This is a spring tonic which is also good for occasional use in the heat of the summer. It adds potassium to the system, and is supposed to clean the blood. It is definitely a home remedy curio—and is not included here as a serious medical recommendation.
Take a tablespoon of Four Thieves Vinegar, place it in a small glass or cup. Add a teaspoon of honey and mix. Then add a tablespoon of hot water and drink
It’s ‘Chicken Soup for the Soul Day’ so let’s serve a bowl of therapy for the body and spirit. This soup is the traditional ‘go to’ when nursing the common cold, but it’s also a protective food that can ward off the evil eye. Legend speculates that chicken soup can protect from negative energies created by angry, irrational people. In fact, even mainstream medical science supports its protective benefits. Chicken soup contains several nutrients that stimulate and strengthen the immune system while cleansing your aura, especially if you’ve been exposed to someone else’s negativity. Eating protein-rich foods like chicken, fish, eggs and dairy can help one feel more grounded and balanced and better connected to our bodies and to the earth around us. So the next time you settle in with a good book, why not have a big bowl of self-nurturing to go with it? But if soup just doesn’t cut it when dealing with negative people, then this recipe might. Write the offending person’s name in green ink on white paper. Fold that paper in four and put it in a glass, lidded jar. Pour enough honey over the paper to cover it and then tightly seal the jar. Place a small white candle either atop or immediately alongside the jar and then each day for nine days straight light the candle while sending healing and forgiveness to that person. On the ninth day allow the candle to burn completely out while disposing of the sealed jar anywhere outside your living space. Sweet and sour, just like Chinese chicken soup for the soul!
By Ellen Whitehurst for Astrology.com
(Hyssopus officinalis)
To Grow:
Perennial herb. Grows to 1 1/2-2 ft. high. Has narrow, dark green, pungent leaves and a profusion of dark blue flower spikes that appear July-November. There are also white and pink-flowered forms available. Plant in full sun or light shade. Fairly drought resistant.
Uses:
It is used in coughs, bronchitis, and chronic catarrh. It can be used for the
common cold due top its diaphoretic state. As a Nervine it may be used in
anxiety, hysteria, and petite mal (a form of epilepsy).
Part used:
Dried aerial parts. Collect the flowering tops in late summer.
Infusion:
Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1-2 tsp. of the dried herb and leave to infuse
for 10-15 minutes. Drink three times a day.
Tincture:
Take 1-4 ml of the tincture three times a day.
SLIPPERY ELM BARK
Historically used to soothe sore throats, coughs, and upset stomachs, this beneficial bark is still available in bulk and in herbal cough drops and throat lozenges.
How to use:
For tea, 1 to 3 teaspoons of powdered bark per cup, boiled and simmered 15 minutes. Up to 3 cups per day.
According to the Feng Shui floral calendar, the plant most associated with the month of September is the perennial aromatic plant mallow, also called the marsh mallow. This herb blossoms between May and August but reaches maturity in September. Mallow is often called a ‘cure-all’ herb due to the fact that its roots and mucilage were believed to heal digestive disorders, urinary tract inflammations and infections, as well as relieving upper respiratory problems caused by the common cold. Native Americans highly recommended this herb as a poultice to alleviate pain and soreness from insect stings. The soothing effects of the marshmallow plant are generally understood in holistic circles to relieve irritated or inflamed skin. It is also used in infusions and tinctures aimed at helping to heal gastritis, ulcers and throat ailments such as laryngitis. It’s clear that there’s more to the marsh mallow than being just a confectionary delight!
By Ellen Whitehurst for Astrology.com
| Herb of the Day – Chaparral Leaf |
| Native to the Southwestern parts of US and Mexico, Chaparral Leaf, or Larrea tridentata has long been used among Native Americans to treat arthritis, respiratory ailments, and even cancer. Interestingly, the plant produces a sap that keeps other plants from growing near itself, and while the branches may wither or fall off, the crown rarely dies and sometimes reproduces itself. Indeed, an example in California is believed by some to be well over 11,000 years old. For these qualities it was often revered within local lore, and the Southwestern Native Americans often used the sap as a sunscreen, and the plant in general as a treatment for assorted ailments, including blood poisoning, and liver disease. They also used to the leave to brew a tea that they would use to rid the body of parasites.
