Flu season seems to have struck early this year. Friends here in LA are dropping left and right with body aches/runny nose/sneezing that often segues into a hacking cough that lasts about 3 weeks. It’s pretty grim which is why I got seriously nervous last week when what I thought was just an allergy attack turned out to be something more. Realizing that if this crud moved from my head to my lungs that I would be seriously down for the count, I immediately started taking the homeopathic remedies that are a permanent part of my flu fighting regimen.
Personally, I don’t like to take over the counter or prescription meds. In general, I find that they mask the symptoms (sometimes necessary if you have to make it through a business meeting or presentation) without actually curing the underlying issue. Also, because we live in a society that wants to take a pill to solve every problem, most western doctors over prescribe. If you’ve read anything about the recent uptick in super bugs then you know something about the connection between them and our society’s overuse of antibiotics.
Homeopathic medicine is basically medicine that takes a holistic or natural approach to healing. It can entail drops derived from plants or fruits, certain spices, and, of course, Chinese herbs. Below are what I consider my greatest hits:
Wish Garden Herbs: Kick-Ass Immune Activator
This homeopathic herbal remedy is the magic potion that just kept my recent bout with the crud from moving down into my lungs. I bought it last Christmas for my brother who’d caught a horrible flu, but still had to get up every day to teach skiing. He swore that it cured him overnight. Since then, I have recommended it to numerous friends to glowing results. This was my first time taking it myself and it is a keeper. Follow the link here to purchase. For the first couple of days, I took 2 droppers under the tongue every 2 hours and once I was out of the woods, backed off to 2 droppers a couple of times a day until I felt completely well.
Yin Chiao
This homeopathic is a Chinese herb, and the medicine of choice for combating the most common symptoms of a cold such as fever, runny nose and sneezing. Perfected over the past 2,000 years, I can personally attest to this herb’s efficacy. Start to take it at the first sign of a cold and keep taking it even if you also decide to take over the counter or prescription cold medication. It will help boost your own body’s natural defenses. It comes in two forms, small black pellets or larger tablets. For the pellets, take 3, 3 times a day. For the larger tablets, take 4, 3 times a day until you feel well. Here is a link for the pellets and here is link for the larger tablets. While the pellets are somewhat easier to swallow, I tend to buy the larger tablets since they come packaged in a blister pack and therefore last longer.
Grapefruit Seed Extract
Derived from the seeds and pulp of the grapefruit, Grapefruit Seed Extract is a powerful homeopathic for fighting infection of all kinds including bacteria (Staph, strep, E. Coli and Salmonella), parasites, viruses, herpes and fungi such as Candida. Great for treating stomach issues and diarrhea as well as the cold and flu, this non-toxic, anti-microbial product is a miracle worker. Now, I am not going to lie. The taste is beyond bitter, but it doesn’t last. However, if you don’t want to take it in water (typically 10 drops, 3 times a day), then buy these gelatin capsules and fill them with the liquid, taking 1, twice a day. You can find Grapefruit Seed Extract at any Whole Foods or Vitamin Shop or you can order it here.