Here a quick list of some great home remedies for some of the aches and pains we all suffer with over the winter.

1.       Prevent Colds with Vitamin C

Cold and Flu season runs from November to March. That’s a long time for your immune system to fend off invaders. Most of us get two or three colds a year and about 20% of the U.S. population get the flu every year (200,000 are hospitalized). Vitamin C has shown to be effective in helping your immune system fight off these viruses. Get your Vitamin C the traditional way, by drinking a glass of orange juice or adding an orange to a meal. But you can also find Vitamin C in grapefruit, peaches, and red peppers. For an added boost toss in some Echinacea.

2. Coughing Thyme

Those over the counter cough medicines have gotten lots of attention because of their effectiveness or lack of it. So try a natural cough reliever, Thyme. Add three tablespoons of dried Thyme to one pint of boiling water. Let it cool and then add one cup of honey. Now take one teaspoon every hour as needed. The mixture can be stored for three months in your fridge.

3. Garlic For a Runny Nose

How do you stop you nose from running? Get the snot out. Sounds easy, but we know it isn’t. But garlic is great at clearing up those stuffy nasal passages. But you can’t just pop a garlic pill. The best choice is to mix some garlic into your meals because this provides both the short term decongestant and a long term fortification against cold and flu viruses.

4. Greens For You Nose

The dry indoor air from our furnaces is a great way to cause nosebleeds. A cup of leafy green each day can provide enough Vitamin K to fortify those capillaries in your nose and it promotes clotting. Another possibility is Yarrow, a flower that is available as a supplement.

5.  A Sore Throat Needs Tea

Here is one I am sure you heard from Mom or Grandma, tea is great for a sore throat. With a little honey, it warms and soothes the irritated sections of your throat. Perhaps try jujube tea for an added Vitamin C boost.