Of course I'm not a physician - so that's my disclaimer.
In order to stay as healthy as you can during the cold & flu season, I'm sure you've heard them all but here are the basic rules:
1-Keep your hands away from your face. (Do not touch your mouth, eyes, nose, and/or ears with your hands.)
2-Wash, wash, WASH your hands. This is especially true when entering your home from being in public. (First thing I do after going out is to remove shoes at door, change clothes & wash hands. After grocery shopping I attempt to clean everything I can especially if going into fridge. I've seen too many stockers sneeze into their hands then handle containers as they put them on the shelves!)
3-Do NOT touch anything in the kitchen without washing your hands. Wipe all surfaces regularily. (Can you imagine how filthy that fridge handle can get? How about that counter after a grocery bag has been on a dirty seat/floorboard?)
4-After using the toilet, put the lid down! (Studies have shown that flushing releases some contaminated toilet water particles into the air which can land on nearby surfaces.)
5-Stay 2' or more away from someone coughing and/or sneezing. If at home, use Lysol spray occasionally throughout the day in each room to capture & kill airborne germs.
6-Get plenty of rest. Stay as stress free as possible. Drink plenty of water every day. (Don't forget that refillable water bottle as you head out the door!)
The above rules are especially difficult to enforce with children, especially during school season & are more likely to get sick.
If you are unfortunate enough to catch something regardless of how careful you are, start taking the recommended doses of Zinc & Vit. C tablets & drink more pure water. I believe I've read that it is within these first 4 days after the onset of your symptoms that you are contagious to others.
Generally, unless symptoms last longer than a couple weeks and/or continuous high fever, there's no need for medication! Some people (especially smokers or weak systems) can have symptoms up to 4-6 weeks before it's completely over! Let the body fight it off. By what I understand, one thing you can look at positively is that for the most part, once you catch that strain & your body works through it properly fighting it off, you're then immune to it.
MANY symptoms from your cold/flu can be alleviated & even shorten the duration of it by using natural remedies. When using herbs, FRESH is always best because the potent oils which carry the natural antibodies are alive. I'm sure if you did a search you could find your own but here are my favorite naturopathic prescriptions:
Ginger - #1 steamer, gargle, #1 tea drink (natural antibiotics, we don't use a tea bag but eat the ginger afterward)
Sage - steamer, gargle, tea drink
Garlic - steamer, gargle, #1 tea drink (natural antibiotics, we don't use a tea bag but eat the garlic afterward)
Rosemary - steamer, gargle, tea drink
Chamomile - tea drink (helps sleep)
Slippery Elm - tea drink (alleviates cough)
Mints - tea drink
Sea Salt - gargle, #1 sinus bath
STEAMER:
1. Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil.
2. Get a large bath towel ready.
3. Grate or finely mince 1 rounded tablespoon (or more if desired) of FRESH herb (Ginger is best for steamer & no need to peel it if using it).
4. After water is boiling, remove the pan from the heat & set it on a heatproof pad on the table top (or wherever you can comfortably sit at.
5. Put the prepared herb in.
6. Remember, this was BOILING water so it's still HOT! Safely sit down in front of the pan & make a "tent" with the towel over your head. (I like having my hair pulled back so it's not in the way as my head is bowed over the water.)
7. Slowly & deeply breathe in the medicinal steam through your nose (if possible) then through your mouth. Do this for several minutes (I like to do it till steam is almost gone). Make sure to open your eyes & roll them around to subject them to this healing steam. This steam is also good for the skin!
8. After a few minutes, remove the towel from over your head & stand up. Breathe in slowly & deeply. Cover your mouth with a tissue & cough well to force the lungs to expel the air & hopefully anything foreign. Carefully blow your nose then rinse your face with cool water. Pat dry with the towel.
9. Hang towel out to dry & use later. Discard the water & wash the pan.
10. Do this at least once a day if not several times during your cold/flu.
GARGLE:
1. Mince about 1 tablespoon into a heatproof cup. If using sea salt, use a hefty 4-finger pinch.
2. Pour boiling water into the cup. Cover & steep till it's overly warm.
3. Strain & gargle while overly warm, making sure to get the fluid as far down as possible without swallowing (it won't hurt if you do) to cleanse the throat & lower sinuses as well as possible. Use as needed throughout the day for as long as symptoms last.
