What do you do when you find yourself in the midst of flu season? And what about that dreadful situation at work when a couple of your colleagues come to the office barely able to say a few words without sneezing or blowing their nose? And, always seem to want to talk to you, or cough in your direction!
A few weeks ago I was actually in the middle of that dreadful scenario myself. By the end of the day, whether in my mind or for real, I felt like I was starting to come down with something. And believe me, getting sick wasn’t on my list of things to do.
Here are several things that you can do to nip this baby in the bud before it gets you. I know these work because
I managed to dodge the bullet even though I kept rubbing shoulders with my sick colleague for the next few days.
- Gargle with sea salt. Infection seems to often sit in the back of the throat. Gargling helps to clear it out and the anti-bacterial properties of sea salt help to move out the bad bugs. You can also use a nettie pot or a bottle to flush out your sinuses – it will do the same thing.
- Drink my special Ginger-Turmeric tea. Take as much of it as you can in – it’s a tremendous immune system booster, has anti-inflammatory properties, plus it’ll keep you warm and cozy inside.
- Load up on garlic! I know it’s not for everyone but if you really want to prevent any cold or flu, garlic is your best friend. The raw-er, the better! I usually make a tub of mashed potatoes and mix in 4-5 cloves of crushed garlic. Then I take a big spoon and go through the tub.
- Take 1,500-2,000 mg of Vitamin C. You know what it does. You can take it all in one sitting or spread it out throughout the day. Pills, capsules or powder – any form works.
- Try Oil of oregano. This one is good but not 100% necessary if you’re doing #1-4. I use it when I have to be out during the day because it’s easy to slip in your purse and take 3-4 drops every few hours throughout the day. You can also buy it in capsules. Oil of oregano is a powerful anti-bacterial. If you’ve never tried it before, be very careful. Mix a few drops with an ounce of water and drink. Once you’re used to its strength, you’ll be able to take it on its own. You can buy oil of oregano at Whole Foods, Berkeley Bowl, Rainbow, Real Food Market, and any health food store.
- Sugar and any form of it including white flour baked goods and alcohol. Sugar takes a serious toll on your immune system;
- Dairy since it tends to promote congestion in some people;
- Excessive caffeine as it drains your energy and undermines the hormonal balance.
Now if you do all these things but continue to eat poorly, you might not get the good results. And while I am not guaranteeing that these remedies will work 100% of the time, you have a really good chance to walk away cold- or flu-free if you stick to the majority of my suggestions for at least 4-5 days.
What are some of the natural things you do to fight off an oncoming cold or flu?
