Natural Cold Remedies

February 15, 2010

Photo taken last fall as I was brewing this on my windowsill.

I was sick this month but I'm on the mend now thanks to sick soup, lots of love, rest, garlic oil and elderberry tea.

Elderberry tea recipe

To one cup of hot water or basic herbal tea like peppermint, add a couple spoons of elderberry juice concentrate, a couple spoons of echinacea tincture and 1/2- 1 tsp of powdered slippery elm bark (if your throat is feeling raw).

This particular brew is lacking slippery elm or you'd see "floaties" in the cup.

I'm limiting myself to 3 sentence posts till the end of February but feel free to ask questions or add your own remedies in comments.

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Cori on Feb. 15, 2010, 11:43 p.m.

Glad you're feeling better. We've been gargling ACV over here (ok, just the adults!).

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Jackie Lee on Feb. 16, 2010, 12:04 a.m.

We swear by Elderberry concentrate here! It's great to cure just about anything. We have a local grower who produces concentrate so it's quite easy to come by and we just drink 1 tsp of concentrate mixed with some sprite. I love it because it works for everyone in the house and you don't have to worry about any nasty side effects ~ like death. :) Hope you're feeling better soon ~ and your photos are lovely!

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Kika on Feb. 16, 2010, 2:31 a.m.

I wonder if people have suggestions to help with a chesty cough that has lasted several weeks; kind of gives a weighty feeling to my upper chest - want to get rid of it!

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Alisha on Feb. 16, 2010, 3:19 a.m.

Sorry you're sick, Renee! Hope you're better soon!

We had something with fever and body aches this weekend (no cold or flu symptoms, though, odd) (the much anticipated 4 day Valentines weekend, no less) and JD and I were down for the count, mainly JD. Must be a worldwide sickfest. I feel more human today. Hope you're feeling more human soon! Tomorrow would be good :D

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Francesca on Feb. 16, 2010, 5:06 a.m.

I didn't know about the elderberry properties ... I made jam with them last summer (not a repeat)! On my list for this year I have elderberry flower syrup, and I'll add the berry concentrate if I can find a recipe. For cold and coughs I make linden flower tea (sweetened with linden honey). Hope you feel better.

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nicola@which name? on Feb. 16, 2010, 5:31 a.m.

renee, getting caught up (again!). ugh about the tenants! i hope you and the young ones feel better. i am with you on natural cold rememdies. i opt for salt gargles, lemon tea, water, salt spray in my nose, etc. enjoy the camping, your parents (how can you not?!), and little less online time. hugs, nicola http://whichname.blogspot.com

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exhale. return to center. on Feb. 16, 2010, 4:56 p.m.

i'm here to copy down your sick soup recipe and then you posted this. perfect. thank you.

now...can you post a recipe for how to stay sane when your three-year-old turns into a grumpy old man who finds every effort of nurturing you offer to be a reason to scream and yell and cry.

just kidding. poor little guy is hurting, but man is he asking me to "dig deep" in my patience well today.

glad you are all on the mend.

~erin

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