Ugh. It happened.
You caught that cold.
What? It feels like the flu?? Ok. As my father-in-law liked to say, this is a No-Panic-Situation. Let's be proactive, shall we? Empower yourself by taking these super simple steps to feel better and give your body the support it needs.
By popular request, here are just a few of my favorite reminders when you or someone you love has a cold or flu. And if you want to know what to Eat when you're sick (or to prevent getting sick) I've got some recipes for you that are so delicious you'll want to eat them any time. Find them here. And, here's one of my audios all about healing the flu.
Skip the Sugar: Sugar shocks and suppresses the immune system by decreasing the germ-killing ability of our white blood cells by 50% for up to five hours!! Take a listen to my audio programs n and Best and Worst Sweeteners to learn more here. Or, grab my book, Wellness for Women. Eating a lot of refined sugar, like Starbucks, sweet treats, sweetened yogurts and energy bars can contribute to a weakened defense against bacterial or viral infection. Try natural, no-calorie stevia to sweeten coffee or tea, avoid soda and fruit juice, and make a real effort to avoid ultra-processed carbohydrates like breads, pastas, crackers, cereals and fat-free snacks -- flour and sugar together are a double whammy. Do your best to eat real, whole foods as nature intended -- all colors of the rainbow -- and include whole fruits that are in season, especially apples, pears, persimmons and pomegranates, to satisfy your sweet tooth and provide antioxidants to keep you well.
Wash your hands frequently and keep your hands away from your face: A no-brainer. Do not use an anti-bacterial soap. These contain toxic chemicals and may actually be contributing to a rise in antibiotic resistant bacteria. Instead, use a castile soap that contains tea tree oil, a natural antiseptic and antifungal, antibacterial.
Get plenty of rest and sleep: Sleep and adequate rest will help build up your resistance against potential invaders. When your body becomes over-fatigued, it's more difficult to fight the flu. Do your best to get to bed by 10 pm and take time during the day to rest. No TV, no book, no computer -- just time to be still, daydream, meditate and let your mind and spirit be at ease.
Reduce stress: Find a way to relax and release stress on a daily basis. Such methods may include meditation, gentle walks, exercise, yoga, journaling and balancing acupuncture sessions. Stress, frustration and unresolved grief and anger can compound and weaken your immune response, allowing pathogens to have easier access to creating illness. Studies show that up to 90% of dis-ease and illness are stress-related.
Eat raw garlic: Garlic contains powerful antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties that keep colds and flu at bay, and can also shorten the duration of a cold or flu. It destroys and/or inhibits various bacteria and fungi, with an antibacterial action equivalent to 1% penicillin! Garlic is even effective against strep, staph, and anthrax bacteria. Remember, it needs to be RAW and it needs to be smashed or chopped up fine to release its active components. Always eat raw garlic with other foods to avoid stomach upset. It's easy to mix with avocado or add to salad dressings. Raw garlic is one of my favorite superfoods! It's also great to reduce inflammation, protect your heart, lower blood pressure, fight cancer, aid weight loss, and fight all kinds of infections. Share it with a friend and eat it daily 😈 If you just can't swallow raw garlic, try a garlic supplement. You can search my dispensary to find one HERE.
