Less Pills & More Potions this Winter

10. Daily walks in the sunshine to receive my daily dose of Vitamin D

LUCKY 11. SLEEP HEALTH is VITAL to repairing our bodies –  sleep as much as you can when you’re feeling the sore throat come on – the body needs its sleep cycles to heal and repair physical AND psychological ailments within the body. Ever wondered why you need so much sleep after a traumatic event or feel exhausted? Because your body has to heal its physical but also psychological parts of us. I take rest when and where I can all year round but Winter is a important time. I sure love an afternoon nap! Even better if you can nap in the sun somewhere. I also like to diffuse or rub diluted lavender oil on my wrists or neck before I have a sleep to help promote sedative and calming properties.

And, here is bit more of information for you regarding the ingredients and properties of the things I have listed and why I use these especially during winter months to support my immune health.

Coconut Oil

Cuts, grazes, insect bites, pet wounds and blisters are all eased by using melted coconut oil on the skin. A natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, coconut oil will ease discomfort and help reduce swelling and redness around the injury. Coconut oil can be used in the mouth as an ease for gum disease and mouth ulcers, simply melt a tablespoon of it and swill around the mouth before spitting it out.

Honey

Has antimicrobial properties, which may allow it to fight some bacteria and viruses. Honey is effective in relieving coughing as a symptom of a cold in children over the age of 1 year. Children younger than 1 year should not have honey due to the risk of infant botulism.

People can try stirring some honey into hot water to soothe a sore throat or cough. Adding lemon provides extra flavour and vitamin C.

Garlic

Garlic may help fight off a common cold because it has antibacterial and antiviral properties.

in a study it was found that people who took a daily garlic supplement for 3 months had fewer colds than those in a placebo group. You can eat raw garlic, incorporate cooked garlic into meals, or take a supplement. Unless a person has a garlic allergy, it is usually safe to use.

Echinacea Tincture

Echinacea is incredible at increasing white blood cell functionality and quantity, it has shown that components of Echinacea may support the immune system. Some have antiviral properties and may fight against flu viruses.

It can be taken as a preventative medicine in the winter to protect you from infection to when the first signs of the cold appear.

Menthol

Blocked sinuses and congested airways are common symptoms of a cold, which menthol can help relieve. Menthol comes from many types of mint plant. It has antibacterial and pain-relieving effects and is an ingredient in many vapour rubs.

People can also add menthol to hot water for a steam inhalation.

Other researchTrusted Source found that vapour rub containing menthol, eucalyptus, and camphor significantly improved sleep in children and adults with cold symptoms. However, the researchers found that the risks could outweigh the benefits, as menthol can sting and irritate the skin.

Arnica 

Both herbal flowers possess natural healing properties. Arnica is effective for reducing bruises and is usually a cream or a gel. Calendula is brilliant at reducing eczema, helping assist in the healing of skin post-surgery and injury, and also eases allergic skin reactions.

Probiotics

Are live bacteria that support gut health and may help prevent people from getting colds or the flu. They can help protect the immune system against flu viruses. Probiotics are also present in many foods, including:

• cultured yogurt
• sauerkraut
• miso
• tempeh

Bone Broth

From Healthline.com

‘Animal bones are rich in calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, and other trace minerals — the same minerals needed to build and strengthen your own bones (1Trusted SourceTrusted Source, 2Trusted Source).

Fish bones also contain iodine, which is essential for healthy thyroid function and metabolism (3, 4Trusted Source).

Connective tissue gives you glucosamine and chondroitin, natural compounds found in cartilage that are known to support joint health. (5Trusted Source, 6Trusted Source).

Marrow provides vitamin A, vitamin K2, minerals like zinc, iron, boron, manganese, and selenium, as well as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids (7Trusted Source, 8Trusted Source).

All of these animal parts also contain the protein collagen, which turns into gelatin when cooked and yields several important amino acids (9Trusted Source, 10Trusted Source).

As the ingredients simmer, their nutrients are released into the water in a form your body can easily absorb.

Many people don’t get enough of these nutrients in their diet, so drinking bone broth is a good way to get more.’

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/bone-broth#vitamins-and-minerals

So based on my life on the road, these have all kept me blessed with good health all these years (for the most part – sometimes you just get struck down with a cold and the body needs the time to repair and produce new antibodies to help fight the bad guys so getting sick isn’t always a terrible thing for the body to experience). These Winter Wonders will keep you feeling good for most of the germy season of life.

I’d love to hear what else you add to your Potions kits.

Love of oneness and good health blessings to you,
Debs xxxx