For me, food is medicine. If health is a priority, take out foods that don’t work for your body — because of allergies, because they rev you up (like caffeine or sugar), because they draw you down (like alcohol) or because they add to inflammation (like sugar and a lot of the Standard American Diet) — and add in nutrient-dense foods that heal and build strength.
A mindful diet is the best way to feel good. After food comes sleep and a lack of “junk” in your life — electronic clutter, literal clutter, toxic people, stress of any negative variety.
But there are times when we all need a little bump of help, usually when one of those other needs above isn’t met, for whatever reason. When we get run down or out of balance, we can utilize supplements, herbs, homeopathy, and body work and energy work (like chiropractic, massage, osteopathy and craniosacral therapy, and acupuncture).
A while back, I went to a wonderful learning session with acupuncturist and mom Allison Kitchen. She gave an overview of some herbal remedies, some energetic principles, and some nutritional supplements that she finds useful for her family and with her clients.
Allison, who also spoke to my chapter of Holistic Moms last summer, was kind enough to donate a box of Emergen-C Kidz strawberry-banana flavor for a giveaway.
When your little one starts to sniffle, dose her up with one of these packets of fizzy vitamins and minerals. An extra dose of Vitamin C and everything else in these little sachets just might help her body fight that bug.And make sure she rests and sleeps! And eats homemade chicken broth!
Share your favorite cold season remedy below to enter to win this box. The giveaway will close at 5 p.m. on Friday, December 9. The winner will be chosen at random.
Visit Allison’s blog, What Zoe Eats, and learn more about Allison’s practice at DCMindBody.
I started using EmergenC last year but didn’t realize they had a kids version. I’d love to win this for my 5yo!
When we feel something coming on, we make drinks with the juice of half a lemon, a spoon of raw honey, and a piece of fresh ginger. Fill the glass the rest of the way with hot water, and enjoy.
We wash our hands more often during cold season.
While Emergen-C isn’t something I usually use, our old standby of Elderberry Syrup doesn’t seem to be helping my older son’s cough and cold at all! Am willing to try anything at this point to get him healthy.
Delora,
I don’t think the emergen-c would help in the case of a long time chronic cough. And elderberry alone is probably not going to do the trick either. Depending on what kind of cough it is, there are some great herbal remedies on the market right now. Look for ingredients like wild cherry bark, sage, thyme, mullein, horehound. Also if you have access to Chinese herbs Fritillaria and Pinellia is great for loosening up kids phlegm.
Hope that helps.
Allison