Here is some of the things I save no expense at procuring during flu season:
Echinacea is by far on the top of the list for us. That is because it has been tried and proven in my household as a preventative to ward off many sicknesses that we have been exposed to, presumably due to its ability to raise the white blood cell count. You can read more about this remarkable herb in this article: Health Benefits of Echinacea
Whenever we have been exposed to an illness or we hear that a flu bug is making its rounds in our area, we begin taking Echinacea for about two week intervals. It is not an herb that you would take continuously everyday. We take it for one to two weeks then quit for a couple weeks. Once flu season is over, we put the Echinacea away, only taking it if we become exposed to someone who is ill with something contagious. So far, it has seemed to really work.
Next in line would have to be Organic Apple Cidar Vinegar with the Mother. This is not your typical distilled vinegar found next to white vinegar. This is found in the health food department of your grocery store. It is somewhat cloudy in appearance.
Apple cidar vinegar's health benefits are just too numerable to even go into here so I will provide you another link here: Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar
I personally have used it to help with my acid reflex problem that I suffered with. Sometimes after I would go to bed it was so severe that I would wake up and vomit. I learned if I took a tablespoon of the apple cider vinegar instead, my symptoms would go away. It alleviates all kinds of stomach upset and is another way to combat viruses you are exposed to. You can drink it in a tea. One that we made that was actually very healthful was:
1 Tbs. APV
1 Tbs. fresh squeazed lemon juice
honey to sweeten
Which brings me to the next item- Lemons. Most of you know that lemon are almost unparalleled in their ability to combat cold viruses. Their remedy is timeless and yet people often forget. If you have access to a tree, all the more better. Just a small hint though; Whenever you make a tea, remember to use hot water, not boiling water. Boiling water will kill the good enzymes and so much of the good vitamins and benefits you are looking to garner from the lemon.
Lastly, we always keep a supply of good old Emergen-C. This product packs a whopping 1000 mgs, of Vitamin C in each packet you drink. You simply fill a glass with water and add the packet. No stirring or anything. Very refreshing with just a hint of sweetness. My daughter drinks one of these everyday after breakfast. Each packet also has seven B vitamins which help with your energy levels, antioxidants and electrolytes. You just can't go wrong with ths. If I am feeling a slump in the day, I will sit down for a minute and drink one of these and it will pick me of for a few more hours. No caffeine, just feeding my cells with some more fuel.
Besides all these great products, its so important to take those other precautions we all know about but sometimes tend to forget or ignore; Get plenty of rest. Wash you hands often. I keep hand wipes in my car. Whenever I go into a store or public place, I clean my hands when I get back into my vehicle.
At home, I wash ALL my produce with a mild liquid dish soap and water before eating them. This includes ones that will be peeled, such as bananas- after all, they have been handle a lot too. I try to not eat sugar very often. Sugar breaks down your immune system, especially when consumed in large quantities.
One mom told me that her pediatrician advised her to have her children wash their hands and change their shirt as soon as they come home from school to prevent the spread of the flu. She said it seems to have helped.
Well, I am sure everyone has things they could add to the list. Please feel free to leave a comment. Hope this has been helpful to some out there. TTFN~
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