Two weeks ago, it was Sunday, I woke up with low energy, sore throat, nasal congestion and body ache. To be honest, I have not had any cold, flu, sore throat or anything related to this in the last 2 years. I still don't know the reasons why I got sick because I am a very healthy and clean person, and nobody around me has had the flu during these days, so this is a total mystery to me. Anyway, I faced this situation with the best spirit and trusting my instincts.
If it is not a chronic or emergency pain, I avoid going to the doctor because I like to give my body the necessary time to heal and recover on its own. We tend to feel overwhelmed when we feel sick because we want to recover immediately, and, sometimes, we focus more on the causes of diseases than on solutions.
I have learned that the body needs some time to restart, forget about the causes and reasons and start focusing on the recovery part, instead of paying all our attention to the pains. So, I came up with a simple "Healing Plan" that I want to share with you, it has helped me feel much better and get distracted during these days.
Healing Plan:
1. Hydration:
Hydrate your body with lots of fluids, especially water. As soon as you wake up, drink water. I like to take a recycled glass or stainless steel bottle with me and it reminds me of being hydrated all day.
Infused water:
One of the things I like to do is infuse my water with some citrus and herbs, for example by adding lemon, cucumber and grapefruit wheels with fresh mint and basil leaves to a jar with water. It gives my water a fresh and pleasant taste and inspires me to drink more water.
Another way to drink infused water is to add half a squeezed lime juice to a glass of warm water. It also helps with digestion.
2. Herb Teas and Infusions:
Teas and infusions are a great ally, my favorite is ginger & turmeric tea. You can buy it in tea bags at any supermarket or do it from scratch by boiling water, adding grated ginger and ground turmeric, I like to add some date syrup and fresh lime juice.
Ginger has been used for decades to relieve a sore throat and loosen up congestion due to a cold. Turmeric is an excellent antiviral and antibacterial with powerful anti-inflammatory properties that helps relieving the symptoms of cough and cold and fighting infection.
Mint tea is another infusion alternative that I like to prepare. I boil water in a pot and when bubbles appear, I take the pot off the heat and add fresh peppermint, basil leaves and lemon slices. I let stand for 5 minutes, and I I like to serve it with a spoonful of date syrup, if you aren't vegan raw organic honey is another alternative.
3. Yoga and Meditation:
To relieve body ache, stretching and yoga are one of my favorite remedies. You don't have to be a yoga professional, just play some yoga videos for beginners on YouTube and do your practice.
Mindful meditation or natural meditation, in which instruction is to do absolutely nothing, just be present, are also linked to the holistic process of recovery. Listen to your body and its needs, surrender to the current condition: the need to rest, sleep and take care of yourself.
4. Aromatherapy:
One of my best tips for anyone is to invest in an essential oil diffuser and essential oils of good quality. It has been a life change, a before and after, and I am not exaggerating. It is a fascinating world for me that I am discovering step by step. There are a variety of oils that you can choose when it comes to treating and relieving symptoms due to cough and flu.
Some of the things they do is serve as an anti-inflammatory while they work as decongestants, kill bacteria and improve circulation.
Eucalyptus is my number one, I remember since I was a child my grandmother used to apply vaporub ointment on my chest, back and neck every time I had a cold and had a strong cough. Vaporub is basically made of eucalyptus oil, menthol and petrolatum. So it makes sense why eucalyptus essential oil is a very potent tool that helps to reduce nasal congestion and relieve cough.
Peppermint, which also offers effects that improve mood, is another powerful oil that acts as decongestant due to it menthol components. You can also apply peppermint oil to a carrier oil or lotion and rub it on your chest.
The list is endless so I am going to name the most popular ones in case you want to look more information about them:
Lemon
Lemongrass
Tea Tree
Rosemary
Frankincense
Thyme
Turmeric
5. Relaxing warm shower / bath:
I remember that when I was a child, my grandmother used to tell me that a good deep shower would make me feel like a new person, and that is so true! Even I am not sick, but I am in those days that I do not feel 100 percent completely myself, a warm / cold shower (depending on the weather) is a good remedy because it increases my mood and helps me reduce anxiety and stress.
