FitSugar

Sage Tea to Ward Off a Cough

FitSugar — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 07:00:48 PST

Some of you might remember that my aunt has a thing for conjuring up herbal remedies, like her cold-fighting ginger tea. So when I got hit with a nasty fever last week, I called dear ol' auntie first.

After I described my ailment, she said one word: sage. I was skeptical, mostly because I have never been a huge fan of the pungent, peppery herb. But since sage has been a longstanding healing plant, I whipped up my aunt's recipe. Not only was my cough suppressed, I could actually breathe for a few hours! Give this tea a try the next time you're feeling sickly.

To see the recipe,

Soothing Sage Tea
original recipe

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups hot water
1/2 teaspoon dried sage
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon fresh lemon zest
Juice from half lemon
Honey, to taste

Directions

Combine hot water, sage, thyme, and lemon zest.
Cover and let mixture steep for 5-15 minutes.
Strain into another glass, and add lemon juice and honey. Serve immediately.

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Treat a Cold: Make Your Own Ginger Tea

FitSugar — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:40:43 PST

My aunt is from Thailand and when I'm sick she'll use her arsenal of Thai herbs and spices to concoct a cold remedy for me. When I was younger my uncle would look at her cautiously as she mixed her treatments because he was so used to popping a pill when sick. Now that I'm an adult I find it funny that many of my aunt's "crazy cures" have made their way into mainstream culture, like ginger.

Whenever I have a cold I make my aunt's fresh ginger tea (and so does the rest of my family now!). It's a surefire way to clear up congestion or a sore throat. It also works great at soothing an upset tummy.

Ginger Tea
original recipe

For an extra kick of endorphins, add a teaspoon of chili powder to the mix.

Ingredients

2-inch piece of peeled, thinly sliced fresh ginger
2 stalks trimmed, cut lemongrass
6 cups water
3 tablespoons honey

Directions

Bring ginger, lemongrass, and water to a boil in a saucepan.
Remove from heat and add honey, stirring until dissolved.
Let mixture steep partially uncovered for about 15 minutes.
Strain lemongrass and ginger from tea and serve immediately.

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Soothe Your Cold Symptoms With This Yummy Beverage

FitSugar — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 15:00:00 PST

There may not be a cure for the common cold, but we've learned the basic steps to overcoming a cold: Plenty of rest and fluids. There's now scientific research that says warm drinks are capable of treating cold and flu symptoms, and this beverage concoction from Slashfood seems perfect for cheering you up when you're down with a miserable cold.

The simple recipe is a fun alternative to try when you've already guzzled eight cups of tea and are craving something different. Give it a go next time you're under the weather; all you need is honey, ginger, and lemon. Follow Slashfood's instructions, and you should be on your way to taming your cold symptoms.

Grate a half-inch chunk of ginger into a large mug.
Squeeze the juice of half a lemon in on top (you can also add the zest if you're feeling daring).
Add a heaping teaspoonful of honey (feel free to adjust the sweetness level to your personal taste).
Fill the cup with boiling water and stir to combine. Drink while still warm and repeat as necessary.

Source

Coming Down With a Cold? Drink Up

FitSugar — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 09:00:09 PST

Contracting a cold isn't the worst thing in the world, but it sure isn't pleasant. The sniffling, sneezing, and sore throat make life temporarily uncomfortable, and new research says that easing those symptoms could be as simple as hydrating with hot beverages.

It's hard to believe that it's brand new research, considering generations of caretakers have stood by this advice, but Cardiff University's Common Cold Centre claims it's the first scientific study of its kind. Thirty volunteers were given apple and blackcurrant drinks served at room temperature or hot, and the group experienced immediate relief from coughing, sore throat, chilliness, and tiredness. After 15 minutes, they noticed relief from a running nose and sneezing.

The study noted, "In conclusion, the results support the folklore that a hot tasty drink is a beneficial treatment for relief of most symptoms of common cold and flu." Make your beverages hot the next time you're sniffling your way through a cold - maybe you'll go through fewer tissues!

Source

The Skinny On: Echinacea

FitSugar — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 09:00:00 PST

When I was in college, come cold and flu season, all the hippies I knew started taking their echinacea herbal remedies to boost their immune system. It was like clock work. When I tried it my reaction was just icky-nacea since the taste was so bad.

Well, my tune has changed, at least slightly. Several controlled studies have found that the herb can reduce symptoms of the common cold as well as shorten a cold's duration. That was good news for my runny nose. It is important that the echinacea is prepared as an alcohol extract or a pressed juice.

A bummer for my dear hippie friends, no evidence has been found that echinacea prevents colds or bolsters the immune system. So there is no need to take it on a regular basis to enhance your immunity. I will use anything I can to make my colds shorter. How about you?

Carded for Claritin?

