Cold and flu season is upon us. It is important to have a good strategy in place before you or your family becomes ill. Being unprepared results in prolonged duration and increased severity of the illness, the use of prescription medications, and missing unnecessary days from work and away from family.
Did you know…
Getting sick can actually be healthy for your immune system?
Think of getting a cold as a necessary “tune up” for your immune system. A healthy cold is one that occurs once or twice a year, comes on quick, produces a fever, is completely gone in 3-4 days, and ends with a sense of increased wellness.
Are you tired of battling lingering sickness the entire winter, taking repeated courses of antibiotics, and never fully recovering only for the process to repeat itself the following winter? Timing is very important. A combination of the following five steps should be started at the immediate onset of any symptoms. This will teach your body to deal with sickness in a more healthful way.
NUMBER ONE:
Get adequate rest and water.
Take the day off to rest when needed. During sleep the body repairs and heals itself. Without sleep, illness tends to drag on and on.
The rule of thumb, for most people, is to drink one half of your weight in ounces per day. For example, a 150-pound person should drink 75 ounces of water per day or about 10 glasses. It is most important to stay hydrated to flush the toxins from the body.
NUMBER TWO:
Eat easy-to-digest foods so the body can focus on healing.
Interestingly, over 50% of our immune system resides in the gut. Stay away from dairy products, sugar, and caffeine as they interfere with the immune system function, increase mucus production, and feed the bugs you are trying to eliminate.
Your diet should consist of soups, broths, steamed vegetables, and lean healthy sources of protein like organic chicken and fish. Garlic, onions, ginger, mustard powder, turmeric, horseradish, rosemary, oregano, and thyme are all foods that support the immune system.
Shannon’s Sick Soup Recipe:
Dice 1 large onion
Chop 3-4 stalks of celery
Chop & peel 4-5 large carrots
Mince 4-5 cloves of garlic
Peel and mince 2 inches of ginger
Chop handful of parsley and cilantro, or other desired herbs
Add ¼ cup of olive oil to a big soup pot. Cook on medium-high the onion, ginger, garlic, and celery until soft (about 4 minutes).
Salt and pepper chicken and add whole chicken to pot. Brown all sides.
Cover with 1quart chicken stock and enough water to cover the chicken. Add the carrots and 2 bay leaves.
Bring soup to a boil then turn heat down to simmer. Cook until chicken is done (about 20 minutes).
When chicken is thoroughly cooked, remove the meat from the bones and put back into pot.
Add chopped parsley and cilantro.
Add red pepper flakes if you would like some spice.
Enjoy and let the healing begin!
Or, try this easy Broth Recipe:
Chop 2 medium zucchini, 1 cup green beans, and 2 stalks celery. Steam until soft (about 10 minutes).
Place steamed vegetables, 3 cups boiling water, and a handful of chopped parsley in blender and blend until smooth.
Add garlic and ginger freely. They fight microbes and decrease inflammation. Salt and pepper to taste.
NUMBER THREE:
Use the warming socks treatment nightly.
This therapy will increase circulation to remove toxins that are keeping you sick. This will significantly shorten the duration of your illness. Many people report that it improves the quality of their sleep.
Directions:
1. Before bed, warm feet in a bath for 5-10 minutes.
2. Next, take a pair of thin cotton socks and wet them with cool water and wring out.
3. Put the socks on your feet and cover immediately with a pair of thick wool socks.
4. Get in bed and make sure to stay warm. If feet are feeling cold or you are unable to sleep, add more blankets. Socks should be dry by the morning.
**Repeat the process each night at first onset of sickness until several days after cessation of symptoms. This therapy is safe and effective for infants and children of all ages.
NUMBER FOUR:
Take a fever bath to raise your temperature.
An elevated temperature is important for your body’s ability to heal. The body requires raised temperatures to stimulate the immune system and rid itself of infection.
Directions:
1. Make sure to be well hydrated.
2. Fill the tub with enough warm water to keep body submerged. Water should be warm but not hot enough to burn you, around 101 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Drinking warm ginger tea with a little added lemon and honey during the process aides in the fever development and keeps you hydrated.
4. Monitor temperature throughout the process. It is ideal to bring the temperature to 101-103 degrees Fahrenheit, without going over 104.
When done, your face may begin to perspire. Cold applications can be applied to the forehead when you become warm.
5. When you have reached the ideal temperature, get out of bath and get wrapped up warm in bed for a nap.
Be warned that this process is usually very draining. It is part of the healing process and it is suggested that you have someone available to assist you.
**Do not do the fever bath therapy if your temperature is already 102 or above.
**This therapy is not intended for infants or children.
NUMBER FIVE:
Use a netti pot several times each day.
The netti pot is an ayurvedic traditional therapy especially helpful if the illness is concentrated in your sinuses or head. The netti pot can be a lifesaver to clear out unwanted stuffiness.
They can be bought, with the salt, at most drug stores. You can make your own saline solution but it is important to get the right amount of non-iodized salt in solution to prevent the feeling of slight burning when it is poured into the nasal passages. If the burning sensation occurs, it may mean that you need to add more salt. With the proper solution and a little practice, this is an easy way to bring relief to a head cold or sinus infection. Check out this instructional video:
To address repeated colds and flus and to receive individualized recommendations to speed recovery,
find a naturopathic physician in your area:
