COLDS AND FLU

Germs are everywhere -- on our desks, our chairs, our kitchen counters; on grocery cart handles, door knobs and toiles seats. You name it, and whatever it is, it probably has some sort of germ living on it.

From clipart-library.com

Bleck!

Although cold and flu viruses are around all year, the flu season typically takes place from October through May.

According to everydayhealth.com "colds and flu are among the most frequent reasons people miss work or school."

Both are respiratory illnesses, but caused by different viruses. More than 100 individual viruses can cause a cold, but only influenza types A, B and C cause the flu, according to WebMD.com. To read more about the viruses, check out the website.

Colds and flu have similar symptoms -- fever, aches, chills, fatigue and weakness -- which can make it difficult to distinguish between them. Other symptoms include sneezing, a stuffy nose and a sore throat, which are common with a cold and sometimes symptoms of influenza, according to the Center for Diseases Control and Prevention.

And though chest discomfort, a cough and a headache are standard influenza symptoms, they can occur in people who have colds.

One way to test if you have a cold or flu is to take your temperature. WebMD.com notes people with a cold sometimes have a fever, but it usually is mild, while people who have the flu will have a temperature between 100 and 102 degrees Fahrenheit, sometimes higher, especially in children.

Special tests done within the first few days of an illness can determine whether or not you have the flu.

Cold symptoms normally last about a week and during the first three days of having the symptoms, people are contagious, according to WebMD.com.

Flu symptoms come quickly, and, in general, notes the CDC, flu symptoms are more common and intense than cold symptoms. People who contract the flu are contagious from a day before they show any symptoms and stay contagious for five to seven days after they start feeling sick, according to WebMD.com. Children and some adults can spread the virus even longer -- until their symptoms fade.

Yikes!

Colds usually don't result in significant health problems. Unfortunately, the flu can cause serious health issues. Though many people recuperate from the flu in a few days to a couple of weeks, some people may develop pneumonia. Their hearts, brains or muscles could become inflamed or multiple organs may fail, notes the CDC. In addition, suffering from the flu can make chronic medical problems, such as asthma or heart disease, worse.

So, just how are respiratory illnesses spread? Many people think illnesses such as the cold and flu are airborne, that they spread through the air, notes WebMD.com. In a sense, they are airborne, but it isn't like the germs are floating around by themselves. Most of the time, the viruses are spread through droplets which we cough or sneeze. Viruses live in saliva and mucous and when we cough and sneeze, we spew the droplets with the virus in them up to six feet. When we breathe in the droplets -- or if they land in our eyes, nose or mouth, we are exposed.

Oh, no!

You also get sick if you touch a place where the droplets landed such as a desk, counter top or door knob, and then touch your eyes, nose or mouth. The virus can live on hard surfaces up to 48 hours, notes WebMD.com.

Get out the hand sanitizer now!

Speaking of hand sanitizer, to help prevent cold and flu symptoms, wash your hands. WebMD.com suggests rubbing your hands with warm soapy water for at least 20 seconds to help slough germs off your skin. 

Of course, another prevention is a flu vaccine, which isn't for everyone. My husband and I don't vaccinate and haven't for more than a decade. It is a personal choice. 

To read about flu vaccines, visit the CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm.

If, despite taking preventive measures, you get a cold or the flue, what should you do?

First, get plenty of bed rest, avoid physical exertion and drink fluids to prevent hydration, notes everydayhealth.com. Don't consume alcohol and don't consume a lot of caffeinated beverages because they can disrupt your sleep.

And, what about over-the-counter medicines? Well, according to several websites, over-the-counter pain and fever reducers or decongestants can "lessen" the symptoms, but do not treat the underlying viral infection.

Non-prescription meds such as acetaminophen, aspirin (for adults, 18 years old and older), naproxen, pseudoepinephrine, cough suppressants, expectorants and throat lozenges are some products that can lessen the symptoms. But, they also have side effects and can be a health risk in people with pre-existing conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease or allergies, notes everydayhealth.com. To read more on the side effects, search "side effects of acetaminophen," "side effects of naproxen," etc., on the web.

Many of us choose to live a life where we use natural remedies such as herbs, supplements and essential oils, even though there may not be a ton of solid, clinical support regarding the effectiveness of the products.

Despite that, everydayhealth.com claims popular remedies include echinacea (to reduce the duration of a cold or flu), elderberry extract (to reduce congestion and increase perspiration), eucalyptus (to relieve congestion, loosen phlegm and soothe a sore throat), licorice (to treat a sore throat), peppermint -- or menthol (to thin mucous, relieve congestion and loosen phlegm) and slippery elm (to soothe a sore throat).

