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Hello from your friendly neighborhood mom! *waves awkwardly* *spills coffee* Let’s get a few disclaimers out of the way, shall we? This is not medical advice; nor is it intended to diagnose and treat whatever ails you. Please seek the advice of your preferred healthcare professionals. I am not a doctor, I’m a mom doing my own research and making the best informed decisions I can for myself and my family.
With flu bugs hitting hard and the coronavirus (aka COVID-19) cloud looming over everyone, I thought I’d share some of the things we’ve done in an effort to boost our immune systems and hopefully prevent or lessen the impact of illnesses we’re exposed to.
I think the most obvious preventative measure that everyone is reminding each other about is good old fashioned HAND WASHING. Do not take this lightly. Scrub up! I am still amazed, like literally gasping, at the amount of people I see exiting bathroom stalls without washing their hands. Like what is the reasoning behind this? I am so confused. Do people have a phobia of water? Even if the only thing you’ve done is touched a knob or door stall YA STILL NEED TO WASH UR HANDS.
Note: At the end of this post I share a few links to resources I found valuable in regard to preparing for coronavirus outbreaks and managing the flu in general.
Here is what we are doing and my personal tips for those who ask:
∇ Stay well hydrated. When a fever is present, keep those cool liquids going! Water plus replenishing electrolytes is very important. We use this and this for our electrolyte drinks.
∇ Keep Oscillococcinum on hand for treating flu-like symptoms.
∇ Nasal spray (that’s the one recommended by my functional medicine doctor; each person has their own we DO NOT SHARE)
∇ Up your vitamin C intake! There is so much research out there on the benefits of vitamin C. We currently use these super C tablets and the “Singing Canary” is a yummy drink I like to make full of vitamin C goodness.
∇ Regularly consume other immune supporters such as:
– Fresh veggies and fruits #saladlife
-Nutritious bone broth (homemade chicken soup with garlic! onions! bay leaves!)
– Elderberry syrup (it’s easy to make on your own, but if you’d like to skip a step then I recommend purchasing a kit which will still save you a considerable amount of $)
-Vitamin D (we’ve used this and this and also this!)
-Propolis (I purchased mine directly from a beekeeper)
∇ I also use essential oils (carefully, and with great respect for their potency!) but I suppose that’s an entirely different blog post. A quick tip: If you have the thieves blend you can mix a drop or two with a carrier oil and rub it along your spine and/or the bottoms of your feet. Or, use Plant Therapy’s Germ Fighter Blend if you don’t have thieves. Plant Therapy also offers that blend as a roller, ready to apply. {Note that if you want something specifically for children, this is their kid safe roller blend.}
And now the links I mentioned earlier…
If you read only one thing on coronavirus, this first article by Dr. Elisa Song is thorough and helpful-
Coronavirus (COVID-19): What a Pediatrician Wants You to Know
From NPR- A Guide: How To Prepare Your Home for Coronavirus
Seattle Children’s Hospital: Fever- Myth Versus Facts
Search Elizabeth’s Instagram highlights for her flu-management tips and thoughts on the coronavirus
Good reminders from Shannon on this post.
What would you add to this? Please feel welcome to share in the comments! I feel like I’ve probably already forgotten something!
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