It’s Cold Season – Stop It Naturally Without Meds

If you have children in school or work in an office, you know that cold season is in full swing. When you feel the telltale throat tickle, how do you respond? Some just buy a box of tissues and push through. Others pull out a collection of over-the-counter drugs. But there are some preventative measures you can employ right away.

Is This Your Habit?

What is your normal approach? Do you reach for medications like Sudafed and nasal spray? You may have been told by your doctor to use this combination to prevent a secondary infection. But they have potential for unpleasant side effects, like anxiety or restlessness, insomnia, headache, or dry mouth.

Dr. Stacie Stephenson, a functional medicine practitioner, says, “I don’t think it’s necessary to load up on over-the-counter pharmaceuticals to keep cold symptoms at bay and to help a cold resolve sooner.”

Be Pre-emptive

Rather than wait to react when a cold strikes, you can take a pre-emptive approach by adding the right supplements now. Vitamin C with Bioflavonoids and Vitamin D are key for fall and winter.

Less time spent outside with exposed arms and legs during fall and winter reduces your body’s opportunity to make Vitamin D. When supplementing Vitamin D, it is important to also take Magnesium Glycinate to help your body convert and use the D.

Yet, you don’t want to rely on single supplements, when food provides a broader range of nutrients your body can readily use. Eating vegetables and fruits in a variety of colors provides a full spectrum of nutrients. These vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients fuel your immune system for fighting off viruses and other invaders.

Respond To Symptoms

What happens when symptoms appear? If your cold brings a lot of congestion, I recommend that you eliminate all dairy products from your meals. Dairy is known to promote congestion, even if you don’t usually have issues with it.

Doubling your Vitamin C, a natural antihistamine, can also support quicker resolution of symptoms. Drinking warm green tea with a squeeze of fresh lemon and a spoonful of raw honey can soothe a tender throat. Drink a lot of filtered water to support your lymph system and organ function.

Shift from taking Vitamin D to Cod Liver Oil (available in gelcaps to avoid the taste), which provides Vitamins A, D, E, and Omega 3s to further boost your immune system. I also recommend taking Monolaurin for the first 2 days you are feeling symptoms. This derivative of coconut oil is antimicrobial, anti-fungal, and antiviral – it packs a punch.

While our tendency when we don’t feel well is to hunker down indoors, doing so overlooks the therapeutic benefits of sunshine. Make a point of sitting outside in the sun or by a sunny window several times a day.

Dr. Stephenson says, “Eat soup, whole citrus fruit, and berries when you feel hungry, and allow yourself to sleep more than usual. In other words: take care of yourself, and your body will take care of your cold virus.”

A Natural Approach

It has always been my belief that you are better off when you focus on providing your body what it needs to function properly. When you feel symptoms, the culprit has already been active in your body for at least a day. Your immune system knows what’s there long before you do, so support it to work effectively.

If you feel the sniffles developing, add Vitamins C and D, Magnesium Glycinate, drink water and green tea, get some sunshine and prioritize sleep. Doing so will help your body support you through this fall and winter when colds are more common.

Want an easy way to get these supplements for your toolbox? Here is a link to the protocol in my nutritional dispensary so you can quickly and conveniently order.