The flu is one of winter’s dreads. I want to share today, from my years of experience as a healer, how I deal with the flu for myself and the people I work with. Perhaps with a little more information, you won’t worry so much about the dreaded flu.

If you take care of yourself, the flu will not last long, and a few days of homeopathic flu remedies you can get at the health food store can take care of the whole issue.

How do you take care of yourself? 

• Sleep 8 hours per night (read more on sleep)
• Eat 3 times per day including animal protein and vegetables
• Mild exercise
• Take care of stress

Stress and the flu

Now, this is what can sneak up on you, even if you are taking care of yourself, and give you symptoms that could last a week!  The more personal the issues, the deeper the symptoms will be.  Feeling grief, regret, guilt, incompetence, shame – it can all be very dramatic.  You know when you get into:  they did this, I did that, they said this, this is how I felt.  All this drama will often lead to the flu. (Steps for increasing your wellbeing)

From experience, you know you can get sick from these situations, so be aware of what you are going through.  Pull away from difficult situations and find a less stressful way to cope.  Be more objective than emotional in your approach.

When flu symptoms appear

You know your usual symptoms.  Everyone is a little different.  Once you feel symptoms like the sore neck, fatigue, headaches, or congestion, be proactive.  Have one of these homeopathic remedies on hand:  Oscillococcinum or Homeocoksinum.  Start at the first symptoms.  If things get better, continue the remedy for several days past when the symptoms disappear.  The flu could come back, if you stop the remedy too soon. 

If you have been working with me and are not getting any results, call or email me and let me know what you have tried and what your symptoms are.  I will look up a specific remedy for you that you can pick up from me or sometimes get at the health food store.

What works to combat the dreaded flu?

It seems this year more than most, we are hearing about getting the flu shot.  I am glad they say it won’t help 100% of the people and that there may be side effects.  Today Dr. Mercola released an article saying that Vitamin D supplementation is more effective than the flu shot.

There are other things you can do: 

• Take Echinacea or Astragalis, (only once you are ill). They increase your white blood cell numbers, boosting your immune system, to fight against the flu.
• Zinc supplements will heal the nerves that the flu virus is in.
• Vitamin C is a good antioxidant. Synthetic ascorbic acid may not be the best form of vitamin C.  You can try Camu Camu or Acerola cherry as plant sources. 
• Continue to eat well, including protein in your diet.
• Bone broth is a good addition, since it is packed with minerals to heal and rebuild.
• Garlic in your cooking is good, as it has many antibacterial effects.
• Oregano oil is helpful when you get ill. Its taste is so powerful that people shy away from taking it by mouth.
• For children it is helpful to have them on probiotics through the winter since it builds up their bacterial resistance to germs.
• Fermented foods increase the immune system contain enzymes and vitamins.
• Elderberry syrup is a good tonic for coughs.

This is how I deal with the flu.  Try these ideas and stay well! There is a lot of help out there.  Fear not; you will get over the flu, if you get it.  Relax more, dread less, and enjoy life every day!