Friday, October 28, 2011

Natural Remedies for the Cold and Flu Season


During my recent visit to Austin, I had the privilege of taking several classes with Craig Williams. Craig is among many other things an Oriental Medicine Doctor and Ayurvedic Practitioner who offers a wide range of classes and workshops related to physical, mental, and spiritual health. Here are a few takeaways from his recent class Natural Solutions For the Cold and Flu Seasons:


Prevention: Protect Yourself From The Common Cold

· Decrease or eliminate sugar and alcohol for the winter

· Frequently wash your hands with warm soapy water

· Consume Probiotics to maintain GI health (70-80% of your immune system lives here)

· Use essential oils in diffuser, ceramic lamp rings, shower tablets, or rooms sprays (examples include tea tree, eucalyptus, and/or lavender) to clean the air you breath

· Take Epsom salt baths with essential oils

· Sleep a lot


Herbal Remedies For Cold Prevention Or Immune Boosting: (Check with your healthcare practitioner if any are contraindicated for you.)

· Echinacea + Elderberry (at onset of cold – read labels for dosage) *best in syrup form

· Osho Root + Reishi (great if you often have regular upper respiratory issues)

· American Ginseng (if you have deficient Qi)

· Andrographis (gargle to clear a sore throat)

· Chyavanprash (Ayurvedic formula to boost the immune system and body)

· Triphala (Ayurvedic formula to promote elimination and digestive track health)


A Few Food Recommendations:

· Steamed broccoli

· Dandelion greens

· Kale

· Other dark green leafy vegetables

· Onions sautéed with ghee (tonic food – contains butyric acid that promotes large intestine health)

· Gogi berries

· Garlic

· Spices: cumin, coriander, turmeric, and fennel

1 comment:

Mrs. Dike said...

Thank you for these generous tips, Melina!

Though I still haven't found the chance to take one of your classes, I savor reading your seasonal yoga ayurveda insights and have given a few workshops at the studio where I teach in Issaquah (Terra Yoga) to introduce others to this beautiful way of living in balance.

Also, Carina Terra, my beloved teacher and mentor, has been taking your teacher training at 8 Limbs.

Blessed 11/11/11!