HEALTH
Ask Ali
A.Vogel Nutritional Therapist Ali Cullen answers your questions on immunity
Q.
I managed to get through the last few months without any infections, but I usually get at least one bad cold every winter – flu if I’m unlucky. What can I do to make myself more resistant to winter bugs?
A.
The behaviour patterns that we have all been getting used to over the summer may well keep general infection rates down this winter. Taking precautions when coughing or sneezing in public; washing hands regularly and being aware of face-touching; not going to work when sick – these all reduce the way we pass bugs on to each other. It really helps if you respond the minute you feel the first sign of trouble or know you’ve been around someone with a cold. Dose up on vitamin C, treat yourself to some Echinacea, and get an early night. Lifestyle risk factors for low immune function include poor diet and poor sleep, as well as stress. So, if circumstances conspire to undermine your diet for a few days, or you get a few stressy days and nights, take Echinacea and give yourself some extra rest time to recoup.
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Q.
I’ve had a bad summer with hayfever, and I’m still feeling quite choked and congested – I wake up with a blocked nose most mornings. What remedies are good for getting clear of this before the winter weather kicks in?
A.
Once the membranes lining your nose and sinuses get inflamed, they become more sensitive to external irritants. Even now pollen is less of an issue, things such as household cleaning products, toiletries, animal hair and dander, and general dust and mould, can set symptoms off. The membranes produce mucus to trap and sweep away irritants, so avoid as many as you can. It’s the perfect excuse to get someone else to sweep and dust! Ensure that your rooms are properly ventilated, and don’t let the air dry out – this is a particular hazard in the colder months when we keep windows shut and the heating turned up. Bowls of water near radiators can help, especially if you add a few drops of a ‘clearing’ essential oil such as eucalyptus. You can also get eucalyptus oil in Sinuforce Nasal Spray, alongside menthol and chamomile. This helps clear sinus congestion quickly (although temporarily), whilst you put the other strategies into place.
A U T U M N 2 0 2 0 | Good Health