Use hydrogen peroxide: One of the most important and simple things you can do is to use hydrogen peroxide in a bath or in your ears. What?! In my ears?! Yes, honey! Use simple 3% hydrogen peroxide that you find at the drug store, dump a bottle in your bath or even more effective, put about a few drops in each ear, several times a day. You'll feel and hear it bubbling and fizzing -- and it will begin working to kill a cold or flu bug within minutes. This will more than likely stop a flu reaction all together! For many years people in the know have been attacking the influenza virus and common cold where they begin their breeding process, in the inner ear (middle). It IS important to begin treatment as soon as symptoms appear for this remedy to be most effective. I learned this from Dr. Mercola over 15 years ago. This simple treatment has no side effects and those drops cost less than a penny per dose, so you really don't have much to lose. Plus, it is less toxic and more effective than any flu vaccine on the planet. *You can also spray hydrogen peroxide on surfaces as a natural antiseptic. Find a great recipe here:
Cleanse your sinuses: Neti Nasal Cleansing. This is an ancient healing system from India, done effectively by billions of people for thousands of years. This simple, easy and soothing technique can reduce viruses in addition to providing relief from sinus congestion. Even Dr. Oz recommends it. As he said in Healthy Living Magazine: "When you use it [a Neti pot] properly, it reduces dust and other contaminants in the nose, and it's a very effective way to clean the sinuses. Modern studies are showing that it's as effective as drugs for preventing sinus infections. Regular use of a neti pot is also hugely beneficial for people with nasal allergies and headaches. It just takes all the gelatinous goo out of there." Well, we could all use that! Regular neti nasal cleansing helps to keep us healthy and well all year long.
Grab some Ginger: Ginger has been traditionally used to treat colds and flu for generations. Studies have shown that ginger helps kill influenza viruses (even avian flu), and that it increases the immune system's ability to fight infection. Ginger contains nearly a dozen antiviral compounds. It's pain relieving, antiseptic and antioxidant. It is valuable for preventing and treating colds, sore throats and inflammation of mucus membranes. Ginger reduces pain and fever and has a mild sedative effect that will encourage rest. And it's tasty, too! To drink as tea, soak fresh ginger in hot water. Include it in meals like soups and salads -- see a really great soup recipe here. Ginger is also delicious in a green smoothie or juice.
Protect yourself with Vitamin D and Probiotics: Our key defense against viruses like colds and flu is our immune system -- and 70 percent of our immune system is located in our gut. This means that if our digestive system is overrun with bad bacteria, there's a good chance our immune system will not be functioning at its best. Introducing friendly bacteria into the gut improves how we absorb vitamins, nutrients and co-factors, so overall immunity is boosted. This is especially important if we exist largely on diets of processed and pasteurized foods, which are virtually devoid of the friendly bacteria we need to flourish -- and if we've taken antibiotics, which kill both the good and bad bacteria in our gut, leaving barren territory for all sorts of trouble to brew. It is best to eat our probiotics through cultured and fermented foods like real, raw sauerkraut, kim chee, cultured veggies, miso or natto. If you don't eat these foods regularly, consider a probiotic supplement. Grab yours HERE. And, hey, if you didn't already know, vitamin D is a must. Studies have found high vitamin D levels to be associated with lower risk of infections of the upper respiratory tract (colds). 2000 - 5000 IU/day vitamin D supplementation is found to significantly increase the probability of staying infection free all year-round. Not all vitamin D is created equal, though. Get healthy sun exposure in the morning hours and find your top quality vitamin D3 with vitamin K added for extra benefit in my dispensary, HERE.
There's a crystal for that ... Get stoned with Quartz Crystal - a universal and all-embracing healing stone. Quartz is so potent that it affects all energetic levels, raising our vibration to obtain higher levels of health, well being, clarity and connection to spirit. Keep one near you, on your desk or nightstand, in your pocket, wear as jewelry, tuck one in your bra or just hold one. Learn more about getting stoned with quartz here
Stay tuned-up, balanced and healthy with regular acupuncture visits: Acupuncture activates your immune system. The oldest medical book in the world, "The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Medicine" first told us, and modern research in China confirms it. Acupuncture reduces stress while it improves the immune function and prevents colds, flu and infections. Here are a few EPIC points for cold, flu and sore throat. Or, better yet, book your session now.
Rub these points:
Most of all, when you have a cold or flu, be gentle with yourself. Treat yourself like someone you love. Nurture yourself the best you can, give yourself time to truly rest and heal. Try not to push through it or load yourself up with Dayquil to get through work. Your body can only heal when you rest. Give yourself the gift of your own love and care.
Here are a few more tips on staying healthy , for those times when you're run-down, when you have a fever, when you have a cough or sore throat and recipes for what to eat when you're sick (or to prevent getting sick!)
Be well and Rock on, Sister 🔮
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