So, have you heard? It’s flu season!!! Yea, I know. If you haven’t, you’ve been inhabiting another planet! This year it’s especially “shoved in our faces” and it’s starting to make me a little crazy.
There’s no better preventative measure than washing your hands. Soap and water, and plenty of it. I used to hassle our kids about making sure they used the warmest water they could stand but, in reality, hot or warm water doesn’t cleanse a pair of hands any better than cold water… “it’s all about the friction, baby!” So (when you have access) soap and a good scrubbing at any temperature does wonders.
I’ve also armed myself with some of Surya Brasil’s new Organic Hand Sanitizer while away from home. It’s made of moisturizing botanicals, proteins and minerals instead of harsh chemicals and synthetic ingredients. This happens to be one of the few, true organic hand sanitizers… not “greenwashed” like far too many others.
But, if all else fails and you do need to find a remedy for what ails you, I found a great post from Simple Mom. Here is just a snippet of some great natural home remedies:
- Ginger – for congestion, throat irritation and nausea
- Garlic – for antibiotic and antioxidant properties, and cholesterol control
- Honey – for an energizing immunity boost, coughs and colds
- Turmeric – for antibiotic and antiseptic uses
- Pepper – for improved digestion
- Cloves – for antimicrobial, antifungal, antiseptic, antiviral and aphrodisiac properties (woohoo!)
(For more details, check out her original post.)
If you’re like me, you have a very empty medicine cabinet. I don’t like to take antibiotics, medicines or any prescriptions… for anything… ever. I’m the crazy woman that rejected any painkillers less than 24 hours after my c-sections… both times. (You should have seen the nurses’ faces… their mouths dropped open and they all said “honey, are you suuuure?!?” Yes, I was sure!)
So, if the “bug of the season” gets your down, or you want to do a little preventative maintenance, STOP before you grab your car keys… and turn to your cupboards before your local pharmacy.
