It’s mid-November, which means we’re well into flu season (the CDC considers October through April to be the most common period to catch the flu each year, with January and February being peak times of flu). There are many possible reasons for this nationwide trend in weakened immunity and increased susceptibility to infection. These include lower levels of vitamin D due to lack of sunlight, more time spent indoors in recycled air, greater intake of sugar and junk food during the holidays, and increased stress due to the holidays and end-of-year financial strain.

Regardless of the reason for flu susceptibility, one of the most important things you can do on a regular basis to prevent the flu is use your neti pot! Here are a few things you should know:

• A neti pot is a round pot (usually ceramic) with a spout that is used to irrigate the sinuses.
• Neti pots are especially helpful for people with allergies, sinus issues, and frequent travelers, but can be used by everyone during flu season.
• Nasal irrigation with a neti pot helps to moisten nasal tissues (dry, cracked nasal tissue makes you more susceptible to flu) while flushing out dirt, bacteria, and viruses that may be trapped in nasal hair or mucus.
• To use the neti pot, simply follow the instructions in the booklet that came with your neti pot or on the company’s website. All neti pots are similar, so if you aren’t sure just look up “neti pot” on YouTube to find instructional videos.
• Use a salt-based solution in your neti pot—never use straight water or it will really sting! The solution I like best is to put a rounded half teaspoon of coarse Celtic salt (or one-fourth teaspoon of fine table salt if that’s what you have on hand) along with a generous pinch of xylitol (this is optional but adds to the bacteria-fighting power of the rinse) into my neti pot. Then I fill it with warm tap water and rinse—I usually do this while I’m in the shower anyway for convenience. If your tap water is questionable, simply heat filtered water to body temperature on the stove.
• I usually suggest that people do this once or twice weekly during flu season; three or four times weekly if the flu is making its way through their school, work place, or circle of friends; and five to seven times weekly if someone in their household is sick.

Conveniently, Marilyn Farms has neti pots available for purchase in white and blue. They make a great holiday gift, although you may want to stick to giving neti pots to your close friends or family members who will understand why you’re giving a gift that involves running water up their nose!

Last night on the news I saw a report saying that this is one of the worst years on record for pollen count due to the weather patterns that happened over the winter.  Having moved to Hawaii last fall, I have to admit I’m a little bit out of it but we did have some frigid winter nights when the temperature here got down to a frosty 60 degrees.  But enough of my talk of tropical weather…let’s talk about how to prevent the headaches that are all too common when pollen counts get high.  Here is what I do when I feel a springtime headache coming on:

• Drink lots and lots of water.  This is good if you are still in preventive mode, but if you feel the headache is starting to take root, I suggest stepping it up and putting a scoop or two of Essential Electrolyte into your water.  This product helps your body hold onto water and distribute it to where it’s needed (in the case of allergy headaches, dry and irritated sinuses can use extra hydration).
• Use a neti pot filled with salt water and, if desired, a few drops of Sinus Allergy Formula.  This can be repeated as often as desired during allergy season.  When I lived in Iowa and pollen counts were really bad I would actually take a neti pot to work with me and rinse my nasal passages a couple of times a day.  Luckily I worked in an alternative health clinic so the other ladies in the bathroom didn’t think I was too crazy!
• Take Pain Formula orally, 2-4 droppersful daily in a little bit of water or juice.  This formula contains herbs that naturally relieve pain…hence the name!

If the headache is getting intense, the following drink always worked wonders for me.  It has a lot of ingredients that work well together but there have been times that I couldn’t get every single ingredient and just used what I had off the list and still got relief.  You put everything together in a blender and blend.  Easy!  Here’s the recipe:
     – ½ cup juice (I used orange juice but any kind will do)
     – ½ cup water
     – ½ cup ice
     – 1” piece of ginger
     – 2 crushed Mag Calm tablets
     – 1 tsp Vitamin C powder
     – 1 Tbsp BodyBio oil
     – 3-5 drops of Cayenne Formula

For those of you who didn’t get to participate in our last webinar, Immunity and Your Immune system: Unleash the Natural Killer in You, I thought I would share one of the tips Jessica presented for working with your immune system to help protect against flu and the H1N1 virus.
 
One of the ways a virus can enter your body is through your nasal passages or mouth, so irrigating your sinuses or gargling with salt water can help ensure that nothing takes hold if you are exposed to the flu virus.  I can personally vouch 100% for the neti pot!  Like many of us, I sometimes push myself a little too much and put my immune system to the test, but time and time again the neti pot has come to the rescue and turned what could have morphed into a full blown sickness to a brief inconvenience.
 
Here are some simple instructions for nasal irrigation. It’s a quick and easy remedy and well worth the time.  Make it part of your daily health routine!  And, if you don’t have a neti, Marilyn Farms sells several styles, now 10% off!  Click here to view.

1. Mix 1/4 teaspoon of finely ground non-iodized salt with 8 oz. of water. Use the purest salt available because impurities in the salt can be irritating. 
2. Lean forward and turn your head to one side over the sink, keeping the forehead at the same height as the chin, or slightly higher.
3. Gently insert the spout in the upper nostril so it forms a comfortable seal.
4. Raise the Neti gradually so the saline solution flows in through your upper nostril and out of the lower nostril.  Breathe through your mouth.
5. When the Neti is empty, face the sink and exhale vigorously without pinching the nostrils.
 6. Refill the Neti and repeat on the other side. Again, exhale vigorously to clear the nasal passages.