There's so much going around in our part of the world at the moment. It seems that since we've all been in a bubble for the past few years, lots of other things have built up their strength. There's lots of flu and colds, as well as COVID and it feels like I've had at least one child sick at home all year. Not true. But its feeling that way! Our family seems to play tag with illness rather than getting it all at the same time and mama usually gets it last right?

I've have managed to avoid everything so far, but I woke up yesterday morning with a tickle in my throat and started craving comfort foods (always a sign for me). Oh boy. I'm not very interested in getting sick right now, so I have pulled out a few of my favourite remedies to help try to keep it at bay come hell or high water. 

Here they are:

1. Drink water.

Seems obvious but I had a beautiful singing teacher once tell me that if she was getting sick and had a gig coming up she would drink 3 litres or more of water and try to flush it out of her system. Its often worked for me, so its the first thing I start with.

2. Steam with tea tree.

Steaming at the onset of a cold is the best time. I add 5-6 drops of tea tree to a hot bowl of water and inhale 2-3 times a day for around 5 min. Tea tree fights off bacteria, is an expectorant and has anti viral properties.

3. Make Homemade Chest Rub.

You'll Need:

* 1 cup of coconut oil

* 50ml of Olive Oil

* 3 tbsp grated beeswax or pellets

* 10-15 drops of tea tree oil.  

Method:

Combine together in a glass bowl and double boil over a pot of water until it melts. Stir to combine. Pour into a clean glass jar and allow to cool to solidify.

Massage deeply into feet and put some warm socks on over the top. This is really effective as the feet have some of the largest pours on the body. These large openings are ideal for absorption, allowing the oils to quickly pass through layers of skin and release their potential benefits into the body.

Also rub some into your chest so you can breath it in, clear the sinuses and create a full body sensory experience.

4. Make Thyme and Garlic Tea.

I pick some Thyme from our herb garden and steep it in water on the stove with a clove of garlic and let it simmer till it's nice and strong. Drinking this with a squeeze of lemon really helps!!

5. Garlic up the bum!

I kid you not and this could be some elaborate plot to embarrass me, but my brother in law swears by putting a clove of garlic up the bum before bed when you're sick. My husband and I tried it a few years ago and it really really worked! Now you have to be careful to peel it but not break the skin or it can hurt. OUCH. I haven't been that desperate for a while, but I'm willing to give it another go. It actually wasn't as uncomfortable as I had imagined. Lol!!

Love to hear your home remedies on how you try to kick colds and build up your immunity?