Natural Remedies 101

Preventing is always more beneficial than treating, so treat your body good from the inside out before you get sick to reduce your chances of coming down with something cruddy. Life does happen sometimes, and we might just all get sick once or twice. If you do, these natural remedies are here for you. We will update this list as we learn more and include recipes for anything we find. Make sure you save this or pin it so you’ll always have it.

If you have any of your own homemade natural remedies, leave us a comment and we will add it to our list.

Natural Remedies 101

Let’s face it, none of us want to leave the house when we are sick. I am typically bundled up in sweatpants with my slippers, a box of tissues, water, and some chocolate (it’s healthy). This get up is too embarrassing to leave the house. Not for me, but my wife gets embarrassed and I am interested in staying married. Using things already in your home and try to keep them in stock. Preventing is always more beneficial than treating, so treat your body good from the inside out before you get sick to reduce your chances of coming down with something cruddy.

I try to keep all the following things in surplus in our house for these natural remedies and life in general. Here is a list of things you should have/need for these remedies. Click on the item to see my favorite one or get a deal or free one.

• Dark Chocolate (88% or up)
• Ginger (fresh or ground)
• Garlic (fresh or ground)
• Ceylon Cinnamon (Ceylon has health benefits, others are cheap)
• Coconut Oil (Free one at this link)
• Apple Cider Vinegar
• Honey
• Hot Tea (throat coat)
• Oil of Oregano
• Elderberry Extract
• Collagen Peptides
• Bone Broth (Free Broth at this link)
• Castor Oil and Wool Flannel (30 uses)

Curb that Cough (Chocolate)

1. Dark Chocolate – One of my favorite natural remedies. Yes you read that right, dark chocolate. We are not talking about Hershey bars here, but high-quality dark chocolate. Researchers found that chocolate’s theobromine compound is more effective than codeine at suppressing persistent coughs without the side effects of drowsiness and constipation.

Bye Nausea (Ginger)

1. Ginger – Fresh ginger is loaded with tons of antinausea properties. Ginger’s antinausea properties are particularly effective during pregnancy or after surgery but anyone can benefit from its power. I love to boil fresh ginger with lemon and honey to sip on like tea.

Fight that Sore Throat (Garlic)

1. Garlic – Is a butt kicking natural antibiotic, antibacterial, and anti fungal. It can tackle almost any illness. Gargle twice daily with a solution of six pressed garlic cloves mixed into a glass of warm (not hot) water. Follow the regimen for 3 days. The warm liquid soothes inflamed tissue. (Pregnant women should not take more than 1 clove of garlic medicinally per day)

Spice up your life (Cinnamon)

1. Ceylon Cinnamon – Cinnamon is beneficial as it contains anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties. There are numerous ways to help you use it when sick, these are just a few.
   • Make a Flu Bomb. Mix 1 teaspoon of honey with a 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon and take it twice a day until you feel better
   • Calm a scratchy cough with a cinnamon-infused drink: Soak cinnamon sticks in cold water for several hours, then sip. This beverage contains mucilage, a water-soluble fiber that coats and soothes the throat

The Oil to Fix it all (Coconut Oil)

1. Coconut Oil – Coconut oil helps to dissolve and destroy the lipid coating around some viruses and make them more susceptible to attack by the immune system. Whether sick or not, aim for 5-6 tablespoons per day in your diet. You can cook with it, add it to smoothies, stir it in your coffee or eat it by the spoonful. Coconut oil has hundreds of health benefits and is the king of all natural remedies.

This apple is better at keeping the doctor away (Apple Cider Vinegar)

1. Apple Cider Vinegar – We are not going to be friends after this, but I promise you will feel better. Apple Cider vinegar tastes horrible, but it works. Just remember the illness or bacteria in your body won’t like it either, so they die.
   • Mix 1 tablespoon with water, gargle and then drink at the first sign of any illness. Repeat hourly until your symptoms disappear. You can also include a little honey to sweeten this up which we will cover next. Apple Cider vinegar helps kill viruses and bacteria, I think because they can’t stand the way it tastes either.

Making you sweeter with a Hug in a Mug (Raw Honey)

1. Raw Honey – The majority of honey on store shelves is highly processed, laced with fillers and isn’t pure honey. I recommend only using organic raw honey that is unpasteurized. You get the most nutrients out of raw honey making it more effective at boosting your immune system and warding off viruses. The best raw honey you can get is local and if not, buy it from Thrive Market where I trust the source.
   • Honey can be used as a homemade cough remedy a few ways. Just like the flu bomb picture above, combine 1 teaspoon raw honey with 1/4 teaspoon Ceylon cinnamon and consume twice a day.
   • I also love to make a homemade hot beverage using honey, lemons, ginger, and water. I call it my Hug in a Mug tea and you can see it below.

