So Ms. Faux woke this morning to that all too familiar scratchy throat symptom that generally leads to a full blown cold so I thought... time to post something on those favorites that cuts the time of Ms. Faux's pesky colds.
What is it? According to the Young Living Website...
Thieves® Essential Oil is one of the most potent combinations of natural, pure ingredients. This proprietary mix of essential oils is based on the medieval story of four thieves who used a special blend of herbs and other natural components before they would dare to rob infected plague victims. Not only can Thieves be used to refresh the mind, body and to support the immune system, it is also safe and university-tested1 for its powerful cleansing abilities. Additionally it has a therapeutic scent which can be added to laundry, dishes, cleaners, or simply used as an aromatic fragrance. Try Young Living’s Thieves® Essential Oil and experience the botanical aromatherapy for yourself.
Product Tips:
Thieves® Essential Oil Ingredients:
Clove† (Syzygium aromaticum), lemon† (Citrus limon), cinnamon† (Cinnamomum verum), Eucalyptus radiata† and rosemary† (Rosmarinus officinalis CT 1,8 cineol).
What does Ms. Faux think?
First of all the delicious cinnamon, eucalyptus, lemon, rosemary and clove scent is to die for. Makes you feel all warm. Second the oils involved are all very therapeutic in their own ways. Eucalyptus helps you breathe and opens up airways, clove has properties that help to calm irritation and expectoration in the throat. It is commonly used in the treatment of asthma. Rosemary increases circulation and helps to soothe coughs and headaches. Cinnamon helps to reduce inflamation, fights bacteria and has anti-oxidant effects. Then there's lemon. Other than the vitamin C element Lemon has been long used to fight colds and flu. It has a detoxification property and also helps to reduce swelling. I also recommend
Young Living's Eucalyptus Globulus Oil $19 at Young Living. I diffuse this to aid with breathing or put a couple of drops in my bath.
Next... Lemons themselves...
Again for the reasons I've already mentioned, lemons have a detoxification property that reduces swelling. They are full of vitamin C and they have long been used to treat the flu and cold. Also... they are great in a Hot Toddy. Which brings me to my next must have for cold and flu season.
The Hot Toddy
For this reason I always keep whiskey around the house. Some like to make it with other liquors, but for Ms. Faux... whiskey was good enough for my grandmother so it is good enough for me. That's right... my grandma would give them to me as a kid. Judge her all you want. It basically is a purer form of Nyquil which I will put in my body over nyquil any day of the week.
Now it is my believe that people like to over-complicate a hot toddy. To be honest the clove and cinnamon stick in the picture above is a bit overkill for me, but... both of those items do have medicinal qualities so I will allow it. However all you really need is to follow this recipe. Keep it simple.
The only thing I disagree with in this recipe is their allowing simple syrup. ALWAYS use honey. Also for whiskey... I've always selected
Knob Creek. Again a personal preference. Some like the honey whiskeys to do it with, but to be honest I like to allow honey to speak for itself rather than a booze distributor inserting it as flavor.
Hot toddy's help to relax the system, have anti-oxidant properties in them, soothe the throat and I have always found them to help sweat out a fever.
Next... if there is a chance I can fight this cold I will reach for...
It is full of vitamins and minerals to help your body in fighting a cold. Take in advance to help prevent colds.
Immune System Support* with Vitamin D
- 1,000 IU Vitamin D
- 1,000mg Vitamin C
- Zinc & Beta Glucans
- B Vitamins & Electrolytes
Vitamin D
Recent research suggests vitamin D plays an important role in regulating immune system function.*
Antioxidants
Vitamin C, zinc, and manganese are essential nutrients for maintaining a healthy antioxidant response.*
Proprietary Immune Complex
Beta Glucans, Arabinogalactan, and other nutrients support your body's immune function.*
Just what your body needs. However if the throat is gone and you are begging for relief, a favorite tea is from Traditional Medicinals.
What is it? According to their website...
Winner of 2014 Cleanest Packaged Foods Award,
PREVENTION magazine
Personality
Smooth and silky.
Herbal Power
Helps you sing it loud, say it proud, stand up and be heard.
