Sallygarden Smallholding - The Forum For Sustainable Living

Colds and flu can be a real problem at this time of year and I use organic essential oils to maintain health. Two oils that I am using at the moment are Canadian essential oils: black spruce (Picea mariana) and balsam fir(Abies balsamea). I have just completed a three-week protocol of using black spruce daily after my shower and it is a great stress-buster. Stress lowers immunity and this in turn can lead to colds and flu. Balsam fir is a wonderful air purifier to fight germs in the atmosphere when used in an aromatherapy burner or diffuser. What do you use for Winter health:?:

I haven't heard of those oils but I do seem to love any oils from wood ... ceder wood in particular. Lately I've been trying to buy essential oils that come from countries close to where I live in Europe. I have an odd theory! It is that humans may have evolved with plants close to where they live (assuming one hasn't emigrated which is a huge assumption this day and age), thats why I'm experimenting with oils that originate as close to me (geographically) as possible. Also theres the carbon footprint air miles aspect.

Having said all that I realise now that the oil I find best to combat winter colds, in particular sore throats or coughs, is thyme oil ... which indeed is from Europe.

I try to use as many herbs as I can in cooking and also in salads, fresh in the summer and dried in the winter, I'm sure they are a great boost to the immune system and help in a preventative manner.

When I was in herbal school we learned about the uses of essential oils but I have been staying away from them in recent years because they require so much herbage to produce so little oil. I know that you only need drops of the oil but the production ratio is still really intense. There are some that I still use because they seem to do what nothing else can but I try to limit my use when possible.

I use thyme for colds and sinus issues to but I just use the dried or fresh herb. I find that thyme tea and/or a steam of thyme (boiling water in a boil with thyme tossed in, bend over it with a towel over your head and stay as long as possible) will knock out most sinus issues really quickly.

I also like elder flower tea a lot or elder berry syrup for immunity in the cold months. Tasty and effective.

I am always so happy know that so many easily grown or harvested herbs are so effective. It reminds you to look around at the "weeds" surrounding you as your own personal medicine kit.

Gillian

I think that there is a lot of truth in the theory that the herbs you need grow close to you Rebecca. I just wish that I had the knowledge that our ancestors shared about the herbs they found in the hedgerows.

One oil that I should really mention which is also grown and distilled in the UK is lavender. This is such a phenomenal oil: truly a first aid kit in a bottle and very useful throughout the year.

I use echinacea tincture. also cayene pepper regulary over food or sprinked on olive oil toast or in juice.. about 1/4 tspoon..less.. aids circulation , heart action , clears chest etc. a lot of ginger tea too..and lighting a lot of candles on dark days.
I'll try your suggestions too.

We do alot of garlic and onions. If the kids get sick with a cold, they go off dairy at first twinge and start eating the garlic and onions (not raw but sauteed in/on something like fried potato, cheeseless pizza or drapped on toast 3x/day). Elderberrys and elderberry tea, in addition to the stand-by echinacea, vitamin C and zinc lozenges. Keeping the system flush with water or a commercial herb tea (Traditional Medicines Gypsy Cold Remedy is a favourite) and water. If the head congestion/ tight feeling is starting, a hot shower w/ Dr. Bronner's eucalyptus soap/ head over hot basin with a drop or two of eucalyptus essential oil. My youngest gets headaches from this oil so she uses peppermint tea baths or in a mug with the tea towel over her head then drinks it once it is luke warm. I do have a tincture formula from the local herb shop that contains usnea, balsam root, aralia, yerba santa, marshmallow, licorice, mullein, osha, lomatium and thyme but because it is supended in alcohol, I don't hand this out readily to the kids (they don't like it much either even if it is placed in juice instead of water).

The H1N1 flu, a type A virus that many people here in the U.S. see as a dangerous thing, visited our household in full force over the last three weeks, via my two adult children. I'll admit that it is a strong flu, but I am still digging my heels in about getting a flu shot. Instead, I keep an infusion (homemade) of lavender and rosemary, sometimes with a little lemon balm, lemon verbena and lemon grass in it, to spray as a room freshener and use along with my trusty pine cleaner. Between that and using the rosemary infusion as a gargle, the flu passed me by. I'm a childcare provider and tutor, so I was exposed to it plenty! Of my 6 childcare students only one came down with the H1N1 flu. I truly adore the fact that herbs can do so much for us and ask for comparatively little care in return! They are by far my favorite plants because they are so convenient, delicious, beautiful, fragrant and useful.