colds and flu

♫ Tis the Season for Colds and Flus ♫

A cold is a healing reaction, where the body is attempting to regain balance after having been affected by physical or emotional stresses. Examples of physical stress are over-eating, over-drinking, viral infection, changes in temperature. Fever and mucus discharges are a way of ridding the body of external influences and waste build-up.
Colds do not require treatment, they are the treatment. You can speed up the healing process however, by encouraging the body to discharge the disturbance, and return to optimal health. I have listed some of my favourite tips for treating colds and flus below.

10 Naturopathic Tips for Colds & Flus

1. For a cold and ordinary sniffles- remain active, light exercise e.g. walking, as moving around helps to loosen built up mucus and fluids. This applies unless you have a fever.

2. Cut down on solid food for at least one day and drink plenty of fluids. Digesting food requires energy that the body might better utilize fighting viral or bacterial infection. Increasing fluids will thin the mucus, making it easier to expel and also prevent dehydration.

3. Herbal teas – Yarrow, ginger, lemon balm, thyme (helps rid the nasal passage of mucus and thins mucus out)

4. Manuka honey- 1 tsp in warm water (not boiling water as it kills the antibacterial activity of it), squeeze the juice of half a lemon (vitamin c), Grate ½ to 1 inch of ginger root add together and drink 2 to 3 cups per day. Manuka honey is antibacterial, antiviral, immune boosting and is a natural antibiotic.

5. Echinacea or Elderberry (tincture or tablet form). 1 tsp three times a day for adult. Both boost the immune system, and are antiviral & antibacterial. Elderberry contains antioxidant flavonoids that protect cell walls against foreign substances. Hold the Echinacea at the back of throat as long as possible, then swallow this is good for clearing up strep throat.

6. Vitamin C 500mg 4 to 5 times a day in divided doses. Helps to fight virus and boost the immune system.

7. Zinc lozenges- Boosts the immune system.

8. Garlic- Raw Garlic in food. Boosts the immune system, and is antiviral, antibacterial & antibiotic.

9. Salt water gargle- excellent for sore throats. Salt water soothes the throat and kills bacteria and virus. Add two teaspoons of sea salt per glass of warm water.

10. Eucalyptus essential oil-is helpful for relieving congestion. Put 5 drops in a hot bath or 6 drops in 2 cups of boiling water and inhale the steam, or 3 drops on a hanky and breath in deeply. (Rosemary or Sage oil can be added to the bath as both will aid in the clearing up of congestion.)

All of the above are Adult dosage, Check with a health care practitioner for dosage for children.