I am sometimes asked, what do you do for self-care, when unwell?
Firstly, as a Holistic Therapist, I don’t always see ‘illness’ as a ‘bad’ thing, I see it as a spotlight on where my body isn’t in balance. It tells me where it could do with strengthening or attention; it’s trying to tell me something and the ‘symptoms’ are reflections of the body trying to balance itself. Just like when we are thirsty its a call to drink water. When we understand the body holistically we learn to listen to. act upon and meet its needs (but we are often a work in progress). When we get ‘ill’ the body’s healing mechanisms (homeostasis) is already underway. It’s so clever. If we get stuck, or in crisis, in that process of diis-ease, we’d then be advised to consult a GP, homeopath, naturopath or healthcare practitioner.
Find what works for you
It is rare that I do get a cough or cold nowadays. I used to fall foul frequently, especially when I smoked, and I would be pretty much bed ridden. You may relate, if you’ve been chronically fatigued. I couldn’t understand how anyone could ‘just get on’ with a cold.. It was an important part of my journey and learning curve to find natural remedies to help. I remember as a child, my nana making orange, honey and lemon drinks that she’d heard of on the Jimmy Young radio show. We didn’t tend to take too many things that would suppress illness, like lemsip, but often things that (unknowingly) would support the body’s process of healing, like lighter meals such as chicken soup or.scrambled eggs. Unfortunately too many antibiotics were given and seeing how that affected my cats gave me a heads up to their overuse. If we don’t overuse them they will work when in a crisis we really do need them. Overuse has created superbugs, as has over sanitisation, it is little wonder that mother nature throws her curve ball in and man has to admit that he is still learning and not better than the true force that is nature.
We are all different
I’ve been on a continual health journey with ME, fibromyalgia, anxiety and depression all of which are so much better, but still challenged at times. Looking back I’ve come a long way, so I know what works so far for me, but things always change. We are all different, so what is right for me, as you read on, maybe different for you. It takes a lot of energy and courage to commit to our wellbeing and find root causes to recover and maybe the first steps may be with something like a cold. It might be easier for a doctor to hand out pills or for us to take a paracetamol to experience quick relief and plaster the wounds – but does that get to the root of the illness? Or are things just kept at bay or keep coming back? Just like happened to my cats, many years ago, when they were repeatedly given antibiotics for flu – until I let them get over it themselves. They never had it again.
Layers of illness may build up until the person find themselves chronically ill. Sometimes medications can help, but often they’re targeted at symptoms, not the whole person. I found I got more and more unwell, as layer upon layer of illness was added, with medication side-effects. So I forged my own path and became a holistic therapist. It might be that instinctively people feel they don’t want to be taking tablets, pills and vaccinations – is that the bodies intuitive way of saying best not? I’m sensible, but I have little fear about covid-19 yet the vaccination is a no for me. Having had adverse medical reactions which was combined with withheld information about the drugs introduction (seroxat) I am careful what I put in – I can even react adversely to herbal remedies, just because somethings natural doesn’t mean it is gentle! But old wives remedies have a history of anecdotal evidence. I have my own concerns about the short time its taken to rush the vaccine out and how people will react long-term for something which fortunately actually has a 99% survival rate, but like the flu will put certain vulnerable people more at risk. But are we now creating super virus’ with regular flu shots being offered to the young and fit and now the covid vaccines too, with the undoubted continual updates and fear and pressure to have them? Will auto-immune conditions become more common as we don’t learn to rely and trust our own immunity and lean on crutches instead? The problem is the unknown for many. I accept and respect other people do feel quite the opposite, I’m in the minority as a holistic therapist. The vaccination has given peace of mind to some – and if it does work, great. We are all different and must do as we see fit and discover what works for us. I’m a great believer in that; one size doesn’t fit all.
So what do I do instead?
Self-Care has been a series of lifestyle choices now for many years. It mostly fits in as routine and then goes up a gear if I need rebalancing or am under more stress. Every morning, when I wake, I do a mix of reiki/diamond energy therapy self treatment which also doubles as meditative time. I also often sleep holding a crystal. Lavender may also help me to get a deeper sleep if I’m having trouble staying asleep.
Supplements
When I get up my partner gives me a lovely long hug (hugs are great for immunity) and a large mug of organic ginger and lemon tea. This has cider vinegar in it too, to alkalise the body. Ginger helps with metabolism and inflammation and for the same reason, as well as digestive health, tumeric may be in there too, and sometimes a bit of cayenne pepper for metabolism.
I’m trying the supplement l-theanine at the moment, an amino acid which helps with production of GABA, a calming neurotransmitter for the brain, as well as helping serotonin and dopamine levels and importantly sleep. Being peri-menopausal this has been disrupted by frequent waking (for which red clover has helped with night sweats). I’ll be interested to see if l-theanine replaces my love of tea, as it’s found naturally occuring in that, which might be why tea relaxes me! Im also taking an adrenal support blend with ginkgo, which helps to support the adrenal glands in times of stress.
