i currently have a cold (a really, really snotty and sneezy one at that–it’s really gross. the floor on my side of the bed this morning was like a tissue graveyard.) and thus am doing all of the above. mostly. sometimes i get lazy and let a thing or two drop off (but never number 3). some of these are my daily routine practically year round while others are more preventative during certain times of year and still others are when i feel something already coming on. i’ll try not to let this be toooo much of a novella.
and, important note: i am not (not not not not) a health care practitioner. i’m just a woman who likes herself some homeopathy and tries to stay away from over the counter meds and such. all have their place, but the above (and then some) is what i prefer, this is what we do! i’m not linking you to all the articles and research that say the above is great (or not so great) so definitely do your research. and with that, we carry on.
1// emergen-c: this is a no-brainer. and yes, it does have some sugar content but is also packed with vitamin c and i hear from many that they really think it knocks the cold out if taken as soon as you feel it coming on. after that, all bets are off, but vitamin c isn’t a bad thing anyway. (parker will also take this in a sippy cup; i usually give him half a packet if he has a cold or if someone else in the house has one.)
2// probiotic. 365 days a year. the whole family takes these as long as i remind them/they remember. they’re really small pills, easy to swallow. i have recommended a different brand in the past, but after some GAPS-education (this is the one recommended by them), my sister takes this one so i just took her recommendation. also, it doesn’t need refrigeration which is nice for when you travel. and i know! eating my words. i have always thought a good probiotic must be refrigerated but apparently not. each pill is vacuum sealed separately so that must be why. gut health is huge and, to many (dr. marianne included), the very start to good overall health. everyone should be on one.
3// standard process congaplex. i’ve been taking this longer than any of the above. for as long as i can remember. never have i seen something work so well on a cold (or general sickness) than this. sometimes i feel like i get too many colds (two to three per winter?), but what i will say is that they last about two days. i pound the congaplex. when parker’s sick, i give him two about three times a day and he chews the capsules and swallows them. he strangely doesn’t mind taking much of what i give him (what a weirdo). disclosure: i also eat no dairy or sugar and very little flour when i have a cold. i’m a miserable person with a cold so i basically attack it. some chiropractors or naturopaths carry their products (that’s how i usually get mine) but it’s also available on amazon.
4// carlson’s cod liver oil (lemon). vitamin d! we’re on month three of no sun (sort of) so we need this. a spoonful a day. there is information out there about how much vitamin d you need or do not need in the summer when you’re in the sun (still the best way to get it!) but basically, as a general population, we’re all very vitamin d deficient, so this is an important one. i do believe this helps my mood in the wintertime too (not that you’d always notice… sorry family, but imagine what i’d look like without it!). some switch to fish oil in the summertime. we don’t. i just don’t take this nearly as often as i do in the darker months.5// elderberry syrup. i used to buy this, a fairly small bottle of it, for around $15. but it was a serious lightbulb moment when i discovered i could make my own for a fraction of the cost. i buy these elderberries
and have made five jars (i give a lot away–we haven’t gone through that much ourselves) about the same size as the above. i still have plenty of elderberries left. way, way, way cheaper. spoonful a day preventative, and one or two spoonfuls once you’re actually sick. i follow this recipe.
and have made five jars (i give a lot away–we haven’t gone through that much ourselves) about the same size as the above. i still have plenty of elderberries left. way, way, way cheaper. spoonful a day preventative, and one or two spoonfuls once you’re actually sick. i follow this recipe.
6// new chapter prenatals
this is by no means an inclusive list of the things to do while sick or to prevent sick. that probably didn’t need stating. i’d love to hear more about what you do. some of ours not pictured are essential oils, tea, and colloidal silver. does anyone take manuka honey? favorite kids’ multivitamin? and i’d love to hear how you use essential oils too. anyone already take some of the above?
stay healthy!
Yes to cod liver oil! Does that kind taste good (well as good as cod liver oil can taste)? We take the Twinlab Emulsified Norwegian Cod Liver Oil in orange, and it actually is more than tolerable! Ryan fusses when I don't give him more because he thinks it is candy.
