THREE SIMPLE AND EFFECTIVE HOME REMEDIES
Inside: A few of my favorite go-to remedies for all the cold and flu symptoms.
We are in the throes of winter, which inevitably brings sickness. While I’m convinced that a lot of wintertime sickness is a result of more sugar and less time outside, it still comes, and having tools on hand to care for your family is so important.
Now let me just say that I think Western medicine has its place and is definitely a blessing, but as traditionally trained RN, I also see the pitfalls of the medical system.
In our home, we prefer to try natural remedies first before taking over the counter medications. When I do use medication I like to use homeopathic remedies and have found them to be very helpful and effective. You can read more about my favorites to keep on hand in this blog post.
In this blog post I will share with you three very simple very effective remedies you can make at home, most of them for just pennies, using ingredients already in your pantry.

Elderberry Syrup
Elderberry syrup is incredible and my first line of defense against sickness. Elderberries are packed full of antioxidants and rich in Vitamins C and A. The are also anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-viral, making them a powerful immune system booster. Research has also suggested that supplementation with elderberry can shorten the severity and duration of symptoms.
With all of these incredible benefits, you can easily see why elderberry is my first line treatment for exposure to sickness or actual symptoms. We take it a couple of times a week in the winter to support our immune systems and increase our dosages when we have been exposed to illness or start to feel sick.
You can either make your own elderberry syrup or purchase pre-made syrups. Just be careful if you buy a pre-made elderberry syrup to check the sourcing and ingredients as many store-bought elderberry syrups contain lots of sugar, which is obviously not helpful.
I purchase my dried elderberries from Amazon and the make my own syrup using this recipe.
If for some reason you would rather purchase elderberry, I love this one from Earthley and use it for travel. You could also purchase elderberry syrup kits and make your own without having to source ingredients.
Either way, elderberry syrup is definitely something you want to add to your winter wellness stack.

Fermented Honey Garlic
While I have been using elderberry syrup for quite awhile, fermented honey garlic is something that I have just started using within the last couple of winters and I am sold on its effectiveness.
This one does take a little more forethought as the garlic and honey mixture needs to fermented (basically to sit at room temperature) for 3-4 weeks before being the most potent, but it is absolutely incredible at knocking out sore throats, boosting the immune system, and reducing symptoms of cold and flu.
Both honey and garlic have incredible anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties and together they pack a powerful punch against colds and viruses.
The honey garlic can be consumed on its own, just grab a spoonful and swallow it down, or you can mix it with other things. I will usually mix it with elderberry syrup and other tinctures and take it all together.
It is also delightful drizzled on fish or chicken just as a glaze. Check out a simple recipe here and be sure and let me know if yu have used this one or if you try it.

Garlic Salve
Garlic salve is as simple as it comes and with just three ingredients, likely already in your pantry, you can whip it up in no time.
I am somewhat new to garlic salve, but after making it out of desperation when we had ongoing coughs and congestion for several weeks, I am hooked. After several applications of this salve I could already feel the congestion in my chest breaking loose.
Garlic itself can help minimize cold symptoms and it is anti-bacterial and anti-viral. Coconut oil too, has many health benefits, including being anti-bacterial and anti-viral.
Garlic salve works well for things like coughs, congestion, and even ear infections! I love that it is so simple to make with real ingredients that I always have on hand.
That’s it, three simple and effective remedies to make at home. Have you tried any of these? Anything you would add to this list?
*Of course, this is not medical advice and you should always speak with a trusted healthcare professional about your healthcare concerns.
*Links above may be affiliate links, which just means that I may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through my links at no extra cost to you.