Natural Remedies

I know many people who brag that they never get a cold. I’m here to tell you that I am down with the Mother of All Colds, as sick as I’ve been in a long time, and it’s a good thing. That’s because our immune systems need challenges from time to time to keep on their metaphorical toes. It’s good to know they respond to the challenges of the ever-evolving pathogen colonies that surround us all. Source of the sickness Yes, we all know that dietary choices, environmental toxins and stress all weaken our immune systems. My hand is up -- guilty of less-than-perfect dietary choices while on my recent trip to California, long hours, not enough sleep and the stress of being at a gigantic natural products show with more than 70,000 people in attendance. Oh, yeah and probably there were quite a few cold viruses swirling around in the plane with its re-circulated air, and the airport with its tens of thousands of people coughing, sniffling and touching every surface, not to speak of that ridiculously over-packed Anaheim Convention Center full of myriad viruses from all over the world. It is almost inevitable. Yes, I do take precautions. We all do. I wash my hands carefully, avoid touching door handles (that’s why I always wear a scarf) and use hand sanitizers. There’s not much anyone can do about the fellow passenger two rows back who is hacking and coughing. The hacking passenger can’t help it either. Would you cancel a plane ticket and lose your fare just because you had a cold? I didn’t think so. Getting a cold isn’t a failure. Think if it as a challenge. I also think of a cold as a message for my body to slow down and take it easy. Sometimes we are given no choice. Favorite cold remedies Everyone has a favorite cold remedy, natural or not. All of them have some benefits, largely to minimize the symptoms while you wait for the virus to run its course. You may like sage and rose hip tea, Echinacea, chew on cloves of garlic, use a neti pot, steam vaporizer with eucalyptus, chicken soup or bone broth. Do whatever you like if it helps you feel better. Just know that your cold will most likely last a week give or take a day or two with lingering coughs that can go much longer, regardless of what you do about it. I do recommend that you let a fever run its course if it isn’t higher than 103 degrees Fahrenheit. (Anything higher can be dangerous.) Fever serves a purpose. By raising the internal temperature, the fever creates an inhospitable environment for the viruses or other pathogens that are causing the illness. I’m taking my vitamins C and D, drinking lots of fluids and spending most of the day in bed. In fact, that’s where I’m headed right now.

A Cold Is Not A Bad Thing

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I know many people who brag that they never get a cold. I’m here to tell you that I am down with the Mother of All Colds, as sick as I’ve been in a long time, and it’s a good thing. That’s because our immune systems need challenges from time to time to keep on … Read more

iodine and your thyroid

IODINE: We All Need It and Most of Us Don’t Get Enough

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Most of us have heard of iodine, but we’d be hard-pressed to recite what it does. If you’re of a certain age, you probably remember your mother dabbing the yellow-brown liquid on a scraped knee and the vicious sting that followed! Maybe you remember that iodine is added to salt. Maybe you can identify iodine … Read more

elderberry syrup flu remedy

Elderberry: Delicious Cold and Flu Fighter

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I planted a couple of elderberry bushes in my yard two years ago, so this year should be my bumper crop of delicious sweet purple berries that are powerful immune system boosters. I just have to fight off the birds or net the bushes so I get my share to put up for next winter’s … Read more

Keep your nails healthy and beautiful

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In the interest of true confession, I had gel nails applied early this summer, just before our European trip. It makes sense, I reasoned. For over two weeks, I would not be weeding the garden, shoveling horse manure or washing dishes. It seemed like the perfect time to have temporarily beautiful nails. Was I ever … Read more

Curcumin For Cancer Prevention & Treatment: With Dosages

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Breaking news: Curcumin holds great promise for a long-term solution for cancer patients. I recently interviewed Ajay Goel, Ph.D., primo cancer researcher at Baylor University about his latest research that shows curcumin kills the cells responsible for recurring cancer. Now I know that doctors hate to use the word “cure” for cancer, but that seems … Read more