By Karen Unsworth Berger, BAA, TFH

This is not meant as a replacement to seeing your doctor!  It is meant as educational material which you can discuss with your doctor, or use in conjunction with their recommendations. 

Sometimes we just don't have time to be sick - or also as in my case now, whereas in previous work I would have just forged through, I cannot go to work with any symptoms since I now work in Long Term Care.  My big mistake this last vacation was not bringing an "emergency kit" with me in the event of a sudden cold or sore throat - a tiny bottle of supplement quality oil of oregano, and Amla powder (vitamin C.) 

It had taken 24 hours to reach our destination, we arrived during an unusual cold snap (13oC), and in this sub tropical area, most home do not need heating.  We froze for 2 days until adequate heaters were provided and the weather warmed up, but the deep "chill to the bone" had set in.  Even the hot shower couldn't warm us as the hot water pressure was too low. 

Eating local fruit should supply all the vitamin C required to thrive, but the extended cold had been too much of a shock to the system.  The extremely sore throat/cold/cough lingered on for almost 2 weeks.  It went away for 10 days, then re-appeared after we returned home and I started work. 

I gave myself 9 days (including a weekend) to become symptom free - a tall order due to the extremity of the symptoms.  I did it, but it would have been 4-5 days faster if I had taken Oil of Oregano from the beginning.  (It has natural anti-biotic properties.)  After including it, the lingering painful throat and cough was gone in a few days. (more about it below.)

About the same time, I did a full kinesiology balance on myself, and electrical clearings (often disturbed by shock - physical or other) was the first priority to balance - this gets the body back into efficient healing mode..... It is a very widespread issue today due to our un-natural tech environment, but is quick and easy to clear. 

Extra Note: If you have any excess of heavy metals, such as mercury or aluminum, this can also impair your body's ability to function optimally, including absorption of nutrients.  Blood tests identify it easily - you just have to ask.  I had excess Mercury from seafood, and my doctor put me on Chlorella tablets (from Giddy Jo) .. I started at 4 tiny tablets 2 x day and increased it to 7 over 1 month or so until my levels were low. Now I just take it when I have seafood. 

1.  FIRST, GET YOUR BODY PRIMED TO HEAL! -  Clear electrical circuits and remove electrical blockages enabling healing energy to flow freely.    After performing these, my body's ability to heal went from 40% (no wonder recovery was so slow!) to 95%. The two areas to clear include Left Right polarity, and "Integrated Movements", a few specific stretches to stretch and clear specific circuits (meridians) described below.. 

Left Right Body Polarity - This is regarding balanced electrical communication between one side of the body and the other.  Take 30 seconds and fix your Left Right body polarity:   Everything listed below will work better if your body's electrical signaling is clear and accurate.  If you are sick, chances are very high that it's off - your body may be very inefficient and slow recovery because it's not communicating properly within itself.  This simple 1 minute procedure alone can increase the efficiency - as in my case - from 40% to 80%.  Many things can cause our polarity to switch, including emotional shock, mental stress,  physical and lifestyle stressors (including pain).  I have found that this should be done 2 x day - it's so quick you can even do it while the coffee machine in running, or in the shower.

Dr. Bruce Dewe MD and his wife Joan Dewe MA, are the founders of PKP kinesiology, which is a sophisticated energy balancing system based on Touch for Health/CTM.  Why is electrical polarity so important?  Dr. Dewe (who I had the privilege to study with), emphasises that the brain and energy systems need to be fully switched on and integrated so the body can correctly recognise stressors and organise an appropriate repair response.  In practical terms, if left right polarity (between left and right sides of the body) is disturbed, the nervous system processes signals in a scrambled way, so that symptoms such as a cold or sore throat, are harder to clear, and take longer for the body to clear. 

We affectionately refer to this polarity correction as  "Hitch Hiker Thumbs"!     

 (Time:  30 sec.- 1 minute.  See image.)

