What’s new about how to stay healthy during flu season? Actually, there isn’t anything new, but something old that you can do to help yourself if you have the flu or a nasty cold. I talked about ways to boost your immune system last week and this week offers some ways to stay healthy during flu season.

If you have a nasty cold or flu, I’m going to be real blunt here. Stop being so mad about being sick! Your body is screaming at you and you’re not paying attention and that’s why you got sick in the first place. I’m not even a doctor and I know this!

Every time you stay up late and get up early the next morning, you are wearing down your immune system. Sleep deprivation causes all sorts of problems. Don’t believe me?

he National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute says it like this:

Your immune system relies on sleep to stay healthy. This system defends your body against foreign or harmful substances. Ongoing sleep deficiency can change the way in which your immune system responds. For example, if you’re sleep deficient, you may have trouble fighting common infections.

There’s also lots of other damage sleep deprivation causes especially with children and teens. But let’s just stick with cold and flu season today.

Why Washing Your Hands Is SO Important

If you have a nasty cold or the flu, chances are you didn’t wash your hands enough and you probably touched your face with germy hands. Do me a favor and get rid of all that antibacterial hand soap and hand sanitizer right now.

Dump it down the drain, throw it away – I don’t care what you do with it, just get rid of it. You think I’ve lost all my marbles, eh?

There’s a myth out there that if you use antibacterial soap, you won’t catch a cold or the flu. GAH! Stop using that stuff!

Whenever you use synthetic antibacterial soaps and sanitizers, you are killing both the good germs that protect you along with the bad germs that harm you. Those good germs are fighting off the bad germs and the chemicals in those soaps and sanitizers kill off everything leaving you vulnerable to all sorts of junk that’s flying around.

Go to your local health food store (or Amazon) and get Castile soap. It won’t harm your good germs and it won’t strip your skin of its’ natural oils either. (Better yet, look for a local artisan who makes handcrafted soaps. You’re killing two birds with one stone: using soap that is good for you AND supporting a small local business.)

It’s not just an old wives’ tale either. There’s proof that simply washing your hands with warm water and plain soap is healthy any time of the year, but especially in the winter. ScienceDaily.com talks about this study regarding plain soap versus anti-bacterial soap:

In the first known comprehensive analysis of whether antibacterial soaps work better than plain soaps, Allison Aiello of the U-M School of Public Health and her team found that washing hands with an antibacterial soap was no more effective in preventing infectious illness than plain soap. Moreover, antibacterial soaps at formulations sold to the public do not remove any more bacteria from the hands during washing than plain soaps.

Plus, the chemicals that are used to make anti-bacterial soaps can actually counteract antibiotics!

Aromatherapy is Ideal for Staying Healthy

Aromatherapy is ideal and simple to use to help yourself stay healthy during cold and flu season. Many oils have anti-bacterial properties and many boost your immune system. 

If you’re out and about and can’t wash your hands, here is a blend that you can easily make to use until you can wash your hands.

Germ-A-Gone for Adults 

• 2 drops  Clove Bud (Eugenia caryophyllata)
• 2 drops  Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum)
• 2 drops Rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis)
• 4 drops Lemon (Citrus limon)
• 2 drops Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus)
• 1 ounce of Aloe Vera Gel (here is a small tube instead of a large bottle)
• Squeeze bottle or tube (get one at a drug store or Amazon)

Put a tiny bit of the aloe vera gel into the bottle or tube, then add all the drops. Fill the bottle or tube with more aloe vera gel and shake well.

Germ-A-Gone for Kids 2+

• 4 drops Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia)
• 4 drops Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis)
• 2 drops Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)
• 1 ounce of Aloe Vera Gel (here is a small tube instead of a large bottle)
• Squeeze bottle or tube (get one at a drug store or Amazon)

You can stay healthy during flu season! If you want the immunity blend from last week’s post, click on this link.

Please let me know what questions you have; I would love to talk with you about your needs and concerns. You can email me directly at balance (a) scentedbalance (dot) com or fill out this contact form.

As always, I am very grateful you chose to stop by.

Happy New Year – Blessings!

Melissa

PS – the above statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Please see a qualified medical professional for any and all health issues.