Hey there cats and kittens! Just a check-in here, to make sure we’re all taking care of ourselves right now. As you know, Autumn is my favorite time of year, but it’s also cold and flu season! And this year, with SARS or swine flu or monkey pox or whatever it is trying to kill us all, it’s looking to be an especially rough few months.
But there’s a lot of natural, non-invasive ways to keep your immune system going strong. The first is to make sure you’re eating right. I know we all want to chow down on comfort food when the cold weather sets in, but don’t forget the essentials like brightly colored fruits and veggies, plus lots of dark leafy greens. Luckily citrus season is right around the corner, so we can all make these – you know, for our health . . .
Aside from eating right, you can also load up on the good stuff via supplements. I’ve been feeling a bit low-energy lately, so I’ve been doing a daily packet of electrolytes + Vitamin C + bonus vitamins in water (there are a variety of brands). It’s tasty and keeps any lurking bugs at bay. On top of that I down my daily multivitamin and a few other supplements.
When I’m feeling like I really might be getting sick, I take a power dose of Vitamin C. That’s 1000 milligrams, 3 times a day, for 3 days. But don’t go longer than 3 days at this dose! Zinc is also an immune booster, and great to have on hand.
This year I’ve really begun exploring medicinal teas, for all sorts of afflictions. At the moment I’m drinking a ‘cold care’ herbal blend that’s simply delicious. Many brands offer a ‘throat coat’ or ‘sore throat soother’ type tea, that can really help ease a scratchy and swollen throat. Look for products with licorice root, ginger, and of course echinacea. If you’re not into store-bought stuff you can always boil some hot water with lemon juice and maple syrup. This wonderful (and cheap!) home remedy is perfect for calming an angry cough.
If things get really bad, I recommend investigating a neti pot. I’v never used one myself, but I’ve heard nothing but rave reviews. Hopefully I’ll never need one (knock on wood), but if I ever end up with a serious sinus issue, you can be sure the neti pot will be my first line of defense.
So them’s are the Bonzai basics for making it through sick season, the natural way. But what about you guys? What precautions do you take? What are your best home remedies, your most effetive tips and tricks? Sharing is caring guys, so bring it on!
And remember: ALWAYS WASH YOUR HANDS! (with plain soap + hot water; leave that antibacterial crap alone)
Oi there my Pucks and pixies! Happy weekend!!! It’s time once again for the weekend, and of course it’s time for comments, critiques, thoughts, support, and suggestions. What’s on your mind this early Autumn? What are dreaming about? Where have you been spreading your fairy dust? What matters in YOUR world?! As usual, the Feedback [...]
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