The information in this post is not intended to be medical advice, but is meant to show how a family can make use of natural care for cold and flu in place of antibiotics and over the counter medicine.
Tis the season for cold and flu. As a child and young adult, I frequently experienced viruses that led to sinus infections. For my entire life (in memory), I was prescribed at least one antibiotic a year through the age of thirty-six. This practice was detrimental to my health. Since 2016, I’ve had to abandon the use of antibiotics completely and seek out other ways to treat my sinus issues. In this post, I hope to convey what I’ve learned about natural care for cold and flu. I’ll share some of the products I use. More than any one product, the most important part of natural care for cold and flu is to treat symptoms immediately upon onset. Do not wait for symptoms to progress. Day one is where the most important action occurs.
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THE DANGER OF ANTIBIOTICS
In 2016, six weeks after a course of Amoxicillin, I developed C-diff. Clostridium Difficile is a bacteria that lives in every colon. In a healthy colon, there is more “good” bacteria to balance out the “bad” bacteria like C-diff. When you take an antibiotic, the medicine kills the bacteria that is causing your infection, but it also kills gut bacteria, both good and bad. Every course of an antibiotic has a resulting C-diff infection as a potential side-effect.
Ironically, a C-diff infection is treated with another antibiotic. Generally Vancomycin (or similar) is used to fight back the C-diff that has overwhelmed the colon. During a C-diff infection, the patient will experience severe diarrhea, sometimes bloody diarrhea, fever, pain, and inability to eat. The condition is considered life-threatening. If the infection is not curbed quickly, the patient can be overwhelmed by dehydration, low blood pressure, toxic mega-colon, and/or colon perforation.
Not once, when I was prescribed an antibiotic, did a doctor warn about C-diff. No doctor ever said to me, “How often do you take antibiotics?” Or “I see in your chart that you take an antibiotic annually. Let’s talk about that.” It’s unfortunate that antibiotics are handed out like candy to the detriment of the patient.
Though I haven’t had an antibiotic since 2016, I’ve had one reoccurrence of C-diff. After having it once, you’re more likely to experience it again. I know, at this point in my life, that an antibiotic should only be used as a life saving measure (for me). I cannot take one for a sinus infection or ear infection or even a bronchial infection. It’s just not worth the risk. So what do I do? Enter natural care for cold and flu.
NATURAL CARE FOR COLD AND FLU – DAY ONE
I use natural care for cold and flu for everyone in my family. The first day that we experience any symptoms, we do the following:
VITAMIN D “HAMMER”
Adults in my house take 50,000 iu of vitamin D. Children (above age 7) take 10,000 iu of vitamin D.
VITMAIN C
Adults and children (above age 7) in my house take 1,000 mg of vitamin C, 3-5 times a day.
SINUS RINSE
No one likes a sinus rinse. It’s an odd sensation, to be sure, but I do believe that it’s one of the most effective ways to combat a potential sinus infection. It’s much easier to treat something before it develops fully, than once an infection has been given reign to form. In my house, adults and children alike use this saline sinus rinse. My son has been able to do it since he was six or seven years old. Before that, he was too intimidated by the concept.
Aside from the saline packets provided by the manufacturer, we also use four drops of Biocidin in each rinse. Biocidin sort of works like a natural antibiotic. It’s designed to be taken orally, but can be used in the sinus cavities to flush out any bad bacteria.
It’s important to note that when using a sinus rinse, only distilled water should be used to make the solution. Regular tap water, even water treated by a city’s treatment plant, can have micro-organisms that should not be introduced into your sinus cavities. For reference, here’s a story about a man from Florida who died from a brain eating amoeba. It is suspected that he ingested it while using a sinus rinse.
Carefully and responsibly, we do a sinus rinse up to twice a day while experiencing symptoms.
COLLOIDAL SILVER
I was first introduced to colloidal silver while living in Michigan. My integrative doctor there had me purchase this bottle for use when I was recovering from C-diff. Colloidal silver is made from distilled water and ionized silver particles. Essentially, electricity dissolves particles from a silver wire into a vat of distilled water. The particles are so small, that most cannot be seen by the naked eye. Colloidal silver has a slight metallic taste. When ingested, the silver particles help to fight infection.
Silver has been used for thousands of years. Hippocrates (known as the father of western medicine) promoted the use of powdered silver to fight infection. While I purchased colloidal silver for several years, I now make my own at home.
When someone in my home has cold symptoms, we use colloidal silver in several ways. First, we will gargle with it to clear the throat of pathogens. Second, we also put the silver in spray bottles and spray it into the throat throughout the day. Finally, we will drink it, to help clear the body of bacteria. I do all of this because it’s cheap to make colloidal silver at home. It also provides us an endless supply. When I purchased it in a small bottle, we only used it as spray, but even that was effective.