• Make fists with both hands, fingertips touching palms, thumb sticking out like a hitch hiker's.
• Cross your wrists and place your thumbs in the hollow under the collar bone, quite close to the sternum. Wrists touching, or very close on top of each other. 
• Massage the thumbs quickly back and forth about 10 times, then "switch" hands by removing the top hand and placing in underneath the other.  Go back and forth alternating the top hand about 6-7 times.

Integrated Movements

This is taken from PKP Kinesiology, by Dr. Bruce Dewe MD, and Joan Dewe MA.  Do these 2 x day as long as you are symptomatic.  In today's un-natural environment, these 3 energy circuit (meridian) exercises address the most typical blockages today by stretching the meridian lines to enhance energy flow.   1. Small Intestine, Heart     2. Bladder, Kidney   3. Gallbladder, Liver.   It is a good idea to integrate them into your regular exercise routine to keep these circuits clear long term. 

• Small Intestine, Heart:  Sit with the soles of your feet touching, draw your feet at close to your body as possible, holding them with your hands, thighs as close to the ground as possible.  Fall forward and exhale,  breath in and hold your position. As you breath out, allow your body to fall further forwards. Inhale, hold and exhale forwards again - repeat several times.    

• Bladder, Kidney:  Sit with your legs stretched out in front of you, heels together, knees straight and back of the legs flat against the floor. Exhale forward, placing your hands between your feet, grasping your soles.  Breath in and hold this position. Exhale and allow your body to fall further forwards. Repeat several times. 

•  Gallbladder, Liver: Sit on the floor with your legs as wide apart as possible, knees straight and touching the ground. Stretch your arms above your head, elbows straight, fingers interlocked, and palms facing out.  Exhale bending sideways towards one foot, arms turned towards that foot head facing the front (not leg).   Breath in, hold this position, exhale lowering your body further.  Repeat several times on one side, then the other. 

Gentle easy exercise/stretching:  It is important NOT to do cardio, weight lifting, or other strenuous exercise while suffering from a cold or sore throat, but if you have a gentle stretching routine such as yoga, this is very helpful to support the flow of lymph, circulation, and move things through and out of the body.  The exercises noted above are ideal...  

2. Oil of oregano:  

I added this into my recovery routine about 4 days in, after someone mentioned it. I realised after taking it the first time that everything would have cleared much faster if I had began the protocol with it.  After that, I was able to eliminate several things from my routine (such as salt/coconut oil gargle, infra red lamp, echinacea throat spray), because the oil of oregano did a more efficient job, even multitasking! 

Oil of oregano acts as a "natural antibiotic".  I use the liquid supplement quality by Heddwyn Essentials.  I add 3 drops to an 8oz glass of water and stir. (I do 3 drops 2 x day, then 2 drops before bed.)  I have a good gargle with the first mouthful, gargling several times, then spit it out.  (I found that this eliminated the need for other gargles, including coconut oil/salt water which I had been doing.)  I then drink the rest down quickly, and immediately get a cold pack from the freezer and place it over the lower abdomen between the top of the pubic bone and navel, for about 30 seconds. (If it feels too cold it's ok to place it over layer of fabric such as underwear.  The reason I do this, is because oil of oregano can upset the microbiome - (it IS a type of anti-biotic) - and the cold pack can prevent this imbalance. Cold supports the good bacteria and discourages the bad - one of the reasons "cold thermogenesis" is so effective.  I do this every time I take the oil of oregano. 3 x day.  It should also only be taken for days at a time, not weeks.

3.  Sage tea with (lots of) honey:  Sage tea is traditionally used for cold and sore throats because sage (Saliva Officinalis) contains compounds with anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, astringent, and mildly anti-viral actions that directly target irritated, infected throat and mouth tissues.  Dinking or gargling warm sage tea is soothing and helps clear mucus - I found gargling beneficial.  (Sage also helps to digest fats/oils). 