When I was young, my dad gave me slippery elm lozenges or Fishermen's Friend lozenges, which have been around since 1865, and contain no artificial colors or flavorings. To read about it, visit fishermensfriend.com.

I am blessed. I can't remember the last time I had a cold, and the last time I had the flu probably was five or six years ago. 

People at my place of employment have been sick, but I have been bypassed, thankfully.

Since my teenage years, I have been taking vitamins and herbal supplements. In the mid-1990s, I discovered essential oils, which are a daily part of my life.

And, over the years, I have collected numerous recipes, a few which I will share here.

MASTER YIN'S REMEDY FOR COMMON COLDS
3 to 4 cups water
Some ginger root (about the size of your hand)
4 to 5 whole green onions
3 squeezes fresh lemon
1 tablespoon brown sugar
Tangerine peel (optional)

Bring water to a boil in a saucepan. Slice the ginger root and green onions, and simmer in water until water gets some color in it (about 15 minutes). Add the tangerine peel (optional) after turning off the heat. Cover and leave sit for 5 minutes.

Lift out the solid material and discard. Add the fresh squeezes of lemon and stir in the brown sugar. 

Sip the hot tea throughout the day. If not feeling better, make another pot the next day. This tea also is helpful for other respiratory-type viruses and flues.

The tangerine peel is good to improve the taste of the tea and to cut through and remove phlegm.

Proportions of ingredients can be varied, but the tea should be strong.

WHOLE LIFE ESSENTIALS RUB FOR CHEST COLDS

Eucalyptus

10 drops eucalyptus (radiata) essential oil
6 drops lemon essential oil
6 drops cedarwood (atlas) essential oil
5 drops ravensara (aromatic) essential oil
5 drops myrtle (myrtus communis) essential oil
4 drops juniper berry (juniperus communis) essential oil
4 drops hyssop (hyssopus officinalis) essential oil
3 drops cypress (cypressus cyminum) essential oil
2 drops ginger (zingiber offiicinale) essential oil

Blend all the oils in a 2-ounce combination of sweet almond and jojoba oil.

Apply a small amount to chest, back and/or soles of the feat to ease mucous secretions and relieve cough.

Note: This is an anti-bacterial, anti-viral and expectorant. Please use only the finest quality organic and wild-grown essential oils. ~~ (c) Whole Life Essentials

ROOM SPRAY FOR COLDS
8 drops lemon essential oil
6 drops bergamot essential oil
4 drops tea tree oil
2 ounces distilled (or purified) water

Mix all ingredients together in a glass spray top bottle and mist the room as desired to help kill germs in the air. Shake gently before each use.

GARLIC COUGH MEDICINE
1 pound peeled and sliced organic garlic
Apple cider vinegar
Pure water

Place garlic in a jar and cover with equal parts apple cider vinegar and pure water. Let stand 4 to 5 hours. Strain and add an equal amount of honey. Keep in the refrigerator. Take 1 tablespoon 3 to 4 times a day.

GARLIC REMEDY FOR BRONCHITIS
2 to 3 whole, peeled cloves of organic garlic put through a garlic press
1/2 to 1 cup organic maple syrup or raw organic honey

Combine the garlic and maple syrup or honey. Stir well. Take the entire amount made during a 24-hour period.

Note: The Garlic Cough Medicine and the Garlic Remedy for Bronchitis recipes are adapted from "Remedies from the Ancient Cookfire."

NON-TOXIC SPRAY CLEANER
20 drops lemon essential oil
8 drops peppermint essential oil
10 drops tea tree essential oil
10 drops lavender oil
2 tablespoons Dr. Bronner's organic castile soap (eucalyptus is a good choice)

Combine all ingredients in a 16-ounce spray bottle with enough distilled (or purified) water to fill the bottle.

SWEET LEMON AND BRANDY SYRUP
1/2 pint raw organic honey
2 tablespoons organic lemon juice
2 jiggers brandy
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl. Refrigerate.

Take 1 tablespoon (when coughing) or once an hour.

Note: This mixture heats up the blood vessels in the throat and soothes coughing. The cayenne acts as a blood cleanser.

Please remember: "These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any illness or disease. The information in my blog is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please confirm any information obtained from any part of my blog with other sources, and review all information regarding any medical condition or treatment with your physician. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read in my blog."