This is me looking super pleased with an abundance of elderflower now that summer has arrived!
It was taken in a beautiful sheltered spot after a very windy walk in Wraxall, North Somerset. I was stood paddling in a stream when my son took the shot. He thought it was very funny and so very me!
I took some elderflower home in my little cloth bag which I keep in my rucksack of useful things, scissors included. I even stuffed some in my water bottle for instant delight!
I thought it would help with the allergy symptoms that were showing up since we had a large bunch of peonies in our house cut from my husband’s kitchen garden.
Once I got home, I realised that I’d felt more assaulted by the wind, rather than cleansed and was so very cold. I took myself to bed sneezing with sore eyes. I had to admit that it wasn’t the peonies causing my eyes to itch and nose to stream. I was coming down with a cold.
What luck that I was ready prepared with the fresh elderflowers!
I stuck some in cold water to infuse and made a pot of elderflower tea as well. I was extremely thirsty and really glad to be in bed with my crochet.
I learned long ago that the No.1 medicine for reducing the severity and length of a cold is immediate bed rest. I had a very slight temperature and my body felt like a lead weight. No point in dragging it out by continuing on with activities; it only suppresses the symptoms, extends the suffering and depletes the system.
When I rest I know that almost all my body’s resources can be directed towards my body’s healing needs. My immune system gets all the energy and nutrients it needs to function at its optimum. Nothing is being sacrificed for the sake of unnecessary activity.
You’ve probably either experienced or witnessed how repeatedly ploughing through and ignoring a cold can lead to a very disappointing holiday. You finally stop to unwind and have some fun in you eagerly awaited break. Only to find you’re so unwell, your body has nothing left and can’t engage in anything but rest. For the whole blooming week.
Without the activity suppressing the symptoms, your body finally has a chance to address the underlying viral load that is building and stop the progressive depletion of your resources, including vital energy and enthusiasm for daily life.
Rest rejuvenates. As does fun. We know this. It’s why we book holidays. However, the needs of the body don’t play along with our schedules. When we need rest, we need rest. When we need healing, we need healing. Ignoring the signs leads to a stronger longer illness.
I get how hard it is as an individual with commitment and responsibility, as well as culturally in a system that encourages keeping going over the physiological needs of the body. However, as far as I can see, nipping it in the bud is the most efficient method to health and vitality.
So I give myself this luxury based upon this principle and I love it! Now if cold symptoms arise, I pack up my resources, as I did when I was nursing a new baby. My survival basket, we called it. Created by my husband who worked out that rather than respond to my repeated, “can you get my …….. for me please”, whilst breastfeeding a new born, he could place all my usuals in a basket to hand.
Book, journal, phone, flask, blanket, chocolate…
And so now I transfer this concept of a survival basket, into a nourishment basket. On Sunday I collected up my crochet, herbal tea, book and chocolate, put my PJs on and got into bed with a smile. Despite my runny nose, sore eyes, slight temperature and tired body. I did all this with eagerness, knowing that this permission comes only very rarely.
As pretty much every day I’m up at 6am, because I love the well-rested positivity, freedom and potential of my mind, and the quite that goes with a sleeping household. I go to bed at 9pm, and ordinarily during the day wouldn’t get into bed to crochet, or read, or to just be.
So I take the opportunity gladly when it comes. Knowing it is exactly what my body needs. Accepting that life has maybe got a bit too busy and stressful lately and that this is my body’s way of getting me to stop.
To stop. To rest. To give my immune system all it needs to do the great job it does. And then to re-stock my resources and ensure I get back to business in an even stronger state than I was before the cold.
This is how I arrange my life to support my body’s physiological needs. Giving time to allow healing and a return to strength.
Herbs also come in to play their part in this supportive process.
Elderflower is antiviral and mildly drying. So it can work to reduce the viral load as well as reducing over-zealous mucous secretions. Mucous does a great job of expelling pathogens, and sometimes can overdo it and lead to congestion or sinusitis. Elderflower reduces secretions without over-drying and leaving a sore membrane, also allowing the mucous to continue its job of expulsion. I add fresh mint from the garden to support the decongestive process and avoid that head pain that can come with all that stuffiness.
Elderflower is really great for sinusitis which is a complication following a cold and can be avoided with proper care. Like the avoidance of nose blowing.
The lovely tiny white floral scented blossoms are also a well-known preventative and treatment for hay fever in combination with other herbs which work as antihistamines, as well as drying eye and nasal secretions.
For cold and flu treatment, elderflower is often combined with other herbs in a hot tea which help in numerous ways, such as, to reduce the temperature through sweating, to bring down the viral load, to soothe a sore throat or cough, provide gentle sedation for a more easeful rest, and boost the immune system.
All this in a cup of delicious tea!
Without the added nasties of over-the-counter drugs. Without suppression of symptoms.
Only working with the body. Boosting our natural resources so that our body is in the best position to do exactly what it’s meant to do. Return us to a state of wellness ready to embrace life.
Feed the body with plant nutrients to power up and recover stronger with more vitality for whatever comes next!
Like an early morning countryside run or a swim in Clevedon marine as I did this week!
Do things that work with your body. Rest. Take herbs.
It is time that we really own our rest. Value it. Enjoy it.
And, it is time to remember the power of our green allies!
I recommend you harvest a cluster of delicious elderflower today and place it straight into your water bottle for instant delight! Leave it overnight for an even stronger experience.
And whilst drinking, have a think about how you could own your rest next time your body shows a need.
If you would like to book a herbal telephone or Zoom consultation with me, please get in touch. I’d love to work with you!
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