Natural remedies for flu season

First of all, I'm back! My apologies for not posting for ages. I've not been slacking, in fact I've been down with fevers and the flu for 1 whole week. That's really something. For 1 week I've been homebound, trying to nurse myself to health. So, I just thought I'll share with you some remedies that I've taken when having the fever blues

First of all, keep hydrated. So I binge on fluids, fluids and more fluids. I don't really like to drink water when I'm sick. I know, it's bad. You know, you're already sick, everything tastes flat. To encourage myself to drink more water, I tend to jazz up my water for some tastes. Try out these remedies that I usually follow:

1) Add lemon slices to your water - You get some skin-friendly Vitamin C from the lemon and also some taste to the water. This, I can drink gallons of it :) Also, Vitamin C helps to boost your immune system and helps to keep the runny nose at bay

2) Add honey - Honey is really soothing especially if you have sore throat. In fact, you don't even need to have a sore throat to drink honey. It's sweet, minus the calories. It's beneficial for health too as it's a beauty and health wonder - natural antiseptic, anti-oxidant (remember, buzz word in the beauty world) and cleansing properties

Now, if you're tired of drinking water, you can try these delicious yet wonderfully calming teas.

1) Green tea - For all of you who have known me by now, you know I've always been singing the praises for green tea. This anti-oxidant packed brew is especially perfect when you're having the blues. It has anti - inflammatory properties that help to decongest your nose and leaves you feeling much better. Also, it has L-theanine, which brings about the calming effect on you. You really have to try it for yourself, nothing is quite as comforting as a hot brew of green tea when you're not well enough to face the world. It's quite magical

2) Black tea - My favourite is Earl Grey's Vanilla Black Tea. As you've already known, there are only 3 kinds of tea that packs the best anti-oxidant punch for you. They are black, green and white tea. This fav black tea of mine has a sweet vanilla flavour that's really intoxicatingly aromatic. In fact, everytime when I take the tea bag out of its satchet, I take in deep long whifs of the smell in its satchet before throwing it away. It's really nice to be able to smell something this wonderful when your nose is all stuffed. Try it, it's vanilla scent is very heart warming on bluesy days

3) Camomile tea - Camomile is known for its soothing benefits. At times of the blues, it's nice to drink something soothing to soothe the body and soul. It's really nice to drink camomile with honey. Try it, it's nice to sip it slowly, savouring its sweet taste in your tongue. Camomile is perfect before bedtime too.

Now, if you're really not into tea, you can try some milk products instead

1) Probiotic drink - Contrary to popular notion that a probiotic is probably too heavy for digestion when you're sick, it's just exactly the opposite. Probiotics is actually a culture of healthful bacterias. Before you ditch it quicker than a hot potato, these good bacteria aids in digestion by encouraging the good bacteria in your stomach to flourish. When you're sick, these good bacterias in your stomach are reduced in number, hence your sluggish metabolism and poor appetite

2) Warm milk and honey - For me, this is a heavyweight knockout drink when you're sick. I like to take this before bedtime as it helps me to sleep better throughout the night. Usually when I'm feverish, I get plenty of lucid dreams which makes me less rested than I should. Some warm milk with honey does the trick and I sleep through the night like a baby. Milk has tryptophan which induces sleep. Also, some critics call this warm milk a placebo effect because we could actually be taking an unconscious nostalgic trip back to our infantile 'happy days' But, it works for me - everytime; you be the judge yourself. Also, milk is a real natural skin nourisher

Reflecting on this post, I seem to be very scientific and 'knowledgeable' in the hollistic approach to health. I guess, the fever somehow jump-started something that was dormant in me all along. Hey, I'm not the Beauty Tyrant without any reason. *wink* Ok, ok enough of me tooting my own horn, I just hope my litle knowledge could help you, especially those who are having the blues. Join me on my journey to beat those flu bugs at their own game!