Like it or not, it’s time to think about cold and flu season. And by being prepared, you can better weather the season that brings about all sorts of sniffles, sneezes, coughs, aches and pains. Here are some key ways to get your natural medicine cabinet ready so you can stay healthy and strong.
Nutritional Supplements
By fortifying your body’s defenses, you can prevent many illnesses before they even begin. Some key nutritional supplements that you especially need at this time of year include vitamin C (powder can be mixed into water or juice and gets into your system quickly), vitamin D, B vitamins, vitamin A, zinc, magnesium, garlic and iodine.
Purchase high-quality supplements that do not contain unnecessary fillers or additives. If you do get sick, taking extra doses of nutritional supplements can shorten the duration and severity of an illness. Extra vitamin C is especially important when dealing with a cold or the flu.
Herbal Treatments
It’s amazing how powerful herbal remedies can be at both preventing and treating illnesses. Many of the ones that come in handy during cold and flu season are conveniently combined together into remedies that come in liquid or capsule form. Herbs to consider include echinacea, goldenseal, licorice, ginger, astragalus and elderberry. Hot teas containing those herbs are especially soothing and enjoyable.
Colloidal silver is another remedy that many people would not be without, as they find it beneficial for both preventing and addressing illnesses. It is available in various forms, such as liquid and nasal spray.
Essential Oils
Having been in use for thousands of years, essential oils are tried-and-true solutions for many types of symptoms and illnesses, including colds and flu. Some of the key essential oils to keep in your natural medicine cabinet are tea tree oil, eucalyptus, cinnamon, bergamot, lemon balm, lavender and oregano oil.
You can use essential oils in many ways, such as by placing a few drops into a steam inhaler and deeply breathing the steam. You can also diffuse essential oils into the air using a diffuser type of small appliance.
Homeopathic Remedies
Homeopathy has been around for many decades, and for good reason: It has worked to address many symptoms and ailments. There are so many remedies that can benefit you both preventively and if you come down with a cold or the flu. Some that really help are Aconite, Pulsatilla, Belladonna, Ferrum phosphoricum and Natrum muriaticum.
Also, cell salts, which combine several different homeopathic remedies into one nutritional supplement, are a great all-around solution that you can take daily on a preventive basis as well as if you get sick.
Sprays and Rinses
Nasal sprays and rinses can be really beneficial when it comes to treating colds, the flu and allergies. Try stocking some saline nasal rinse kits that you can purchase at many local stores or online. Nasal spray that contains grapefruit seed extract, oregano oil or homeopathic ingredients is great to keep on hand. Herbal throat spray can be soothing for sore throat symptoms.
Set aside an area in your kitchen cabinet or bathroom for all of your nutritional supplements and other remedies. Become familiar with how and when to use all of the items you have on hand so that if an illness hits or you have been exposed to germs, you will know in advance what to do.
In addition to stocking and organizing your natural medicine cabinet, remember to cover all the bases when it comes to strengthening your defenses against illness. That means you need to get plenty of sleep, which is about 8 hours per night for an adult and more during illnesses or stress. Many people find they need more sleep than that during the winter, and of course you need more when you are run down.
Also minimize stress, which zaps your immune system and makes it more likely that you might come down with a cold or the flu. Include some mild exercise several days per week. And do the basics like washing your hands frequently and avoiding sick people.
By getting your natural medicine cabinet ready, you will give yourself added peace of mind in knowing that you are ready to get through the upcoming season. Be well!
