Throw the Tylenol and NyQuil Away. Fight Sickness the Natural Way.

Herbal tinctures, supplements, and an ancient recipe to help you feel better.

I’m currently writing this newsletter from the passenger seat of a little red rental car somewhere in the middle of Oklahoma. On Friday, Sebastian and I embarked on a road trip from Arizona to Pennsylvania with our two golden doodles.

Of course, I woke up sick just a few days earlier. It’s that time of year when everyone seems to be catching something.

Luckily, I don’t have the flu, or the dreaded virus, just a head cold. But it’s still not fun, especially when sitting in a car for two days straight.

On Wednesday, when I woke up sick, I immediately went for all of my favorite herbal remedies in my home apothecary. This included all of my favorite tinctures from Wish Garden Herbs, tea from Drink Symbi, Cybiotika vitamin C packets, propolis, and my homemade fire cider.

Why did I turn to each of these remedies? For one, they’re natural. I don’t have to worry about chemical cocktails that I’m putting in my body in the form of NyQuil and Aspirin. Second, they work with the body rather than against it.

For example, did you know you actually shouldn’t take Ibuprofen when you get a fever? A fever is the body’s inflammatory response to fighting off infection. Fevers are actually a good thing. They mean your immune system is activated. When we take anti-inflammatories, we signal to the body not to fight against sickness.

Natural remedies give your body the support it needs to do its job. Let’s break down what each one does.

WishGarden Herbs

If you aren’t familiar with this company, they are an herbal formulation company, one of the first of its kind. They are women and family owned and have been around since 1979. I first discovered them in Austin, Texas when I had COVID and was looking for something to help me feel better before visiting my family for the holidays. I found their Kick-Ass Immune Activator (which is now a medicine cabinet staple) in a local co-op store and have been hooked on their products ever since.

Hoarse Whisperer Spray

This spray consists of herbs that moisten irritated, dry throats. If it hurts to talk, this is a great thing to take. It’s made of honeysuckle Japanese flower, sage leaf, marshmallow root, thyme, bee propolis (which we will talk more about), and a few other herbs. I sprayed it a few times on the back of my throat that first day I was sick and the swelling was gone the next morning.

Kick-Ass Sinus

This tincture helps support healthy mucus, clears the sinuses, and improves immune function. For this one, you simply squirt it in some water and take it like a shot (the only shots I’ll ever do nowadays!). It contains Yerba Santa leaf, sage, elderflower, baptisms root, horseradish, and garlic. I actually also use horseradish and garlic in my fire cider recipe!

Drink Symbi Anti-Inflammation Tea

I don’t know about you, but when I’m sick I crave warm herbal teas. This one contains ginger, turmeric, and black pepper. It also has cinnamon and lemongrass which makes it taste delicious!

Cymbitoka Liposomal Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant to supplement when sick. In fact, I like to supplement with it the entire winter! It’s known to boost lymphocytes and phagocytes which are white blood cells that help protect against infection.

With liposomal delivery, the vitamins are protected by liposomes which are molecules that cannot be absorbed in water They are fat-soluble and able to withstand acidic conditions of the gastrointestinal tract. Because of this, you are able to absorb more Vitamin C than say with other methods like through a pill or a powder. Studies have even proved it to increase bioavailability.

I love this one from Cymbitotika because it tastes great, is organic, and doesn’t include any artificial ingredients or added sugar.

Bee Propolis

Propolis is a resin material produced by bees to protect the cells of their hives from bacteria or viruses. As you can imagine, it is antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral. It’s also extremely high in antioxidants.

I’m lucky enough to have gotten some concentrated bee propolis from a small village in Greece. This stuff is POWERFUL. However, before I had this, I would get some from a local farmer or from Beekeeper’s Natural.

Fire Cider

Vinegar and herb formulas have been around for thousands of years. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, was known to make something called oxymel, a mixture of vinegar and honey. In On Regimen In Acute Diseases, he says it

“promotes expectoration and freedom of breathing … It also promotes flatulent discharges from the bowels, and is diuretic, but it occasions watery discharges and those resembling scrapings, from the lower part of the intestine, which is sometimes a bad thing in acute diseases…”

Fire Cider was first created by Rosemary Gladstar, an herbalist, in the 1970s. She combined vinegar with herbs and other natural foods known to boost the immune system.

Recipe

turmeric

ginger

horseradish root

onion

cayenne pepper

garlic

thyme

Add all of these to a mason jar.

You really can use as much or as little of each ingredient as you want. I recommend grating the turmeric, ginger, and horseradish; chopping the onion into smaller strips, and slicing your garlic.

Once you do all of this, cover the ingredients with apple cider vinegar and put the lid on tight. Leave it in a dark corner of your cabinet for 4-6 weeks. Set a reminder on your phone so you don’t forget about it!

When you’re starting to feel sick, add a tbsp or two to some water and gulp it down.

If you enjoyed this newsletter, or know someone who is currently sick and in need of some herbal remedies, give this a share. We would greatly appreciate it!

See you next Sunday!

Madison