Ready to fight those nasty bugs with natural remedies already in your home that actually work?
I’ll be the first to admit it. As a young mom, I didn’t really understand the importance of natural remedies. At least not right away.
It’s interesting how your first instinct is to run to the store when someone in the house has a fever, a cold or a cough.
Heading straight to the cold/flu aisle and stocking up on NyQuil, DayQuil, Robitussin or even throat spray. You don’t give it a second thought. Maybe it’s because that’s how your parents handled sickness in your home growing up.
That was certainly the case in my house.
We had a medicine cabinet full of cough medicines, NSAIDs, cough drops, Pepto Bismol, you name it… we had it. I didn’t realize there was another way until I moved out of the house and became a mom myself.
The Power Behind Natural
Through a good friend and motherhood, my eyes were opened.
One wintry afternoon, my girlfriend invited us over for a playdate. As soon as we walked in, all the kids ran off to build race tracks together. She and I sat down with a cup of tea, hoping we could get a conversation in before one of us was needed. You know how that goes.
I remember we chatted for a bit, then her five-year-old son came into the room and said, “Mommy, my throat is scratchy and hurts so bad.”
She popped into the kitchen and came back with a teaspoon of something thick and syrupy. My initial thought was cough syrup. Then, her son belted out, “I looove honey!” and ran off to rejoin the race of monster trucks vs. bulldozers.
I was intrigued. I mean, I know honey is good for you, but straight up for a sore throat?
As soon as I returned home and got the kids down for a nap (not an easy task, as you probably already know if you’re a momma yourself), I sat down with my laptop and started googling natural remedies for sore throats. We all suffered from sore throats in our home, especially in the winter.
The results popped up, and I was seriously blown away!
Not only could I save money by skipping all those meds, but I had most of these ”remedies” already sitting in my cupboard.
So I went for it. I ditched the stash in my medicine cabinet and replaced it with raw organic honey, homemade cough drops, loose-leaf tea, essential oils, vitamins, and supplements. I also made sure lemons and garlic were always stocked in the fridge.
Best. Decision. Ever.
Deciding to treat my kids’ sicknesses naturally has completely transformed their health.
How does that happen? It’s simple. Their bodies are learning to fight off illnesses with natural support and this ends up strengthening their overall immune systems.
Natural support fuels their bodies with the good stuff and doesn’t harm them at all because there are no artificial syrups, dyes, flavors or weird ingredients whatsoever.
Now, my kids are rarely sick. I’m not even exaggerating. Everyone around us is stuck in bed sick, and my heart breaks for them. They don’t want to be sick. In fact, they’re exhausted from getting sick over and over.
If this is where you find yourself and your family, have hope. You can go natural and see results fast, and with time, your kids will get much healthier.
Top Benefits of Natural Remedies
Here are the top benefits of choosing natural remedies vs. conventional cold & flu treatment.
⏵ Saves You Money
Cold and flu season can be expensive. There’s medicine to “treat” every symptom, from headaches and nausea to congestion and sore throats. Don’t forget about sanitizer, and tissues, then tack on trips to the doctor (co-pays) that could result in prescription medicines (pharmacy expenses).
Whew, it adds up quickly.
Going natural saves you money.
Most of these natural remedies call for very inexpensive items, and you may even have them in your home right now. These remedies are effective as well, which means you’re less likely to end up in a doctor's office.
⏵ Easily Accessible
I’m sure you’ve heard about the medicine shortage crisis going on. It’s horrible for those truly needing medicine for their heart conditions, mental disorders, blood pressure issues, etc.
But for simpler issues such as colds or the flu, you won’t have to worry if the pharmacy shelves are empty.
When you have your natural arsenal built up and you’re ready for whatever hits your family, you won’t feel panicked about shortages. Instead, you’ll have peace knowing these natural approaches are easily accessible and your family will be taken care of.
⏵ Safe & Effective
Take a moment and look at the ingredients in DayQuil or even Children’s Cough Syrup. Google a few of those ingredients.
Scary, huh?
Well, there’s nothing to be fearful about when it comes to natural healing — there are no crazy side effects. The best part — they actually work! You’ll quickly realize you’re kicking this cold way faster than you did when choosing over-the-counter meds.
