- Lots of fluids >2 L per day of warm herbal teas to keep you hydrated and help the pathogens pass out the body through urine and sweat
- Rest – sleep as and when you can to restore energy and give your body time to repair. This may mean early nights if you work and/or have children. If so, do only essential things around the house, cook easy meals and little else. No one but yourself will chide you for having a messy house. Give yourself a break – you can get back on top of these things when you have recovered
- Keep warm – add extra layers, wear a hat, scarf and gloves to keep out the cold and the wind. The immune system functions better at slightly higher temperatures and you are more likely to sweat out any pathogens. Same for children, keeping heads and especially ears covered and feet warm.
- Steam inhalations (bowl of hot water with essential oils added and a large towel over the head, or essential oils in the bath) of any of the following essential oils (in a bowl use only 1 drop, in the bath use up to 10 drops diluted in an eggcup full of milk): eucalyptus, thyme, peppermint, olbas oil, tiger balm (NEVER APPLY NEAT ESSENTIAL OILS TO THE SKIN)
- Rub diluted essential oils (as above) in a little vegetable oil (olive oil, sunflower or coconut oils) onto the soles of the feet and cover with socks before bed – use 5 drops in 5mls of oil. Great for children too
- Put essential oils on handkerchief, pillows or pyjama top neat for night time. Put the drops direct on clothes, but away from the face.
- Eat easy to digest food – slow cooked, warm foods such a meat/bone broths with green veggies, take no sugary foods for quick energy but follow step 2. Instead
- Herb tea of choice for colds and flu is yarrow, elderflower and peppermint tea – drink freely
http://www.woodlandherbs.co.uk/acatalog/EPY_loose_herbal_Tea.html#SID=26
- High vitamin C intake – 3000mg at the onset of symptoms and up to 2000mg every 3 hours afterwards. Maximum dose is reached when loose bowels present. If you get loose bowel movements space dosage out to every 4-5 hours. Also take high vit C drinks and teas – acerola cherry, rosehip, berries. Buy a really high-quality supplement:
- Hot lemon (juice of one whole lemon freshly squeezed), grated fresh ginger and honey tea
- Echinacea, garlic or elderberry tincture – 15-30mls per day in two or three doses split evenly diluted with water. For children 5ml daily, dividied into smaller doses.
- Daily probiotics
http://www.optibacprobiotics.co.uk/
- Mushroom complex everyday to boost immunity
http://www.pukkaherbs.com/pukka-products/pukka-organic-wellbeing/mushroom-gold/
- Zinc supplement – 25 up to 50mg per day to fight infections, 15mg per day for prophylaxis
- Aloe vera juice – 50mls per day 1st thing in the morning on an empty stomach
- Dietary advice – eliminate all dairy products (butter, cottage cheese, small amounts of live organic yoghurt all ok. Goat or sheep’s milks/products better than cow’s). No processed food. Eliminate all sugar (even reduce fruit sugars). Eliminate gluten and refined carbs.
If you or your children are suffering from repetitive colds/illness, make an appointment with a Professional Medical Herbalist: https://www.nimh.org.uk/find-a-herbalist/