But what are you supposed to do when you're allergic to the vaccine?
Yup. When I ended up back in my doctor's office with a 104 degree fever after some vaccine in my teens, he very clearly warned me never to get a flu vaccine, that it could kill me.
ACK!
So each year I try to figure out how to stay healthy when I can't get the shot and everyone around me is sick (multiplied by the # of students in any given class).
Over the years I've come to rely on a few things.
#1 - Emergen-C
I know this has been around awhile and isn't totally "natural" but it's awesome!
One of the kindergarten aides mentioned to me that her school nurse used to keep a huge box on hand and dispense to all the adults who came in sick.
First I tried the Pina Colada flavor. Yum! The Meyer lemon was also delicious. But I settled on the Cranberry Hibiscus when I bought the big box. The flavor reminds me of the punches my mother used to make for parties. All the vitamins and minerals actually make me feel like I have a fighting chance of making it til spring!
Which brings me to
#2 - Vitamin D
I remember reading somewhere years ago that in Canada they give Vitamin D rather than flu shots. I have no idea if that's really true, but the years I was good about remembering to take Vitamin D regularly, I caught nary a sniffle.
#3 - Ginger
I'll admit, fresh ginger always kind of scared me. I wasn't exactly sure how to pick it out or what to do with it.
But in my desperation for something to help the endless, tickly cough, I saw a recipe for ginger tea that promised great results.
I overcame my fears :) and bought some ginger. Just a little piece at first.
I
peeled it, sliced it, and boiled it for ten minutes. Then I drained it,
let it cool a bit, and drank the liquid. Can I say MIRACLE? By the next
morning, I felt so much better!Here's where I admit that I never actually liked the taste of ginger in anything but cookies. But fresh ginger - that I really like!
If you're less a fan, you can add some honey or lemon.
You're supposed to drink the liquid three times a day.
#4 - Gargling with salt water
A neighbor's pediatrician recommended this when her child was young. I've also tried it with apple cider vinegar, but salt water is a whole lot easier on the throat and mouth.
#5 - Herb tea
I came up with this concoction to fight a nasty cough one year and it's pretty good and reliable.
Boil some water and toss in a mix of herbs with anti-bacterial/anti-viral/anti-fungal properties. I'm talking thyme, oregano, basil. If I have it, I throw in some cayenne pepper, maybe some garlic or turmeric, and let it simmer awhile. Strain and drink like tea. I'll admit it's an acquired taste. Honey and lemon help. But I also have an herb tea I like to drink regularly.
Tulsi Herbal tea: I knew this was supposed to be healthy (and it always makes me feel good), but when I went searching for benefits, I found this list of amazing benefits. 😇
There are so many varieties available now.
So what do you do when the dreaded winter bugs strike? Head to the medicine cabinet or the kitchen cabinet? Drugstore or grocery store?
Let's share some ideas.
