Natural home remedies have a great deal to offer, especially for flu-like infections. Whether apple cider vinegar or a lemon cure – the experienced doctors Karin Haschenburger and Friederike Stratmann present the best naturopathic strategies for home use.

Cold (and/or bronchitis)

Although we almost always get colds during the cold season, colds have little to do with cold temperatures. They are infections that arise when the immune defences are weakened. Take care of your immune system.

In the cold season, eat more of the vitamin C–rich vegetables that grow locally (carrots, cabbage, beetroot, kale). Citrus fruits grow in warm countries. They have the side effect of cooling the body from the inside. In winter we need warming food.

Prevention for those prone to colds

• Keep your feet warm, but otherwise do not overdress. Avoid synthetic fibres.

Trapped heat can cause sweating and thus evaporative cooling of the body. This can lead to catching a cold.

• Regularly, even in winter, carry out Kneipp water applications: (see appendix)

• Ascending foot bath: (see appendix) WARNING: At the onset of fever the ascending foot bath can put a strain on the circulation!

• Umckaloabo®: take 3× daily 10–15 drops

• Echinacea mother tincture: 3× daily 5 drops, do not take for longer than 1 week

• Propolis mother tincture: 3× daily 5 drops, if needed up to 2 drops per hour

• Angocin® Anti Infekt N, contains nasturtium herb and horseradish root

• Vitamins: especially vitamin C and E, e.g. sloe juice or sea buckthorn juice (Weleda)

• Elderberry juice: Local elderberries contain more vitamin C (37.1 mg per 100 g) than kiwis or oranges

• Eat plenty of garlic

• Elderflower and/or linden blossom tea: pour 1 tsp per cup with boiling water, cover and let steep for 10 minutes. Drink 1 cup three times daily. These herbal tea preparations promote sweating.

In case of fever

• Calf compresses: Only useful for hot legs, not for cold feet! Dip a tea towel in water. This should (can be hand-warm) not be too cold, because the effect relies on evaporative cooling! Wrap the lightly wrung towel around the lower legs (best to protect the bed beforehand, e.g. with a plastic bag). Do not cover the lower legs. Because of the strain on the circulation, never do more than three calf compresses directly in succession. Take breaks!

• Verbena tea: pour 1 tsp per cup with boiling water and let steep for 10 minutes. Drink 1 cup three times daily

• Enema: with lukewarm to cool water. For this you can obtain, for example, an enema bulb at the pharmacy.

Source: Karin Haschenburger and Friederike Stratmann, excerpt from Schnell und sanft published by Narayana Verlag 2015  Sample