As someone who has been battling chronic sickness for 14 years, I have done a great deal of studying ways to help my immune system fight mass infection, especially during flu season.

Below are some natural remedies to help you and your family battle all of the viruses going around right now.

• Argentyn 23 colloidal silver nasal spray – this antimicrobial helps attack infection

• Vitamin C – improves immune function and may help protect from more serious complications of cold and flu
• Vitamin D – boosts the immune system by acting as an anti-inflammatory and helps innate cells to kill bacteria and viruses
• Curcurmin – suppresses inflammatory response
• Quercetin – decreases cell damage
• Naringin (a flavonoid found in the skin of citrus fruit) – helps decrease lung damage
• Essential oils – Diffusing them (such as Thieves*, Lemon and Eucalyptus) will kill microbes in the air as well as in your lungs. you wear a mask in public, add a drop or two to your mask for added protection, and use them to clean surfaces.

Avoid simple sugars and processed foods – these reduce immune system function.

ADDRESS THE STRESS

Yes, this is all frustrating! But stress lowers our white cells abilities to fight germs and creates more inflammation making us feel worse.

Kids feel it too! So include them in your plan to reduce stress.

1. Identify stress – this can show physiologically as difficulty sleeping, headaches, stomach discomfort, irritability.
2. Talk about it – don’t let emotions bottle up. Sharing your own feelings helps others feel safe to share theirs too!
3. Stay positive – don’t just share negative emotions, look for goodness and find ways to have a little fun (watch an episode of AFV or find some fun animal videos online)
4. Get on a schedule – if you’re stuck at home or have kids home from school, get out of bed and make family breakfast every morning, do some stretching exercises, plan specific times for schoolwork, or research and stick to it, include taking remedies, washing hands and cleaning surfaces as part of your daily routine.
5. Make this time special – find ways to make this time fun and productive: paint a room together, create a family art project, play board games, do some spring cleaning.
6. Get fresh air and moderate exercise – isolation doesn’t mean stay indoors, it just means stay away from the general public – get out of the house, take a walk, do some gardening, dance in the rain (if you’re not sick).
7. Engage the kids – they can help keep the family accountable, give them ownership in the process.

SEE A NEED – FILL A NEED

Nothing makes me feel better about life than helping others. There are a lot of people who could use a little help right now. If you’re in a position to do so, consider reaching out to your community to help. Here are a few ideas:

Schools are closed in many areas – help a working parent by watching their kids

The elderly and those with chronic illness are self-isolating – offer to run errands for your neighbors

Make a meal or two for those who are sick

We are all in this – so we might as well do it together.