Every now and then, especially during the colder months, our body will undergo an immune response with the intention of purifying our system. Instead of only taking medicine that will mask our symptoms for hours at a time, we can support our body by offering it natural materials and remedies that support our immune health and overall bodily function.
Here are 5 natural remedies you can use at home to boost your immunity:
Lemon
This is the go-to remedy as soon as my throat starts to feel any type of way! Lemon is packed with Vitamin C which helps your immune system fight infections.
Lemons also fight congestion by breaking up mucus (making it easier for you to spit and snot it out) and also kills the bacteria that promotes the growth of mucus.
This remedy works best when you slice up a fresh lemon and squeeze some drops of the juice directly towards the back of your mouth/throat. Be sure to avoid your teeth in this process, as the acidity of lemon juice can cause damage to your teeth’s enamel and calcium.
Pepper
In Liberia when you’re sick, if anyone loves you they’re trying to figure out how to make you a hot bowl of pepper soup.
Hot peppers (such as the widely favored chili and habanero) have a natural anti-inflammatory oil inside of them called capsaicin. They also irritate the mucous membranes in a way that promotes the passage of mucous.
In my experience, adding the habanero or chili pepper to your favorite soup is the least painful way to do this remedy, but there is no way to avoid the burn completely—especially because feeling the burn is apart of the anti-inflammatory healing effects.
If you can’t handle hot peppers, try a sprinkle black pepper or cinnamon into your tea instead!
Immunity Herbs & Tea
Why wait until you’re sick to start supporting your immune system?! If your daily diet during the cold months includes foods and herbs that support your immune system, you’re less likely to get sick in the first place.
You can support your immune system by starting and ending your day with a hot herbal tea that promotes immune function and detoxification. Herbs of this class include:
- moringa
- echinacea
- peppermint
- ginger
- ginseng
- cinnamon bark
- cedar
- burdock root
- onion
If possible, avoid putting sugar or artificial sweeteners in your tea, as they promote the development of bacteria especially in your throat.
Incense
Over the years many scientific studies have confirmed this very important piece of indigenous knowledge: natural incense smoke is capable of purifying enclosed environments by killing pathogenic bacteria in the air.
Using smudging as a remedy works best when you are using an incense stick composed of natural ingredients, including but not limited to ingredients like sandalwood, charcoal, and essential oils like eucalyptus and lavender.
So if you’ve been coughing and sneezing all over your room, make sure to burn a natural incense to decrease the presence of pathogens and also to prevent the people you share common spaces with from contracting whatever you have.
Prayer
Prayer or incantation is an important aspect of indigenous natural medicine practices. It is standard, especially in Africa and its diaspora, when using natural plant material for healing to pray over those materials and speak to them with instruction. Everything works more effectively with intention.
Which one of these are you going to try first? Let us know in the comments! Happy healing!
Photos credit: Nappy.co