Minaam Jamil
Dec 23, 2025Jump To Section
Let’s be honest: the old saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” was probably invented by a very hopeful orchard owner. Apples are lovely—crunchy, sweet, and full of fiber—but when winter rolls in like a frosty ninja with sniffles and sore throats, we need a little more than fruit and optimism.
So, what actually keeps children out of the clinic during winter?
Let’s talk about the real MVPs of natural immunity—no sugar coating (unless it’s Manuka honey with a therapeutic UMF).
Elderberry: The Berry That Fights Like a Warrior Princess
Elderberry tincture is my go-to for immune support. It’s like giving your child’s immune system a sword, shield, and a motivational speech.
DIY Elderberry Syrup Recipe
Ingredients:
Instructions:
Dosage: 1 tsp daily for children (age 2+), 1 tbsp for adults. Double it if the sniffles sneak in.
Manuka Honey: Sweet, Sticky, and Smarter Than Your Average Spoonful
Not all honey is created equal. Manuka honey with a therapeutic UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) is like the Harvard graduate of honeys. It’s antibacterial, antiviral, and tastes like dessert disguised as medicine.
Goldenseal Tincture: The Bitter Truth That Works
Yes, it tastes like a forest floor. Yes, your child might make dramatic faces. But goldenseal is a powerful antimicrobial and respiratory & digestive support. I use it sparingly and wisely—like a few drops in drinking water. If the water is homemade filtered or spring) Ruqya water, this is the best!
Bone Broth & Meat Broth: Grandma Was Right (But Make It Pasture-Fed)
If elderberry is the sword, broth is the armor. I swear by:
🕰 Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride’s Wisdom:
Add garlic, onion, herbs, and love. Bonus: your house will smell like a hug.
Aromatherapy & Humidifiers: Because Dry Air Is a Villain
Winter air in Calgary? Drier than a toddler’s logic.
Gemmotherapy: Baby Buds, Big Benefits
Gemmotherapy uses extracts from young plant buds—think of it as the plant’s baby energy. It’s gentle, powerful, and ideal for children’s immune support. Favorites include:
Bonus Tips
Final Word: Apples Are Cute, But Broth Is Boss
So yes, give your child apples. But also give them broth, berries, buds, and a winter wellness routine that’s rooted in nature and sprinkled with love. And if they still end up at the doctor’s office? You tried. You’re amazing. And you probably packed elderberry syrup in your purse anyway.
FAQs
Here you go, Minaam — a clean, polished FAQ section based entirely on your content, keeping the playful tone but making it super clear and useful.
Not quite. Apples are nutritious, but winter brings extra challenges like dry air, viruses, and weakened immunity. Children usually need more than 1 fruit to stay well during cold months, like oranges provide vitamin C to fight flu better. And ofcourse berries!
Elderberry is commonly used for general immune support. Many people use it during winter to help the body respond to seasonal sniffles.
You simmer dried elderberries with water and spices, strain, cool, and mix with raw Manuka honey. It’s stored in the fridge and used within a couple of months.
Manuka honey with a therapeutic UMF rating is known for its antibiotic properties. People often use it in winter for throat comfort.
Goldenseal is a bitter herbal extract often used in small amounts for general antimicrobial support. Because it’s strong, you add a few drops in drinking water to gain benefit.
Both are popular winter staples for warmth and nourishment.
Yes. Dry winter air can irritate sinuses and skin. Humidifiers help maintain moisture, making breathing more comfortable and reducing dryness-related discomfort.
Gemmotherapy uses extracts from young plant buds. Some people use it for gentle immune and inflammation support. Popular options include blackcurrant bud and rosehip bud.
These practices can support general wellness, but children may still get sick sometimes — and that’s okay to build natural immunity.
My name is Minaam Jamil, and I’m a natural health practitioner with a background in pharmacy, a heart rooted in holistic healing, and a journey shaped by many cultures. I was born in Pakistan, lived in the UK, Middle East, and now call Calgary home. Each place gifted me a different kind of wisdom scientific, spiritual, ancestral and together they’ve shaped how I care for others. I started The Natural Healing Haven because I know what it feels like to search for answers that conventional medicine can’t always provide. After years in pharmacy and becoming a mother, I felt called to explore gentler, more intuitive ways of healing ones that honor the body’s design, the soul’s needs, and the sacred connection between the two.
