Naturalize your medicine cabinet: prepare for cold and flu season by stocking up on these 5 natural remedies

Pulling your sweaters out of storage and putting your garden to bed aren't the only things you should be doing to prepare for winter. It's also a good time to stock your medicine and kitchen cabinets with natural remedies from your favorite health food store. Consider these five feel-better candidates.

echinacea

Many people reach for this versatile herb at the first sign of a cold or flu, hoping to bolster their immune systems. "It is most effective as a tincture [a highly concentrated extract], but drinking a strong tea made from a good-quality plant up to five times a day is helpful too," says herbalist Nancy Phillips, co-author of The Herbalist's Way.

ginger

Consider keeping a flesh piece of gingerroot in the refrigerator at all times. To make a tea that eases nausea or stomach cramps, boil three thin slices per cup of water. Make extra so you have ginger tea to pour into your bath to remedy body aches. Eating a small piece of candied ginger does the trick to calm an upset stomach too.

garlic

Garlic appears to have antimicrobial properties that fight bacterial infection and possibly viruses too. Remove the papery skin from a clove of garlic, and slowly suck on the dove to ease a sore throat, suggests Phillips. Chop a clove, and mix it with a bit of honey to help your respiratory system recover from a cough or infection. You can also add it to soups for extra protection.

acidophilus

Acidophilus is a type of probiotic; probiotics are live microorganisms that may improve your intestinal balance. Acidophilus has been used to prevent and treat some gastrointestinal disorders, including antibiotic-associated diarrhea and some infectious and viral diarrheas. "Fifty to 60 percent of the immune system is controlled by the stomach. If something--such as diarrhea--reduces the amount of good bacteria in your body, it means that your immune system may be compromised, and you need to restore it," says Robert Garrison, a registered pharmacist and co-author of Pharmacist's Guide to Over-the-Counter and Natural Remedies.

Look for acidophilus in the refrigerated section of your health food store, or ask for Acidophilus Pearls, a new product that is specially packaged to withstand room temperature.

essential oils

Eucalyptus steam inhalations are particularly effective for coughs and bronchitis, says Suzann Wang, ND, of Palo Alto, California. Simply fill a mug halfway with boiling water, add three to five drops of eucalyptus essential oil, cup your free hand over your nose and the mug and inhale the vapors for three to five minutes. Also, applying a couple of drops of lavender or peppermint essential oil on your temples, the nape of neck and the back of your head may combat headaches.

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