If you are anything like me, going to the doctor and/or taking medicine is such a chore. I hate filling my body with medicines unless absolutely necessary. This past winter, I started doing my homework to find natural healing remedies for common winter ailments – sniffles, cough, dry scalp, upset stomach from eating warm fatty foods. This is a list of my favorite remedies! I found most of these ideas around the internet and added my own twists. It is probably important (but redundant) to note that I am not a doctor or pharmacist, but I am a lawyer so I know better than to forget a disclaimer! You should always consult your medical professionals before trying at-home remedies. A lot of different herbs and oils can interact with certain medicines, so always make sure a remedy is safe for you to try!
Sniffles
For the sniffles, TEA. TEA. TEA. I recommend a hot mug of elderberry tea with a bit of whipped honey and a dehydrated lemon (check out my post on dehydrated lemons). The steam from your mug of tea will be good for your sinuses, the elderberry is great for your immune system to heal you up AND keep you from getting sicker, and honey has about a million health benefits – but most importantly when you have the sniffles, honey has natural antioxidants, as well as antibacterial properties, that will help to get you back on your feet. The lemon helps to counteract the sweetness of the tea, but it is also a great source of Vitamin C.
For extra immunity support, also try elderberry jam on toast!
Cough
I am notorious for getting awful coughs every time I am sick, especially in the winter. This DIY cough syrup recipe helps to soothe my throat and temper coughing fits.
- Place half of a chopped lemon into a jar, and cover the lemon with honey (about 1/2 cup).
- Add some fresh thyme (I use lemon thyme from my garden) to a pot of water and simmer.
- Once the tea is reduced, strain out the thyme leaves.
- Pour the strained tea into the jar on top of the lemon and honey.
- Cover the jar, and give it a good shake! Use this by the spoonful for as long as the cough persists.
Dry Scalp
This past winter, my scalp was incredibly dry, flaky, and itchy. It is not cute, nor is it comfortable. When I started researching scalp oils on the market, they were so expensive! Plus, I realized that the big ingredient in ~all of them~ is tea tree oil, and I have tea tree essential oil. I did some research and went to work on creating my own scalp oil at home.
First, I melted some coconut oil in a mason jar. You can melt the oil in the jar in the microwave, just remember to remove the metal lid first! Then, once the coconut oil was melted, I added some local honey to the jar and heated the jar again until the honey and oil seemed thoroughly melted together. All in all, the heating process took about a total of 1.5-2 minutes. Next, I added some olive oil to the jar. Now, time for the fun part – adding essential oils! I added tea tree oil of course, but I also added rosemary oil (also helps with dry, itchy scalp) and sweet orange oil (basically just for the scent). I returned the lid to the jar, shook it up to mix the ingredients, and then it was ready! It is best applied to clean, damp hair. So take a shower, clean your hair, then pour the scalp oil onto your head. You will want to massage it into the scalp, and let it sit for about ten minutes. Then rinse it out. Voila!
Digestive Issues
During the cold winter months, I crave comfort food…which sometimes translates to extra fatty foods. Of course, then I am prone to stomach aches and digestive issues. I had to come up with an anti-inflammatory recipe that still ~felt~ like comfort food.
This is seriously the easiest vegetable soup ever. Combine the following ingredients in a slow-cooker, and cook on low for 6-8 hours (until the vegetables are soft):
- Carrots
- Celery
- Onion
- Sweet potato
- Fresh garlic (minced)
- Fresh ginger (minced)
- Ground turmeric
- Ground mustard
- Oregano, tarragon, paprika, and salt/pepper to taste
- One carton of bone broth (I used chicken)
- One carton of vegetable stock
*If you like to cook and hate waste (or you just think it’s fun to find ways to reuse things), try making your own stock! I collect vegetable scraps in a freezer-safe baggie until it gets full. Then dump the scraps in a pot of water, bring to a boil, and let it simmer for 25-40 minutes. Strain out the scraps, and you’re left with homemade vegetable stock! If you add scrap meat bones to the mix before simmering, voila – homemade bone broth. You can season the broth too, and there are lots of variations online if you want to get creative!