Coronavirus
Coronavirus or COVID – 19.
Coronavirus is one of thousands of viruses. It needs to be treated sensibly and not with panic. The Australian Government Department of Health has very clear updates daily on the virus:
Fortunately the clinic is not a huge building and we can keep things hygienic very easily. With our hydronic heating there is no movement of air within the clinic. If the cooling is on it is evaporative with the air coming from outside. This was designed on purpose to help clients who are immune suppressed conditions. If seeing a practitioner face to face, between clients we disinfect ourselves and the equipment used. This includes disinfecting door handles and surfaces. We ask that you use herbal disinfectant at reception and in the bathroom.
To date Possum Hollow has not seen one person with Coronavirus.
Having a consultation with a practitioner at this time can be really important. We help have your immune plan in place for you individually. Be healthy, be prepared and be sensible.
If you feel you need to be seen outside traditional hours or need a phone consult please let us know. Each practitioner and receptionist has a mask. Please even if you have a cold or sniffle let both reception and the practitioner know and we will move your consultation to phone consult only.
People most at risk have recently visited China, Italy and Iran and secondly people who have had close contact with someone with a confirmed case of coronavirus.
Basic hygiene such as washing hands with soap and water helps. Use tissues to cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. If you are healthy you do not need a mask unless you are taking care of someone with suspected coronavirus. Wear a mask if you are coughing or sneezing. Masks are only effective if used in conjunction with washing using proper cleaner or disinfectant. Whilst using a mask do not touch the front of it. Put it on with clean hands and cover the mouth and nose with it. When removing the mask, remove from the back.
Symptoms of Coronavirus or COVID – 19.
- Fever
- Flu like symptoms
- Shortness of breath
- Symptoms can range from mild illness to pneumonia
Boosting the immune system against ANY germs
Prevention is the ultimate key
Know your body, know your genetic tendencies and know what helps keep you healthy.
Good Sleep
Late nights and lack of sleep are a sure way of lowering your immunity.
Try to get to bed early as this helps keep your immunity up and coping ability better. Good sleep hygiene with a nice winding down to sleep always helps. Half an hour of sleep before midnight is equal to 2 hours sleep after midnight so it is not just about the hours you sleep but the early nights. Sometimes just getting a few 9.30pm to bed nights can make a huge difference to immunity. This good circadian rhythm of regular sleep patterns is so good for our health.
Good nutrition
It sounds obvious but what we eat and drink is vitally important to our immunity.
Increase the fresh veggies in your meals. Raw veggie juices, soups, salads and blanched veggies are so good for every age group. Good protein includes good quality fish, nuts, seeds, buckwheat, grass fed meats and eggs. Fresh fruits for super antioxidants include , for example, organic blueberries, kiwifruit, oranges, peaches, nectarines and banana.
Avoid refined foods, additives and toxic foods/drinks. If you play detective you will notice when you eat sugary foods and takeaway foods you never feel as good and you tend to catch more infections. It does not help your immunity to eat these foods. Keep coffee and alcohol as absolute treats and avoid them completely if they lower your resistance to infections. Do not smoke cigarettes or take illicit drugs
Stress
At times of high stress your resistance can be lower. Stress is not what is happening to you but how you are coping with life. The more you are coping with stress the better. However if you are overloaded with lots of stress your coping ability drops and so does your immunity. Talk to your practitioner to see what can help you cope at times of high stress. Try to get early nights and do things that reduce your stress like yoga, meditation, relaxation techniques etc.
Exercise and fresh air
Exercise can help with work/life balance but it is also important for general fitness, bone and muscle health. By exercising you can increase your immunity. By exercising you are also helping also your lung health and this is critical to immunity and effective breathing. I often teach people breathing exercises to help their lung function, particularly if they are prone to catching infections that present in the lung.
Hygiene
Wash your hands very carefully and thoroughly.
Environment and exposure
Do not expose yourself to germs if you do not have to. Some offices have movement of air through cooling and heating systems which assist germ movement. Airports, motels, shopping centres, cinemas, hospitals all can have movement of germs. If you are sick do not go to school or work and stay away from places where you could spread this to the public. Go back to street shopping, buying on-line or support smaller shops.
Be aware not to live in fear. Fear is a destructive emotion, and there will always be germs. Now especially, it is all about you keeping your immune system topped up and staying well. Panic is not good for any kind of germ outbreak.
Treat ANY infection ASAP from every direction.
Talk to your practitioner about what remedies usually work for you so you have a clear first plan of attach in case you do get sick. Everyone can be a little different. There is no point following this regime all the time as it will not have the impact when you really need it. Here at the clinic we help work out the best ones for you as an individual. Below are a few of the remedies we look at to see which ones work for you. We work out what is the best of these for your infection at the time. Try to recall or look back at previous infection recipes we have used for you, remembering each infection is different so the recipe can change. When you feel a germ start, Take immediate action using all this knowledge. If the remedies are not working within 48 hours then consult via phone with one of our naturopaths ASAP.
The aim of the below regime is to keep you so well and show your immune system it can fight things naturally. If you do happen to get an infection with seeing well you aim to not get it badly and not spread infection to others. All these remedies are not right for everyone it is up to your practitioner to teach you which ones suit you individually to boost your immunity.
Juices and drinks
- Carrot, Celery, Ginger
- Grapefruit Juice
- Noni Juice
- Grape juice
- Lemon juice
- Orange Juice
- Tonic water (quinine)
Herbal teas
- Rosehip Tea ( Vitamin C)
- Elderflower ( fevers)
- Green Tea
- Lemongrass and Ginger
- Clove
Aromatherapy and nasal sprays
- Eucalyptus oil
- Peppermint oil
- Lemon Grass oil
- Tea tree oil
- Saline Nose wash
Gargles
- Coconut oil pulling
- Iodine
- Thyme
- Saline
- Bicarb soda
- Tea tree
Cough syrup
- Herbal
- Traditional Chinese Medicine
Supplements
- Amino acids like lysine
- Vitamins –eg. Vitamin C
- Antimicrobial herbs
- Minerals or celloids of minerals
Specific Foods
- Cloves
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Lemons
- Bicarb
- Turmeric
- Fish
Probiotics and/or Prebiotics
*Remember there are infections that are bacterial and others that are viral . If viral avoid antibiotics: antibiotics will feed a viral infection. If you do need antibiotics always take a good quality probiotic to restore the microbiome of the gut and help immunity. If you do take antibiotics then I advise to see your practitioner within 5-10 days after the antibiotic course is completed to prevent the immune system dropping.
Rest up and give your body and chance to heal!
Avoid spreading germs further and cover your mouth when coughing. If you’re unwell stay away from work. Respect other people’s right to stay healthy. Avoid people that are immune suppressed or elderly.
It is important to stay positive.
Sometimes when things happen in life one way of coping is to come back to basics and simplicity. It is a great time to stay home more, maybe build a new vegetable or herb garden. Take one day at a time.
This time will pass.