In the name of Allah, the most Gracious, the most Merciful
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As we are welcoming in Autumn and it’s getting colder outside with a bit less sunlight, we are also preparing for “flu season” or maybe some seasonal allergies. With that in mind, it is a great idea to have a handful of tools up your sleeve to not only remedy these issues as they come along but even better, to be proactive in boosting your immune system and preserving your wellness to begin with.
Before we jump into my favorite wellness tools, I think that especially when you want to use natural remedies, it’s important to take a holistic approach with our health…so it’s not just about adding in supplements, teas, etc. We also have to try to gradually improve the daily aspects of our lives in ways that will allow us to achieve optimal wellness.
That said, alongside these helpful wellness tools, I wanted to share 3 tips that we use to help optimize our health:
1. Stay hydrated.
Hydration is so important for basically every aspect of our wellbeing. During the colder months, we tend to need to spend a little more time.. The air tends to be more drying, etc. Drinking plenty of water is part of it of course. But also, using a natural moisturizer such as shea butter or coconut oil for your skin is important. Overall, make sure to stay hydrated to allow your body to be able to function well.
2. Skip the sugar; limit the grains.
Sugar is sugar and grains are digested in our body the same as sugar. I’m sure you’re well aware of the negative impacts that sugar has on your body. It really gets in the way of a strong immune system. Skip sugar and find a natural alternative. Limit the grains and make sure to properly prepare them when you do indulge.
3. Don’t wait until you start feeling symptoms to start using these tools.
Be proactive. Year round, we should be taking steps to ensure that our body is able to work it’s best. When we know there’s a greater risk, we should begin taking steps to boost our immune system and give our body the best fighting chance.
I’ve shared in a previous post about what we keep in our natural medicine cabinet which includes what we tend to take on a regular basis. But today, let’s dive a little deeper and talk about some specific supplements and such for boosting your immune system. Here are 10 of my favorite wellness tools for my family and I that we use to stay well…and for the rare occasion that we fall sick, to quickly kick out the germs.
1. Vitamin D
Vitamin D is essential for so many of our body functions and so many of us are deficient in it. Especially in autumn and winter, when there’s a bit less sun and the air is more chilled, a vitamin D supplement is a real game-changer. It is great for cardiovascular wellness. It’s crucial for your immune system. And believe it or not, it plays a big role in your mental wellbeing as well. If you struggle with asthma, seasonal allergies, frequent colds, and/or seasonal mood disorders, consider getting your vitamin D levels checked and add a good quality supplement to your daily routine! We use Garden of Life vitamins – I take the capsules and I rotate between these gummies and the liquid for our toddler.
2. Vitamin C
Vitamin C is another crucial vitamin for our immune system. It’s one of those essential vitamins that really affect your overall health. As soon as anyone starts feeling some symptoms coming on, we take a little bit extra for a few days and it really knocks out whatever was coming up.
3. Peppermint essential oil
Peppermint EO is very strong and can be great for clearing up a stuffy nose. I use peppermint oil and lavender (and sometimes eucalyptus) with olive oil whenever any of us have any sort of congestion. I put it on the chest and back but also use it on my sons feet.
4. Eucalyptus essential oil
Eucalyptus oil is my favorite essential oil for Autumn and Winter! It is great for anything respiratory.. I put a few drops on a cloth under the pillow for our toddler or I’ll put it on the collar of my shirt. It clears up a stuffy nose. As mentioned above though, I also use it along with peppermint and lavender oil mixed in olive oil as a homemade vapor rub and it’s very soothing.
5. Elderberry syrup
Starting around now until the end of winter, we use a lot of elderberry syrup. I started making my own last year and it really warms my heart to be able to make healing remedies for our family. We use it in milk, oatmeal and in herbal tea. If we’re actually sick, we also take a spoon of it a few times a day. It’s nice and sweet so nobody complains about taking it. When I don’t make it, I get some from my mom! She also makes kits so you can make it on your own!
6. Fire Cider
This is my second year making fire cider and I absolutely love it! It is a tonic made with apple cider vinegar and a variety of warming herbs (ginger, horseradish, garlic, cinnamon, etc). My 2 favorite ways to have it is mixing a few spoons into some broth with a pinch of pink Himalayan salt or marinating chicken with it and baking it. Same with the elderberry syrup, I either make my own or get it from my mom @Jamilahs Naturals!
7. Bone broth
Bone broth is something I’m trying to start incorporating more into our diet. It is very nourishing, from the warmth of course but also from the wonderful minerals that come with it! I’d say the healing aspect really comes from the warmth from it.
8. Raw garlic and ginger
Garlic and ginger are such powerful remedies. It is so easy to use them in your cooking. Ginger tea is great for soothing a sore throat. We soak garlic in honey and grind the garlic and mix it with some ginger and turmeric powder- it is STRONG stuff! But it works very well for knocking out any phlegm that might be going on.
9. Blackseed oil
This past year I have really been digging into blackseed oil. I’ve been exploring how beneficial it can be in so many different ways. As Muslims, we are taught that in blackseed is a cure for everything besides old age and death. You can use actual blackseeds or even capsule but I tend to prefer just taking a spoonful of this coldpressed blackseed oil a few times a day.
10. Raw, local honey
I’m doing keto right now so I’m not indulging very much in honey but nonetheless it’s definitely a staple in our home for wellness. We always keep honey on hand and I use it a lot for the other remedies – taking some honey with the blackseed oil, putting the garlic with honey, having some in our tea, etc. Raw and local honey on it’s own can be very good for seasonal allergies as well.
These are all of our favorite wellness tools, especially during these colder months when germs tend to be a little more rampant. I will be sharing some more cold weather wellness tips in this season… so stay tuned if this something you’re interested in!
Question for the comments: What is your go-to natural remedy for you and your family? Do you use any of the one’s on this list?
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