Bolster Your Immune System
Jan 2020
Now that it’s January and we are in the thick of cold and flu season, let’s talk about a few ways to bolster our immune system so that we can keep up with our daily routine, whatever that may look like for you. The flu season extends from November to April so we have months to work on this. Once we get sick, it’s not just the week of a cold or flu. Secondary infections can set in: sinus infections, bronchitis, pneumonia, or a lingering cough, and all can take several weeks or a month to overcome.
Nip symptoms in the bud (I love the gardening analogy in the depth of winter) as they first appear. When I notice sniffles, I start my cold and flu first aid action items: facial steam, neti pot, eucalyptus oil on a cotton ball next to my pillow at night, Epsom salt bath with lavender oil, start echinacea, vitamin C and zinc, and gargle with warm, salty water. Elderberry syrup in tea bestows the berry’s antioxidant benefits and offers its immunostimulant properties to the tea drinker. The idea is to make the body as inhospitable as possible to viruses and cold germs.
Did you know that 200,000 people go to the hospital each year for flu-related symptoms? Let’s stay ahead of the flu curve. Get extra rest, stay centered and meditate a little longer while visualizing health coming in on each breath, and exhaling negative thoughts. The word flu is a short form of influenza which stems from the Latin influential, to influence. It was believed that astrologers in Italy during the Renaissance thought that respiratory illnesses were derived from the influence the stars had on the population. Flu symptoms include chills, exhaustion, fever, and body aches. The immune system fights infection by producing interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interferon-gamma (IFN-g) cells. As the body begins to heal, white blood cells, including T-cells and macrophages help to rid the body of infection.
Be good to yourself this winter. It’s a time of year to go within, to incubate new ideas and action plans. Did you know that bears don’t hibernate? Groundhogs do, so be like a woodchuck and take a long winter’s nap. Below, check out my Top 10 Ways to Include Medicinal Plants into your Life and the recipe for my absolute favorite winter remedy: The Famous Mustard Plaster.
Stay well,
Kathy
Owner+Founder ARAY Wellness Coaching
406-224-5000
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Kathy Magan Smith
Health, Wellness, & Accountability Coach
Kathy is a health, wellness, and accountability coach for women aged 55 and over who want unstoppable energy so they can make their mark on the world. Kathy believes that when women 55+ thrive, balance, and succeed, their lives and legacies become cherished and unforgettable. Sheβs a health coach, author, speaker, and summit leader and can't wait to journey together to your best health.
