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Halloween is not
yet upon us, but the cool breezes and rain of Fall definitely are.
Soon it will be time to change our clocks and prepare for the months
of Winter weather ahead.
For many of us,
this means freezing temperatures, snow, less sunlight, and a return
to cold and flu season.
By preparing now,
you can arm yourself when the deadly germs come calling, and if you
can't avoid them entirely, you can certainly minimize their effects.
To begin, look
after yourself! Make sure you are eating properly, and getting enough
exercise and rest. As simple as these words of advice are, few of us
actually do it. We get caught up in the activity of the moment and
forget that we have a responsibility to our physical body to keep it
functioning at its peak.
Even when we are
taking care of ourselves, we run the risk of contracting the latest
virus that "everyone in the office" has. For these times,
prepare yourself by stocking the medicine chest with natural cold and
flu remedies such as essential oils and herbal teas.
Herbal teas not
only soothe the throat, their warmth soothes the soul and takes away
the chills of cold and flu. Here are some suggestions to try:
Angelica tea
if you
feel a cold coming on or are achy
Basil tea is
good for the shivers
Bergamot tea
is useful
for a sore throat and can be used as a gargle
Chamomile tea
is very
soothing and eases an upset stomach
In conjunction
with drinking herbal tea, essential oils can be used to loosen congestion,
relax the body and purify the air of a room. Some great essential oils
to have on hand for this purpose are Eucalyptus
and Tea
Tree.
There are a variety
of ways to use the oils, but for the treatment of cold and flu the
following recommendations are sure to provide some relief:
- Add ten drops
of essential oil to the bath and soak for fifteen minutes
- Massage the
throat and chest with essential oil diluted in carrier oil
- Use as an inhalation
(steam inhalation is not recommended for asthmatics) or in a vaporizer
If
symptoms persist, or if cold and flu seem to keep coming back, check
with your health care provider. Otherwise, use the tips outlined above
and enjoy the season!
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