Exercise
I go for a gentle run 4-5 times a week, or a walk, unless I am having a rest day and I’m going for a walk later on that day. With a cough or cold, I try to keep moving and may go for a shorter gentle run, or walk, within reason, as it keeps the lymph flowing and stimulates the immune system. It’s important to not overdo it and rest where necessary too.
Whilst out on a run I may munch on some wild garlic or dandelion leaf to stimulate bile flow and clear/cleanse the system. I often pick nettles and blackberry leaves or raspberry leaves and make tea with those when I get back. As well as being a support for the liver and kidneys, they have a diuretic flushing effect to help the body rid itself of toxins.
I generally don’t have breakfast first thing as I have a long ‘fast’ window to rest digestion, although I have been experimenting with making fermented oat porridge recently. Eating patterns can change when we’re unbalanced and I’m open to that. The saying ‘feed a cold, starve a fever’ holds some essence of the body trying to rebalance.
To work or not to work?
The ability and desire to continue to work with a cold has shown how far I have recovered from the absolute chronic fatigue I once had. So assuming I have enough energy and beans, prior to covid, I’d contact clients to see how they feel about me working on them if I have a cold. Mostly people are ok, others may reschedule if they are immune compromised or concerned. It’s important to listen to what feels right for each person, our fear can sometimes be an indicator that keeps us safe, so if we don’t feel comfortable. I encourage clients to listen to that and we reschedule.
However, I’ve noticed many people having holistic therapies tend to have the attitude that it’s beneficial to expose ourselves to ‘germs’ (which it could be argued are within us anyway and it’s our ‘terrain’ that makes us ill).. So mingling with a few germs may be seen as a good thing for our immune system, much like the chickenpox parties to build up herd immunity. One of my concerns about lockdowns is that our immune systems have not had the chance to ‘exercise’ themselves. ‘Use it or lose it’, so no surprise if many of us may succomb to coughs and colds as we come out of lockdown and especially anyway as the summer cold season comes in too. Watch out for the solstice as this is often a time for the body rebalancing itself by purging the body with a cold or cough and getting those toxins out!
It’s important to listen to our bodies and check in to see if we feel up to what we are doing that day. Holistic therapies can take some energy, so I also do an inner check to see what I have on and is it doable. Working fortunately allows me health benefits too, with inhalation of beautiful blends of essential oils for wellbeing and the joy of seeing clients relax. Most oils have immune enhancing properties, such as the known classics ginger, eucalyptus, tea tree, peppermint, lavender, and also ones like ravensara, lemongrass, thyme and so many more!
Reiki, diamond energy therapy and other energy therapies are especially amazing if feeling a little off balance – to give and to receive. I don’t believe we should work if we can’t be in the present moment energetically, but it’s worth remembering if you practise reiki too, that like a drain pipe, Reiki comes through us first. This can help us to balance whilst giving, ‘when I heal myself, I heal you too’. This really means that if we are in balance we can resonate that energetic balance to another so they can come into alignment and they can take advantage of that energy, I believe ultimately we heal ourselves.
Home sweet home
Sometimes we may need to stay home, if its a really rotten cold, and rest. We need that energy to rest and recuperate.
The thought of spreading something to others is a concern, but it does also work both ways. As adults we are all responsible for our own health. And what are people doing to support their own health, do they take responsibility? Are they doing their best to self-care? Taking supplements, eating nutritious foods, exercising, having their 5 a day? (And enjoying cake… yes me too!)
It might be that we need to rest, and have short walks with fresh air whilst keeping warm, with lots of armchair time too and the odd nap. Not doing anything may be the most challenging aspect of my self-care!
Let food be thy medicine
This is great in an ideal world, to let food be thy medicine, but it is said that our soils are so depleted the soil doesn’t supply our food with the levels we may need. So I take a range of vitamins throughout the day to support immunity, namely zinc, vitamins d, vitamin c (a few brazil nuts for selenium, for immunity), a small amount of tonic water at the moment (without the gin! ) for the quinine to help cellular zinc uptake. Omega 3 is a staple supplement for brain health, good fats such as coconut, flax and olive oil, linseed tea and filtered water for good hydration as well as a probiotic which as well as others, contains rhamanosus for gut and mental health.
Gut health is vital, our microbiome supports our immunity as well as our gut-brain axis. I also make homemade kombacha which is full of probiotics, sometimes dairy free kefir and I also have home-sprouted seeds (Broccoli, Alfalfa, red clover etc) with every meal. They are great for gut health as well as teeming with antioxidants, vitamins c and k.. The list goes on.