FitSugar — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 03:00:00 PST

The other day I was having a really bad allergic reaction to my friend's Springer Spaniel. Nothing a little over-the-counter Claritin wouldn't fix.

But when I went to pick it up at the drugstore, there was a little card on the shelf that stood in place of the box. It said something like, "You must pick up this medicine at the register."

When I got up to the counter, and gave them my card, they asked to see my license. I asked, "Are you carding me?" And the woman said that they're required to write down my name and other info, to make sure that I'm not buying an obscene amount. She said that kids are buying mass quantities of allergy and cold medicine to make it into meth.

Apparently many companies are joining the fight on methamphetamine. Chains such as Target and Wal-Mart are restricting access to drugs containing pseudoephedrine.

Fit's Tip: There may be a restriction where you get your medicine, or a rule about how many boxes you can buy. This can be really annoying if you have a family and need to buy different kinds (like day-time, night-time, kids, non-drowsy, drowsy). Bring someone along if you need to purchase different kinds of cold, cough, or allergy meds.

Remembering Donna Summer's Best Beauty Moments

Jessica Cruel — Fri, 18 May 2012 10:22:00 PDT

A look back at Donna Summer's best beauty looks - The Cut
L'Oréal faces a lawsuit for selling potentially flammable products - HuffPost Style
Teasing with a toothbrush and other unique hair home remedies - Stylelist
Kate Moss graces the cover of Harper's Bazaar in matching red lips and nails - Styleite
Whip your bathroom into shape with these organizing tips - Real Simple
Save strands from chlorine and sun overload this Summer - The Fashion Spot
Replace cold-weather makeup with these lighter formulas - Refinery29
Three tips for coordinating your clothes and your lipstick - Racked
Go retro with these hairstyle ideas from Instagram - Beauty High
Get your hands on these heat- and meltproof products - The Frisky

Source: Memory Lane

Defeat Poison Ivy With Tea Tree Oil

FitSugar — Fri, 04 May 2012 17:40:56 PDT

You went for a gorgeous two-hour hike in the woods, brought back some great photos and uh-oh - you also brought back some poison ivy. When you accidentally brush up against this plant, the uroshiol oil rubs onto your skin, and can instantly create redness, raised bumps, blisters, and an insatiable itch. First and foremost, get out of the clothes you were wearing on the hike and wash the oil off your skin using soap and cold water (warm water opens your pores) to prevent the rash from spreading.

Unfortunately, now you're left with an itchy, bubbly rash. Topical creams like Calamine lotion and hydro-cortizone can keep the itchiness at bay, but when it comes to poison ivy, the quicker it heals, the better. Reach for the remedy, pure tea tree oil. It's all natural, not that expensive, and easy to find at most health food stores. Thoroughly wash and dry the affected areas. Sprinkle a few drops of the tea tree oil directly on the rash and use a Q-tip or cotton ball to spread it around. Apply a few times a day, and you should see the blisters disappearing and the rash clearing up.

Tea tree oil has antiseptic, antifungal, and drying properties, which is why it's so effective against the dreaded poison ivy. This natural remedy can also be used to treat acne, minor cuts and scrapes, athlete's foot, and yeast infections so it's great to keep a bottle in your medicine cabinet.

Source: Flickr User frotzed2

How to Deflate Puffy Eyes

Real Beauty — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 06:05:11 PDT

We're happy to present this article from one of our favorite sites, Real Beauty.

If getting more sleep isn't an option, we've found other ways to get rid of pesky under-eye bags.

Find the perfect cream for your eyes

It's normal for your eyes to look a little swollen first thing in the morning. But drinking alcohol, eating salty foods, allergies, and watching The Notebook can produce bigger bags that stick around for a few hours. Here's how to get rid of them fast.

4 Natural Remedies You Already Have in Your Pantry

Leta Shy — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 03:06:33 PDT

Some ailments need the power of the medicine cabinet, but other times when you're not feeling that hot all you need to do is look toward the spice rack. Whether you're in a bad mood, can't stop coughing, nursing a hangover, or have post-workout soreness, here are four spices that can help you feel better - no medicine required!

What: Peppers
When to use: When you're feeling down.
Why: The hot feeling you get in your mouth is from the compound capsaicin. It triggers pain receptors in your mouth, which causes your brain to release feel-good endorphins to compensate.
How to eat: Spice up a cold, dreary day with this spicy-sweet chili recipe, or this recipe for a healthy version of spicy eggplant.

What: Ginger
When to use: When you're fighting a cold or feeling nauseous or achy.
Why: Remedy the sniffles, aches, and congestion of the season with ginger; ginger contains a chemical that helps reduce nausea and inflammation symptoms, and ginger tea has been a tried-and-true congestion remedy for years.
How to eat: Whip up this ginger tea recipe the next time you are feeling under the weather, or dress up your dinner with this ginger-garlic broccoli recipe.

Read on for more remedies you can make with what's already in your spice cabinet!