How to Build a Natural Defence

As the colder months are approaching, I thought I would write about some amazing natural defence ingredients that will help you battle off the dreaded cold and flu season. If it’s already got you, maybe they can help aid your recovery. Either way, these natural and herbal ingredients are proven to help give your immune a boost. The herbal medicine industry is worth £125.5 million and is set to rise by another £40 million in the next few years.

Some of these ingredients you can actually grow yourself, something to consider for next years growing season perhaps? Anything to save a bit of money and know exactly where your ingredients have been sourced from.

Turmeric

With the active ingredient ‘curcumin’, turmeric is packed with high antioxidant and antibacterial properties. It also contains anti-inflammatory properties. Take it daily to reap the benefits. You can buy it added to teas, in tablet form, mix it into food, soak the fresh root in hot water. Or make a delicious ‘golden milk’ with warming spices and a touch of honey. Delicious.

Chamomile

One of my absolute favourites, I drink cupful’s of the stuff every day. The smell, the flavour, I find it so soothing. It’s great if you have a cough, as it can work as an astringent. Tightening up the mucus membranes to help with that annoying tickle. You can add teabags to a large bowl of hot water and use it as a steam bath to help with nasal congestion and other respiratory problems. It will also help your sore throat due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Ginger

Ginger is hailed as a ‘super spice’ and is delicious when mixed with other warming spices such as cloves and cinnamon. Ginger is known to enhance immune function and is said to have both antiviral and antibacterial qualities. I love grating it and adding the fresh, spicy juice to lemon and honey. Add it to a chai mix and make a delicious warming milk. It’s also fantastic in cooking! Now is a great time to start off your own if you want to grow it. It needs a super long season here in the UK. Pick up an organic root with some great nodules, soak it in warm water over night, then lay it flat in a pot of compost. Keep it warm and wait for it to spout. You can then plant it out in summer and hopefully harvest your own ginger.

Elderberries

Elderberry syrup is one thing I have always wanted to make. All I ever hear is that it is a marvel over cold and flu season. Elderberries apparently encourage ‘expectoration’ which means coughing up mucus and other materials from the throat and lung area. They help to coat the mucous membranes, alleviating irritating coughs and sore throats. They also to stop the spread of viruses to other cells in your body. They can also apparently wipe out ten strains of flu virus. A pretty powerful plant if you ask me.

Echinacea

A plant you’ll find in numerous gardens all over the world. Hailed as a go-to plant for clearing up infections and strengthening the immune system’s efficiency. It’s surprisingly easy to grow from seed and you can start them off now for plants next summer. It is meant to help specifically with upper respiratory issues and reduce the severity of symptoms. You can buy it in teas, add it to hot water and make a steam bath or make your own tea with fennel and liquorice.