Preventing colds and flu. Ideally, one should not be affected by bouts of colds and flu every year, but then you need to have a very healthy immune system. Your body should also be free of parasites like flukes, tapeworm, Candida or yeast infections and bacteria. Maintaining a basically alkaline constitution with a blood pH of 7,46 by taking calcium and magnesium supplements and eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables every day will certainly improve your immune function. Here are some ways to keep ahead as the winter bugs approach.
Boost your immune function by taking two to four olive leaf tablets every day or half a teaspoon of olive leaf tincture. Olive leaves are Nature's gift to us, being totally non-toxic to humans, yet lethal to opportunistic parasites and pathogens. They also boost the circulation, lower blood pressure and enhance immunity. Try to make use of fresh olive leaves, by adding a few to your daily fruit, herb, vegetable and sprout juices when you make them. Cultivated olive trees are available at most nurseries as well as the local Olienhout trees that have even more potent leaves.
The natural alternative to flu injections is the homeopathic equivalent and every year special tinctures or pills are prepared to deal with the latest strains of cold and flu viruses. Now is the time to cut out excessive fats, dairy products, sugars and white starches from your diet, lest you become too sluggish and laden with acidic residues that can trigger excessive mucous in sinuses, noses, throats and chests.
Remember to take a daily multivitamin and increase your cod liver oil, zinc and vitamin C intake. Try to drink an adequate amount of purified water every day. If you suffer from hay fever and sinusitis, add a few grains of salt and a squeeze of lemon juice to a bottle of water and shake it very well before you drink it. This helps to balance water levels within the tissues, but most people get mucous problems because they are intolerant to wheat or milk.
How to stop colds and flu in their tracks!
If you begin to feel feverish, woozey and have a sore throat or cough coming on, immediately take 1 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda in a little water, followed by a whole glass of water to reduce any acidity in your system. Repeat the dose an hour later and once again at bedtime. Step up the olive leaf tablet regimen by chewing two tablets every two hours. Doing this three or four times is usually enough to shake off an approaching cold or bout of flu. Cold viruses thrive on acid-forming foods, moulds and yeasts, so lay off all the milk, sugars, breads and starches and opt for clear chicken broth with ginger, garlic and chillies. (Chillies contain the same guaiphenesin that is used in cough mixtures to loosen and expel mucous.) Eat stir-fried vegetables with plenty of herbs and hot, warming spices; drink more fresh fruit juice with a gram of vitamin C or herb tea with lemon juice, ginger, cinnamon and honey. Eat only natural, fresh and light food for a few days and stay away from the hamburgers, chips, milkshakes, chocolates and koeksisters, as they have probably contributed to your approaching misery!
Here comes the sore throat, so fight back
The homeopathic pills known as: merc.biniod. can help to put an end to a sore throat overnight. The tissue salt: Ferrum. Phos. and Kali. Mur.have a similar effect, especially if the throat reflex at the base of the big toe is massaged for a few minutes. Alternatively, suck zinc lozenges, as this is the best way to zap germs that accumulate at the back of the throat. Try a few mouthwashes and gargles made from a little olive leaf tincture or juice in water with a pinch of salt. If the throat is getting scratchy, suck a piece of liquorice or make a soothing mixture out of a little honey mixed with lemon juice and powdered ginger and cinnamon. The juice of the succulent sour fig leaves was used very effectively as a sore throat remedy in the olden days. Less palatable ways to disinfect a sore throat are by chewing nasturtium, sage, rosemary or olive leaves. They taste better if combined with a pinch of salt and a lot of parsley. Parsley also helps, due to its high chlorophyll content and will combat the ill effects of trying to eat more garlic. Some people swear by taking two cloves of garlic a day for curing everything from high blood pressure and yeast infections to thinning blood and preventing colds and flu.
Coughs and tight chests need special home remedies
Make up your own blend of cough mixture, based on a tablespoon of honey with a tablespoon of lemon juice and a teaspoon of powdered cinnamon and ginger. You can add a pinch of chilli powder for an extra kick. Liquorice helps to loosen a tight cough. Another folk remedy for a tight chest and a bad cough is a combination of onions and honey. Grate up two onions and place them in a jam jar. Mix in a pinch of salt and a tablespoon of honey. Allow the juice to accumulate at the bottom of the jar and take a few teaspoons of this instead of a cough mixture. Make a new mixture every day and use the old grated onions for cooking.
Liquorice drops, known as "borsdruppels" can be added to the cough mixtures or to your hot beverages. Drink plenty of herbal hot toddies made from a cup of water to which you add: honey, lemon juice, slices of fresh ginger, sprigs of herbs like thyme and sage, liquorice drops and even an evil little chilli or a splash of Tabasco sauce! Build up your tolerance to chillies and soon your chest will loosen and your breathing will improve. This also works for asthma, and some people swear by a cup or two of strong coffee to open up the airways in an emergency. This treatment is obviously not recommended for babies! It is better to rub the chest reflex under the foot, along the rim of the ball of the foot. Aromatic chest rubs and aromatherapies are popular, but the most curative component is the soothing caress of a devoted parent.
A comforting steamy bath, well strewn with fresh sprigs of thyme is recommended for babies and small children to ease a tight chest. They will also respond well to homeopathic remedies like Bryonia, Silicea or Nat. Sulph. if the cough does not loosen. Alternatively allow them to inhale the steam from a jug of boiling water. Stay with the child and drape a towel over both your heads whilst you entertain junior with silly jokes, hugs and squeezes. You can add a few drops of eucalyptus or menthol oil to the brew and use it afterwards in your own bathtub.
This inhaling mixture is one of the standard treatments given by a wise old therapist friend of mine for just about every ailment, but especially to clean out blocked sinuses and to help oxygenate the system. To a pot of boiling water add: 1 tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda and 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide. Lean over the pot and inhale the fumes with a towel over your head for 10 minutes. You feel wonderful afterwards, especially if you splash your face with cold water. Repeat a few hours later. If your sinuses are still blocked, take the tissue salt: Nat Sulph every half hour and get somebody to rub your toes for a few minutes at a time. It really works!
Disclaimer: Please note that this information should not be used to diagnose, treat or cure a condition. Consult your doctor or an experienced practitioner, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, epileptic, diabetic or have blood pressure or heart complaints. We disclaim all responsibility for liability, loss or risk, personal or otherwise, which may be incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents of this article.