Elevated physical and emotional stress, less sleep, excess sugar and food consumption can all affect natural immunity. The body may express symptoms of seeking balance at times of excess, especially during seasonal transitions like fall and winter. A fever is the body’s way of burning up impurities. Coughing and sneezing are ways of expelling toxins via the primary evacuation route, the lungs and upper respiratory tract. Body aches and pains encourage and demand rest which is an undervalued tool for health.
We can’t completely control the levels of toxicity in our communities, but we can control the way we take care of our home and body. Here are some techniques and nutritional tools for setting our families up for the best possible outcomes in health and wellness during flu season and beyond. Try a few of them out and implement what works and feels good.
Every day immunity.
The most basic and important steps for immunity includes a diet based in whole foods with an abundant amount of organic produce, regular sleep and exercise, stress management plan, and the right amount of pure water for you. The body needs to be well hydrated in order to keep blood, lymphatic fluids, and organs functioning optimally. More water is almost always a good thing, but isn’t necessarily going to solve a dehydration problem. Mineral deficiency will determine efficacy of water digestion and most people are mineral deficient.
The body can digest and use 2 grams of vitamin C every 4 hours. For everyday immunity, kids and adults can take 1 gram in the morning and 1 gram at night. Health Force Nutritionals makes a powerful vitamin C in powdered form which can be mixed in with water and given to people who don’t like swallowing pills.
The balance of good and bad bacteria in the gut is largely connected with the foods and moods we are accustomed to. In general, sugar, processed/packaged food, and acid forming foods contribute to destruction of the colony of beneficial gut bacteria. Finding a good probiotic can help, but not as much as changing the diet and emotional eating habits.
There are many products containing medicinal mushrooms and I cannot emphasize enough the importance of their use in immunity and overall health of your family. A company I trust and use in large amounts is Medicinal Foods based out of Hawaii. The creator, Sky Kubby, is a health warrior on the front lines of researching and creating nutritionally healing products.
Daily cleansing routine:
First thing upon waking in the morning:
- Oil Pulling
- Dry Brushing
- Shower with chemical free soap
- First thing that goes into your belly is 8-10 oz warm water with ¼-1/2 lemon squeezed into it.
- How to make Ginger, Lemon, Honey drink
- Video outlining the previous 5: 6 Ancient Detox Secrets
Natural remedies for suspected onset of a cold or flu.
Surprising to me, the lungs and skin are the best routes for getting toxins out of the body. Take a hot bath with apple cider vinegar and Celtic sea salt which has a complete mineral profile rather than just magnesium sulfate as found in Epsom salt. I add 10 drops frankincense and/or 10 drops of myrrh and do deep breathing exercises in the hot bath to help clear the lungs and release toxins. There is a reason the wise men brought frankincense and myrrh to the birth of Jesus. They are both highly medicinal and great for killing microbes without destroying good bacteria.
Increase your vitamin C dose to 2 grams every 4-6 hours for a day or two and see how you feel. Increase your water intake, depending on your water needs. Hot lemon, ginger, honey tea can be enjoyed multiple times through the day. There is a great blend you can find online called Wellness Herbal Resistance Liquid. I personally dose on that if I suspect something is coming on. It has goldenseal as in ingredient, which you find at the end of the big guns list because it is extremely potent and not to be taken lightly. It is in a low dose in the Wellness blend, but just be aware.
Don’t be ashamed to call in sick to nurse your body before it breaks down. Take the time to do hot baths, eat plants, make yourself fresh pressed juice, and focus on relaxation and stress relief. This might feel like playing catch up for weeks or months of over using your body, and you may realize the importance of implementing some self-care techniques into everyday life.
The big guns for knocking out a flu.
Be careful when using these natural chemicals. In high doses, anything becomes toxic. Even water. The things I am recommending here are the last resort and must be used with caution.
A whole clove of garlic. With the papery skin on, bake it in the oven just until the paper starts to turn brown and curl off. Once it cools down, disrobe it and eat the whole thing. My nutraceutical teacher recommended having half a glass of red wine with the garlic to help dilate the blood vessels and speed the entry of the garlic medicine to your bloodstream.
Food grade oregano oil. Add a few drops, no more than 3, to a cup of warm water. Drink it like a shot. You will feel the warmth in your throat and belly for a few hours. You can also take a drop blended with a carrier oil (coconut is fine) and rub it over your sacrum and sternum. Oregano oil is no joke and will knock out the flu! Please use this plant medicine respectfully.
Thyme. One of the most well-rounded and powerful flu relief plants around. Read the article in the link for more information and ways to use thyme.
Goldenseal. This stuff is like antibiotics and will eliminate bacteria. It is less disruptive to internal flora and in my experience, safer than antibiotics when used respective to the dosing instructions for the individual. Still, I highly recommend using this after trying all the other methods mentioned.
AHCC: Although listed as a “big gun” I use this in low doses all throughout winter and keep it on hand all year round. It is an overall good immunity builder in low doses and in higher doses will clear up a cold or flu.
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