Along with the pretty fall leaves comes the start of cold and flu season. Good nutrition, adequate sleep and frequent, thorough hand washing are all important ways to help us stay healthy. Adequate vitamin D and zinc are important, too. But sometimes our immune system can use a little boost. That’s where “The Potion” comes in. I got a version of this “recipe” via the owner of our local health food store and have been using it for years. I’m not a fan of most over-the-counter cold remedies but always keep the ingredients for “The Potion” on hand.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
Ingredients:
- 1 packet Emergen-C
- 1 dropper full of olive leaf extract
- 3 drops oil of oregano
- 2 teaspoons Sambucol (black elderberry syrup)
- 1 dropper full of colloidal silver
Directions:
Mix above ingredients in 3 or 4 ounces of water or orange juice, stir well and drink. Begin at the very first hint of a cold and take 3-4 times a day until well.
The olive leaf extract and oil of oregano don’t taste horrible but they aren’t very tasty, either. I prefer to mix those two ingredients in a tiny amount of water in a shot glass and toss it back quickly. I then can drink the rest of the ingredients in juice (or water) and actually enjoy the flavor. I sometimes add a shot or two of vodka in my bedtime dose on the theory that the alcohol might kill some germs or at least help me fall asleep. The key to the success of this concoction is starting it early enough and taking it consistently. Numerous times it has completely stopped a cold in its tracks but even when that doesn’t happen it does seem to lessen the length and severity of the virus.
Stay well, my friends!
*The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content on this site is for informational purposes only. You are encouraged to confirm any information obtained from or through this web site with other sources, and review all information regarding any medical condition or treatment with your physician.
We have been sick so much less since doing this!
I really do think it makes a difference.
Other options that also work well:
Apple cider vinegar and honey in hot water.
Or…
A tea consisting of elderberries, cherry, mint, camomile, and lemon; the addition of honey, cinnamon, and/or ginger is optional, but useful.
I love drinking hot tea with honey and lemon when ill. I should add some of those other items.
My husband is battling a cold right now, too and so are a lot of my friends. We rely on an herbal supplement called Allibiotic by NOW Foods. It has elderberry, olive leaf extract, garlic extract, oregano oil and rosemary oil in it. We also drink a “tea” using hot water, apple cider vinegar (Braggs), lemon, lemon, ginger and raw honey. Right now I have a pot of water simmering on my stove with essential oils in it…oregano, tea tree, lemon and lavender. Not only does it make a nice “diffuser” for the kitchen, but hubby is going to steam his face over it several times a day.
Did you check the ingredients in Emergen-C? It has a lot of artificial additives in it, as well as sugar.
I hadn’t paid a lot of attention to the additives, although the sugar aspect doesn’t bother me much. I did a bit of a search and found an interesting article on alternatives to Emergen-C. I can’t take echinacea so some of these aren’t an option for me. There was one on here I may look for. On the other hand, I don’t take it as a daily supplement – just during a cold – so I’m not overly concerned. I think the advantage of an easily assimilated form of vitamin C, B vitamins and zinc outweighs concerns about a few questionable ingredients. Here’s the article, in case you are interested:
http://theorganicbeautyblog.com/2013/01/28/a-better-option-than-airborne-or-emergen-c/
Hope your hubby feels better soon.
I just made up a batch of Mountain Rose’s Fire Cider. I have to let it sit a month, then strain it and mix in some honey. Maybe adding honey to your potion will give it a better flavor, as well as give more healthful benefits.
I’m not sure what Fire Cider is. We do drink tea with honey during colds. I hadn’t thought of adding it to The Potion. Good idea!