I had to travel abroad a few weeks ago, to Guyana, South America. It has been three days since I came back and I discovered I had a scratchy throat and the beginning of a cold. Oh no! I knew where I picked up that virus – from travelling to and from on airplanes, waiting in airport lounges and being in close contact with thousands of people.

I haven’t had a cold in ages and now that I have the beginning of one I know that my robust immune system is apparently depleted due to a life changing event for me and a few other factors. There are many times we are bombarded with different viruses and are not even aware of the battle being fought in the background by our immune system to protect us from these different viruses, bacteria and fungi.

However, there are times when our health might be compromised and our body does not have the resource to fight off those bad boys. It probably did not encounter that type of virus before. So, whenever there are deficiencies in our bodies, that’s when some symptoms appear and we know we are coming down with something.

You might be wondering when does a cold start and how long does it last. Cold symptoms usually start 2 to 3 days after you have been exposed to the virus. People with colds are most contagious for the first 3 or 4 days after the symptoms begin, and can be contagious for up to 3 weeks. Although some colds can linger for as long as 2 weeks, most clear up within a week.

Normally I take half a lemon in some warm water when I awake in the morning. That is my first drink of the day. During the two weeks I was away I did not get to take my morning drink as I normally would. Maybe a few times, but not every day.

There are several factors that can affect your immune system. In my case, these five have contributed to my weakened immune system.

Stress – This is a big one. Stress has a major influence on our immune system since it can deplete some important vitamins. For example, B vitamins are used in the metabolic reactions that get turned up during stress. So, stress increases the demand for B vitamins. I had to bury a loved one, my oldest brother.

Lack of sleep – Without adequate sleep the immune system doesn’t get a chance to rebuild and it becomes weak. I didn’t get to sleep much being bitten by mosquitos and the heat is not my cup of tea.

Lack of exercise – During moderate exercise, blood flow increases which helps the process of getting rid of toxic waste out of your body. I didn’t do much since it was too hot to walk. The heat made me feel weak and exhausted. If I was a dog my tongue would be out of my mouth panting.

Dehydration – Being well hydrated helps your body maintain the balance of body fluids. It also helps getting rid of toxins, keeps every organ running smoothly, and helps your immune system fight infection. I didn’t get to drink my fill of water that I normally would drink when I am at home.

Smoking – Second hand smoking can affect your immune system. Where I stayed, people smoked in and outside the home and I couldn’t get away from the smoke.

So I went to my herbal medicine cabinet and took stock of what I had to take care of my scratchy throat and my cold. I didn’t have a fever or shivers or achiness so I knew it was not the flu.

 

Lemon Honey Water

Here is what I did – I took my lemon and warm water and added a little bit of raw honey and Pink Himalayan Salt to my drink and I drank this. During the day I drank my water and alternate that with tea I made with ginger root and peppermint.

I included some supplements like garlic, Echinacea, chewable vitamin c, zinc, and vitamin d3. I gargled with salt water and apple cider vinegar, made sure I had 7-8 hours of sleep, washed my hands every time I touched doorknobs, travelled on the bus, elevators etc., and restarted my exercise regimen. And within 48 hours my scratchy throat and cold took a hike!

If you would like to learn more about natural ways to staying healthy without using prescription, OTC drugs, or shots connect with me HERE.

To your health.

 

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