Well, the weather is changing, and it's a good time to start thinking about protecting yourself from nasty little illness critters. The old philosophy that prevention greatly outweighs a cure is still my favorite. 

All the things your mom always told you are still important: get plenty of rest, eat well, drink lots of water, take Vitamin C, and avoid places where a lot of sick people hang out.

One of the most important preventive measures (but one of the least favorite) is to stay away from sweets. Not something you want to hear, but if you feel an illness coming on, do your best to avoid sugars.

 

Some other helpful ideas are:

• "Warm Sock Therapy": Get 2 pairs of socks, one cotton or cotton blend, and one 100% wool. Wet the cotton socks in cold water and wring them out. Get ready for bed (you can even place feet in a hot bath for 5 minutes beforehand), then place the wet cotton socks on feet. Cover with the dry wool socks and go to sleep. This increases blood circulation over the whole body while you sleep. It can reduce a 3-10 day flu or cold to 1-3 days. 

• Mucococcinum: Place 1 tablet under tongue each week during flu season. At first sign of flu, take 1 tablet every day until feeling better. This gently activates the body's natural defense mechanisms and directly stimulates the immune system, thus providing protection from the very bacteria and virus fractions that it is homeopathically made from. 

• Stimulates the non-specific defense system (immuno-modulator)

• Suitable for the entire family

• May be combined with other natural or conventional immuno-modulating therapies and medications