Well, we’re working on getting some of the youngest preschoolers to keep their hands out of their mouths (one in particular almost always has her fingers in her mouth, the one who won’t talk, probably partly why), but since it’s not feasable to wash my hands every two minutes I’m asking your advice.
Since I can’t really reduce my contact with germs enough to make a big difference, what can I do to kick my immune system into high gear? I’ve gotten two colds in the past month(or it’s the same cold that returned), so I’m not looking forward to winter…are there really vitimins or herbals that help? Anything else that’d be helpful? Anyone here who is in frequent contact with small children who can offer sage advice on how they have stayed well? I’m already sick of being sick.
IMHO I think you will just have to grin and bear it. Everyone I’ve ever known who worked with children got all of the bugs going around. As far as I can tell, it tends to get a little better the longer you work with them. I believe your body starts building up immumity to the little walking germ colonies known as children.
for some natural type remedies, garlic and onions are immune boosters. lots of orange juice is always good, and maybe some echinacea tea. keeping hydrated with lots of water in general is good too.
i try to remember to take a multivitamin every day. i’m better about doing that when i’m traveling though for some reason. if i feel i’m getting just a little bit sick, i’ll drink tons and tons more water and orange juice, plus more vitamins and try and sleep more. steam is nice if you are stuffy and i gargle salt-water sometimes. and sometimes, the salt-water up the nose! someone told me about it years ago and it seems to clear up sniffles some. you sniff up salt water and let it drain back. (i can totally understand if this does not seem appealing to many.) i can usually get over colds in a day or two (or even stop one from starting) by combining some or all of these kinds of things. (i don’t really like to take store medicines). there are also some herbal teas for cold prevention (with echinacea or other things) and cold treatment (slippery elm for sore throats is a good one -if only it didn’t have licorice!)
If I did’nt have kids, I’d almost never get sick. Damn near every time I’ve gotten a cold or flue or some other illness
, I’ve caught it from my kids first.
I take Evening Primrose Oil a couple times a day. Being a vitamin the effects are so gradual that you don’t really notice anything right away, but in the long run it definitly does the trick.
If you can’t wash your hands as often as you’d like to, I recommend you keep some hand sanitizer or hand wipes handy. Also, watch what you do with your hands. Try not to touch your face.