A Healthy Terrain - Combating Colds, Viruses, and Bacteria

It never seems to fail that one of my children gets sick right at the end and right at the beginning of a school year. It is like clockwork. One week into the school year, the sniffles start and I bring out my arsenal of home remedies. The same happens right here at the end of the year too. So, it only seems fitting that I share all the ways I try to keep my family healthy with minimal sick days.

We cannot prevent all illnesses and honestly, we don’t want to. Enduring the common cold is a way for the body to flush out toxins and reset. But how do we create an internal environment that assists in shortening this dreaded process?

The first thing to do is prepare the body for battle with a strong defense. The prep work is in what we eat and what we expose ourselves to. Your immune system is your strongest line of defense. Keeping it strong requires eating a healthy diet.

Protein, complex carbohydrates, veggies, fruits, nuts, seeds, other healthy fats, herbs and spices build up your terrain to handle attacks.

Some of my favorite things to add to our weekly meals and their benefits:

Lemon – High amounts of Vitamin C, antimicrobial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory.

Turmeric – Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, supports white blood cells to fight off pathogens.

Onion – High in Vitamin C, antimicrobial, prebiotic fiber, high quercetin making it a powerful anti-inflammatory.

Garlic – Antioxidant, antimicrobial, has been shown to reduce the severity and shorten duration of colds and flu.

Oregano – Powerful antiparasitic, reduces severity and duration of cold and flu, antioxidant, balances gut flora and inhibits harmful yeast growth.

Apple Cider Vinegar (with the mother) – Antioxidant, support the gut microbiome, antimicrobial.

Jalapeño – High in Vitamin C, A, B6 and beta carotene, antimicrobial.

Cinnamon – Antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, supports the gut- boosting levels of protective antibodies.

**I also make a Fire Cider with these same ingredients as a remedy when anyone starts to feel unwell. I will put the recipe at the end of this article.

All healing starts in the gut. Fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, and kefir are natural probiotics. Pre, pro, and postbiotics are healthy bacteria that line the gut and help prevent bad bacteria from making a home in your body.

Limiting highly processed foods and sugar is a must to keep the body ready to fight off pathogens. Ingredients like gluten, pasteurized dairy, seed oils, and artificial sugars are highly inflammatory for the body. If the body is busy processing these inflammatory foods, it is already in a weakened state if a virus or bacteria is introduced.

Having a healthy and strong internal terrain will help shorten the duration and severity of an illness.

Should you find yourself under the weather, here are the things we use to alleviate symptoms.

Diffuse essential oils – This is especially helpful when dealing with respiratory issues. I like to diffuse eucalyptus.

Oscilliococinum – This is a homeopathic remedy for the flu and can be found in most grocery stores and pharmacies.

Fire cider – I keep this on hand throughout the year. Recipe at the bottom A word or warning, it takes a month to ferment, so start asap. It contains many of the foods listed above with a few others. It can be taken daily or just when you are feeling unwell. I usually make 4 jars at a time (one for each family member). They are good for a full year.

Mullein extract – A plant known for its respiratory benefits.

Nettie pot – A saline rinse used with warm water to clean the sinus passages.

Wally’s ear oil – One of my favorites and can be purchased on Amazon. This ear oil is packed with several antimicrobial oils. A few drops in the ear at night for 2-3 nights can help alleviate swollen lymph nodes, sore throats, and earaches.

Onion on the feet – Raw onion placed on the feet wrapped in a sock at night can help with congestion.

Vicks vapor rub – Sometimes preferable to the onion, (LOL), rubbed on the feet at night can help clear congestion.

Spiced Chai Tea – I make this tea to help with clearing up congestion and reducing coughs. Steep spiced chai in hot water, add apple cider vinegar, lemon, and honey to taste. Drink 2-3 times a day while sick. You can also use Ginger tea or Elderberry tea.

Ice pack – Reduce sinus inflammation.

Epsom salt baths – As hot as you can stand them. The Epsom salt helps draw out toxins and inflammation in the body.

Sauna - The steam helps with congestion and cough. Sweating draws out toxins through the skin shortening the duration of the illness. This can also be mimicked in a hot steam shower.

One of the biggest battles when fighting off illness is the battle of the mind. We can often succumb to a worse outcome by believing “this is the worst I’ve ever felt”. I am guilty of speaking these very words. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” Proverbs 18:21.

Our words are powerful. They carry frequencies that reverberate into our surroundings. We can speak life, “I am whole and healed, in the name of Jesus!” or we can speak death, “I am disabled and I will never get better.”

My friend, let me tell you that there is power and healing in the name of Jesus – physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.

“Cast your anxieties on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

Jesus cares when we are sick. Even if it is a cold. The Holy Spirit empowers those of us who have said “yes” to Jesus to overcome sickness, disease, and evil. (Mark 10:8, Luke 1:9, Romans 8:11). But your belief in this power matters! (Matthew 9:22, Luke 8:48)

When I start to feel a cold coming on or I see my children on the verge of sickness, I start declaring Jesus’ healing over their bodies. Like I said earlier, sometimes the body just needs a reset, but that does not stop me from declaring that God is our healer (Exodus 15:26). Often, the illness only lasts a few days, and they are back on their feet.

I believe that God has given us the power of His Word and His Spirit in addition to the bounty of foods, herbs, and spices for the purpose of health and healing. We can use these resources to build strong, healthy bodies that will prevent and fight off disease and illnesses when they come around.

“Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.” (3 John 1:2)

FIRE CIDER RECIPE

You will need:

·         32oz mason jar

·         Apple cider vinegar (with the mother)

·         ½ White onion

·         1 Jalapeño

·         5 cloves of Garlic

·         1/3 cup Horseradish root

·         1/3 cup Ginger

·         ½ Lemon (juice and zest)

·         1 TBSP of Cinnamon

·         1 TBSP of Oregano

·         1 TBSP of Turmeric

·         1 TBSP of Rosemary

·         Raw Local Honey

Combine everything into the 32oz mason jar EXCEPT the honey and apple cider vinegar. Once all foods, herbs, and spices are in the jar, pour the apple cider vinegar into the jar until the jar is full.

Place brown parchment paper over the mason jar and tighten the lid.

Place the mason jar in a cool, dark area for 30 days to ferment. Tilt the jar each day to mix ingredients.

After 30 days, use a fine strainer or cheese cloth to strain the liquid into a 16oz mason jar.

Add honey to the strained liquid – as much as you would like to make the taste tolerable.

You may discard the fermented remains or chop them up finely and dehydrate for a tasty spice rub or seasoning for veggies.

Use the Fire Cider in one of two ways:

Daily: 1 TBSP each day for gut health and immune support.

When sick: 2 TBSP daily for an immune boost until well.