Who knows if all of the fear over this season’s flu strain or the H1N1 virus are truly things to be frightened about. I’ve never gotten a flu shot and I haven’t vaccinated my child against anything (a topic reserved for a different post entirely). What I do know is what works for me whenever I feel the slightest bit of congestion, earache, stuffy nose, sore throat, and general malaise – the combination of the following three things (in addition to hot tea, fluids and rest).
1. Oscillococcinum. Go ahead, try to pronounce it. It’s about the only thing that is regulated by the FDA that I trust won’t leave me with side effects because it’s homeopathic. I buy it at the Honest Weight Food Co-0p but I’ve seen it in the natural food section of Hannaford Supermarkets and I think it’s also at CVS.
2. Tom Kha soup from Sukhathai Restaurant (or any Thai food restaurant variation). This soup is so good. It’s packed with lemongrass which is an analgesic (it reduces muscle pain and headache but has numerous other health benefits), straw mushrooms, tomatoes, onions, coconut milk and galangal (similar aesthetically to the ginger root and used all over Southeast Asia in both medicine and cuisine). You can order this soup with chicken, shrimp or tofu. It’s also loaded with chili paste but it’s blended so it doesn’t knock you completely sideways with the spicy factor.
3. Essential oils. For a cold/flu, specifically, you’ll need three. Lavender (rub this oil all over your body where you ache: neck, throat, head, shoulders, etc.). Tea tree; by far the most important (gargle – one drop of pure, therapeutic grade – not perfume – to a glass of water, gargle, repeat, gargle repeat). The throat is the first line of defense in our bodies and a sore throat means that your body is trying to fight something off. Lastly, eucalyptus (clears blocked airway passages, soothes your chest and basically aids in fighting all the symptoms of a common cold). If you don’t already have one go out and purchase an oil burner. Add a few drops of the eucalyptus oil and some water to it, light the tea light and viola. Not only can the oil burner be used in conjunction with essential oils to nurse your body back to health but it’s also a great alternative to scented candles and much more potent. I am a huge proponent of aromatherapy. Aside from medically proven trials validating the benefits of aromatherapy I also use the following logic. Everyone is familiar with scent Déjà Vue, right? Well if a scent can trigger receptors in the brain that connect it with a memory, I’m pretty sure a scent can affect other biological processes in the body, including your immune system.
Bless you.
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Welcome to Friday Puppy, Christy!
Can’t wait to try the Tom Kha soup! Thanks Christy…I love a more natural remedies for this cold & flu season. A welcome addition to the fridaypuppy family!
OMG! I just discovered Oscillococcinum. I had a horrific cold last week and a hippy-dippy friend recommended. Within 24-48 hours, I was 100% better. This stuff is awesome and if you google it and go on their website, there’s a $2 coupon for you.
Oscillococcinum is at CVS and WALMART.
Seriously… the best stuff. No side effects. Do medicine head. No dry mouth…….and it cures ya.
“I haven’t vaccinated my child against anything”
How responsible of you.
Love that you are promoting homeopathy. Best cure for a natural body….natural elements.
“I haven’t vaccinated my child against anything”
And you are risking all of our health by not doing so. Thanks a bunch.
“I haven’t vaccinated my child against anything”
How safe can that really be? Not only for your child but for the rest of us as well?
Aren’t children required to be immunized before going to school?
finally, some medical suggestions that do not involve xanax and vodka. my dad has been giving my family oscillococcinum since i was a kid, it’s good stuff.
@ andrew, I’ve got a shot of jager in my cupboard that will cure that bad attitude of yours.
thanks for the great suggestions :) i’ll be sure to try a couple this winter. people don’t think about how young medical science is, and how old and proven natural remedies are.
btw, i think it’s great to hear another voice, with what seems like some great ideas, presented in an (already great) blog. what a novel concept.
I wasn’t vaccinated and had never had so much as the common cold. When I went to SUNY they wouldn’t allow me to attend without shots, so I got em, based on the theory that at 22 my immune system was pretty kick ass. Seven shots divided by two arms later, my limbs went numb, I fainted, and haven’t had a shot, cold or flu since. Homeopathy rocks my not so hippy world. Gotta love It Christy!
I will have to try the Tom Kha soup. It’s so yummy. But I am guessing the spice will make me an even runnier mess when I have a cold.
Even though I hinted in my post that my choice regarding vaccinations would best be reserved for a post totally dedicated towards that topic, I’ll try to quell some of the concerns from a few comments above. My son is 13 months old. Our pediatrician has supported our decision thus far. Our choice to delay and/or reject the laundry list of vaccinations that are “suggested” and/or mandated (once a child is school age) is one that we didn’t take lightly. We researched it, extensively. I think most parents, and people, would agree, that the best thing you can do for your child is to educate yourself before you make decisions on their behalf, because every parents’ goals are the same – to love, protect and support – the best way they can. As a human being I certainly think that the choices I’ve made are the “right” thing to do, but what’s right for me and my child might not be right for you and your child.
