Over the past five years we have had the same debate as most small independent shops: should we open on a Sunday? So far we have managed to resist, as it gives us the certainty of one day off a week. Everyone needs time to rest and it would be hard to advise customers to ensure they make time to rest and recover if we did not do it ourselves. We enjoy our Sundays!

So with winter coming up we thought it might be handy to tell you about some natural remedies and treatments you can use at home when the shops are shut and you require some natural healing. We have put together a list of remedies you may have in the kitchen, along with some of the basics you may wish to stock up on.

Colds & Flu’s

Echinacea and Vitamin C can play a role in helping your immune system fight infections. Buy a mix of herbs for your infection: for example soothing herbs for tickly coughs; expectorant and antifective herbs to thin the mucous and fight the infection of chesty coughs.
Rest is probably the best thing you can do – your body’s immune system works best when you are asleep, resting is second best.

• Eat well, giving your body the nutrients it requires to overcome the illness.
• Try making a thick vegetable soup. Raid your culinary herbs to make an infusion of thyme (for infections) or sage (for sore throats).Or eat garlic or onions (as raw as possible).
• Stomach-Ache/Indigestion Chamomile, peppermint and fennel herbal teas may sooth your digestion. Gently massage your stomach in a clockwise direction (downwards on your left handside). This is the direction your large intestine flows.

Toothache

Find a dentist!
To tide yourself over consider using a drop of clove oil as pain relief, carefully dab it onto the tooth (not the gums). Make a strong infusion of clove buds and use as a mouth wash. A gargle of sage and thyme may also help. Salty water may help. Sore Back from Over
Exertion Ointments and oils which are anti-inflammatory e.g. containing Arnica, or warming, e.g. Tiger Balm. Heat will help with any muscle spasms, a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel and placed over the problem area, a warm bath and then gentle stretching
or a rub from a friend.

Burns in the Kitchen

• Before doing anything hold in cold running water for 10 minutes.
• Apply Aloe vera gel or after sun lotion. Break a leaf from an Aloe vera plant and apply the gel to the burn. Grow Aloe vera in the kitchen for this reason.

Hangovers

• Milk thistle is a classic herbal remedy for hangovers (taken before or after the night before).
• Drink lots of water!
• If feeling nauseous try ginger tea. Simply grate some fresh ginger root into a cup and add boiling water.

We hope these give you some ideas for what you could do to help yourself - there are plenty more available. If you would like to learn more, we are running an “Introduction to Herbal First Aid” from the 6th of December, or find yourself find a good book (we like Herbal First Aid by Andrew Chevalier, £3.50 - click here for more information).