The Lazy but acceptable way (Throat Coat)

1. Throat Coat – Our go to emergency feel better medicine is Traditional Medicinals Organic Throat Coat Lemon Echinacea tea. I am here to help you feel better, not preach how you should make everything at home. This tea is delicious and highly addictive, but you can only have a maximum of 3 per day. Our hug in a mug tea, on the other hand, you can drink as much as you want. I was sick for nine days straight and sustained on just the hug in a mug tea.

Oregano isn’t just for pizza (Oil of Oregano)

1. Oil of Oregano – Oil of oregano is strong, that is your disclaimer. It is known for its antifungal and antiviral properties and is used for a wide array of ailments. Everything from GI problems, cold sores, a sore throat, and even an insect repellent. Warning, it is really potent and should always be diluted. It’s also intended for short-term use only. For a sore throat or congestion, add a few drops in water or juice.
   • We take 8 ounces of water, add 5 drops of oil of oregano and 25-30 drops of elderberry extract (mentioned below). We gargle the first 3-4 sips before swallowing and then drink the remainder of the water. Do this twice a day.

A new berry you need (Elderberry Extract)

1. Elderberry Extract – Elderberry extract prevents the flu virus from penetrating the membranes of healthy cells and boosts the immune system. We always pair our elderberry extract with oil of oregano to make a potent health bomb. Mix 25-30 drops with the oil of oregano above to start feeling better immediately.

Getting beautiful from the inside out (Collagen)

1. Collagen -Collagen is the glue that holds a body together, and we would quite literally fall apart without it. Between 25 and 33 percent of a person’s body and more than 80 percent of a person’s skin is comprised of collagen. I did a huge write up on what collagen is and why you need it, which I recommend you reading. I believe in prevention, and use collagen every day as part of your routine will help you maintain a healthy lifestyle.
   • We take one scoop of the collagen peptides (blue lid) and add it to our coffee, water, smoothies and sometimes our food. The collagen peptides are both cold and warm water soluble and tasteless. I am picky, it really is tasteless.
   • WARNING – There is another brand of collagen that claims to be grass-fed and finished and they are not. DO NOT BUY Great Lakes. Only buy Vital Proteins.

We don’t eat bones, but we do need to drink it (Bone Broth)

1. Bone Broth – There are countless health benefits from drinking any nutrient-rich bone broth. It’s even easy to make at home using my easy bone broth recipe. For anyone who is not a Thrive Market member yet, you can get a Free container of Bone Broth delivered to your door using this link. Whether you are sick or not, bone broth needs to be a part of your daily regime.
   • If you struggle with just drinking it, sneak it in your own diet by making soup out of it. I just got my wife to eat bone broth which she hates by making her paleo chicken soup.

Detox, Detox and Detox (Castor oil Packs)

1. Castor Oil and Wool Flannel – Castor oil packs have been said to help improve liver detoxification naturally, support uterine and ovarian health, improve lymphatic circulation and reduce inflammation. There is tons of science on this, most of which I can’t quote actually so you can read for yourselves. We use these in our home often and full support them. Below are instructions on how to use them.
   • Source 1 – Castor Oil Packs
   • Source 2 – Used to induce Labor
   • Souce 3 – Lots of Benefits
2. Besides a detox, castor oil can be used a few other ways:
   • Apply directly to your skin for dryness, rashes, hives, infections, warts, etc. Gently rub castor oil for one minute. Do this up to 2-3 times a day until the problem disappears.

What you will need:

• Castor Oil
• Cotton Flannel or wool (unbleached and dye free)
• Plastic wrap
• Heating Pad
• Glass container with lid (mason jar)
• Old towels or sheets (castor oil stains)

1. The glass container with lid (mason jar) is to store the soaked flannel in between uses. You can use one flannel 30 times before needing to be replaced.
2. Carefully prepare the area where you are doing this to avoid making a drastic mess. Castor oil WILL stain so make sure you are prepared in case it leaks or drips.
3. Place the piece of flannel in a large dish.
4. Drizzle castor oil over the flannel until it is saturated.
5. Plug in your heating pad and turn it on medium.
6. Lie down and place the saturated castor oil flannel on the ride side of your abdomen, directly against your skin.
7. Wrap your body with the plastic wrap to hold the castor oil pack in place.
8. Place the heating pad on top of the plastic wrap on top of the castor oil pack.
9. Lie down for 1-2 hours to complete your detox.
10. When done, remove your castor oil pack and wipe down your abdomen with an old towel.
11. Store your castor oil pack in your glass jar until next usage.

Hug in a Mug Tea

George Bryant (Civilized Caveman)

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Servings 1

Ingredients

  

• 2 cups water
• 1 inch piece of ginger peeled and chopped
• 1 organic lemon cut in half and juiced
• 1 tablespoon raw honey

Instructions

 

• In a small pot over medium heat, combine your water, ginger, lemon and honey
• Simmer for 5-10 minutes and then strain into a jar
• Enjoy