I'll have to check out the rest of the list! Thanks, Bridget!
for me, it's more the texture of oil i don't like, but i always chase it with water right after and it's fine. parker actually likes it! my mom made the mistake of buying plain once and said she will not make that mistake again! lemon it is.
Soul sistaaaaa! This post is my jam! Also, I've always boycotted Cod Liver Oil but lemon?! Who knew?! Just ordered some off Amazon… hopefully that decrease in winter-grouchiness translates on my end as well! We're diehard essential oil, colloidal silver, elderberry etc. fans as well…side note: finally found the best diffuser ever (diffuser link here). Also, if you haven't already read it, this post about one families adventures with natural remedies is a good read as well.
family's * …. I know my possessives, I swear :'( !
i loooove mockabee but don't regularly check her blog – that post is a gold mine! thank you!!!
(baking soda and lime, who knew?!)
Bookmarking this for the inevitable day when I get super sick this winter. Hasn't happened yet, but I bet it will…
knock on wood!
Love this list. I think I need to find a better pro biotic! And any good recommendation for a toddler vitamin?
currently parker takes a tj's gummi vite but i know we can do better! i've heard great things about the juice plus for kids.
Elderberries! Thanks for the link! My husband has been looking for it when we go backpacking/hiking (it grows here in Cali.) We've never found it with ripe and ready berries. And SUPER interesting side note….the branches are good for starting friction fires so there you go HA! The hobbies these men have. I guess there could be worse… 😉
oh, to be able to pick them fresh, how cool! not here!!
This is so interesting to me! I have always wanted to get a healthy medicine cabinet established and this post is just what I needed to get started! There is so much information out there so thanks for the run down!
good luck mandy!! this stuff gets me sooo excited and you're right, there is SO much out there. enjoy your research! cheers to good health.
Oregano oil & raw garlic are my go-to when I start feeling sick… good thing I work alone coz in the winter months I pretty much smell like a pizza factory all day long!
so funny you say that – whenever i've put oregano oil on parker's feet, we call it "pizza feeeeet!"
Elderberry is where its at!! During the winter months we amp up the vitamin D and Echinacea, my kids take the lil critters immune c gummies. Another product I am loving this winter that has nothing to do with immunity, but everything to do with winter dry skin is Zim's Crack Creme!! Life saver for dry skin.
i'm glad you told me about that creme – parker's got this insanely dry chin (that he keeps licking over and over thus perpetuating the problem!)… i'll check it out!
I have been using essential oils any time me or my kids have been sick this year and they have been AMAZING. Thyme, lemon, onguard & melalueca! Breathe if you're coughing. I've been blogging about all the new uses I'm finding with the oils. I would recommend the Modern Essentials handbook- it's my go to for everything oils. Feel better soon!
http://ourstorkgotlost.blogspot.com
i've been using them too! i definitely like them but am not feeling like they replace this stuff yet… we'll see. i don't have thyme though!
Instead of a Emergen-C or something similar, I've been making these: http://butterbeliever.com/homemade-vitamin-c-gummies/
I feel like they'd be right up your alley. I'm loving the benefits of gelatin lately.
i love the name of the site – butter believer. i will check it out, thanks mads. loving everything you've been sharing on fb lately too.
I'm sick as we speak, so this post is a god send. I love elderberry syrup! Never thought to make it myself though.
I use lavender essential oils in my cold air humidifier during the winter since the air is so dry. Yummy! and totally helps me sleep.
Love your homeopathic posts! I'm already a Standard Process user (kicked my year round allergies and dependency on chemical allergy meds with it) but will have to try the other winter essentials! Thanks for posting!
I also keep emergen-c in the house {and my bag} at all times and take it as soon as I feel the slightest bit sick. We also make sure the humidifier is running all night in the bedroom, drink lots of water, and throw in some hot lemon water in the morning for a quick detox and a little extra vitamin C. Thanks so much for sharing!
hot lemon water, yes!
6, you got me.
