No sooner did I announce that I was going to take it easy through December when I caught a virus and ended up in bed–total forced resting. This thing has knocked me out. It started when Bill got sick last week with a sore throat. I watched him cycle through a myriad of symptoms, slept next to him as he coughed and sneezed his way through the nights, and then felt victorious on Friday when I still didn’t feel sick. I thought/hoped I’d dodged the bullet. But Saturday I woke up with a sore throat and low to no energy.
What I hate about this kind of sick is that, since the main symptom is a lack of oomph, it leaves me a little confused about whether I’m ill or just lazy. But I know myself well–know that I can and do push through a little sleepiness–so I’m pretty sure this is the same thing Bill had, even though I’m not coughing (yet).
My naturopath told me that if I take 50,000 units of vitamin D and 3000 milligrams of vitamin C for 4 days, I could kick the sickness, but 4 days is the life of this thing anyway so, while I’m taking the prescribed vitamins, I’m not sure they’re helping.
I wonder what others do when they get a cold/the flu. Do you take the time to rest? Or do you have a secret cure you swear by? I’ll try anything, because I have a lot to get done and there’s only so much I can do from where I sit right now.
Hi Cami,
Sorry you’re not feeling well. I had something similar over the Thanksgiving holiday. I managed to shake it and remain fairly active (although not up for running for a few days). I’ve developed a protocol over the years and have to say that it generally works for me! Here it is…
1. As soon as I have the feeling that I’m coming down with a bug I start taking a supplement called “Wellness Formula” made by a company called Source Naturals. I buy it at Whole Foods or PCC. They recommend taking 3 tablets every 3-4 hours during “times of imbalance”. It comes in capsules or tablets. I prefer the tablets.
2. I often have a sore throat at the first sign of a bug and a few years ago found a recipe for a drink I make from a naturopathic website called Earth Clinic. I call it “my concoction”. Put two cups of water and two sliced up lemons in a pan on the stove and let the lemons boil ’til soft. Just before taking it off the stove add 3 Tbsp of Apple Cider vinegar and 1/4 tsp Cayenne pepper and some honey. (sometimes I go heavier on the ACV and Cayenne, you can experiment with the quantities) then drain the drink through a strainer into a mug. I mash the lemons discarding the peels and add the lemon pulp to the drink. I drink this and or gargle with it if my throat is really sore.
3. Multiple hot cups of water with those Emergen-C powder vitamin packs you find at WF or PCC or even in the vitamin section at QFC.
Generally the combination of these 3 things helps me shake a bug or shorten the length and severity of my symptoms.
Good luck and I hope you’re feeling better soon!
Melissa
Thanks Melissa. This cure sounds powerful. I’ll give it a try! I hope others will, too–and let us know the results.
Hi Cami,
So sorry to hear you’re under the weather.
For head colds (with headache) I recommend a sage foot bath, since you want to steep the sage like tea, by pouring boiling water on top of a good hand full, or bunch of sage (I’ve used Greek mountain sage for years, but any kind works), and that IS hot, best to do it either in a (tea) pot. Add a little cold water so you won’t scald your feet, but try to take the bath as warm as possible. Leave your feet in until water is tepid.
Hot water with 1/2 lemon and teaspoon of honey, and camomile tea to sooth your throat.
For chest cold, herbs based bronchitis infusion, and Vix Vaporub on your chest.
The Dutch swear by half an onion on your bedside table, but I can’t stand the smell.
Chicken soup, chicken soup, chicken soup.
And, I detest having the flu, so we get vaccinated.
Hope you feel better soon!