As we welcome cooler weather and beautiful fall colors, it seems viruses are making their rounds again. To stay healthy, it’s important to address all “4 doctors”: diet, movement, quiet, and happiness. Today, I’d like to share a few of my favorite tools for staying healthy- and they’re all easy and low-cost! No excuses.
NETI/NASYA
Perhaps my top recommendation is neti/nasya. If you know what I mean, go pull yours out of storage and start using it. If you’re saying, “neta- what?” you’re in for a fun, new experience!
In short, a neti pot is a ceramic pot that you fill with room temperature sterile water and a touch of neti salt (usually comes with the neti pot). Then you put the spout gently into one nostril, tilt your head, open your mouth, and pour the water in. It feels weird at first but you get used to it. The water flows from one nostril, through your sinus cavity, and out the other nostril. This clears what’s hanging our in your nasal passages, like bacteria, viruses, and allergens. You do this once on each side, then let the excess water drain and gently blow any further excess out both nostrils at the same time. It’s recommended that you don’t block one nostril while blowing out the other.
After using the neti pot, it’s recommended to use nasya oil to moisturize your nasal passages. Nasya is an herbal oil blend. You can drop 3-5 drops into each nostril after using your neti pot and expelling excess water. If you just do neti without nasya, your nasal passages can become dry, and this invites pathogens into your system.
I tend to use my neti pot and nasya oil after being in close quarters indoors with people, especially if they’re coughing, sneezing, or “there’s something going around.” You can buy a neti pot at most local pharmacies or Himalayan Institute, which is my favorite as it’s ceramic rather than plastic and I like the shape. Also, the HI sells a more pure salt and nasya oil to go with the neti pot. Here’s the link-
HERBALS & FOOD BASED REMEDIES
Another go-to for me are herbals. Herbs can be taken several ways including teas, tinctures, on food, and as infusions. For specific herbal remedies, I recommend consulting a trained herbalist or TCM practitioner. For the purpose of this post, I’ll mention my favorite “over-the-counter” herbal remedies.
When respiratory ailments are going around or I feel something come up in my throat or lungs/chest, I drink thyme tea and/or take hyssop tea or tincture. There are other herbs that help soothe the respiratory system and you can talk with an herbalist to see which are best for you.
Other food-based remedies, aside from herbs, that top my list are elderberry syrup and black seed oil. Like neti/nasya, I take black cumin seed oil when I’ve been in a crowd or a situation where someone was sick. During times when “something’s going around,” I take it daily.
Finally, trace minerals make a daily appearance in my diet these days. They help keep our cells functioning properly, they help us absorb nutrients, and they help keep our bones strong and our bodies hydrated. Be sure to chose a brand that’s free from any fillers or sugars. Note- most flavored options contain sugar and/or natural flavors. My favorite brand is LMNT, unflavored. I start by adding a small amount, usually less than what’s recommended, and see how I like it. If you add too much (for you), it may taste salty. I love these trace minerals as do my clients and family. You can find individual packets and some stores or you can buy a box using the link below. If you decide to try them, please use this link- I’m not an affiliate but this link will give us both a free sample with first purchase.
http://elementallabs.refr.cc/mehulganatra
Aside from adequate sleep, regular tai chi and qigong practice, and eating the food that nourishes me most, the tools above are some of my favorites this time of year.
Cheers to your health!
Suzanne