Staying healthy is all about giving your body the right foods at the right time, exercising regularly and making sure you are properly hydrated. Be kind to your body both inside and out; you’ll feel and see the benefits.

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Cold Remedies
Detoxification
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The Ruddy Potato stocks a full range of minerals and vitamins to supplement your diet. We specialise in stocking as many locally grown and processed herbs as possible. Our main vitamin and mineral supplier is Natural Factors.

Natural Factors is a family-owned, BC based business which has been producing quality supplements in North America for more than 50 years. They grow their own organic herbs and process them fresh from the fields. Natural Factors’ head office and new state-of-the-art production facilities are located in Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada. For more details visit www.naturalfactors.com.

ReCleanse® Herbal Cleanse is the gentle and effective, 7-Day Whole Body Detox that you can use as often as you like.

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Cold Remedies
Coming down with a cold? It’s that time of year when a few sniffles can easily turn in to a full blown cold. What can you do to boost your immune system and keep that cold at bay? There are a variety of vitamins and minerals which will boost the body’s immune system to help fight a cold or reduce the symptoms.

• Vitamin C: Anti-inflammatory, immune boosting/antioxidant qualities.
• Zinc: Increases immune system function.
• Beta-carotene: Helps clear mucous membranes as it boots vitamin A production.
• Garlic: A natural antibacterial/antiviral/antibiotic.
• Echinacea/Goldensea/Oil of Oregano: Increases and supports the immune system. Natural antibiotics.

ESSENTIAL OILS
Lavender Sponge To bring down a fever more rapidly, add 2 drops of lavender oil to a bowl of tepid water. Use a face cloth or soft cotton cloth to sponge your neck, forehead, arms, hands, legs and feet with the solution.
Eucalyptus Oil is a fantastic natural decongestant and can be used in a vaporiser, oil burner or dabbed on a cotton ball and placed in your pillowcase.
Thyme Steam Thyme is an excellent decongestant for the nose and lungs. 4 drops of thyme essential oil can be added to a humidifier or aromatherapy burner. Fresh or dried leaves of the herb can be added to a bowl of hot water.

HERBAL TEAS
Teas
• Ginger: Is cleansing and increases perspiration.
• Chamomile: relaxes and promotes sleep
• Sage: decongests and reduces fevers.
• Lemon Balm: decongests and reduces fever

These teas should be made fairly weakly and can be sweetened with honey (a great antibacterial in itself) or apple juice.

To reduce fevers, a weak tea made from spearmint or raspberry leaf can be given. Add 2 teaspoons or 1 teabag to 2 cups of boiling water, steep for 5 minutes, strain and cool. The teas can be sweetened with a little honey or add flavour with a few drops of lemon. For infants under 18 months, dilute this tea again 50:50 with cool boiled water or juice and give it to your child in a dropper or bottle, If you child won’t drink the tea, try pure frozen fruit juice bars.

Ginger Tea
Ginger promotes perspiration and helps eliminate chills. Place a 1cm piece of peeled and coarsely grated fresh ginger root (this amount is equivalent to 2 teaspoons) in a teapot or bowl and pour over 1 ½ cups of boiling water. Cover and allow to stand for 5-10 minutes, allow to cool to warm and add a dash of honey and a couple of drops of lemon to taste. Ginger teas are also available fat The Ruddy Potato.

Lemon
Lemon has antibacterial properties and its fresh scent will clear the air and head. 2-4 drops can be added to a humidifier or burner or fresh lemon can be added to water for a refreshing and soothing drink.

Salt Water Gargle
A salt-water solution will help soothe a sore throat that may accompany a cold or flu. A teaspoon of salt can be added to a cup of warm water. Stir it to dissolve the salt and gargle. This can be repeated up to 3 times per day.

Drink for the Sniffles
Mixing honey into a cup of warm milk is a good bedtime remedy for little ones with the sniffles who find getting to sleep difficult when they are not well. At The Ruddy we have a full range of medicinal teas from Traditional Medicinal: Cold Formulae, Ginger Aid, Throat and Echinacea Tea. To boast your immune system we stock Echinacea, Oil of Oregano and Natural Factors Echinacea throat and cold relief products. To soothe your throat try Herbon throat lozenges. Our essential oils will aid you in making decongestants.

Still Sneezing? We carry Seventh Generation environmentally friendly tissues: Hypo-allergenic, whitened without chemicals; no chlorine, added dyes or fragrances.

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The Ruddy Potato Store is located in the Village Square across from the Post Office.
Box 308, #201-2-3, 996 Dorman Road, Bowen Island, BC, Canada V0N 1G0