I make this tea in a regular sized coffee thermos, to keep it warm throughout the day.. 3/4 fill the thermos with boiling water and a bag of sage tea.  Let steep 5 minutes, and top up the thermos with cold water before you add the honey.  (Boiling water can kill the good bacteria in the honey.)  Then stir in a large tablespoon of local unpasturised honey.  I sip 2 of these over the course of the day and evening. 

4. Eat Dinner Early!: 

This comes under the umbrella of circadian biology - Dr. Jack Kruse is probably the world's leading authority on this.  Normally it's best to finish eating 3 hours before bed time, but if you are sick, or healing from something, 4 hours is better.  The body is not great at multi tasking in certain areas, and this is one of them. Digesting food takes a lot of energy and resources.  So does nightly repair and regeneration while we sleep.  Give your body a chance to heal and regenerate properly by giving it only one job to do at  once! If you go to bed at 10, finish eating by 6pm (instead of the normally recommended 7pm.)

Diet:

Feed a cold! Eat light but healthy - you may have definite instincts on what you feel like eating and don't.  Gluten free is a good idea as it is "cleaner" and does not support mucous production. Goats milk products produce less mucus than cow's (heavy cream is fine).  Avoid processed foods and vegetable/seed oils. 

• Include some protein with meals (pastured eggs, wild fish, grass fed meat),
• lots of vegetables, eat clean (fresh/organic), 
• if you are craving carbs like pasta, try rice pasta (it's gluten free) ie with garlic and herbs, vegetables, smoked sockeye salmon, or meat sauce..
• and for gut balance - goat's milk yoghurt with dark maple syrup. 
• As desert, I made gluten free apple crumble with organic local apples served with organic whipped cream.
• Cut alcohol/wine consumption. Drink lots of water. 

5.  Whole food, source vitamin C:  Berries are typically high in vitamin c, and Amla (a tart, Indian gooseberry) is excellent. Whole food sourced vitamin C has all the natural components needed for optimal absorption and utilisation, even if it's less mg. Acerola cherry is wonderful (eat the cherries off the tree if you live in Florida!), organic camu camu is "ok", but Amla is so far the best I have tested.  Combining Amla powder with another great vitamin C source - fresh lemon juice, enhanced the blend.  I add about 1/2 cup of blueberries to something throughout the day, such as goat's milk yoghurt (easily digestable, not mucous forming), or with desert. 

• Mix 3/4 tsp Amla powder with 2T fresh lemon juice and 1 rounded T of local raw honey. Add 1 cup of warm water and sip.   2 x day

6.  Lavender spray for Electron Optimisation - organic lavender or true cinnamon essenial oils:  

Dr. Jack Kruse MD (neurosurgeon)  emphasises the importance of an abundant supply of electrons. In winter months when colds/sore throat are more rampant, our bodies can be low in electrons which we normally get from sunlight, and grounding (bare feet on the ground).  The body needs electrons to function optimally.  Organic lavender oil is loaded with electrons, and brands such as Organic Aura Cacia, and Organic Divine Essence, are widely available in health food stores.   I add this to magnesium spray to get the benefit of both -  Balsan brand  is a wonderful topical magnesium which I use on the upper chest.  Add 20 drops lavender oil to the bottle, spray 5 sprays into your palm, and massage on the upper c;hest.  Divine Essence has "True Cinnamon" (from Ceylon), which is equally as high in electrons and also has the advantage of having some of the properties of UV light, which those of us in cold climates are typcially lacking in winter - However this is not typically available in stores, and must be ordered on line.   

Apply 4 x day. 

