Quick Home Remedies to Your Rescue

The weather has taken a turn and the temperature's been dropping, on the Northern hemisphere, at least. The changing of seasons always challenges the body more and even if you're not affected by it we all see more people fight a cold, catch the flu, or just develop a small cough or sneeze. In fact, so many people are sick where I work that the medical team started giving out face masks (yes, I'm serious!!!) so that people who come in with a cough can contain their germs.

Chances are, you can find all the medicine you need right in your kitchen. What do you reach for when you're "under the weather" or "got the chills", or have a sore throat or, not to mention, the "flu hit you like a truck"? Running to the doctor and/or the pharmacy for drugs is the common thing to do but is that the solution??? That depends on what we try to accomplish. Your produce basket, pantry, cabinets, etc. are guaranteed to have one or many of these ancient remedies that will help you prevent getting sick. And if it is too late for avoiding getting a cold because you have a runny nose, achy body, and maybe even a sore throat already, then these will come to your rescue and help relieve your symptoms.*

Ready for the list of the "True & Tried"?...

Garlic
The healing properties of allicin and diallyl sulphides and the warm energy that is present in these little cloves are to be treasured. Eating lots of garlic helps prevent colds but if it already hit you and it's too late for prevention, try crushing and eating a whole clove or two mixed into something, adding it to salad dressing, for example. It's hard on an empty stomach but if you're ready for it you may "down" an entire crushed clove by itself. I've done it and it works wonders very fast. As an alternative, you can add some to your regular veggie juice ingredients. Garlic is a natural antibiotic and cheap medicine to keep around the house.

Garlic Expectorant - For a Stuffy Nose and Congested Chest
You'll need:
3-4 cloves of garlic
little bit of crushed chili pepper / pinch of cayenne
1/4 cup honey
optional: 1 tsp of lemon juice

Use a garlic press or crush and chop the garlic very finely, chop the pepper very finely, and mix all of the ingredients into a thick paste.
Take a spoonful at a time, as often as desired throughout the day. Hold it at the back of your tongue to coat your throat, for a few seconds if your comfortable enough.

Ginger 
This medicinal root is full of warming energy, can increase circulation, promote healthy sweating, helps detoxify the body and has anti-imflammatory properties. A true treasure to keep at home at all times.
Add a piece to your juice ingredients or if you're ready for it, juice ginger by itself and take a ginger shot whenever you start feeling the onset of a cold. You may also grade it and squeeze the juice out of your gratings using a cheesecloth. It's especially helpful to take a hot shower or bath, drink a cup of hot water with ginger juice in it, and wrap up in blankets in bed. If done quickly enough you can heal yourself overnight. The cold will run its course so fast.

Lemon
A citrus of wonderful aroma, this sour fruit has healing powers that will come to your rescue. Its high levels of vitamin C will help boost your immune system and its antiviral and antibacterial qualities will help you in the healing process.

Drink freshly squeezed lemon juice (note: if your throat is very torn up already, this will not be pleasant) or add some to tea or your salt water gargle.

Honey
Before I get to its benefits...
*NOTE: Before you purchase any kind of honey make sure of its source. You need to know the true story behind the product. Ask the farmer questions, ask the salesperson at the grocery store, etc. There's a huge difference between abusing bees and stealing all of the fruit of their hard work, transporting them to pollinate other crop over the winter vs. providing them with a home permanently, caring for them, and taking only a portion of their honey. Should you even consume honey? It's a tough call and only you can decide for yourself. You can use just a little bit if you choose to and always do your research of the source. That's my two cents...  
While not vegan, many raw food enthusiasts, including me, use honey occasionally as a sweetener, applied to the skin, etc.
Besides its inviting flavor and natural sweetness, this amazing food is rich in enzymes and has antibacterial and healing properties, which are difficult to compete with. It shouldn't be a surprise that it's made it to the "home remedies list"!

The "Warm-You-Up" Tea
~1 in (2-3 cm) piece of ginger
juice of 1 lemon
honey
1 large cup of hot water
optional: pinch of cayenne

Grate the ginger and squeeze out the juice. Mix all the ingredients for a warming cup of tea.

Activated Charcoal Powder
This is a substance that is so versatile that an entire book could be filled with its uses and what it can do for your health as well as the fun stuff you can do with it in DIY projects, cleaning, etc.
While some people use it as a daily detox, simply taken mixed in water or as "Black Lemonade" - pictured below - you can take it if you have an upset stomach, digestive issues, diarrhea or even sore throat. One way of using it to relieve a sore throat is by mixing some of the powder with honey and putting the mixture under the tongue to let it slowly release (and be swallowed). This helps remove all the "stuff", germs, etc. that are clinging to the throat and the digestive lining and causing the discomfort. Make sure to use only FOOD GRADE activated charcoal with NO ADDITIVES!
Schizandu Organics has the purest version at a very reasonable price and it also comes with an eBook  guide with recipes and explanations of many uses.

