What to do if you have a Cold or Flu!

What is a Cold/Flu?

Colds and flu are distinct and separate upper respiratory infections, triggered by different viruses. (Outdoor environment - drafts, wetness, temperature changes, etc. do not cause either of these illnesses.) The flu is more serious, because it can spread to the lungs, and cause severe bronchitis or pneumonia. In the beginning stages, the symptoms of colds and flu can be similar. Both conditions begin when one or more of the over 200 hundred viruses that cause a cold or flu penetrate the body’s protective barriers. Viruses don’t breathe, digest food or eliminate, but they replicate themselves with a vengeance. Nose, eyes and mouth are usually the sites of invasion from cold viruses. The most likely target for the flu virus is the respiratory tract. Colds and flu respond to different treatments. The following symptomatic chart can help identify your particular condition and allow you to deal with it better.Cold Symptoms -Slow onset -Body aches - largely due to the release of interferon (an immune stimulator). -Rarely accompanied by fever and headache. -Localized symptoms such as sore throat, sinus congestion, listlessness, runny nose and sneezing. -Mild fatigue and weakness as a result of body cleansing. -Mild to moderate chest discomfort, usually with a hacking cough. -Sore or burning throat common. Flu Symptoms -Swift and severe onset -Early and prominent prostration with flushed, hot, moist skin

Usually accompanied by high (102° -104°) fever, headache and sore eyes

-General symptoms like chills, depression and body aches. -Extreme fatigue, sometimes lasting 2-3 weeks. -Acute chest discomfort, with severe hacking cough. -Sore throat occasionally.

Do You Have Chronic Colds?

Although rhino-viruses are involved in the misery we know as a cold, we are constantly exposed to these organisms without them causing a cold. Your immune system health is the deciding factor in whether you “catch” a cold or not. There seem to be almost as many drugstore cold remedies as there are colds, most of them symptom-suppressing with side effects. Since a cold is usually a cleansing condition, I feel it may be better to just let it happen so your body can start fresh, with a stronger immune system. Yet, without a doubt, it is hard to work, sleep, and be around other people with miserable cold symptoms. Traditional wisdom is effective for minimizing misery while your body gets on with its job of cleaning house.
How to avoid getting a cold or the flu?

If you want to avoid getting the flu this winter, follow these 7 proven techniques for boosting your immune system, fighting off germs, and keeping your body healthy...
1.Get enough sleep. Your immune system functions much better when you get enough sleep. Most people really need about 8 hours per night for optimal health. If you're body is fatigued, it simply won't be able to fight off the flu virus (or any other infection) very well.
2. Exercise regularly. Exercise helps keep your immune system strong; a daily walk boosts your up immune response and gives you some fresh air. A walk puts cleansing oxygen into your lungs
3.Avoid sugar. Even small amounts of sugar can significantly impair your immune function, making you more susceptible to a flu infection. A large amount of sugar, such as the amount found in a normal can of soda, hurts your immune function for hours.
4.Drink lots of pure water. Keeping your mucous membranes well-hydrated is a key to helping them fight off viruses. Aim for about eight 8-ounce glasses per day.
5.Reduce stress. Too much stress has a highly negative impact on your overall health and, over time, it will make you much more susceptible to a flu infection. Studies show that prolonged stress is at least partially responsible for 90% of all illness and disease. Regular exercise and sufficient sleep both help reduce stress levels. Also, meditation (just taking some time out each day to stop thinking and let the mind wonder) is a proven stress-buster that is easy, enjoyable and can be used on a daily basis.
6.Wash your hands often. Also, carry a bottle of alcohol-based hand sanitizer with you and use it frequently, especially after you touch anything that others have touched recently (like doorknobs).
7.Eat immune-boosting foods on a daily basis. A healthy diet , including a few proven immune-boosting foods, is one of the best ways to avoid catching the flu. The best flu-fighting foods are: Fresh, organically grown fruits and vegetables - Brightly coloured fruits and vegetables are packed with healthy phyto nutrients that can strengthen your immune system, lowering your susceptibility to the flu virus. Garlic - Fresh raw or lightly-cooked - Garlic has strong natural antiviral properties that can help to fight off a flu virus. Also, garlic provides a strong boost to your immune system, especially when eaten on a regular basis.
8.Green Tea - Like garlic, green tea has shown the ability to both kill viruses and to stimulate the immune system to fight off flu infections, especially when used daily. Try to drink 3-6 cups of strong green tea per day during the flu season.
9.Cayenne Pepper - Cayenne has a long list of health benefits and is believed to be a mild immune-booster. Also, cayenne contains large amounts of natural vitamin A, considered to be an important "anti-infection" nutrient

Self - Help if you have a cold or flu

1.Rest – It is important to give your body as much support as possible, so please if you have a cold probably one to two days bed rest will have you well on the way to recovery, if you have the flu then may be a week will be needed. If symptoms persist please consult your health care professional.
2.Take ascorbate vitamin C or, 1000mg every hour, preferably in powder form with juice, throughout the day. Take zinc lozenges as needed, or propolis throat spray.
3.No smoking or alcohol (other than a little brandy and lemon). They suppress immunity. Avoid refined foods, sugar, and dairy foods. They increase production of thick mucous.
4.Eat lightly but with good nutrition . Nutrient absorption is less efficient during a cold. A vegetarian diet is best at this time so the body won’t have to work so hard at digestion.
5.Drink plenty of liquids; 6-8 glasses daily of fresh fruit and vegetable juices, herb teas and water to help flush toxins through and out of your system.
6.Keep warm. Don’t worry about a fever unless it is prolonged or very high.
7.Take a long hot herbal bath (include the essential oils of wintergreen, peppermint, eucalyptus, juniper, and clove), spa or sauna. Lots of toxins pass out though the skin. Increase room humidity so your mucous membranes will remain active against the virus or bacteria.
8.Stay relaxed. Let your body concentrate energy on cleaning out infection. Go to bed early, and get plenty of sleep. Most regeneration of cells occurs between midnight and 4 a.m.
9.Think positively about becoming well. Optimism is often a self-fulfilling prophecy.
10.Use a homeopathic nasal every day to help keep any bacteria that enter your breathing passages from multiplying