Flu fighters: How to stay healthy this season
It’s that time of year again when the flu seems to be all around us.
I grew up in a home where a fever was allowed to do its job and run its course instead of competing with drugs and antibiotics that prevent the fever from doing its job of fighting off the infection. I remember my mother layering me with tons of blankets and telling me to “sweat it out”. That is the way we used to do things - By listening to our bodies. Today, if a child has a fever most adults run to the medicine cabinet and give their children some aspirin. A fever is the body's normal immune response to bacteria and viruses, and the higher the temperature, the harder it is for the germs to survive. A fever also stimulates the production of more white blood cells to help fight off the invading pathogens. Evidence has also shown, that fevers as part of the immune response, help to prevent viruses and bacteria from replicating. Letting the body fight off the virus is actually a good thing, unless of course the fever gets too high. The patient should rest, drink plenty of fluids and monitor the situation.
Here is a study that was done on the effects of letting a fever run its course.
Check out the section “Let it ride”. This study broke subjects into 2 categories. The “aggressive” treatment group were patients who were given 650 mg of acetaminophen every 6 hours for a fever of >38.5 °C (101.3°F) with addition of a cooling blanket for temperatures of >39.5 (103.1°F), the second group, the “permissive” group were given the same treatment but waited until the fever reaches 40 celsius(104°F). The study had to be terminated due to the fact that 7 people in the “aggressive” group died while only one died in the “permissive” group. Though each death is tragic, the small sample shows that there are benefits of letting a fever ride.
As previously mentioned, some simple steps to fighting a cold or flu are:
Drinking plenty of water and/or herbal tea (stay away from sugar)
Get plenty of rest
The old adage “Starve a fever, feed a cold”
If you have an appetite, healthy choices please. I always make a pot of homemade chicken soup. Always use the bones, as this is where the nutrients come from when simmering the broth.
Monitor your symptoms and temperature. If you are hopelessly uncomfortable, then of course take some medication, but try to ride it out as long as you can.
If you are feeling congested, then try steaming with some chamomile. Again, another remedy my mother taught me. Boil some water, enough to fill a big bowl, not metal. Add a few chamomile tea bags into the bowl and carefully pour the water in. Take a large towel and place your face over the bowl while covering your head with the towel. CAUTION: it gets very hot in there, so be very careful. Stay under as long as you can and repeat as many times as possible. I usually keep the bowl and repeat later if needed.
Another great product that I have started to use is this bee pollen spray. I get stuffy noses quite a bit and this product works great for me.It contains propolis and xylitol. Xylitol is a great ingredient that has shown to stimulate the immune system. They also make an immune support spray that is great to use as a preventative, especially when traveling.
For a nagging cough consider making this cough syrup below made famous by Barbara O’Neill. I would advise to make it now so you have it on hand when the symptoms start. You can keep this in your fridge for a year or more.
Barabara O’Neill also has a great flu bomb recipe that I recommend. This is something you will want to make right away and have ready when the flu strikes. Great for any respiratory problems
Now of course the best thing is to not get sick. Some simple tips to keeping healthy are:
Eating a nutritious diet with plenty of fresh organic vegetables. Get your fiber, protein and good fats!
Get plenty of sleep
Reduce your stress load
Drink plenty of clean water
Exercise at least 30 mins 5 times a week. Get that heartrate up.
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This site is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice.
The information provided here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