You can get it on there website:
https://schizandu.myshopify.com/products/specially-milled-food-grade-activated-charcoal-powder?variant=30030006980

And on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Activated-Charcoal-Detoxification-Whitening-Digestive/dp/B01BOFPW34/ref=sr_1_13_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1481501382&sr=8-13&keywords=activated+charcoal

Make the Black Lemonade by mixing:
glass of pure water
juice of 1 lemon
1 tsp - 1TBSP activated charcoal powder
1 tsp - 1 TBSP maple syrup (or other favorite sweetener)

Drink it to relieve digestive discomfort, hangovers, for daily detox, or during a cleanse, etc.

Oregano oil
Due to its very intense aroma and strong flavor, a drop goes a long way! A natural antibiotic with antibacterial and antiviral qualities, it's the perfect ingredient to add to your salad dressing or even add a drop to your tea. As I mentioned, it's very strong, and might even be too hard on your stomach when consumed so experiment with it mixed with other food or putting some in a capsule, if you wish, and avoid taking it on an empty stomach!!!

MY favorite is Oreganol....the wild stuff, that's also non-GMO! It can be pricy but it's worth it and  you can get it here:
https://www.shop.northamericanherbandspice.com/product/oreganol-p73-1-fl-oz/

And on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/North-American-Herb-Spice-0-45-Ounce/dp/B00012NJ4G/ref=sr_1_7_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1481502302&sr=1-7&keywords=oregano%2Boil&th=1


Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)
Gargle with diluted ACV or make a tea by mixing a cup of hot water with a spoonful of vinegar and a spoonful of honey to soothe a sore throat.

I use Bragg's...my favorite. They are RAW, unfiltered and with the mother!!....which is what you want to get so that you have as much of the probiotics as possible!

You can get it on their website here:
http://bragg.com/zencart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=9&zenid=ck21g6b5rkkh72o3hm0a7dbp81

And on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Bragg-Organic-Apple-Cider-Vinegar/dp/B001ID6MIC/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1481501852&sr=8-3-fkmr1&keywords=barges%2Bapple%2Bcider&th=1


Carrot-Apple "Throat-Soother"
1 medium carrot
1 medium apple
juice of 1 lemon
generous amount of honey

Grate the carrot and the apple and, in a bowl, mix them with the lemon juice and the honey. This is a very delicious recipe for a snack too and is full of throat-soothing qualities. I highly recommend giving it to kids who will take this much easier than anything else due to the sweet, "yummy" factor! My grandma and mom both made this for me when I was a little kid and I loved it. The good news is, you don't even have to wait to get sick, you can just try it for dessert one day when there's no chocolate cake around ; )

Cayenne Pepper
I love spicy foods. One of my favorites to heat up a meal is cayenne. I add some to my dressing, to soups, etc. Yes, it's hot and that heat provides a lot of warming energy by speeding up your circulation. It's also a decongestant, an expectorant, and a food very high in immune-system-boosting vitamin C.
The capsaicin in hot peppers also acts as a pain reliever and it helps increase  your metabolic rate (great for weight loss support). As cayenne is a also a vasodilator, it increases blood flow (lower blood pressure) and stimulates absorption (deliver nutrients to your cells).
You can always keep some of the ground version at home for times when the peppers are not in season.

Sea Salt
Much better for your health than ordinary table salt, sea salt is wonderful to gargle with for soothing a sore throat.
Gargle with warm water with a little bit of sea salt dissolved in it. You'll be immediately relieved of the pain at the back of your throat. Repeat as necessary.

Medicinal Mushrooms
Especially for prevention, mushrooms of all sorts made into tea, extracts, tinctures, etc. are great to take periodically for boosting your immune system. To be accurate, they're immune system modulators, and since they are tonic herbs you can take them on a regular basis. Try the Reishi tea described here, for example. As always, start with small amounts with new-to-you herbs and medicinal mushrooms.

...And don't stop at your pantry / fridge. Taking hot baths or showers or sitting in a sauna can make a whole world of difference. You'll warm up, the steam will help you decongest, and if you bundle up and wrap up in a blanket immediately you might just sweat out all of your discomfort in one session. Worth a try, doesn't it?

Stay healthy!

*Keep in mind that these remedies, while they're beneficial to your body and overall health, are just for helping with your symptoms. All disease, whether it's a mild cold or a degenerative disease you're suffering from, is a sign of obstruction in the body that needs to be addressed for true healing.