Reason to Love
Slippery elm or Ulmus rubra (Latin for “red elm,” so called for its lovely reddish bark) is a beautiful, native North American elm tree. It’s the inner bark of this tree that is actually called “slippery elm” due to its, yes, slippery, smooth, and slimy-in-a-good-way properties. Combined with licorice and marshmallow root, we think this tea blend is like taking your voice to the spa—because we all need a little comfort sometimes so we can get back to being our best.
Taste
Sweet and earthy, silky, with a distinct licorice taste.
This the the most soothing thing for your throat. I cannot be without it when I get a cold because Ms. Faux's throat is generally what takes the brunt of an infection. Throat Coat can be found at most major department and grocery stores.
What is it? According to kneippus.com...
This highly concentrated bath treatment with aroma-intensive, essential eucalyptus oil from an evergreen tree, stimulates and helps relieve sinuses especially during cold and flu season. Use Eucalyptus when you feel feel a cold or flu coming. The signs could be chills, stuffy nose, head congestion, general tiredness. It is also helpful during allergy season and can be cooling in summer.
Usage:
Use one capful of Kneipp Herbal Bath Oil for each bath. For best results, bathing time should never exceed 15 to 20 minutes. Most Kneipp bath therapy starts with water that is body temperature or slightly warmer (98.6-104F). Sleep inducing, relaxing baths should be a little cooler, (97-98F) and it is advisable to take a warmer bath (102-104F) with the onset of a cold or when suffering from rheumatism. Never bathe if you have a fever, and baths that are too hot put a strain on the circulatory system. A foot bath or partial bath is recommended when suffering from cardiac conditions or cold and flu. After a bath, replenish skin by massaging the body with Kneipp Body Lotion or Body Oil. This helps the skin to regain its natural pH balance and form a protective layer.
Tip:
When you feel the first signs of a cold coming on, take a foot bath with increasing temperature. Dip both feet into a bowl filled with warm water of about 95˚ F. Add a few drops of Kneipp Eucalyptus Herbal Bath and continue to add hot water to increase the temperature. After 15 minutes, water temperature should be 104˚ F. Soak 5 more minutes in water before toweling off your legs. Relax in your bed for 20 minutes for maximum benefit of your therapeutic foot soak. (this method should not be used by persons w/ vascular conditions)
What does Ms. Faux think?
When I am full blown sick there is nothing in the world that I want more than this stuff and a warm bed after. It literally makes it to where you get so much relief that you don't want to leave the bath. It is heaven in a bottle. Makes it well worth the pricier price tag.
After that just some bits to help make it through...
These things are soooooo soothing on your nose, especially when it is super duper chapped. And speaking of chapped noses, I cannot live without...
This stuff is the bomb. It is an ointment for super chapped noses and helps to soothe with a slight menthol cooling effect. It is perfection inside of dry noses to give some relief. It is just absolute perfection in a tube. Don't believe me... this product has been going strong for over a century.
I love these. First... I hate medicine tasting cough drops. These are the best and help you stop coughing without the terrible after taste. Plus they have an extra soothing middle.
Why in the tube? Well I do prefer boroleum for my nose, but when out and about I like the portability of the Carmex tube. I mean it is the same product as the jar, but just easier to carrier. Want to know something super duper gross? Before Baroleum and before they put Carmex into tubes Ms. Faux used to have 2 jars. One had an, "N" on it because that was the disgusting one she used on her nose. Yummy! Also Ms. Faux used to work for pediatricians and they always recommended Carmex to patients for cold sores.
Lastly... and this is important...
Get on a couch and watch yourself some trash TV. Why? Because you don't have to pay attention to it. The same thing happens to everyone that does reality tv. There is an innocent remark, that gets misconstrued and eventually back to the person that it was said about and there is a whole misunderstanding and then someone says...
YES! Then there is a fight. It is amazing. Should you need some more high brow reality than the Housewives may I offer...
Some RuPaul's Drag Race REALNESS. But lets be real, they all just Housewives in drag and I LOVE IT!
Seriously though hunties... take care of yourself and keep healthy.
Love,
Faux
Have you tried Any of these products? What did you think?
Any product you would like Ms. Faux to Review?
Leave it all in the comments.
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