Kitchen Remedies

1 tbsp dried sage

1 tbsp salt 

1/4 tsp clove

Place your herbs in a glass jar and pour just-boiled water over the mixture. Cover and let steep for 15 minutes. Strain through a fine strainer. Add honey if desired and gargle (do not swallow). Any extra can be retained in the refrigerator for repeated use. 

Garden sage dries beautifully, so if you have an abundance of sage in your garden, you can harvest and hang bundles or lay flat to dry for two weeks. Store in a cool, dark place to keep on hand when needed.

A favorite go-to remedy to ward off colds and the flu and can be helpful for respiratory infections to some extent. Garlic is an excellent antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antiviral herb, and the best way to use it is to include it abundantly in your diet for prevention. Fresh garlic can be sauteed with vegetables and other foods like soups and stews and can also be taken in raw form (preferred method) in hummus, homemade salad dressings. One garlic clove can also be pressed and mixed with a teaspoon of honey and taken right off the spoon and can be repeated 2 times a day. Aviva Romm's OG Garlic Lemonade recipe is a great starting recipe, which even kids seem to enjoy:

Finely mince, chop, or smash 2 cloves of fresh garlic and place them in a 1-quart mason jar. Fill the jar with boiling water and cover for 30 minutes. Strain out the garlic, and to the liquid add the juice of 1/2 to 1 whole lemon. Sweeten to taste with raw honey. For babies under 1 year, use maple syrup instead of honey. Do not give to babies under 6 months.

Ginger is another excellent antibacterial and antiviral herb traditionally used for colds and flu, nausea, stomach cramping, and poor circulation. Ginger also works very well for different types of nausea. 

The best form is fresh juice of the root, taken as a hot tea every 2 to 3 hours. Grate or chop fresh ginger root (about the size of your thumb) and steep in 8-12oz of water just off the boil (covered until ready) or you can let the ginger lightly simmer in a pot of 12-16oz of water for 20 minutes. The longer it sits, the better. It will be spicy and warming. Once cool enough you can add raw honey to taste, lemon or lime juice. 

Tip: ginger freezes well. The simplest way is to seal fresh, plump ginger root in an airtight container and use as needed. You can also freeze fresh ginger juice for up to six months.

1 tbsp dried oregano

1 tbsp dried rosemary

1 tbsp dried sage

1 tbsp dried thyme

Bring approx. 32oz of water to a boil. While waiting for the water to boil, place all herbs in a non-metal bowl and pour the water directly over them. Place your head over the bowl and cover your head and the bowl with a towel, creating a tent, and breathe in the steam for 5-10 minutes. Repeat as needed throughout the day. If you have mint or basil on hand, these can be helpful as well. Use what you have.

5 cloves garlic

4 oz olive oil

(optional: 1-2 drops of eucalyptus, lavender, tea tree oil)

Finely chop garlic, place it in a small pan or baking dish with the olive oil. Cook under very low heat for several hours to overnight. You are making a low and slow oil infusion. Strain, pressing the garlic well, and place in a glass amber dropper bottle for storage. To use: hold glass dropper under hot water for 1 minute, dry well (and quickly), and draw up oil from bottle. Place 2 drops in both ears every half hour as often as needed for 2 to 7 days. A cotton ball is very useful as a cover.

Finely chop or grate an onion. Divide into equal parts and place each half onto a piece of plastic wrap or bag. Place each foot directly on top of the onion so that the onion is in direct contact with the bottom of each foot. Wrap the plastic around each foot, twist and secure, and then put socks on each foot. The biggest pores of the body are in the soles of the feet, and the body will absorb and take the onion where it needs to go. Most often, it will be in the chest to help clear up a cough and congestion or to clear the head.

Another option is to create a chest plaster. Chop 1-2 onions into fine pieces and place in a mixing bowl with 1 tsp mustard powder and 1 tbsp vinegar. Mix well. Slowly add in spoonfuls of flour and then water until a paste forms. Place the mixture into a piece of cloth to make a "packet."  Apply oil of choice to the chest and set the packet onto the chest. Cover with a towel and heating pad or a hot water bottle. Let it sit for at least 1 hour.

1 cup fresh ginger, roughly chopped

½ cup maple syrup

½ cup apple cider vinegar or fire cider, oxymel

2-3 lemons, juiced

6 cups of water

Fill a 2-quart saucepan with the water and add chopped ginger. Bring water to a boil and allow ginger to boil for about 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and let ginger steep for approximately 30 minutes. In a large jar or pitcher, add maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, and lemon juice. Strain the ginger as you are pouring the ginger tea into the pitcher. Stir and mix all ingredients well. Taste, adding more water as needed to dilute. Can be served warm or iced.

Health benefits of switchel include easing inflammation with natural ginger and boosting electrolytes thanks to the potassium-rich maple syrup and apple cider vinegar. The maple syrup affects blood sugar levels less than regular table sugar and includes trace antioxidants and minerals that regular sugar lacks. Switchel is an excellent alternative to sugary drinks.

6 oz plain oatmeal, finely ground

0.5 oz lavender bud (if available, or a few drops of essential oil)

4 oz baking soda

0.1 oz green tea

8 fl oz dairy milk (optional)

A soothing bath blend for burns, rashes, eczema, bites, poison ivy, and any other inflamed skin conditions. Grind the oatmeal into fine grains. A blender, food processor, or spice/coffee grinder works well. Add all dry ingredients into a cloth or square piece of cheesecloth (old sock?) and tie off. Toss the bundle in the tub and fill with hot water, letting the bundle steep- it's much neater for clean up. Add milk. Soak and enjoy.