Here we go, the fall is coming! I absolutely LOVE this time of year. The colours, the cool crisp mornings, the fireplaces going, the sniffly runny noses......
I know many parents dread this time of year. It seems like everyone in the household is sick. AAAAaand why is it that germs are the ONLY things that we seem to be able to share freely? It's kind of annoying, to say the least.
In our household we have a pretty good track record of getting through this season relatively unscathed (knock on wood), and often just end up with a minor sniffle, if anything at all. HOW, you ask?? Well let me share with you!
Believe it or not, supporting your immune system starts MONTHS, if not years before you really need it! Think of your immune system like a muscle, if you never lift a dumbbell ever in your life, would you expect to be able to grab a 50lb weight and do a bicep curl? I would think not! Same goes for your immune system. If you don't support it and make it strong all year round, when that 50 lb cold crashes down on you, there is no way you are going to be able to "lift" it. All of the steps we talked about in our Systemic Inflammation series are also vital in the "build a better immune system" steps as well. I would suggest taking the time to read or listen to the series podcast in conjunction with what we are talking about today. It will be a huge asset if you can start to decrease your systemic inflammation as we move into cold and flu season.
Assuming you have taken the time to look at ways to decrease your systemic inflammation (or not, either way) let's talk about natural ways you can support your body if you start to feel unwell, or do end up run down with a cold. I recommend adding some of these things in BEFORE you even start to feel run down, as many of these steps are supportive and preemptive measures.
** As always, these are the steps we as a family have taken to support our own personal wellness. We believe very strongly in natural medicine and our bodies insane ability to care for and heal itself when given the proper tools. Make sure to listen to your body and do what is best for YOU!**
STEP 1 - Preemptive Measures
Take your Vitamins. Good quality vitamins and minerals have been a game changer around here. I have spoken about them many times before, and will continue to share with you how amazing they are. Stop wasting your money on Costco brand, or drug store vitamins that you just pee out. Taking a whole food vitamin and mineral complex means that your body is getting the nutrients from it that it should. Just like if you were to eat the 500lbs of whole, real food that you would need to eat to maintain your proper levels. Ok, maybe not 500lbs, but it's a lot.
Don't forget the KIDS, they need BIOAVAILABLE whole real food vitamins too! Forget about the sugar filled gummies, or Flintstone vitamins, those are just candies. We talked about the effects that sugar has on the body in our previous series, so keep that in mind when you are grabbing vitamins for the littles.
Try your best to nourish your bodies with lots of vibrant whole foods, clean water and locally sourced meats (if you eat meats). Avoid the sugar, chemicals and processed foods as much as possible. These things deplete your immune systems REALLY fast. Ever notice how as a population we get sicker right after halloween, christmas and easter?? It's the SUGAR!
There are LOTS of other supplements you can take daily to help make sure your gut, immune system and body in general are functioning like OPTIMUS PRIME, but for now I will leave the supplement talk for another time.
Step 2 - Feeling Run Down?
Getting to the point where you feel rundown is a good indicator that you need a nap, a cuppa my FAVORITE body boosting tea and a HUGE bowl of bone broth soup. Why? because all these things support your body in ways that nourish both the physical body, mental body and spiritual body. As the weather starts to turn, it's a great idea to add these things into your daily routine, especially my IMMUNI-TEA. I like to have at least one great big cuppa this a day and usually start adding it into my routine each september.
Here's the Recipe
IMMUNI-TEA
Ingredients
3 thin slices EACH - Ginger and Turmeric
2 black peppercorn
2 whole cloves
1-2 drops dōTerra Onguard Essential oil
1 tbsp chopped WHITE pine needles
local RAW honey to taste
Steps
using a loose leaf tea strainer, place all ingredients into the cup (or tea pot)
Bring the water to an ALMOST boil. You don't want to let the water come to a full boil as this will be too hot for the plant oils and will degrade them.
Pour the water over the loose leaf tea strainer, cover the cup or tea pot with a lid and let steep for at least 5 mins
SIP and ENJOY!
* If you want to KICK IT UP a notch try adding doterra Lemon Essential oil, cinnamon sticks or some Lemon Balm (AKA melissa essential oil from doterra)
Another great thing to sip on, or turn into hearty nourishing meal is Bone Broth. We source all our meats from local farmers, so I know the bones we get for the broth are overflowing with goodness. I like the way Jenny from Nourished Kitchen prepares her bone broth. If you are able to grab soup bones from a local source I HIGHLY recommend it. The broth just tastes that much better.
Step 3 - The Cold got you DOWN
Actually being sick SUCKS! I am not a good sick person at all. I am the type that REFUSES to admit that I am in need of a 24 hour nap to recover. I am getting better though.
If we do get to the point where we are completely run down this is our protocol
Sick People Protocol
HERE'S What You Need
dōTerra essential oils; Frankincense, Lemon, Onguard, Oregano, Tea Tree and Turmeric
Diffuser, empty Veggie Caps and Roller bottle
Local RAW honey
Breathe Chest Rub Stick
Deep Blue Rub
BIG Pot of both IMMUNI-TEA and Bone Broth
Your favorite netflix show on binge, a blanket and warm place to cuddle down
HERE'S What We Do!
Fill your veggie cap with one to two drops of each of the oils listed, take internally every 4-6 hours. For a cough add 2 drops of each lemon and onguard to a tbsp of raw local honey and take to soothe your throat.
Set up your diffuser right beside where you will be hunkered down. Add 2 -3 drops each of the oils and diffuse all day/all night.
Rub Breathe Chest rub on your upper back and chest
Massage Deep Blue Rub into the sore achy spots
Make a HUGE pot of IMMUNI-TEA, sip all day
Make your meals your Bone Broth based soups
REST, REST, REST, and REST More!
**I find that about 24 hours of this protocol will halt almost all colds and flus we have faced here in our household.
It is recommended that you take the FLOOT blend for up to 7 days MAX.**
Give these a try and let me know how you make out. If you have any questions make sure to reach out. Finding natural ways to create health in your household doesn't have to be tough or overwhelming. I am here to help!
Comments