Four Flu Fighters & Immune Enhancers

**Four Flu Fighters &  Immune Enhancers**

I've been reading in the news that this year's flu vaccine might not be effective. It got me thinking of four natural ways to ward off colds and flu.

1.  Use a neti pot to cleanse your sinuses. (see picture above) Your sinuses are your immune system's first defense against viruses and bacteria. Cleansing the sinuses can prevent pathogens from moving deeper into the body.

2.  Take an ice cold shower. Although not palatable for everyone, this helps with blood circulation and apparently increases the number of disease fighting white blood cells.

3.  Increase Vitamin D. Getting a good dose of sunshine or taking a supplement gives an immune boost.

4. Brew bone broth - According to an old proverb, chicken broth can resurrect the dead. That sounds a bit extreme; however, the gelatin in bone broth heals the gut lining, it is easy to digest and assimilate and nourishes the skin, hair and nails. It is packed full of life giving minerals.

Bone broth is a super nourishing food that is delicious and satisfying during the cold weather months. As you may guess, I am an avant-garde cook and I vary the amounts according to what I have in the fridge and how much I want to make.

How I make bone broth in 3 Easy Steps

1.  Chop your veggies: Celery, Carrot, Onion, Garlic (sometimes I add cabbage)

 2. Grind and add your spices: bay leaf, mustard seed, cumin, thyme, cumin, nutmeg, cinnamon...

3.  Add the chicken (or other) bones and water.

Add one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and soak for an hour to pull out the minerals from the bones.

Bring to a boil and turn heat down & simmer on low for 8-24 hours.

When your broth is done add fresh or dried parsley and enjoy with some miso or salt to taste.

Reiki and Postpartum Depression

For me, Reiki was a miracle.

I had heard about Reiki over the years but never thought much of it, nor did I feel compelled to try it.

After I gave birth to my daughter, I developed a severe postpartum depression and anxiety. I had never suffered from anything remotely like this before and couldn't figure out how to help myself. My life felt horrible and I didn't feel at all like my self (as only those who have gone through this can truly understand). I tried EVERYTHING - nutrition, supplements, prayer, psychiatry, medications, exercise, therapy, yoga, etc. and although some things helped a bit, I was still suffering terribly.  I had pretty much given up hope that I would ever feel normal again. I somehow stumbled upon the website of a Reiki healer. After one session, I felt ninety percent back to normal. It was a  miracle to have my life and good feelings/emotions back for the first time in a year and a half.  After one or two more sessions I felt completely healed and have felt good ever since. I am so grateful for such a powerful gift in my life.

I have since become a Reiki Master myself and have realized that my whole experience has been a tremendous blessing in my life.  I have a deep compassion and personal understanding of those who are struggling with depression, anxiety, or issues beyond their control.  It is an honor for me to assist others on their healing journey.

Gossip, Talking About Other People and Your Vibration

According to one theory, the  subconscious mind cannot distinguish between the words you say about another person and the words you say about yourself. Every word you speak vibrates in your own energy field and ripples out into the world around you. For example, when you say, "Oh, he/she is so lazy", your subconscious mind registers "lazy" as a word you are using to describe yourself. This can really lower your vibration.

When we talk in a negative way about other people, we are actually causing harm to ourselves as well as "psychically" attacking the other person. Thought forms travel faster than any electronic technology and truly can have a negative impact on other people. There is so much of this behavior going on today in the media and political arenas as well as in our own homes and social circles.

When we get clear about the intention of our words and choose to use them for clear, honest communication or for uplifting others and ourselves, it is a healing gesture to ourselves that emanates out into our planet. This is one way we can raise our vibration.

Speech is a gift and we have the freedom to choose how we use it or abuse it.

Breakups, toxic relationships and cutting cords

Have you ever had a breakup with someone and it seems impossible and/or too painful to let go?

Have you ever kept getting back together with someone who you know is not good for you?

Why does this happen? After all, from a standpoint of logic, shouldn't it be simple? If something is done it's done -  right?

Well, there is more to the story!

From an energetic perspective, there is more going on.

When we enter into relationships (romantic or other), we can subconsciously give a part of ourselves to the other person and vice versa.  So, the strong desire that keeps us bound to that individual (even after we break up) can actually be the desire of our soul to retrieve the part of itself that is still bound to that other person. No one can take our energy without our permission, so on some level, we have given it. It is important in the healing process to take back our energy and to give back to the other person his/her energy. That way each person will be able to move on in a more harmonious way.

A transformative way to do this is through a guided imagery session. A hypnotherapist can assist you with entering into a deep state of relaxation where you can use the power of your own imagination to cut the cords that bind you to the individual you are trying to let go of so that you can be free and empowered to move forward in your life.