I have been wholloped by illness this winter. Yes, Naturopathic Doctors get sick too. Nothing serious for me luckily, just some colds & flus - but way more than I normally get! I wonder sometimes if it's because it hasn't been that cold in Toronto that more bacteria and viruses are growing, but who knows?
Anyway, I thought that I should take the opportunity to share what I do when I'm feeling under the weather!
1. drink lots of fluids - I was big on water and mint tea and decaf orange pekoe with honey.
2. homemade chicken soup - there are so many vitamins & minerals that you get out of boiling up chicken bones that are healing to the body & the soul.
3. rest - I am a big advocator of sleep to heal the body, so I was trying to get 9+ hrs/night (and still waking up at 6:30am!).
4. probiotics - the good bacteria found in yogurt (and also in powder and capsule form) have been shown to help boost the immune system.
5. vitamin D - we tend to be lacking in the winter, and I take extra doses when I'm sick.
6. herbs - there are many herbal combinations that I go to when I'm not feeling well. My favourites are Deep Immune, Echineaseal, and Respirafect - all by St Francis.
7. sinus rinse - sinus rinses work really well to decrease congestion for me, and to flush out the mucous and bacteria that are making me stuffed up.
8. steam inhalation - again this works really well for me to loosen congestion in my chest and in my head. Sometimes I sit over hot water with a towel over my head and breathe in the steam, other times I just have a long hot shower.
I hope you've had a healthier 2016 than I have, and if you are feeling under the weather hopefully there's something new on this list that you can try!
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