Here’s a to-do list instead for cold and flu season.

First the difference: Cold vs. Flu

You can get a cold or flu any time of the year but fall and winter tend to be the time we can suffer the most. Yes, it is because we are inside more, in close contact with other people and often breathing dry, less than fresh air.

Cold Symptoms

Colds tend to start with sore throats, stuffy noses, cough and congestion. It lasts about 1-2 weeks, goes from clear discharges to colored mucus, and may leave us with a residual cough, especially if we are always indoors breathing dry, less than clear fresh air.

Flu Symptoms

The flus we think about in winter, may start and look like a cold, but usually have a fever and muscle aches, which may be severe or mild.

Conventional Medicine has symptom relief suggestions only. The flu vaccine was developed, as is true of most vaccines, because we have no “cure” for it. This is not a blog about vaccines, which I am happy to do, if requested in the future, so I leave the choice of a vaccine up to you.

Suggestions

Remember that 75% of all mortality and morbidity could be improved/eliminated with focus on the basics.

• Make sure to get enough sleep
• Eat good deep nourishing foods such as soups and stews,
• Drink plenty of fluids, room temperature or teas
• Get outside everyday
• Get lots of hugs and kisses 🙂
• Get some good spices in your food every day, like ginger and cinnamon.
• Eat lots of root veggies, like beets, carrots, sweet potatoes, turnips and cooked greens.
• Make sure you have plenty of good fats in your diet, cold fresh water fish if you eat it, flax, chia, evening primrose, walnut, grape seed , hemp – as seeds or oils.
• We need more fat in the winter.
• Moisten, moisten, moisten – fluids, foods, showers, steams, nasal sprays, baths.
• Wash your hands – do not use antibacterial soap – these are viruses.
• Take something for supporting your immune system to stay balanced
  – the foods I suggested are already doing that.
• Think about mushrooms, yes eating any kind is great.
• An herbal supplement might be reishi (a mushroom), astragalus, or elderberry.
• I love Herbs for Kids brand for all ages for good organic alcohol free liquids.
• I love Fungi Perfecti and New Chapter brands for mushrooms.
• Local honey – the less processed the better – is the best immune support.

Homeopathic/Herbal Remedies for the Flu

Usually a particular homeopathic remedy comes up for the way the flu is presenting each year. I have not got that info yet but there are tried and true remedies.

• First Oscillicoccicum by Boiron works for many people.
  – A few pellets at the first sign and repeat once if no improvement or worsening symptoms.
  – If you feel better or stable please wait to take any more.
• Belladonna is for fever with flushed skin and not wanting to be jarred.
• Aconitum Napellus Is for sudden onset of symptoms with fear.
• My favorite remedy for the flu is boneset herb
  – taken at the first sign 5-10 drops every hour as needed, it seems to work great.
  – It is also available as a homeopathic Eupatorium Perfoliatum for that really achy flu.
• Also elderberry flower tea or bath is marvelous.
• Horseradish, Garlic, and Onion steeping in vinegar works great. Put some local honey in the mix.

Conclusion

Remember most of these illnesses last 1-2 weeks and part of its benefit is to make us take a break, think about how we are eating, drinking, and sleeping, and helps to strengthen our immune system. Vaccines don’t do that. They are a quick fix and short-term relief so we can continue to eat crap, work 60 hours a week, and survive without hugs and kisses. Be well but also get sick at times. We need to exercise our immune system just like we need to exercise every other system in our body to keep it health and toned for life and health.
Love life, look at the stars, enjoy the sunrise, kiss and hug a friend, breathe. This is the way to health.