ESSENTIAL OILS
Every body holds a frequency. When you apply essential oils, any oils, you raise the frequency of a body. Higher frequencies encourage healing. For this reason, it’s good to have oils on the body when feeling ill. If my family has signs of a cold or respiratory illness, my go-to oil is Young Living’s RC. It’s a blend of eucalyptus, myrtle, marjoram, pine, lavender, cypress, black spruce, and peppermint oils. Aside from opening up the nasal cavities, it provides a warm, tingling sensation when used on the chest or bottom of the feet.
If anyone has a fever, we generally let that run its course unless it becomes dangerously high or uncomfortable. At that point, we use peppermint oil on the bottom of the feet to bring the fever down. Peppermint oil encourages circulation, so by putting it on the bottom of the feet, the body increases circulation there, drawing the fever down from the head. Peppermint oil is considered a hot oil and can burn the skin. When using with a child, I always use a carrier oil to prevent burns. I can tolerate it straight most of the time, but if I feel a burn coming, I’ll rub some avocado or coconut oil into the bottom of my feet.
When using oils for an acute issue like fever, I use the “Acute Care Protocol” as taught to me by a mentor. I apply one drop per minute for ten minutes. Then one drop every ten minutes for an hour. Then once an hour as needed.
Aside from oils on the body, we also diffuse RC at night. We do have a dog, though, and have to be careful that she is not around the diffused oil. We close the diffuser into a bedroom where she cannot enter.
GARLIC, HONEY, CAYENNE, GINGER, LEMON, AND EPSOM SALT
Nature offers us so many options for cold and flu care. The main compound in garlic, Allicin, is known to boost the immune system and fight off illness. We use garlic in two ways. Sometimes, on day one of symptoms, we’ll lightly sauté a bulb of peeled garlic in oil. Then, we’ll consume as many cloves as we can tolerate. As an alternative, we chop raw garlic, place it in a bowl, and cover it in unfiltered, raw honey. We’ll then add some cayenne powder to this mixture as well. This is known as “strep sauce.” We eat a teaspoon of this garlic/honey/cayenne mixture every few hours of the day. It’s especially soothing to a sore throat.
Fresh ginger is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. We often make fresh ginger tea, with the additions of honey and lemon juice. This is another soothing, yet effective, combination for a sore throat.
Finally, we make use of epsom salt baths when sick. Epsom salt relaxes the sore, stiff muscles often associated with cold and flu. Epsom salt baths can also increase the production of white blood cells in the body and aid in detox.
NATURAL CARE FOR COLD AND FLU – DAY TWO
On day two of natural care for cold and flu, we repeat the vitamin D “hammer”, vitamin C, sinus rinse, colloidal silver, and oils. We use garlic, ginger tea, and epsom salt baths as needed.
NATURAL CARE FOR COLD AND FLU – DAY THREE
On day three, we discontinue the vitamin D “hammer”, but continue with the vitamin C, sinus rinse, colloidal silver, and oils. We also continue with the garlic, ginger tea, and epsom salt baths as needed.
ONGOING NATURAL CARE FOR COLD AND FLU
We begin to use remedies only as needed. In most cases, this protocol can wipe out a cold or flu quite quickly. Since the advent of Covid-19, we’ve had several viruses (probably Covid) travel through our family that require more than three days of care. Regardless of the virus, we use this protocol. Consistency is important. If you skip a day or neglect to care for yourself as you should, the bacteria or virus may take hold. It’s not impossible to overcome at that point, but honestly, it just takes longer.
OTHER USEFUL ITEMS TO NOTE
At the first sign of ear pain, we use this garlic mullein oil. I used to get ear infections regularly that would require antibiotic drops. Since I found this product, I’ve been able to treat my ear problems at home before they get out of hand.
If someone in my family has a cough or congested breathing, we immediately begin to use a nebulizer like this one. We use it two to three times a day with this saline. If dealing with something especially severe, I will add a drop of Lugol’s Iodine to each dose of saline for inhalation.
Also, to treat a persistent cough, we use this tincture.
I really like this tincture to help prevent sinus issues that are related to allergies. I use this myself with regularity each fall when ragweed is in bloom.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Since developing this natural care protocol, I haven’t needed an antibiotic at all. Me, the girl who relied on them annually, can cure all sinus issues without one. This is information I think every family should know. I teach my son the dangers of antibiotics. He has a healthy respect for them, and knows that they can be life-saving, but at the same time, he knows they’re also dangerous and should not be abused. It’s always best to treat without an antibiotic if possible. While I do not intend this post to be medical advice, I hope that you can see how alternate care exists in the world. There was a time when I didn’t know how to care for myself when sick. Perhaps, with this information, you can seek out natural strategies that work for you and your family too.
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