NEW YORK — Having a strong immune system is a key component to battling viral infections or treating possible side effects of a sickness.
Master herbalist and author Sara-Chana Silverstein shares some recipes and elixirs you can make at home to try to stay healthy.
If you can get things at a health food store that is great, but many shelves are bare. Thankfully, you can use things you likely already have.
1. Medicinal vinegar
- Apply cider vinegar to any vinegar you have.
- Onions
- Garlic
- Peppers
- Peppercorn
- Cayenne pepper
- Ginger
Put all the ingredients in a glass jar and leave on the counter. You can begin using this right away. It builds the immune system and also is anti-microbial and tastes delicious.
2. Medicinal honey
- Cut up onions
- Cut garlic
- Add some Cinnamon
- Pour honey over it
- Cover and let it sit over-night.
This honey can help with a cough and phlegm.
3. Nutmeg to help you sleep.
- Caution too much can be toxic
- 1/4 teaspoon added to some heated almond or rice milk
- Can also add Turmeric. In India this would be called “Golden Milk”
- This can help you have a deeper, more-restful sleep
4. Clean the air around you
- Bring plants indoors. When you go shopping buy a plant or two if you see them in the store.
- “Smudge” the air with something like sage.
- Burn essential oils: Use whatever do you have in the house. Silverstein’s favorites: Sage, red thyme, tea tree, eucalyptus, cinnamon
5. Silverstein’s favorite anti-viral herb:
- St. John’s wort – It’s not just for moods, but helps with viral infections!
- It is a gem of a plant with many uses
