During the winter months, many people deal with the flu and colds.  Wondering why it is so hard to avoid dealing with these uncomfortable illnesses?  Well, many times we actually invite the flu in.  We end up skipping our exercising, we start eating bad foods, and with the holidays, often the body gets overburdened and deals with a lot of toxic buildup.  During these months we often start feeling wet, inert, cold, and dense.  Kapha can start rising, and the body can start dealing with congestion.

The body works to try to get rid of the buildup of toxins before it leads to even more problems.  So, often the flu or a cold is the way that the body works to clean itself out, although it definitely is not pleasant for you.

You may think about going to the store and grabbing anti inflammatories, decongestants, cough suppressants, and other drugs, but this may not be the best option.  Ayurvedic medicine encourages helping to support the body as it cleanses itself out, although this makes us deal with symptoms that are uncomfortable.  Let’s take a look at some natural ways that you can work on dealing with the flu or a cold.

When you First Feel Sick

As you first start feeling ill, try supporting the body.  Use the following things to help give the immune system a boost.

- Zinc Lozenges - You can take 25mg lozenges three times each day.  However, it is best to take them with a bit of food to keep the stomach from getting upset.

- Echinacea Extract - Put 30 drops in hot water, about an ounce.  You can have this 4-8 times every day.  Do this on an empty stomach.

- Vitamin A - you can take 20,000 IU at the biggest meal.  Only do this once each day and don’t use it while you are pregnant.

- Vitamin C - You can take 500 mg a few times each day and it’s best if your stomach is empty.

- Try drinking some hot water during the day.  It helps to keep you hydrate you and also liquefies toxins so they can be more easily eliminated.

For a Sore Throat

If you have a sore throat, one thing you can do is to take Ceanothus compound extract.  You can have 30 drops, 3-4 times every day.  Put it in one ounce of water that is hot.  It helps to get rid of lymphatic congestion, which soothes the throat.  This product can be found online.  Another option is to gargle with some salt water that is warm every couple of hours.

Dealing with congestion

Use a neti pot to rinse out the nose a few times each day.  Put warm saline water in the pot, tilt the head, and allow the liquid to go through both nostrils and then out.  This helps to get rid of mucus, bacteria, dust, fungi, and viruses.

You can take a steaming pot of water and put sever drops of eucalyptus in it.  Put a towel over the head and then put your head over the pot, breathing the steam from the water.  Do this for a few minutes several times each day.