Using Echinacea and preventative
tips, measures to avoid getting a cold or flu.
Everyone hates getting a cold or flu
but even the healthiest people are susceptible to falling ill. I will discuss
the simplest ways of staying healthy and if you do feel the beginnings
of a flu or cold, how you can either prevent it from getting worse or easing
the symptoms.
The easiest ways of preventing colds
and the flu:
Wash your hands. This should
be done every time before you eat. There's a reason why your mom or school
teachers would always emphasize that before eating you should wash your
hands. Nowadays in the news, I hear doctors emphasizing the need to wash
your hands. You should also wash your hands more often if you're in close
contact with people who have the cold or flu. Also, try to avoid eye, ear
or nose contact with your unwashed hands.
Get plenty of sleep. When your
body is well rested, your immune system remains strong. The amount of sleep
you should get depends on your body's needs. Only you know how much sleep
your body requires. If you're having trouble falling asleep, try a simple
breathing technique I use. It works 99.9% of the time. Lie down on your
back in bed in a comfortable position, breathe in slowly through your nose
and breathe out slowly. Do this several times and before you know it, you
will fall asleep very quickly. This technique does two things. It clears
your mind of all your problems, stresses and gets your body ready for sleep.
Exercise. Getting the correct
amount of exercise boosts your immune system.
Proper nutrition. Eating properly
and at regular times maintains that your body gets the vitamins and minerals
that keep the immune system strong. You may also want to supplement your
diet with quality vitamins.
If you do feel the symptoms of a cold,
flu coming on or if you're in close contact with people who are ill you
may want to consider taking Echinacea (Purple Coneflower). Forget about
taking over the counter cold and flu medications because they do not work
and they are expensive. In the past, Echinacea was used by North America's
Native Indians to treat fevers and by early settlers to North America for
treating colds and the flu. Echinacea is most effective when it is taken
just when you feel symptoms of a flu or cold. By taking it at this stage,
your symptoms will either disappear entirely or the symptoms will be very
mild, almost unnoticeable. Taking echinacea once the cold or flu has gotten
worse will not help.
If you are in close contact with sick
people, you may want to take Echinacea to keep your immune system resistant
to the flu or cold. I prefer using capsules from a quality manufacturer
of Echinacea. However, it should not be used for a prolonged period of
time because it will lose its effect of boosting your immune system and
be sure to read the manufacturer's instructions. The
Complete Medicinal Herbal is an excellent book about medicinal herbs.
By following these simple tips, you
will remain healthy.
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