Modern herbalists see it most commonly as an expectorant, of great use in treating respiratory issues like asthma, bronchitis, and the coughing symptoms of the common cold. Chaparral Leaf has also been shown to possess antioxidant qualities, believed to help destroy the particles that destroy cells and possibly cause cancer. Studies have been conducted that show the leaf to aid in restricting cancerous growth. While the leaf possesses a great many positive qualities, it has been shown to occasionally react poorly with the liver, and you should discontinue use if you experience nausea, fever, fatigue, or Jaundice while using the herb. |
Sage not only has many mouth-watering culinary uses, but is valued by herbalists for 
its antibacterial and antiseptic properties. Astrogically associated with the zodiacal sign of the Bull, which prevails on May 8, sage is often used to soothe a sore throat, and it is thought that its efficacious action is at least partly due to “Taurus’ influence over the throat. So if your throat feels scratchy and raw and you are finding swallowing painful, brew a pot of sage tea (use 1 ounce of dry sage, or 2 ounce of fresh leaves, to 1 pint of boiling water) to gargle with or sip.
If you are prone to sore throats invest in a pot of Manuka honey – check that it has a UMF (unique Manuka factor) rating – and you may find that it’s worth its weight in gold. For many people swear that swallowing a teaspooon or two of this New Zealand honey (neat) works wonders.
The most common cold symptoms include: headache, nasal congestion, sore throat, runny nose, chest congestion, cough, and fatigue. To begin to feel better, you must decide what symptoms you have. The next step is deciding what to do to bring yourself relief.
1. Begin eating to relieve your symptoms. Avoid stressing your digestive tract with heavy or fried foods. Eat chicken noodle soup and other soups with a broth base. Fruits which are rich in vitamin C would be a healthier alternative to a piece of cake or a doughnut if you crave something sweet. Yogurt is also a healthy dessert option.
Also, taking a multi-vitamin everyday is very important. At the onset of cold symptoms, you can add a zinc supplement with vitamin C to help your body battle the virus more quickly. Drink warm teas. If you have a sore throat, relieve pain by mixing honey and lemon juice. Warm the mixture and sip slowly.
2. If you have chest congestion, nasal congestion, cough, or headache, begin by finding some eucalyptus oil. This is sold at most nutrition stores. You can also buy a small sprig of real or dried eucalyptus from a craft or artificial flower store.
Hang the eucalyptus sprig somewhere in your shower stall as you take a hot shower. The eucaylptus has theraputic effects on sinuses and nasal congestion. Not to mention, the hot water will help loosen any chest congestion.
The eucalyptus oil can be used in one of two ways. The first way you can simply wave the bottle or vial under your nose and inhale deeply a couple of times. Do this two to three times a day.
The second way is to pour a few drops into a small pot of water and bring to boil. Take the pot off the stove, place it in a comfortable location, make a tent with a towel, and hold head over the vapors. Breathe in and exhale deeply. This will ease nasal and chest congestion.
3. Get a cold mist humidifier. They are relatively inexpensive and easy to use. A cold mist humidifier does not dry out the bronchioles the way a steam vaporizer does. Follow manufacturer’s instructions for use and cleaning. If not properly cleaned, a cold mist humidifier can create the perfect condition for mold growth.
4. Get plenty of rest. If you are having trouble falling asleep, prepare yourself before bed. Take a long hot bath and place a warm washcloth over your face. Inhale and exhale through the moistened cloth. It wil help loosen congestion. It will also help relax you before bed.
After a hot bath, apply some vapor rub to your chest and neck. You can also apply a small amount to the underside of your nostrils to help clear breathing passages. Do not put the vapor rub inside the nose because the nose may be come irritated.
Drink a cup of warm tea but sip it slowly. Slow, calm movements will ease your body into a mood for restful slumber. Set up the cold mist humidifier in a sturdy place in your bedroom. Keep the door open you do not want too much moisture in your room either.
5. Avoid over the counter treatments unless absolutely necessary. They only mask the symptoms they usually do not treat them. Allow your body to build up its natural immunities to the cold germ. If you are exhausted from not sleeping all night, by all means get a night time cold remedy to help you sleep. Try not to rely on medication to get you through your days if you can help it.
The length of the common cold varies. It depends on how effectively it is treated. Once you relieve your body of the symptoms of the virus, recovery follows quickly.
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