Re: Preparing for winter..
Interestingly I was perusing only this afternoon a university related website which was listing the:
11 Best Flu Remedies Backed by Scientific Studies
It's interesting.
I didn't know about the No 1 on that list, Oregano Oil but I will be doing my research on it tonight.
The link is here but I can only view the Googled Cached version on my netbook for some reason
http://webcache.googleusercontent.co...&gbv=1&ct=clnk
Just google the bold title above and you'll get it.
To answer your initial question yes I take precautions. I frequently cruise in Sept/Oct every year and as cruises are typically full of old unhygienic people, many of whom have fallen for the Campaign Of Fear and had flu shots, it is imperative to boost one's immune system prior to sailing.
Their colds, flus and other bugs sweep around a cruise ship like wild fire.
Firstly, I make the lemon, ginger and honey drink that I have highlighted in numerous other threads and which other forum members have since tried themselves and benefited from.
This involves taking a full lemon, peel, pith, juice, everything, except the pips and blitzing it in a blender with about 2 inches of fresh ginger and some hot water.
It creates a milky lemony liquid which I then treat as a concentrate. I use it by putting about an inch of the concentrate in a mug, fill with hot water and add a tiny bit of good honey for sweetness and it's own benefits.
The vitamins and pectin from the lemons are ultra powerful and will sort out cold/flu symptoms pretty quickly if the condition hasn't set right in yet. As a preventative it is excellent, boosting your vitamin C and other levels significantly.
The second thing I do is ensure I have plenty of Grapefruit Seed Extract to hand and I take it wherever I travel, esp on cruises. This cures a whole host of conditions very quickly. Predominently I take it on cruises in case Norovirus appears. GSE kills the bugs in hours and has you right as rain within about 12 hrs whereas those who don't take it typically suffer vomiting and dihorrhea for 72hrs.
GSE also cures water infections overnight and things like cystitis for women.
Other readers here will also know I make and eat Sauerkraut which contains tons of natural probiotics, usually at least 4 separate strains. Hugely beneficial to gut flora and efficient working of the intestines. This is essential for the body to be able to do lots of other things. A heathly gut is one of the body's primary "engines".
I generally also have a small bottle of concentrated Sage extract. I put a few drops in tea. It tastes nice and Sage has a lot of health benefits.
Finally I put plenty of garlic in to many things I cook. It's the single most powerful and useful plant out there imo. It has over 300 active compounds all working in harmony. Compare that to a paracetamol tablet which has but one active ingredient. Garlic's health benefits are indisputable and have been recorded for 1000s of years.
Otherwise it is the usual diet of lots of fresh vegetables and fruit, little processed food, rigorous examination of product labels to exclude any product that is laden with sugar, natural or otherwise. No fruit juices, no fizzy drinks, no cereals except 100% whole wheat and oats.
Good thread, interested to hear what others have found useful.