How do we support our children, spouses and ourselves through the cold and flu season? At Center for Wellness, we like to use a combination of both homeopathic medicines, AND holistic treatments.

In our last blog, we detailed our Top 10 Homeopathic Medicines. Here in this article, we thought it would be helpful to share some of our favorite holistic treatments. It is our hope, that armed with some inside information, you’ll be able to minimize the discomfort of colds and flus for your family over the next several months!

Utilizing these holistic treatments on a regular basis, or at the onset of symptoms has been shown to improve immune system function and lessen the severity and duration of illness.

Epsom Salt Baths

When: 1-3 times a week with or without cold and flu symptoms.
 
How: Add at least 1 cup of pure Epsom Salt (not those laced with cheap essential oils), to very warm bath water. Soak for at least 20 minutes. We like Dr. Scholl’s at Costco, or Epsoak from Amazon.
 
Benefits: In addition to being a great way to relax and reduce stress (which weakens the immune system), Epsom Salt baths are great for:

• Relieving pain and muscle cramps
• Helping muscles and nerves function properly
• Assisting in preventing the hardening of arteries and reducing blood clot risk
• Making insulin more effective
• Relieving constipation
• Eliminating toxins from the body

Cold Sock Treatment

When: At the onset and throughout the duration of illness.
 
How: Right before bedtime, prepare two pairs of socks: one at least 90% cotton, and the other at least 90% wool. (You can find wool socks at most sporting goods stores.) For small children you can use adult socks with safety pins to tighten them to stay in place.

• Step 1: Soak the foot part of the cotton socks in ice water and wring them out thoroughly.
• Step 2: Warm up your feet in a basin or bathtub of hot water (as much as you can comfortably handle) until they are pink. *If you have been in bed under blankets and your feet are already very warm you can skip this step.
• Step 3: Remove your feet from the hot water and quickly dry them off. Immediately put on the cold wet cotton socks, and then put the dry wool socks over the top of them.
• Step 4: Go directly to bed and keep the feet covered throughout the night.

*This therapy does NOT work if you or your feet are uncovered or walking around.
 
Benefits:

• Stimulates the immune system
• Relaxes and reduces aches and chills
• Helps bring a more restful night’s sleep when sick
• Relieves nasal congestion in bed at night

Palming Calves

When: While experiencing joint pain or swelling.
 
How: Place the palms of both hands on either side of the ‘fat’ part of your calf and put gentle pressure.
 
Benefits:

• Provides comfort
• Relieves edema and swelling
• Reduces joint pain, stiffness and itching

Hydro Therapy (hot and cold)

When: This holistic treatment is useful for both when someone else in the family gets sick; and/or at the onset of your own illness.
 
How: When the body is subjected to cold external temperatures, the flow of circulation is directed inward toward the internal organs. As the outside temperature gets hot, the flow of circulation goes outward toward the skin.

1. First, Get completely wet with a temperature of warm water that is comfortable.
2. Then, slowly increase the temperature up to the point that you can barely stand it. Quickly expose all the parts of the body to this hotter water including the top of your head and your face.
3. Next, turn the water temperature down to the coldest tolerable setting. No matter how cold the water is, at its coldest, it cannot harm you in any way. The only thing stopping you from going to the coldest setting is your ability to confront the experience. Make sure all parts of your body get this cold water exposure.
4. Then, turn the water to hot again but make it a little hotter than you had it before. Again, get each part of your body good and hot before reversing the temperature to the coldest setting.
5. And finally, repeat the procedure seven times – seven times hot, seven times cold. Always begin with hot and end off with cold. Make the temperatures as hot and as cold as you can tolerate.

Benefits:

• Improves blood circulation
• Relieves pain
• Detoxifies impurities
• Moves nutrients to various parts of the body

Earthing / Grounding

This is one of our favorite holistic treatments to do on an ongoing basis. Grounding is defined as placing one’s bare feet on the ground. When you ground to the electron-enriched earth, an improved balance of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system occurs.
 
When: On a regular basis.
 
How: Walk around barefoot outside for at least 40 minutes. This may include dirt, grass, sand or concrete (especially when humid or wet.) When the ground is wet there is a greater conduction of the Earth’s electrons. These are all conductive surfaces from which your body can draw the Earth’s electrons. *Wood, asphalt, and vinyl are NOT conductive.
 
Benefits:

• Decreased levels in pain and inflammation
• Reduced stress levels
• Improved circulation
• Increased feeling of being centered, strong, and balanced

Gargles (for sore throat)

When: At the onset, and throughout the duration of a sore throat.
 
How:

• Salt Recipe: Add 1/2 teaspoon of salt to a cup of very warm water. Gargle it every couple of hours as needed.
• Cayenne Pepper Recipe: Add 5 shakes of organic cayenne pepper powder to a cup of hot water. (*Hot water can be substituted for herbal tea, salt water, or lemon juice). Gargle every 15 minutes with the spicy elixir until your sore throat has subsided. You can swallow a bit of the mixture each time. Though this will undoubtedly burn, this is what makes it work so well.

Benefits:

• Eases the pain of a sore throat or canker sore
• Reduces the swelling of tonsils
• Reduces symptoms of a cold or flu