7 Ways to recover from sickness, without using pills!

Over the last decade or more of being a Mummy, there are things I've learned, tricks I've picked up to avoid illness, and avoid using pharmaceutical drugs....(originally so that I could stay alert and look after the children...)

What I found was that natural and safe alternatives to medication work better, or just as well, as 'pills' and pharmaceutical medications. Below are 7 steps I use regularly to avoid ill health and sickness taking over my body or one of my childrens bodies. They work!

1. Drink lots of room temperature water. Don't be concerned about pouring yourself a 'huge' glass and making yourself drink it straight away. Get a water bottle, fill it, sip it continuously while resting. You'll find that if you can get through one cup each half hour while you are awake you will improve your energy. (This roughly works out to 1L every 2 hours) I have noticed that Hydration Therapy negates the need for a lot of 'anti fever' medication. My children rarely use any form of fever reduction medication and recover well within a day or two. (in fact, I can't remember the last time I used 'panadol' for my children...) Fever is your body's natural reaction to fight off infection! Let it work and support it with water and rest!! See a health professional if a fever continues for more than 24hrs, and/or if the patient is becoming dehydrated.

2. Cold compresses with some cooling essential oils like Lavender or Peppermint will assist with controlling a fever. Applied gently every few minutes and removed for times of sleep, a cold compress can help you relieve a high temperature quicker than any medication I've EVER used.

3. Change your pillow case twice a day. Commonsense you may think but it is often overlooked by people who are tired and poorly. Wash pillowcases with a dash of Eucalyptus, Lavender, Thyme or Teatree essential oil to kill off bacteria that may try to stay on the fabric fibres. Dry in sunlight to assist with further antibacterial measures, as sunlight is the best antibacterial out!

4. Sit directly in sunlight outside for 15 minute bursts at least two to three times a day to increase your own immune system response. (Sunlight from behind a glass window limits you to only UVA rays, when what you need is the UVB rays to trigger Vitamin D production)

5. Avoid eating heavy meals and instead go for high nutrient smoothies. Avoid all dairy products and heavy fats (like fried food). While it may make us feel comforted, using creamy foods or high fat foods while we are ill does nothing to make us better. In fact it clogs you up more. If you do want to have something creamy, have a biodynamic yoghurt to assist your balance of good bacteria.

6. Use fresh, room temperature foods, or gently warmed foods, to encourage your own 'inner fire'. Things like steamed pumpkin with cocount milk and chopped chilli (as much as you can handle comfortably) and ginger is going to activate your immune system and warm your insides too. Eat fresh apples and pears, paw paw (papaya), blueberries or blackberries if available fresh, and other fresh fruits that you can obtain locally.

7. Have a little salt each hour or so to replace the essential minerals that you lose when you have excessive mucus production in your body. Salt purifies as well, so you can use a handful or more in a warm bath to soak away muscle aches and make you feel good.

If you find that you are repeatedly falling ill, take some time to review your diet and the activities you involve yourself with. Maybe something needs tweaking, changing or improving to assist your immune system and help you to regain your right to great health :)