Meals that I make, include food as medicine. For many years I’ve cooked mindfully in this way and chosen meal ingredients to support my mental wellbeing and immunity. Oily fish twice a week, as well as a lot of garlic, chilli and ginger for immunity. About 90% of my meals are homemade and cooked from scratch. I love the concept of using wholegrain and red rice to ‘brush’ the intestines to clear them out with the fibre. Lots of ‘salads with everything‘ is a mantra of mine, to incorporate raw foods which are high in vitamin c, the b vitamins and magnesium.
The classic vitamin c for cold and flu recovery comes from good sources such as oranges or blackcurrants (kiwi fruit too). I get mine in the form of homemade fermented fruits (which increases vitamin c content) , namely grapes, blueberries and raspberries… sometimes pineapple, the core of which contains bromelain for digestive health.. Fermented fruit goes very nicely with coconut yoghurt.
Herbal remedies
I am using Mullein tincture, a lung remedy, for a recent cough. I had this to hand as back up with covid. It’s an expectorant so helps get things flowing and is a herb supportive for COPD, bronchitis, pneumonia etc and is certainly doing its job. I’ve also steeped cloves in nettle tea as cloves are antibacterial, antifungal, anti this and that.. and had that also with some activated charcoal, as a ‘binder’, to absorb some of the toxins that the cold is trying to purge the body of. Commonly used in overdoses in hospital, activated charcoal will work to absorb that which we don’t need and carry it out of the body so it’s not recirculating. It creates a great black drink along with the Mullein!
Milk thistle is something that I also take generally to support liver health, as its said to open up the liver to help it drain (so good for smokers, or giving up smoking alongside vitamin c). I’ve also just started taking an amino acid n-acetyl cysteine, which has many, many exciting supportive potentials from immune system, antioxidant, lung health for COPD, sinus congestion, wheezing and coughing, and brain health linked with bipolar, addictions, OCD, obsessive thoughts, Parkinson’s, anxiety, fertility, hair skin and nails and liver health.
A GLYMPH into mental health
Which brings me back to the lympathic system aka our body’s sewer system , which takes those toxins away and helps with our immunity. This is something, as well as GLYMPH, the heads own lymphatic drainage system that I’m particularly interested in at the moment. I pondered whether stagnant lymph in the head might contribute to an inability of letting go with some mental and emotional experiences, a bit like the pond that’s silted up and not flowing. So how do we get it flowing?
I was also thinking of PTSD and other mental health conditions where we keep feeling triggered or over-thinking and ‘stuck in the head’. Maybe it’s a sign that the lymph isn’t draining from the head properly, (especially important if we have a head cold). Regular Indian head massage may help with mental health problems. I’ve often thought there was something that wasn’t quite being said about this seemingly simple but very effective treatment, but that’s another story.. (and also as part of my self-care I have weekly holistic treatments to support immune and mental health )
Our intuition may also be a great guide to our wellness. The day before coming down with a cough, my intuition had me out gathering wild garlic flowers as seen above, to steep in cider vinegar with some local raw honey. It has a kick and I’ve been having a spoonful of that. Oxymel as its called, didn’t quite make it to the fire cider category (where chilli, garlic, lemon and other bits and bibs are also added and steeped for weeks)
Steam inhalations
And for sinus congestion with headaches and headcolds and not wanting to suppress by taking paracetemol, I have given myself some eucalyptus and lemongrass steam inhalations. This method is where a few drops of essential oils are put into a bowl of steaming water which is inhaled, with a towel over the head, to create a mini sauna or specially designed steam inhalator can be used. This opens up the airways to get the mucous flowing as well as absorbing the wonderful oils with their anti bacterial, antiviral, antifungal and anti this and that properties … Alongside some self-Indian head massage, with sinus pressure points, to help it all release, this too has passed.
And relax in a nice bath of epsom salts. I just used one that’s usually for muscular recover, y but containing the pain relieving properties of willow bark for aching joints (fortunately I’m not too achy) as well as good old eucalpytpus and arnica. The sweating from an epsom salt bath also allows toxins to be released from the skin.
Remember the Miracle
The body is an amazing marvellous miracle, how it does what it does for us. Take a moment to consider how it works without us knowing or understanding it fully. There is so much we don’t know about it, so much unknown, so above all listen to your intuition and importantly your gut feelings! What does your body want? Does it come to remedies or medication with an open hearted yes? How does it respond to certain foods, does your energy rise or drop? How is your body trying to speak and direct you, what self-care do you need to nourish yourself daily? Take another moment to consider what do you yourself need in the process of your body rebalancing? See yourself well, vibrant and flowing freely….visualisation is a very powerful tool, to BE WELL