Schizandra for Balance

I love new, I'm all about it. I get so excited every time we go to my favorite local health food store and always head to the "herbs and teas" department to see what I should try out next. It's not about the new flavors, the potential health benefits, the new recipes I get to come up with. It's all of it and more; it's that it's new and different : )
This time I didn't get to actually make this tea right away but here are results. It's absolutely delicious. A hint of something from the past, something I can't name but know I've had the pleasure of tasting before, a sour, astringent experience. Nothing like the "ok, I made a cup of this because I heard it's good for me and now I'm going to hold my nose shut and down it and then reward myself with a slice of cake"…or anything similar. No. It's so delicious that I would happily trade water for it and live on this tea! So besides the flavor, what does it have to offer?

Schizandra
The plant Schisandra chinensis is native to northeastern China and the eastern United States. In herbal medicine, the berries are used to make an infusion or tea.
It is claimed to be an adaptogen to balance body functions, blood sugar and blood pressure, improve mental capabilities and physical performance, increase stamina, support adrenal glands, and help treat liver diseases. As if this list was not impressive enough, it's said to be beneficial for visual acuity, field of vision, and tactile sensitivity. There are certain conditions highlighted in this wonderful book* (available in the herbs and teas section of the store) for which these berries may be very helpful:
Cancer -  if you or someone you know is receiving chemotherapy with doxorubicin, this herb can be used for protecting the heart muscle.
Liver diseases - supposedly one of the most useful treatments for liver ailments, Schizandra may protect from the progression of cirrhosis to liver cancer, protect from chemical damage, in particular, ones that have to be activated by the liver to become poisonous. Through being such an effective supporter of the liver, it can help offset damage caused by hepatitis, HIV/AIDS, prevent this vital organ from inflammation, and speeds up recovery from liver surgery.
Depression - active compounds in schizandra help relieve or reverse depression in the central nervous system.

The good news is, you don't have to make tea every day to reap these benefits. Most of us will not have the time, right? You can find schizanda as capsules and tinctures as well if you wish to take it as a supplement.

Warning:
Do not use this herb,
- during pregnancy because it may induce labor
- if you have gallstones or blockages of the bile ducts, because this herb increases the flow of bile
- if you suffer from ulcer, epilepsy or high blood pressure

How is it consumed?
You can simply eat the dried berries, make an infusion by soaking them in some juice and drink that after straining, or make tea, like I did.

Schizandra tea
If you make tea and you stick with a raw foodie's principles you'll want to be gentle and make sure you don't exceed ~160 F / 70 °C. Just simmer a pint or so water and 1-2 tablespoons of berries, or a gallon of water with a cup of berries, etc, depending on how much you want to make. Steep it for half an hour to an hour, strain, and drink. Refresh!

I'll be sharing the next fascinating find soon...















*Prescription for Herbal Healing: An Easy-to-Use A-Z Reference to Hundreds of Common Disorders and Their Herbal Remedies, by Phyllis A. Balch

Miraculous Reishi Tea

Since my recent move to the Bay Area, many people tell me I'm so lucky. One of the reasons is that this is "superfood heaven" and I have access to a myraid of goods that health freaks like me obsess over. Still, I didn't expect a find such as this one. I have never (that I know of) seen Reishi mushrooms before but the other day I came across some at a San Francisco health food store and screamed! I couldn't believe it. Needless to to say I couldn't leave without putting one in the basket. Reishi is known for exceptional health benefits and has been used for thousands of years in Chinese medicine. This is NOT the kind of mushroom you add to soups or stews. It is consumed as a hot water extract, or tea, and should be treated as medicine.

Health Benefits
This miraculous fungus is ever so touted for its anti-tumor activities. Like mushrooms in general it can be used to boost your immune system and both, for preventing tumor growth or the formation of cancer cells and for treating them or inhibiting their further development Reishi could come to your rescue. It's also valued for its ability to help balance blood sugar levels and lower blood pressure.

Preparations
The question of course is how to get a cup of tea out of this hard, wood-like thing? A grater worked for me pretty well. It takes some work but it doesn't take much to get a teaspoon/tablespoon of it. Of course, the alternative is buying some in a sliced or powder form.

1 teaspoon ground Reishi
2-3 cups of water

Simmer it all for a few hours turning the heat on for a couple of minutes at a time while letting the mushroom steep. Whenever it starts cooling off you can give it some more heat. If you don't mind boiling it and keep simmering it, you're welcome to do that. If you are a strict raw foodie you'll want to be gentle and make sure you don't exceed ~160 F / 70 °C. Even though I eat some cooked food every now and then (and beat myself up over it) I prepared it by intermittent short simmer sessions.
You should end up with a cup of tea or so left once it's done.
Strain it and enjoy by itself or to help the somewhat bitter and strong woody, mushroom taste add some of your favorite sweetener. If you have cancer, I recommend consuming it by itself or maybe mixed with other teas but try not adding any sweeteners. Get stronger, heal faster.