Surviving the Sickness: Remedies to Get You Through
For half the month of June and the start of July, like many of my fellow co-workers, I was stricken with the plague. Obviously not the actual plague, but the way it ran through each of us and lingered, it may as well have been.
More often than not, I will try to choose the homeopathic route. It isn’t about being a “tree-hugger”, or “earthy, crunchy, granola”, despite numerous people making that assumption. Simply put, it’s about caring what goes into my body, and doing everything in my power to appreciate what I’ve been given.
But once in awhile, a sickness takes hold, and despite a never ending list of at home remedies, it lingers and wins. After over two weeks of non-stop coughing throughout the day and night, sore throat, fever, runny, stuffy, back to runny nose, I decided that pairing some western medicine with the at home remedies would be worth a try.
Diagnosed with bronchitis and a severe sinus infection, I began my trip down antibiotic lane and yes, the antibiotics helped. But pairing the antibiotics with the following remedies helped to ease the discomfort, all while aiding in my recovery. The next time you find yourself feeling under the weather, try my go-to’s for surviving the sickness.
- Usnea, “Old Man’s Beard“: If given the opportunity, I would rename this to “Miracle in a Bottle”. Originally given to me last winter, this clear liquid can be taken straight up, or mixed with juice (orange is the best). It contains ingredients that have been thought to help fight germs, inflammation, pain and fever. Keeping a bottle on hand and starting a healthy treatment of it a few times a day at the first sign of sickness has helped me in the past. You can purchase it online, or in your local health food store.
2. Texas Tea: This homemade drink has been saving my hide for over ten years. The recipe, given to me by a friends mom residing in Germany has guided me through countless colds and infections. Packed with Vitamin C, its citrus flavor is mild and sweet. For those with nut allergies, omit the almond extract and try substituting with a coconut extract instead.
8 c. Boiling Water
1 Lemon Sliced
Boil 5 minutes
*Meanwhile steep 3 tea bags in 2 c. hot water (Regular black tea such as Lipton works well, but feel free to get creative) then add to above with:
2 c. Orange Juice
1/2 c – 1 c. Lemon Juice
2 tsp. Almond Extract
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
Drink hot or cold. Mixture keeps well in the refrigerator for approximately 3 days but chances are it won’t last that long since it’s so delicious! This makes a great thermos drink for those days spent in an and out of the rink, or to combat the sickness that often takes hold during hockey season.
3. Young Living, Thieves Essential Oil: Diffuse it, mix it with a carrier oil and place in on your chest, neck, and soles of your feet. Or, my personal favorite, in a hot bath, mix 1 cup baking soda and 15-20 drops of Thieves and soak. The mixture helps to draw toxins out of your body, while soothing any aches and congestion that you may have.
Fun fact, mixing a few drops of Thieves essential oil with water in a spray bottle and spritzing your hockey gear is a must try. First, the smell is delicious, second, the mixture has antibacterial properties helping to skill a lot of the stink growing in your bag!
4. Honest Company, Breathe Easy Chest Rub: Perhaps I spent way too much of my childhood lathered in Vicks Vapor Rub, but the smell alone could bring on sickness. However, there is no denying that it quickly clears the sinuses, getting the job done. Cue the Breathe Easy Chest Rub for Honest Company — essentially a better smelling, calming version of old faithful. Made with essential oils, I used the rub on the soles of my feet, under my nose, rubbed into my glands and on my chest throughout my sickness and it really helped.
No one ever wants to be sick, but it is part of life. Hopefully these remedies will help aid you in your next cold or infection. Try one or try them all, I promise you wont be disappointed.
