Ananda Mahony
NaomiNaturally treating...Colds and Flu
September 28th 2006 00:00
This year has been particularly bad for cases of cold and flu. I am going to give you some natural alternatives to help enable your body to combat them head on.
To give you a better understanding I will first explain in laymen's terms what we are really dealing with in relation to cold's and flu. This will assist you to grasp the importance of keeping your body in top shape nd the repucissions that might occur if you don't.
Both colds and flu's start out as viral infections that are passed on to other people in the first three days of contamination (gestation period). At this stage most people are not aware that they have contracted a virus and are usually not experiencing any symptoms.
Viral infections can not be treated with antibiotics. It is up to the individual's immune system to deal with it alone. This is why it is important to keep your body in good health.
Colds generally go away after a week (at the most), with mild symptoms such as a runny and blocked nose. Flu's are harder to budge and can leave you feeling terrible for as long as ten days and can take weeks to fully recover from. Flu's can also develop into secondary bacterial infections such as; bronchitis, tonsilitis, sinusitis etc. these conditions are treated with antibiotics.
To avoid getting to this stage; you must do everything you can to boost your immune system, as antibiotics attack the good bacteria in the body which can cause imbalances and other complications.
Whilst it is not possible to prevent contracting a viral infection, it is possible to control the way your body reacts to the infection and deals with it.
Below are a few tips that will arm your immune system with ammunition to rid of the bad bugs quickly:
1. Eat healthy - Make sure that you get a variety of fresh foods from each food group everyday(opt for unprocessed as much as possible). Foods are packed with disease fighting properties that boost your immune system. If you don't eat a balanced diet, take multi-vitamins. think of it as body insurance.
2. Alcohol in moderation - You've heard it a million times before, but there really is a reason why you must keep your intake at a minimum. Alchohol is a poison that can interfere with and permanently damage your liver. The liver is the main support organ of the immune system. If your body becomes infected with a virus, the condition of your liver may determine how and if you recover.
3. Stop smoking - Another obvious one, but smoking causes your lungs to make extra mucus, which can be a nightmare if you are suffering from a chest infection. Smoking, drinking and poor diet causes free radicals to develop in your body which if left untreated, can cause damage to your body.
4. Keep active - Excercise causes your body to produce endorphins which strengthen the immune system. It also increases the fitness of the heart and lungs which will enable you to recover more quickly.
5. Reduce stress - Stress is a major contributor to a sluggish immune system. If you are under a lot of stress for what ever reason, try a holistic therapy such as yoga, tai chi etc. that will help alleviate tension. you body repairs itself in a relaxed state, so you have to allow this to happen in order to attack the bad bugs.
6. Getting enough sleep - You must get an average of 8 hours sleep at least 5 nights a week(preferably 7). If your body is tired then it is vulnerable to catching infections that linger and are hard to shake off.
7. Drink water - Drink lots of water. Water contains minerals that support the immune system and it flushes the impurities from your system.
If you apply these 7 principles in your everyday life, you will enjoy a much healthier lifestyle.
When treating a virus it is best to treat it systematically, otherwise it will spread to another area and will be much harder to heal. e.g. If the fist sign you experince is a sore throat; then gargle with mouth wash. Hopefully this will kill the infection and stop the vrus from progressing further.
Below are some remedies that will help you guard against cold and flu:
Tea (white, green or black) - Dramatically increases the bodies production of gamma T cells which are responsible for fighting infection.
Echinacea - Stimulates the immune system to attack the virus.
Zinc Lozenges - May help to stop a cold from developing if taken in the early stages. Make sur the ingredients contain: zinc gluconate, ascorbate and glycinate to get maximum benefits.
Vitamin C - Will not prevent the cold but may shoten the duration or minimize the symptoms.
Garlic and horseradish - Boosts the immune system to help minimize symptoms.
Look after yourself. With the increase of Super bugs, we really need to ensue that our immune system is able to cope with whatever is thrown at it.
It could be the difference between living and dying!!
Resources
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Vitamins and minerals - Readers Digest
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Comment by Home Natural Remedies
Comment by Anonymous
Comment by Naomi
Comment by Home Natural Remedies
And I give my daughter cranberry juice and a teaspoon of honey every morning when she starts to get one - it takes care of it for her too...but you have to catch it before it's full blown
Comment by Naomi
Cranberry juice is also great for treating urinary tract infection .