So, I am ready to admit that I have a cold! When the runny nose first came on I thought it was due to cheating on my diet and eating foods that I am sensitive to… it’s possible. Last year I took the Mediator Release Test to check my food sensitivities. I have a few, cane sugar is on the top of the list and when I eat it I get a runny nose. I’ve been lazy about making my own chocolate without cane sugar and have been having a few (sometimes more than a few) squares of my husband’s dark chocolate. If it’s in the house and I don’t have a healthy alternative, I’m going to eat it!
This runny nose was a bit excessive! I filled the bin with tissues at work and was sneezing quite a lot. It’s just allergies I told myself and all the patients that came in that day. I was very careful to wash my hands and not breathe on anyone just in case. I felt like crap by the time I got home! Crawled into bed and acted like a baby for a little while to get my husband’s attention. He lovingly brought me what I needed and then stayed away – he didn’t want to get it! I watched Bridget Jones’s Baby. I tried watching something more grown-up at first but I could not keep my eyes on the subtitles with all the sneezing and blowing of my nose. Bridget Jones’s Baby was perfect!! When I checked my temperature and found that it was 102.1, that’s when I admitted that I was sick, for real.
It’s hard for me to admit that I am sick. I feel that people don’t think I should get sick because I do all the right stuff… a healthy diet with juicing or smoothies every day, exercise, plenty of sleep, supplements. I do work in a doctor’s office with sick people coming in to see us all the time! I guess I’m doing pretty good if I only get something once a year!
So, what do I do when I finally admit that I’m sick with a cold? Glad you asked!
After a little bit of attention seeking I get to work starting with:
REST – if at all possible, rest! If it’s not possible, make it possible! Reschedule meetings, call in sick, get in bed and watch a movie… call upon your loved ones to bring you what you need. 🙂
FLUIDS – Choose liquid-based items over items that your body needs to work at digesting. This will allow your body to work on getting better rather than digesting which is a big job. Skip the chewing process for the first day (or two if you haven’t shown improvements) and pump the liquids in you! Some great things to drink are: water, coconut water, smoothies, fresh juice, soup, bone broth, warm tea… you get the idea.
SAUNA – If you have access to an infrared sauna – use it! Remember to stay hydrated. Infrared saunas have many healing benefits but specifically for a cold with congestion, it helps loosen things up. Bring your tissues in with you!
SUPPLEMENTS – Now, I don’t promote OTC medications but occasionally they have a place. I took 1 Aleve since my fever was 102.1. If it was 99 or even 100 I would have left it alone to do its job – burn the illness. But 102 is too high to leave in my book. Some people will disagree.
I’m also taking:
I keep Allimax in my supplement cabinet just in case. Allimax is made from garlic. Garlic was once known as “Russian Penicillin” acting as a natural antibiotic against bacteria, viruses, fungus, and colds. The directions say to take 1 a day. I am taking 1 in the morning and 1 in the evening and plan to do this for 5-7 days. If I am showing improvements I might knock it back to 1 a day.
Vitamin D3 (it’s actually a hormone) is a fat-soluble nutrient that plays a role in almost all of our physiological functions. As an immune system regulator, it is crucial to our health. You may think that you are in the sun often and get plenty of Vitamin D but actually, the majority of people are deficient. On a daily basis, I take 2000 – 4000 IU/day based on my labs. Levels should be between 40 to 80. More towards 80 is the best. My level was 22 the first time I checked and I live in sunny SC. When I am feeling a cold coming on I will boost that to 10,000 IU (5 single drops – each DROP is 2000 IU. This bottle will last ages) 3 times a day for 3 days and then move back to my normal regime.
You may already be on the Sambucus nigra (elderberry) bandwagon, it’s been popular for a while and rightly so – elderberry has been shown to inactivate viruses! It’s also a powerful antioxidant that stimulates the immune system. I mix the Sambucus with Vitamin D in water and take it 3 times a day. You can do 35 drops (1ml) 3 x a day.
I took Ginger-Tussin at bedtime when my sniffles turned into a little cough. I also took it again when I woke up in the night coughing. This is soothing and has immune-supporting properties. You can take 1/2 tsp every 4-6 hours as needed.
I took Melatonin at bedtime last night in hopes of a solid night’s sleep – sleep is so important for healing. I take melatonin on a regular basis since finding that I was deficient when I did the DUTCH test. I always had a hard time falling asleep and if I woke up in the night it could take me hours to get back to sleep. My lab level was a 7, it should be greater than 18.
It’s day two – I’m feeling much better! I’ve been resting in bed writing this note to you all – lucky for me it’s my day off. Drinking lots of fluids – my juice this morning was carrot, apple, extra ginger, turmeric, and chia seeds. I’m planning on making a lovely cabbage soup this evening and for lunch tomorrow. I know some of you may be thinking lovely and cabbage should not be in the same sentence…my husband won’t eat it. More for me then! In a little bit I’ll warm up the sauna and after that, take an Epsom salt bath. I’ll get some fresh air later by either sitting on the back porch with a book or taking a little stroll if feel up for it. Sounds like a day at the spa! Self-love is important!
One last thing I forgot to mention – on my way home from work last night I stopped in at Wholefoods and bought 2 packs of organic muscadine grapes – I ate them all before bed! Muscadines are seasonal and are in my local Wholefoods now. I eat a few packs a week… if you are not used to eating these, take it slow, you could end up in the bathroom. They are great for boosting immunity!
Stock your supplement cabinet now before you get a cold!
You may find some of these items on Amazon and if you have prime that’s 2 day delivery with free shipping!
I’d trust items from a health food store and you can ask for help finding what you need. They might even have more suggestions for you.
Search for:
AllimaxDesigns for Health:
Ginger-Tussin Syrup
Immunoberry Liquid
Emulsi D3
Melatonin 3mg
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