Oh, Stylers, I’ve had a week of it. If you follow along on Instagram you would have caught a little of my pity party for one.
I’ve had the flu. Woman. Flu.
As opposed to Man Flu.
Let’s get one thing clear, the physical symptoms of Man and Woman Flu are the same; but the comparison stops there. With emphasis on the stopping.
Because men DO stop, don’t they? They just go to bed and get out however many days later.
Women WISH they could stop but should they have children to care for, rarely do they get such a blissful opportunity.
I know, I know … it’s a huge generalisation but this is exactly what happened last week. A school holiday week at that.
Thank goodness for soccer camp, which meant Mr Nearly 7 was run ragged for three hours and was quite happy to mooch around at home in the afternoon. But food still needed to be cooked, supplies needed to be gathered … especially if I was going to kick this flu in the butt.
Yesterday, I finally turned the corner. It was the first day without fevers since the previous Monday. I still cough like a heavy smoker and am emitting fluids from my nose at a rate that will keep Kleenex is business this month but I can feel that the end is in sight.
I got talking last week to my Facebook community about cold and flu remedies so I thought I’d share some of those here – plus some of the little things I do to help this old body along when it’s under fire from The Lurgy.
7 ways to nurse yourself through the flu*
1. Call in the reinforcements. We are huge advocates of Olive Leaf Extract – sometimes if I get on to it early enough, I can even stop a cold taking over. Not this time … but I still kept up the doses every day. I also light every aromatherapy vapouriser in the house and add Twenty 8′s Immune Boost blend of organic Eucalyptus, Lavender, Tea Tree, Cedarwood and Pine essentials oils. Oh, and I treat my poor old nose to the best tissues in Flu Town – Kleenex Eucalyptus 3-Ply.
2. Add a cut onion to your room. This is one I learned from the creators of the Twenty 8 Immune Boost blend I mentioned above. It’s SO simple and makes such a huge difference to your sleep at night. The vapours open your airways and reduce coughing and blocked noses. This time round I even cut a fresh one during the day. This is also a good one to do when the sniffles first start as it too can stop a cold taking hold.
3. Keep up your fluids. I’ve been making up a brew of this tea throughout each day. To the pot, add: half a lemon, juiced; 1 tsp of Manuka honey; 1 tbs of ginger, grated; 1 sprig of rosemary; 1 quill of cinnamon; 3 cardamon pods. (Originally I’d only been doing the lemon, ginger and honey but Facebook readers suggested the others and it tasted amazing!)
4. Drink fresh juices. Mr Styling You went into nurse mode over the weekend with only minimal complaining about the loudness of my coughing. We had a lot of left over citrus fruits from our weekly fruit delivery so he whipped up a juice for me in the Thermomix. Proof that I was sick: I didn’t even suggest he add vodka 
5. Make a batch of chicken soup. I summonsed up the energy to whip up this soup mid last week and thank God I did. Seriously life giving. To make: saute onion, garlic, leek and ginger in a little bit of oil in a large pot; add two litres of chicken stock, four chopped carrots and half a bunch of celery; bring to boil and simmer for two hours. I then chose to “blitz” the vege and stock mix in the Thermomix before returning to the stove and adding diced chicken breast to cook through. I’m not a chunky soup person and I know it’s more authentic and health giving to use chicken on the bone but I chose to work with what I had at home and save another energy-zapping trip to the shops.
6. Wear comfort clothes. Comfort clothes not only need to be comfortable, they need to provide comfort just by enveloping your skin. Well, that’s my opinion any way. If I’m feeling all achey and painy then I want the fabric on my body to give me a little love. Does that make sense. I’ve been very lucky of late to be sent some things** that fit that bill: Emu Australia boots (my tootsies have never felt so warm and loved); Deshabille sleepwear (simply divine and elegant … and suitable for when the delivery men arrive at the door throughout the day); and Sorella & Me wrap (nothing like organic cotton to make you feel comforted). I refrained from doing a Keeping it Real outfit photo of me wearing these pieces as no amount of makeup was going to disguise my grey pallor and watery eyes.
7. Look after your lips and nose. I previously blogged about this Golden Ointment – new this year from Lanolips – and I have to say it’s very much come into its own this week. Breathing through your mouth is not kind to one’s lips and as for my poor old nose … the soft tissues mentioned above do help – they do – but when there’s a whole lot of blowing, the skin does need a little helping hand. Special mention must go to my Sussan hot water bottle too … very much needed when the fevers switched to chills.
So, there you have it. My little remedies to help you should you be hosting a little flu pity party this winter.
Want more?
Here are some awesome tips from Styling You’s Facebook community:
Kirsty Blinston Drink Aloe Vera juice, 30mls three times a day and have Bee Pollen tablets, and it helps the severity of it all and makes you feel better within a day or two.
Mary Hickey Tried and tested old Irish one, warm milk and honey before bed to sooth throat and chest.
Nel Kenworthy SLEEP!
Leigh Robshaw Chicken broth made with a whole organic chicken simmered for at least eight hours, then take Astaxanthin — it’s the world’s strongest antioxidant and has gotten me through winter without a cold or flu so far.
Lorraine Ross zinc tablet every day helps a lot.
Amanda Heitmann Tom Yum soup – I always crave it when I’ve got a cold or flu, and I recently found out that there are scientific studies on how effective it is as a cold remedy! Get well soon!
Mary Sherwood My children’s Papou used to swear by warm Retzina (not sure of spelling) … basically Greek vodka with honey and lemon juice. The hard part is actually getting it down!
Jodie Emslie After a very warm/hot shower put Vicks on your feet and then socks on. I also put the plug in when I’m showering a pour a few drops of eucalyptus oil in – you get to inhale/steam and foot soak in it at the same time!
Emma-Louise Moss Dr Red – Blueberry Punch – it does wonders. I had the flu, really bad, two weeks before my wedding, and within a week I was great. I’m also a Diabetic and things will sometimes take twice as long to recover from, but I swear this stuff is the best! You can it from most chemists or health food stores and the fun thing is, it comes in what looks like a wine bottle 
It even tastes good too – a bit like Ribena.
Reannon Hope Bowen My hubby puts a spoonful of Vegemite into a mug of hot water & drinks that. He swears by it but I just swear at him when he tries to make me drink it
Kate Parker For a sore throat boil fresh sage with Manuka honey and when it cools use it as a throat gargle
Jo Anderson Oh oh can’t believe I forgot, a hot hot bath + glass of red wine: increases your temperature, simulating fever stimulating healing.
The Tall Poppy Project Dark leafty greens stir fried in garlic (antibacterial) and ginger (warming, cold relief). Been dosing myself up with stirfried silverbeet and chard all week – works a treat!
Victoria Gooch GARLIC GARLIC GARLIC. As soon as you feel the niggle in your throat. Take the tablets. Works every time. I have not had a flu for a good year or so.
Pam Schmidt Vitamin C (5000 mg), echinacea, zinc, potassium iodide. Take this every four hours. I can usually beat the flu or a cold within two days of starting this treatment.
Lisa Mckenzie Just rest and take it easy,drinks lots (not alcohol lol) and sit in the sun.
… and I saved the best for last!
Alison Bennett-Roberts Internet shopping! Doesn’t help with the cold but gives you some nice things for when you are feeling better!
* I’m not a doctor and, trust me, if things hadn’t improved yesterday, I’d be lining up at my GP’s today … or if I felt there was a secondary infection that might require something extra. I just know that except for secondary infections, mostly I just need to rest and help myself.
** These items were sent to me for editorial consideration, in accordance with my disclosure policy.
How do you nurse yourself through a cold or flu?