SINUS BATH:
1. Wash hands well.
2. In a tiny bowl (approximately 1/8 cup) mix overly warm water along with a good pinch or more of salt (never use iodized for this).
3. Stir till salt is dissolved.
4. Pour very tiny amount of this warm (never cooled) water into palm of your hand, making a small puddle.
5. Lean over a sink & carefully raise your hand up to your nose to snuff into each nostril. This may sting but it does work. Do this several times to bathe the sinuses & alleviate your discomfort.
I love using my Neti pot when my sinuses are dry, suffering from a cold or sinusitis. If you have one, a good solution is: 1 pint water (preferrably distilled), 1-3 teaspoon(s) sea salt, 1 teaspoon baking soda (to adjust the pH for your body). Use warm, several times a day as needed to alleviate your sinus symptoms.
TEA DRINK:
Some things to consider when consuming a tea for medicinal purposes:
1-If using fresh herb mince immediately before using. Do NOT let it sit unused for any length of time because the active properties will dissipate.
2- If having to use dried use MORE because a lot of the active properties have been lost yet is still fair to use.
3-Many herbs can/should be used together to make a tasty tea such as Slippery Elm & mint.
Most do well with honey (never use sugar or substitutes) and lemon juice!
Ginger & Garlic should be used ALONE but can have honey and/or lemon, however you desire.
4-When drinking the tea medicinally it is NOT to be sipped but to be drank quickly while still reasonably hot.
1. Bring desired amount of water to a boil.
2. Prepare fresh or dried herb by either placing it loosely in cup or in a reusable tea bag or infuser. Usually about 1 teaspoon fresh
3. Pour boiling water over the herb. (If using a cold cup, make sure to splash a bit of the water in first & have a spoon in it to absorb some of the heat so the cup won't crack!)
4. Cover & let steep several minutes.
5. Strain or remove infuser.
6. If desired, use honey and/or lemon juice.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
We do enjoy our tea & it is enjoyed along with the ritual of making it - becoming almost reverent by fully using the senses. Indulge me with a little impromptu writing to spur your imagination:
Imagine the start; you feel the heft of the kettle then hear the fresh water as it goes in, the clank as the lid is put on, putting it on the stove, then start the heating process.
Turning aside, you goto choose your favorite cup or mug. Upon seeing it, you reach out to get it & feel the cool material it's made of. Maybe it has a special significance attached to it & the memory makes you smile.
Exiting the kitchen, you go out to the little herb garden by the back door (yeah). Snipping off a few chosen leaves, you bring them in to quickly rinse them, shaking off the excess water then lay them upon the cutting board. Holding your favorite chopping knife in your hand, you watch carefully as you chop it up, releasing some of the active properties that are now tickling your nose, breathing in the pungent fragrance.
Holding open a well-stained cloth tea bag & easing a spoonful of the herb into it, you then pull the strings to close the top. After putting it in your cup, you also put in a favorite little spoon to help ease the heat transition so the heat of the boiling water won't break the mug.
Your kettle is now whistling as it signals its readiness. Carefully lifting the kettle you can feel the heat radiating off it onto your hand then with your other hand, you uncover the spout to gently pour a bit of the water over the tea bag to splash into the bottom of the mug. As you slowly continue to pour the boiling water in, the water's color changes before your eyes. Maybe it's a golden color or maybe green. Filling the mug, you poke the tea bag's material with the spoon to make sure there's no trapped bubbles inside & to make way for all the water to be infused. Covering the mug with a tiny saucer, you turn to clean up the countertop from the bits of herb strewn on it from the vigorous chopping. Rinsing everything off then setting it to dry.
You turn back to your now slightly cooler mug. Carefully taking off the lid, a bit of steam escapes & you once again savor the fragrance. Lifting the tea bag by the strings, you dunk it a few times before lifting the spoon with your other hand & putting the bag into it to gently push down, releasing a few dribbles of darker tea into your mug.
Measuring out a little honey, your tastebuds come alive. You can see & smell the tea as the golden goodness streams into the hot liquid. Picking up the spoon & stirring the tea, it makes a melodious tinkle as it hits the sides.
Wrapping your hands around the mug, you feel the heat & as you lift it toward you, you can see that the tea is still swirling. Lowering your face to the mug, you breathe in the flavor itself, almost becoming heady with it as you begin to taste the wonderful creation you just made. You close your eyes and smile.
Enjoy!
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