With a change of season the likelihood of cold and flu epidemics will increase.

What is happening in the body is a general reduction in our ability to fight off these respiratory infections. Our immune systems just don’t seem to be able to do their jobs properly.

This could be due to several factors:

• Stress
• Lifestyle
• Lack of proper nutritional food intake from foods that will supply our body with nutrients to keep our immune system strong

Tips to combat cold or flu:
– Strong immune system gained through eating lots of fresh fruit and vegetables
– Reduced intake of fast and high fat foods
– Staying physically active
– Maintaining healthy stress levels and perhaps some
– Assistance from herbal and nutritional supplements

Herbs that assist cold and flu:
– Echinacea: Amazing ability to support and stimulate the natural soldiers in our immune system. It is a “Blood Purifier” and works at many levels enabling the body to raise its natural resistance. Certain types of Echinacea are more effective than others and it is important that the correct part of the plant is used.

• Vitamin C and Zinc are very important additions to our daily regime. They have the ability to fight infection, but also can support the Adrenal glands, a part of our body that can become quite exhausted from the constant demands of rushing around and meeting deadlines.

• Garlic is known for its antibiotic properties.
  
• Beta-Carotene and Vitamin A also play an important role in maintaining the integrity of our mucous membrane lining, particularly the linings of the respiratory tract.

• Golden Seal is another one of nature’s natural antibiotics and also has a beautiful effect of calming and settling all those inflamed mucous membranes.
  
• Eyebright is appropriate for every condition of the Upper Respiratory System i.e. Glue ear, Sinusitis and watery allergic conditions like Hayfever and Rhinitis.
  
• Mullein, Pleurisy root and Thyme can sooth a harsh, painful cough.