How to heal the natural way
The time of year when the seasons change is a risky one for colds and flu. Bodies already stressed by the temperature and barometric changes encounter viruses and BAM, you or your children are sick. It's miserable. What can you do?
Rest and Keep Warm
This allows your body to apply more energy to healing. Avoid going to the store, to parties, or out with friends, both to conserve energy and to keep from spreading the infection.
Drink a Lot of Healthy Liquids
Avoid soda or sugary drinks like energy drinks. Sugar knocks down your immune system. Drink clear liquids like water, tea, pure fruit juices, and broth. Pineapple juice, dark grape juice, apple juice, cranberry, and pomegranate juices are particularly helpful.
Gargle with Saltwater
Mix a spoonful of salt in with warm water and gargle several times a day. This can soothe an irritated throat, and the salt can help kill germs.
Use Steam to Clear Your Sinuses
Take a hot shower (this also relaxes tight muscles. For more focused steam, heat a pot of water to boiling, drape a towel over your head, and breathe in the steam until it cools. Add essential oils such as eucalyptus, balsam, and sage to increase the effectiveness of the steam in relieving sinus symptoms.
Use Natural Remedies to Buoy Up Your Immune System
Goldenseal and echinacea tea, vitamin C, and zinc all help aid your immune system. Garlic has antibiotic properties. Licorice root tea with some Don Victor Honey can soothe a sore throat. Eucalyptus clears sinuses. Ginger tea can help settle an uneasy stomach.
Use a Neti Pot to Wash Sinuses
Neti pots help relieve congestion and can prevent or aid with healing of sinus infections. Follow the directions carefully.
Eat Appropriately
Avoid junk food. Eat lightly and avoid bogging down your system with heavy foods. Eat fruits and vegetable juices. Yes, chicken soup can be helpful, but you want the kind with lots of garlic, turmeric, chilis, and vegetables in it. You can even skip the chicken and make a healthy veggie soup. Dry toast, crackers, applesauce, blueberries, bananas, and yogurt are also easy foods on a sick stomach.
If you have trouble breathing, hallucinations or difficulty remaining conscious, go to the ER or urgent care. If you have a fever of over 104 or a fever that lasts more than three days, you develop wheezing or severe localized pain, you have unrelenting vomiting, or symptoms increase in severity rather than start to improve after a few days, call your doctor. If it is a child with the 104 fever, go to the ER.
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