Lifestyle Trends

(BPT) - For generations, families have passed down home-spun remedies that can help loved ones feel that even during those sniffles and sneezes, they’re cared for. Having a bowl of grandma’s famous soup or your aunt’s special healing concoction can help your body heal and set your mind at ease. Recently, a group of Latina mom bloggers shared their families’ home remedies that bring comfort to loved ones.

“Home remedies come from the heart – and what could be more comforting than that?” asks blogger Ana Flores, of SpanglishBaby.com. “The little gestures matter, whether it’s making a bowl of soup for someone, wrapping them in a warm blanket or giving them a pack of Kleenex brand facial tissue to help with the sniffles.”

Ana shared a few examples of home remedies other moms shared in their blogs:

* Lilian Hurn of SuperBaratisimoGratis.com says that her grandmother had a wealth of advice and practices that helped her ailing family members. To reduce nasal congestion and calm a sore throat, her grandmother put thinly sliced ginger into boiling water, let it steep and then had her family members drink the liquid throughout the day.

* Dania Santana of LaFamiliaCool.com says her mother and grandmother’s cold season cure-all is simple, effective and lasts up to three weeks in the refrigerator. The concoction was made by mixing together aloe vera pulp, lemon juice, horseradish and honey in a blender and then judiciously serving it to sick loved ones.

* Jessica Escobar of JustJessATX.com says that her mom always recommended drinking chamomile (manzanilla) tea – for just about any ailment. She also makes “sopita” (soup) with a kid-friendly twist – using star-shaped pasta instead of rice. Jessica browns a small portion of chicken, adds water, a little bouillon, as well as the stars, and lets her “sopita” simmer for an easy, comforting treat.

“While these home remedies are not scientifically proven, they do demonstrate the need moms have had for generations to comfort their loved ones,” adds Flores. “Everyone can use a bit of comfort, and small gestures can make a big difference.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has some tips of its own to help you through this year’s tough cold and flu season:

* Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Immediately throw the used tissue in the garbage.

* Make sure your workplace has an adequate supply of tissues, soap, paper towels, alcohol-based sanitizing hand rubs and disposable wipes.

* Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth to minimize the spread of germs.

* Stay home when you’re sick.

To show someone how much you care, pick up specially-marked bundle packs of Kleenex brand facial tissue and locate the special code on the package. Enter the code at Kleenex.com to send a Care Pack, which includes hand sanitizer, tissues and more, to someone who needs a little extra comfort when they’re feeling under the weather. To learn more, visit the Spanish-language Kleenex “Softness Worth Sharing” website www.es.kleenex.com/suavidad. While supplies last. Some restrictions apply.