nbat colcs

make you feel better

1, Senior Columnist

limit how long you stay sick. Studies have shown us that this is partly because
its intake increases the number of white blood cells in our body, allowing more
fighters against the invading virus. Feverfew and peppermint relieve headaches;
lemon balm aids an upset stomach; sage can provide relief for throat and mouth
inflammations; and thyme is a strong antiseptic. There’s no end to helpful herbs
that one can mix into tea to treat oneself

Since I just talked about tea, I should not forget to mention that drinking a lot
of liquids will keep you hydrated and help you recover faster when youre ill. I’ve
found that drinking a lot of water throughout the day relieves my congestion when I
have a cold. Specifically drinking hot liquids, like the above mentioned tea, helps to
soothe the uncomfortably inflamed membranes that line your nose and throat.

Another useful ingredient found in the kitchen is ginger root. It has
immense health benefits, and as such, has been used for at least 2,000 years.

Like honey, it is antibacterial, antiviral, has anti-parasitic properties, and isa
rich source of antioxidants. Its strong anti-inflammatory properties are known
to reduce pain, and it is quite useful to relieve an upset stomach or nausea. My
family uses ginger root in much of our cooking, and when one of us becomes ill,
we often add it to tea.

Another wonderful root is astragalus root. Taking capsules of astragalus root
at the onset of symptoms of illness will boost your immune system and help your
body fight the viruses invading your body. It has been used in traditional Chinese
medicine for centuries. Astragalus root improves the rate of replication of

 

 

immune cells called macrophages. Its unique polysaccharides reduce the amount
of nitric oxide released from cells, thus limiting inflammation. It also activates
other genes and pathways which further activate different immune cells.

If you are prone to colds, it may be useful to invest in a neti pot. A neti pot
looks like a little teapot and is used to flush out your sinuses. It has been proven
that the saline solution used in the neti pot can help increase the speed and
improve the coordination of the cilia in your nasal and sinus cavities so that they
can more effectively remove the irritants that cause the sinus problem—in this
case, a virus. Thus, besides relieving congestion, it also helps reduce the virus
count in your body. Instructions on how to use the neti pot come with it or can
be found on the Internet.

Sleep is very important, though we sometimes overlook it when we are sick.
When you have a virus, your body is at war, and it requires more rest than usual.
Without rest, it cannot properly fight against the invaders. To help your body
fight, get some rest.

A few more helpful tips that can help you from getting ill are: wash your
hands regularly with soap for at least 15 seconds, avoid touching your face when
out in public or when you are around other sick people, keep a healthy lifestyle,
and eat healthy. All this will enable your immune system to better fight off the
invaders. If you are sick, please make an effort to avoid making others sick.
Cough into your elbow and sneeze into a Kleenex—or, better yet, take the day off
and sleep at home. This will benefit both you and others.