It’s been a rough winter, hasn’t it?
And I’m not talking about the weather.
I’m talking about all the bugs, flus, viruses, strep throat, and
other assorted illnesses that seem to be proliferating right now.
My son was sick last week with a stomach bug…which he promptly
gifted on to us. Yesterday there were 60 kids out sick at his
elementary school. When I speak with colleagues in other cities,
they cite similar issues with kids and parents out ill, in some
cases for an entire week.
Yikes!
These types of illnesses may require a visit to your doctor, and
even aggressive remedies, such as antibiotics and Tamiflu, if
things are progressing into bronchitis or pneumonia.
However, if you or your child are in the early stages of a flu
or stomach bug or cold – or if you would like to take something
to help prevent your getting ill – you may wish to try out a
very effective, proven, “old fashioned” approach.
And the good news is, you may already have this inexpensive
remedy in your pantry!
I’m talking about honey, and the combination of honey and
cinnamon.
Honey has tremendous healing properties and has been used for
centuries to treat upper respiratory infection symptoms, such
as cough. In addition, honey has antioxidant and antimicrobial
effects, and can help prevent infections. It also soothes the
back of the throat.
It’s long been folklore medicine to use honey when you have a
cough or a cold. But in recent years, studies have proved its
effectiveness in fighting off winter flus and colds.
For example, back in 2007, a Penn State College of Medicine
study compared the effectiveness of a little bit of buckwheat
honey before bedtime versus either no treatment or
dextromethorphan (DM), the cough suppressant found in many
over-the-counter cold medicines. Their subjects were
children ages 2 to 8 who had colds and coughs.
The result: honey provided the greatest relief of symptoms
compared with the other treatments.
Specifically, honey was more effective in reducing the
severity and frequency of nighttime cough compared with DM or
no treatment. Honey also allowed the children to sleep (which,
as any parent knows, is half the battle when they are sick!).
More recently, there has been more attention on honey in
combination with cinnamon as a natural preventative for a
number of ailments and conditions, from high cholesterol to
upset stomach to bad breath.
Here’s how you can use honey and cinnamon as your natural
protectors against this winter’s ailments:
-Colds: take one tablespoon honey with one quarter spoon
cinnamon powder daily for three days. This helps with cough
and cold symptoms, and can help clear the sinuses.
-Immune system support: Honey has high amounts of key
vitamins and iron. Daily use of honey and cinnamon
powder strengthens the immune system and protects the body
from bacteria and viral attacks. It can also help alleviate,
or even get rid of, allergies.
For example, after I moved to Texas, I used locally grown
honey to combat the initial allergy symptoms I was
experiencing, as my body was exposed to new allergens. Now
I use it as a preventative.
-Fatigue: this can be a sign that you are catching
something, or perhaps simply run down from tending to
your sick family. To increase vitality, try drinking a
honey and cinnamon mixture, taken in a glass of water, twice
a day (once in the morning, once in the afternoon).
And for an instant pick-me-up, try this drink I take after
really tough workouts, to help me recover:
Mix one tablespoon honey (preferably raw and locally grown),
one tablespoon apple cider vinegar, and one tablespoon
lemon juice into a glass of cold water. Stir well and
drink it down.
you’ll feel an immediate energy surge!
Good luck this winter, my friend. Stay healthy!
You Can Do It!
Karen
www.BestBreathingExercises.com
P.S. Important point! A regular regimen of deep breathing
and breathing exercises is a surefire way to help prevent
colds, flus, bronchitis and pneumonia. If you would like
an enjoyable, health-promoting, and vitality-inspiring
routine to follow – one that’s easy to learn and takes
only minutes a day – pick up a copy of the Secret Power
of Dynamic Energy Exercise Course, Volume 1: Invigorate
and Rejuvenate.
Copyright, Karen Van Ness, 2011