When I'm starting to feel sick...

...here are the preventative measures I take to keep a cold at bay. 

1.  Drink more fluids.  I try to drink more water, juice, and herbal tea.  I love this kid's Cold Care Tea - I use 2 bags per cup to make it a little stronger.
 
2.  Up my local honey intake.  Local honey is important because the bees have gathered pollen from all the plants indigenous to your area.  The allergens in honey are delivered to your body in manageable doses - helping you to build up an immunity to them.  I try to eat wild local honey once a day, but when I am starting to feel ill I up my intake.

3.  Netti Pot.  I've only recently started using this - at the recommendation of my sister.  It is very effective though - removing irritating allergens and soothing inflammation in your nasal passages. 

4.  Essential Oils:  I use my Adult Cold and Flu Rescue (which I finally listed in my Etsy shop). 

It has a combination of Lavender, Tea Tree, Eucalyptus, and Peppermint essential oils.  These oils are antiviral, antimicrobial, decongestant, and anti-inflammatory.  I roll it on my lymph glands on my neck, and on my wrists 3x a day.  Inhaling deeply after application. 
So far, I don't feel any worse than yesterday(when my symptoms first presented) - hopefully that means this thing will be short-lived.  (although I do feel like I am writing this post in a fog - hope you can understand my watery-eyed, sleepy-brain self).  I'm off to take a nap.  Stay well and warm!
jessica

Tea Tree Essential Oil

Good Morning!  I haven't done a post on essential oils in a while, so I figured it was time.

Last time I spoke with you about Lavender, which is the most versatile oil to own.  Next to it would probably be Tea Tree.

Grown primarily in Australia, it has been used for 1000s of years by the aboriginal people.  It is a very strong healing oil, because it is active against bacteria, fungi, and viruses.  It also has a very strong odor - kind of like hay.  You can buy some online here.  They also probably have it at your local health foods store.


How to use it:

I use tea tree oil when it seems one of us is getting sick.  Like any other natural remedy, it is important to use it as soon as you feel symptoms.  You can add 3-4 drops of tea tree to about a Tablespoon of carrier oil.  Massage this on your chest and neck - especially around the glands under your jaw bone.  Do this three times a day, when you feel you are getting sick.

My second favorite way to use tea tree is on the skin.  It is very effective in killing minor infections (like around your finger/toe nails), and also in reducing breakouts on your face (which we know are caused by bacteria, which it kills).  To treat these symptoms,  you can get a q-tip and put a drop or two on the tip - apply directly to your skin at the site of infection/blemish.

For more information I suggest this book:

The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils: The Complete Guide to the Use of Oils in Aromatherapy & Herbalism
For more information online you can go here.
Have a naturally healthy day!
jessica