By Marybeth Buchele, HMC
“HERBS, STICKS & TWIGS” TO BEAT WINTER COLDS & FLUS
Colds cause sneezing, runny nose, coughs, fevers and sore throats. Symptoms come on gradually and you often are able to continue to function.
The flu usually comes on more suddenly, may feel more severe and includes a fever or fever with chills, body aches, and pains, headache and fatigue. True influenza doesn’t include an upset stomach.
STEP ONE, PREVENTION:
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Avoid People who are sick
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Keep your hands away from your face and wash your hands often
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Eat a good diet
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Cut out sugar and other sweeteners
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Drink plenty of water to flush out your body
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Get 30 to 90 minutes of moderate exercise per day; exercise even if you have a head cold
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Get enough sleep
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Do a nasal rinse every day during cold (and allergy) season (Water Pik Pulsator, neti pot or Simply Saline) to clear bacteria (and pollen) out of your sinuses
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End your shower by alternating hot and cold water. Do this three times for 30-60 seconds, end with cold water
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Take a good multivitamin (the ones at health food stores are more likely to be of better quality than drugstore or discount store vitamins)
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Take 1,000 IU of Vitamin D (people with low levels of Vitamin D catch more colds and heal more slowly)
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Echinacea if you have A blood type; yarrow if you have O blood type (dosage as specified on the label). Buy these herbs to have on hand, an unopened herbal tincture will maintain quality for 5 years (date your bottle).
Starting treating the illness sooner rather than later!
Warming Tea:
½ slice of fresh ginger
Juice of ¼ lemon
1 c. hot water
Grate the ginger into the hot water, add the lemon juice and drink slowly.
Warming Bath:
Grate 1-2 teaspoons of ginger into your hot bath water. Soak for at least 10 minutes. This increases your lymph flow, which cleans the “garbage” out of your system.
Marybeth Buchele, HMC
Professional Homeopath
515-233-6068
QualityOne Commercial Cleaning, Inc.
319 Sondrol Ave
Ames, Iowa 50010