Elderberries are potent immune boosters!

Illness in Traditional Chinese Medicine arises from the imbalance of elements  and energies in the body.  My acupuncturist, Dr. Wing,  has taught me that syncing up my body with nature- and natural immune enhancements- can truly keep your body healthy.  Chemicals in common cold medicine may be more full of pollution and toxins than your body needs or wants. Click through for four simple, powerful, time-tested yet unusual ways to fight the common (and annoying) colds and flu! 

4 Groovy Natural Cold Cures 

1. Elderberry Syrup.  Although you can harvest elderberries and make your own syrup, you can get elderberry syrup at almost any health food store.  Its worth keeping a bottle in the fridge year-round, as a few teaspoons can help get your body strong when you are getting run-down or feel a bug coming on.

olive leaf extract

2. Olive Leaf Extract. Easy to find in capsules, olive leaf extract is pretty innocuous as far as “supplements” go, but often as effective as antibiotics.  Oh yes, NEVER take anything without consulting your doctor & always follow trusted expert advice!  If you have a doctor that is too into “prescriptions”, try finding a new doc that has a balanced East/West perspective.

honey and cinnamon

3. Hot Water with Honey and Cinnamon.  Two parts honey to one part cinnamon (I like two teaspoons of honey and a teaspoon of cinnamon) in a cup of hot water somehow manages to get your energy going in a more straight line.  Cinnamon has a ton of anti-inflammatory properties, and in folklore it is said to even help with impotence and infertility.  For our purposes, one or two cups a day can fortify your body when its running low on vitality. I have found this to be magically amazing!

broth is actually healing

4. Bone Broth. Skip this one if you are a vegetarian, but for the meat-eaters, take note: homemade beef bone broth is a majorly mineral-packed tonic.  It is so easy to make and store in glass jars for a week, even more.  Usually when I make a pot it is gone within a day or two! Get your marrow bones pre-cut from a reputable source of good meat (I like my local Wholefoods).

A Basic Recipe: Saute a pound of marrow bones in a big soup pot in a few tsp of olive oil. Add 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar once they are brown, four or five garlic cloves peeled and whole, a few peeled carrots (whole is also fine) and I add a handful of parsley.  Fill the pot the rest of the way up with water.  Add sea salt and pepper and cook on very low heat for 3-4 hours.  Even longer if you want a super-rich broth.  Strain, cool, then skim off the layer of fat on top. Drink it like tea before meals, or in place of them until you feel better!!!

These are my major arsenal of cures gleaned from experts all over LA and NY, and they have all served me well.  If you have a natural cure, feel free to share it below! We need to build the Health-Minded Brain Trust!!!   xoxo Dana