It’s Time to Stock Up On the BEST Natural Cold and Flu Remedies!

It’s that time of year again! Fall and winter are almost here (thank goodness, I am so sick of the heat!), so it’s time to think about stocking up on immune support. The last few winters brought a shortage of elderberries so I have personally been thinking about stocking up early. So I figured I would make a new post about all of the BEST cold and flu remedies.

Now I know that people don’t only get sick in fall and winter, but it is definitely the most popular time of year to talk about all of the illnesses that are going around. Plus, we’re in the time that kids are going back to school which is DEFINITELY a time where colds start getting passed around.

If you are one that is constantly catching every single bug that is going around, the best start is to address your diet. Obviously, we want to always aim for a clean, real foods diet but it is especially important to follow this to keep your immune system strong. Refined sugars, fake foods, and artificial sweeteners are foreign invaders to the body and will not help strengthen your health at all.  Fresh fruits and veggies, grass-fed meats and dairy, lots of grass-fed butter and coconut oil and real sweeteners (used moderately) are part of an ideal diet.

The BEST Natural Cold and Flu Remedies to Stock Up On

• Elderberry Syrup: Elderberries are one of the best immune boosters out there.  There is a lot of evidence that elderberry syrup is so strong that it is an effective treatment for the flu!  Elderberries are high in vitamin C, which we know is a crucial nutrient for immune health.  Elderberries are anti-inflammatory but they have a laxative, diuretic, and expectorant properties. You can get a printable form of the recipe here. You can buy syrup pre-made, but it is much more affordable to buy the supplies yourself. A whole pound of elderberries (which will make many batches of syrup) is the same price as a small portion of pre-made syrup. 
• If you find it hard to use Elderberry syrup, you can also use a tincture! This one from Earthley is one of the best I have been able to find since it has the herbs that are synergistic to elderberry as well.
• Earthley’s Feel Better Fast tincture is also incredible!
• Cod Liver oil: Vitamins A and D are absolutely crucial for immune health. There is so much focus on vitamin D these days, but vitamin A is likely an even more common deficiency. Cod liver oil has the BEST ratio of these 2 vitamins, especially when it is a good quality product. My favorite CLO is NutraPro. It is the best value and best quality. You can snag a bottle here, and save 10% with the code SASSY at checkout.
• Vitamin C: Vitamin C is a very important nutrient for immune health but we have been lied to about what true vitamin C is.  90% of the supplements you will see out there that have “vitamin C” on the label are really ascorbic acid which is just the shell of the vitamin C complex. . Read all about whole food C here.  Ascorbic acid can actually cause copper deficiency while whole food vitamin C supports proper copper balance.  Copper is an antioxidant and another nutrient that is needed for proper immune health. I love Synergy Pure Radiance for a supplement, and Earthley has an amazing whole food C as well. Perfect Supplements now has a pure Acerola powder too (you can use the code SASSY for 10% off as well!).
• Fire Cider: This is some STRONG stuff! You can find recipes for fire cider all over natural health sites, so I recommend finding one that appeals to you. Usually, this concoction includes garlic, onions, apple cider vinegar and some hot peppers and you take a small dose each day to help with preventing infections. I like this one from Herbal Academy.
• One of my favorite things to keep around just in case we end up with a cold is the Seasonal Sampler teas from Traditional Medicinals.  This box includes Echinacea Plus, Gypsy Cold Care, Throat Coat, and Breathe Easy.  My favorites are the first two (and they do have their own boxes of each of these- it’s usually just easier to find the sampler box in stores).
• Herb Pharm also has many things specific for immune support: tinctures for adults and for kids, and even this spray!
• Oscillococcinum homeopathic is the best overall remedy for the flu. They also have Coldcare which is great for more milder colds.
• Chest Clear from Urban Moonshine is a strong remedy that can be used for chest congestion! This is truly an amazing remedy. They also have Immune Zoom which is yet another awesome cold/flu supporter.

Elderberry Elixir is amazing support for preventing sickness!

How to Keep your Immune System Strong Naturally

We are all responsible for our own health and wellness. There are SO many things that can contribute to a weak immune system. Here are some big tips to follow to keep your immune system strong and healthy.  The above suggestions are excellent to have on hand for acute situations, but these tips below are for everyday health and wellness.  You can reduce your chances of getting sick by taking care of yourself as best you can!

• Eat REAL foods.
• Reduce the amount of GMOs, artificial ingredients, and unhealthy sugars (corn syrup, non-organic sugar) that you consume.
• Work on nourishing your body with a variety of foods.
• Heal your gut and liver to increase nutrient absorption.
• Support your lymph system since it plays a HUGE role in immune health.
• Work on protecting yourself from too much EMF exposure.
• Be outside as often as you can! Ground yourself, sit in nature, and take a break from the stuffy indoor air.
• Spend time with loved ones.
• LAUGH! Laughing is amazing for the immune system.
• Use herbs and foods that are amazing for immune health (as tolerated): Ginger, garlic, cinnamon, citrus fruits, elderberry, echinacea, nettle leaf infusions, fire cider, and there are SO many more out there
• Work on underlying traumas as this can suppress the immune system.
• Don’t fall into fear traps. This can also include scary movies and shows- be aware of how your body feels when watching things that are meant to scare you! As we heal we often can’t tolerate watching anything that gives us such a stress response.

 

The Best Books For Immune Health Information

If you’re wanting to learn more about natural health and more specifically how to keep your immune system healthy, these books are amazing. They’re great to keep on hand for acute issues and they are very informative.

 

One of the BEST books on natural remedies for viruses!

Buhner has an amazing collection of helpful books.

Homeopathy is incredible for acute care situations!

Kristin

Welcome to Sassy Holistics! My name is Kristin, and I'm a Holistic Health Coach. I've been on the path to help people achieve better health using whole food nutrition, mineral balancing, and holistic healing principles for almost 7 years now.

The body is a whole and we must treat it as such! I have my Bachelor of Science in Natural Health Sciences, certificates in Herbal Studies from Herbal Academy, and I am constantly learning more about health to help my clients and followers.

My goal is to help you unleash your own inner healer! You already hold the power to heal inside you. My role is as a guide to help you realize this potential.