Fighting the Good Fight

There are tons of herbs, roots, and flowers out there that do wonders for healing your body, often lumped into ‘holistic’ remedies when a lot of commercial pharmaceuticals use the very same extracts.  So Jen and I thought it’d be a good idea to go over some of the more easily accessible items that will help keep you healthy through the winter months.

1. Echinacea – Also known as the coneflower, this flower activates white blood cells in your body, helping your body fight and resist the common winter cold.  It contains several crucial vitamins and minerals, including copper, iron, iodine, potassium, and vitamins A, C, and E.  All of the Echniacea flower, from the root, leaves, and flower are considered medicinal and worth taking.  To use Echinacea, try taking approximately half to one teaspoon of Echinacea extract every two hours until your syptoms have disappeared.  Echinacea is also very commonly found in tea blends that can be found in most grocery stores.
   
2. Ginger – Ginger is one of the most widely accessible items on this list, and easily one of the cheapest.  It is well known to ameliorate a number of indispositions such as motion sickness (nausea), digestion (helps break down proteins and fats), and serve as an excellent anti-inflammatory agent to quell sore throats, fevers, and migraines.  Ginger also also acts as a antihistamine, warms the body through stimulated blood circulation, and soothes the stomach during a bout with an upset stomach.  This root contains a number of powerful minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus. Typical instructions for quick consumption dictate simmering ginger in a water for 20 minutes, and adding lemon and honey to taste.  Don’t worry, your honey can still be Paleo and Zone!
   
3. Thyme – This herb (a part of the mint family) contains thymol, which is an extremely powerful antibacterial, antiseptic, and antioxidant.  It assists the actions of the cilia in your bronchi, effectively squashing inflammation in your upper respiratory tract.   Thyme contains calcium, iron, magnese, and tooooons of vitamin K.  To the point of being a strong antibacterial, thyme is a no-brainer addition to your raw salads and meats to kill anything that might have accidentally made its way to your fridge.  You can use it in the same manner as ginger to make a tea with lemon and honey, although I often use tons of thyme in making a large batch of sausage patties to eat through the week.
   
4. Sage – Another easily accessible herb, this one differs from the rest in that you have to take a bit more caution in consumption.  Adequate amounts of sage have positive effects by being both an anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant, while consuming too much sage can quickly cause negative effects in the body.  This herb has long been known to help in fighting off coughs and sore throats, relieve tension and alleviate headaches.  To soothe a sore throat, pour  four ounces of water over two teaspoons of either dried or fresh sage.  Gargle until the mixture is gone, and repeat three times daily.  For sinuses, all you have to do is drink a cup (eight ounces) of sage tea, mixing in four teaspoons.  Sage also works as another great herb to toss in with making some sausage patties!