Water purifies our energy, opens our pores and cleanses the skin, eliminating all the toxins in it. Especially, when we are sick with cold and flu, a warm shower acts as a nasal decongestant, helps reduce inflammation in our body and relieves muscle aches.
A quick shower or a salt water bath before going to bed will help you sleep better and more relaxed.
After my shower, I like to add a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil to my body lotion, and I like to apply it to the neck and back areas, this relieves muscle tension, acts as a decongestant and helps me breathe better.
6. Probiotics:
Probiotics (good bacteria) are a powerful weapon to fight cold and digestive problems. It also increases the ability of the immune system to fight viruses. Taking probiotics regularly can reduce the chances of getting a cold, and if you catch a cold, probiotics can help reduce the severity of your symptoms and shorten the duration of the flu in the body.
Some of my favorite sources of probiotics are:
Kombucha
Kimchi
Organic Fermented Soy Products
Pickles and other vegetables
7. Alkaline foods:
I have followed the alkaline diet for many years and, so far, it is my favorite way to cure and protect my body from common diseases and pains such as cold, flu, allergies, digestive problems, headaches, etc.
Eating alkaline foods is easier than many people think, most fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and legumes have the power to alkalize our body, reducing acidity and inflammation.
The alkaline diet can have a very positive effect on the body's pH balance. When we eat the right alkaline foods and beverages, we drink a lot of water and reduce sugar, alcohol, processed foods and animal products, the body's acid level decreases, making it less prone to inflammation and the risk of cancer in the body reduces.
My comfort food number one that I like to eat when I feel sick, especially with the flu, is a delicious bowl of homemade lentil soup. Lentil is one of the alkaline beans, in addition to being a great source of protein and fiber, lentils are full of vitamins and minerals such as iron, folic acid, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, manganese, etc., which will help the body to recover quickly.
8. Citrus fruits:
Citrus fruits such as lemons, limes, oranges, tangerines, clementines, grapefruits, etc., are an exceptional source of vitamin C that stimulates the immune system and help us prevent the cold, fight viruses and other diseases.
In addition to eating the fruits, I have the habit of adding fresh lime or lemon juice to my meals, especially soups, and in my water, teas and infusions. In this way, unconsciously, I am taking Vitamin C in a completely natural and pleasant way.
9. Outdoor and Fresh Air:
Getting fresh air from clean exteriors is essential. I have a park near my house and I like to go there, I usually wear a blanket so I can sit on the floor and read some pages of a book, listen to relaxing music or just contemplate the trees, the birds pass by, and breathe, be present and relax.
Some people say that going to the beach is also a good cure, I agree. The sea air can help cure the cold and other diseases, and the simple fact of having the ocean scene in front of your eyes is a total relaxation for the mind and body.
10. Find a distraction:
When we are entertained doing activities / hobbies that we enjoy, our mood improves and we fell better.
Find a distraction like reading a book, watching some television series, documentaries, movies.
Maybe you want to work on a project or develop an idea of ​​something that motivates you, it could be photography, gardening, edit photos, journaling, paint, write, take any online course, decorate any space in your home, find a new style ... Anything you've wanted to do for a long time but you haven't had the chance, maybe that's the time!
11. Let fresh air into the house:
Ventilate where you live with fresh air is very important, especially if you don't usually do it. Viruses can remain in the environment and this makes the recovery process slower than normal.I like to open the doors of my house that overlook the exterior for a couple of minutes every day. If this is difficult for you, you can open the windows, in both ways fresh air circulates and contaminated air comes out.
12. Rest
Sleep and rest are two key factors for any recovery process. Sometimes, lack of rest is the cause of the disease.
Personally, I like to sleep about 8 hours a day and if I can sleep more hours during the weekend I do it. For me it is not a waste of time, on the contrary, after a good rest I feel more energetic and strong to do my daily work and my workout routine, without the need of any energy drink.
Disclaimer: This is not a medical opinion or a method of medical substitution. I am only sharing my experience of how I healed my body in a holistic way of a simple flu that lasted between 7 to 10 days.