Surviving the Cold Season

My daughter and I have both been sick this week, and I've been hauling out the herbs and making infusions and decoctions. Since I'm working on this stuff anyway, I though I'd share a little of what I do when someone in my family gets sick.

I find that I think about sickness and recovery a little differently than many people do. Mostly people expect to pop a pill or two and move on with little personal investment, or maybe hole up in their beds and watch Gilligan's Island for a few days. I rarely get sick for very long anymore, and I believe it's because I have a list of things I do as soon as I get sick.

1. Drink more water. My body can't get rid of a virus or bacteria when it's dehydrated, and sickness is inherently dehydrating, since you're almost always leaking from somewhere, or burning up or otherwise doing things that are very wasteful of water
2. Stop eating all dairy products. Even if you're not allergic or sensitive to dairy, it increases mucus production. That's just what it does. By cutting that out of your diet you're giving your body a chance to catch up and hopefully your sinuses will thank you.
3. Do eat lots of hot broths, simply cooked vegetables, and if you can manage it, homemade chicken soup. Making your own stock with bones is really really worth it when you're sick. Sure it always tastes better, and it's got lots of calcium if you remember to add a little vinegar when you put the bones on to simmer, but really there's nothing better to nourish a sicko. It's even better if you can add some nettle or burdock to the pot.
4. Rest. Really. You need it. I know there's a ton to do, but your body is busy doing more important work right now.
5. Once you've done all that then I would start thinking about herbal and medicinal remedies. There's lots of good books out there, Penelopy Ody, Susan Weed, and James Duke Ph.D are some of my favorite authors. I go back to them again and again. I also use essential oils, particularly, Red Thyme, Pine, and Eucalyptus for colds and flu.

Here's a recipe for a tea I made for myself and the kids:

Runny Nose Tea

1 Tbs. Licorice Root

1 cinnamon stick broken into pieces

2 Tbs. dried Hyssop leaf

2. Tbs. Elder flowers

Put a pot on to boil with a few cups of water and the Licorice root and the cinnamon stick. Let it boil for 5 -10 minutes, then turn off, and add the elder and hyssop, cover with a lid and let sit for another 10 minutes. Add some lemon and honey, and drink throughout the day.

Do any of you have favorite herbals or cold tips? It seems like the cold season is never going to end here, and we could use all the help we could get!