7.  REST is key!!   I know it's not easy for some of us to take an afternoon nap/rest. But it does make a huge impact on your body's ability to heal.  Plan your schedule to include approx. 1 hour nap IN BED in the afternoon -typically around 2pm. After about 5 days I was able to reduce it to 30 minutes nap, as I felt less tired, and energy was increasing. Wear a natural fiber sleep mask (or silk scarf over your eyes) and relax every part of your body very deeply, letting it sink into the bed.  I am taking the nap right after a sauna.  And resist the urge to do housework such as cleaning out closets etc.!  No rushing around, no stress, exertion.  Physically relax and slow down and focus on recovery.  At night, get to bed early and sleep longer.  Your body needs it!  

8.  Scarves:  Silk, cashmere, or silk/cashmere scarf: The fabrics we surround our bodies in are surprisingly important. Fabrics can drain or support our energy, and high quality fabrics such as silk and cashmere actually DONATE electrons to us, increasing our energy.  Polyester and Acrylic do the opposite, and most natural fabrics such as cotton, are neutral which is fine when we are healthy. But, when we are in any kind of recovery, we do best when we have an optimised electron (energy) supply. Even more interesting, silk actually absorbs stress from your body - ie. your sore throat - at the same time it is donating electrons!

But what happens to this stress that the silk has absorbed? It will stay in the silk unless it is aired out, or the easiest way to clear it is simply shake it out 8-10 times as you would a tea towel. This will quickly refresh the silk to it's natural state, optimising it's electron potential.  In the beginning, for example with a sore throat, you CAN leave the scarf on for a while before shaking it out, but it's best to shake it out every few minutes for the first hour or so.  Cashmere does not absorb stress and does not have to be aired or shaken out - it provides a high energy environment for your throat. I am wearing 2 scarves - first, silk against my skin, then a larger cashemere scarf wrapped over that. 

On that same note, as long as you are sick, wear warm (natural fiber) pajamas at night, and air them out in the morning - most fabrics absorb stressful energies, and you don't want to wear last night's "sick" stress tonight! Start fresh - hang them outside - out a window or balcony - for 2-3 minutes and this will freshen them. OR, spray lightly with 1/3 vinegar, 2/3 water.  Silk is the only fabric you can clear just by shaking it out. 

If you REALLY want to keep your body's environment optimised, lightly spray the vinegar and water over your sheets in the morning - it doesn't need much. Leave the sheets folded back to air out.  And, NEVER expose yourself or loved ones (including pets) to these "soft, fluffy" polyester (or acrylic) blankets and socks which have flooded the market in recent years.  They are "electron hogs" and will drain your body of desperately needed electrons.  It really distresses me in Long Term Care residences, to see the frail in wheelchairs with these blankets wrapped around them because they are "cosy", or hand made acrylic shawls.  Look for wool, cotton, or other natural fibers. 

9.   Sauna or hot steamy shower:  Most of us remember as kids using the boiling water in a bowl and towel over the head to inhale steam.. this may not be the safest method! I take a long hot/steamy morning shower inhaling the steam, and one later as well.  If you have access to a sauna, pour water on the rocks to make it hot and steamy.   Often we catch a cold or sore throat because we have gotten a chill "through to the bone" and this is an easy way to warm the body, add moisture to the air, and relax.  Showering is also a source of electrons.  I take a sauna about 1:30 in the afternoon followed by a shower, then have a 1 hour nap immediately after (reduced to 1/2 hour after several days).  I take a sauna again before bed.    2 x day 

10. Herbal Lozenges:

The pharmasist admitted that lozenges would not "heal" the sore throat, but can cetainly sooth it.  I found them especially healpful at night if my sleep was disturbed by coughing and dryness. I searched out readily available lozenges in the local drug store, and also German or European Deli..   These herbal "Ricola" with honey, tested the best of everything in the store. (See image.) 

If you commit yourself to dedicating  days to recover properly, you can save yourself a lot of time (and misery!) in the long run. And of course, STAY HYDRATED!  In this case, I was able to go back to my work in long term care after 8 days, symptom free.   Make yourself a schedule or print this out - check it constantly throughout the day.  It's amazing what your body can do, given the chance!