Green for Good Health

[adam]

Cold and flu season is here, and yours truly has been hit by a nasty bug. Should I go super-greenie with herbal remedies, or hit the standard over-the-counter chemical concoctions?

What's the most earth-friendly way to address this coughing, sneezing, achy-head time of year?

Everyone seems to agree on the best ways to avoid colds, and you don't need to be a hardcore environmentalist to follow these tips: Wash your hands often, cover your mouth when you cough, live a healthy lifestyle, get a flu shot, and stay home if you do get sick.'

For a more herbal angle, experts recommends vitamin C, Echinacea, garlic, zinc, Oscillococcinum, elderberry, and ginger, among other things. Some of these are supposed to boost the immune system, while others could have anti-viral properties.

Maybe we should all just listen to the time-honored recommendation of chicken soup with additions of won-tons or matzo balls. Warm broth with a little protein and healthy veggies sooths a sore throat and nourishes a sick body.

Natural health guru Dr. Andrew Weil agrees, and even finds scientific backing for chicken soup's healing powers.

[Josh44]

There was a study done a while back about the benefits of eating chicken noodle soup if you have a cold. It was proven that the soup not only helps ease nasal passages and reduce symptoms, but shortens the length of the cold. So if you have a cold, eat up.

[james1]

above health tips is really helpful for me. each and every time my health affected some problem. i follow above tips its really healthy information.

[Campanitas]

I am green in a lot of ways, but I need my decongestant and my menthol rub. Other than that, I don't really take anything. I believe with rest and lots of hydration it will go away.

[MsEco]

I'm not the type who pops a pill at a hint of a cold. I go the natural way first and it almost always works...I just increase my fluid intake and dose of Vitamin C from natural sources such as fruits. A bowl of hot soup is also nice. A doctor once told me that getting sick is a sign that our body's way of telling that it needs to be recharged, so bed rest is a must.

[SnickerDoodle]

I usually just ride it out. I do increase my fluid intake and rest a bit more but other than that, unless it lasts for an unusually long time, I don't do anything.