Cold Season
Winter often brings with it the seasonal cold or flu, and this year has been no exception. After amazing times with family and friends this year, a cold arrived, making me ever more grateful for my immune arsenal. I am so thankful that although I came down with the bug, it didn’t take residence. Being taken down by a cold is such a humbling reminder of how precious our health is. I always come away so appreciative of the vitality I am able to have most of the time. The old adage of “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”, rings like a health meditation bell.
Moderate exercise, daily stress management, fresh air, sunshine and a healthy diet are the backbones for prevention. These things sound basic and simple, but they really are the key principles for maintaining your health. Washing your hands with hot, soapy water often throughout the day also helps a surprising amount. According to the Cleveland Clinic, “The single most important thing you can do to keep from getting sick and stop the spread of disease causing germs is to wash your hands – often.” Did you know there is a website just for hand washing?
http://globalhandwashing.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Clean-Hands-Prevent-Cold-Flu-slide-deck.pdf
Also, as hard as it is if you do happen to come down with a winter bug, stay home if possible and rest. This not only expedites your recovery, it helps prevent the spread of the virus. It seems each year these bugs get stronger and stronger, and there are always populations who are less able to handle them without complications. I use an essential oil diffuser regularly and often use essential oils to clean the air when someone at home is sick.
My biggest challenges when sick are:
- Knowing when it’s time to slow down, stop working and just rest. I love my work and love what I do. I know that if I am not there people will be impacted, so it is hard sometimes to see the tipping point where by being there I am doing more harm than good and compromising my own health which in my core I know is not the way. Our bodies know what to do, and some of the strongest medicine is rest and fluids.
- Accepting help. Those of us that are givers are not always so good at receiving. There is a lot to unpack with this. It’s a post all to itself, but suffice it to say that allowing a little vulnerability and asking for help is a healing all its own. Let people bring you soup, or help with the carpool so you can rest. We all need community, it helps our health. Connection requires participation, so there will always be a dance of energy with giving and receiving. This has been a potent point of growth for me.
- Impatience is probably my worst challenge. I become restless and feel the need to go outside, and move and exercise. My body is used to being in motion and when I am inactive for too long, my body begins to hurt and feel stagnant. I’ve learned that a walk down the block me be just enough to create a little circulation and not push my body out of healing mode. Healing takes time, whether it is from illness or injury and we can support the process but not rush it.
Immune Boosting Supplement list
- Source Naturals wellness formula
- Bio botanical research bio-cidin
- Immune tonic (my recipe)
- My community mushroom tincture
- Lipsosomal Vitamin C
- Colloidal silver – I usually use Sovereign Silver
- On guard by DoTerra
- Do terra lozenges
- Oil of oregano
- Zinc
- Elderberry
- Echinacea /goldenseal
- Oregon grape root
- Lobelia
- Hyssop
- Gypsy Cold Care tea and Throat Coat
- Garlic capsules – I use Kyolic immune support