The benefits couldn’t be more crystal-clear on why a natural approach to sickness is way better for your overall health.
10 Best Natural Remedies
Now let's dig into these natural remedies so you can be prepared next time you or someone in your family starts to feel under the weather.
1. Water
Oftentimes, we miss the mark when it comes to hydration. I’m not talking about drinking a ton of Pedialyte or sports drinks, either. The truth is, those drinks are junk — all of them. Skip them. Stick with the basics: spring water or organic coconut water. Drink up! It’s key to healing and flushing out viruses.
2. Honey
The best cough and sore throat remedy out there hands down! Nothing beats honey. Our favorite way to take this — pour it on a spoon or directly in your mouth. Try to swallow slowly and allow it to coat your throat. It’ll immediately soothe an itchy, scratchy, irritated throat.
*Ask your pediatrician for dosage recommendations based on your child’s age.
3. Hot Herbal Tea
A warm cup of tea can help you heal fast by giving your body a powerful boost of nutrients and vitamins. The warmth also soothes sore throats and sinuses. Chamomile, Ginger, Peppermint, and my favorite — Immunity Infusion — are all great choices. If you like your tea sweet, use honey for an extra nutritional punch.
4. Elderberry Syrup
Elderberry has been shown to shorten the duration and symptoms of colds and the flu. It attacks viruses and effectively reduces inflammation. Most conventional elderberry syrups are full of preservatives and artificial ingredients. Skip the junk and grab USDA Organic Elderberry Syrup here. Be sure to use the intensive dosage instructions if you’re already sick.
5. Proper Rest
It’s essential to rest and sleep as much as your body tells you to all the time, but especially when you’re sick. Sleeping actually boosts your immune system by giving it time to heal without overworking. So, call off work if you can, ask your significant other to step in around the house, then crawl into bed and sleep it off.
6. Vitamin C
Vitamin C has also been shown to help shorten the duration of colds and the flu. It helps with immune function and boosts white blood cells (super important when fighting off bugs). Take 1,000 mg daily to keep yourself healthy, or up to 4,000 mg daily if you’re currently experiencing symptoms. You can get your recommended dosage from both foods and a trusted supplement.
7. Echinacea
Echinacea is a super herb! It works best when you take it at the very first sign of sickness. It acts as an anti-inflammatory and directly attacks fungus. You can take echinacea in supplement form or, my favorite — hot tea. Here’s my favorite brand of organic echinacea tea.
8. Zinc
Zinc has been shown to lessen symptoms of viruses. It’s thought to prevent viruses from multiplying and lodging in your throat (creating mucus and congestion). It’s important to stay within the recommended dosage of 50-100 mg daily — excessive amounts aren’t good for you.
9. Aromatherapy
Essential oils — I seriously couldn’t live without them. Specific types of oils can stop viruses in their tracks, allowing your body to step in and fight them off before spreading throughout your body.
Use them topically or diffuse them. Our favorites are peppermint, tea tree and eucalyptus oils.
Learn more about our line of essential oils here.
10. Bone Broth
This may be last on the list, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take this one seriously or use it as a last resort. Bone broth is sooo good for you.
There’s a reason chicken noodle soup has been a staple and cure-all since before you were even born. It works! Bone broth is high in protein and minerals. It’s soothing and replenishes your body with nutrients and hydration.
We hope you try all of these natural remedies the next time you or someone in your family gets sick. Stay consistent in using them, and allow your body to rest and recover. Have confidence in your decision to treat sickness naturally, you won’t regret it.
Get Healthy and Stay Healthy
Getting sick is not fun at all. Especially when it cycles through your family and seems to be never-ending. Missed days of school, work, playdates, family vacations… ugh. No, thank you.
A natural lifestyle has the power to transform how you feel and how you live — to help you live life every single day to the fullest.
Some of our natural products to help you get healthy and stay healthy:
- Soothing Elderberry Tea
- Essential Oil Rollers
- USDA Organic Elderberry Syrup
- Elderberry Gummies with Vitamin C & Zinc
Here at Elderberry Queen, we’re passionate about harnessing that power. We only use real and natural ingredients in our products because you and your family deserve the best. 🌿
