I don’t know about you, but this winter is starting to get to me. I’ve spent my whole weekend sniffling, sneezing, and with a kleenex box never more than an arm’s length away. Though I get an Rx when I have to, I like to find natural ways to stave off cold and flu symptoms.

Everyone knows that you’re supposed to drink plenty of fluids when you’re under the weather. Why not make that fluid a piping hot cup of tea? There are many benefits to drinking tea when you’re sick, but the one that stands out to me now is that it helps keep your nasal juices flowing. I’m currently suffering from a lot of stuffiness, so anything that gets this mucous out of me is very welcome. My personal preference is lemon balm tea, and when I’m sick I’ll add some honey for the added anti-microbial benefits.
Other great tea options to try when you’re sick are ginger, mint, and lemon.

Another old world remedy that I’m a fan of is an Epsom salt bath. Epsom salt is a naturally occurring mineral compound that has many health benefits. The one I’m most interested in today is its cold-fighting power.

According to Dr. Theresa Ramsey, cofounder of the Center for Natural Healing in Arizona, soaking in an Epsom salt bath gets your body to start a process called vasodilation. This increases the level of white blood cells being produced in your body and gets rid of those cold symptoms quicker.
For those of you suffering from flu-related aches and pains, Epsom salt baths have been known to relax muscles and flush out lactic acid that can cause them to cramp up.

My good friend, Danielle Zies, is a nutritionist and holistic culinary expert so I like to badger her for health and nutrition advice.

She gave me a recipe she has for a super-powered cold-fighting smoothie. This little blended miracle is packed with vitamins, and she recommends we drink it throughout the winter to keep our immune systems in fighting shape.

Spicy Cold Busting Power Smoothie

2 cups water
1 asian pear
juice of 1 lemon
1 tbsp unpasteurized honey
a couple slices of FRESH ginger (as much as you can tolerate)
1 hand full mullberries
1 persimmon
2 handful of greens
a generous sprinkle of ground cayenne pepper

I hope these tips help kick your runny nose to the curb!

Be sure to check out Danielle’s website Simply Nourished for more ways to keep yourself healthy and nourished.