At this point, I have never worked with COVID-19, though I have dealt with flus and colds. I know the COVID-19 is different from the common flu but both present uncomfortable symptoms and the body needs support during these times. As we are all preparing for a time of social distancing, our health care system will become overwhelmed and taxed, along with disruption to our food and medicine supply chains. So, I want to share some supportive remedies that you can find in your kitchen cupboard or growing in your backyard that provide some relief. These tips are not to replace medical attention: if you are in respiratory distress ~ seek medical immediately attention, go the ER!

I just want to give you some tools that can be found in your home to empower you, so you don’t have to venture too far away from home during this period of social isolation. I will be sharing our family’s remedies that help ease discomforts experienced during flu and cold season.

Every winter, someone in our family inevitably develops a cough, that keeps them and others up during the night. We generally take a spoonful of raw honey, a natural cough suppressant (be sure it’s raw as commercial honey growers often supplement the bees with sugar water, which dilutes the medicinal qualities of the honey) to help us sleep through the night, but some coughs prove stronger than our honey remedy. A decade ago, I heard about a crazy remedy that really works. The magical remedy is – GARLIC OIL, rubbed on the soles of the feet. Yes, you heard me right. And, it is so simple, you must try it next time you or someone has a cough.

Cough Remedy Recipe

• Chop up several large cloves of garlic
• Let it sit for 10 minutes (always let your garlic sit for 10 minutes after it has been chopped/minced/crushed to allow for the chemical reaction that creates allicin, which is the chemical behind all of garlic’s health-promoting benefits – immune boosting, antibacterial, antimicrobial, cardio-tonic, and anticancer. Here’s what happens: a sulfur-based compound called alliin and an enzyme called alliinase are separated in the garlic’s cell structure when it is whole. Cutting garlic ruptures the cells and releases these elements, allowing them to come in contact and they form the magical new compound called allicin. If you don’t wait, you don’t get the healing properties.)
• Add garlic and olive oil to a small clean, dry jar and cover
• Shake
• Let sit for at least an hour, the longer the better
• Rub some garlic oil on the soles of the cougher’s feet (use a drop about the size of a nickel); perhaps focus some attention on the areas just below the toes as it is connected to the lungs. Garlic enters your system and heads straight for the lungs. To prove the connection – simply take a piece of garlic out of the jar and place it between your toes, sleep, and you will wake up with garlic breath – crazy but true. Please do not put garlic straight onto an elder or little one’s foot as their skin is much more sensitive and the garlic may burn them, garlic oil is okay though.
• Put socks on to protect the linens
• Sleep soundly

Garlic oil is a safe remedy that I have used on myself and family members. One night, when Mathew was little and sleeping through his coughs but keeping everyone else up, I actually applied the garlic oil and socks onto his feet while he was slept and voila! Peace and quiet.

Many people eat garlic for its antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, immune boosting, blood pressure and cholesterol lowering properties. Garlic is a great soldier in fighting bacterial bronchial infections. It is also known to kill antibiotic resistant bacteria. It really is fantastic. And most of all, it tastes really good in most dishes.

Remember to get lots of rests, don’t panic ~ relax, eat whole foods, lots of veggies, stay away from sugar, alcohol, processed foods, crowds and wash your hands.

I hope you and your family feel better.

What do you use to ease coughs? Please share and I will continue to share.

 All information is shared for educational purposes only and has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.