Cold & Flu Season

These suggestions are provided as natural alternatives to help you get through the cold and flu season. If at anytime you are in pain or have a fever above 100.4 please call your provider.

Essential oils, a diffuser and a towel on a table

1 clean quart jar - add 2-3 heaping teaspoons of salt (not table salt but sea salt or canning salt - the iodine in table salt is not good for this) - add 1 heaping teaspoon of baking soda - fill with warm water and shake. Then, with a bulb syringe ( you probably have one in anticipation of your baby) - 3 times a day - do the wash. You can also use this in a neti pot. Pour some of your mix in a bowl (don't use out of the jar for contamination purposes) - fill your bulb and squirt into each nasal passage - squirt towards the sides (in and out) not up into your forehead. It's messy - lean over the sink and use a towel or use in the shower with the steam to help soften the mucous. Up to an hour later, the nose may start draining - so have the tissue on hand. After a week, discard what's left in your quart jar and start over if you need to.
Make a hot lemon toddy with a cup of hot water, half of a fresh lemon squeezed into the water, honey to sweeten and grated ginger added if you like. This helps to break-up congestion and the honey is soothing to a sore throat. If you're brave, add a pinch of cayenne pepper.
Gargle with warm salt water 3 times a day for a sore throat.
Cool mist humidifier at night to keep secretions draining.
Eucalyptus, Breathe, or Lime. Essential oils applied to the chest and over the sinuses can help. Inhale Eucalyptus essential oil in small doses. Put two drops of oil on a tissue and sniff it to clear your passages, or add to a bowl of hot water to use as steam inhalation, with a towel over your head.
Taking essential oils internally can help. 1 drop of Frankincense, 2 drops Oregano, 3 drops On Guard, 4 drops Peppermint oil.
2 drops of cinnamon, 2 drops of lemon, 1 drop of oregano, 3 drops On Guard in a capsule. Take every hour for 4-6 hours then as you feel better take 2-4 times a day for the next 3-4 days.