Your Health Solutions

Cold and Flus

During winter or change of season, you may find yourself with a cough, cold or flu. Rest is best – plus there are various measures you can use to alleviate symptoms and hasten the recovery process:

• A diet of warm soups and stews hydrate and nourish.
• Avoid cold drinks, cold raw foods, sweets and dairy products.
• Homeopathic remedies such as Ferrum Phosphoricum, Aconite, Bryonia may be prescribed depending on your symptoms.
• Herbs such as Olive leaf extract or Astragalus may also be prescribed, along with vitamins and minerals to support immunity.

Prevention is best! Paying attention to your overall health by resting, sleeping, exercising and eating according to the seasons and your constitution is an excellent year round approach.

For further information, please refer to my Seasons Info Sheets (free download).

Immunity

Getting one or two colds a year is not necessarily a bad thing! However if the recovery process is slow or you are prone to frequent infections, then further steps need to be taken to support and strengthen your immune system.

It is crucial to appreciate that if this imbalance in your immune system progresses, the basis for chronic inflammation and chronic disease sets seed.

Acute short term inflammation mediates our defence against infection and is a normal functional response. Chronic inflammation, however, occurs when the immune system becomes dysfunctional and this can predispose us to chronic disease. This inflammatory dysregulation is at the root of diseases such as cancer, heart disease, asthma and arthritis to name a few.

An article in Clinical Cancer Research (2009 Jan 15) recognises that chronic infections, obesity, alcohol, tobacco, radiation, environmental pollutants and high calorie diets are major risk factors for the most common types of cancer. All these risk factors are linked to cancer through inflammation.

This sort of research is good news as there is much we can do for ourselves for good health!  

Holidays and travel can be stressful! Air travel for instance exposes us to air pollution, radiation at high altitudes, time zone changes, dehydration and infections. Immune support and a few sensible preventative health measures will go a long way to making your trip more comfortable!

A few hints:

• Wash your hands before consuming food, with hot water and soap or antiseptic hand-wash gel
• Take frequent doses of a good quality Vitamin C preparation
• Always drink plenty of water
• Have frequent pit stops when driving (aids concentration)
• Consider a homeopathic travel kit

Jetlag

This can result in excessive fatigue, difficult concentration; sleep disturbances and change of appetite and bowel movement patterns. It is a good idea to discuss your individual symptoms with us in order to select the most suitable approach. The main homeopathic travel remedies include Arnica, Cocculus and Gelsemium.

Traveller’s Nerves 

Many people are affected by anxiety, fear and sleeplessness while travelling.

Supporting the nervous system with herbs and minerals prior to travelling is helpful, as is incorporating breathing and meditation techniques while travelling.

Accurately prescribed homeopathic remedies and Bach Flower essences are also of great service.

Apprehension with regard to an upcoming trip may be alleviated with Argentum Nitricum or Gelsemium. 

Others may become so overexcited looking forward to their trip that they cannot rest…this indicates a different remedy. 

Where fear and panic are dominant, then Aconite and Rescue Remedy can be most helpful. The fear of being restricted to a confined space calls for yet a different remedy.

On the other hand, the dread of descent for landing or the sudden descent associated with air pockets can be remedied with Borax.  

Children

The narrow Eustachian tubes of children are adversely affected by flying and a frequent source of discomfort.

EarPlanes (from pharmacy) are a helpful device for children over one year of age.

Children can be soothed while travelling with Rescue Remedy, Pulsatilla or Chamomilla for instance.