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Cold, Flu, winter

5 Tips to Combat Cold + Flu Season

Cold, Flu, winterWowza! This past week the temperatures have drastically changed and the colds have hit our family like a vengeance. Currently, I am the only one that has not come down with anything (knock on wood), but I have been trying my hardest to stay on top of things so I do not get sick. We all know when mama goes down, things tend to spiral out of control.

We read a lot about what to eat, what to drink, what to rub on ourselves, what to inhale, what not to eat, what not to drink, and so on to keep the cold and cases of flu from hitting our families. There are thousands of articles, blog posts, pins and more all over the internet. My list is pretty basic. Probably stuff you have already seen, but I thought I would just share my personal favorite things that help our family throughout this season of the year.

Chiropractic Care

Regular chiropractic care does wonders for our family.  Did you know your spine is the home of your nervous system which controls your immune system response? So, if you are not getting adjustments regularly to stay in alignment, that communication is not being done properly. If you are feeling like you may be coming down with a cold or the flu, head to your chiropractic! Have kids? Check out the ICPA website to find a pediatric and family chiropractor near you. Live in Des Moines? We see Dr. Jen at Balance Chiropractic & Wellness!

chiropractic, chiropractic care

Essential Oils

I have been a lover of essential oils since my son was born about seven years ago. I personally am a fan of Doterra Essential Oils and the cold and flu bomb is my go to this time of year. The cold and flu bomb consists of five essential oils mixed together.

  1. 8 drops Frankincense
  2. 8 drops Melaleuca 
  3. 8 drops On Guard
  4. 8 drops Lemon
  5. 8 drops Oregano 

You can purchase 10 ml glass roller bottles, then place all your drops in the roller bottle and fill with Fractionated Coconut Oil. This mix is perfect for adults. Need it for a child? Half the recipe for kids and quarter the recipe for babies. Take a look at one of my favorite sites for other roller bottle blends that may be useful for your family.

Doterra Essential Oils, Cold, Flu

Golden Milk Lattes

I tell postpartum moms all the time to sip on warm drinks because they provide healing and nourishment for our bodies. When I first read an article about putting turmeric in almond milk, I was a bit put off. After reading the background of this traditional, comforting drink, it totally made sense! Turmeric is considered a healing spice according to Ayurvedic practices and medicine and provides many antioxidants for our bodies. My favorite and easy recipe is from Nutrition Stripped.

Golden Milk Latte, turmeric

Zarbees Cough Syrup 

This stuff has been a lifesaver! Seriously. Our kids have been coughing nonstop, but after they take a dose of Zarbee’s Cough Syrup + Mucus they barely cough for a good 4-6 hours. Zarbee’s does not have all that random junk that many traditional cough medicines have and are not actually needed. Zarbee’s formula consists of two main ingredients: dark honey and ivy leaf extract. Bonus, my kids do not fight me to take it.

Probiotics

Invest in a great probiotic for yourself and the entire family. Probiotics provide a huge boost in your body’s immune system, which will fight against colds and the flu. There are a lot of probiotics out on the market. My favorite is Garden of Life. They have options for adults, children, men, women and more.

 

About the Mom Life Series

The Mom Life Series is written by Erin Huiatt. Erin is a Certified Postpartum Doula, mother of two and wife. She enjoys sharing her personal experiences with other parents about her life as a working mom. She strives to live a more natural lifestyle, loves supporting local and lives to support women. Learn more about Erin!

Elderberry Syrup Recipe

Cold and flu season is just around the corner or in some places has already  hit!

I hate being sick (I know I am not the only one), but I also hate seeing Monte sick. Having sick kids is no fun! It’s especially hard when they cannot really communicate what the problem is, but you just know there is an issue.

I am not a fan of the flu shot, which I will not get into details and a debate about, but I do not find the flu shot worth it.

I believe to stay healthy we need to do more natural things like live a healthy lifestyle! Yes, I know it’s hard this time of year. We start off with Halloween, loads of candy. Then comes Thanksgiving where we fill our bellies so full we cannot move. Then comes the Holiday season with baked goods, candy, sugar, more sugar and more baked goods! Of course, it’s also cold, dark and dreary outside. No one wants to get up and move and we all want comfort food.

We need to remember that what we eat fuels our body, so having these not so healthy items every once in awhile is okay, but we need to make sure we eat plenty of fruits, veggies, good fats, proteins, etc. We also need to get up and MOVE! If we exercise we will just feel better and it will allow us to make healthier choices.

I saw this picture posted on Facebook and it pretty much sums it up! LOVE IT!

Anyways, where I was going with this post is Elderberry Syrup! Have you ever heard of it?! I had not heard of it until recently and I am super excited about it!

This is something you can take as prevention from getting a cold or flu. It’s also something to have on hand when you are sick.

There are recipes all over Pinterest. I chose to follow this recipe. Here is what I did …

  • Place 1/2 cup elderberries, 3 cups distilled water, 1 cinnamon sticks, and 1/2 Tablespoons in pot and bring to boil.
  • Once boiling, turn down heat and let simmer 20-30 minutes
  • Take off burner and let cool
  • Strain through cheesecloth and discard the berries and cinnamon stick
  • Add 1 cup – 1 1/2 cup raw local honey. Stir.
  • Store in mason jar, in refrigerator

This can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 6 months. Take 1 Tablespoon a day as preventative. If you feel like you are getting sick or achy, take several times through out the day.

Along with taking Elderberry syrup I also …

1. Take Emergen – C Vitamin C packets! I will take about every 4 hours

2. Remember my post about the essential oil Thieves? Well, here is another awesome use for Thieves! If you have a sore throat, take a spoonful of raw local honey, add a drop of Thieves, and swallow! You can also rub Thieves on your throat. Make sure to use a carrier such as coconut oil.

3. Hot water with raw local honey also helps soothe a sore throat!

 

What are your favorite remedies to fight off cold and flu symptoms?