I used to get flu almost every month, the monthly dip in hormones and dip in iron levels meant I kept getting flu (my doctors explanation to me). Then my husband and I started upping our spinach intake and bam I havn't had flu in over a year. Sometimes I start to get the niggly flu feeling and I up my vitamin C and a doctor friend recommended upping liquids and drinking rehydrate and I usually feel fine by the next morning. Also I started eating protein with every meal think this also might be what helped. I also take vitamin C daily.
Spinach is so great. We put it in smoothies and you wouldn't even know. I like it by itself too. Thanks for your tips, they're good ones.
You crack me up! Stupidest way to announce a pregnancy… ha!
I've heard amazing things about elderberry. As always, great recs.
hahaha, glad you caught that 🙂
Ordered the Bio-Kult, but have a question, do the kids take this too, even your little one? If not what do you give them? I have a 10, 7 and 4 year old that I wantthem to have this too?? Thanks, Lisa
great question. yes, parker takes it! i just give him a pill and he chews it and swallows it. if that wouldn't work for your kids (i know some kids have pill-aversions!) you could open the capsule and put it in their yogurt!
Thanks! good to know that they can chew it and it is fine
copious amounts of soap + hot water, and a good lotion to help the dry skin. boom – winter essentials. the best way to keep healthy is just to wash your hands.
i would've added that but…. i'm assuming everyone knows it at this point! right?! i hope so.
Thank you for this post! Love alternative health stuff like this. You turned me on to Congaplex and now I'm hooked! And my husband and I haven't gotten sick yet this winter (knock on wood). I thought probiotics had to be refrigerated (and have paid for express refrigerated shipping. doh!), so this is great news. Off to order now.
a lot of probiotics do need to be refrigerated! be sure to check — these specific ones don't, and it must be because of the way they're sealed (each capsule individually!).
xo!
Have you written about the end of breast feeding and I missed it? Just curious… Or maybe you don't want to. Also perfectly fine. 😛
cynthia, i haven't! you didn't miss anything. we just stopped in november. i'm probably not ready to write about it without crying yet, hence me not writing about it thus far :-
I have been out of the blog reading loop lately so I am finally catching up! What a great post! I am always looking for supplement options, and have been looking for a new probiotic so I am going to check it out!
Is Steve still taking Juice Plus? Have you gotten on board yet? My husband and I swear by our Orchard, Garden and Vineyard capsules keeping us healthier since we started. My boys LOVE the JP gummies. We don't take a multivitamin since we feel we get all the vitamins and minerals from the 26 fruits, veggies and gluten-free grains we get everyday.
They are also great because they are all from the whole food so for example, pregnant women (or those trying) can get folate instead of folic acid….SO much better for babies! Same goes for Vitamin C since it is not isolated, but juiced from its whole form.
May I share a link here? If not please delete
http://kpiccola.juiceplus.com/
We also take our Omegas 3s (Nordic Naturals Vegan from an Algae source),
Vit D3 and I take my B12, probiotic and I need to find a good magnesium (for my thyroid issues). I love learning and sharing supplements far to few people seem to care about!
Hope these winter blues pass soon..spring is just around the corner!
you can totally leave your link! i should look into those jp gummies for p – thank you!
steve is still is taking juice plus and so is william! and honestly, it's been a pretty healthy winter over all! especially for the kids — no fevers, flus, stomach bugs. just a cold here and there.
my sister has a great magnesium that she's taking… i will ask her for the brand! why are you taking specifically b12?
Thanks!!
I have Hashimoto's / hypothyroid and I don't eat a lot of meat so I needed extra. That is also why I need the magnesium to help my body absorb the D3, which is also low.
I will check back in for the name.
We've luckily had a pretty healthy winter too and are very ready for spring! My boys need to get out and run and play and explore!
Steve can actually sponsor Parker for free chewables so it's worth a try! You might also like the aeroponic Tower Garden that the Juice Plus company sells too. That link is http://www.kpiccola.towergarden.com
Ok time for bed (too late again) because DST always messes our rising times!
🙂
I'm wondering about what dosage you take of the Bio-kult? What dosage you give to Parker? Thanks!
as long as i don't forget (which i do more often than i wish!) — one a day, for each of us!
Hi Bridget – what is the probiotic? The link isn’t valid anymore. Thanks so much!!
Biokult!