Sore throat

Having a sore throat is not fun. If you’re like me and your tonsils swell up like a couple golf balls covered in flem, it can be downright miserable. Here’s a few tricks that I’ve used to help get rid of that sore throat as soon as possible.

As you know garlic is my favorite remedy, so I’m sure you’re not surprised that I’m recommending it again. The key seems to be taking plenty of it. I usually try and take a whole clove every hour. In addition to eating garlic I make garlic oil by soaking a couple crushed garlic cloves in olive oil for a few minutes and straining. I use the garlic oil to massage the side of my throat in a downward motion for about fifteen minutes, every hour or so. This helps drain the swollen lymph nodes and really relieves the pain. You can also use a garlic poultice on your throat but I’ve found that it’s the massaging that seems to help with the pain.

Gargling also helps to speed up the healing process and relieve the pain. Try gargling frequently with hot salt water, a couple drops of tea tree oil in water, garlic water, two drops of grape fruit seed extract in water or even just plain hot water. Make sure to drink plenty of liquids and avoid all sugar. Sugar lowers your immune system and that’s the last thing you need when your body is fighting a cold.

The Wonder's of Garlic (part one)

Garlic could very well be my favorite herb. So far it has been the fastest acting and most effective home remedy I have tried. I have personally used it successfully with the common cold, stomach flu, yeast infections, ring worm and ear aches.

The first time I learned about garlic was when my oldest children were three and one and a half. They had a nasty virus that had lasted for over two months. Their main symptoms were coughing and vomiting. It felt like we would never get through a meal without someone regurgitating their meal all over the table.

I was feeling pretty desperate as even after a trip to the Dr. we just couldn't seem to kick this thing. I did a little research and read that garlic could be helpful for fighting a cold and decided to give it a try. I finely chopped up a clove, mixed it with honey and amazingly my toddlers ate it without too much fuss. They continued to take garlic several times a day and finally recovered from their cold. Needless to say I was impressed and decided to research garlic further.

Garlic contains allicin which is a natural antibiotic. It is effective against viruses and fungus. Garlic woks as an antiparasitic, and an antibiotic. It is one of the oldest horticultural crops known and has been used as both a food and medicines since the time of the Egyptian Pharaohs.Whether it’s a simple head cold with sniffles and a sore throat or a nasty tummy bug with throwing up and diarrhea, the first thing I use in my fight for healthy children ( and a decent nights sleep for myself) is garlic.