Here in Auckland. New Zealand, the temperature has dropped suddenly and facebook is awash with sickness status updates. My response to this onslaught of snot and vomit is a passionate: no thank you!
Prevention is the best thing I believe, rather than having to deal with symptoms once they arrive. I am writing briefly rather than going deep into descriptions. I could write a novel chapter on each but that would be tedious for you to read and I don't really have the time :)
Please feel free to research these further if you so desire. And always remember that I am not a doctor or qualified health practitioner (though I plan on changing that)
Here is my listy list of action.
1. Colloidal silver:
Anti-viral, anti-bacterial. Good for the whole family. Great for cold/flu and tummy bugs.
Use as directed on the bottle. I take 5mls daily and give my daughter 2mls daily as a maintenance dose. If sniffles or tickles arise, I up to dose to 2-3 times daily. This has sorted us out every time so far.
2. Lemons:
First thing in the morning, lemon squeezed into warm, purified water. Use lemon rind (ALWAYS organic, never use conventional lemon rind unless you want a cocktail of pesticides and nasties going into your system) in your teas. soups, sauces/dressings and smoothies.
3. Garlic:
Raw garlic. Blend into dressings and sauces for dinner, or make a guacamole and add as many cloves as you can handle. Overcooking garlic will reduce the medicial benefits so raw is best.
4. VITAMIN C.
You know the deal.
5. Food suggestions:
Yummy squash, kumara (sweet potato) carrots and pumpkin. Steam or gently cook them in coconut oil. Soup, soup and more soup. Easy to digest and choc full of nutritional goodness. Combine with dark leafy greens, garlic and lemon. ZINC (pumpkin seeds/or supplement), SELENIUM (brazil nuts x 3 per day) and VITAMIN D (sunlight, cod liver oil, dandelion flowers, organic butter) are essential to your immune function.
6. COCONUT OIL:
My current best friend. Anti-viral, anti-microbial, anti-bacterial. Use for all of your cooking and add a spoonful to your tea (green, white, oolong, black teas) is also good added to your morning espresso.
If you have a scratchy throat, suck some off a spoon with a little manuka honey and enjoy the soothing benefits.
7. Teas:
Here are a list of teas that are good for the immune system, and some herbs that can be drunk as teas.
Loose leaf rather than tea bag.
Green, matcha, yerba mate, oolong, spicy chai, Rooibos (very good for immunity and to drink if you have caught something already).
Herbs: Elderflower, yarrow, hibiscus flower, peppermint, ginger, licorice root, nettle (my favourite).
These herbs can be found at stores like harvest wholefoods and occasionally at health 2000 and hardy's health stores.
I personally crank the green tea with coconut oil and manuka honey, and make a combination of yerba mate and peppermint. In south america they often add lavender flower or lemon rind to their yerba mate for immune support.
8. Honey.
Manuka, raw is best or stirred into not boiling hot tea or with lemon. Suck off the spoon!
As mentioned earlier, mix with a little coconut oil for throat soothing and immune support.
9. Funny movies and positive vibes.
Try to remove stress triggers as much as possible. Cuddle up with your whanau and friends while watching funny movies. This is what winter is for in my opinion!
Exercise comes under the positive vibes banner. Bad weather need not be a party spoiler. Yoga in your lounge, dance to your favourite music. If you have kids, chase them while laughing maniacally. The tibetan rites are amazing and include downward facing dog, which is great for the immune system. I included the thymus thump in my yoga routine. This stimulates your immune system :) There are many people on youtube demonstrating how to do this.
10. And finally....
If you believe you are going to catch every seasonal thing that is going around, you probably will.
Remember that your body is an AWESOME, wise machine. We just need to treat them will a little more grace and respect and feed them with super good foods and super good thoughts more often.
That is all from me. I have a daughter reaching for some cuddles with a pile of books at her feet. Time for some number 9.
May the winter season treat you well and may you treat yourselves well.
xx
