Keeping Winter's Ills At Bay
For many of us, there is little difference between cold and flu viruses - both affect the upper respiratory tract (the nasal passages and throat), and both make us feel miserable.
Garlic is one of the best ways to help keep yourself healthy, boosting the immune system to improve your resistance. The easiest way is to include plenty of garlic in your cooking, but if you're not too fond of the odour, or are wanting an extra boost, take a garlic capsule daily. Many people find a supplement that combines garlic and echinacea to be particularly effective. Ask your health professional which supplement and dosage is best suited for you.
Vitamin C also helps boost your body's defences, and if a virus has already got you in it's grip, Vitamin C can help speed up your recovery time. Kiwifruit has one of the richest supplies of this vitamin, as well as red peppers and the much touted orange. To get the best results from a supplement look for one that combines Vitamin C with bioflavonoids, as these increase its effectiveness. Look for a balance of at least 100 mg of bioflavonoids for every 500 mg of Vitamin C.
Ginger is used widely in traditional Chinese medicine, both to prevent and treat colds and flu, or any other condition where the body is not coping effectively with moisture, such as catarrh (runny nose). To make a cup of ginger tea, allow six thin slivers of fresh ginger root to simmer for about ten minutes in a cup of water. Add a little honey to make the brew more palatable, or simply use as a gargle to ease a sore throat.
You can use a steam inhalation to clear blocked nasal passages. Add 2 or 3 drops of lavender, tea tree or eucalyptus essential oils to a bowl of hot water, drape a towel over your head to keep the steam in, and breathe in through your nose for 3 to 5 minutes. Use this up to four times a day to ease congested sinuses, but monitor carefully if you suffer from asthma or hayfever, as it may aggravate the condition.
For relief from the tired, aching muscles that accompany both cold and flu, a warm bath will help ease your body. Use up to 6 drops of lavender, perhaps combined with marjoram or tea tree, and remember to get straight into a warm bed afterwards.
And remember to drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration and help your body flush out the virus.
- Remember that a healthy immune system is your best defence. A tired, stressed body makes a much more accommodating host for illness than a healthy, balanced body. Moderate exercise, plenty of sleep, and a well-balanced diet.
The Guardian, July 30 1998