˢ ᵃʳᵉ ᵉˣᵗʳᵉᵐᵉˡʸ ᵖᵒʷᵉʳᶠᵘˡ ᵃⁿᵈ ᶜᵃⁿ ᶜᵃᵘˢᵉ ᵐᵒʳᵉ ᵈᵃᵐᵃᵍᵉ ᵗʰᵃⁿ ᵍᵒᵒᵈ ⁱᶠ ᵘˢᵉᵈ ⁱⁿ ᵗᵒᵒ ˢᵗʳᵒⁿᵍ ᵃ ᶠᵃˢʰⁱᵒⁿ. ᵀʰᵉ ᵖˡᵃⁿᵗˢ ᵃᵇᵒᵛᵉ, ᵗʰʳᵒᵘᵍʰ ˢᵗᵉᵃᵐ, ᶜᵃⁿ ᵇᵉ ˢᵃᶠᵉˡʸ ⁱⁿʰᵃˡᵉᵈ ᵇʸ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ⁽ˢᵉᵉ ᶠⁱⁿᵃˡ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵇᵉˡᵒʷ⁾.
❤️🌿These are ways my family gets through those nasty winter-time viruses. There are many other herbs and interventions not mentioned, as the goal of this post is to assist those who are sick RIGHT NOW with herbs/spices/foods that are already in many homes. I hope that these simple ideas may bring relief to you or those you love. Stay safe, and warm, and herby! ❤️🌿
𝘈 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘦: 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢 𝘥𝘰𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘩𝘺𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘣 𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘋𝘈.se