I look forward to having the discussion at a later date.
Go Phish – Is this the same Go Phish from Albanyyogamamas?
Bob and Jess – I would think that if you’re vaccinated, you don’t have anything to worry about, right?
Kriskaten – Glad to give you some new options. I absolutely agree with your statement regarding the adolescence of medical science. It never occurred to me to question the practice until I became pregnant.
@ Matt Baumgartner & @andrew, Hahaha– You’re both wrong! Jameson cures ALL! (seriously, try a hot tottie!)
“and how old and proven natural remedies are.”
Well… I wouldn’t exactly say that. Before medical science came around I imagine the average life expectancy was decades shorter than it is now. So, I’ll stick to modern medicine ;-)
“Is this the same Go Phish from Albanyyogamamas? ”
Nope, sorry!
I’m trying to remain calm in the face of Christie’s ignorance. But it’s so hard. I don’t want my vowels taken away and generally I love this blog but letting this go could kill people.
I’m old enough to know people who contracted polio. Why doesn’t Christie? Because a vaccine effectively eradicated the disease. Ask your parents if they think Drs. Salk And Sabin are evil minions of Big Medicine. I had relatives whose brothers or sisters died of childhood diseases. Why don’t we hear of kids dying of Whooping Cough or Diphtheria anymore? Any guesses? Any one ever hear of the Trudeau [Yup Doonesbury's writers family] Institute in Saranac Lake. It was set up to study TB. They had plenty of people to study because the only treatment for the disease was rest in fresh air and most people died. It was only 100 years ago! We don’t have to worry about any of this. Why? Because of the DPT vaccine! Millions of people died or got very sick each year. They don’t any more. That’s the fact!
As for modern medicine being young and untrustworthy compared to the ancient homeopathic remedies. Really! We shouldn’t trust modern medicine and rely on the old ways. Really! I have cataracts in both eyes. I suppose I could get a shamen to grind up some herbs for me and blow smoke from the sacred bush in my eyes but I’ll go modern medicine. 60 years ago I’d effectively been blind. Thanks to scientific research I have corrected vision to 20/15. How they stumbled upon plastic replacement lenses is fascinating but to learn about that you might have to read something other than books from the Natural Medicine section.
Do I believe everything big medicine says. Of course not. They look as us as things to make money off of. They want everyone in the country on Viagra, Lipitor or Flomax. Or Xanax. But vaccines save lives, even those who don’t get the shots because the disease isn’t around to catch because all the rest of us have been responsible. God forbid your child grows up and catches Diphtheria. His immune system may be strong enough to fight off the disease but your Grandchild may not be as fortunate. I know you want what’s best for your child and God speed with whatever your choice is but please don’t use a forum like this and not expect to be challenged.
thanks for the health info Matt – essential oils have great health benefits for us and pets, BUT anyone with CATS should please be aware of the possible unsafe and toxic effects of oils on kitties. even when diffused in the home, depending on the chemistry of the oil, the result can be dire.
increasingly, info is being published on this potential health risk to cats; i learned about it through Healing Touch for Animals training. a veterinary toxicologist has posted great info dealing with cats and aromatherapy at
http://www.thelavendercat.com
@ MaryK…. my friend Christy wrote it. Just an FYI, the author of the piece is written directly below the title.
lol. i hear another herb is good for cataracts.
I have to agree with #17 Larry, I also am old enough to remember all those diseases. I’m all for homeopathic remedies if they work but they are for minor illnesses – not ones that kill people.
Christy, re:
Yes, that is technically correct. But, the people who are at risk from your unvaccinated child are children too young to have had certain vaccines and others who can’t have them because they may be immuno-compromised for other reasons. For those people, who may have chosen vaccines but can’t and may already be more vulnerable than the average person, you are creating a risk.
I saw a recent report on Herd Immunity that posited that 90%+ of a population would need to be immunized to a.) eliminate or b.) eradicate a disease, and that refusing immunizations can lead to the resurgence of some pretty nasty stuff that would be dangerous to our most vulnerable populations.
I’m also afraid that the “I’m not getting my kid immunized” argument bears resemblance to the “I drive a giant SUV because it’s safer for me, and screw everyone else on the road and in my community” argument.
However, I’m sure that if I had kids of my own, I’d like to research the options like you are doing. Glad to hear you are keeping the Dr. in the loop about your decisions. Don’t close the door on continued examination of all points of view.
(And my favorite cold/flu home remedy is super hot broth with a raw clove of smushed garlic, sambal paste and fresh ground black pepper. NyQuil is for wussies).